We open the shutter again. Less than 24 hours we have returned from our third makes trip to Japan and are still very fresh in retinal images of overflowing cherry flowers, the smell of incense from the temples and shrines or the frantic pace of endless metropolis like Tokyo or Osaka . The hangover after trips to destinations as far away usually quite hard physically and mentally, but we wanted to take a gap between undo suitcases, put washers and recover from jetlag to tell you first impressions of this adventure.
Japan was where it started our traveling history and is probably the fate that has marked us as people. We were eager to relive some past experiences and share our love for the land of the rising sun with our children. When traveling with children small film has been very different. Obviously we had to adapt everything to your needs but we think the kids have enjoyed as dwarves despite the circumstances that have marked the journey.
The main drawback of this trip to Japan has been the weather. Of the 11 day getaway (9 complete in the Japanese archipelago) there has been only one it did not rain, and most days it has intense, prolonged and improper cold this time of year in this Asian corner . Without going any further, last Wednesday when we wake up in Tokyo we saw a few snowflakes falling from the 22th floor of our hotel unusual!
Worst trip to Japan: Kyoto and KIX
Bad weather and loss of the surprise factor of the first times in Japan has left us a somewhat bittersweet aftertaste, although there have been two negative circumstances that we also wanted to discuss with you: the chaos of Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Circus where they are converting some sights of Kyoto .
In the ultramodern airport Kansai live improper disruption of a country such as Japan (which are usually left little to chance). Colas several hours on the way to pass through immigration and security checks, around which desesperarían the most patient. Surprised faces (first) and anger (just after) people said it all. A bad experience to enter or leave the country you often conditions when wanting to repeat or recommend a destination. A plight we expect solved soon.
In Kyoto we were not traveling since 2006 and at that time was one of the most beautiful and charming places we had never visited. Almost a decade after it has fallen us the myth down by the crowds of tourists that swarm main places of interest. A Kyoto is happening as well as to Barcelona or Venice (to name but a few examples), they are so beautiful and with so many attractions that have fared a little hand the issue with mass tourism cities. Still it has places to visit and justify the effort of trying abstraerte crowd becoming selfies (more silly fashion by God!) Or chasing alleged geisha in Gion Walking Dead plan. We originally had planned to stay in Kyoto, but there was so much demand these days in the city we changed for Osaka ... in the end I think the decision was absolutely right.
Japan with young children
Or adverse weather, or a couple of circumstances may have changed the final purpose of the trip: see the faces of children hallucinating with Japan. We had a few tricks up his sleeve that we knew would work. Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland were two safe values, and the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, one of the best children's museums (and not so young) that have ever been. They loved the Edo-Tokyo Museum where it touched almost everything.
A Teo has crackpot will find both merchandising related to their current heroes (Super Mario, Son Goku, Pokemon, Totoro ...) or has stoked color with Japanese leisure (machines Mario Kart with new screens or the famous game taikos) The bullet train or watch a megacity from 450 meters in one of the viewpoints of the Tokyo Skytree. Not to mention the castles, sumo wrestlers and dozens of "magic" places you've been able to see with their own eyes. Oriol with trying to follow in the footsteps of his older brother's had enough. They have not been even one, not two, not ten young and not so young who have qualified them kawai ... and we drooled us, of course.
The long trip to Japan did not notice too, especially around where Teo and Oriol have behaved like champions on flights. As for the food, it has cost a tad adapt to Japanese cuisine, but found some delicacies have liked, especially the ramen, soba, udon, tempura, with breaded meat and the soups were the nabe. Baby food we have not seen any super or combini and theme to go with shopping through the subway have been neither too well, especially at peak hours in the afternoon.
Neighborhood life
We repeated some places we had visited on other trips to Japan and the Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Senso-Ji Temple in Tokyo, the Kinkaku-Ji in Kyoto or Dotonbori in Osaka, but we have generally moved by different areas of the cities where We had previously stayed.
The main novelty is that we had no pressure to visit the typical places and have been enjoying everyday life in neighborhoods outside the tourist circuits. In Tokyo we were in the area and in Osaka in Kinshicho Daikokucho, some tourist areas but are only minutes away from the center. It was a different, but very rewarding experience.
Overall this trip to Japan with children had many more positive than negative experiences, although it is not that magical destination where all dazzled us. Will we? It is early to say
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