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The Japanese Alps

Japan is about mountains, it is the landscape more associated with the country and it is truly fascinating. This area north of Tokyo even if they are called Alps they really don't resemble the Alps at all. The tip of the mountains have a particular rock formation that makes little humps and they are covered by a tick vegetation of evergreens. To cross one valley to the next we drive in this 10 km tunnels and between a tunnel and another they are lake and dams and green and more green. First stop was taking a hike to check out on the snow monkeys that are totally unfathered by the human presence and they continue their monkey business. The next hike is in this beautiful national park, the walk is particularly meditative along a Caribbean blue water river. It is a easy walk that gives time to enjoy the environment. The gem town of the area is Takayama where we rent a little cottage along the river. We sleep on tatami floor and when it is yoga time the bed is rolled and the mat i...
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Ryokan

Spending a night in a traditional Japanese house is clearly an experience: from wearing a kimono to sleep on tatami beds, to enjoy those lavish meals with one little bowl after the other to of course the hot bath.  Breakfast was already at the table, a waitress not that old served tea to the men first, I can't believe my eyes but I let my feminism slide because I realize that there is no disrespect just twisted ancestral habit. However I can't believe that my teenager sons to her eyes deserve priority over me! Now I understand why Japanese women living abroad and no desire to come back to Japan, a yearly visit seems plenty!
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My Tokyo in review

Tokyo is an overwhelming city but at the same time it reconciles you with the quality of urban living. That seems even clearer to me in this second visit of the city so many years later, where thanks to google maps, it is easier to move from one neighborhood to the next and you can appreciate the coexistence of crowd and quietness. However crowd and quietness don't have the same flavor than in the West. In fact even in the busiest station in the world with three million commuters every day, it is amazing the absence of chaos or unnecessary noise, and the calmness and politeness of the commuters. Then, you have those amazing little neighborhoods that have the feel of real villages where the street are narrow, there are no car parked in the street and the houses are small and well kept, and people go around with their bikes. The more extraordinary are the women on bikes carrying regularly two kids one in the back seat and one in the front or on the baby carriage (it doesn't s...
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