A Japanese Journey
- Barbara Stark-Nemon
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Japan was never on my travel bucket list, but it should have been! Two circumstances convinced me to make a two-week journey there during April. The first was my husband’s assurance that I would love Japan after he spent two days there a number of years ago. He had me at “gardens.”
The second circumstance came from the research I did for my forthcoming novel, Isabela’s Way. My main character is an embroiderer in early 17th century Portugal and I had to learn a lot about textiles, textile art and embroidery from centuries ago, including where outside influences came from. I became very interested in Japanese textile art.
Once we decided to travel to Japan, we found a wonderful bicycle trip (thank you Backroads!) that took us from Tokyo to Kyoto, through the Izu Peninsula, then through the hills and terraces of rice fields, along the Jinzu and Ida Rivers to Nikko and Toyama at the foot of the northern Japanese Alps, and finally to Kyoto with its artist colony, markets, and beautiful neighborhoods (and gardens!)
It was physically demanding, stunningly beautiful and absolutely fascinating. Learning about the Shinto basis of the culture, exploring and comparing notes with our guides and other people we met and enjoying the other travelers on our bike trip added up to a journey we won’t soon forget. Random observations and accompanying photos follow…
Tokyo: the largest city in the world… also the quietest, cleanest, most orderly city I’ve ever been in. No honking horns, not a speck of trash, people very considerate of each other. Fashion is everywhere. Every subway station has its own musical signal!
Mt. Fuji and Hakone- A beautifully preserved village with the sacred mountain and full-bloom cherry trees. (Japan has more than 100 species of cherry trees!)
Walking tour of Tokyo….The Fish market, the National Museum, and its textile treasures
And then the bike trip! Cycling the Izu Peninsula, winding through small villages and inland to explore the terraces of rice fields, rapeseed fields, and flowers.
Biking along the Jinzu and Ida Rivers- everywhere in Japan you can see and hear water..rivers, streams, lakes, irrigation canals, waterfalls. A great ride around Nikko
Shrines, and more shrines… and Buddhist Temples. The essence of Shintoism that pervades daily life and the whole culture is love and respect for nature, purity, order, family, and the divine in everything.
And of course there is the food… full disclosure I’m not so good with raw fish but I did very well with tempura and small portions of wagyu beef and the myriad vegetables and fruit. Best of all, the presentation of each course was so beautiful!
Finally, the gardens, and the textiles… I couldn’t get enough!
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