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Tag - travel

Japan: Let’s Play Ball!

Have you ever had a childhood memory come to life? That happened to me today. I remember a movie in the 90’s “Mr. Baseball” about a professional baseball player sent to Japan to play staring Tom Selleck. I remember from the movies the fans in the stands playing their trumpets, shouting in unison and the various concession workers walking around...

A Day of Reflection: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Sacred Itsukushima

Spent time visiting the Peace Memorial Park and walking through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. No matter where you are in this park, there is a somber feel that washes over you. This was especially true walking through the museum reading stories and watching videos of those impacted as well as the stories of the long term effects the bombing had on the...

From Mount Misen’s Summit to Hiroshima’s Eternal Flame: A Day of Exploration

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...

Dodging Deer and Discovering Temples: Exploring Nara’s Sacred Sites

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...

A Transit Day: Mountains, Memories, and Motors

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...

Mountain Serenity: From Shirakawa-go to Onsen Bliss

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...

Kenroku-en Beauty and Lakefront Relaxation

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...

From Gotokuji Cats to Takoyaki Treats

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...

1000 Steps of Yamadera

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...

Discovering Kyoto: A Blend of Tranquility and Tradition

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...