Felix & Jenny’s Website - Japan

Japan – March/April 2006

The trip to Japan was just amazing, James’ & Yukiyo’s traditional Japanese wedding being one of the (many) highlights. The bride got changed 4 times throughout the day, including a wedding dress, 2 kimonos and a cocktail dress.

The rest of the trip was great too - with perfect weather for 9 out of the 10 days. We arrived into Osaka and spent the night there before taking the bullet train down to Fukuoka, which was where the wedding was held. We were there for 3 nights and then went back up to Kyoto, spent a night there, and then 2 nights in Nara. After that we went up to Tokyo for two nights before heading home again.

At each place we went to we saw numerous castles, shrines and temples and took hundreds of photos (but don’t worry, I have cut it down to a more manageable number for you!) All the cherry blossoms were out on the trees and everywhere looked just amazing. We went to a couple of Japanese tea gardens too. In Kyoto, we went to a traditional Japanese performance by Geishas celebrating Spring. These performances are held every spring and usually booked out way in advance… so we were quite lucky to get in. Tokyo was a huge contrast to the rest of Japan. You can still find the odd temple and shrine in Tokyo but it is a lot more commercialized there. Especially in the area of Shibuya, where everywhere you go you see Asian-style Barbie and Ken dolls walking the streets. The clothes and hair styles of everyone are just so over the top! Japanese guys with big hair, tight tops with lots of jewelry and way-too-dark (fake – I might add) tans!


Osaka Umeda Sky Building	View from the Osaka Umeda Sky Building

Osaka Castle Osaka-Jo	Jenny in traditional outfit outside the Osaka Castle

James and Yukiyo, with Sally and Yukiyo’s mum at the wedding	Us, all dressed up for a change

Young girl at the Reception	Table at the wedding reception

James and Yukiyo, presenting a gift	Wall of TV Screens at the Canal City in Fukuoka

Shofuku-ji Temple in Fukuoka	Kannon Statues at Tocho-ji Temple in Fukuoka

Himeji Castle	Our Shinkansen Train at Himeji Train Station

Buddha at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara	Lanterns lining the way to Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Flags at the Ksuga Shrine	Kasuga Trisha Shrine in Nara

	Sake…

Octopus Dumpling Dinner in Nara… all washed down with plenty of Asahi beer…	Prayers at To-ji Temple in Kyoto

Proof that the weather wasn’t always nice… Kyoto’s Five Storey Pagoda (To-ji Temple complex) under heavy rain.	a glimpse into a private garden in Kyoto

Lampoons at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto	Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Miyako Odori Geisha Spring Dance in Kyoto	Engrish sandwich rapper found at a Japanese Grocery store! The sandwich was a good (well, dericious!) as the laugh we got from that packaging!

One of the many highlights! The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto	15^th century Zen Rock Garden at Ryoan-ji Temple in Tokyo

A stone wash basin (Tsukubai) at the Ryoan-ji	Temple Ninomaru Palace at the Kyoto Nijo Castle

Cherry blossoms in Kyoto	The outer moat at the Kyoto Nijo Castle

Tokyo Wholesale Fish Market	Shinjuku Station in Tokyo