Dr Samantha Pendleton
Clinical Informatician
Engineer of data, ontologies, and clusters. Thrower of pots, controllers, and eggs.
Trip to Japan! My First Holiday…
I went to Japan! This was my first holiday, first time outside the UK, and first time on a plane!
I was extremely nervous. Would I get lost? Would I be able to communicate? Would I be too stressed to relax and enjoy?
It. Was. Amazing. Life changing. Beautiful.
I’m not doing a travel guide, or writing a huge post - this is simply a small memory bank of my favourites that I’d like to share. I don’t want to spoil too much for others - but also I don’t want to share too much as the memories are for me.
Highlights
Favourite photos:
Photograph: In front of a Torii gate at our first shrine, in Nara.
Photograph: Guard tower over the Imperial Palace moat, in Tokyo.
Photograph: Exploring a bamboo grove, in Kyoto.
Photograph: Skytree tower, the world’s tallest tower, in Tokyo.
| Food | More food |
|---|---|
 Enjoying ramen |  Hawaiian burger with avocado |
 Sweet potato miffy-themed dessert |  Cheesy rice dish with a bunsen burner |
Hanko stamp
Hanko is a personalised stamp, used like a signature in Japan. There are machines around Japan that cut them in real time - plus there are shops if you want it handmade.
Knowing some Japanese katakana and translating your name is useful to do beforehand. Using the Japanese version on the machines isn’t too bad (the English version gave us “interesting” translations for our names)…
The machines often have cases for the stamps, I definitely recommend buying one, mine came with red ink ready for signing!
Sensō-ji temple at 11pm
Like any city, it can be busy: there are locals, tourists, and great sights! The city is still alive at night, with some restaurants open until 4am.
Exploring at night is not only calmer, but cooler too (depending on what time of the year you visit). During the later evenings, my partner and I explored the area around our the hotel, which was on the border of Sumida/Asakusa. Particularly we enjoyed Sensō-ji at night: less people, cooler yet warm atmosphere, and the pretty lanterns lit up the path!
Photograph: In front of Sensō-ji temple and the big lantern, in Tokyo.
Other notable favourites:
- I loved chestnut-filled desserts! I had pancakes with chestnut cream
- I received lots of compliments on my sylvanian families t-shirt <3
- Vending machines are amazing and everywhere!
Fin
I’m endlessly grateful that I am in a position in life to visit Japan. I had the trip of a lifetime and just wanted to write up some of my highlights!
(I apologise for many exclamation marks!)
Photograph: Met Calcifer.