Tag: train travel
Tips for Catching the Train or Bus in Tokyo
Using public transport in Tokyo can feel overwhelming, it’s the largest city in the world and has a train and bus network to match. While it takes some getting used to, it’s also extremely efficient and will get you literally anywhere you...
10 Things you Wish you Knew Before Coming to Japan
Whenever we travel anywhere, there will always be things that take us by surprise. This happens even if we do our research, take a phrasebook, and prepare ourselves for a little culture shock. No matter how prepared you think you are, there...
How to Ride the Bullet Train in Japan
Riding the bullet train (also known as Shinkansen) is easily the most convenient way to travel between cities in Japan. It’s fast, it’s comfortable, and you don’t have to deal with the stress of the airport or a long drive. It’s made...
Backpacking Through Japan – An Overview
In the spring of 2019, my fiancée and I spent three weeks backpacking from Tokyo to Okinawa. Traveling over 2000 kilometers using a mix of almost two dozen local trains, five buses, and one boat, we managed to traverse more than half...
Riding the Isaburo-Shinpei : Tokyo to Okinawa Day 12
Our last day of train travel didn’t disappoint. On the way down to Kagoshima, we rode the Isaburo-Shinpei line, which takes passengers on a trek through the forests and mountains of Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures. The dark wooden interior and primarily rural...
The Healing Waters of Hitoyoshi: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 11
On day 11 of our trip, we left Fukuoka and after a brief and unexpected ramen lunch, found ourselves in the small town of Hitoyoshi. Owing to its rich history and culture, Hitoyoshi touts itself as the “Little Kyoto” of Kyushu. The...
Frittering About in Fukuoka: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 10
Sometimes, the best days of a vacation are the ones where things fail to go as planned. When an amusement park turned out to be defunct, and an art gallery closed, we ended up on a self-guided tour of Fukuoka. Instead of...
All Aboard the Sanyo Main Line: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 9
After a two-day stay, we left the city of Hiroshima behind us and boarded a series of local trains on the Sanyo Main Line bound for Fukuoka. The 9thday of our trip would prove to be the longest. All told, we travelled...
Renewal on Miyajima: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 8
The island of Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, is a short trip away from Hiroshima. Throughout much of its history the island was considered a sacred space, so pilgrims were unable to mourn, give birth, or even die on the island. Moving...
Hiroshima’s Many-Layered History: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 7
Amongst the different regional varieties of the savory pancake-like concoction known as okonomiyaki, connoisseurs frequently tout Hiroshima’s version as one of the best. In other regions, the cabbage, batter, vegetables and meat that form okonomiyaki get mixed together prior to cooking. In...
