August 14, 2011 - Recap of two week trip
I just returned from a two week solo trip to Japan, my first visit (and I don't speak Japanese and I'm not young). I had a great time. Here's a recap and some thoughts:
Where did I go?
Kyoto - Kiso Valley - Matsumoto - Kamikochi - Hirayu Onsen - Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa - Osaka - Nara
What could I have skipped?
Hirayu Onsen & Matsumoto
What were my favorite hotels/ryokans?
Matsubaya Ryokan (Kyoto); Takayama Ouan Hotel (Takayama); Sumiyoshia Ryokan (Kanazawa)
Best outdoor activities?
Hiking the valley in Kamikochi, Walking between Magome and Tsumago in Kiso Valley, the Hida-Satoyama bike tour near Takayama
Best cultural experience, traditional and modern?
Seeing Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto); taking a zen meditation lesson in Kyoto, going to a performance of Kabuki and Bunraku (Osaka) and the Takarazuka Revue (near Osaka)
Most useful practical preparation?
Renting a mobile wifi unit; making my lodging reservations ahead of time
Least useful preparation?
Learning Hiragana and Katakana. Without Kanji it doesn't help much. I could have spent the time better on learning more travel phrases.
