The Duffs Travels

I'd love to share with you a little recap of our unforgettable trip to Japan. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the kindness and warmth of the Japanese people.   Our time in Japan has been absolutely fantastic, we have found the Japanese people to be very welcoming and gentle. The food was simply out of this world! We savored every bite of the delicious and diverse cuisine, which was so much more than just sushi. Every single meal was an absolute delight.  We were also impressed by the high standards and pride that the Japanese people bring to everything they do. It's truly inspiring to see such dedication and attention to detail.  One of the highlights of our trip was the onsens. It might seem a little strange at first to be in a hot spring with strangers, but once you relax in it, it's an incredibly rejuvenating and calming experience. We've been to the onsens before in Korea, but the Japanese take their onsen rules seriously, so it's important to ...

We woke to a miserable day and decided to go to the area with the Edo museums and the sumo stables. We caught the tube and changed lines a number of times till we came to the station we needed.  The Edo museums were massive, and we were thrilled to explore the intriguing exhibits. The interactive attractions were particularly fascinating, and we had fun trying them all out. The entrance of the museums had a replica of the Nihon Bashi bridge, the bronze marker from which the distance to and from Tokyo is measured. The first hotel we stayed in was very close to the original bridge. We also saw a life-size replica of the Kabuki Theatre front, which was just a street away from where we were staying. We were especially impressed by the old-style houses that depicted everyday life from the Edo period.  It was especially nice to see the wooden block printing technique of "The Plum Garden in Kameido"  "  We couldn't visit the sumo stables as the rain was too heavy, ...

Our day began with a refreshing soak in the tub on the open balcony, followed by a cup of tea. Soon after, our kimono-clad assistant arrived with breakfast. She was incredibly attentive and friendly, which made our experience all the more enjoyable.  Later on, we visited a shared onsen (shared with strangers, not each other) and were awestruck by the stunning views. We left feeling relaxed and zen. The rest of our day was spent at an open-air art museum, where we had a lot of fun wandering around and admiring the incredible artwork on display.  Before heading back to Tokyo, we had a pleasant boat trip on Lake Ashi. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Mount Fuji due to the time of year, but we had a great time nonetheless.  And yes, Tim did think he was a pirate 😂😂😂

Today, we took a mini break from Tokyo and visited Hakone, a beautiful mountainous hot spring town. We rode on Japan's oldest railway, the Tozan line, which passed through stunning scenery with three switchbacks. Then, we took the cable car, which was a carriage pulled up a steep incline by a large cable. Upon reaching the top, we were provided with masks and then took the rope walk (which was a cable car) to Owakudani. It's a walking and hiking area around a crater caused by an eruption of Mount Hakone 3000 years ago. Unfortunately, all the trails were closed due to the volcanic gases, so we had to wear masks throughout the visit.  Upon reaching the top of the mountain, it felt like we had stepped into an apocalypse as we looked over the edge at the active sulphur gases spurting out of the earth. Later we made our way back to our hotel. It was amazing!!!!! The rooms were traditional Japanese style, very sleek and minimal with an outdoor pool with 40-degree water fed from a...

It was a bright and early start to our day as we headed to Disney Sea in Tokyo. We just had to see how the Japanese put their own twist on this iconic theme park. 😜    As soon as we entered the park, we were struck by the familiar sights and sounds of Disney, but with a unique Japanese flair. From the Disney characters to the visitors in full fancy dress, everything had a touch of Japanese culture.  We spent the entire day exploring the park, enjoying the rides, and taking in the vibrant atmosphere. We couldn't decide what was more fun - the Disney characters or the Japanese visitors in their elaborate costumes.  After a fun-filled day, we retreated to Akihabara, a lively area full of bright lights, maid cafes, and electronic shops. We couldn't resist the massive arcades packed with cranes and video games. The model shops kept one of us entertained till closing time. And yes those are Rice Krispies in my meal 😂