I started with a quick train ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima and ended 32k steps later. First up was a hike up to the Mount Misen Observatory on Itsukushima. This hike made the hike in Yamadera seem short. The observatory at the top paid huge dividends as it offered a panoramic view of Hiroshima Bay. After hiking back down and taking the ferry back to the mainland, I...
Today started with a trip out to Nara to visit the Tōdai-ji Temple which was home to a giant bronze Buddha statue. The path to visit the Buddha is treacherous as you must dodge the deer who make the grounds their home and follow you looking for food. Luckily I indulged them with some snacks which, apart from one overly aggressive deer, was a fun experience. To avoid...
Today was mostly a transit day as moved from Takayama to Kyoto via Nagoya. It started with a scenic ride through the mountains followed by visits to the 2005 World Expo park which was full of mini attractions and walkways. Unfortunately the massive ferris wheel wasn’t running at the time. In addition to the Expo Memorial Park, I took time to visit the Toyota...
Started and ended in the mountains today with breathtaking views at each stop. My first stop was at the World Heritage site Shirakawa-go. While a relatively small town the houses were wrapped by rice fields and offered views of the surrounding mountains. While beautiful, the traditional way of heating the home with an open fire in the middle was a bit much. The...
Crossed east to west from Tokyo to Kanazawa for a visit to the old Samurai homes and a pleasant walk around Kenroku-en. I can see myself making a journey back in a few weeks to see if I can catch some of the fall leaves changing colors. After leaving the garden I made down the coast with constant views of the Sea of Japan to a hot spring resort on the shores of Lake...
I stayed local today and visited Gotokuji Temple which has a large collection of lucky cats. I found it interesting how many locations you’d find a beckoning cat around the temple. While at the temple I had the pleasure of meeting a nice local who took me to his favorite snack shop named Takobo Miyasaka Shop. I had the octopus filled takoyaki balls which were...
Today was quite the adventure. I thought, where can I go to get out of Tokyo for a few hours and enjoy the mountains. A quick google search and off I went on my 3-hour journey by train to Yamadera to visit the Rissyakuji Temple. When I arrived at the local train station I finally felt like I was in the country side. I took a breath and looked out from the station...
When planning my trip to Japan, I knew a stop in Kyoto was a must. Lucky for me I have multiple visits to this quite city in the span of week. Once as a solo traveler, and once with my parents who joined me on a tour around Japan. While I enjoy the flexibility of solo travel, any opportunity to spend time with my parents is welcomed, especially if we can enjoy one of...
Japan is home to numerous World Heritage sites and the one I was most excited to explore was the majestic White Heron, aka Himeji Castle. I was privileged to explore many castles around Japan but most were converted on the inside into museums. I understand the need to do so, however, I feel it takes away from the site. This is where Himeji Castle stands on its own...