Japan Highlights

I thought I would make some "best of" videos reflecting some of the highlights of this trip. Looking back on it, this was truly a wonderful experience.

My JR pass and Suica Card that got me around just about everywhere and the wonderful Kumano Kodo briefing at Kii Tanabe Information Bureau

Transportation: The bullet train and standing at the station as the train rocketed through at 100 miles per hour

The toilets in Japan ranged from typical "squatting toilets" to the deluxe and automated. The fancy toilets were even in public toilet areas like airports.

Stamps - On a whim I brought some small white pieces of paper to get a stamp at each station going up Mount Fuji in order to avoid buying one of the meter long sticks (no way I was getting that home and, let's face it, who wants it after you get home). It turned out paper stamps are "a thing" in Japan and I collected many.

Places: The main "targets" of my trip were Mount Fuji and the Kumano Kodo. All the other stops were either getting me there or getting me back to Tokyo. That said, a few others stand out, like Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan - the world's longest standing hot spring inn and oldest hotel in the world, The Yunomine Onsen - the oldest onsen, the Adumaya Inn, Koyasan, the Inn at Ise, Mikimoto Island, etc.

Hiking: Here are some highlights from the Mount Fuji Trek and The Kumano Kodo

Animal highlights: The black butterflies, the fresh water crabs, the biting flies, and the frogs

The Yakutas and various national dress

Food - there are several meals that stand out in the following video - the monastery vegetarian meals, the first traditional meal I had, the worst breakfast of the trip at the hostel, the meal at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, the final meal(s) in Tokyo at the hotel, and the mochi!

People: I didn't meet many people on the trip, but there were some who stand out - the lady who served me at the Adumaya, the Australian couple who told me about the pearl divers (in the bus), the family who invited me for dinner at Tanabe, and the "bunny couple".