NIKKO IS INCREDIBLE

[@SamFournier]

I feel like that quiet and sacred feeling you felt was partly due to all the nature that you’re surrounded by. Imagine all the stories those trees have to tell🌲

[@donaldcroom1483]

my trees story is about muir woods in nor cali. when i saw black scorch marks on the bark of one redwood, i questioned a tour guide when he said there had never been an incident endangering the trees there. he replied that those marks occurred during teddy roosevelt’s presidency timeframe (1st decade 1900).

[@OnePackWanderers]

It is a humbling feeling. Some trees are as old or older than entire civilizations. They have been around for a lot, just being right next to all of these events that we can only read about.

[@quanhuynh5077]

Everything is just beautiful

[@subberymaclee9185]

You guys look always happy❤

[@cececola]

It looks like a really nice quaint town ❤️

[@88divinegrace]

Thank you for sharing.

[@mthsu]

💮💮It is worth noting that the first place, 7:45, Rinnō-ji is a Japanese Buddhist temple. And the second place, 9:45, with the elephants, monkeys and cat, is a Shinto shrine. Toshogu Shrine. There is a difference between Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine. Japanese religion is a twine of Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto and Buddhism are heavily influence to each other. And most people worship the both at the same time. It's a very interesting culture topic. Most of the time, Shinto is in charge of daily rituals, festival/matsuri and fortune telling and prayers. People go to shrines to ask for good fortune. While Buddhism is in charge of after life, funerals and the cemeteries. Often, place ends with "-ji" or "-dera" is a temple. Place end withs "-gu" or "-jinja" is a shrine. For example, Shrines: Meiji Jingu, Kitano Tenmangu, Yasaka-jinja Temples: Nanzenji, Kiyomizu-dera

[@findingoureden]

Is there a difference in meaning or origin of -ji vs. -dera and -gu vs. -jinja?

[@mthsu]

@@findingoureden 　💮💮-jinja(神社) is the regular Japanese Shinto shrine that worships all sorts of Shinto gods. There are more than 100,000 jinja around Japan. -gu(宮) is often a Shinto shrine that worship Imperial gods or a very important figure, like the one visited in the video, Toshogu that worships Tokugawa Ieyasu . -jingu(神宮) is the Shinto shrine worshiping the Emperor. 💮💮While both written in Kanji as 寺, -ji is on-yomi reading, -dera is kun-yomi reading. Those are the different Kanji reading system. On-yomi is basically ancient Chinese. Kun-yomi is from ancient Japanese. It is about how ancient Chinese culture and writing and Buddhism influenced Japan back in the 5th century and so. Most temples are called -ji because they came from Chinese Buddhism and kept the reading. As to which one to use for certain case rely a lot on cases. It can be not intuitive, but people get used to a certain way of calling a certain temple after a while. Sometimes it can changes in history as people are calling it in a way. Whether a temple is -ji or -dera is often determined by its own history. But some places are too old and the documents are lost hence not always a clear answer.

[@findingoureden]

Excellent, thanks! Exactly what I was wondering...

[@dougmaclean9752]

congrats on 40K - you guys earned it - great photography thanks

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you, Doug! 😊

[@drewcorry5056]

Congrats on making it to Nikko. Absolutely love the view of this waterfall. Enjoyed video

[@nsiva8798]

Another beautiful day especially the waterfall 💕💕💕

[@LonglingEriksen]

They make lovely Whisky in Nikko.

[@mthsu]

Beautifall~~~~🍁🍁

[@FSVR54]

Nikko has been high on my list for a while, for when I visit. I'm looking forward to seeing it in it's GREEN splendor this coming late-Spring

[@vinhquyen46]

What's a wonderful water fall. Thank you for video, wishing both of you have best time in Japan.

[@ふーざん]

I’ve been a big fan of your KZbin Videos. I’m so surprised to know you guys have been to Nikko! Because I’m a local in Nikko😊 I wish I had showed you around Nikko. I wanted you to see the beautiful autumn scenery in National Park late in October. But I’m so proud that you’ve visited my city. I’ll continue to enjoy your videos and learn English through them. Have a nice trip in Japan!😊

[@OnePackWanderers]

We would like to come back in the Spring and see Nikko again 😊

[@user-shinha]

What I like about Japanese shrines is that they have giant trees standing on them. No matter how much the town changes, the sacred trees are never cut down.

[@donaldcroom1483]

the one highlighted here looks like it has immaculately been cared for, like a giant bonsai.

[@gioru6275]

Toshogu Shrine is overwhelmed by the many gorgeous buildings, but I like the fact that Ieyasu's grave itself is quietly hidden deep in the forest. The simple and mysterious atmosphere contrasts with the gorgeous atmosphere.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Wholeheartedly agree.

[@DavidandSarah]

omg guys!! congratulations on 40k that's amazing. you guys deserve it.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you guys so much 😊

[@stephenworthington-white8294]

I went there for a day trip after about 9 months of working in Tokyo. I remember being so happy to walk through the amazing forest! Happy Travels

[@mthsu]

Tofu skin, or Yuba, ゆば/湯葉(hot water leaf) is the thin layer formed on top of boiled soymilk. So, instead of being a kind of tofu. It is more similar to the thin layer on top of boiled milk. While also, similar to tofu, it is one solid form of soymilk. It's made by boiling a lot of soymilk and gather the solid thin layer on top. And so it's quite bland. It's not flavored but with the mild mild soybean/soymilk fragrance. When having it at a tofu restaurant like the ones in Kyoto, it can be very bland but that is for people to enjoy the very elegance fragrance of soy. When using in curry or Oden or hotpots, it take the flavor of soup or sauce around it and provides its texture.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you for the context 🙂

[@TheWrightLifeTravelChannel]

I love the temples in Japan! They are so beautiful

[@qc678c7]

Nikko is in the bucket list thks to you guy and nice back music in the video go work 😃

[@frankreidy5881]

One of your best

[@saint7871]

二人はとっても楽しそうに日本の文化を楽しんでいてくれて嬉しく思うよーとても素敵なご夫婦ですよーこれからも日本JapanをよろしくーEnjoy

[@Artyhugby]

Loving your Japan vlogs. Will be coming back to them once I book my trip there. Your Korea vlogs were how I learned about the Igidae Trail in Busan which ended up being the highlight for me in that city. So thank you😊

[@OnePackWanderers]

That was also the highlight of Busan for us. Korea has fantastic trails and a great hiking culture. Glad you had fun there!

[@FC-BS]

13:11 nice to see tia finally agree with you 😂

[@stuart5178]

Tokugawa Ieyasu? Wow and cool...

[@justintanoue]

I'm in Tokyo until Saturday! If you're still here, let's hang out! I'm from Hawaii.

[@johnmather9889]

What time of year was this, we are going in early December. Great video you have confirmed our decision to go.

[@MattBlankenshipPhotography]

Like #18 from Gilbert, AZ. I'm with Tia on the Mayo & Ketchup!

[@brianfreeman2500]

I knew exactly what you were trying to say when you said “it’s religious but not really religious.” That seems to be the Buddhist way. I love it.

[@donaldcroom1483]

i share your love for that thoughtful moment. it says so much about culture. in a simple phrase, it says “this is who we are”.

[@JRBison23]

I'd say it's very "Asian", especially "Japanese." There are definitely very religious Buddhists around the world, including Japan, in the sense that Westerners understand what it means to be "religious". Whereas for the general populace in Japan and other Asian countries, religion (especially Buddhism and Shinto, but also Christianity for the popularity of Christian weddings in Japan) is very much a part of the "culture"; and truly, religion is an artifact of the local culture. Speaking as an American who studied religious studies, my sense in the U.S. is there is a larger divide between religious and non-religious life, much in part to the melting pot of cultures there that need to coexist. Though it's not non-existent given so much of Christianity still permeates a lot of American society (government, customs, Christmas, English sayings/curse phrases). I can't speak for other Western countries, but assume some similarity with the U.S. given more similar origins/cultures.

[@MillaExplores]

I'm really enjoying your Japan vlogs! So many interesting places to explore 😍

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you 😊

[@tonyntrang]

Congrats on 40k!!

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you! 😊

[@PaulinAsia_]

If you want to see a big temple, and I mean BIG, you have to go to Todai-Ji in Nara (near Osaka) and it's free. It's amazing. plus you can feed the deer, who bow to you for food. The Red Bridge over the river was gorgeous. The whole area looks amazing. It's on my bucket list.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Definitely checking this out, thank you for the tip!

[@findingoureden]

"Tia for scale!" (whispering) "Not in front of a temple!" 😂

[@OnePackWanderers]

Anxiety kicking in 😅

[@twindryvolta7387]

Nikko is one of the japan's national treasure because of its scenery. That is why Ieyasu want his body burried there. Because he impressed with Nikko's scenery especially when autumn. And also there is Iemitsu's maosoleum there. He is Ieyasu's grandson. Cmiiw Been there last 2016 and its really beauty when autumn. But carefull with the crowd. The bus running once in an hour but its super crowdy when autumn. Nikko is worth to visit place

[@MBDeRousse]

Wow, you are cranking out the videos! Awesome. I just signed up for 2 more months in March and April for the southern areas. Looking forward to your episodes there.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Woo! March is going to be gorgeous in Japan

[@MBDeRousse]

@@OnePackWanderers I know, I hope it’s isn it too crowded. I’m heading as far south as Fukuoka

[@OnePackWanderers]

@@MBDeRousse The usual tourist route seems to be Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto so maybe you'll miss the worst of it.

[@Walts-Travel]

The camera upgrade has already paid off. You got some amazing shots. 👊😎

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you, Walt 🙂 Hope you're still having fun in Vietnam!

[@Walts-Travel]

@@OnePackWanderers loving it and I already know I'll be back one day.

[@darrylk808]

What!? No 'Tia for scale' on the waterfall!! We the viewers expect more from you...and the fact that the water was freezing cold is a bonus feature... 🤣🤣 Wife and I just booked a flight through Japan in January...it's our jet-lag layover spot. When you get older you don't take 20 hour travel well. SFO to NRT is only 10 hours and gets in at 3pm so you can check in to your hotel and grab a bite before sleeping off the trip, a few days in Tokyo to get over jet-lag before transiting on to Malaysia. Wonder if Nikko is a day trip from Tokyo? We'll see...

[@OnePackWanderers]

It's doable as a day trip for Tokyo, definitely. There are direct trains from Shinjuku station. It's about a 2 hour trip each way, so it would be a full day trip. Have fun in Japan & Malaysia! We are looking to visit Malaysia ourselves in early 2023.

[@darrylk808]

@@OnePackWanderers Malaysia & Singapore are my favorite countries. I try to get over there at least once a year. KL is a must, but my favorite is Penang. Old British colonial town, so beautiful with great food. Another is Kuching in Borneo. You must go see the Orangutans. Tip: don't stand under them to take pics...that ain't rain...😂

[@dianab.1581]

Thank you for this video! I was wondering, whether it's possible to see Nikkos Temples and Kanmangafuchi Abyss as well as the Kegon Falls in one day, since the bus takes 1 hour each way. Seems like you made it (or the most of it), so maybe it's worth a try. Could you tell me, when you went there? I would love to see the autumn scenery there and am wondering if the second half of November is too late for that already?

[@OnePackWanderers]

Hi Diana, It is possible to see all of those in a day, though you need to get an early start. We filmed this video in the second half of November and I would say we were a bit late to see the best part of the changing colors. When we arrived in Japan in mid October, I would say that was the best time for fall colors.

[@Catherine-gp7fj]

You always have the perfect background music.what genre do you play for your videos?

[@OnePackWanderers]

Thank you so much! I spend a lot of time trying to get the right songs. A couple artists I like right now are Henyao, and Osoku. I'm not great with genres, maybe they would be considered lo-fi hiphop? We use Epidemic Sound for all of our music, but I'm pretty sure many of these artists are also on Spotify 🙂

[@gordonswarbrick9844]

Nikko is great, are you doing kusatsu or hakone?

[@r3dpowel796]

Hey if you guys got time go to Yamagata. and listen to Lo fi when you are in japan its the VIBE...

[@OnePackWanderers]

Agree of lo fi comment

[@richardbarba2736]

How about do Cheveyo for scale a few times

[@hayato.a2597]

Welcome to Tochigi pref!! Are you guys in Tochigi now?

[@OnePackWanderers]

Alas, we have already left! Back in Tokyo. But thank you for the warm welcome 😊

[@Ally-oi6lm]

Cute love the braided hair look! And you both look skinnier. Must be all the better ingredients you’re eating in Japan n walking you guys are doing.

[@cda7889]

My name is Tia, too! How did you get to Nikko so early? Or were you already staying there? Sorry if I missed that.

[@davidp1017]

Did yall change your lense? The footage looks AMAZING!

[@OnePackWanderers]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! No new lenses, but Tia has been absolutely kicking butt with color grading and I think it's especially apparent with greens and teals.

[@brianfreeman2500]

Are those AllBird shoes too cold in the winter temperatures or do they work for you guys everywhere 4-seasons?

[@OnePackWanderers]

They've worked well so far, paired with some nice wool socks. The shoes themselves are made of a wool blend so they stay pretty cozy without getting sweaty 😂

[@Mwoods2272]

Tia, waterfall for scale. I can't really tell how tall that tree is without Tia for scale.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Agreed.

[@TheBones0311]

Awesome sauce

[@mthsu]

How on earth can we know how big it is without the Tia meter? 11:25

[@OnePackWanderers]

Valid concern.

[@Amanda_d62]

🙈🙉🙊 You saw the original of these emojis!!!

[@OnePackWanderers]

Yea! 😄

[@kymwright263]

🙈🙉🙊but it was a huge🌲lol

[@richardbarba2736]

A A A she is Japan 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

[@kamleshcrao]

Hey guys been following your vlogs for a while now. Big fan, however lately the food has somehow taken more priority over actual places and commentary around that. Hope you can get back to travel/sights/sounds/places as your focus.

[@OnePackWanderers]

Huh, I feel like this video was mostly about the shrines. You will definitely want to skip the next video though 😅

[@JRBison23]

I felt like it has been more about the sites, but also as a foodie i appreciate the small time they take for food.

[@kurofune.uragabay]

Another very enjoyable vlog, thanks guys 🙏 I know that when you're feeling a bit cold you just want to move on a bit quicker, and that you have an ambitious program with still a lot of things to do... and yes, Nikko is a lot more spectacular when those forests it is nestled in are a riot of greenery, but... [😁] ...I think you would also have enjoyed a visit to the Ryuzu Falls at the other end of lake Chuzenji. And that big mountain dominating the lake (it created it, as a mather of fact) is Mount Nantai, a dormant volcano. And where you have a dormant volcano you usually get... Onsens. There are some fabulous onsens along that lake-shore. And to finish, in case you're curious, here's a very good argument that Ieyasu (Tokugawa, one of the 3 great unifiers of Japan and possibly the most influential figure in its entire history) is not actually buried at Nikko's Tosho-gu, but still lying at Kunozan Tosho-gu, on a beautiful small mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean sumpu.net/english.html 🙇‍♂

[@OnePackWanderers]

Interesting article. I wonder why anyone would be interested in keeping up the deception, after all this time? Definitely will return to Nikko at some point during Spring/Summer. And onsens will (hopefully) happen soon as well

[@kurofune.uragabay]

@@OnePackWanderers Good question. Social inertia I'd say? It's widely known that Japan is one of the most conservative (advanced) societies in the world... In any case, I'm going to "blame" Ieyasu's grandson, Iemitsu, as I think that by boosting his grandfather's image with the grandiose Nikko complex he was also elevating his own role as shogun?... 🤷‍♂

[@sasurai-g3k]

Nikko was my 6th grade elementary school student travelling class. I walked the Kirifuri Kogen. Irohazaka⛰️🚌😵