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Welcome to the page about my trip to Japan! I did this trip with two friends, Dani and Toni. During the trip we met another four friends from Barcelona (Spain): Iván, Chavic, Jordi and Mariano, and we met a lot of more people. It was a one month's trip, from august 12th to september 12th of 2001.

JAVI

For contacting with me, write me at cavaliero75@hotmail.com

(The most of pics are taken from my videocamera, so its quality is not good enough).

AUGUST 12th

Dani and I depart from Prat Airport, in Barcelona, at 7:00 h , (Toni would come one day later). We arrive at Intl Airport, in Frankfurt, at 9:15 h, and we take the flight to Tokyo at 13:55 h. After 11 hours of flight we arrive to Narita airport at 7:55 h (japanese time) of the next day.

AUGUST 13th

We take the train from Narita Airport to Tokyo, and we lodge ourselves in Tawaramachi, Asakusa, during the first three days, until our going to Kyoto. These day we visit the environ of Asakusa and we go to Akihabara, the electronic district of Tokyo. We do the first purchases, which included the digital videocamera that I used to film the trip.

AUGUST 14th

That day Toni arrived, and Dani went to met him at the airport. As he went I spent the morning visiting the Senso-ji Shrine, in Asakusa, and the environements.

One of the first things that surprised me from Japan was the huge amount of drinking coin machines spreaded by all the country, in some areas are lined by the streets.

And it have grape Fanta!

AUGUST 15th

Once the three of us were gathered we went to Shibuya, the district of youngers' fashion, famous by their "Ko-gals" (girls on college suits).

AUGUST 16th

We take the Shinkansen (bullet train) and we go to Kyoto, where we are going to be until august 27th. There we met the other group from Barcelona. At the afternoon Toni and I went to the Kamo river shore and we saw the Daimonji Gozan Okuribi, a summer party which people lights five giant Kanjis of fire in five mountains around Kyoto. We saw Dai (Big) kanji above all. A lot of people went to see it suited in kimono.

AUGUST 17 th

The seven of us went to see the Eastern district of Kyoto (the more traditional district). We start at the north area, in Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), and we went down till Gion, the geisha's district, where we could see someones.In this area you realize about the big amount of shrines that Kyoto have, ¡it is said that there are more than 2300 shrines!

AUGUST 18th

At the morning we visit Nishi Hongan-ji and Higashi Hongan-ji, twin shrines in the center of Kyoto. At the noon we went toTo-ji and its pagode, the highest in Japan (about 50 meters).

After this we went to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, ¡with more than 10000 toriis!(shinto doors). Of course, we surveyed all ones...

At the return, we go to Tezuka Museum, at Kyoto station, a very big and modern station, with game rooms, restaurants, hotels, exhibition rooms and comercial centres.

AUGUST 19th

That day we go to Nara, in order to see Nara Koen ( Nara Park), where there are deers on liberty. We visit Todai-ji, where there is the biggest bronze statue of Buddha in the world (the structure that covers it is too the biggest wooden structure in the world!) Behind the Buddha there is a pillar with a little hole. It is said that if anyone attains to pass trought it will get the paradise. However, it's so narrow that only childs and some girls can do it (right, Chavic?).

After that we visit Kasuga Taisha and it environments, and after shopping a little we return to Kyoto.

AUGUST 20th

We go to Kanazawa, a village in the Noth of the japanese Alps, and visit the ancient castle, the famous garden Kenroku-en and at afternoon the Ninja-dera, called this way because of the big amount of hidding-places and secret alleys that it has. However, there filming or taking photos wasn't allowed.

AUGUST 21th

We go to Osaka, the second largest city of Japan. That day we knew one of our new fellow traveler, the typhoon, because we had it several days till our travel finished. Because of it we had to limit our visit to the Osaka's castle, Nanba's district and Umeda station, which has the largest underground department store of the world. In fact, the station is so large, that we were all the afternoon in it but we couldn't see all of it!! Near the station are several giant buildings, as Umeda Sky Building, and the second greatest chain-pump of the world (the greatest is in Tokyo's harbour).

AUGUST 22th

We spend this day exploring better the eastern district of Kyoto. We go to Sanjusangendo, a shrine that has a Buddha's statue surrounded by a thousand of more little statues. After this we go to Kiyomizu-dera, placed on a hill's slope, and it's sustented by 139 huge wood pillars.

At noon we go to the Imperial Palace of Kyoto, but we arrived at the closing time, so we spent the afternoon shopping a little.

AUGUST 23th

We met again with our other four friends y we take some trains (through Nagoya) to Takayama, a pleasant village in the japanese Alps, full of traditional houses, but we have to return soon, because the last train departed at the middle of the afternoon.

AUGUST 24th

We spend that day seeing the north and center of Kyoto. First, we started at Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion, at the north. Dani, as always, started again with his "digestive problems", and he went by himself.

After seeing Kinkaku-ji we visit the Imperial Palace (this time we got it) and the castle of Ni-jo.

AUGUST 25th

We took the Shinkansen and went to Hiroshima. We visit Gembaku Domu, the A-bomb dome, the Peace Park and the Peace Museum. Inside it there are several objects as it were taken after the explosion.

After this we go to Miyajima, an island near Hiroshima. In it there is Itsukushima jinja, a sanctuary that own a famous Torii in the middle of the sea, but he remains at ground when the tide downs.

AUGUST 26th

We go to Himeji in order to visit its castle.

At the afternoon Toni and Dani return to the lodge, but I go to explore the western district of Kyoto, Arashiyama. I visit the gardens of Tenryu-ji shrine -it was just closed- and I go to Togetsukyo bridge, from which I can see fantastic landscapes.

AUGUST 27th

We leave Kyoto (sniff!), the place where we had lived a lot of good moments (including an earthquake), in order to go toward Kyushu by Shinkansen, and we would be there two days. We get down in Hakata Eki, in Fukuoka, and there we take a very nice train, the Yufuin no Mori, where we could taste Bento, a food made for being eaten at trains.

That afternoon we arrive to Yufuin, a village in the middle of Kyushu. In this island is easy to find hot springs of magmatic source. We lodge ourselves in a Ryokan that has an onsen and a rotemburo ( hot spa covered and at air, rspectively), and we could eat japanese traditional food.

AUGUST 28th

At morning we left Yufuin toward Beppu, a touristic city in the east of Kyushu where japanese people goes to take hot spring baths. We left our baggage at the lodge and we go to Aso Mt., an active volcano. However, we can't go up to the crater because it was making sulphuric emanations, and we had to complain seeing it from near.

AUGUST 29 th

We spend that day returning from Beppu to Tokyo. Luckily, the bullet train was very comfortable, and for this reason the trip seemed to be short.

In Tokyo we went to Takadanobaba, where we had our lodge. At night we visit Shinjuku, a comercial and financial district famous by the great amount of people that goes there and by its skycrapers.

AUGUST 30th

We were to Akihabara, because when we went there Toni hasn't come yet to Japan, and we spent all the morning there. At the afternoon we went to Roppongi, in order to go up to the Tokyo Tower, which has 333 meters of height. From there we could see an incredible view of all Tokyo.

AUGUST 31th

That day was a very strange day. We agree to meet ourselves with the other four guys from Barcelona (they were in Saitama, at the north of Tokyo) in order to go that afternoon at the Fuji mountain, and to climb it during the night. Dani and Toni went to gather with them at Saitama and I visited Shibuya. He had to meet us at four o'clock. However, there didn't come, because they met the ones from Saitama at that hour, at four o'clock, and they arrived to the place we had to meet us at six hours. Of course, I wasn't there. So Toni, Jordi and Chavic went to the Fuji without me...

SEPTEMBER 1st

Dani and me visited Kamakura (the other still were at Fuji). We went to the Hachiman-gu area and to Hase, with his famous Dai-butsu.

In Hase we saw the Hase-dera shrine and we went to see the sea.

SEPTEMBER 2nd

Once Toni was returned from the Fuji Mt. we went to Nikko, were its raised the amazing mausoleum of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the Tosho-gu. Near it there are some little mausoleums not so amazing (but really nice too!). Above all, the Yomei-mon gate is magnifily ornamented, and it is said that one person could be all day long seeing it and doesn't reach seeing it completely. At the afternoon we take the train toward Tokyo, passing through Utsunomiya.

SEPTEMBER 3rd

This day Dani remained in Tokyo, and me and Toni went to Yokohama. We visit the Minato Mirai 21 area, where is placed the highest skycraper of Japan, the Landmark Tower. From above our sight reaches all Yokohama and till Tokyo. However, that day rained too and we couldn't explore the city as we wanted. For this reason we go to the Yokohama's Chinese district, and after this we returned to Tokyo.

Once in Tokyo we go to Ginza, a luxurious district with wide streets full of clothe's shops, bookstores and jewelries.

SEPTEMBER 4th

We remain in Tokyo in order to see some areas. We start at the Imperial Palace. We visit its gardens, cared till the low detail, and after this we go to the north, where is the Budokan.

After this we go to the Tokyo Dome, the Tokyo Stadium (with a pumping up dome), where several concerts take place and the see of Giants team.

At afternoon me and Toni go at the Ryogoku area, the sumo's district, and we see the National Stadium of Sumo, set for the tournaments, which were going to start in a few days. At that same district the sumokas trains, and there are several places dedicated to them.

SEPTEMBER 5 th

That was the last going out from Tokyo, and I spent it going to the Kawaguchi lake, from where Mt. Fuji can be seen. But that day was very cloudy too, and I only could see the foothill of the volcano. After being some hours waiting (and surrounding the lake), and seeing that would be cloudy all the day, I decided returning to Tokyo ( but I'll return someday and I'll see it!!!!) ^o^

Kawaguchi's lake... because I couldn't see more

SEPTEMBER 6th

That day weather brightened up (finally!), and at the morning we go to the Studio Ghibli, a famous animation studio. It is placed at the environs of Tokyo, in a quiet west neighbourhood. Luckily, we attain doing a guided tour at it, but doing photos wasn't allowed.

At afternoon we went to Harajuku, the area where young people goes for buying clothes and accesories. There you can see boys and girls suited on eccentric clothes.

SEPTEMBER 7th

We dedicate that day for seeing Shinjuku and its skycrapers. Our target: going up to the Tokyo's Government Building, the highest skycraper of the city. From above we could see at first time sights of Tokyo at daylight, but, as always, it was cloudy.

After going out from there we went to the Opera City, too in Shinjuku, and after this Toni and Dani returned to our lodgement, because Toni had to set its baggage (he would depart the next day). I went to Shinjuku and Shibuya for going shopping.

SEPTEMBER 8th

That was the day that Toni returned to Barcelona (mata ne!). Dani went with him to the airport, and I spent the day surveying Tokyo. I started by Ueno, and I visited its park, the Shita-machi museum and the Ameyoko market.

I walked down to Akihabara, Ginza and, at night I reached the Imperial Palace, where I visited the outer pits and the National Diet Building.

SEPTEMBER 9th

Me and Dani visited the Yoyogi park. We went to the Meiji shrine and , as it was Sunday, we could see in the Yoyogi park the famous bands of young people suited on radical clothes. However, there weren't many, because it was raining (another typhoon was aproaching toward Tokyo).

We walked by Harajuku, and we entered to Kiddy Land, a big toystore of Tokyo. There, suddently we met Angelina Jolie, who was buying some toys (she was in Tokyo presenting a movie of her). However, japanese people were ignoring her absolutely!

At last, we visit the NHK TV studios.

SEPTEMBER 10th

With the thypoon above us, we could do only a few things, so we decided to go to the Sunshine City, in Ikebukuro, a big commercial centre with its respective skycraper. Because of the rain, I didn't take photos, only this

incredible!

At night we met us for going dinner with some spanish boys that we knew in Tokyo: Javier, George and Joaquin, and with Chiho and Maki, two japanese that work in our lodge. Before this we went to a karaoke...

SEPTEMBER 11th

Another typhoon's day... We has planned for this last day going to see the harbour and the Rainbow Bridge, but it was raining so hard it was impossible (I let this too for the next time). We went to Akihabara, for doing the last shopping (and for spending the little money we had).

Once again, only this photo. It was our favorite drink. in fact, we always had cocoa for breakfast...

SEPTEMBER 12th

The last day! ( ¡_¡ ) Time to say good bye to all and everyone. The last photos, and that same morning time to return to Narita Airport. The plane took off at 14:40 h...

...15 hours later, and through Frankfurt, we arrive at Barcelona, at 23:00h.

See you soon, Japan!

-Thanks to everyone that made possible this travel as it was ^^ ( hontoo ni doomo arigatoo!!!)-