Here we are back on the road again after taking a “short” layover in Australia to be a part of Adrian & Cathy’s marital celebrations. It was a 5mth rollercoaster of summer vibes, 3 cities, time spent with family, friends & pets, shitloads of flying, a fantastic wedding, a small amount of routine and a chance to solidify our move to Toronto where a work transfer was the final sign that this was the right city for us…for now!
A strategic plan to land in Canada at the beginning of Spring means that we have just under 6 weeks to make our way back around the world, beginning in the incredible Japan.
Hakuba
Thanks to Jaymin’s recently acquired point hacking skills (www.pointhacks.com.au) and a large amount of new credit cards we booked the first few of our 15 flights in business class. It was everything we’d hoped it would be and landing in Tokyo ahead of schedule at 4:30am was the last thing we wanted. 12hrs & 4 trains later we arrived in frosty, snow covered Hakuba to be greeted by the gorgeous Harper, Jess, Phil, Ali & Sean and our stay for the next 3 days was filled with snowy adventures and unlimited amazing food and sake.
Two days on the mountain was enough to get a taste of how the Japanese do things. Dirt cheap lift tickets, free coupons for lunch (hello ramen!) and nobody about, even on a bluebird day with fresh snow!
As well as dining out each night at a differently delicious restaurant, including Sumo Tei where we ate like Sumo wrestlers, Jess, Ali & I took a cooking class where we learnt to make sushi with the sweetest of teachers, Sirasa before heading home to feast on our creations in front of the fireplace.
Hakuba was a beautiful introduction to our time in Japan, enhanced by the exceptionally awesome company of new & old friends.
Kyoto
Somewhat improved JR rail skills under our belt, we travelled to Kyoto efficiently, arriving at our hotel Sakura Terrace in the early afternoon where we promptly undressed and utilised the public baths and saunas. We headed to the train station for dinner where we spent our evening scanning the grocery stores, book stores & endless eateries. The following morning we were greeted by my friend, Marina who I met while we were both living in Vancouver. Her husband, sister & boyfriend kindly spent the day with us showing us the Fushimi Inari Shrine, introducing us to ginger sake, taking us out to lunch and gifting us with traditional desserts and much desired heat patches.
Next we visited enchanting Nara, shrouded in pagodas and deer. It was cold, but well worth the trip to be surrounded by rich history and cute & incredibly tame animals. Before bullet training it back to Tokyo, we spent our final morning visiting the Geisha district of Gion.
Tokyo
Reuniting with Ali & Sean at the Granbell hotel we prepared ourselves for a fun-filled 4 days. Night #1 started with $1 Suntory highballs, a ramen to rave about & a cat paraphernalia filled record bar. Ending at Rock Bar Mother we got to choose punk and metal tracks from the CD filled walls and we danced, air-guitared and sang (yelled) the night away.
There are too many good things to say about our time in Tokyo! We visited the Shinjuku Gyoen garden, Calico cat cafe, Harajuku & Shibuya and celebrated Jaymin’s 36th birthday arcade gaming, maidreamin, and got our Lost in Translation fix at twilight time at the Park Hyatt and singing our hearts out at Karaokesan. Happiest of memories made in such an exciting, shocking & magical city. See you in Vegas Ali & Sean xx
T & J
don't give away the end 