Japan - Kyoto & Osaka

Japan is a country that I have wanted to visit for as long as I can remember and when the opportunity arose I grabbed it with both hands.

My trip included visits to Kyoto and Osaka with the two cities being around 30 miles apart.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1000 years and is the best destination to experience the cultural and traditional side to the country. Many buildings in the city are traditional wooden structures that are protected by law and therefore the city has a historical feeling to it. It sits in the foothills of Japan (Japan is a very mountainous country) and this adds to the atmosphere. Most visitors will spend their time here visiting temples, museums and the countryside and this is a contrast to the usual image of a high tech country.

It is incredibly clean although there are no visible bins! People are incredibly welcoming and friendly and Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. I would strongly recommend taking advice before travelling to Japan. It can be confusing for first time visitors from the UK. Many signs and information are in Japanese and it would be essential to use a guide for the many cultural places of interest.

I stayed at the Westin Mayako which is one of the few Western chains in the city. The Japanese chains (ANA, Nikko etc) really cater for the local market. The Westin is a great standard and conveniently located.

Give me a call if you're interested in visiting this fascinating country,