The Land of the Rising Sun

I really had limited expectations from the Land of the Rising Sun. Yes, there is Hiroshima. And of course, the most expensive city in the World - Tokyo. Then what else ?

Dates : May 17 to May 27, 2018
Weather : Perfect. Supremely pleasant. Slightly windy. Some showers.
Time of visit : Not the ideal time.

We reached Narita airport at 630 pm. Picked up the SIM card from Klook (Fairly easy to locate the shop in the airport). No need for International roaming or Matrix SIM cards. Klook offers very reasonable rates for DATA ONLY (Which means no PSTN calls, only data / WhatsApp calls).

Airport to City : Best is Narita Express. Have to book beforehand. Difficult to do so because of dependency of flight timings. Narita Express is fast, convenient and takes you directly to Tokyo station. There are multiple stops in-between - you can choose to get off whichever is closest to your stay.

• Pretty much all stations in Japan have escalator / elevator (In case of a stroller /luggage)
• Japan Rail pass or J R Pass is a must have (Valid for 7 calendar days, i.e if you start on a Monday, then its validity will expire on Sunday midnight)
• J R Pass is applicable only for J R trains. NOT ALL trains. 
• The pass will give you a far cheaper option if you intend to go to Kyoto, Nikko, Hiroshima
• J R Pass : Have to book in advance. They send voucher which needs to be redeemed at either Tokyo or Shinjuku station. 
• Food : You are fundamentally screwed if you are a vegetarian or even if you eat chicken. Its a pork and beef country. 
• We stayed @ Asagaya. However, recommend staying as close to Shibuya or Shinjuku. We booked through AirBnB. The apartments are small but nice.
• Safety : Incredibly safe. 
• People : Very polite - during our entire stay have not heard a quarrel, bad-mouthing, loud voice. Very helpful. Social. And unlike Europeans, who are consumed with a false unbearable sense of superiority, do not frown upon kids. In fact, very very kid friendly.
• Punctuality : If it says that a train will depart at 8:15 am, then IT WILL depart exactly at 8:15:00. Everything works like clockwork. 
• Metros / trains are the best way to commute. Ensure you have "Data" in your phone. Use google maps. Look for JR trains - once you paid for J R Pass, all J R rides are free. Sometimes you will have to change more trains, but you will save money and with minimal inconvenience.
• The 100 Yen shop in Shinjuku is worth it. Good quality stuff. 
• The Oriental Bazaar is a must visit. Go with your passport, your taxes are waived off.

This is an outstandingly pretty and clean country. You will not kind takeaways and hence consequently find limited bins. No one litters. And you will need to carry your waste around till you find a bin. So keep 2-3 plastics with you. The toilets are the best !

Now, where should you go and what should you do.

1. Hiroshima : Enough is known about it. The Peace Memorial Park is the most sobering place that one can visit. There is only one remnant from that fateful day. It is an unforgettable experience. Nothing much to do or see. Except to remember. And soak in.
2. Nikko : Stay a night here. Its nestled between hills and is beautiful. Very very green. Which is why, during fall, it must be a riot of colours.
3. Arashiyama : The bamboo forest is what you will hear people talk about. Again, more of hype. But the riverside walk is lovely. We reached during sunset and it was marvellous. The shops mostly shut down by that time though.
4. Miyajima : You have to do this on your trip to Hiroshima. The ferry is nice. But its more of hype than substance.