After my work camp I spent another five weeks travelling around Japan. Eriko, a friend from college, was so kind to let me stay with her and her parents for a week in Hiratsuka which is not far from Tokyo. During that week I often visited Tokyo, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends I made in the work camp. Eriko guided me around Kamakura and Enoshima. Before I would leave for a journey by myself, we visited Hakone where we watched fireworks during the Bon festival.

For the following two weeks I used a Japan Rail Pass to travel the west of Japan. I did not know where my trip would take me as I hadn’t planned it but I would decide my next destinations about two days in advance. Like this I was flexible and could follow recommendations I got from other tourists and locals. My first stop was Nagoya. After an evening of exploring Nagoya by myself I met two nice Koreans in the hostel and we spent the following day sightseeing.

My next stop was Kyoto. From the first moment Kyoto impressed me a lot. Compared to other cities it seems to be the most popular tourist destination and there are times when I saw more foreigners than Japanese in the streets. Beside all the temples and shrines (which I tried to rush through in one day), I will remember Kyoto for its beautiful and atmospheric alleys. I can absolutely understand why it is so highly recommended to every Tourist! Taking a stroll at night through the dark alleys made me feel like being in a different world. The occasional Maiko crossing your way is the icing on the cake!

Osaka, the next stop on my trip, doesn’t quite captivate with beauty like Kyoto, but nevertheless left a very good impression. I really enjoyed how lively the city is, especially during the night. Before my vacation I decided that I definitely want to spend a night in a capsule hotel and so I did. And it was pretty great! The only downside is that unlike a hostel it is very difficult to meet people. Everything is fairly anonymous and it’s full of old business men. Luckily I was approached my a very friendly old Japanese man when I visited the Osaka castle (who unfortunately couldn’t speak any English) and he guided me around the city.

After visiting Nara I decided that I had seen enough shrines and temples and instead followed a recommendation that I got from a guy I met in a bar in Osaka and made a day trip to Shirahama. That was exactly what I needed for a change: 35°C, sun, the sea and white sand imported from Australia. And so I took it easy before I continued my journey further west to Hiroshima.

In Hiroshima I met Kaori, a friend from college, and she guided me around the city. Her mother also took us to Miyajima (Itsukushima) to see the famous shrine as well as to the Kintai bridge in Iwakuni where we saw the white snakes in Kikko park.

My final stop before making my way back to Tokyo was Beppu. I never heard of it before but a tourist in a hostel recommended it to me and as my rail pass was about to expire soon I had to choose between visiting Nagasaki and Beppu and went with the more exotic choice. I spent two nights there and visited some hot springs including a mud bath and the “sea hell”.

After spending another night in Kyoto and visiting Osaka again where I had a good time with a German friend of mine I went back to Tokyo and finally met Hideo, a college friend and house mate, with whom I would spend my remaining two weeks. Together with another college friend and house mate Declan we would set off for many great adventures.