They say spring is the best time to travel to Japan, but in my opinion the land of the rising sun is nothing less than astounding all year round.

Last year February we spent a few weeks traveling this strange and beautiful land. We took the bullet train down from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, stopping in Hakone and Hamamatsu on the way. In a sense I have always had a crush on the idea of Japan. Now my teenage infatuation has finally matured into a deep appreciation and love for this very complicated country.

Stepping of the plain at Tokyo airport is like entering a parallel universe; everything is the same but at the same time it’s not. All the signs have become illegible, the toilets talk and people start shouting at you the moment you enter a restaurant or store. There are sounds coming from literally everywhere all the time; from cars, buildings, wastebaskets, you name it. It really took some getting used to.