On March 2nd, I embarked on my longest journey so far – a journey that took me through…
Times visited: 1
Cities visited: Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Nagasaki
UNESCO sites visited: 3/26
During my spring journey through Asia in 2016, I spent two unforgettable weeks in Japan. I arrived on April 1st, just as the cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Tokyo. Seeing the sakura in Japan had long been a dream of mine, so I felt incredibly lucky – especially since my 21st birthday was just around the corner! I celebrated it in the world’s largest city with two friends from back home, which was a lovely and much-needed break from my solo travels.
After a few days together, we said a temporary goodbye, and I flew to the far north – to the wintry island of Hokkaido. There, I had a heartwarming couchsurfing experience with a local host who showed me around the city of Sapporo and even took me on a roadtrip to a serene mountain lake.
Next, I flew back to the mainland, this time to historic Kyoto, where I reunited with my friends. We spent our days chasing cherry blossoms through peaceful parks, exploring awe-inspiring shrines and temples, climbing a mountain in the middle of the city, and taking a day trip to beautiful Nara, where we met hundreds of curious, friendly deer.
Then it was time to part ways again as I continued south to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both cities left a deep impression on me. Visiting them was emotionally intense but so important – bearing witness to their tragic pasts is essential in the hope that such horrors are never repeated.
Sadly, my time in Japan ended on a frightening note. While staying in Fukuoka, I experienced two earthquakes. Although I was 110 km from the epicentre, the tremors were strong enough to wake me in the middle of the night – and to scare me into booking the next possible ticket out. The next morning, I fled to South Korea, shaken but grateful to be safe.