Aichi-ken Travel Blogs | Travelogues | Travel Journals

i've finally managed to escape the oh-so-fascinating world of hedge fund finance, and am now decadently indulging my long-suppressed wanderlust with 15 months on the road and around the world... *note: apart from the odd review (generally of something not found in your standard guide book), this is really more just a map of my travels than a proper blog, but if you want more information on anywhere i`ve been or what i`ve been up to, send me a message and i`ll see if i can rustle something up.

I was lucky enough to take a trip as part of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholarships given to teachers in the USA. I went for almost three weeks to Tokyo and Komaki, Japan. I was also able to take a day trip to the base of Mount Fuji. I would have loved to climb it but it was November and they close the mountain at that time. Wonderful people. I'd love to go back.

I arrived in Tokyo on Aug. 6, 2006 and departed Aug. 9, 2006 for Nagoya where I would meet my supervisor and make the journey to my semi-permanent home in Tahara, Aichi.  I will be in Japan for 1-3 years and my primary blog for this trip, detailing my life in Japan, is at http://vanessainjapan.blogspot.com I plan to use this site to detail the "travel" element further, commenting on places to see, things to do, etc. and posting travel-specific photos.   

   Lento Tokioon lähtee Nagoyasta klo 14.20. Onneksi tarkastimme matkalaukkuhihnan, koska ei meidän laukut menneetkään suorana Tokioon asti.   Japanilaiset ovat hyvin ystävällisen oloisia. Tosin Nagoyan kentällä mies kysyi jopa, että mitä Timolla on taskussa. Papereita piti täytellä kaksi kappaletta. Kenttä oli suhteellisen selkeä.   Kotimaisten lentojen terminaalissa söimme hodarit ja joimme limut; paljon muuta ei tarjolla ollutkaan. Tai Timo söi 2 ja...

May-June 2005 Visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Aichi, Hiroshima, Hiroshima prefecture country (the boonies)

The previous two times I flew over Japan it was dark so I was not able to see anything. We got a great view of Mt Fuji and the beautiful mountains of Japan. Hopefully some day when I have more money I can come and travel Japan. We landed in Nagoya for a two hour plus layover. The airport is brand new, I sat at the gate and watched the many large ships go across the harbor. Nagoya is halfway between Tokyo and Osaka and Yokohama is near as well. I live on the Willameete River in Portland ...

Gamagori is an onsen (natural hot spring) town. The main source of income comes from tourism and there are loads of ryokan (traditional style Japanese inns) built on top of the 4 main onsen areas in Gamagori. My friends and I stayed at Nanpuso for about 100 bucks a head one weekend in 2004, and did it again in 2005. Hopefully this will continue as long as I'm in Japan!! (Of course, I want them to all get together even when I'm not here, but really how could they possibly have as much fun ...