5 Things We Have Learned This Week… #7
The most amazing thing about travelling for a year is that every day brings something new, whether it’s a new place, new activity or an experience that perhaps teaches you something about yourself. Now we’re seven weeks into Japan, it keeps surprising us, and long-term travel continues to throw curveballs our way (some fun, some… less fun). From discovering the joys of overnight buses to mastering the art of checking tide times, here’s what we learned this week on our Fuji to Fiji journey.
1. Overnight Buses Aren’t That Bad (No, Really!)
We’ve avoided overnight buses for as long as possible. Horror stories of cramped seats, questionable rest stops, and arriving at dawn in a sleep-deprived haze didn’t exactly make them sound appealing. Besides, in Japan, when you have one of the world’s best rail networks there is really no need for an overnight bus. But we’re not tourists we’re travellers and budgets need to stretch. So this week, we bit the bullet and hopped on a night bus from Kyoto to Matsuyama. And you know what? It wasn’t actually that bad.
The seats reclined, there was a decent amount of legroom, and the bus was eerily quiet, the Japanese take their nighttime silence very seriously. Sure, we weren’t exactly well-rested the next morning, but we saved on a night’s accommodation, made it to our next destination, and didn’t completely hate the experience. A win in our books!
We know there will be many overnight buses when we enter Southeast Asia later this year, and we suspect they won’t be as peaceful as Japan’s. But here, buses are a fantastic way to get around, and at a fraction of the cost of trains. Highly recommend!
2. Travel Planning Can Be Hard, But the Rewards Are Worthwhile
While we’re soaking up every last bit of Japan, we are mindful of preparing for the next country or countries. Fuji To Fiji is taking us to 17 of them this year, so preparation for things like visas, accommodation, transportation is really important. For some people, rocking up and hoping for the best is what works for them but for us, we do like to plan. So this week we had our eyes on our next big adventure - the Philippines! And let’s just say, planning this leg of the journey has been an adventure in itself.
We’re gearing up for an epic boat journey, island-hopping our way across some of the most stunning waters in the world. Oh, and we’re finally going to get our PADI certification! Sorting out logistics for all of this has been a challenge (so many islands, so many ferries, so many weather considerations), but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from long-term travel, it’s that good planning normally pays off.
Every bit of research, every frustrating moment spent tweaking itineraries, all lead to those unforgettable experiences. We can’t wait to trade trains for boats and onsens for coral reef and we can’t wait to share every moment with you.
3. Matsuyama & Learning About Shikoku
Matsuyama was a must-visit for us, particularly for Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot springs. Legend has it that an injured egret was healed by its waters, so naturally, we had to test its powers (jury’s still out on whether it made us more youthful, but our muscles sure appreciated the soak). But we were also excited about the ferry journey that would take us onward to Hiroshima.
While we didn’t get to explore as much of Shikoku as we would have liked, what we did see left a strong impression. Matsuyama’s castle is one of the most atmospheric we’ve visited, and the citrus juice bars with over 50 different kinds of orange juice will leave you thirsty for more.
Shikoku has definitely piqued our curiosity. Maybe next time we’ll tackle the famous 88-temple pilgrimage… or at least attempt a few stops along the way but we’ll definitely be back. If you’ve ever been to Shikoku we would love to hear about your experience in the comments!
4. Always Check the Tide Times for Miyajima
Miyajima’s floating torii gate is one of Japan’s most iconic sights, and we were very excited to see it in all its glory. But here’s the thing, we didn't just check if it was high tide; we should have checked what kind of high tide.
We visited at high tide, but it was during a neap tide, meaning the water wasn’t as high as we had imagined. The torii still looked stunning and had that beautiful "floating" effect, but if we had come during a spring tide, the water level would have been even higher, creating that classic postcard-perfect scene.
For anyone planning a visit, here’s the quick breakdown:
High tide during a Spring tide = Maximum water coverage, torii looks like it’s fully floating.
High tide during a Neap tide = Still floating, but not as dramatically.
Mid or Low tide = You can walk right up to the gate, but it won’t be floating.
Lesson learned: don’t just check if it’s high tide, check what kind of high tide! We got the view we wanted, but next time, we’ll aim for a spring tide for that extra wow factor.
5. Hiroshima: A City Reborn (More on This Soon!)
Hiroshima was one of the most moving and eye-opening stops on our journey so far. We’ll write more about it in a dedicated post, but for now, we just want to say: it’s a city that defies expectations.
Yes, the history is heavy. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum are essential visits, and they leave a mark on you. But Hiroshima is also so much more than its past. It’s a vibrant, friendly, and modern city that refuses to be defined by tragedy. From incredible food (hello, okonomiyaki!) to the beautiful Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima proved to be a place of resilience, hope, and life.
That’s a Wrap!
Another week down, another set of lessons learned. Whether it’s realising that night buses aren’t the worst, appreciating the benefits of travel planning, or getting humbled by tide schedules, the journey keeps teaching us new things about Japan and ourselves.
Our final week in Japan beckons and next week will take us to Kyushu and then onto Korea!
Have you ever miscalculated timing’s or been pleasantly surprised by a city you didn’t expect much from? Let us know in the comments!
