Back in Japan

I didn't realize I was going back to Japan until I left work on Monday. An instant smile appeared on my face and I didn't know how quickly I had to get out of the office! I packed Monday night, as light as possible. My new hand luggage bag that I bought in Florida a few months ago is now my checked luggage and with only 10kg I think I did a good job :).

I flew out of Schiphol Amsterdam on Tuesday 11:55am to Helsinki, my first layover. Holiday mode had really kicked in by then. The next flight went to Nagoya, a 9,5hour flight with Finnair. I love Finnair :), it happens to be the same airline that brought me here last time. And while I am typing this first blog I am currently at Nagoya International airport, my 2nd layover, waiting for my flight to Fukuoka, where my trip..uhm no, my holiday through Japan will begin!

I forgot how much I love Japan, the people are so friendly and helpful and it is so peaceful at the airport where there's calm Japanese music playing in the background. Oh and not to mention the toilets, heated seats, flush sounds, etc. It is so nice to be back here in Japan, where I started my last trip 2 years ago, also in October. Last time I visited Tokyo, Kyoto (shortly) and Osaka.

On this trip I will start in Fukuoka, then move on to Sasebo (Nagasaki) to visit 'Huis Ten Bosch', an amusement park. They recreated bits of The Netherlands displaying REAL SIZE buildings, so in a few days I will 'be back home in The Netherlands'. It's bizarre and so I have to see it :). After that I will go to Nagasaki, the last city in the world to experience a nuclear attack (Attomic Bombings) or so says Wikipedia ;). I'd love to visit the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb museum whilst in Nagasaki.

This first bit I will do alone, and I must say after my busy schedule the last few months or perhaps the entire year, it's nice to undertake something alone again and do what I love doing!

I will then move on to Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto and last but not least: Tokyo. I will visit these last places with a good friend, that I've known since High School, over a course of about 12 days. He has never been to Japan and so we decided to do part of it together. Part will be new to me too (such as Nara and Kobe) and part will be places I visited on my trip two years ago. Japan has since then been high on my list of best/greatest countries I visited. A must do, a must see, a must experience to all!

I've got an hour left till my flight departs from Nagoya, which I will spent in a massage chair (even though it's not on), listening to calm background music and overlooking departing airplanes, massive ships and oh did I mention the sun is shining out here? :)

Until my next blog, Sayōnara!