I’ve been asked what my latest challenge will be for this upcoming adventure to Japan.
I’ve done the Tokyo Ward Challenge, the Kanto Region Challenge and there are so many other challenges I have on my bucket list from going north of Japan for Hokkaido, to going south and discovering the other islands and also hopefully visiting Fukuoaka.
But I’m not there yet because there is something that has bothered me for years and that was my 2015 trip. I missed the Cherry Blossoms.
In fact, the day I started seeing them, was the day I was on the bus ride back to Narita Airport.
In Japan, if you go around mid-March, more than likely you will see plum blossoms, but if you are able to be there at the end of March, or better yet, the first week of April, you have a better chance to see the cherry blossoms.
While I was there when it bloomed, the sight was not beautiful…Meguro River which is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms was like this in mid-March:
Area near Zozoji were like this:
Chidorigafuchi was like this:
Sumida was like this:
Needless to say, my timing wasn’t right and I learned a big lesson and I’m not missing out on cherry blossoms and the experience of Hanami.
There was another thing that also bothered me a lot and that was one area on my bucket list which I’ve had and yet somehow missing it and that is the Hiroshima Peace Museum. I’m not going to miss it this time around and if anything, this latest adventure will continue my coffee tour, the foodie locations, the baseball games but I’m not going to go crazy with long distance travel.
And as some of you know, I have gone to Japan each year saying goodbye to Tsukiji Fish Market and planning to visit the Toyosu Fish Market when it opened, but it got delayed and delayed and delayed again. But the fish market is now in Toyosu, and I can finally visit the location for the first time. In addition, visiting Tsukiji to see how things have changed as many are still there in the outer market.
Don’t get me wrong, every place I have traveled far around Japan, I enjoyed but I do want to feel confident that I visit these areas that have been on my bucketlist for so long but have been pushed aside these past few years.
So, I’m really excited of experiencing new things that I haven’t yet experienced, meet many people in the process but having fun in the process.
With that being said, there may be days where I won’t be able to post on the blog in March/April but I’ll try to make an effort, even if the posts are short.
So, if I had the Tokyo Ward Challenge, the Kanto Region Challenge, I guess I can call this one the “Bucket List Challenge” and that is to visit these locations, these establishments and enjoy!
