Travelling: Japan – Michaela Kainz

In March 2024 one of my long-time travelling goals came true and we visited Japan and South Korea.
After a flight of about 13 hours, we stayed in Tokyo for four days, before we boarded a cruise ship which would take us along the south-eastern coast and further south to Okinawa and Amami-Oshima. Towards the end of our trip, we also visited Jeju, South Korea, and ended in Seoul, from where we returned home.

*View from Asakusa Shrine to the Tokyo Sky Tree*

As an early fan of manga, Japan and japanese culture, it was a long-lasting wish to travel there one day. Of course, some of the highlights in Tokyo were the Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Shrine and the Tokyo Sky Tree, but even the less spectacular things like the subway or the taxi excited me.
Shopping, Pachinko, AniMate, Yuzawaya, cherry blossoms and local food and drinks… We tried to see it all.

*In Shimizu we were unlucky with the weather and didn’t see Mt. Fuji*

On Amami-Oshima island we visited a silk weaving company, where silk is hand-dyed and woven in endless hours. As a fan of Japan, fabrics and old handicrafts, this was one of my favorite stops during our trip.

*One of the weavers at work*. The black dye of the silk is unique to the island and all natural.

In South Korea our ship landed on Jeju island, which is a touristy place where local people go for holidays and honeymoons. It has wonderful nature and is famous for the mandarin, which can be found everywhere.

After two weeks of travelling, I found that it was barely enough to see all Japan (and South Korea) has to offer. So maybe, if I am lucky, I will return one day to explore further.