This Week in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima -11 June 2019

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide.

This week, This Week in Tokyo features the Bradford Family and our adventures around Japan. It has truly been an honour to host Lance, Leilani, Luke, Lex and Ashlee AKA the LA Train for the entirety of their 11 days in Japan on a Maction Planet Pan-Japan Tour. It was an even bigger honour when they adopted me into their family, thus creating the international consortium known as the LA(M) Train. Watch out world! I couldn’t believe it when I woke up today to find that the entire family had already written reviews of our time together on TripAdvisor, which you can read here, here, here, here, and here. Thank you so much for your kind words and for being so much fun. We continue…

Featured image – Fushimi Inari: Fun among the 10,000 torii as we completed the full hike up and down Inariyama!

Header image – Samurai training: We spent a great morning conditioning mind and body at one of the last remaining samurai mansions in Kyoto.

Robot Restaurant: This Robot Musician from the Robot Restaurant was clearly excited to join the fam – just look at his face!

Meiji Jingu: Here we all are at Meiji Jingu in Tokyo. Built in 1920 and set in a forest of 100,000 trees, it is one of my favourite walks in the city and a great way to prepare for the calorie-fest of Takeshita Dori!

Sumo Training: Watching Sumo Training is an intense experience. The unique insight you get into one of the world’s longest running fighting traditions will stay with you for a long time.

Checking out of the Peninsula: A quick shot of us as the LA Train checked out of The Peninsula in Tokyo before we headed to Kyoto.

Todaiji: Until 1998 Todaiji was the largest wooden building in the world. And to think, the current building is 30% smaller than the original structure which was opened in 752 AD! It still houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Daibutsu. Despite the rain, the excitement on everyone’s face is clearly visible! It was the energy and spirit of adventure of the Bradfords that made touring with them such a joy.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: Joined by Maction Planet teammate Kosuke, here we are in the world-famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest!

Miyajima: Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, is a small island in Hiroshima Bay full of shrines and temples set against the backdrop of its ancient forest. It is most famous for its giant vermillion ‘floating’ torii which marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century. It is one of the Nihon Sankei, the three great sights of Japan. We had a glorious day to enjoy it!

Gion: As part of a final active morning in Kyoto we checked out the backstreets of Gion, Kyoto’s most famous Geisha district.

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

You can subscribe to the Maction Planet newsletter below, and follow all our adventures on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Mixcloud and YouTube.