When Q Radio’s Jane Veitch returned from her bucket list trip to Japan I needed to know all the details of this mystical, enchanting part of the world.
Maybe it was the Race Across the World effect or the constant shots of blossoms, bento boxes and Buddhist temples on my Instagram, but Japan has been on my travel radar for a while. So when I spotted an itinerary offering a two-night stay in South Korea, followed by an 11-night cruise around Japan and a couple of nights in Tokyo at the end, I was sold.
Some trips change the way you see the world, and this was one of them. It was the holiday holy grail of history, modernity, culture, delicious food and landscapes straight from a painting.
We flew with Qatar Airways from Dublin, via Doha to Seoul. South Korea is having a moment right now from K-Pop to skincare, so I was excited. But with just one full day, the pressure to make the most of our time was real. It started with a trip to the Demilitarised Zone (or DMZ). We were just steps from North Korea, and the tour included the Dora Observatory where you could look straight over the border. It was educational and emotional and gave us a new perspective on the ongoing tensions in the region.
Back in Seoul, we spent the evening on a guided, small-group, food and drink tour through Gwangjang market. Apart from the sannakji (pieces of still wriggling, grey, raw octopus) this was incredible. We had dumplings, ramen, Korean stew, and tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes cooked in a spicy broth). And the reputation for great skincare is all true – the girls have the famous ‘glass skin’. I stocked up on face masks and snail cream.
Then it was time to board our Norwegian Cruise Line ship in Incheon and begin the journey to ‘The Land of the Rising Sun.’ Cruising is an excellent way to cover a lot of ground quickly, but it’s very much a flavour of each place, rather than the full experience. Uber works well in Japan, and public transport is great, so don’t feel pressurised into taking the expensive trips organised by cruise ships at each port.
Our first stop was Sasebo and a trip to the Kujuku Islands, a breath taking cluster of over 200 emerald-green islets. Then there was Fukuoka and our introduction to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, with the ancient and high-tech existing in perfect harmony. Onwards to Hiroshima where we visited the Peace Memorial Park and museum and stood in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome. A highlight of the trip was the overnight stop in Kobe. From there, we were able to take day trips to Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. Nara is a must-see, offering a glimpse into Japan’s early history with preserved temples and parkland filled with the famous ‘sacred deer.’ You can feed them with special crackers, and they’re more than comfortable to snuffle right into your pocket. Nara is also home to the Todai-Ji Temple and the Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and very busy, but worth dodging the selfie sticks and taking a tour.
We had half a day in Osaka, and that was spent at the Castle. A beautiful structure from the outside, it’s now a museum documenting the Shogun history of Japan. We didn’t have long enough in Kyoto, but there was time to visit The Golden Temple, one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks. It’s an Instagrammer’s dream, sitting on the bank of a large pond and almost completely covered in gold leaf.
Another highlight was sailing into Shimizu Port, with Mount Fuji as a backdrop. Visiting in autumn we were able to get a decent view of the peak, and it’s easy to see how it has inspired artists and poets for centuries. There were also stops in Kochi, Nagoya and Yokohama before our final three days in Tokyo. It’s my new favourite city, and we packed in panoramic views from Tokyo Tower, a Geisha show with dinner, a tea ceremony, an Isakaya tour (tiny little bars, with drinks and food) and walks in Shinjuku Gyoen National Park.
I’m not going to say it was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday as I plan on returning and seeing everything we missed the first time. But if you’re thinking of visiting Japan, this is your sign to book the trip.
We booked through Oasis Travel in Bangor and this included return flights from Dublin, hotels in Seoul, and Tokyo, an 11 night cruise on Norwegian Spirit, with a drinks package and private transfers. Trips booked separately via Get your Guide and Viator
