Life is a patchwork of experiences
For me, the most moving monument at the HIroshima Peace Park was the Children’s Peace Monument with its statue of Sadako Sasaki holding an origami crane. I am sharing Sadako’s story and how her paper cranes became a symbol for peace.
These were the words that greeted me at the Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park. On August 6, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. After the second bombing, Japan surrendered and the World War II conflict in the Pacific was over.
On my fourth visit, I was ready to experience Japan off the beaten path on a cruise with Heritage Expeditions.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
My tour around Japan with Heritage Expeditions, ended, literally, with a big bang!
Continue reading “Japan Off The Beaten Path With Heritage Expeditions”
In this Heritage Expeditions Review I share all my expereinces cruising around Japan on the beautiful Heritage Adventurer expedition ship.
I love cruising, especially small ship cruising. I also love Japan – it’s one of my favorite travel destinations. So, a cruise on the Heritage Adventurer expedition ship that took me to some of Japan’s less visited sights was a dream come true.
Continue reading “A Heritage Expeditions Review – Cruising in Style on the Heritage Adventurer”
On two of my visits to Kyoto, I took a traditional fabric dyeing class at the Kyoto Shibori Museum which preserves and promotes the old traditions for producing decorative Japanese textiles.
The Kyoto Shibori Museum preserves and promotes a disappearing tradition for producing decorative Japanese textiles. On my two visits to the museum, I learned that the Japanese art of shibori fabric dyeing is to tie dying like Leonardo da Vince’s Mona Lisa is to a paint by number canvas – it’s a whole different world of artistry.
I tried a couple of the museum’s shibori dyeing classes where I learned all about this ancient Japanese technique and also went home with a beautiful handmade souvenir. Continue reading “Experience the Kyoto Shibori Museum – Keeping an Ancient Artistic Tradition Alive”
Getting to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Tokyo was an easy day trip that I did on my own during my winter visit to Japan.
Ever since I watched the PBS Nature episode about Japanese snow monkeys, I hoped that one day I might be able to see them in person. When I had the chance to visit Japan in winter with my husband, we took the opportunity to do a day trip to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Tokyo.
The experience with the snow monkeys was as engaging and entertaining as anything I could have wished for. In many ways, it was like looking in a mirror.
Continue reading “Exploring Japan’s Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park From Tokyo – A Look in the Mirror”
Mount Mitake National Park is not far from the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo, but with its peaceful setting, it feels a world away. I enjoyed a Tokyo day trip for a Mount Mitake hike and discovered that in Japan nature and religion come together on top of a mountain.
Mount Mitake in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park was a green and peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Tokyo. Only 90 minutes away, it was easily accessible and provided a non touristy cultural experience as I hiked with the locals past shrines, waterfalls, and a natural moss covered rock garden.
Continue reading “A Day Trip From Tokyo For a Mount Mitake Hike – Where Nature and Religion Meet”
I’ve been to Miyajima, Japan twice in the last few years and am sharing my experiences on how I spent one day in Miyajima.
Miyajima, Japan is most famous for the photos of its floating torii gate. But this lovely little island offers up lots of gorgeous scenery, both man made and natural. I visited Miyajima twice on recent trips to Japan and this is how I spent my day on Miyajima exploring its photogenic treasures.
Continue reading “A Visit to Japan’s Most Sacred Island – One Day In Miyajima”
A visit to the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park should be on all Japan travel itineraries. I’ve been fortunate in that I had the opportunity to visit twice, most recently during my small ship cruise with Heritage Expeditions.
The original version of this story was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the 2018 North American Travel Journalists Association Competition in the Historical Travel-Online category.
As a teenager, I learned about the devastating effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On my visits to the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park as an adult many years later, I encountered present day Japanese teenagers learning their history in this living classroom for peace.
Continue reading “My Visit To The Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park – A Continuing Classroom for Peace”
After four trips to Japan, these are some of my favorite unique Japanese experiences and photos from one of my favorite destinations.
Japan is one of my favorite travel destinations. I’ve visited four times in the last few years and could easily go back again and again. The unique mix of east and west in this culturally rich country continues to fascinate me.
In this extensive Majestic Princess review, I share my expereinces onboard after spending 21 days on a repositioning cruise from LA to Auckland. I also share a lot of photos of one of my favorite Princess ships.
As I was planning my holiday in New Zealand, I discovered a Princess repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Sydney on the Majestic Princess, with the option to disembark in Auckland.
I could take a long, grueling, and difficult flight from the US and deal with jet leg for a week once I reached NZed. Or, I could take a leisurely 3 week cruise that slowly changed time zones which meant that I arrived pampered, relaxed, and rested. On top of that, Princess was offering fares with no single supplements which was very appealing since I was cruising solo.
SOLD!
