TWO WEEKS IN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN

For two entire weeks in May, I had the incredible opportunity to check out the amazing countries of South Korea and Japan. I have written about my awesome journey many times on Jet Set Smart, but in case you have missed any of it, here is a link to each day I spent over there. I hope you enjoy reading about the trip and are inspired to jet set there too one day! I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Seoul, Korea- Day 1

Seoul, Korea- Day 2

Seoul, Korea- Day 3

Tokyo, Japan- Day 4

Tokyo, Japan- Day 5

Kyoto, Japan- Day 6

Kyoto, Japan- Day 7

Kyoto, Japan- Day 8

Kobuchizawa, Japan- Day 9

Kobuchizawa, Japan- Day 10

Mount Fuji, Japan- Day 11
Tokyo, Japan- Day 12

KOBUCHIZAWA, JAPAN- DAY 10

After a wonderful night's sleep at Hide-san and Choco-san's beautiful home in the Alps, we had a delicious home-cooked breakfast before heading out to check out a Sake factory. The Sake factory is in a building which used to be some one's home, so as always, the inside was simple, and there was a beautiful Japanese garden. We got to try all different kinds of sake from sweet to dry...they were all very good.

After that, we headed over to the Suntory Whiskey Factory which is set in the middle of a forest...it's so pretty there. We toured the factory, and got to sample some of the whiskey. If the name Suntory may sound familiar to you, its probably because you heard Bill Murray say it in the 2003 hit Lost in Translation - "For relaxing times, make it Suntory times." Next we went to see Matsumoto-jo Castle in the town of Matsumoto. Matsumoto-jo (started in 1505) is nicknamed Karasu-jo or Crow Castle for its black walls. This castle was very interesting to see, because unlike any of the other ones we saw one the trip, we were allowed inside of Matsumoto-jo. I have to tell you, however, that it's quite a climb up to the top as there are very steep stairs. But, it's all worth it when you get to the top and can look out onto the gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains.

We had certainly worked up a bit of an appetite after the climb and headed to this nearby restaurant for some ice cream. I am not that much of an ice cream person, but the ice cream in Japan was some of the best I have ever had...it was so creamy.For dinner that night we went to a restaurant back in Kobuchizawa that only serves eel.

You must be prepared to wait awhile for your food, as the eel is pulled from the tank and prepared fresh to order. The eel came prepared two ways, one was pan fried in a sweet sauce and was served over white rice...The other was grilled and served with a piece of line and some fresh sahved wasabi...both were amazing beyond belief!!! The day in the Alps was one of the best in Japan. It was so incredible to have the personal tour guides of Hide-San, Choco-San and Annika, showing us the best of this part of the country from the sites to the the food. Stay tuned for a little more from Kobuchizawa, and also our visit to Mt. Fuji!

KOBUCHIZAWA, JAPAN- DAY 9

I had only a few hours left in Kyoto this morning, so I quickly headed to Nijo-jo Castle and Kinkaku-ji Temple (a.k.a. Temple of the Golden Pavilion) before I would catch the train for Kobuchizawa. Nijo-jo Castle (1603) is a grandiose and unequivocal statement of the shogunate's power. Nijo-jo's wide exterior most and towering walls are the castle's exterior face, but once inside, a second moat and defensive wall become visible.

This had less to do with defense than it did with reinforcing the castle's social statement: access to the inner sanctum depended on a visitor's status within the shogunate's hierarchy, and the powers-that-be could remind anyone of their place in the system. Anyone who was permitted inside was as much a hostage as a guest, a feeling surely driven home by the castle's ingenious nightingale floors, which "sing" as you walk across them, revealing your movements at all times. Pretty clever, huh?Next, I went to see Kinkaku-ji Temple which is said to possibly be the world's most ostentatious retirement cottages.It was built by Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in 1393 in anticipation of the time when he would quit politics. He died, and the new shogun (his 10-year-old son) followed his father's wishes and converted the villa into a temple. The top two stories are coated with gold leaf...an especially incredible site when reflected in the pond's still waters.Next, onto the train to head to Kobuchizawa for a stay with Danny & Lilac's friends Hide-san, his wife Choco-san, and Annica (a German foreign exchange student who speaks Japanese, English and German...thankfully!). They so graciously opened up their beautiful country home to us for two nights. (Remember, we only met them days earlier in Korea at Danny & Lilac's wedding). When we arrived, we were welcomed with a traditional Green Tea Ceremony...That was followed by a home cooked meal by Hide-san...his "famous" Sukiyaki, which is beef that's cooked with vegetables in a homemade sauce. When it's served to you, you dip it in raw egg (I know, it might sound disgusting...but, trust me it's amazing!) and then you eat it. WOW...his Sukiyaki was one of the best things I have EVER eaten!

Stay tuned for more from Kobuchizawa!