Paul in Japan

15/11 Sayonara Japan

Paul Maassen — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:05:41 +0000

Fuji Hokusai

14/11 Old and new, but…

Paul Maassen — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:50:36 +0000

new architecture

old architecture

The old traditional Japanese temples and houses are beautiful. And the skylines of Tokyo and other metropolises is a prime treat of modern architecture. In general however Japanese buildings are quite ugly, and look not very solid. What happened between those two eras of achievement? Did the isolation stop progress? The wars? Earth quakes?

13/11 Food!

Paul Maassen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:42:46 +0000

Tsumago dinner

Tsumago breakfast

A reason beyond doubt for loving Japan is the food, especially the fish. The culinary surprises are especially great in so called ryokan, traditional Japanese inns that provide bed, dinner and breakfast. 10-15 dishes each meal. This one in Tsumago – an old postal town between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) – even served beef at Kobe quality (roughly 100 USD per 100 grams).

13/11 The final metro morals

Paul Maassen — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:34:25 +0000

12/11 Keeping up traditions

Paul Maassen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:28:38 +0000

Wedding

11/11 Sleeping & surfing

Paul Maassen — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:09:59 +0000

Sleeping in the metro

Sleeping in the metro too

The Japanese are multi-task masters. Why waste metro or train time? Can be used to catch up on sleep, or using your mobile. Used for texting and surfing mostly, not for calling. Even silence cars in Holland are noisy compared to Japanese public transport. No forced co-listening to relationship problems or boring office stories, wow, that is luxury!

10/11 Mysterious Mount Aso

Paul Maassen — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:42:07 +0000

Mount Aso

Mount Aso – inside

Mount Aso - inside

Japan is basically one long string of volcanoes. Some are icons, like Fuji, but also Mount Aso on Kyushu. It is one of the biggest volcanoes in the world, and very active. 750 Kilometers of travelling in bullettrain, bus, taxi and on foot. But Aso did not relent and exhumed big clouds of sulphurous gases. Luckily the Japanese have installed cameras inside the caldera.

9/11 Zen gardens

Paul Maassen — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:04:29 +0000

Taizoin garden, Myoshin-ji

Garden, Daitoku-ji

Garden, Ginkaku-ji

Just a flavour of the many (zen) gardens in Kyoto. For me the absolute number one attraction of the city.

8/11 Most metro morals

Paul Maassen — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:09:08 +0000

metro morals

7/11 Temple heaven

Paul Maassen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:53:46 +0000

Golden temple Kyoto

Row of temples

Temple gate

Kyoto has hundreds of temples, representing many branches of Buddhism and Zen. What is amazing is that the city disappears completely when one enters the temple grounds, time stands still as it where – and sounds vanish. Ideal contemplation spots.