Here in Australia schools teach different languages as a second language. The most common are Italian, French, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, the latter taught at the boys' school. Why not take advantage of the fact that we have “translators” and go to sushi land?
Needless to say,, just like I didn't learn anything in the English classes I had at school in Brazil, the boys' Japanese was far from fluent… But the Japan has the great advantage of having all the signs and maps in Japanese and English, making travel much easier than I imagined. The funny thing is that the boys learned (or decorated!) some little songs in Japanese and people were delighted to see western kids singing in that language. This attracted admirers and they were “finding each other”.
We planned our trip so that we could balance visits to temples and historic sites with rides suitable for children and circulated by train and subway throughout the period there. Multiple-day ticket options exist in addition to the Japan Rail Pass, indispensable for country travel.
We started in Tokyo (http://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html). THE Ueno Park is in northern Tokyo and is a nice walk with pagodas, temples and shrines, which also houses the Zoo.
Also in northern Tokyo is the Templo Senso-ji. Destroyed in World War II, it was rebuilt in the Edo style and remains sacred to Buddhists. Super tourist, with shops along the large access corridors, is a “point” for the kids. Girls parade around in typical costumes taking pictures with tourists.
The statue of the Hakiro dog, who would wait for his owner at the exit of the subway every day, even after his death (there is a film with Richard Gere that tells this story - very sad indeed – Always by your side https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFY8vW5IedY), which is in the neighborhood of Shibuya and has one of the busiest intersections in the world, it was one of the rides that the kids loved.
Both Disney and Universal have also established themselves in Japan, but as our focus was not to visit theme parks we opted for one and our choice was Universal in Osaka.
The visit to Monte Fuji need to be in the script, but as we went in the summer and the top had almost no snow, it was a little frustrating. But at the foot of Mount Fuji is the city of Hakone, where we enjoy the cable car ride and cross the Lago Ashi on a pirate boat.
This was the only tour we bought with a travel agency. I booked online a few weeks before the trip - just to be sure?
One of the historical tours that the boys enjoyed and 10 e 12 years old enough to understand, was Hiroshima. The city is very small, in one day it is possible to visit the A-Bomb Dome (photo below), the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum, by the way it was the most interesting - albeit sad - museum I have ever visited.
In Hiroshima Bay there is Miyajima Island. In this World Heritage Site, cutting trees is prohibited, which provides native forest for the deer to live and circulate safely throughout the island. It's Bambi everywhere! What child is not enchanted?
In addition to a wonderful view, there are trails to access the temples and shrines that are up the hill. Unmissable!
Going to Japan with children and not looking for ninjas and samurai is not worth it!
In Iga-Ueno, a small town in the middle of the countryside, They are Iga Ninja Museum. You know that little circus where the trapeze artist sells the ticket, the juggler takes the ticket at the roulette and the clown sells the popcorn? Yeah, there it is well like that. I would say that if it weren't for the kids it wouldn't be worth it, because you end up wasting all day given the distance and so many train changes - getting smaller and smaller - to get there. But they liked it, So… ok.
I o Samurai Museum in Tokyo, that we discovered by chance walking in the Shinjuku region, has numerous original samurai battle armor on display and guarantees fun for adults and children. With presentation of sword handling techniques and the possibility to try one of the armor, this little place got note 10.
Another highlight of the trip was the visit to the Toyota plant on the outskirts of Nagoya. Did you know that the original name was Toyoda and started as a weaving? It was Mr's son. Toyoda who, on a trip to the United States to explore textile techniques, was enchanted with automobiles and changed the family. With an English tour of the museum and factory, this tour was sensational!
In fact, our visit to Nagoya had as main reason the Sumo Tournament. Sumo wrestlers are national idols and the first one we saw up close was a Brazilian! Kaisei Ichirō – nascido Ricardo Sugano, from Sao Paulo, is our representative in the modality.
No word describes this experience better than SURREAL!
Our favorite city was undoubtedly Kyoto, the former imperial capital. The old town is a stroll through history, the modern train station is a sight for architecture lovers, The Nijo Castle it's amazing, the temples and shrines are beautiful, the Golden Pavilion does indeed look like a jewel and the Toori portals are breathtaking!
We love Kyoto ( https://kyoto.travel/en )!
But one of the biggest concerns I had about traveling to Japan with children was food. And if they didn't like the food? I was prepared to try everything and to our surprise the boys were not embarrassed. They tried everything, didn't necessarily like, but hunger has not passed and we adults are delighted!
In Hiroshima be sure to try the Okonomyiaki. Dish based on cabbage and noodles, it doesn't look very appetizing but it's from the gods!
From the stack of plates they liked the sushi…
They say the best time to go to Japan is in the spring, when temperatures are mild and the cherry trees are blooming, or in winter for those who like to ski.
We went in the summer and suffered a little from the heat and humidity 24 hours per day, but it was definitely an unforgettable trip.
We would go back? Assurance!!!
Nilza Shoji
What a wonderful experience! The beautiful narrative with photos “realized” much of my dream of knowing the land of the rising sun. Congratulations and thank you.