14日間の冒険で日本の隠れた名所を発見 – パート2

14日間の冒険で日本の隠れた名所を発見 – パート2

We think Japan is incredible and this vlog about our time there will show you exactly why. We flew 14 hours to the biggest city in the world where we joined Riviera Travel’s Grand Japan tour. In this vlog, we search the Gillon district for its elusive residence, stumble into a Shinto wedding at Mei Jingu, surf the Shabuya Scramble, and get gloriously lost in Synjuku Neon. We come face to face with Godzilla and very polite deer. Pray at Senoji, tease Mount Fuji. Was she shy? And then board a pirate ship in Lake Ashi because well, I don’t really know. Bullet train slingers to Hashima’s haunting peace park and Miaima’s floating Tory where we encounter thieving alcoholic deer. I got mugged by a deer and now the deer is having a ginonic. Kyoto brings tea ceremonies, golden temples, bamboo cathedrals, fox guarded tory, and cobra beef in cobra. So tender it apologizes and you eat it. And just when you think we’re done, snow walls in the Japanese Alps. Well, buckle up and prepare yourself for one huge and incredibly fun ride because Japan is so quirky, so different, so utterly brilliant. We can’t believe we’re here and we can’t wait to show you. Let’s go. Welcome. You join us in part two of our Riviera Travel Grand Tour of Japan. After three nights in dazzling Tokyo, a cloud shai Mount Fuji, our very first ride on a bullet train, and two nights falling in love with Hiroshima, all of which are an absolute mustwatch in part one link at the end. We’ve now arrived in Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital. We pick things up there with our very first full day in the city. Well, good morning from Kyoto. Welcome to a brand new day and a brand new adventure. Today we’ve got a really packed day. First on the list today is a Japanese tea ceremony. So, I’m really looking forward to that. Let’s get on board. We’re the first on board. Eager beavers. Sit here. We were supposed to have a plan. Rotating every day going back to a clockwise position, but um there’s no plan. It all fell into chaos literally the first time. So, it’s just random now. So, uh good morning to all of you out. So, uh let’s see what we are going to do today. Uh the first part of our day is dedicated to the tea ceremony. Looks like we’re here. Here we are. Look, our day began with a traditional tea ceremony. Out of respect for our gracious hostess, we didn’t film the ritual itself. We did take a few little pictures. Instead, picture us quietly nibbling the little sweets that start the ceremony. The omogashi, a rice flour and red bean pancake, and the higashi, delicate sugar confections. They’re not just snacks, but a deliberate balance of sweet before the slightly bitter, frothy green tea. Then came the fun part, whisking the tea ourselves. And yes, Ezat here requires you to slurp the final mouthful loudly to show your appreciation. It’s possibly the only time in Japan where bad table manners are mandatory. How is it, Bonnage? I like it. Well, you’ve already finished yours, so you must love it. I’m nearly to my love before I slurp. Yeah, give it a slurp. I’m just going to take a picture of that before anyone comes out. Next up was Kyoto’s superstar attraction, the Golden Pavilion. This shows how hot it is today. Oh, make the most of this. Oh, it’s all going above us. Oh, King Kakuji or the golden pavilion dates back to the Muramachi period and is precisely what the name suggests, a temple suathed in shimmering gold leaf. On a clear day, it mirrors itself so perfectly in the surrounding pond, you half expect to see the ducks checking out their down. Visitors can’t actually step inside. It’s considered both fragile and sacred with access limited to monks and caretakers. So, this is more of a stand, stare, and sigh moment, but with the sun hitting that gold, it’s a good enough view from the outside. Ah, the old chuck a coin in a hole thing. What you see here are offeratory targets. The idea is simple. If you manage to land a coin in the hole, the gods, Buddhas, or local spirits take it as a sign of sincerity, and you might be blessed with good might, I say, be blessed with good fortune, health, or a bit of financial luck. Well, if you miss, well, that’s just a polite reminder that spiritual insurance is not guaranteed, and you might need to work on your aim. I think I might build one of these in my front garden for passing pedestrians. Could do with upgrading my camera. Well, our next stop was the famous Arashiamyama bamboo forest. We are now entering the forest. But uh despite the promises of zenlike tranquility and peace and quiet, we have none of that cuz it is so busy. Purity though here. Paths weave through forests of bamboo soaring up to 30 m tall. And when the wind stirs, the stalks sway and creek, creating a natural symphony so special, it’s officially listed as one of Japan’s 100 soundsscapes to preserve. Unfortunately, when we visited, the air was completely still, and the soundsscape was babbling tourists. Surely, everyone’s supposed to be a bit hushed here. If it’s on your bucket list, go early or go late. Otherwise, expect more elbows than ambience. Back in Arashiama, it was just as peaceful as the forest itself. So, we fought the crowds in search of lunch. This place is crazy busy. Crazy busy. A major tourist hot spot. Just to warn you, if you want something sort of relaxing and quite laid-back, you’re in the wrong place. Well, it’s lunchtime and we decided to go to the train station. Look at this. This is what they call a kimono forest. They found this little stall by the station. Oh, these look good. Whoa, look at them. So, you got the yoyoza and we got the pork whatever it is. Shuma. Shuma. Shuma. Shuma. Shima. That’s going to burn my mouth to bits. I don’t know. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz they’re freshly steamed. Look at those. Those look great, don’t they? Right. Our third or fourth stop today is a castle. And at this castle, you’re not allowed to take pictures or video anything, which is like really annoying if you’re a videographer. So, I might not be able to get much from here. We’re only allowed to commit it to memory. So, we’ve arrived at the Gillon district, Kyoto. This district is famous for the geishers and the trainees which are called mos. With any luck we might be able to see a few. We walk around today. Oh my. Look over there. It’s like shrines everywhere. I was not expecting all these shrines. The Gillon district is Tokyo’s most famous geisha quarter. A beautiful tangle of narrow streets, wooden matchier townhouses, and lantern lit tea houses that feel like it’s been carefully plucked from a different century. Wandering through a Geon is a bit like walking through a perfectly curated movie set, except it’s all real and for a brief second could believe you’ve stepped into an Edo period time warp. The stars of Guon, of course, are the Geeko and the Mako, Kyoto’s terms for a fully trained geisha and their apprentice counterparts. Far from the pop culture myth of cortisans or glorified hostesses, Geeko are highly skilled performers of traditional Japanese arts, dance, music, tea ceremonies, and conversation. And they train for years to perfect their craft. And no, you can’t become one overnight with a costume rental and a filter heavy selfie stick. As for spotting one in the wild during the day, well, think of it as the wildlife equivalent of seeing a snow leopard in Soho. Technically possible, but extraordinarily rare. Most Geeko and Mako keep nocturnal hours performing at private engagements behind discrete wooden doors. While the early evening is your best bet to see them, hurrying to an appointment, they won’t stop for a photo op. Neither should you chase them down Gon’s historic lanes like a tipsy paparazzo. But we were determined to spot our very own snow leopard. And our patience paid off in spades. We struck Geisha gold. Not one but two Mako sightings. The first glided towards us at quite a pace and they don’t loiter. Possibly allergic to unsolicited selfies. H while the second slipped effortlessly into a waiting taxi. No doubt off to enchant some lucky guests at an evening engagement. It was the perfect finale to a day jam-packed with Kyoto’s greatest hits. It’s beautiful morning here in Kyoto. 28° partially cloudy skies or we’re having an absolutely brilliant time so far. Japan has been amazing. And this morning we’re going to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Just outside the shrine is a rather cool street food area which gave us a chance to take a gander at some of Japan’s street food favorites. What is that thing we do with you? Like a matcha chocolate fountain. Candied strawberries. Everything is strawberry based. Apart from this cucumber sticks. Who knew? That’s what it’s for. I still don’t know what it’s for. Is a vending machine for for beef. It’s a first one of the meals. Now, this shrine is most famous for its seemingly infinite path of bermillion tory gates donated by businesses hoping for good fortune. When I say path, I mean a 4 km hike up a sacred mountain called Mount Anari. At the bottom, it’s a selfie free-for-all. By the halfway point, it’s a bit quieter by the summit. It’s mostly you. Let’s see if we can find it. And let’s see if we can fill up our Instagram with it, shall we? Now, everywhere you turn, there are statues of foxes which are called kitsuni. One of them’s got a key in their mouths and they sometimes holding a ball. The key is supposed to be a key to the rice granary. And these creatures are Inari’s messengers, which means they’re a kind of divine postal service with a key. And they’re often wearing little bibs. Why? I don’t know, but they’re often adorned with red bibs. H like that one up there. Yeah. So, that’s the map and it can take you right up Mount Inari. And I just wish we had time to do it, but not today. I don’t even know where we are on there. You are here. Are you Is that all we are? We’ve got It’s literally all the way up there. Oh my goodness. Well, we’re going to be heading back. We’ve got a Saki tasting. Next on the agenda, a visit to a Saki Brewery to learn how Japan’s famously potent rice wine is made. After an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the fermentation process, lots of rice, steam, and waiting about, we were invited to sample the goods. Now, while the sake itself wasn’t exactly to our taste, we did discover a newfound appreciation for the locally brewed beer. Crisp, refreshing, and frankly more appropriate for the hour. Well, this is the saki beer. No, I was waiting for the punch line. Helen, this is the saki beer. Go on. What’s the punch line? Oh, is it? What’s it like? It’s got a funny smell. A funny smell? Does it smell of rice? Is that rice pudding smell? Don’t know whether I like the smell, but the tastes all right. The devil’s beer. Drink up, love. After a gentle meander through the gift shop, where we all contemplated buying a saki set we definitely never use back home, it was time to hop back on the coach and head to Japan’s first permanent capital, Nway and mercifully, just long enough for most of us to quietly nap off the morning’s enthusiastic tasting session. We arrived in N around lunchtime, stopping first at the covered Higashimuki shopping street. a bit of free time to stretch our legs, poke around a few shops, and then at long last, I achieved a personal culinary goal. Trying something that had piqued my curiosity since arriving in Japan. The legendary Samurai Mac from McDonald’s. Oh dear. Spoiler. It’s basically a Big Mac that spent a student gap year in Japan and came back tasting of soy sauce. And it’s pretty bonkers. You come all the way to Japan and you go, McDonald’s, just wanted to try this Samurai Mac. You can’t be in Japan without trying a specifically Japanese burger, can you? Are these ninja fries then, Helen? Look at that. Like it’s been sliced with a samurai sword. It’s nice. Helen’s got one as well. Is it nice? Soon we were back outside shopping for weird things. I wonder if there’s a Helen version. Look Uno. Do you know what? I don’t know what these are, but I’ve seen them everywhere. If you know what they are, leave us a comment, please, cuz I’d love to know. I don’t even know what sort of animal they are. I’m just a little bit weird. This is great. I could spend ages down here just looking at things. Helen’s come in the shop for her strawberry Kit Kats. Sweet potato. Look at the Mount Fuji Kit Kat. Strawberry. But we weren’t in N for strawberry Kit Kats, Chikawa Uno, or more frivolous Fuji Foder. No, we’d come to meet some rather more notable residents. And so we made our way to Nara Park, home of the magnificent Toadai Gi Temple and about 1,200 four-legged freeloaders. Okay, we’re at the shrine. Does it look like that? Shall we see the big reveal? Yes. And yes, just behind that rather suspiciously photogenic tree is the biggest temple we’d seen so far. Big. Yeah, proper big. Founded in 752 AD by Emperor Shomu, Toai was built to be the spiritual mothership of all provincial Buddhist temples across Japan. It’s been impressing people ever since. Even in its current form, the downsized rebuild from 1692, it held the record for the world’s largest wooden building until relatively recently. Imagine how big the original was. At its heart stands the Dbutsu, a colossal bronze Buddha standing 15 m tall with a 5 m long face. That’s roughly four double-decker buses high. Why does everything have to be measured in buses or Olympic swimming pools or football pitches? drives me nuts. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Toadi didn’t just look the part. It played a pivotal role in the spread of Buddhism throughout Japan. But don’t be fooled by the sacred serenity. Step outside and you’ll be greeted by an entirely different spiritual encounter. The deer. These semi-domemesticated seeker deer roam the park like they own the joint, which spiritually speaking, they sort of do. Long considered messengers of the gods, they are now messengers of perpetual hunger and mischief. Buy a packet of deer biscuits and you’ll find they’ve mastered the art of bowing politely in exchange for food and then mildly mugging you if you don’t pay up quickly enough. Back at the hotel and with it being Saturday night, we figured we’d see how the locals unwind. So, we headed over the road to Kyoto Tower for a bit of light sightseeing and heavy dining. So, tonight we’re in the uh mean streets of Kyoto again, which uh they’re not very mean. And uh we’ve come to a basement in the Kyoto Tower where there’s a food hall. As you can see, it’s very busy. God, do you know there’s so many places to eat in Japan, you would not believe. There’s hundreds. Hundreds just around here. There’s something written in Japanese on this wall in neon. Can you tell what it is? No, nor can I. Should we start with a gin, Helen? So, we’re starting the evening at this lovely little bar called Sando. We’ve gone for the Obi-Wan and tonic. Cheers. Thank you. Cheers, honey. Cheers. So, while we’re uh drinking our gentle next door, they do Wagyu saline steak. Wagyu burgers. Oh, yes, please. Two Wagyu steaks with fries. Because when in Japan, one must embrace local traditions, especially the deliciously marbled ones. Think ours is next on the pass. Here we go. Oh, well. Our first Wagyu beef experience, honey. So, how’s your first Wagyu experience? Your first Wagu steak experience. Interesting. It’s very tasty and the sauce is lovely. You hardly have to chew that at all. Waggy be in Kyoto. Darn it. The next day was a free day, so we wanted to visit Cobra to try some proper Cobra beef. One of the most expensive and certainly the most famous beef in the world. Thankfully, as it was the weekend, we had a rather unusual option for our transportation there, the Garden Train. Just been through tourist information and they’ve told us it’s platform 2. Train comes in at 10:15 and leaves at 10:41. Is that right? Oh, look at these trains. Look how look how clean these trains are, Helen. Wow. This is platform 2. Just here. Look. Well, we’re on platform two, which is where the train goes from. Well, if you notice on the platform here, they’ve got little markers as to which car you’re standing near when it arrives. And each of the carriages has a different season. It’s not a very long journey, is it? No, it’s only about half an hour. This what the visit with us Japanese compendium says. This train offers a unique experience by bringing the essence of Kyoto seasons and traditional aesthetics on board. Each of its six carriages is themed to reflect a different season and aspects of Kyoto’s culture. Car one is entitled autumn and it features tatami style box seating and a design of maple leaves floating in a river. Car 2 is winter and features bamboo and includes a dry landscape garden and shoouji screens designed for snow viewing. Car 3 is spring and the cherry blossoms offers window-facing seats to enjoy the passing scenery adorned with cherry blossom motifs. Car 4 is summer and holly hawk decorated with iris motifs and bamboo screens evoking a sunny Kyoto summer. Car 5 is early autumn and silver grass boasts an authentic Japanese garden reminiscent of Kyoto’s wooden townhouses. And finally, car 6 is early spring plum blossoms featuring spacious tatami style box seating conjuring images of coto in early spring. Each car is meticulously designed to immerse passengers in the atmosphere of Kyoto making the journey itself a cultural experience. So to ride the garden train which is an absolutely brilliant thing. How much Helen? I think it’s about 260 and maybe 300. There’s no more than two pound. No more than two pound to ride on this amazing train. This bonkers cheap for such a really good fun experience. Right. I’ve gone to another train that takes us all the way to Coobe. Here we are. Welcome to Coobe. We’re going to go up to the city hall in Cobra because there’s a viewing platform on the 29th floor, something like that. And it’s free to go up. So, we’re going to go and see what Cobra looks like from the air. Ooh, observation lobby. It says mountain. Oh, this way. See, there is hardly anybody up here. That over there that looks like a cruise ship is the cruise terminal. So if you’re coming this way via a ship, you might be lucky enough to stop off at Coobe. Well, isn’t this lovely? What a scene. It’s a Sunday lunchtime and everyone’s just chilling on the green, relaxing into the weekend. Come to Kobe, they said, and admire our statue of Mozart, said no one ever. Not something I expected to be told. Where are we? Helen Salsber. Another weird statue. We like weird statues. Obviously, Kobe is uh full of them. Just when you thought the statues couldn’t get any weirder statue, some really interesting statue there. Just full of bottoms. Oh dear. 1995, the earthquake caused this marina to collapse. And at that point, the clock was damaged. And this time now indicates the time as an eternal reminder of the earthquake. Moment on the lips, Helen. Lifetime on the hips. Coba, birthplace of Marathon in Japan, 1909. Pretty cool. Here’s the main shopping street. Going to head down there now. See what’s what. Just absolutely goes on for miles. Paradise. We love these shops. They’re so good. Oh my. Oh, look at them. Dad, I didn’t think that one was real. Look. Look how adorable that one is. Helen obligatory kittens. Oh, look at the kittens. Helen, look at their ears. Oh, that’s a Japanese kitten. Look at the little brown one. I just Oh, my heart has melted. Look at him. No. How much? £1,634 per dock. The Ituka Ginger Shrine before we go and get lunch cuz we’re in the area. So, here’s the the main shrine in Kobe. In fact, it’s one of the oldest shrines in Japan. So, it’s just a quick stop at the shrine to uh pay our respect to local customs and religions, of course. But to be honest, we were here for one thing and one thing only. Cobra’s famous beef. Well, I think we’ve come to the most popular place. Of course, State Land. They sell their Cobra beef lunches. The place to be down here anyway, even though it looks horrendously tacky. We’re in. Put our order in. We’re going to clean the plate. including sales, sauces, salad. Oo, tomato. Them steaks literally got our names on them. Apparently, did you know that Cobra beef is to wagu beef what champagne is to sparkling wine? It can only come from cows from this prefrure. So, you can’t can’t have Kobe anywhere else in the world. Amazing. Well worth a visit if you’ve got a free day. M. What a blast. Here we go. See what Kobe beef tender life looks amazing. Is that good? Look at that with the garlic on top. That garlic is just insane. My last piece. Helen, I think Helen doesn’t want that last bit. Do you not want that bit, Helen? Be the last thing we do. Well, there you go. You’re going to have Cobra beef. The best beef in the world. You got to have it in Cobra. There’s the bill. Comes to I say £10,000, £50 for both of us. And we had the prime cup. So, it’s like fill it. How did you think it compared to the one we had last night? Nicer. Right. I think we need to head to the station. Oh, there it is. So, these are what they do on the train platforms. You’ve got a green lane for the locals, a red lane for the express, and you’ve got a blue in the middle to let people get off. So, organized in Japan. Can you imagine trying to get this to work in the UK? We’re walking back to the tram that’s going to take us to the Kyoto station. We’re walking down the main shopping drag and it’s got these covered shopping malls on down the sides which are huge. But this is 20 5 on a Sunday evening and it’s literally like Saturday afternoon off the street in London. Helen for some reason been sucked into a textile shop that just sells cloth. I don’t even know what she goes I wonder if and then like jumps in and it’s just a cloth shop. I ain’t going to go all the way down there. That’s a cloth shop that goes on for Well, textile fans. Here we are inside a cloth shop that sells cloth. What does she want with cloth? I don’t think she’s ever said once during this entangi trip, “Richard, I must find a cloth shop and dive into it for some cloth.” Helen never mentions cloth at home. She hasn’t come out yet. Been in there 3 hours. The cloth shop has consumed her. Seriously, she’s been in there ages. And I can’t see you even see her. She’s nowhere to be seen. Why do you think Helen went in for some cloth? Leave a comment below. Wrong answers only, please. Well, good morning. It’s uh 2 minutes past 8. We’ve come out to Inari because we want to go back to the temple here with the, you know, thousands of Tory gates and we’re going to try and do the whole climb because we got a morning free before we take the bullet train up north to the mountains and we thought we might give this a go today. So, welcome to the Fushimi Inari Temple part two. So, why have we come back here? Well, Fushimi Inari Tatia, Mount Inari Shrine, nestled at the base of Kyoto’s sacred Mount Inari, is one of Japan’s most iconic and photographed shrines. Quite possibly the only religious site that has ever made a cameo in every influencer’s Instagram grid. This is the way to the summit. From here, it’s 40 minutes to the top. The real showstopper here is the Vermillion Tunnel of Tory Gates. some 10,000 of them lining the 4 km hiking trail that winds its way up Mount Arari like a scarlet spinal cord. These gates are mostly donated by businesses, families, or individuals. And each are inscribed with the name of the benefactor and date of donation. Walking beneath them is part spiritual journey, part glute workout, and part highly inefficient game of Is this the top yet? Spoiler, it’s not. A little shop here. selling snacks and energy drinks. Had to procure one of these. Sounds disgusting, doesn’t it? Porcari sweat, which is an electrolyte drink because um we sweated so much up here because of the humidity. Um apparently it tastes disgusting, but if you need it, you need it. Just give it a go, shall we? Oh, we just got to this viewpoint here. And look at that. Isn’t that lovely? That’s Kyoto. I think I’m hallucinating now. The foxes aren’t quite what they were. It’s all getting very zen up here now. It’s very quiet, isn’t it? It’s so peaceful without the crowds. The higher you go, the fewer the crowds, the steeper the steps, and the more likely you are to hear someone mutter, “Well, this seemed like a good idea at the time.” Has a map of all the shrines at the top. So many of them. Yay! Fushimi Mount Inari Summit. Yes. If you think you’re in for a dramatic view at the summit, no. What it lacks in sweeping vistas, it makes up for in spiritual satisfaction and sweaty smuggness. There we are. 2.7 km from the entrance to gate. 69 70 m to the top. Interesting thing is I think it’s a loop. So, we go down a different way. Fushimi Inari is one of Kyoto’s most unforgettable and cardiointensive experiences you can have in Kyoto. And despite our now soaked through clothes probably needing incinerating, we were so glad we came back. Right, time to go back to the station and back to the hotel. Thank you for joining us on this very wild, sweaty ride. With just enough time for a splash and dash shower, we checked out of our Kyoto hotel and trundled off to the station to catch the Thunderbird train to Suruga. Not quite a bullet train, but still the epitome of Japanese transport efficiency. Smooth, punctual, very civilized. As we sped along, the scenery shifted from city bustle to something far more scenic. At Suruga, we refilled while waiting for our next leg. A proper Shinkan blast to our final stop, the surprisingly fabulous Toyama in the Japanese Alps. Oh yeah, and they don’t turn the trains around in Japan. They turn the insides of the train around. That’s so Japan. Look at the front of this train. They have some oddlooking trains. Look at those. Side note, have we mentioned our growing obsession with those fresh smoothie vending machines? First encountered in Okinawa, now a non-negotiable part of our diet. Think liquid health dispensed at the push of a button. Thanks, Japan. Of course, not even that divine green elixia could dampen my inner 5-year-old’s glee at the sight of the Shinganzen. I wouldn’t call myself a train spotter, but these sleek marbvels absolutely mash my fascination buttons. Honestly, why isn’t every intercity train on Earth like this? Checked into the hotel, bags barely down, we set off to tackle the city’s one true culinary right of passage, a steaming bowl of Toyama Black Ramen. Got a ramen restaurant tonight. It’s in the basement of the hotel, but it’s sort of a shopping center. And I’ve asked for a large beer, and normally it’s like this size. This is the largest beer I’ve seen in Japan so far. Looks like a proper pint, doesn’t it? They look good, don’t they? Wow. That didn’t take long. Look at that. No. Wow, that’s a lot. And it’s very, very hot. You’re wondering where the chopsticks were. We just discovered where they are. Look at that. Now, I do have a extremely white shirt on. But it’s actually good etiquette to uh blur your ramen. Oh my goodness, that was a faceful. And here’s the bill. Just under four and a half, which is 22 23 quid. I’ll take that. Ramen roa. Fabulous. Recommended. Guess the visitor for us to see a little profile. Well, good morning and welcome to the Japanese Alps. Well, the term Japanese Alps was coined by a British missionary and part-time mountain nut named Reverend Walter Weston in the late 19th century. Um, well, he made them fashionable to Western Alpineists. And so, the name stuck. They’re split into three ranges. is the northern Alps, which is where we are in Tuyama, central Alps, and the Southern Alps. And the Northern Alps are arguably most dramatic. Now, this is a hot spring. Apparently, it comes from a natural spring, and it’s 90° centigrade when it comes out of here. Actually starts life in the spring 100°. So, it’s virtually boiling water. I have never seen that or experienced that before. An almost boiling water fountain. It’s nuts. You can feel the heat from here. It’s amazing. Platform one, I think. The Kobi Gorge Railway is built as one of Japan’s most spectacular train journeys. And for once, the marketing department isn’t exaggerating. Originally laid down in the 1920s to haul cement and steel for the mighty Kroi Dam, these days the little open-sided rainbow colored carriages carp tourists instead. Our ride rattled some 20 km into the mountains, clattering over more than 40 bridges and ducking through 20 odd tunnels. The scenery kept changing from cinematic cliffs to thick forest, then turquoise rivers, and the occasional waterfall popping up like a bonus feature. At one point, we even passed what looked suspiciously like a castle, as if Japan decided the landscape wasn’t quite dramatic enough. At the lion’s end, we hopped off for a halfhour stroll. So, we’re at the uh top where the railway finishes, and there’s not a lot up here to be fair, but you’ve got to remember this is a working station. So because the original reason for the trains transport workers up here and it still does to this day, they built this little platform here so you could see down the river. That’s really all there is. Obviously the star of the show is the train itself and the journey. Back at the hotel, we went freestyle, determined to hunt down one of Toyama’s much touted highlights that every guide book insists upon. Spoiler, they weren’t wrong. Good afternoon. Welcome to the lift in the hotel. We’re going to go out this afternoon and just have a Starbucks. Well, all will be revealed, honey. Now, for this, we’ve got to go through the station. If you notice, all the train lines are above us. It’s just a case of going straight through because all the train lines are above us. And here we are out the other side. Look at that, Helen. Look, there’s a statue entitled Lovers. Sweet. That right. Carry on. Course. The thing with Toy Armor is everything looks like it’s all been built in the last 50 or 60 years, which it has done because most of Toy Armor was flattened during the Second World War. So, like most Japanese cities, it all got completely obliterated. So, they had to rebuild as fast as they could, probably on a budget. Well, here we are. We’re at Starbucks. Why have we got a Starbucks in Japan, I hear you ask? Well, Toyama is indeed home to what has been dubbed the world’s most beautiful Starbucks. And no, this isn’t just marketing fluff brewed up by someone with too much free Wi-Fi and a Frappuccino addiction. It actually won a design award. So, you’ll find this architectural showstopper at Cansui Park, just a short 10-minute walk north of Toyama Station. There, ladies and gentlemen, give you the world’s most beautiful Starbucks. And it’s probably about half the price of a UK Starbucks. So, that’s about 5 quid. So, 2 pound50 per drink. Can’t get a drink at Starbucks in the UK for 2 pound50, I do not think. So, there you go. Later that evening, we reconvened with our group buddies for a universal cure to damp hair and train seat legs. A G&T and a cracking steak. Absolute perfection. And I’ve just got to say that um I had to have some of the Macallen because it’s so cheap. I I hope it’s not 10,000 and they left the NP, but um I just had to have that. We have found ourselves in a steak restaurant. And it’s on a lovely floor as you can see. What a lovely place. And we’ve got a menu here. That’s really quite funny. Where Where’s the uh Where’s the flap meat? This is the flap meat. What is that? Flap meat. And also the ladies set. Now, in this restaurant, we thought these were napkins, but they’re not. They’re bibs. Look at that. Helen’s got a bib on. Oh, and so have our friends had who, for copyright reasons, shall remain nameless. Absolutely. And privacy reasons, obviously. The food has arrived. It looks magnificent. Magnificent. Lady set. Lady set. lady set for the ladies. You’ve even got pink lady rice. Need to work out who is who. Thank you. Oh, Arato Gonz. This is very, very similar to Silver Sea Hot Rods. Very similar and it’s delicious. That sizzling away. After breakfast the next morning, an event in Japan that takes a little getting used to. Lots of fish and mysterious claws and other things that definitely won’t feature in a Kellogg’s variety pack. Well, salvation came in the form of French toast which appeared every morning like a reassuring carb- based miracle. Suitably sugared, we set off on our full day group excursion to Canazawa. First stop, Kenrakuan Garden, one of the three great gardens of Japan. Carefully sculpted over the centuries by the ruling Maida clan. It’s basically the Michelin starred restaurant of gardens. Every detail meticulously placed, every angle curated for maximum poetic impact. Its name translates to garden of six attributes, which sounds like something you’d unlock in a role- playinging video game, but in fact, it refers to the six classical ideas of garden design. Space, seclusion, antiquity, artificiality, water, and views. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Depending on the season, you might find cherry blossoms, fiery maples, or pine strung up in winter yukatzuri ropes like festival trees preparing for the cirle. Despite the drizzle, we spent an hour wandering among lakes, bridges, tea houses, and perfectly shaped trees. The garden even has Japan’s very first fountain, which uniquely operates without pumps or pipes, just water pressure. A sort of natural party trick and in contrast to the one yesterday, not superheated. From the tranquility of Kenrokuin, we plunged into the bustle of Canazawa city. Known for producing 99% of Japan’s gold leaf, Kanazawa has perfected the art of making everything shiny. You’ll find it on temples, trinkets, even delicately laid on an ice cream. It’s also one of only two major Japanese cities that dodged World War II air raids. So unlike much of modern Japan, it still has a generous scattering of original historic buildings, an architectural time capsule with added and quite gaudy bling. Welcome to Higashi Chayag, Kazawa’s answer to Kyoto’s Gillon district, only with fewer crowds and much tinier streets. This beautifully preserved Geisha district dates back to 1820 when the local feudal lord thought, “You know what? Canazawa needs classy distractions. So he sanctioned a charming enclave for entertainment. Stepping into Higashi Chayagai feels like falling through a wormhole into the Edo period. The district is made up of two parallel streets lined with twotory wooden machia townhouses or polished lattises golden lighting. But unfortunately for us, a dreary late morning doesn’t quite show it off like the postcards do. And then it was back to the coach and into the Japanese countryside which frankly looks like it’s been hand painted by Studio Gibli. Our destination, Gokyama, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in a valley carved by the Show River and surrounded by mountains so rugged you have expect ninjas to leap out. The real stars here are the gas hoi farm houses. their thatched roofs pitched at alarmingly steep angles, as if the houses themselves are in a constant state of prayer against the snow. These are not just quaint postcard foder. They’re cleverly engineered multi-story homes where the upper levels once doubled as silkworm nurseries. We visited Anokura, a small village of about 20 of these houses, some nearly four centuries old. Life here is all about conservation with residents working together in the traditional UI system. basically a neighborhood watch for roofs where everyone mucks in to replace the thatch. Entire sides can be re-roofed in just two days, which makes British Council repairs looking more embarrassing than usual. Gokyama isn’t just an architectural museum piece. It’s a breathing working glimpse into Japan’s rural past still lived out in the present. Our final stop of this superpacked day was a washi workshop. Japanese handmade paper for the uninitiated. Kokyama has been the center of paper making since the 8th century, thanks to its clean water, heavy snowfalls, and long winters that left farmers twiddling their thumbs with nothing better to do than invent stationary. Inside, the earthy smell of bark and pulp hit us. And we watched as mulbury fibers were stripped, boiled, beaten with an inch of their lives, then mixed with ner, a gloopy plant additive that makes the fibers spread evenly. Then it was our turn. Armed with a big wooden frame, we scooped, swished, and sloshed until miraculously a sheet of paper appeared. It’s half yoga, half arm workout, and 100% more satisfying than anything you’ll ever get from WH Smith. After pressing and drying, we admired the gift shops paper wares. Yes, everything really can be made from paper. Look at this stuff. And we were proudly handed our own handmade postcards. Delicate but strong, textured, but elegant. They were both a souvenir and an achievement badge rolled into one. And unlike most souvenirs, these won’t end up shoved in the back of a drawer, probably. Welcome to our room in Toyama. And we’ve got a twin setup because um for some reason we’ve had a twin setup all around, haven’t we, Helen? But I think a lot of the rooms are twin anyway to be fair. Yes. Yes. Japan is quite hot on twin rooms, but this is quite a nice little functional. It’s quite large and um but it’s basically only a threestar hotel. We haven’t got the view we had in Hiroshima unfortunately. But you know it’s not bad is it? You know this is Japan. Japan is all about buildings. So that’s very nice. So but there’s a decent safe. There’s a decent TV. There’s a decent um fridge. What more could you ask for? Not much. Right, Helen’s having a little rest before dinner. I’m going to head to the basement of the hotel where there’s like a pound shop there. They call it 100 yen shop. Let’s see if I can find some quirky Japanese things. Let’s go inside. Actually think these are quite a cool idea. What do you do with them? That sweat, grime, etc. can be wiped off quickly and reusable. That’s another good idea. Like a glove shaped trash bag for hair in the bathroom. Look at these silicon gloves with built-in brushes. Samurai sword. Anybody? Polyyrene head. Anybody? Ah, what I’ve been looking for. Chair socks. Love them. I could really fill up a suitcase full of this. Helen would kill me though. Well, good morning. We have officially left Toyama and we’re on a fairly big adventure today. So, I think the best thing to do is just to well, roll with it really and reveal what we’re doing as we’re doing it. Enjoy. And we start today at the Tatyama Kurobi Alpine Route Station and the Tatyama cable car. M looking forward to that. I am. Here we go. The Tatyama Kurobi Alpine Route is Japan’s ultimate scenic roller coaster, minus the screams, unless you’re afraid of heights or cable cars. Stretching roughly 90 km between Toyama and Nagano prefectures, this spectacular journey hops across the northern Japanese Alps via a patchwork of transport modes, coaches, electric buses, cable cars, and roadways. Along the way, you’ll traverse lush forests, volcanic plateaus, and the mighty Kobi Dam, all while climbing to altitudes of up to 2,450 m without having to lace up a single hiking boot. Bonus. Having braved the finicular and only mildly questioning why gravity hates us, it was time to board the Highland bus to Modo. After being hauled up to Bejo at 977 m, we swapped to a coach that would huff and puff its way to Modo at a breath stealing 2,450 m above sea level. The coach ride itself was an alpine drama in acts. Cedar and beach forests gave way to bright meadows, waterfalls thundering down ravines, and the higher we climbed, the green gave way to granite and snow. Finally, just when you thought things couldn’t get more theatrical, we cruised through the famous snow wall. So tall, makes your coach look like a prop from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Right, so we have arrived 2,450 m above sea level. So, we’ve got an hour up here. We’re going to go down and look at the the road wall. It absolutely reeks of rotten eggs out here. Standing on a active volcano and it’s very sulfury. Yeah. Don’t put any punches up here, do they? Look. Volcanic gas alert. H. Oh my. That’s a bit severe, isn’t it? Great view of the ice wall from here. Look. So the road goes all the way around and uh ends up there. Thickest part which is today 13 m. Here we are right at the highest point. 13 m. Gosh, that’s tall. I’ll pull out a bit and you can see. Wow. How do they keep it up there? They stop it from falling in. Absolutely incredible. This isn’t the dead of winter either. So, what on earth it’s like in the winter? Wow. Look at that. These are like posts by the side of the road. They’ve been completely smashed by the weight of the snow coming down. Like they’re all they’re all completely bust. Well, apparently those wooden sticks are markers installed to indicate the location of the road. The snow can fall as much as 1 m overnight. So when snow accumulates the width of the road and the location of ditches can be difficult to determine. So every fall, target poles up to 9 m long to set up along the sides of the road. Right now we’re up in the observation area and there’s a little walkway you can go to. I think we’re going to try that. Even though I think I’m feeling the altitude a little bit more than Helen. Here we go. You can actually walk on the snow here. This was something I wasn’t expecting today. Walking in the snow in the Japanese Alps in the early summertime. And it looks like here you can fill your water bottles up with mountain spring water. Fresh from the mountain. Although the mountain smells bit eggy. Oh, I can report that is stone cold. Oh, icy cold. Lunch time. One. And we got two pork buns there. They look amazing. Look. Look at them. Amazing. Is that good? Right. Time to tuck in. All right. Next. Hang on. The buses from Rodo. The tunnel. Electric bus. Whis does 3.7 km through Mount Tate to Daikanbo in a neat 10 minutes. That big red dot. You are here. Just finished the tunnel bus. It’s going like there’s a view here. I’ve got 10 minutes to look at the viewpoint. Look at this. It’s a tunnel of snow and ice. It’s quite cool, isn’t it? Oh gosh, it’s cold here now. There’s a lot of snow up here. Wow. There’s a view, boys. And that’s what we’re going to do next. Oh, here it goes. Well, at least we’re going down, not up. So, the ropeway goes from that station there all the way down to there. Look where the dam is. And that’s where the dam is. That’s where the dam is. Wow. This is definitely part one of those days. Wow. Definitely a no wow moment. Next is the Tatyama ropeway. Joy. And at the bottom of that is the Kobi Dam, which would be quite interesting. Here we go. Whoa, that’s a wobbly wobbly. Wa. All right, next we’re going to swing on the Payyama ropeway. Here we are at the bottom of the cable car. A lovely beautiful view. And then we’ve got another uh finicular which they call a cable car to take us down to the dam. More importantly, this black ice cream called dark ice cream. Have one of those. Oh, yes, please. We don’t have white coffee. There is nothing even if you ask. Oh, look at that. Look at the scenery. And look at that. That’s the darkest looking chocolate I’ve ever seen. How is it? That’s the most expensive ice cream we bought on this trip. It is, but it is lovely. Oh, I want the one she’s got. Then came the Kroi Dam. We have emerged from the tunnel at the dam. Oh my goodness, look at this. Welcome to the biggest dam in Japan. Probably with the best view as well. Japan’s tallest 186 m 54story giant. Completed in 1963 after 7 years, 51.3 billion yen and tragically 171 lives. It’s not just big, it’s clever, feeding the underground Kobi number four hydropower plant with a mighty 335 megawatt. Visit between June and October and you’ll see water blasting out at 10 to 15 tons a second. The grand finale was one last electric tunnel bus down to Oizawa where we connected with a coach to Nagano and finally boarded our trusty Shinkanzen for the last super sprint back to Tokyo. A spectacular day made even better by the return of blue skies and sunshine. Yes, even at those snowcapped heights. As we brooded over the end of this trip in our final hotel attached to Hanida airport, we couldn’t help conclude that Japan had utterly stolen our hearts. 15 days, countless temples, bullet trains, cheeky wildlife, giant Buddhas, and ancient ways of life. Our time in Japan with Riviera travel had left us utterly spellbound. Each stop was a kaleidoscope of contrasts. Neon Tokyo giving away to mist draped shrines, bustling markets dissolved into quiet grace of tea ceremonies. An ancient castle standing shoulderto-shoulder with modern skylines. It wasn’t simply sightseeing. It was stepping into a living, breathing tapestry of history, beauty, and humanity. And now as we leave Japan behind, we carry more than just photographs and souvenirs. We carry the sound of temple bells echoing at dusk. The taste of peach ice cream in Okiamama and the world’s rarest beef in Cobra. The sight of red Tory gates marching endlessly up Mount Arari. And most of all, we carry the warmth of shared moments with our fellow guides and travelers who turned an itinerary into an adventure and a tour into a memory stitched into our hearts. Riviera promised us Japan and what they gave us was something far greater. A journey that has lodged itself into our souls. A reminder that the world is vast, surprising, and achingly beautiful. And that sometimes, just sometimes, dreams look exactly like reality. And if you’ve missed part one, it’s here, and we urge you to give it a watch. As for me, I’m going to go off and cry softly in a corner at the fact we live so blooming far from one of the best countries we have ever visited. Thank you for watching.

🌏 Join us as we explore Japan by land in an unforgettable travel guide featuring Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Hakone, Kanazawa, and the Japanese Alps, combined with a luxury Grand Japan voyage on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth (coming soon). From bullet trains and onsens to tea ceremonies, castles, shrines, sake tasting, and samurai history, this is Japan like you’ve never seen it before.

We travelled with Riviera Travel on their Grand Japan Land Tour, experiencing the best of Tokyo’s neon streets, Kyoto’s temples, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Nara’s bowing deer, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and much more.

Expect day-by-day vlogs, travel guides, destination highlights, and plenty of humour along the way. Whether you’re planning your own Japan trip, cruise holiday, or cultural tour, or simply love luxury travel content, you’ll find inspiration here.

✨ Featured highlights:
• Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Crossing & Shinjuku nightlife
• Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Gion geisha district & Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Hiroshima & Miyajima’s floating torii gate
• Hakone hot springs & Mt. Fuji views
• Kanazawa gardens, Toyama rice paper & the Alpine Route

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:23 Kyoto
09:56 Nara
19:27 Kobe
29:30 Shinkansen to Toyama
41:50 Kanazawa
48:58 Kurobe Alpine Route
56:46 Final Thoughts

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE:
We were invited on this tour as guests of Riviera Travel UK (RT). We received no fees or remuneration for producing media during and after this voyage from RT. Any resulting videos have been produced without influence or expectation from RT and we had complete editorial and artistic freedom. RT had no prior preview of this content and are watching for the first time along with you. All our videos contain our personal and unbiased opinion. Please ask us if you want to know more or visit www.asa.org.uk for more information on blogger/vlogger disclosure requirements. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the content as much as we did creating it. Rich and Helen x

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