We decided to move from Kyoto to Tokyo really early in the morning. We got off at the central station. My suggestion is to use the lockers for your luggages, that are in almost every big Japanese station, they cost from 300yen to 700yen for the big ones. The central station is the heart of Tokyo, you see big skyscrapers all around, the scale of everything is enormous, but it is an area so calm and quiet.






If you start walking straight from the central exit of the station, you will end in the gardens of the imperial palace. We didn't got into the actual palace, because I believe that you should have a permission to do so. But from the outside, the contrast between the modern skyscrapers and the ancient buildings of the palace is really interesting. Have a look also at the trees all around, the gardeners do an excellent job.
P.S. In my whole trip to Japan, I was interested in the manholes, they are always customed. In front of the imperial palace, for exemple, they were decorated with flowers.
Percorrendo la strada esattamente davanti all'uscita centrale della stazione, vi troverete come per magia nei giardini del palazzo imperiale. Non siamo entrati all'interno del palazzo, anche perché credo si debba avere un permesso speciale per accedervi. Ma anche dall'esterno il contrasto tra i moderni grattacieli e gli antichi edifici del palazzo è davvero interessante. Date un'occhiata anche agli alberi tutt'intorno, i giardinieri fanno un ottimo lavoro.
P.S. In tutto il mio viaggio in Giappone sono stata catturata dai tombini, sono sempre personalizzati. Davanti al palazzo imperiale, ad esempio, erano decorati con fiori.
Αν ξεκινήσετε να περπατάτε ευθεία από την κεντρική έξοδο του σταθμού, θα φτάσετε στους κήπους του αυτοκρατορικού παλατιού. Δεν μπήκαμε μέσα στο παλάτι, γιατί πιστεύω ότι θα έπρεπε να είχαμε την άδεια να το κάνουμε. Αλλά και απ έξω η αντίθεση μεταξύ των σύγχρονων ουρανοξυστών και των αρχαίων κτιρίων του ανακτόρου είναι πραγματικά ενδιαφέρουσα. Ρίξτε μια ματιά στα δέντρα γύρω, οι κηπουροί κάνουν μια εξαιρετική δουλειά.
ΥΓ Σε όλο μου το ταξίδι στην Ιαπωνία τα καπάκια των φρεατίων τραβήξανε το ενδιαφέρον μου, έχουν πάντα ιδιαίτερα σκαλίσματα. Μπροστά από το αυτοκρατορικό ανάκτορο ήταν, για παράδειγμα, διακοσμημένα με λουλούδια.








Coming back to the central station, we spotted in the Marounouchi building a Rugby temple, because we have been in Japan during the Rugby World Cup. They built a temple where every fan could pray for its team and there was also a bench with a Sumo player with a rugby ball in his hands. Exactly in front of this building there is a pedestrian area with some tables and chairs where anyone can sit, so we grabbed a Vietnamese sandwich and we enjoyed the place.
Tornando verso la stazione centrale, abbiamo visto nell'edificio Marounouchi un tempio per il rugby, perché siamo stati in Giappone durante la Coppa del mondo per l'appunto di rugby. Avevano costruito un tempio dove ogni fan potesse pregare per la propria squadra e c'era anche una panchina con un giocatore di Sumo con un pallone da rugby in mano. Proprio di fronte a questo edificio si trova un'area pedonale con alcuni tavoli e sedie dove chiunque può sedersi, quindi abbiamo colto l'occasione al balzo, preso un panino vietnamita e ci siamo goduti questo angolino.
Επιστρέφοντας στον κεντρικό σταθμό, εντοπίσαμε στο κτίριο Marounouchi έναν ναό ράγκμπι, επειδή βρισκόμασταν στην Ιαπωνία κατά τη διάρκεια του Παγκοσμίου Κυπέλλου Ράγκμπι. Κατασκεύασαν έναν ναό όπου κάθε οπαδός θα μπορούσε να προσευχηθεί για την ομάδα του και υπήρχε ένας παγκάκι με έναν παίκτη Sumo με μια μπάλα ράγκμπι στα χέρια του. Ακριβώς μπροστά από αυτό το κτίριο υπάρχει ένας πεζόδρομος με μερικά τραπέζια και καρέκλες όπου μπορεί κανείς να καθίσει, γι 'αυτό αγοράσαμε ένα βιετναμέζικο σάντουιτς και απολαύσαμε τον τόπο.



They only big district left from our trip was Ueno, so we jumped into the Metro and we reached this park. I should say that I didn't love it. Maybe if you have children you can enter the zoo, but we didn't. We just enjoyed the big lake with the lotus plants and then, we had a small walk in the Ueno market, after that we decided to leave.
Mancava solo la visita di un quartiere nel nostro viaggio: Ueno. Quindi abbiamo preso la metropolitana e abbiamo raggiunto questo parco. Devo dire che non mi è piaciuto granché. Forse avendo dei bambini si può optare per entrare allo zoo, ma noi non l'abbiamo fatto. Ci siamo goduti per qualche minuto il grande lago con le piante di loto, quindi abbiamo fatto una passeggiatina nel mercato di Ueno e ce ne siamo poi andati.
Μας έμεινε να δούμε στο Τόκιο μόνο μια μεγάλη περιοχή: Ueno. Oπότε πήραμε το μετρό και φτάσαμε στο πάρκο. Θα έλεγα ότι δεν μου άρεσε και πολύ. Ίσως αν έχετε παιδιά μπορείτε να μπείτε στο ζωολογικό κήπο, αλλά εμείς δεν πήγαμε. Απολαύσαμε μόνο τη μεγάλη λίμνη με τα φυτά λωτού και στη συνέχεια κάναμε μια μικρή βόλτα στην αγορά του Ueno, μετά αποφασίσαμε να φύγουμε.













To close in the best way this visit of Tokyo, I had to see the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. We got off at Harajuku station, in this area there are a loooot of shops, I really suggest you to come here for cloth-shopping, and you will see also many people dressed with nice style. In one of the streets there is a monitor that shows the people that are walking, I managed to snap a picture when it was showing me.
The Tokyu Plaza is so special because it has an amazing entrance full of mirrors that go in different directions, so magical. It is the perfect spot for an instagram picture.
Quindi per chiudere al meglio questa visita di Tokyo ho voluto assolutamente vedere il Tokyu Plaza di Omotesando Harajuku. Siamo scesi alla stazione di Harajuku, in questa zona ci sono moooolti negozi, consiglio vivamente di venire qui per fare shopping di vestiti e vedrete anche molte persone vestite con stile. In una delle strade c'è un monitor che mostra le persone che camminano, e sono riuscita a scattare una foto mentre stava mostrando proprio me.
Il Tokyu Plaza è così speciale perché ha un fantastico ingresso pieno di specchi che vanno in direzioni diverse, davvero magico. È il posto perfetto per scattare foto per Instagram.
Για να τελειώσουμε με τον καλύτερο τρόπο αυτή την επίσκεψη του Τόκιο έπρεπε να δω το Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. Βγήκαμε στο σταθμό Harajuku, σε αυτήν την περιοχή υπάρχουν πολλά καταστήματα, πραγματικά σας προτείνω να έρθετε εδώ για ψώνια ρούχων και θα δείτε επίσης πολλούς ανθρώπους ντυμένοι με στυλ. Σε έναν από τους δρόμους υπάρχει μια οθόνη που δείχνει τους ανθρώπους που περπατούν, κατάφερα να τραβήξω μια φωτογραφία όταν έδειχνε εμένα.
Το Tokyu Plaza είναι τόσο ξεχωριστό γιατί έχει μια καταπληκτική είσοδο γεμάτη καθρέπτες που πηγαίνουν σε διαφορετικές κατευθύνσεις, μαγικό. Είναι το ιδανικό σημείο για να τραβήξετε μια εικόνα για το instagram.

This seventh day wasn't programmed and it was quite spontaneous, but it has been one of the most interesting ones of this Japanese trip.
Since we were in Japan, we really wanted to see tea fields and rice fields. The solution has been the city of Wazuka.
You will get there in two hours, first you get the Nara line from Kyoto and you get off at Kizu station (till here the trip will be free with your JRpass), and then you will take a bus till Wazukayamanoie.
We haven't been super lucky because the weather was quite gloomy, but it was actually perfect to enjoy a hot tea... so that made our day in anycase.
You will have a short walk of a couple of minutes passing the bridge on your left till the tea house. Here you must absolutely buy some tea as souvenir, and then you will book the experience of the Sky cafe: you choose what tea to drink, my suggestion is to get sweets as well (the cookies with the tea-leaf shape are amazing) and then you will have 50 minutes in a woodden hut with an incredible view only for you. It is not really expensive, you pay what you drink plus something like 15euros more, definitely worth it.
Questo settimo giorno non programmato è stato abbastanza spontaneo, ma posso dire che si sia rivelato uno dei più interessanti di questo viaggio giapponese.
Essendo in Giappone, volevamo davvero vedere campi da tè e campi di riso. La risposta è stata la città di Wazuka.
E' raggiungibile in due ore, prima prendete la linea Nara da Kyoto e scendete alla stazione di Kizu (fino a qui il viaggio sarà gratuito con il JRpass), quindi prenderete un autobus fino a Wazukayamanoie.
Non siamo stati molto fortunati perché il tempo era piuttosto cupo, ma guardando il bicchiere mezzo pieno, è stato perfetto per godersi un tè caldo...
Giunti alla fermata, camminerete per un paio di minuti attraversando il ponte alla vostra sinistra fino alla tea house. Qui comprate assolutamente del tè come souvenir e poi prenotate l'esperienza dello Sky cafe: prima sceglierete quale tè bere, il mio consiglio è di prendere anche dei dolci (i biscotti a forma di foglia di tè sono fantastici) e poi vi godrete 50 minuti in privato in una capanna di legno con una vista incredibile. Non è molto costoso, pagate quello che berrete più qualcosa come 15 euro in più, ne vale davvero la pena.
Αυτή η έβδομη ημέρα δεν ήταν προγραμματισμένη και ήταν αρκετά αυθόρμητη, αλλά ήταν μια από τις πιο ενδιαφέρουσες από αυτό το ιαπωνικό ταξίδι.
Αφού ήμασταν στην Ιαπωνία θέλαμε πραγματικά να δούμε τις καλλιέργειες τσαγιού και ρυζιού. Η λύση ήταν η πόλη της Wazuka.
Θα φτάσετε εκεί μέσα σε δύο ώρες, πρώτα θα πάρετε τη γραμμή Nara από το Κιότο και θα κατεβείτε στον σταθμό Kizu (μέχρι εδώ το ταξίδι θα είναι δωρεάν με το JRpass σας) και στη συνέχεια θα πάρετε ένα λεωφορείο μέχρι το Wazukayamanoie.
Δεν ήμασταν πολύ τυχεροί γιατί ο καιρός ήταν πολύ ζοφερός, αλλά ήταν πραγματικά τέλειο για απόλαυση ενός ζεστό τσάι... και αυτό μας έφτιαξε την ημέρα μας.
Όταν φτάσετε θα περπατήσετε λίγα λεπτά περνώντας μια γέφυρα στο αριστερό σας χέρι μέχρι το tea house. Εδώ πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να αγοράσετε τσάι ως σουβενίρ, και στη συνέχεια θα κάνετε κράτηση για την εμπειρία του Sky cafe: επιλέγετε τι τσάι θα πιείτε, η πρότασή μου είναι να πάρετε και γλυκά (τα μπισκότα με το σχήμα φύλλο τσαγιού είναι εκπληκτικά) και μετά θα έχετε 50 λεπτά σε μια ξύλινη καλύβα με απίστευτη θέα μόνο για σας. Δεν είναι πολύ ακριβό, πληρώνετε τι πίνετε και κάτι σαν 15 ευρώ πάρα πάνω, σίγουρα αξίζει.



 





Now, after the pit stop at the Sky Cafe, it was the time to explore the tea fields. It is extremely suggested to get electric bikes at the same tea house for something like 10euros. In this way you can really explore all the Wazuka cultivations. Unfortunately for us, that day was rainy, so we went on foot, to be able to carry the umbrellas with us. Even if we haven't been far away, let me tell you something... tea fields are gorgeous. They are this fluffy curved green lines all over the landscape. I was super excited about it, and you can see it from my face.
Τώρα, μετά τη στάση στο Sky Cafe, ήρθε η ώρα να εξερευνήσετε τις καλλιέργειες τσαγιού. Προτείνω να πάρετε ηλεκτρικά ποδήλατα στο ίδιο tea house για κάτι σαν 10 ευρό. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο μπορείτε πραγματικά να εξερευνήσετε όλες τις καλλιέργειες του Wazuka. Δυστυχώς για μας, εκείνη την ημέρα ήταν βροχερή, έτσι πήγαμε με τα πόδια, για να είμαστε σε θέση να μεταφέρουμε τις ομπρέλες μαζί μας. Ακόμα κι αν δεν μπορούσαμε να πάμε πολύ μακριά, επιτρέψτε μου να σας πω κάτι... το τσάι είναι πανέμορφο. Όλο το τοπίο γεμίσει με αυτές οι χνουδωτές καμπυλωτές πράσινες γραμμές. Ήμουν πολύ ενθουσιασμένη, όπως φαίνεται και απ'το πρόσωπό μου.
















Time for a meal, just remember that in Wazuka almost everything closes at 17.00, at least in October, so hurry up! We walked through all the village, so we had the chance to see the machines that chop the tea, and also a couple of rice fields (the ones below) till we arrived at the restaurant Sabou Takenoko. Here I tried matcha noodles, delicious! We had also a couple of other dishes, all super yummy, I don't remember the names, but one had beef and rice. But stay away from the matcha icecream because it is really bitter.
È arrivata l'ora di mangiare, tenete a mente che a Wazuka quasi tutto chiude alle 17.00, almeno ad ottobre, quindi affrettatevi! Abbiamo attraversato tutto il villaggio, quindi abbiamo avuto la possibilità di vedere le macchine che tagliano il tè e anche un paio di risaie (vedi sotto) fino a raggiungere il ristorante Sabou Takenoko. Qui ho provato i matcha noodles, deliziosi! Abbiamo testato anche un paio di altri piatti, tutti squisiti, non ricordo i nomi, ma uno aveva carne e riso. Ma state lontani dal gelato al matcha perché è davvero amaro.