Cherry Blossoms, Peace Memorials and Geisha Girls: Our two days in Japan

Yes, we are here in Japan during cherry blossom season.  The trees are AMAZING.  And everywhere.  And gorgeous.  Even in the concrete jungle cities, every park is awash with color. 

First day we started with a train ride to Nara: not an easy achievement because no-one (and I mean no-one) speaks English.  The language barrier is a little overwhelming.

Nara is pretty special as the city is full of “sacred” deer which roam everywhere.  They are incredibly tame and you can pet them or hug on them but beware ... they are also very cheeky and will steal whatever snacks you have in your hand or open bag. 

Nara has an amazing wooden temple (allegedly the oldest wooden structure in the world... not sure if anyone has actually tested that fact) with giant statues.

Rainey and I missed the train from Nara to Kyoto by 4 minutes (the dang Japanese are so efficient, their trains actually run on time) so the group - rightfully - left us behind and journeyed on without us.  We ended up on our own for most of the day until we ran back into everyone at the Nishiki market in Kyoto

But my favorite scavenge - by far - was our visit to the Gion district to see the Geisha girls.  We were supposed to be there at 6 PM so we'd see them leaving for work.  And it’s true.  The Geishas meet their customers at dusk, so at 6PM they come scurrying out of the two story wooden houses in that area, and hurry (with minced steps) to the nearby bars / restaurants to meet their evening’s escorts.  They are so beautiful – and artificial – and almost surreal.  The makeup, hair style, clothes….it’s like stepping back in time.  And they will not stop for you to photograph them. In fact, the sight of a camera makes them walk faster and duck into alleyways so getting a good photograph is very difficult.  My best was of a Geisha who got into a taxi and was trapped in repose until the red light changed. 

Day 2 

The next day - with some trepidation – we took a train to Hiroshima to see the Peace Memorial.  In Vietnam, when we visited the CuChi tunnels, we got hours of Anti-American propaganda and lots of tales about the “American pigs who bombed our children from the sky.”  I guess I expected the same from Hiroshima.  Not at all true.  Instead the peace memorial is exactly that:  a complex (including a very well-designed museum, peace arch and some actual buildings that survived the blast) dedicated to peace.   The message is clear and repetitive:  No country should have nuclear weapons because the world can never find peace until all nuclear weapons are destroyed.  There is one exhibit at the museum which shows a large replica of the town of Hiroshima on 8:14AM on August 6, 1945 and – two feet away- a similar sized replica showing the town at 8:16AM.  The first is a typical metropolis with houses and buildings stacked next to each other and a bustling scene.  The second is a wasteland of ash with only 3 or 4 buildings even partially standing… the rest of the city… is just gone. Disappeared. 

One of the actual buildings that survived the bomb. Or at least some of the building was left standing. 

Before we took the train back to Osaka, we visited the Hiroshima castle: Beautifully captured by Jordan in this Selfie (when he was supposed to be taking a photo of Rainey and I)

How about three young girls who – when we asked directions – went 20 minutes out of their way to lead us specifically to the store we were looking for?  Would I ever be so kind to strangers if they stopped me in the street in Houston? I hope so.

And yes, Rainey made ME do the singing with strangers at a Karaoke bar.  These old ladies belted out a rousing rendition of “Reflections” by Diana Ross.

A surprisingly awesome scavenger – to eat dinner in the Dotombori area - which turned out to a cross between the San Antonio river walk and Times Square.  Cafes and restaurants and shops on a riverfront… with lots of neon lights and excitement.

Last scavenge of the night before check-in:  “Go to Spa World and enjoy an ontsen” (otherwise known as a public bath).  And when they say “public bath,” that’s EXACTLY what they mean.  A huge heated pool with dozens and dozens of naked Japanese women undertaking various bathing rituals. Thank goodness I have no nudity issues… because apparently neither do any of the women at Spa World.

We are now on our way to Seoul, South Korea.  Rainey and I came in first place for the Japan leg so the pressure is now on to keep going hard.  I have to say, this was easier seven years ago.  The jet lag, long days and hard exercise is wearing my old body now. But it is fun, fun, fun.