AMc
Distinguished Member
We took a family trip to Japan over the Easter holidays. It's a place we've wanted to visit for years, big fans of the food and interested in the culture. To say it met our expectations sounds like faint praise - it was fun, confusing, cool, confusing, crazy, confusing, delightful and a million other things. We ate some fabulous food, saw some extraordinary sights and explored until our feet were sore. We walked about 5 miles a day for 14 days. We'll definitely be back though if someone could invent a quicker way to get there I'd be delighted, my 6'2" frame really doesn't suit long haul and I can't afford to travel in business!
If you're planning a trip I recommend a read and post here in the Travel section.
I got a lot of useful advice Japan Travel Thread
I'll be updating the thread as I process and upload pictures in the order I took them.
Everything was taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mkii which is an ideal travelling companion.
Mostly using the 17mm F1.8 or the 14-42mm EZ pancake lens from Olympus.
Constructive comments are always welcome, any questions about the trip I'll happily answer if I can thanks for looking
Day 1 - Norwich to Amsterdam
For us it's quicker to hop over the North Sea to Amsterdam than to get to the big London airports and cheaper if you do the whole trip with KLM.
#1
North sea wind turbines by AMcUK, on Flickr
Beautiful clear weather
Day 2 - Osaka
We arrived at 8.30am and the accommodation wasn't available until 4pm by which time we'd been going for +24hrs without any sleep. A day wandering Osaka like zombies wasn't ideal but we survived.
#2
Welcome to Osaka by AMcUK, on Flickr
We'd been expecting busy and crowded, we weren't quite prepared for it being busy and crowded pretty much everywhere pretty much all the time!
#3
Super signage by AMcUK, on Flickr
Biggest TV screen advertising I've ever seen.
Day 3 - Osaka Castle
The Japanese make a very big deal about the cherry blossom - Sakura.
They have festivals were they picnic under the trees - Hanami, celebrating the start of spring.
It's an amazing thing to see and it's very beautiful so I can understand the enthusiasm.
#4
Osaka Castle grounds Panorama by AMcUK, on Flickr
#5
Sakura at Osaka Castle by AMcUK, on Flickr
#6
Osaka Castle with Sakura by Andy McNair, on Flickr
#7
Hello Kitty by Andy McNair, on Flickr
#8
Mario kart on the streets of Osaka by AMcUK, on Flickr
If you're planning a trip I recommend a read and post here in the Travel section.
I got a lot of useful advice Japan Travel Thread
I'll be updating the thread as I process and upload pictures in the order I took them.
Everything was taken with my Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mkii which is an ideal travelling companion.
Mostly using the 17mm F1.8 or the 14-42mm EZ pancake lens from Olympus.
Constructive comments are always welcome, any questions about the trip I'll happily answer if I can thanks for looking
Day 1 - Norwich to Amsterdam
For us it's quicker to hop over the North Sea to Amsterdam than to get to the big London airports and cheaper if you do the whole trip with KLM.
#1
North sea wind turbines by AMcUK, on Flickr
Beautiful clear weather
Day 2 - Osaka
We arrived at 8.30am and the accommodation wasn't available until 4pm by which time we'd been going for +24hrs without any sleep. A day wandering Osaka like zombies wasn't ideal but we survived.
#2
Welcome to Osaka by AMcUK, on Flickr
We'd been expecting busy and crowded, we weren't quite prepared for it being busy and crowded pretty much everywhere pretty much all the time!
#3
Super signage by AMcUK, on Flickr
Biggest TV screen advertising I've ever seen.
Day 3 - Osaka Castle
The Japanese make a very big deal about the cherry blossom - Sakura.
They have festivals were they picnic under the trees - Hanami, celebrating the start of spring.
It's an amazing thing to see and it's very beautiful so I can understand the enthusiasm.
#4
Osaka Castle grounds Panorama by AMcUK, on Flickr
#5
Sakura at Osaka Castle by AMcUK, on Flickr
#6
Osaka Castle with Sakura by Andy McNair, on Flickr
#7
Hello Kitty by Andy McNair, on Flickr
#8
Mario kart on the streets of Osaka by AMcUK, on Flickr