Japan Part 2: Fujiyoshida, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima

We pick up where we left off last week during our time in Japan with us leaving Tokyo for the town of Fujiyoshida and beautiful views of the iconic Mt Fuji. From there we made the most of our JR Rail Passes on the Shinkansen bullet train and traveled to touristy Kyoto where there's lots to see and do! We learned some Japanese history, including the role Shintoism played in shaping Japanese culture, visited the famous Thousand Torii Gates, and took in a beautiful traditional tea ceremony! One of the highlights of our entire trip was our visit to Harry Potter World in Osaka, where we marveled at how quiet Japanese theme parks seemed in comparison to those we've visited in North America. Our last stop before our return to Tokyo was Hiroshima. The city's tragic past is beautifully commemorated with memorials and museums, giving visitors much to reflect on. We also got a chance to take in an exciting baseball game, which was an interesting juxtaposition against knowing the history of the horrific events that took place there during WWII. In addition to what we did in each of the cities, on this episode we talk about the benefits of purchasing a JR Rail Pass before your visit, our experiences with the Shinkansen bullet train, the benefits and challenges of visiting a country with a language barrier, how we decided which attractions to visit, and how our interest in learning about World History has increased through travel as opposed to when we learned it in a classroom setting. Japan has quickly climbed to the top of the list as one of our favourite countries and we wrap up the episode by sharing some cultural observations, tips for dining there on a budget and general takeaways when planning a trip to this fantastic country!   Enjoy!