Golden Week

At the beginning of May Japan celebrated Golden Week. It’s a week that has three consecutive national holidays- constitution day, Green day and Children’s day (a day for boys).

Last year I went to Okinawa, this year I traveled by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto for 5 days. Kyoto was beautiful. I saw old, picturesque shrines and temples, Geisha (Maiko) on the streets and ate plenty of traditional Kyoto food. Our primary mode of transportation was bikes, which we rented from our hostel for the great price of $6 a day.

That region is full of sites to see so I spent one day in Himeji (a short 3 hour train ride from Kyoto..hehe). Himeji city is the home of one of Japans most beautiful, traditional castles, Himeji-jo. On the way back from Himeji I stopped in Osaka and wandered around the bustling Osaka streets for a while.

The weather was perfect and sunny. Much nicer then Iwakis weather, even now. It was a lovely week and it reminded me of all that is great and different about Japan! Can’t wait to return!