Japan in 7 Days: Shinkansen, Shrines, and Sapporo Surprises
After a fascinating few weeks in China, I hopped over to Japan for a whirlwind one-week tour. Armed with a rail pass, I zipped from ancient castles in the south to the vibrant cities of the north, experiencing the incredible efficiency and beauty the country has to offer.
Kansai & Beyond on the Rails
My journey began with a ride on the adorable Hello Kitty Shinkansen to visit the magnificent Himeji Castle. The next few days were a blur of train travel and sightseeing. I paid a visit to the solemn sites of Hiroshima and the beautiful island of Miyajima , and later traveled to see the stunning Amanohashidate sandbar. One particularly ambitious day involved hopping between five different cities: Okayama, Takamatsu, Fukuyama, Onomichi, and Mihara.
Osaka Expo
I also had the chance to visit the World Expo. The scale was immense, and the architecture of the pavilions was incredible, especially the massive main roof (大屋根). I spent 1.5 days exploring pavilions from around the globe, including Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and China.
Exploring Hokkaido: Sapporo & Otaru
From the mainland, I flew to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, for the final leg of my trip. I was immediately impressed by Sapporo’s convenient underground city, a smart solution for navigating the cold winters. I happened to arrive during a month-long food festival in Odori Park, where I enjoyed some delicious, if slightly overpriced, snacks.
One day, I took a scenic JR train to the nearby port city of Otaru. The train windows were a bit dirty, which affected the view, but it was still a beautiful ride. In Otaru, I took a bus up to Tengu Mountain , walked along the tracks of the historic former Temiya railway line , and explored the city’s charming canal district. I visited several museums, where I learned that much of Hokkaido’s development history.
My last day was spent exploring Sapporo. I rode the city’s charming old trams, some of which dated back to the 1960s , and the impressively quiet rubber-tired subway system. I also took a stroll through the beautiful, green campus of Hokkaido University, which was formerly an agricultural college. My Japanese adventure concluded with a visit to the Sapporo Beer Museum, a fitting end to an unforgettable week.
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