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| Travelling with prescription medication to japan; Rules and unusual taboos | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 12 2014, 09:15 PM (1,384 Views) | |
| Darcie | Oct 4 2014, 01:29 AM Post #16 |
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Skeptic
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Oh Sooty, sounds like a dream trip, what a wonderful experience you are having, minus the blisters of course. Did you bring an old pair of shoes that you like? Hope they heal fast for you. |
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| goldengal | Oct 4 2014, 01:35 AM Post #17 |
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Mistress, House of Dogs
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Your trip sounds wonderful Sooty. What a pleasure to meet a pen pal you have had for so many years. I can well understand the procedure getting up from the sitting position at the Japanese restaurant. I have always loved sitting on the floor, but when I do these days I have to get up in the same manner you mentioned. Look forward to hearing more about your trip as Internet allows. Take care, Pat |
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| Trotsky | Oct 4 2014, 02:41 AM Post #18 |
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Big City Boy
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If I went to Japan my back would guarantee that I would starve to death. I wouldn't sit on a floor to eat even a free 3 pound lobster. Trip sounds delightful. |
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| blizzard | Oct 4 2014, 02:25 PM Post #19 |
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Gold Star Member
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Thank you for sharing, Sooty. It is always nice to hear about places and what people think of their time there. |
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| sooty | Oct 5 2014, 10:16 AM Post #20 |
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Blue Star Member
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Thursday we took along day trip to Nikko. Set in the hills it has superb cedar trees lining the avenue approach. The Toshogu Shrine is a very old Shinto Shrine and certainly sets a standard in ornate carvings and gold work. There is a whole building with monkey carvings, including the classic three, " hear, see and speak no evil". The Yomeimon Gate is under repair and shrouded in scaffolding but we were able to see one pillar with beautiful and intricate carving. One pillar is set upside down, a deliberate error not to make the god jealous or offend him. A bit like the Persian carpets that have a deliberate error. Only god can create perfection. Two open flights of stone steps , one without a rail tested me. Some of our group then climbed the additional 207 steps to the mountain top burial site. I stayed in the main compound, seeing the gold work and carvings and visiting a building with the entire ceiling a painted dragon . When the guide clapped sticks under the dragons head the roar echoed but not elsewhere in the room. I succumbed to the guide book just to have a better memory. The paths had central slabs, ok for walking but elsewhere were cobblestones. Lots of pilgrims. Shinto is one of the main religions of Japan. Back down those open steps we drove to Lake Chuzenji where the autumn leaves are just starting. Spots of yellow and gold small leaved maple but otherwise mostly green. Then 48 hairpin bends in a coach up and back to the Kegon waterfall! I tended to look into the bus for this part of the ride. Back to Toyko late and I succumbed to Maccas for a burger before collapsing into bed. Certainly I have learnt some limitations with historic sites but WOW it was worth it.
Edited by sooty, Oct 5 2014, 10:18 AM.
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| sooty | Oct 5 2014, 10:27 AM Post #21 |
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Blue Star Member
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Fridays notes. We drove to Matsumoto to see the large black castle , nicknamed crow castle. The entrance steps had a rise of 24 inches and this continued for five floors. I decided not to enter and wandered around the garden and moat area. The majestic castle dominates the landscape. Everyone thought the inside of the castle and views from the top was worth the trip up. Imagine the Samuri warriors training running up and down those steep inclines in full armour. The city museum was fairly low key but had an interesting time line of the archeological digs in the township and castle sites. Next we drove to Nagano, Winter Olympics home, to see the Zenkoji Temple. Founded 1400 years ago it houses what is supposed to be the first statue of Buddha brought to Japan . It is displayed only every seven years. Same set out, some new stories. I hesitate to say it is just another cathedral c.f. European tour. A good nights sleep will cure me of the apathy. |
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| Darcie | Oct 5 2014, 11:05 AM Post #22 |
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Skeptic
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What an interesting trip you are having, never realized that there were so many steps there. |
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| sooty | Oct 7 2014, 01:24 AM Post #23 |
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Blue Star Member
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The Toyama Hotel had its breakfast room on the fifteenth floor with views of the skyline. The weather is muggy. After breakfast I walked around the block to photograph some trams and also some sculptures that I had seen the night before. There seemed to be a lot of street art in Toyama. I managed to buy an apple and a banana to improve my diet. The apples here are enormous as that is what the Japanese want. Our tour guide said that some orchard it's rotate the fruit on the tree for ideal colouring. Australians would be happy with something that fits in a lunch box. Today we travel Toyama to Shirakawa, then Takayama and finally to Nagoya for the night. We headed into more mountainous country to the historic and heritage village of Shirkawa. This is a World Heritage site for unique thatched houses. We crossed a suspension bridge on foot into the township. These farmhouses have three floors and in earlier days silkworms were bred in the upper floors. The timber is held together by rope and some gelatinous substance . It takes 200 men to work to rethatch a roof . Only 190 houses are left. It was a bit like Tumut by the river side with Cotswold thatched cottages, although these are much bigger farmhouses. At the end of Summer the cosmos and marigolds were out making a splash of colour against the dark wood. You could go into the houses and up ladders to see the upper floors. I didn't but instead enjoyed the sunshine and walked the village on wooden sidewalks. Back at the coach stop I tried a horse chestnut ice cream and would thoroughly recommend it. We continued via one of the longest tunnels 10710 metre Hilda Tunnel to the secluded town of Takayama. Here we visited Kusakabe Heritage House showing traditional Japanese architecture of the late nineteenth century. Sliding doors, tatami mats, house altars and restful garden spaces. There was even a replica cat's house and cat. Lunchtime was spent looking at the craft shops, some quality items and sampling local food stalls. I had a rice shape on a stick with spicy sauce, others tried the beef croquette and some the dumpling. More driving and we arrived in Nagoya at dusk. The hotel is in the centre of the city. It's a Saturday and the streets are jumping. As for me a Starbucks bun and soy latte and a hot shower. This trip has lots of walking . That's ok but you do need to conserve your strength. As my mum would have said " I need a cup of tea, a Bex and a lie down". Finally have written up the last three days, had the hot shower and a cup of ginger tea. Perhaps two panadol will equate to the Bex powder. Edited by sooty, Oct 7 2014, 01:29 AM.
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| sooty | Oct 7 2014, 01:36 AM Post #24 |
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Blue Star Member
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The weather has broken and it is warm but very wet.we departed Nagoya for Toba and the Mikimoto pearling industry. We walked across to the island, first visiting the museum. There were displays and DVDs showing the technique of introducing the start of the cultured pearl. The entrance guide was dressed as Ama in divers outfit, white from head to toe. We moved to near the water and from a sheltered area watched three divers jump from a small boat and dive for shell. They whistle when above water to control their breathing. They carried a large wooden tube attached with rope to put the shell in. Next the shop with all prices and sizes and colours. Several of our group bought pearl based souvenirs. We continued on to Ise Grande Shrine, the most important Shinto shrine , over 2000 years old. It is build of cyprus wood and every twenty years it is totally replaced. The last work was 2013 and we watched a DVD of the opening and blessing as the goddess spirit is transferred to the new structure. The Royal family and the prime minister were present. It is a very formal society. The rain was even heavier now and we trudged over the bridge and up through the new cyprus Tori gate. Purification here was in the river. More steps but well spaced and a hand rail so I managed to get as far as unbelievers could go. The buildings are shaped as a rice granary store on raised legs and gilded roofs. Approaching from Toba town the temple stands out as white, brown and gold on the hilltop. I will just have the memory as it was impossible to take a photo in the rain and even our map was soaking. Coming back there were several streets that had been rebuilt in the Edo period style. These were shops and restaurants. Soaking wet all I wanted was a sit down meal and found a pleasant spot. Even the floor didn't phase me. I had three forms of oyster, the local delicacy. They are quite large similar to Sydney Rock. Steamed, fried and smoked with rice and soup. Pickle and salad completed the meal. The young waitress was very helpful, trying hard to explain with her English. I showed her last Christmas' photo of my family on the deck with Tathra oysters and prawns. 1750¥ about $18. Everyone was happy to be on the road to Osaka. It was another 3 1/2 hours through misty mountains. I hope we don't all come down with colds. Osaka busy, next to the train station. Bushed again from the wet walk to Ise Grande. Apparently three temples tomorrow, I can't wait! Typhoon Phanfone is heading north so we shall see if there is any alteration to our plans. I THINK I CAN CUT AND PASTE AT LAST! |
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| agate | Oct 8 2014, 03:37 AM Post #25 |
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What a lovely trip you are having sooty. Thanks for sharing. |
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| sooty | Oct 9 2014, 12:00 PM Post #26 |
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Blue Star Member
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Day eight Japan Another great sleep, waking to the alarm. We left Osaka in rain but the weather promised to improve.We headed to Yonago on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Our guide gave us a lesson in numbers ( yesterday was the alphabet). Eight is a lucky number and four and nine are to be avoided. Odd numbers are to be valued over even. Hospitals don't use number four for a bed. Keiko then talked about weddings, the custom and costs. Her generation was one of the last arranged marriages. A member of the royal family was married yesterday to a Shinto priest at the next Shrine we were to visit. After three hours on the road, mountains, rural , small cities and again lots of tunnels we had a stop at Kotobuki-jo sweets castle, a candy factory. Lots of foods were on offer to taste and there was no pressure. Their horse chestnut sweets are famous to the Japanese. I enjoyed the two that I tasted but wasn't sure how long they would last as a gift at home. Some of the treats were savoury and one had a dipping sauce that was chilli or wasabe based. It was ok after the initial shock. You could see the Sea of Japan from the top floor. And the toilets even had hand paper towels rather than nothing or a single dryer. Onward then past the Matsue turnoff to go further on to Izumo to visit the Izumo Shrine. The weather was shining on us today, umbrellas and rain jackets left in the coach. This was the cue for cameras to be out and snapping. We started at the third Tori gate as the first ,to be a true pilgrim ,was quite a long walk away. The shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, the god of relationships. We heard a lovely story of his kindness to a sorrowful rabbit. Look it up as it is too long to type. The original shrine was 48 metre tall, as discovered from excavations. The current is 24 metre tall. This timbered shrine is renovated, not replaced every twenty years. There are nineteen small buildings mimicking the major shrine that are used when the gods come to visit, every October in Japan, and these small guest houses had their doors open for the visit. The symbol in front of the Shrine was a huge rope made of rice stems, think of the Queen Mary's anchor chain and multiply by ten for thickness. Back on the road to Matsue. Here was another castle, Matsue castle , nicknamed Plover Castle. This one from the 17th century. The classic moat fed from Lake Shinto and high black stone ramparts. The actual tower house was black timber with a Shinto shrine in the first courtyard. The castle roof had carved sea creatures on the roof ridge. Within the grassed area were beautifully pruned trees, classic for Japan but I still don't know the name. Suzanne and I climbed two lots of the approach steps with rails and then walked around the path of the lower ramparts. The next five floors of the castle proper were not for us. Last weekend there had been a lantern festival and some of the banners were still up. When the rest of the group returned they said the view at the top was excellent and a full 360 degrees. Our next stop further around the outer edge of the moat. Matsue Buke Yashiki is the ancient residence of a middle ranking Samurai of feudal days. It was built in 1730. We could see the rooms and implements laid out as they would have been used. Next was our hotel. Some of the group went to watch the sunset on the Lake but another twenty minute walk was not for me. This visiting goddess, see the October gathering of the gods, had a hot shower, put on her yukata, and put her feet up. |
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| Darcie | Oct 9 2014, 12:04 PM Post #27 |
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Skeptic
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Sooty, sounds like your days are full, glad the sun came out. |
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| sooty | Oct 9 2014, 12:04 PM Post #28 |
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Blue Star Member
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Day nine Japan Another great sleep after repacking the main suitcase as we are only able to take hand luggage to the hotel in Hiroshima. There was a long explanation of why. We just follow our guide. She is usually on the ball. Sunshine followed us on our 2 and 1/2 hour drive to Miyajimaguchi where we caught the ferry to Miyajima. Today's total mileage would be 250 km compared to 400 yesterday. Similar mountainous terrain, towns and farmlets and the required tunnels. At one stage it was very foggy at a lower level but cleared after a few km. Today's lesson was origami and we tried to follow an instruction sheet of 15 stages to make "sweet lips". I got to three and then was stuck but some of our group, near the teacher, managed with help to complete the item. Once on the island we followed the beach line to a lookout for the floating tori gate, bright orange, huge and standing in the sea. Some of the inhabitants got very friendly while I was having my photo taken and nuzzled into my handbag for any food. The deer were certainly very friendly and this one managed to grab a plastic bag. We managed to retrieve this before he could eat it. The Itsukushima Shrine was on ground level, a blessing for me as my leg is giving a lot of pain and I was using my walking stick. The Shrine was raised above beach level but the floors were spaced wood to allow for high tides. It was originally built in the twelfth century but obviously in such a spot is often needing repair. At the side was a five storied pagoda. Some climbed to the top but not me. Walking back to the terminal I had baked oysters on skewers for lunch, again the large sized ones. The island is a popular destination and there were lots of families and tour groups looking at the shops for souvenirs. Two of our group, fast walkers, chose forgo lunch to ascend part way on the cable car and they told us that the view of the coastline was superb from that height. Back on the ferry we reached the mainland and continued on to Hiroshima. This city is laid out with large avenues and boulevards , recreated after the devastation of the first atomic bomb in August 1945. The site of the bomb was targeted as the junction of a t-bar bridge and struck Hiroshima Municipal Building and the Hospital behind. The ferro concrete remains of the Municipal Building is designated the A-bomb dome. Peace Park has been created in the green area around the river. We saw the Children's Peace Memorial, dedicated to a young girl, two, when the bomb hit who died later of leukaemia . She inspired hope with one thousand paper origami cranes and children from schools all around Japan create these cranes for display here. There is also a Peace Bell and a Flame burning until there are no more wars. We walked down the Park to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. This is a very graphic pictorial and audiovisual display of the Bomb and the aftermath. I walked with D from WA and pushed her in a wheelchair. She can't walk that far but wanted to see the museum and I found holding the wheelchair gave me support walking. Her daughter walked with us. This is about the only place in Japan that I have seen that is wheelchair friendly. It was a slow progress as the Museum was full of student groups and tourists. It is important to see the devastation of war. We were always told that if Japan were invaded all POWs would be killed. Certainly there was no response after three days and a second was dropped on Nagasaki. It ended the war but at great cost. At the hotel we had some free time to shop and do some exploring ourselves. By this time I was beat and called it a day. Tomorrow is the bullet train. |
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| sooty | Oct 9 2014, 12:08 PM Post #29 |
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Blue Star Member
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Sorry I clicked twice Sayonara. |
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| Kahu | Oct 9 2014, 12:26 PM Post #30 |
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An awful time, near where I live there was a POW camp where a number of Japanese prisoners were shot in a riot at the camp.
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