Japan - In Shinkansen we trust

Across the country from west to east, visiting Shimonoseki, Hiroshima, Miyajima island, Osaka, Kyoto, Takayama and finally arriving in Tokyo.

  • Ride the bullet

    Time to board the Shinkansen, the high-speed train with speeds up to 300 km/h.

    Kokura train station

  • Way of the exploding fist

    Miyajima has been worshiped as a divine island since ancient times. The shrine was built on the seashore where the tide ebbs and flows. First built in 593, then rebuilt in 1168.

    Torii gate at Miyajima island

  • Master of magic

    A sushi overdose is unavoidable during a visit to Japan. This man prepared amazing dishes.

    Having sushi at Sushi-tei, Hiroshima

  • Epicenter

    The exhibition building with a beautiful green dome was completed in 1915. In 1945 the first nuclear bomb to be used against mankind detonated 580 meters above it.

    A-bomb Dome, Hiroshima

  • Time to go south

    I hope this is the right one. The signs don't really help that much.

    Taking the tram in Hiroshima

  • Shogun cribs

    The construction of the castle was completed in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the infamous founder of the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan for 300 years.

    Nijo castle in Kyoto

  • Easy living

    Staying at a traditional ryokan means wearing yukata robes and sleeping on futons on the hard tatami mats.

    Staying at a ryokan in Kyoto

  • Waterfront

    Takano river in Gion, Kyoto

  • Silence is golden

    Nobody will notice if I scratch off some of the gold.

    Rokuon-ji Temple in Kinkaku, Kyoto

  • A moment of reflection

    Reine in Nishi Hongan-ji temple

  • Harmony

    The rock garden from the 15th century consists of 15 rocks, surrounded by low earthern walls. The very quintessence of Zen.

    Ryoanji temple in Kyoto

  • Hands up

    The Kaji-bashi bridge across river Miyagawa has two funny statues, one with long arms and the other one with long legs. The statues are called Te-naga Ashi-naga, meaning just "long arms, long feet", a bronze recreation of art by Yoroku Taniguchi from the Edo period.

    Takayama

  • Full impulse speed

    Reine going east on Shinkansen

  • Coffee house

    The local espresso bar. Or something like that.

    Takayama

  • Baristas

    Having a coffee. Life is good.

    Takayama