Fremont residents Mona Shah and Joe Samagond enjoyed a two-week journey through Japan, blending active sightseeing with peaceful moments. Their itinerary included a day trip to Kawagoe, which retained its Edo-period charm, and the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. They experienced the thrill of Mount Fuji on the Shinkansen bullet train. In Osaka, they visited the historic Shitennō-ji temple and, during a half-day trip to Nara, saw the iconic Tōdai-ji Temple, famous for housing the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. Their culinary highlights included vegan sushi and ramen at notable eateries.
In Tokyo, we took a fantastic day trip to Kawagoe, a less popular but incredibly charming town that felt like time had stood still. It's a complete contrast to modern Tokyo, having retained its historic Edo period atmosphere.
We hopped on the early-morning Shinkansen, Japan's incredible bullet train. It was thrilling to catch a clear glimpse of Mount Fuji at exactly 44 minutes into our journey; we'd strategically booked seats on the right side of the train for just that reason.
In Osaka, we absolutely loved Shitennō-ji, one of Japan's earliest temples and the first ever built by the state. We even climbed the five-story pagoda in the inner precinct's pebble-covered courtyard.
We took a delightful half-day trip to Nara, Japan's very first permanent capital. The highlight here was the Tōdai-ji Temple, home to the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha.
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