Japan - een bijzondere kennismaking
My previous trips were mainly within Europe and to the USA. But for years, I've been seeing Japan pop up on TV, YouTube, in photography, and so on. So it was time to explore the other side of the map and pay Japan a visit. Henri and I planned our trip, initially with the idea of seeing the Formula 1 show as well, but later we decided to get a real feel for the country itself. We certainly didn't regret it.
After two flights with a layover in Abu Dhabi, we arrived at Narita Airport and took the train to our hotel. Our first stop was in the Akihabara district, also known as "Electric Town." This is a true shopping paradise for gadget freaks and anime fans. Wandering around here was an experience in itself; every time you saw something unique, you'd see something different. On Saturday mornings before the shops opened, long lines formed outside the stores, mostly men, who lined the entire block waiting to shop. This process was overseen by shop assistants, sometimes even with a megaphone. And it wasn't just one store hosting a product launch; it was multiple stores per block—it was a madhouse.
In the evening, young ladies were everywhere, promoting so-called "maid cafes" and Japanese idol shows. This is a rather unusual phenomenon for us Westerners; a kind of coffee shop, but in a very tacky, girly dollhouse setting, with young maids in maid outfits pouring tea, serving pastries, chatting, singing songs, and so on (see YouTube for a clearer picture).
The shops themselves already look quite flashy, with neon signs, signs, and so on everywhere. Exploring these shops is quite an experience. Luckily, you can't read the signs, so what you find remains a surprise. One moment you'll find figurines of anime characters, the next a craft shop, then an entire floor filled with nothing but anime buttons (you wouldn't believe it), and then an army dump complete with all sorts of Nazi paraphernalia and even officers' uniforms... It's one surprise after another!
We also took the subway to various neighborhoods in Tokyo, exploring them further on foot. This took us past modern landmarks, towers, and various temples and shrines, of which there are literally hundreds throughout the city. Every neighborhood or street block has at least one small shrine. In Tokyo, they're all somewhat newer, as the city was, of course, bombed during World War II. Later, we'd go to Kyoto, where more ancient temple complexes and palaces have been preserved. The themes of each temple or shrine are different. For example, there was one at Tokyo Tower dedicated to stillborn children. There were rows of baby statues, each with a small windmill, so they would live on.
We also visited the light art museum teamLab Borderless. We wandered through various rooms with a variety of light art installations. Everything flowed seamlessly from one space to the next, creating plenty of photo opportunities where you became part of the art yourself.
Our wanderings took us through many different neighborhoods, including the world-famous, incredibly busy Shibuya Crossing. The difference between the tall Dutch and the locals became quite clear: "Big in Japan" was the motto.
In a district like Shinjuku you had more of a nightlife and also narrow streets with eateries.
In Yokohama, we came face to face with the world's largest Gundam Robot. A giant robot, 18 meters tall and weighing 25 tons, regularly put on a show at the harbor.
The adjacent Yokohama Marine Tower gave us a beautiful view over the port city and also of the legendary Mount Fuji.
Yokohama's Chinatown was truly a miniature version of China. It felt like we'd just hopped on a plane to the other side. Chinese people, food stalls, and buildings were everywhere.
As motorsport fans, a visit to Nissan headquarters was a must. I was particularly drawn to a Nissan GT-R, but Henri went for a true Kei car, the type of blocky compact car you see so often in Japan. This is partly because they're so practical for parking in cities.
The Shinkansen bullet train took us to Kyoto at about 300 km/h. This city had many lower-rise buildings, and much of the old architecture, such as imperial palaces and temples, was still preserved. On our first evening, as dusk fell, we arrived at the Kiyomizu Dera temple complex. It's situated on a hill with a magnificent view of Kyoto, and everything was beautifully lit—a real highlight.
The next morning, the bus took us to Kinkaku-ji, a golden temple surrounded by beautiful gardens.
From Kyoto, we took a day trip to Osaka. There we visited Osaka Castle, which was essentially a more modern, reconstructed version (1931) of the old castle featured in scenes like the series Shogun. We also visited the popular Dotonbori district, with its many nightlife venues and shops. And of course, we had to try the takoyaki squid balls.
Torii gates are a must-see on any trip to Japan. After seeing quite a few in Tokyo, Fushimi Inari took the cake. Thousands of gates, large and small, scattered along a hillside path. All donated by people whose prayers had been answered. It was certainly very touristy, especially near the village, but further up the hill, you had sections of the trail more or less to yourself.
A visit to the bamboo forests of Arashiyama was also a must. There were also many tourists here, but through some preliminary research, I knew of another corner of the forest that wasn't as crowded. So we could still see the forest through the bamboo.
Afterward, we raced to the railway museum by train. We used the trains and metro frequently throughout the entire trip. Everything is so well-organized there; even a mere minute's delay is always a big apology (if it even happens). They could learn a thing or two from that in the Netherlands. It was great to see the equipment they've been using for years. From steam trains to the Shinkansen, it was a feast for the eyes.
We spent our last day and night in Asakusa, Tokyo. There was the Senso-Ji temple. It was incredibly busy during the day, as it's the most famous temple in the entire city. But in the evening, it was more fun to walk around and take photos. I enjoy using the streetlights then and capturing a more raw streetscape.
A visit to the Tokyo Skytree offered a magnificent view of the city at night. To our dismay, we weren't allowed to take a bag of goldfish up, but luckily we didn't have any...
Then the plane was waiting for us. But we would make the return trip in stages, with a two-night stay in Abu Dhabi. A window seat offered a magnificent view of Japan, now the land of the sunset.
It was fantastic to have been able to visit Japan. Not only all the sights, but also the culture and overall atmosphere were truly special. You can tell from the people that politeness and helpfulness are paramount. Helpful people everywhere, solutions to potential problems—everything has been taken care of. If I were to capture all my impressions here in words, I'd be busy for a while. But all in all, it was one of the most beautiful trips I've ever taken. I definitely recommend visiting Japan for yourself.
As a racing fanatic in Abu Dhabi, a visit to the Yas Marina Circuit was a must. And we were in luck. There were still some F1-like cars driving around, filming for a new Brad Pitt Formula 1 movie!
We also visited the Sheikh Al Zayed Mosque, one of the largest in the world. It also boasts the largest chandelier and the largest hand-woven carpet (5.6 square kilometers). It was truly beautiful and impressive. A dip in the pool was also quite enjoyable. And then it was back home.
See all the photos from the trip below.
