The Kansai region is often overlooked by visitors on a short stay who prefer to stay in Tokyo. While Kyoto is also on the must see list, missing out on the sights and experiences of Kobe, Nara, Osaka would be a mistake.

So why not land in Osaka at KIX and start your trip off here. KIX is connected to many major airports directly or without having to transfer in Tokyo, and it lands you in one of the world’s major metropolises - who knows maybe you won’t miss Tokyo after seeing the skyscrapers in Osaka’s Umeda and the bustling shopping streets in Shinsaibashi.

After hanging out in Osaka, take the bullet train to Kyoto (7 minutes) or regular fast train, about 45 minutes, to Kyoto and explore all of the wonderful temples and atmosphere of temples and other traditions. Then whizz off to Kobe or Nara for your next stop to see how Kobe recovered from devastation or see the huge repository of culture in Nara’s many museums.

If you really must go to Tokyo then fly from Kansai’s three regional airports, or take the bullet train and in just a short time you’ll be enjoying all the marvels of the capital. From there you can fly back home easily or head on to other Asian or Australasian countries very easily.

So, when thinking about Japan this year, don’t give up because of the aftereffects of the disaster, instead give yourself the opportunity to start off from a different perspective in the Kansai area. You won’t regret it!

First winds of spring blowing through Kyoto at the Imperial Palace.

Hurry before they sell out. First come, first served.

Dressed to the nine(s), good heavens, it’s 2009!

Maybe we should make that an unequivocal あけ・おめ　こと・よろ type of thing between friends.

To the sacreligious, a slight cringe if you want to be sacked from sticking religiously to J-culture too much. Just a mere abbreviation of 「あけましておめでとうございます」and「今年も宜しくお願いします」, it’s so deliciously tempting to let rip with the 「あけ・おめ　こと・よろ」thing just to see all the squirms. Especially on 年賀状, the Japanese equivalent of a Crimble card, but meant only for New Year and taken waaay more seriously. It’s not uncommon to receive a bundle of over a hundred of the things on New Year’s Day, even if it’s from someone you only say hi to once a year, namely New Year. Call it 義理 (obligation), call it 和 (Japanese harmony spirit), call it what you want, it’s all rather sweet and becoming. Incidently, I proudly received three.

Wanting to seize the essence of the 和 to the hilt I plumped for a New Year’s Eve in Kyoto. Not just because it’s usually freezing as Frosty the Snowman’s armpits, but because I wanted to stay up all night and be naughty.

It wasn’t even planned. We’d finished our sushi (see what I mean about 和 spirit?!) and felt like it was the right thing to do (see what I mean about 義理?!), so off we trotted (yes, it WAS cold!) to the epicentre of all Japanese New Year celebrations that is Kiyomizu Temple. Considering it was, like, 1am you would have thought it was a post-afternoon-tea-on-Sunday conspiracy.

People. PEOPLE. Everywhere. At every turn. D i  z   z    y.  D I  Z   Z    Y.

But all rather glorious, in fact. Not to mention the ringing of the monstrous temple bell 108 times at earth-shattering volume to banquish all of our 108 earthly desires. I think I might have some more if I count carefully enough. Those poor monks would’ve been there a lot longer, they should count their blessings.

And if you like soba noodles, no problem whatsoever. They were flogging them until they saw the light of day, literally.

And thus, in was beckoned Year of the Ox. Happy 2009 yo.

Oh hang on, Christmas has been and gone. But I was dreaming of a white one (better than a wet one), and my dream come true. [Next time: California Dreamin'!]

Off I trotted to the mountains of Takayama in Gifu-ken, way out yonder. Next thing, a cold snap…snap your fingers and va va voom, a good ole smattering. Godsmacking, in fact. Knee high for heaven’s sake!
Christmas in Japan is all about the decorations…and, er, that’s about it. Not even soft in the middle. Nothing in the middle. We roll out of the futon in the glorious ryokan (big, big o-susume) half-expecting everyone to be wearing Santa-san hats and waving mistletoe about like nobody’s business, but not even a holly-embroidered kimono. Not even so much as a ‘Meri kuri’ (‘Merry Christmas’ in Japanese)! How shockingu! Needless to say I didn’t manage to pluck up the courage to ask if they served mince pies as I munched through the sushi and shabu shabu for dinner.

But, oh! How wunderbar! Bar unhumbug, I love the J-Crimble! Giz a kiss!

Ethereal. Ephemeral.
 
Ensconsed in cherry blossoms to my ears. Cheery. Yet wistful.
 
I love o-hanami with my heart.

In Kansai, the following spots are particularly recommended:

* Osaka Castle Park

* Osaka Mint Bureau (‘Zouhei-kyoku’; late bloomers)

* Sakura Shukugawa (JR line, near Nishi-no-miya)

* Kyoto Nijo Castle (for ‘light-up suru’ at night)

* Kyoto Arashiyama

* Kyoto Philosopher’s Walk (‘Tetsugaku-no-michi’)

 Ima, doko?
 
Going, going, gone.

This morning, I randomly found myself in Kyoto.

It dawned on me that living in the heart Osaka can sometimes deprive a boy of all things traditionally Japanese, so in a bid to get to the heart of the Japanese heart, I randomly found myself in the heart of a plum blossom viewing festival being held at kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

Is there some kind of weird repetition thing going on here or something?

Is there some kind of weird repetition thing going on here or something?

Anyway.

At the risk of calling me a big flower, it was absolutely beautiful.  Pastel hues blossoming right, left and centre. There was even an ikebana flower arranging contest. The whole thing was completely dripping with the very essence of the Japanese ‘wa’, or harmony. Anyone who knows me, knows I am utterly obessed with this. It’s what makes Japan so incredibly special.

After scoffing a hot bowl of ramen noodles, I braved it on the bus back to the station. What another quintessentially Kyoto experience. For a country with such an obsessive fettish with mobile phones, not a single one in sight! And the bus was rammed like sheep (no rams, mind). Is that what you call patience or saving Kyoto face? So different from Osaka! (Keitai a-go go!) To ham up the whole ‘wa’ thing even more, the entire bus was effectively a calligraphy exhibition on wheels. Every available inch of wall space was taken up with the local primary school’s efforts at kanji practice. Amazing! Not just yer mundane slogans like ‘Rice balls going cheap at yer local 7-11′, but rather completey adorable things like 「温かい心」, 「新風」 and 「希望」.

Hurrah for the ‘wa’, where would we be without it?

Kyoto speaks of mystical temples, Kobe has its quaint finesse…while Osaka is just, well, no-bones Osaka, really. Never really been a city to write home about the tourist attractions, you’d be hard pushed to find any bona fide ones….buuut if you look hard enough there is of course the glorious HEP 5 big wheel thingy. Or is it a ferris wheel per chance? I guess it depends on which side of the Atlantic you’re from. But anyway…

Go into the HEP 5 complex, and prepare to brave it through the maddening crowds (weekends equals OUCH!) and up to the seventh floor in true Charlie and the Glass Elevator stylee…and be greeted by the ubiquitous but affable ‘Hep Boy’ (yet more bonkers job titles for the ole C.V.)…who guides you to the ticket machine. You purchase your lovely red ticket for a bargainous 500 yen, and Bob’s yer uncle, off you march into your own little 4-person sky-gondola and up you go. Weeeee!

Oh, the view! I love Osaka, yey! See it in all its glory from a bird’s eye view and be your own espionage as you watch people minding their business while the world turns into dinky size. Guaranteed to eeek out a few sugoi’s of impressed-ness, even from the most cynical of people. And if they remain unimpressed they are just plain miserable and need a heavy dose of Hello Kitty-ness to lighten themselves up!

Oooh, that cunning little business ploy gets me every time, though. They try to con you into buying what’s known as a ‘memorial photo’ (who died?!) of a mug shot that you are unassumingly suckered into posing for before you get on and whirly-gig it. A snip at 1,000 yen (yeah right, twice the price of the ticket itself!), you can boast to your loved ones about how your latest wrinkles and laughter lines are coming on a treat. Up to you, of course.

On yer way down, you can of course get lost in the restaurant plaza (illuminous ice cream sundaes, anyone? …with a creme caramel on top? I’m serious!), or (yey oh yey) participate in some printclub action! Mama mia! How can I resist you?!

 HEP 5 awaits you yo!