After visiting Shirakawa-go, we had one more stop to make before returning to Kanazawa. After a short drive through narrow mountain roads, some 30km away we parked in front of a shop with a little restaurant attached to it in Gokayama. Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy outside, a very different weather we experienced in Shirakawa-go, but at least their town was...
While visiting Kanazawa, I decided to spend a day in Shirakawa-go since it was winter and I knew the place will look just like in the pictures I have seen over and over again in the past. Winter Wonderland at Shirakawa-go, Japan Winter Wonderland at Shirakawa-go, Japan After boarding a bus at the Kanazawa station, I arrived in this magical village hidden in the...
Every time I am in Kyoto, I make sure to visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove for a walk around. You simply cannot miss it, it is one of those iconic places in Japan. It’s perfect for a bit of forest bathing, being in nature and enjoying it every second. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, located on the western...
There are many places in Tokyo where you can get up high in the sky to see the city below, like Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower, which are on top of the list for visitors to the city. But there are a little less known, yet equally good. I recommend Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. It’s less crowded, less expensive and offers a different perspective on the city below...
Nagano is just about an hour away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Quick and easy trip to see Zenkō-ji Temple. This Buddhist temple was built in the 7th century, and the modern city of Nagano began as a town built around this temple. Prepare yourself for crowds as it is a popular place to visit, but well worth it. It is a pretty big temple complex, and there are many shops...
Everything looks like a typical Japanese train station when arriving from Osaka on a shinkansen to JR Kanazawa Station. Kanazawa gets a lot of snow each winter, so a large roof covers the station building to prevent train stoppages due to accumulated snow within the station. But the real treat is just outside. It’s called Tsuzumi-mon Gate at JR Kanazawa Station East...
Kyoto’s Gion District shops and restaurants storefronts light up in the evenings. And they are beautiful. I spent one of these evenings getting lost in this district and admiring them while visiting the city. Here are some of my favourites: Kyoto’s Gion District Shops and Restaurants Kyoto’s Gion District Shops and Restaurants Kyoto’s Gion...
Train stations in Japan are real hubs within the city. They are often full of not only daily commuters or people travelling but also shops and restaurants. Some larger stations double as shopping malls. They are the real heart of the city. Kyoto Station is one of the few stations I went through several times on every single trip to Japan because it is so centrally...
Today is another sad anniversary of the first atomic bomb to be used in war. It was dropped by the United States Army Air Forces from the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber. The force of the atomic bomb effectively obliterated the city of Hiroshima, Japan. It happened at 8:15 a.m. on 6 August 1945. I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial twice, visited the museum and walked by...
It was a sunny and warm day, so I decided to head out to Traveler’s Factory Nakameguro area of Tokyo. After a few changes on the subway and a bit of walking through small streets in what looks like a very residential neighbourhood, I found the place. Also, I found a 100 Yen store on the way which is always a lot of fun to visit and browse. It’s a Japanese...