日本の経験 The Japan Experience

Japan is a country of contrasts:Modern technology yet ancient

traditions, Millions of people yet very little violence, Extremely clean

cities yet no trash cans...

Presented by Kimiko KanoApril 29, 2010

Flight Path to Japan (with an unexpected delay…)

20 hours later… We’re finally there! Some First Impressions:

High-Tech Toilets

Unique vending machines

Where we went: 2 weeks, 4 cities

Honshu, Japan’s largest island

Distance from Tokyo to Hiroshima: ~ 420 milesJapan has 6,852 islands, 426 are inhabitedThe area of Japan is ~144,000 sq mi, slightly smaller than CaliforniaHowever, California’s population is ~37 mil, Japan’s is ~128 mil

Shinkansen trains run at speeds up to 160 mph

First stop, Tokyo “Eastern Capital”Population: over 12 million people

Tokyo Sightseeing

Tokyo Imperial PalaceHome of the Emperor of Japan

Sony Building

Bike Tour

Japan’s Main Religions: Shinto and Buddhism

Shinto: Worship of ancestors and natureBuddhism: Spiritual solace and daily guidanceMost Japanese will have a Shinto Wedding and a Buddhist Funeral

Shinto Shrine

Buddhist Temple

Water trough

Entrance gate

Buddhist Statue

Torii gate

Tokyo Shrines and Temples

Sumiyoshi Shrine on Tsukuda-jima Island

Zojoji Temple, Hanamatsuri festival

Atago Shrine, Steps of Success

Tsukiji Fish Market The largest fish and seafood market in the world

The auction price world record was a fish that sold for 2 million yen (~$174,000 ). It was a Bluefin tuna weighing 445 lb. The fish shown here is only 1/10th that size.

Fuji TV Headquarters

Tokyo Big Sight

Odaiba: An artificial island with futuristic architecture

Tokyo Big SightTokyo Big Sight

Fuji TV HeadquartersStatue of Liberty

replica

Tokyo Big Sight

377 ft Ferris wheel

Tokyo Fashion

Schoolkids

Business People

Harajuku style

Takayama – Denver’s sister city

Takayama Sightseeing

Takayama Jinya Edo Government Building

Morning Market

Sanmachi-Suji

Takayama Festival:One of the best festivals in Japan

There is both a spring and fall festival and each has a different set of floats. This festival triples the population of Takayama, normally around 95,000.

Hida Folk Village

Gassho-zukuri:Hands held in prayer

This village of traditional thatched houses demonstrates the lifestyle of rural people in medieval Japan

Sitting room turns into bedroom

Onsen – hot bath

Drinking tea in my yukata

Takayama RyokanA traditional Japanese inn featuring tatami floors, sliding paper doors, and sleeping on a futon

Dining area

Remove your shoes at the door

Delicious kaiseki mealsMeals consisting of many small dishes and featuring seasonal and regional specialties

Hiroshima: City of Peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Peace Memorial Park

Cenotaph – contains all victims’ names

A-bomb dome (Gembaku Domu)

Children’s Peace Monument

Miyajima Island

“Floating torii gate” – at low tide

Itsukushima Shrine

Friendly deer

Meeting Family

Family GravesiteBrad and me with my cousin, also named Kimiko

Kyoto – “Capital City”The Capital of Japan from 794-1868

Heian Shrine

This is was built in 1895 to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto. Their gardens are famous for their display of sakura (cherry blossoms).

SanjusangendoThe Temple of 1001 statues of the 1000 armed KannonAlso houses the statues of 28 guardians of Buddhism

Kiyomizu-dera

Drinking these waters gives you health, wealth, or wisdom

This temple is known for the amazing views from its veranda that juts out from the hillside

Nijo Castle:Featuring art from the Kano School of Art… relatives perhaps?

Built in 1603 as the official residence of first Tokugawa shogun. Has nightingale floors and hidden chambers for bodyguards.

Kinkakuji - The Golden PavilionAn illustration of the harmony between Heaven

and Earth

Nishi HonganjiThe main temple of Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism

Nara: The first permanent capital of Japan from 710 - 785

Like Miyajima, Nara also is the home of many deer, but they are a little more aggressive.

Todaiji Temple:The largest wooden building in the world

Pindola Bharadvaja, Buddhist disciple, master of occult powers

This Daibutsu (Great Buddha) is the largest bronze Buddha ever cast at 16 m high

Kasuga Taisha:Shrine of 3000 Lanterns

Japanese Food:Both healthy and delicious

Plastic displays

Ramen

Bento box

Yakisoba

Figuring out what to order…It was confusing at times, but we managed

It helped when there were pictures!

Regional Specialties

Takoyaki

OkonomiyakiFugu

(blowfish)Conger Eel

Seafood

Conveyor belt sushi

We ate a lot of raw fish on this trip

Entertainment: Pachinko, Karaoke, Purikura

Conclusion:Japan is awesome and I can’t wait to go back! But first I need to learn to speak Japanese…Questions or Comments?