By Dave
Well shoot I found my notes... only took a year and half! This report is a basicly is an endorsement of this website. A very special thanks to Uji and the rest of the staff and others that offered their wonderful advice.
First I flew into Osaka and spent the night in the city with nothing really happing. The next day off I went to Kanazawa by train in the first week of Nov. of 06. In each of the destination that I visited I would do what this website recommened and had a awsome time.
Kanazawa had the most amazing garden I have ever seen. Kenroku-en Garden should be enjoyed slowly and with alot of pictures taken. I also stumble upon a family visiting a local shrin for the 3-5-7 event for childern. From there it was off to Shirakawa-go by bus. If you are into history this cannot be missed! Doing a overnight stay in one of these historic house is in the top 10 expereances in my life.
Next was Takayama by bus. The traffic getting there was terible so I arrived too late to enjoy the beutifull town... oh well off to the Kiso Valley by train. I am going back there for the hiking and frest river trout and the amazing Ryokans the area offers. I spent 2 days here and could have spent the rest of my 2 week vacation here.
Next on the list is Mt. Koya-san by train. Ok one word WOW! This place is the diffinition of peace. Stayed in a temple for 2 days visiting the famous cemitary and walking around alot of temples checking out the buildings personalities. The Tofu is outstanding. Then off to Nara by train. Did alot of the tourist thing with seeing most of the big sites just me and thousands of school childeren.
Then from there Kyoto by train. Spent 3 days theres and could not get a fraction of it all in. Too many sites shrines temples play house and ect for 3 day so that is another place I am going back to. Finished up in Osaka for a few days meetting up with a freind that showed me around and took me to an onsen (not natural) but a wonderful experance.
Well thats it. Vague and alot of misspelt words but short. I am in the middle of planning to go back in Nov of 08 to Feb of 09 and do it right LOL. Also plan to give indepth trip reports on each experance and festival I goto as they happen. Getting a laptop so I can publish the reports that night. Until then...
Oh remember this site has all the resource to book rooms and adivce on witch hotel ryokan or temple to stay at. No Joke this site made my trip one of great JOY!!!
