Memorial Day. Three days. Disasters at work but one of my coworkers graciously filled in so that I could do my speed run as planned. The mission? Kansai and Western Honshu: Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Miyajima and Hiroshima.

What’s Honshu (本州)? And where are Kansai and Western Honshu?

Honshu is the largest island in Japan and considered the main island.  Hence the name, we’re very literal here. Hon (本) can mean “main” and shuu (州、しゅう which is Romanized as ‘shu’) means “province”.  The western side of the island is referred to as dun, dun, dun, “western Honshu”.  The area around Kyoto is called Kansai 関西 which is literally “west of the tollgate” and is rooted in history. Kansai is considered the cultural capital of Japan.

Timeline for a trip

Most people take a week down there, but it’s been 4.5 years of living here and I haven’t made it yet. Hence, last month, I decided it had to happen, even if it were only a grazing. What started as three cities, turned into five, because who doesn’t stop in Kobe for the world famous wagyu (or Kobe beef as we’d refer to it as)when in the area? (That would be me, the three times I’ve been to Osaka, but I digress…). Miyajima (which it turns out isn’t its real name but what everyone calls it) was also a must. It was very much an action packed three days (3.5 if you count the shinkansen ride down after work on Friday) but it IS doable. You just have to be willing to move (and walking super fast like I do doesn’t hurt).

How to get to Kansai and Western Honshu

From Tokyo, you can either fly or take the shinkansen.  I prefer the train and with as much jumping around we did, its a must.  Time line wise and dollar wise as plane would only get you to Kansai.

Where to stay?

To make it easier, we did two nights in Kyoto and one night in Hiroshima.  All were at APA hotels (pronounced how its spelt, not as an acronym) near the stations.  You can find really good deals on APA hotels and they are nice and clean, though small Japanese rooms.

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Slowing Down Time

The best part about a trip like this? And perhaps even my favorite, regardless of the place, is the more you fit in, the longer it appears to your brain you’ve been gone (More on that in Moonwalking with Einstein, it’s definitely true). In Kristen years, I’ve been gone for at least two weeks, not three days. Check out my itineraries for each day and let me know what other great places I need to hit next time!

Friday: Head to Kyoto

We went straight after work, got to Kyoto about 2030, checked in to the hotel and called it a night because we knew it was going to be a long day but there is tons of food options right in the area.

Saturday: Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Shrine
Nijyou Castle
Imperial Palace
Ginkakuji (Silver Shrine)
Philosophers Walk
Aquaduct
Zenriji (eikan-do)
Beer Tour 😛 — no trip is complete without at least one mini beer tour of the city

Sunday: Nara and Kobe

We hit Higashi Honganji Temple on the way out of Kyoto

Nara

DEERRRRRRRRR
Big Buddha — Todaiji Temple
Nara Park
Sakura Burger–amazing! and they also had local Nara beer

Kobe

Ikuta shrine
Foreign Old House street
Rope Way
Herb Garden
Waterfalls
Kobe Steak

Monday: Hiroshima and Miyajima

Peace Park
Boat ride to Miyajima

Miyajima

DEER
Itsukushima shrine
Daishoin temple
Rope way
Miyajima beer
Meat bun stand

I couldn’t get enough of the deer

Back to Hiroshima

Peace museum
Spicy ramen
Hiroshima castle — one of the 100 finest castles of Japan

(Disclaimer: Literally this trip feels like forever and with the amount of places and food and DEER!, I really want to be able to write everything up but that’s going to take a bit, so bear with me on getting these posts complete. I hope you join me as they develop :))