In 1999 we had been in Japan for around twelve days, visiting Kyoto, Nara, Takayama,
Matsumoto, Nikko and Tokyo. On that trip four years earlier we missed visiting Hakone
National Park, did not stay in a real traditional ryokan, and did not see as much of Tokyo as
we would have liked. Our 2003 trip to Japan supplied what we had missed on the earlier
trip.
Japan is exotic and quaint, but at the same time very modern, well organized, and
technologically advanced. It is easy to get around using its excellent transportation
system with many signs in English. The people are generally very polite, try to be helpful,
well-educated. Many can understand simple English but often are embarrassed about
trying to speak it. The country is the ultimate in cleanliness and hygiene. Japan is a
fascinating country to visit, although much more expensive than other destinations in Asia.
This is the end of our Japan journal. From Japan we flew to China.