So I've been back from Japan almost a week now and I'm slowly starting to feel normal again

Arriving in Tokyo on the first day was kind of crazy, but finding my way to the hotel were not as hard as I had imagined it to be fortunately. All signs you need to find your way are in English and if you stop and look a bit confused people come over to you and try their best to help you find your way even if they don't speak any English at all

The first two weeks traveling with the Intrepid group managed to go by incredibly fast and at the same time feel like it lasted at least twice as long as the actual time it took. We were 8 people, including the guide, and the people I traveled with were great. We all got along really well and that just made the experience so much better. I miss them already! Our guide, Dan, has a real passion for Japan and he managed to get that through to us and I feel like we really got to experience the essence of Japan that way. Thanks a lot Dan

I think one of my favorite moments from the trip was when we stayed at this ryokan in Iya Valley and I had an onsen (traditional hot spring bath) before breakfast one morning. I was alone in the outdoor onsen with just the birds keeping me company. There was a slow drizzle and blossoming cherry trees all around framing my view of the valley - just magic

The A-bomb museum in Nagasaki also made a huge impression on all of us. One of the people on the group went as far as to say that every major city in the world should have one of these. The museum was very well laid out and presented the material surrounding the bombing in different ways to help us understand the severity of it. They also described what lead up to it as well as the years afterwards with the nuclear armament race and the cold war. Even though I knew much of the history from various documentaries and school; learning it anew in such a historically important place had a kind of sobering effect and gave me pause for thought.

The last week of the trip, in Tokyo I had by myself. Well; I wasn't all alone since I have a friend that studies there this year. She showed me around the different areas and I gout to see some pretty cool places not listed in the guide books There were time for shopping, sightseeing, good eating, clubbing, (ageHa) with dancing to the sunrise at Tokyo bay, as well as galleries and museums. The Ghibli museum (Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle etc) being one of my definite favorites even though it's primarily for children. It works for both small and big children in that way

I stayed in Shinkuku so the gadget/electronics stores were never far away and getting around the city was really easy using the trains. Coming to shopping Yodabashi Camera is definitely one of my favorites and I was really close to buying a new 1Ds Maybe next time

What else is there to say than book your ticket and go there? You have to experience this country for yourself