Hiroshima in 48 Hours

When travelling through Japan, Hiroshima might be on your list of places to visit, and if not then maybe you might want to consider it. Tragic as it is to say, if it wasn't for the bombings in Hiroshima in 1945 then this great city might not be up there on the travel To Do lists, however there is a lot more to this city than its tragic past.

Having said that, two days is all you pretty much need here to cover the main points of the city, but teaming Hiroshima with a trip to the nearby island of Miyajima can make this trip a worthwhile visit, all covered in just 48 hours.

Hiroshima

The city is easy to reach by train and bus (Willar Express) with both stations central to the town. The city isn't huge but I would recommend using the train and bus networks to get around. You might want to start your day with a not so uplifting visit to the Peace Park which shows the history and events surrounding the atomic bombings in 1945. The Peace Park is located around the remains of the A-Bomb Dome, which is also central to the city's shops and restaurants. 

How to Get a Japanese Working Holiday Visa

(Written for a working holiday visa I got in November 2012, from the UK)

Just over a year ago I got offered a job with the company Booboo Ski to work in a Japanese ski resort. To be able to work with the company, and in any job in Japan you need either a working visa or a working holiday visa. As working visas can be difficult to get, your best bet is to get a working holiday visa which is available to a lot of nationalities under 30.

From what other friends have told me from Australia, places in Europe and America, the ways to get a working holiday visa for Japan are very similar to the UK. Once I received a job offer from Booboo Ski I was told to get a working holiday visa, which led me to research what I needed to do. 

If you are a British citizen you have to go to the Japanese embassy in person. There are two in the UK, and you don’t get a choice. If you live quite far north then you have to go to Edinburgh, otherwise your main embassy is in central London, and easy to find. To apply for a Japanese working holiday visa you need several documents:

The Whole World is Two Drinks Behind Me

I love beer. I love whiskey. I seem to love anything that will blur my vision, waste my money and make me forget everything as well as my dignity. Here is the post that may only matter when you are deciding where to travel next, a post about alcohol and where the hell to find it. Among my travels I am always swayed to a place if there is a brewery or some kind of alcohol filled tour, therefore welcome to my tipsy post about where the alcohol brands are around the world, the tours they give and essentially how the locals get drunk and what on.

Dublin

Dublin needs no introduction on the alcohol front. Famous for Guinness and Jameson, Dublin is definitely a place to visit to try the local poison. I feel ashamed to say I've never been into the Guinness Storehouse, due to my friend’s preferred plans at the time, but we did take a trip to The Old Jameson Distillery. Sweet honeyed whiskey and a place I would recommend. At €14 a ticket you get the typical tour and about three shots of free samples at the end, which you can sample with a choice of ginger, soda and the sort. I liked the distillery; it had a very warm and homey feel to it which can often be lacked in factory tours. Also they host a nice restaurant and cafe at the entrance where you could buy a variety of Jameson mixed cocktails/hot drinks. So, if you have the time take a wander to the whisky house at the very least for the Jameson hot chocolate at the entrance of the distillery which is to die for.

Making it as an English Teacher Abroad

I’m coming up to my last month in Japan, where I’ve spent my time working as an English teacher. If English is your mother tongue, then you’ll find it quite easy to get an English speaking job as a lot of countries have the need for English teachers. Whether you are looking for an au pair job in Europe or wanting to work in a high school in China, you’re bound to find it quite easy to get employment.
When I first left the Japanese ski resort, I began the search for jobs in Japan. I first looked on Craig’s List and the popular Japanese foreign job site Gaijin Pot. The majority of jobs ask for teaching experience, but as these sites don’t ask for any references or any profile checks, you can just exaggerate or make it up. Obviously don’t write you have teaching qualifications, and that you taught English to the French President, just say you’ve had some kind of teaching experience, even if that was teaching dance at a summer camp.

Japan, You Pretty Cray

When looking at some African or Middle Eastern countries, I can then say Japan is pretty normal and not a great deal different from the UK. It’s a civil society and everything is pretty accessible and not hard to come by. They have everything which I use in the UK to lead my typical daily life, for example, banks, supermarkets, great transport, good housing with great utilities, and fantastic friendly people to top it off. However, Japan is a pretty crazy country, but in a good sense. It’s a little bit strange and extremely quirky. Here are some of the things which appear very different to me, they might seem minute but it’s all part of the novelty of Japan and the Japanese way of life.

Dogs – there a lot of tiny dogs in Japan, most of them in outfits, most of them carted around in prams… I once trekked up a mountain with my friend. It was a struggle for us to climb, then at the top we saw an old couple both with prams, with dogs in them. This wouldn’t exactly happen in the Yorkshire Moors.

Osaka, My Japanese City

I've lived in Osaka, Japan for the past five months and I love this city! When I first came here I wasn't too impressed, especially since I'd just spent a week in the beautiful and traditional Kyoto. Osaka and Kyoto are very close distance wise in a literal sense, but culturally they couldn't be further. 
Kyoto is a city full of temples, shrines and nature, whereas Osaka is full of impressive skyscrapers, bars and restaurants. At first glance this city did not have much to offer me, but I stayed here for work as getting an English teaching job was much easier and more available here. After five months of being here I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in Japan. The city is big enough to offer the average local, but small enough to get around cheaply and even by walking. The city also has an airport, which flies all over the world, and getting around the city is easy by its subway and JR lines.

I describe Osaka like Manchester in the UK, as there isn't much for a tourist but to live it's a great city for work/business, shopping, nightlight and restaurants. Osaka also has a good handful of foreigners, so it's great for me to meet people as my Japanese is so shit.  But as the city isn't great for sightseeing and tourists, let me help you out on good ways to spend your time here.

Have you Ever Backpacked Because of a Movie?

(Mont St Michel, France. Inspiration for Minas Tirith in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

I always wonder where people get the inspiration on where to backpack and travel to. Hopefully if you're reading this, then you rely on travel blogs for inspiration. Some people listen to friends stories, but I think a lot of people get their inspiration from movies or TV shows.
There are many movies which have inspired my travels and made me want to go to certain places. A recent destination on my travel to-do list is Gunkan Jima, which is an old mining island off the south coast of Japan. A lot of Japanese people question why I want to visit such a place, and I say because it featured in the latest James Bond film, Skyfall. So I thought I'd list a few other places I've visited and want to visit which have been inspired from movies.

Where to go in Kansai?

Kansai is a big area in central Japan and a tourist hotspot. It homes two of the most popular Japanese cities, Kyoto and Osaka, but there is also plenty to see outside of these two hubs, check out some of the towns more off the tourist beaten track.

Nara

Nara was on my To Do List when I first came to Japan, and having now been a few times I still highly recommend it. Nara is a former capital of Japan and worth at least a few days of your time. The large town is knee-deep in history, culture and Japanese tradition, and it has grass, something which Kyoto and Osaka lack. Nara has a lot of wild deer roaming around, which is a reason worth visiting the city alone. The area is also home to many historical sights and many claims to fame including the largest Buddha in Japan (and one of the largest in the world), and also the largest wooden building in the world.

Backpacking Japan on a Budget

Japan is labelled as one of the most expensive countries in the world, and having lived here for the past eight months I can certainly say it isn't cheap, however this country still can be done cheaply. Not Eastern Europe, South East Asia cheap, but a bit cheaper than you first might think. As a local I now know some of the tricks to travelling this wonderful country on a budget, and I feel it’s only right that I pass on my thoughts.

Accommodation

Firstly, your main cost no doubt, is accommodation. This can be avoided by any traveller who is familiar with couchsurfing. There are a million and one foreigners in Japan, so if you're worried about the Japanese language barrier, then worry no more! Couchsurfing is worth exploring, and although it can limit your travel due to location and timings, it’s still a great way to explore a country. However, if couchsurfing isn’t for you then I’d recommend these cheap but good quality hostels in the main cities of Japan:

Exploring Around Tokyo

When backpacking around Japan it’s very easy to get sucked into the city vibes and stay pretty central to where the main tourism lies. However, the real culture and often the charms of this country lie around the city outskirts. Some places may be more obvious than others to visit, but escaping the neon lights and hustle and bustle, is more what Japan is about. Take Tokyo, for example. This is a fantastic city and I don’t discourage anyone from spending time here, however if you do have some extra days, it is definitely worth exploring what else is around this capital.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is probably the most popular and most well-known place around Tokyo. Japan’s tallest mountain and a recent World Heritage Site this spectacle is worth a visit. However, the need to climb Mount Fuji may not be for everyone. If anything, this mountain is best explored from a far to see the beautiful views and the sunset behind. But if you do want to go to the mountain then the easiest way is to go by bus or train from Tokyo. There are no trains directly to the mountain point so catch a train to either Fujiyoshida or Gotemba and get a bus from there. However, the best viewing points for this mountain are in Hakone or in Fuji itself.

Kyoto, Japan's Cultural City

Kyoto is recommended by most as the second place to visit in Japan, following - of course - Tokyo. The city is very different to its touristy brothers, the capital and popular Osaka, as it is enriched in culture and tradition. There is a cosmopolitan side with a variety of shops, restaurants and bars, and most importantly a backpacker vibe.

Top Spots

Kyoto is one of those cities where you have to see the ‘top spots’. Most cities will have the top places to visit which sometimes can be overrated, however Kyoto’s top locations are very different from those you’d see in any other country, and in my opinion they are unmissable. I’d say the main places to visit centre are The Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari and Kiyomzi Dera. All three are different sights and amazing spectacles to see. Firstly, the Golden Pavilion, which is probably one of the most, visited attractions in Kyoto. Situated just a tiny bit out of the centre of the city, but completely accessible. Expect beautiful gardens and surrounding forest with the jewel in the crown being a solid gold temple in the middle…The sight itself is big enough to not be trampled by fellow backpackers, and at a mere 400yen to enter, it seems a shame to visit Kyoto and miss out on this gold lover’s dream.

We Can't Leave Until I Have My Shot Glass!

This isn't a post about alcoholism, although I’m sure it would be a lot more fun if I were describing a drunken rampage down the Amazon, or waking up in the tropics of Madagascar with only an empty tequila bottle to my name, but give me a few years and I might cover those stories as well.

Within the past week I visited the famous Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan and completed one of my Japanese aims which was to find a shot glass with ‘Japan’ written on it. For every country I go to I collect a shot glass and add it to my collection. Some people collect postcards, some collect key rings, I collect shot glasses. This all started off when I was 17, visiting Amsterdam. As I was the young age of 17, my friend and I didn't get served for any….well you know what I mean... therefore we spent a lot of our time trailing round the sex museums, clothes stores and souvenir shops. I found a shot glass for €1 which seemed like a bargain so I bought it. My second shot glass was in Disneyland Paris. As a Disney loser I went crazy in the downtown Disney souvenir shop and bought most things my hands could grab. This of course added up to over €100, so I put a lot of things back and headed for the SALE section, and wa la Disney shot glass found on sale for €1, hardly surprising as no child is searching for that truly perfect shot glass with Mickey Mouse’s face on.

In a Place Called Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world, and also one of the most expensive. You can’t find a city quite like it. Even similar cities such as Shanghai, Singapore City and Beijing, don’t quite match the same mix of hustle, bustle, tradition and quirkiness like this capital. Tokyo has many districts, just like most big cities, which are all linked by an underground and overground train system, not to make things confusing or anything….

Even though you can cover a lot in a few days, you could spend a few weeks here and still not have even touched on the most weirdest and wonderful parts of this great capital. However, I’m here to make it a bit easier and below I've highlighted how you could spend your time in the weird and wonderful city that is Tokyo.

Sakura. The Best Time to Visit Japan?

If you’re going to travel to Japan, I highly recommend going during the Spring season which is the sakura season where you'll see vasts amount of the incredible cherry blossom season.
This probably doesn't help to be honest as the cherry blossom season lasts a maximum of three weeks a year on average, and it can vary each year due to the seasons, weather and unpredictable Mother Nature. You’re generally looking at the end of March-April time to catch the sakura, and if you’re lucky enough then you can see it all over Japan.

The cherry blossoms are some of the most amazing spectacles in Japan. The blossoms can make the dullest of streets look beautiful, and they make the parks and gardens look out of this world. It may seem like I am exaggerating, after all they are just a few flowers on some trees, but they take over Japan when they do and the whole nation get involved. During the sakura season a lot of sakura chasing can be carried out where locals and tourists fleet the streets to find trails of blossom. You’ll see millions of locals and tourists taking tonnes of pictures, which capture Japan in its prettiest form. Here are a few places I would recommend visiting during the sakura season, to catch the best images and the best blossom:

The Do's and Dont's in Japan

Japan has a great culture of tradition and respect, with many beliefs that you may not want to cross when visiting this wonderful country. Here are just a few ways to earn respect from the locals, and to not stand out like the foreigner in the land.

Bowing (ejigi) – a few days in Japan and you will find yourself bowing to everyone, unless you’re anything like me then you’ll end up curtsying. Japanese people bow to one another in shops, in business and in everyday meetings. The lower the bow, the more respect and thanks you are showing, however a simple shoulder dip should just about do it. The Japanese love the tradition of bowing and often when two old friends or two business people meet they are constantly bowing after every other sentence. Join in the bowing, if anything just to work the ab muscles. 

Booboo Ski

I’m coming to the end of a three and a half month ski season in Hakuba, Japan, which is my first ever ski season and also my first time in Japan. I've heard of the popularity of working a ski season in the likes of France or Switzerland but doing it in Japan seemed pretty alien to me.

About two years ago a friend announced that he was going to Japan to do a ski season. I met up with him and learnt that he got the gig through a company called Booboo Ski who basically put foreigners in Japanese ski and beach resorts if you can speak Japanese. To cut a long story short my friend said it was easy to get the Booboo Ski resort job, and that he didn't even know that much Japanese. Two years later I applied for the company, and just read a really simple paragraph in Japanese from an old Japanese book I had learnt at school and I stated I was really interested in learning Japanese and being part of the culture, which overall in a fifteen minute Skype interview got me the job!

Japanese Onsen Etiquette, Whats the Deal?

Onsens are really big in Japan. Apparently the Japanese love having naked hot baths together, and who doesn't!? These baths are huge in Japanese ski resorts as a way to relax and unwind after a day on the slopes, and are also seen as a way to strengthen your muscles so they aren't aching the next day.

The particular onsen near my house in Japan opens at 4pm which for me is too late to visit straight off the slopes. Not sure if many feel the same but I can’t be bothered to wait around a few hours for a warm shower after skiing, hence why the onsen isn't really for me. However, I couldn't leave the Japanese ski resort without trying the onsen at least once so here is my tale...

How to Survive a Ski Trip

Whether it is France, Canada, Japan or India, there are certain essentials required to survive a week/season skiing.

I know people who have skied since they could walk, and also people who class themselves as keen skiers after a week on the powder. Apart from their ability, nothing distances these people from what need on a ski trip and the advice they need to survive the cold. So here are what I consider the essentials for any skier or snowboarder...

Travel Inspiration: Scuba Diving Hotspots

For the past few years I've really gotten into scuba diving and I quite regularly research the top dive places around the world and stare at images of tropical waters. I learnt to scuba dive in the hot tropics of Birmingham, England… hence why I'm keen to venture away from any quarry which is filled with mud, dust and rusty cars (don’t ask). Once you’re a qualified diver you can pretty much scuba dive at your own leisure around the world. The most obvious of qualifications, and the most recognised, is the PADI Open Water diver course which took me 6 weeks to do in the UK for £300. I highly recommend learning somewhere a bit more tropical than a pool in Birmingham. If you choose to learn in places like The Philippines or Indonesia, you can be qualified at a large fraction of the price I paid, plus you're learning in some of the most beautiful tropical waters in the world.

Since moving to Japan my thirst for scuba diving around the world has grown so much more. At first I began to look at the hotspot of the red sea which apparently hosts some of the best dive spots in the world:

My 2013 Travel Resolutions

Just like any girl, I love making a list. My best friend and I made our Missions Before We’re 25 Bucket List when we were 18, which included a fair few countries I wanted to visit. Furthermore, from looking at other travel blogs I've found that a lot of fellow bloggers have a travel bucket list, which tends to be pretty generic of what people want to achieve on their travels. Well, as it’s the start of a new year, I’m going to do a 2013 bucket list.