Konichiwa, Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun

It was in the beginning of 2013 when hubby said maybe this year we could visit Japan. It's not in the initial travel plans for the year, just a spur of the moment decision. I was hesitant at first because I am used to planning way ahead (like a year, minimum 6 months) and the target month to travel was May/June school holidays. That only gave me about 5-6 months preparation. Yes, barely made it to my cut off period.

both hands up for Japan!!!

Japan 2013 - Day 11: Last Day in Tokyo... Sayonara, Japan

We still had the whole day to explore Tokyo for the last time as our flight back to Singapore was at 11:55pm. But since it was also check out day, we had to prepare our luggage after breakfast. The hotel has a left luggage facility which was very convenient for us.

By 10:30am we were on board the shuttle bus to Shinagawa Station, then took the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station (160 yen). It was a short walk going to the first gate to the Meiji Shrine.

Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken. In commemoration of the virtues of Emperor (died in 1912) and his Empress (died in 1914), people donated 100,000 tress from all over Japan and from overseas, and worked voluntarily to create the forest that it is now. "The forest was carefully planned as an eternal forest that recreates itself." It was completed in 1920. Ninety-three years on, I wouldn't have guessed that these trees were intentionally planted in this area. 

Meiji Jingu

1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku

Tokyo 151-8557

Phone: +81-3-3379-5511 (Japanese)

www.meijiingu.or.jp

at the main entrance, O-torii, the first torii gate to Meiji Shrine.

made of beautiful cypress wood more than 1,700 yrs old.

Japan 2013 - Day 10: flying back to Tokyo

So that was it. Our time in Hokkaido was over. We felt sad to leave this beautiful island behind. But we had high hopes of (and will definitely plan for) another trip soon, exploring the northern part of the island, and maybe coming back to the favorite places we've been to (but that is going to be hard to choose).  

we've only explored a small part of Hokkaido, and we will definitely go back for more!