Japan Trip

Japan Trip
[ Home ]

The Heasley Japan Times

October 15 - November 3, 2000

Welcome! This site is our tribute to a fantastic vacation/work trip we took to Japan in October, 2000. Our purpose in putting this site together was twofold: to let our families and friends see our pictures and read our thoughts, and to provide an information source for anyone who happens by or might be interested in seeing some of the places we saw.

At first, we just wanted a place to post images so my family in Alaska could see what we saw. But, although a picture is worth a thousand words, we figured we'd also add our thoughts, impressions, recommendations/warnings, and links for further information. So, read through if you like, or just check out the images. I've tried to provide captions to make a quick scan a little more informative.

You'll notice bold text being used frequently during your viewing. This indicates a related image on the right side of the page.

If you have a slow connection, be warned that the pages are very image intensive and may take some time to load. If you have the capability, you may want to configure your browser to load images after the page loads.

I've placed links to each individual page on the right, along with a representative picture from that city. We visited more than 16 cities, but did not spend significant amounts of time in all of them. All the major stops were given a page. The pages are ordered left to right, top to bottom (Tokyo, Kyoto, Okayama, etc.).

Before you go clicking, here are some general impressions of the Land of the Rising Sun, along with some undeniable truths we discovered:

Impression: The public transit system is UN-believable. From trains to streetcars to buses, it's like clockwork, and very easy to manage. America would do well to emulate it.

Truth: The trains are nicest on the island of Kyushu.
Truth: If your bus takes a wrong turn, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG BUS!
Truth: Cities with streetcars seem friendlier somehow.
Truth: We need a bullet train from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. It's a must.

Impression: It's easy to get around once you get the hang of the transit system. Area maps are very good once you can follow them.

Truth: If you're following signs to get somewhere, and the signs stop, you ARE there! Stop and look around, you've made it.
Truth: Look up while wandering in a city. You'll miss your target destination sometimes if you don't.

Impression: Cellular phone usage is out of control in Japan. People use them for e-mail while riding bicycles!

Truth: Japanese are not worried about running into you while e-mailing on their phones. Just accept it, and get out of the way.

Impression: Japanese-style toilets, in spite of being technically "sanitary"....two words: icky.

Truth: You'll find crowded restrooms with Western toilets unused...the Japanese find them icky.

Impression: The plastic food you'll find outside restaurants is very helpful, if unappetizing.

Truth: If you can't read the menu, just assume it's fish.

Impression: There are tons of castles and gardens to see. See as many as you can.

Truth: Okayama Castle is best viewed from the outside. The inside is very disappointing.
Truth: Okayama's Korakuen Garden (adjacent to the castle) is spectacular. Spend your time there instead of the castle.
Truth: If you see Himeji Castle first, you'll be disappointed in all the others. It's incredible.

Impression: There's way more to see in Japan than can be seen in three weeks.

Truth: See Miyajima. See Kyoto. See Takayama.

You're still here? Get moving, Tokyo awaits...

This page is maintained by Seth.
Please direct any comments (broken links, errors) to him.

Tokyo

Kyoto