I have hardly any annual leave, and hardly any time to prepare but would be mad to miss this deal. I have also been receiving emails from ryokans I stayed at during my last two trips to Japan reassuring that everything in their part of the world was ok, except for the lack of tourists. For someone obsessed with Japan who has been dreaming about returning constantly since my first visit there, there wasn't much hesitation - and so, off to Japan I go again!
We will be going in June (Oh my god! Only a few weeks away and during the hot rainy season!) but although it is true when I say I don't have much time to prepare, somehow I have always been prepared because while I sat around dreaming about my next trip, I actually already set up my next ultimate itinerary and budget so all I have to do now is set it in stone and book a few things.
Even though it is going to be hot and rainy in June my destination will be Kyushu where no doubt it will be the hottest and rainiest in all of Japan. The main reason for heading down there is Yakushima. Beautiful, mystical, dreamy, gorgeous Yakushima. I have always been a big fan of moss, greenery, water, rivers, waterfalls, trees with character and cute little critters. And then one day I discovered the existence of this island, the most perfect looking place I had ever seen. I hadn't been able to fit in a visit there during the first two trips to Japan due to its distance, but this time we will be spending two weeks just in the south of Japan.
I have my rough itinerary ready, have started booking a few things and working out how realistic it all is but so far I am pretty happy with how it is looking. It also seems to have quite a Ghibli - Miyazaki influence as I am not only going to be visiting the inspiration for Princess Mononoke (Yakushima), I will be going through Matsuyama and visiting Dogo Onsen which is said to be one of the inspirations for the bath house in Spirited Away (along with kanaguya and ginzan onsen - which also look amazing).
Like most obsessed with Japan, I am also obsessed with Miyazaki anime and might watch a couple of the films again in the coming weeks to get even more excited for the trip. There is just something so magical and spiritual about the films which is exactly the feeling I get when I am in Japan. I remember catching the train to Nikko/Yunishigawa on my first day in Japan and listening to that steady beat of the train while the greenery of the landscape whipped past and couldn't help but think of my favourite scene in Spirited Away when Chihiro is on the train speeding across the endless expanse of water. Can't wait for that feeling again :)
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