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We pick up where we left off last week during our time in Japan with us leaving Tokyo for the town of Fujiyoshida and beautiful views of the iconic Mt Fuji.

From there we made the most of our JR Rail Passes on the Shinkansen bullet train and traveled to touristy Kyoto where there is lots to see and do!

We learned some Japanese history, including the role Shintoism played in shaping Japanese culture, visited the famous Thousand Torii Gates, and took in a beautiful traditional tea ceremony!

One of the highlights of our entire trip was our visit to Harry Potter World in Osaka, where we marveled at how quiet Japanese theme parks seemed in comparison to those we’ve visited in North America.

Our last stop before our return to Tokyo was Hiroshima. The city’s tragic past is beautifully commemorated with memorials and museums, giving visitors much to reflect on. We also got a chance to take in an exciting baseball game, which was an interesting juxtaposition against knowing the history of the horrific events that took place there during WWII.

In addition to what we did in each of the cities, in this episode we talk about the benefits of purchasing a JR Rail Pass before your visit, our experiences with the Shinkansen bullet train, the benefits, and challenges of visiting a country with a language barrier, how we decided which attractions to visit, and how our interest in learning about World History has increased through travel as opposed to when we learned it in a classroom setting.

Japan has quickly climbed to the top of the list as one of our favourite countries and we wrap up the episode by sharing some cultural observations, tips for dining there on a budget, and general takeaways when planning a trip to this fantastic country!

Enjoy!

What we talk about:

• Taking the train to Fujiyoshida and taking in an iconic view of Mount Fuji
• The unexpected benefit of the colder weather in Mount Fuji helping us to avoid the tourist rush to see the cherry blossoms
• Our decision to not visit the “Onsen” in Fujiyoshida, a unique Japanese hot springs experience where bathers go in nude!
• The benefits and challenges of being in an area where there was very little written and spoken English – Google Translate is helpful in Fujiyoshida if you don’t speak Japanese!
• Why we decided to buy the tourist JR Pass, the logistics of getting one and how to use it to make a train reservation
• Our experience on the platform vs traveling on the Shinkansen bullet train which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, and the Japanese rail system in general
• Traveling on from Fujiyoshida to the more traditional city of Kyoto by bus, and the very cool Shinkansen bullet train
• What we got up to in Kyoto, including a tour of Shinto shrines, beautiful old Kyoto, the Thousand Torii Gates (Fushimi Inari Shrine), the beautiful Philosopher’s Path, Arashiyama bamboo forest, and taking in a traditional Tea Ceremony
• Choosing between the many tourist attractions in Kyoto and the affordability of nearby Osaka
• How travel can change your perspective on learning and appreciating World History by providing cultural context and insight into how historical moments have helped shape the region into its current day state
• How expensive traveling in Japan can be and some tips to minimize your food costs (thanks to affordably delicious grocery store sushi and 7-11 Onigiri hand rolls!), and innovative dining styles to get around the language barrier while ordering
• Our trip to Osaka, including a visit to the Dotonburi area and Universal Studios’ Harry Potter World
• Our emotional visit to the Bomb Memorial, Peace Park, and museum in Hiroshima, and their power in helping to understand the reality of the A-bomb aftermath
• Our trip to a Japanese baseball game, and the interesting cultural differences in attending a game in Japan vs North America
• Our return to Tokyo and a day trip to Niigata
• Our top takeaways, tips, and things to keep in mind when planning a visit to one of our new favorite countries, Japan!

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This episode is brought to you by Praxis. Praxis is the future of education, a 9-month program with a 6-month apprenticeship at a startup. It is education, without schooling. If you are 17 to 25 and ready to break free of the conventional path, go to discoverpraxis.com

Music Credits:

www.bensound.com

Check out some of the great things we did during our visit!