Photo credits: Amsterdam International Fashion Week, Peter Stigter; Portland Fashion Week, badlyricpolice; Tokyo Fashion Show, dat

We spent our time in Tokyo exploring all the districts. I was shocked by how many “downtowns” Tokyo has. All areas of the city are constantly buzzing with activity at all hours of the day and night. Even more surprising is how clean the city is. I think my favorite spots in Tokyo were the Meiji Shrine, the Tokyo Tower, the Asakusa district, Harajuku, and the Sumida River waterfront. At the Meiji Shrine, we saw several traditional Shinto weddings, and I was in awe by the beauty of the brides’ kimonos. From the top of the Tokyo Tower we were treated to a 360-degree view of the city, and got some perspective on the city’s density.

Both Asakusa and Harajuku are great areas for walking. A type of promenade in Asakusa leads to the Sensoji Temple, and it is lined with small vendors selling souvenirs and traditional Japanese treats. We went to Harajuku on a Sunday afternoon, and it’s a good thing we did! On Sundays, young people head out to Harajuku dressed as rockabillys, anime characters, and Goths. It was really cool to see a bunch of teens dressed up in elaborate costumes when it wasn’t Halloween. Another bizarre and unique thing we did was go to a cat café; meaning a café filled with cats for people to hang out with. Crazy!

Kyoto had a completely different feel from Tokyo. It’s what you envision when you close your eyes and think of traditional Japan. We stayed in a traditional Japanese inn and got to couch surf as well. The best sites in Kyoto were the Sanjusangen-do Temple that houses 1000 Kannon statues, Nijo Castle, the Pontocho neighborhood along the water front, Gion, and the Inari Shrine. While walking through Gion, we saw a geisha that was beautiful beyond belief. Her dress, hair, and make-up were unbelievably elaborate-much more stunning than I could have ever imagined.

Our couch surfing host lived around the corner from Inari Shrine. The main shrine sits at the base of Mt. Inari, but there are thousands of smaller shrines along a trail that circles the mountain. In addition to the shrines, the trail is completely lined with torii gates. Their size, quantity, and beauty did not cease to impress us even after walking under the last one. It was amazing.

Our last stop was Hiroshima, and we were impressed by the liveliness and beauty of the city, especially considering what happened there 65 years ago. We first stopped at the Peace Museum and Peace Memorial Park, where we learned a considerable amount about what happened the day of the atomic bombing. We walked around the sobering memorials dedicated to victims of the event. It was an inspiring place.

From Hiroshima we took a ferry to the island of Miyajima where we were greeted by a herd of deer running about while trying to snag food from onlookers. Miyajima is famous for the O’torii gate that appears to float on the water. The gate was especially beautiful when the sun was setting on the island. We hiked up Mt. Misen, which gave us a stunning view of the ocean and surrounding islands.

Besides all the great sight-seeing experiences, we also had excellent food experiences. The food in Japan is so delicious! We had our fair share of sushi, especially in Tokyo. We ate at several “floating” sushi bars in Tokyo. We were also lucky enough to have sushi at the Tsukiji Market. In Tokyo, we ate at a restaurant with an automated menu, where you ordered from a coin-operated machine outside the restaurant. In Kyoto we had excellent ramen and in Miyajima, we had their traditional dish: okonomiyaki.

I don’t think there are enough words to describe all the beautiful and interesting things that I saw in Japan, but all in all it was an amazing place with amazing character and incredible people. Thank you so much for this opportunity…it was without a doubt the trip of a lifetime.

Photos credits: courtesy of Raquel Benito

Photo credits: Portland, Tokyo, Amsterdam

Tokyo: Fly nonstop from the past into the future.
An approximately 5 km run, the Imperial Palace jogging course is a great way to get a tour through Japanese history into modern day Japan. The route leads runners around the Imperial Palace, through the Marunouchi  business district, past the Budokan (which is home to sporting matches and concerts) and along Hibya Park. It is a great path with not too many hills, and the distance is challenging for novice runners looking to build up their strength, and a solid workout for intermediate and advanced runners. And, for those who enjoy flying at a slower pace, the route makes for a very pleasant walk.

Amsterdam: Fly through…a green lung?
When looking for a quality running workout, be sure to run through Amsterdam’s “green lung,” also known as Vondelpark. A getaway from the city, Vondelpark covers 120 acres and possesses beautiful, lush gardens; ponds, lakes, playgrounds, cafes and performance grounds. A nice, dirt path rings the park and the distance rounds out at about 5.5 km, making this green oasis a great place to turn to for a breath of fresh air (or several breaths, if you are running.)

Portland: Fly from the city to the hills.
Portland’s Forest Park is a huge network of trails, totaling at over 70 miles, and begins from the edge of Portland’s 23rd Avenue to the Tualatin Mountains. Few parts of the trails go uphill and downhill, making most of the running flat, so it is great for runners to utilize for improving pace. Home to more than 100 species of mammals and 100 species of birds, this makes for a fun, running adventure, as runners get to experience encounters with different wildlife, and glimpses of the Willamette River and downtown Portland.

So what are you waiting for? Put on those joggers and start flying!

In Kyoto, I can’t wait to see the many traditional Japanese temples that are scattered throughout the area. I’d like to see Sanjusangendo in particular, and its thousand ancient wooden statues of Kannon.

From Kyoto, we’re thinking of taking a side trip about half an hour away to the Himeji Castle. The castle is considered to be Japan’s most beautiful remaining feudal castles, and from the images that I’ve seen, it certainly seems that way.

As for our plans to see the coast, we don’t have any yet. There are so many appealing coastal towns throughout Japan, that it’s hard to find the right one. We’re looking for suggestions or hoping that we make some local friends that point us in the right direction.

Even though our plans aren’t completely sorted out, I do have three big objectives that I must do before I leave Japan: get a kimono In Kyoto, eat sushi and other Japanese delicacies straight from the Tsukiji Market, and buy a useless gadget in Akihabara – the tech Mecca of the world. The adventure is just around the corner…I cannot wait!

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Port of Portland