Foto: The sacred torii in the water before the shrine (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Japan - The heat and lack of sleep are taking their toll. I go in search of a toilet. Again, there are girls who want to practice their English. Fortunately, they’re also happy to show me where the toilet is. On the way, they ask me a few questions. I don’t feel much better after using the toilet. Feeling awful, I get into the car. And of course, today we’re heading to the Itsukushima Shrine near Hatsukaichi. The shrine—especially the floating wooden torii gate in front of the temple—is one of the most iconic sights in Japan. The temple is located on the island of Miyajima, accessible only by ferry. The first parking lot is full. We find a second one. It says “P,” but we can’t read the Japanese text underneath. We suspect it’s a private hotel parking lot. Otherwise, there would be more cars here, being so close to the ferry. We park Brutus. In under ten minutes, the ferry takes us to the island. I can’t really enjoy it. I feel worse and worse. Despite the intense heat, I feel cold. The goosebumps on my arms aren’t a good sign. I must have a fever. It’s a shame because the island is actually quite nice. Tame deer lie under the trees, hoping tourists will feed them. They’re not planning to move for anything. Numerous stalls line the path to the shrine, selling food and souvenirs. I try to walk in the shade as much as possible. The torii gate—the floating one—is beautiful. With the lake in the background, it’s a typically Japanese scene. Normally, I would’ve been the first of our group to visit the Itsukushima temple. But today I’ll skip it. The others do too, by the way. We walk back to the ferry. Along the way, I stop at several toilets. Toilets in Japan are quite something. The seat is sometimes heated. Next to the toilet is a panel full of buttons. The Japanese text gives no clues, but probably it’s for spraying. Some toilets even play music to cover any sounds. Flushing is done with a sensor.
Buddhist Sensoji Temple
Japan - We leave the park to have a beer at its edge. It’s warm again today. There are a few light clouds. Rain is predicted during the night, which might bring some cooling. For now, we seek some relief along the Sumida River. The Senso-ji Temple is located ...
Ginza and Shibuya district in Tokyo
Japan - This afternoon, everyone does their own thing. I enjoy walking through the city alone for a while. Just some quiet around me. I walk from the bustle of Ginza toward the south. It’s obvious how well-organized everything in Japan is. At construction sites, ...
Himeji Castle
Japan - We drive to Himeji via the toll road. Himeji is home to the largest surviving feudal castle. The castle tower is especially impressive. From the outside it appears to have five floors, but inside there are six levels. This was intended to mislead attackers. ...
The center of Osaka
Japan - After just half an hour, the train pulls into Osaka station. My hostel is within walking distance, but I can’t get my bearings to figure out which direction to go. A kind lady at the information desk draws it out for me on a map. Hostel HIVE is located ...
The Memorial Park in Hiroshima
Japan - At half past five, we leave Hotel Quel. After some deliberation, we decided to just drive into Hiroshima by car. The alternative of taking a train seemed difficult to manage at such an early hour—especially when you're unsure where to go or where to ...
The temples of Kyoto
Japan - The Toji Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kyoto and, at 55 meters high, it boasts the tallest pagoda in Japan. The pagoda is the symbol of the city of Kyoto. Unfortunately, we can’t view the pagoda from the inside. It is only open during special ...