My latest adventure to Japan began May 5th, 2008 when I was boarded a NW plane bound for Detroit, hung out at Detroit’s airport for seven hours, and then finally took my seat on the “big” plane for the last leg of the trip to Osaka, Japan, a mere 13 hour flight, taking us close to the Arctic Circle on its arching route to Japan. “Us” refers to my older brother, Frank, who was joining me on this trip, his first time to Japan. I wasn’t sure if traveling with him for two weeks was a good idea or bad, (you know how relatives can be), but in the end I am really glad we got to spend this time together. It was special to me and I was certainly glad he was eager to go and help in any way that he could. He is an easy-going guy with lots of life experiences and can go with the flow…traits often needed when traveling in a foreign country. Our mission, since we chose to accept it, was to introduce our group of intrepid travelers to Japan as seen from the front seat of a kayak, a perspective not experienced by many and a perspective that enables one to experience the Japanese culture in an entirely different manner. Of course, we planned to explore Japan on foot too and as it would turn out, also by train, ferry, bus, tram and taxi.

We began our 10-day trip in Kyoto, once Japan’s capitol, and now Japan’s 7th largest city. In many ways, Kyoto is like any other city with the usual rush hours of traffic, fast-pace and its share of chain stores. However, unlike most cities, there are hundreds of temples and Shinto shrines scattered throughout the city, many of them placed where you would least expect them. The co-existence of sacred temples and shrines with modern day urbanization is remarkable and demonstrates Japan’s contrasts between its technological advances and its connection to the natural world. As we wandered the narrow streets visiting a few of the temples and local shops, we couldn’t help but notice small meticulous gardens and sacred shrines in places we did not expect. Our first stop for the day was Kiyomizu temple, one of Japan’s most cherished temples, perched on the hillside overlooking Kyoto. From this temple and the pathways leading to it, we enjoyed the forest of Japanese maples, bamboo and Mamosa trees, the mix providing a welcoming backdrop on the hillside surrounding not only this temple, but the city itself. School kids dressed in uniforms were everywhere and were seen on field trips wherever we went in Japan. They were always intrigued with us.