Maxi and Jens (Chap) - Japan November 2024

[ROman]

@Chap Really great photos, thanks for taking us along.

[Mizmazzle]

@Chap what an incredible trip. You must be incredibly proud of your son for his initiative to explore and immerse himself into a new culture and learn a new language. I’m curious, how did his Japanese skills develop over his time there? Was he able to open doors in your travels that may not have been possible for a non Japanese speaker?

Also, what a handsome kid. He’s clearly developed some sense of style from his old man and his time in Japan. Can you give any insight into these boots!!? They look very striking!!

[Chap]

@Mister_Brue said in Maxi and Jens (Chap) - Japan November 2024:

@Chap Natto; not my favourite component of a Japanese breakfast, but I struggled through it.

Shinkansen journeys on the other hand, were never long enough.

I gave Nattō a couple of tries and we also have it at home but I agree, we won’t become friends…

[Chap]

@Mizmazzle yes definitely. His Japanese is amazing, he can do conversations with the locals and he is also pretty good with the way how to behave in Japan, those little but very important ways how to interact with the Japanese. Both helped a lot during our trip.
His shoes have a Japanese background too, split toe (Tabi) boots from Maison Margiela, I had to Google them too: Tabi Bianchetto Boots
…and he has snatched my Fine Creek jacket

[Chap]

Our next stop was a Buddhist temple near Kanagawa. Took us a while and a couple of train changes to get there but it was worth it. It is a tiny temple with only one resident monk (the first picture). We stayed there for two days and slept on tatamis in the temple. We had meditations with the monk, evening and morning prayers, did sutra copying and learned a bit about Buddhism and the philosophy of Zen in Japan. The temple had no bath or shower so we went to a public onsen in the area. Amazing experience as well... sorry no pics .

Couple of pictures from the temple.

Breakfast

Sutra copying

[Giles]

@Chap said in Maxi and Jens (Chap) - Japan November 2024:

sorry no pics

Phew

[Mister_Brue]

This post is deleted!

[Chap]

In Kyoto we had a Machiya house for about a week. We were located in the northern part of Kyoto which has lovely quiet neighborhoods and is a bit less tourisitc. Machiya houses are Japan's traditional wooden townhouses that can be seen all over Kyoto. Some of them are renovated and turned into holiday homes, shops, cafes. Ours was owned by a young couple that put lots of effort into the renovation to make it as authentic as possible. It has the typical entrance called 'Genkan' where you leave your shoes while the rest of the house has 'Tatami' floors.
The owners lived just around the corner and were very helpful. The house does come with its own bicycles and Shimo, the owner has even made a Kindle with many suggestions for bike tours around Kyotos North.

https://rokushou.net/karigane-en/

[Kasi]

@chap

Some of those pictures remind me of the movie last of the samurai

[louisbosco]

niceee

[Chap]

Some of pictures from Kyoto. We were manly in the North driving around with the bikes to see temples, shrines and gardens.

Autumn foliage has started at many places all over Kyoto. (Maple leaves turning red)

[Daniel San]

@Chap
wonderful pictures Jens !!
really enjoying your journey
and happy new year in

[Chap]

Aburi-mochi with white Miso sauce (grilled mochi) at Imamiya Shrine.

[Chap]

Many temples serve Matcha tea while sitting on Tatami and enjoying views to the gardens around.

Bonsai

[Chap]

Lunch

[ARNC]

@Chap bonsai 6 is stunning! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

[Chap]

...and Tonkatsu for dinner

[Chap]

@ARNC said in Maxi and Jens (Chap) - Japan November 2024:

@Chap bonsai 6 is stunning! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Thanks, yes they were amazing some of them hundreds of years of age

[Chap]

@Daniel-San said in Maxi and Jens (Chap) - Japan November 2024:

@Chap
wonderful pictures Jens !!
really enjoying your journey
and happy new year in

Thank you! あけましておめでとう。(Happy new year)

[goosehd]

@Chap An aspect that I love and appreciate. So many of us get caught up in the wanting the perfect (insert item), that we forget it’s the process of getting there that’s important.