We had a rough itinerary planned for our week long trip to Japan, using Osaka as our base and traveling around the Kansai region. Our travel there was pretty smooth, although we hadn't checked that the money had come out for the flights and I began to have doubts that we could travel" visa free" in Japan, (we had needed a visa for all other countries so far). It turns out they let us on the flight and welcomed us with a traditional bow at customs!

Having travelled from a bustling city of over 12 million to Osaka, which has 2.5 million, was a pleasant surprise. We had been warned that Japan was a very expensive destination, and the warnings are right. There are ways to be sensible with your money (e.g. Happy hours), so we just accepted it and enjoyed ourselves. How to convey costs to you? Subway tickets: Moscow 10p, Mongolia: no subway, Beijing: 20p, Shanghai: 30p, Osaka: 1pound40.

The first 2 days were spent seeing the sights of Osaka, from the Sky Building (for a great cityscape), Sega land, trying to play the games and read the Japanese instructions (not happening). Walking from the park where we were staying, through the old region with dozens of Buddhist shrines and temples through to the shopping region up to the castle. We even found an Irish bar to watch the 3rd test of the British Lions.

We visited Kobe, 30 minutes from Osaka, known for its thermal spas and Kobe beef. We did spend an afternoon in a Japanese spa or onsen up in the mountains, where I met our first Irish person…a man from Lurgan! The spa itself was a liberating experience. Well you are completely naked with random Japanese men in a big bath (before you ask, Kim was with the random Japanese naked women). Don't knock it till you try it!!

Another day was spent cycling around Nara, an historic town with a beautiful park teaming with tame deer and a huge Buddha in a huge temple. The locals sell the tourists deer biscuits so we could feed the deer, I think Kim feed every deer in that park and spotted Bambi about 10 times!

Our final 2 days were back in Osaka when we hit the Aquarium and ate out in a fantastic restaurant. The food in Japan is wide and varied. From traditional sushi, noodle dishes, tempura, and then some western/fusion restaurants. To our surprise they are also amazing at bread making. Like china you can pretty much end up with any part of the animal you require, it's just knowing how to order it!

The people are great. They bow and smile to greet you; even the security guards welcome you. Having come from China it was a shock to see people form an orderly queue to board the underground (in China it's a scrum!) There's even a train in the evening for women only…..I ended up on it, surrounded by 100 Japanese women and my wife…awkward!

So now being back in China, it's been a real privilege to have had the chance to visit Japan. Even though the countries are soo close on the map, their customs and traditions are miles apart.