Nara
A cultural day-trip from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara is full of history and... deer.
Nara is a must do day trip if you're staying in Kyoto or Osaka. It's full of historic buildings and has the free roaming deer that has become popular amongst tourists. The deer has even become the city's official mascot, named Sento-kun.
You can easily get to Nara from Kyoto and Osaka stations, ending at Kintentsu-Nara station. I've never actually stayed over, but I've found that a trip out to Nara does require a full day.
Nara Park is a short walk from the station, and there will be small cafes and shops selling Japanese items as you get closer to the park. I recommend making sure you check out Kōfuku-ji, Kasugataisha and Tōdai-ji, all of which are historic.
Kōfuku-ji
Kasugataisha
The inside of Tōdai-ji
Tōdai-ji is probably the most famous in the area. It's a few hundred yen to enter (depends on which ticket you buy, there's also a museum). One of the interesting activities on the inside is attempting to go through a small square in one of the wooden pillars. Little kids have no problems but I haven't taken the risk - it's tiny!
There are places scattered around the park that sell senbei (Japanese rice crackers) for the deer. You can bow to the deer and after they bow back, feed them. You can get extremely close and personal with them as they are accustomed to interacting with people, but some of them can get aggressive at times and try to grab that senbei out of your hand. I'm sure they come across people who tease them with it.
Keep in touch:
More travels:
Fukuoka
Fukuoka city is Kyushu's biggest, and rated as amongst the best places to live in the world.
Fukuoka City is one of Japan's five largest cities and is the biggest on the island of Kyushu. It's the capital of Fukuoka prefecture, a state that is at the top of the island and spans across it from ocean to ocean.
The city itself is considered great to settle down in by many, and has been ranked in the world's top 10 in Quality of Life by Monocle.
As someone who lived in the prefecture - in Yukuhashi - and frequented the city often, I can't say I disagree.
The central city itself is easy to get around on the two subway lines. I break down Fukuoka city into three main areas: Hakata - the central station and downtown, Nakasu - the more "adult" nightlife area with yatai (the famous outdoor food stands the city is known for), and Tenjin - the shopping and nightlife area. They're all on the same subway line and are either next to each other or a couple stations away. You could walk to each area if you'd really like to, but I wouldn't recommend it to most.
Nakasu's Naka River, taken from the Fukuhakudeai Bridge
Tenjin is my personal favorite part of town due to the abundance of shopping, food and it just being really walkable.
Department stores like Parco and Daimaru are centered right around Tenjin station, but if you walk a few blocks west, you'll hit an area called Daimyo. This area has a lot of smaller shops, boutiques and places to eat. The feel of it is a bit like the side streets of Tokyo's Harajuku/Omotesando area, if you've been to Tokyo before. At night, there are bars and clubs, as well as some yatai food stalls in case you don't wish to venture next door to the Nakasu area.
One of the best views for photography is the Fukuoka Tower area near Momochi, a 15-20 minute walk from the Nishijin subway station.
Shot from Momochi Beach, with Fukuoka Yahoo Dome and Fukuoka Tower.
The most famous shrine nearby is Dazaifu Tenmangu. You can get there by train from Tenjin station, and the road leading up from Dazaifu station to the shrine area is lined with shops selling Japanese confections and gifts. If you go further in from the shrine, you can check out the Kyushu National Museum, which is worth adding onto your trip as it has various special exhibits and a big glass wall that reflects the surrounding nature.
Fukuoka also has a relatively well known festival, Hakata Dontaku, that takes place on the streets in central Fukuoka city. You'll see people dressed up in traditional wear carrying and pulling big wooden structures, shouting chants and spraying water.
Keep in touch:
More travels:
Yukuhashi: Cherry Blossoms
I lived in one of Fukuoka's secret cherry blossom spots.
One of the most unknown and overlooked cherry blossom spots in Fukuoka is along the Imagawa River in Yukuhashi city.
Full disclosure: I lived right next to it for five years. I don't think I'm being biased however as friends would want to travel from all over the prefecture to have picnics here.
Yukuhashi is about a 30 minute train ride (15 minutes on the Sonic Express) south from Kokura, and an hour ride on the Sonic Express train from Hakata. It's a small seaside city on the island's east coast with around 70,000 residents.
The main river, the Imagawa, is about a 15 minute walk from Yukuhashi station. Lining both sides are cherry blossom trees and under them, a walkway and space to sit down.
This is the go-to spot for locals to have BBQ's and picnics while the flowers are out, yet it doesn't get packed like the more well known "hanami" cherry blossom locations in Fukuoka.
For more about Yukuhashi, you can check out their tourism site.
I've also turned some of the photos that I've taken here into cherry blossom wallpapers for phones here.
If you didn't get your fill picnicking under these trees, there are some good food spots that I'd recommend:
Marushin
My personal favorite ramen shop in Yukuhashi and one of my favorites in all of Fukuoka. It may not be the most well known in the city, that award easily goes to the now international Kanada-ya, but it has a perfectly balanced and tasty tonkotsu pork broth that's not too heavy nor too light. Try their "Akamaru" which has a little bit of spiciness to it. Each bowl is full of toppings and all in all amazing. And guess what, they're open late!
Ishokuya Sai
A couple blocks west from Yukuhashi station is Ishokuya Sai, an izakaya popular for families and offices having small parties. They have a variety of Japanese and even western dishes, but check out their motsu nabe hot pot in the winter, wagyu yakiniku and lunch sets. The staff is also very friendly.
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Hakone
One of the most famous onsen hot spring resort areas in Japan, Hakone makes for a nice weekend trip right outside of Tokyo.
Hakone Shrine
Hakone is one of the most famous areas for onsen hot springs and ryokans
It’s been a popular vacation getaway for Japanese for hundreds of years, and was considered a nice honeymoon destination
It is a former checkpoint to get into Edo (old Tokyo)
[Updated 2019]
The most well known onsen hot spring town near Tokyo is Hakone, a mountain resort area just over an hour outside of the city. Its relaxing environment is complimented by clear views of Mt Fuji.
Mt Fuji, seen from Motohakone.
HOW TO GET THERE
The easiest way to get to Hakone is via the Odakyu Romance Car express train, a 1 hour 15 minute ride from Shinjuku station.
Once arriving at Hakone-Yumoto station, the last stop, there are a couple of ways to get around, depending on where your ryokan is. There are buses across the station as well as the Hakone Tozan train, a 2-car train that goes up and down the mountain between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora stations.
The onsen hot springs and ryokans are spread out all over the mountain. Because most vacationers go to mainly relax at the ryokan where food is provided, restaurants and convenience stores are sparse in a lot of areas.
WHERE TO STAY
Here are a couple of places that I’ve stayed at and recommend:
Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara - A modern ryokan with a private onsen by one of Japan’s most famous chains
Hotel de Yama - A Western-style hotel right on the Lake Ashi waterfront in Motohakone
The main sightseeing happens between Motohakone at Lake Ashi and Gora station, where the Hakone Tozan train ends and the Hakone Tozan cable car starts. The cable car ends at Souzan station, where it connects to the Hakone Ropeway that goes down to Lake Ashi.
You can do your sightseeing going either way, from Lake Ashi to Gora or vice versa. I’ve done both. One of the ropeway stations is a popular stop: Owakudani.
ŌWAKUDANI
Ōwakudani is a geologically active area, with sulfur continuously rising out of the mountain. The name literally means “Great boiling valley” in Japanese.
This area is famous for its black eggs which are created by boiling them in the bubbling mineral-rich waters. It may look odd, but definitely try one, it's good! The belief is that eating one of these eggs adds 7 years to your life - so it’s not a healthy Japanese diet guys, it’s these eggs!
I also tried wasabi ice cream from a shop there which had a tiny kick to it. Not a must have but fun to try something different.
Eggs are boiled in these mineral-rich waters.
The final result: Black eggs ready to eat. They give you salt to dip it in.
The other end of the ropeway is Lake Ashi. At the ropeway station there, there’s a boat resembling a pirate ship that connects to the Motohakone area.
MOTOHAKONE
Afternoon walk around Motohakone
Motohakone is a lakeside town with Japanese gift shops, swan-shaped paddle boats to rent and head out on the lake, and a bunch of coffee shops. It’s also known for being one of the endpoints of the Hakone Ekiden, a collegiate marathon that many Japanese watch during New Year’s.
Historically, this area is significant because it had the Hakone Sekisho Checkpoint, a former entrance point to Edo, or old Tokyo.
The most popular sight in the area is Hakone Shrine. It’s lakeside torii gate (pictured at top) is amongst the must-have Japan photos, and tourists line up in order to get a shot of themselves here. It is extremely photogenic, but I’d recommend getting there by 8:30AM in order to avoid the crowd and have a moment to enjoy being there - the Lake Ashi sight with the water lapping at the torii is truly relaxing.
Hakone Shrine’s photogenic torii gate at Lake Ashi
HAKONE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
Symphonic Sculpture by Gabriel Loire at the Hakone Open-Air Museum
Besides hot springs and nature, Hakone surprisingly has several museums. The most popular and photogenic is the Hakone Open-Air Museum, an open park-like area with various sculptures and installations to explore.
Some of the popular, photogenic installations are the Symphonic Sculpture, Curved-Space Diamond Structure, Woods of Net and the Picasso Pavilion. I’ve been here once and went through it pretty quickly (1 hour) due to being pressed for time, but it’s actually a pretty big area and worth exploring a little bit.
HAKONE TOWN
Hakone Town, outside of Hakone-Yumoto station
Hakone town is the area right outside of Hakone-Yumoto station, the entrance/exit point to Hakone if you catch the Odakyu Romancecar. There's a bunch of shops with traditional Japanese foods and snacks, both to eat on the spot or to take home, which is why exploring this area might be best as a last stop. One shop even had an outdoor fire with free pieces of fish where you could grill yourself to try.
While eating at the ryokan probably provided good enough meals, the two places I recommended do for sure, there are a couple other spots that I’d say should be on the do not miss list. These will round out a trip to Hakone very nicely:
Yubadon Naokichi
Yuba is the top layers of tofu that form as its being made, and tofu is one of the foods Hakone is known for. Yubadon Naokichi specializes in yuba over rice, “yuba-don”, and is well known for it. They have lunch sets featuring tofu served in various ways, but go with the standard yuba-don set. You probably have never had tofu this way and it’s delicious.
Because it's well known and right in Hakone Town, this place can get quite crowded. Go early if you can - it opens at 11AM.
TOMOEI
Perhaps the best unagi I’ve ever eaten, top 2 at least! Unagi Tomoei is ranked as a “popular spot” on Retty, one of Japan’s top review sites, and it’s well deserved. The unagi here is amazing - flavorful, fluffy and grilled to perfection. They use sake quality spring water to prep, and you enjoy it on solid wooden tables. The “jo-unagi” (bigger size) set, including soup and pickles will start at 4,600 JPY after a 1+ hour wait, but it’ll be so worth it, trust me.
Unagi Tomoei is at the edge of the Hakone area and can be accessed by catching Hakone Tozan train from Hakone-Yumoto to Kazamatsuri station.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Mojiko
A little Europe-inspired town at the northern tip of Kyushu.
· Mojiko is a retro area and popular destination in the Kitakyushu area of Fukuoka Prefecture
· It used to be an international trade port in the late 1800s
· Being at the tip of Kyushu island, there is a view of the main Honshu island right across the channel
Near the northern-most tip of Kyushu, in Fukuoka prefecture, is Mojiko. It overlooks the channel between Kyushu and Honshu islands, and has a clear view of Shimonoseki city. What makes the area unique is that it has a European influence, with red brick buildings amongst others.
Mojiko, with European-inspired buildings (seen towards the left).
The Kanmonkyo Bridge connecting Kyushu and Honshu.
Shimonoseki city seen from Mojiko.
The dock area is where some locals fish, and you can catch the sunset from there. There's a couple places nearby worth checking out for dinner.
Kawarasoba Takase
This is from a chain that originated across in Yamaguchi prefecture. It's soba cooked on a traditional Japanese roof tile, topped with shredded egg, beef, nori, lemon and spicy daikon radish. We split one tile between two people, and it was decently filling with some local Mojiko Retro Beer, which they serve.
Bear Fruits
A small cafe right off from the main shopping area. They're most known for their super yaki curry, a curry perfectly oven-baked, full of cheese. Bear Fruits is pretty known to Japanese visitors, so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a little while.
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Mt Aso in Kumamoto
A day trip to relax at a power spot.
A day trip to Kumamoto's power spot. Mt Aso is quite a spiritual place - beautiful green for as far as the eye can see and a huge blue sky above. There aren't too many places in Japan where you can experience both in the same amount of vastness without mountains or buildings in the way.
I visited Daikanbo, Mt Aso in 2013, before the earthquakes ripped through Kumamoto prefecture. It takes a while to get to as it's only accessible by car, but an easy day trip from Fukuoka city. It was in the middle of Japan's humid summer, but after walking up to the lookout area, I was greeted by none other than a crisp, cool breeze. It's a place where you can sit down alone with your thoughts and just be at peace.
In the area, there's a market with a variety of food items. There was a grill going on outside at the time I went, and I tried their horse meat skewers which were tasty. One of the foods Kumamoto is known for in Japan is their variety of horse meant. Being an American, it took me a little bit of getting used to, but I've come to realize that it actually is quite good meat. Both cooked and raw horse is eaten here, and it's a minor part of the general Japanese diet as well.
Nearby is a freshwater spring, Ikeyama Suigen. It's a freshwater spring, one of Japan's top 100, and is used for water in some of the major bottled drinks in the country.
The water was some of the clearest water I've ever seen. Flowing out from here, there is also a fountain area that you can fill up your bottle for free. Delicious, really. Stop by here when you're on your way back to the city.
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Kagoshima
Delicious kurobuta pork at its capital in south Kyushu.
If kurobuta katsu and active volcanoes sounds like a cool trip, Kagoshima will satisfy. CNN even had it listed as one of the top 5 most overlooked cities in Asia. It's at the southern-most tip of Kyushu in southern Japan, however, so it's unfortunately missed by most tourists.
Kagoshima was the first trip that I took after moving to Japan in 2009 after hearing people recommend it. I left Kagoshima putting it up there on my list favorite places in Japan. I made sure I went again for a second time in 2013. It's a great place to check out if you're looking for a tad bit of a warmer getaway to relax in "mainland Japan."
A subway sits in the waters between Kagoshima city and Sakurajima.
Sakurajima is (well, was) an island with the active volcano. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a good shot of it, but it's easily visible from the coast of Kagoshima city. You can see ash spewing out at the top.
To get to the volcano island, you head over by a 15-minute ferry that you catch from the Sakurajima ferry Kagoshima Port. There are buses at the port that will take you around the island. If you're not headed someplace like one of the numerous onsen on there, you can catch a bus like us that stops at some scenic spots.
Shouting statue, commemorating an all-night concert by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi. There is a bus stop nearby.
Nearby the ferry port on the Kagoshima city side is Kagoshima Aquarium. It's a pretty nice aquarium, with dolphins being a main focus. There's an indoor dolphin show as well as a dolphin viewing in what seems to be a converted canal.
Dolphins in the canal.
If you know a little bit of Japanese history, you'll probably know about Saigo Takamori. He's one of the most famous samurai, and was the inspiration to Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai" film.
A trip to Kagoshima wouldn't be complete if it weren't for food. If you're a pork or tonkatsu lover, Kagoshima is the city best known in Japan for kurobuta pork. That means, kurobuta katsu, flavorful Kagoshima-style tonkotsu ramen, kurobuta shabu shabu... YUM.
Kurokatsu-tei
Big statement: This is my favorite katsu that I've had in Japan. I've been here twice, to two different locations, and I can say that I've never had such perfectly breaded and fried, melt-in-your-mouth tonkatsu like I've had here. My family feels the same way. And that's no easy statement to make, there are so many good katsu spots in Japan. Even if you have to wait a while to get a seat, stick it out.
Shirokuma
Kagoshima can be a little warmer than most places in Japan, so if you're looking for some shave ice, Shirokuma would be the place to go. It's probably the most famous dessert spots in the city, and is known throughout the country. While they do serve other foods, their assorted fruits in a fluffy bowl of snow is their most popular.
Keep in touch:
More travels:
Beppu: An Onsen City
A short getaway to Kyushu's famous onsen city.
Any fan of onsen hot springs in Japan knows about Beppu. It's a small city that sits along Kyushu's east coast in Oita prefecture, near the border of Fukuoka. You'll know you've arrived when you start seeing steam rising from buildings and smelling sulfur in the air.
Beppu isn't fancy or luxurious, nor is it a city that's built like a resort area. It's meant to have the onsen be the central focus, a time to get away. Some friends and I made a few trips here while I was living in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, to do just that.
There are places to visit in the city, too. The most famous is the 7 "Hells" - a couple of areas with different types of waters bubbling up to create a range of environments, most of which look like another world. While they're good for a quick look, there's no need to have it take up a chunk of your schedule.
Umijikoku (Sea Hell)
Chinoikejikoku (Blood Hell)
To get above the city, go to the Beppu Ropeway for a gondola ride up Mount Tsurumi.
The neighboring area also has an African safari where you have the opportunity to feed roaming animals from the inside of a caged bus. Giraffes, kangaroos and lions, along with a tiger cub petting room makes it a fun experience for all ages. Make sure to keep your hands in the cage around the lions - no Simba's around here!
Businesses in the area tend to have a little more English-capable staff compared to other cities in Kyushu due to an international university nearby. While most meals will likely be in the ryokan that you're staying at, here's one place you can check out:
Rokusei
If you could use a break from the Japanese washoku meals at the ryokans, check out Korean-style reimen here. It's a really small, hole-in-the-wall shop, but these cold noodles of their's is refreshing in the summer.
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Yufuin: Oita's Onsen Town
Spending a night in Oita's quaint little onsen town.
If you're looking to find a perfect little Japanese onsen (hot springs) getaway in Kyushu, Yufuin is your place. Unlike Beppu, a city, Yufuin is a small town tucked nearby some mountains and surrounded by the nature of Oita prefecture.
We stayed at Yawaragi-no-Sato Yadoya, nothing extraordinarily fancy but just right in terms of what you get for the price. It's near the main street area, yet just off it for some peace and quiet. Included along with the room was some private onsen time where you can relax in an outdoor onsen without dealing with random strangers, and a yakiniku dinner at Yadoya's Bungo Tei (see below) featuring bungogyu beef - the local Oita wagyu. Getting to spend time in an onsen alone while being surrounded by peace and quiet (versus other men!) was nothing short of relaxing. And the bungogyu beef after? Amongst the best wagyu beef I've had in Japan.
Taking a walk around Yufin town adds to the getaway experience. There's a lot of shops selling Japanese goods, local specialties, as well as desserts and homemade confectionaries.
A bridge near Lake Kinrin.
Lake Kinrin.
Bungo Tei
Some of the best meals in Japan are when wagyu beef is involved. Bungo Tei serves melt-in-your-mouth, local "bungygyu" wagyu along with a variety of Japanese dishes. Definitely check it out if you're in town.
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Hiroshima
Left out of itineraries a bit too often, Hiroshima is one of the more overlooked cities in Japan.
Many places inspire and satisfy the cravings of experiencing things new. Few truly speak to open a dialogue with your soul. Because of its history, Hiroshima is one of them.
Hiroshima sometimes finds itself just missing the cut on itineraries due to it being a bit south from hugely popular Tokyo and Kyoto. While it doesn't have that big city life or famous, traditional themes that tend to draw people to the other two, Hiroshima is one of the more underrated spots in Japan that more people need to see.
Itsukushima's torii gate
Itsukushima shrine is one of my favorite Japanese temples and shrines as it's beautifully set right on the waterfront. It's actually on a separate island entirely, Miyajima, which has a bunch of other historical sights to see. The first thing to catch everyone's eye is the torii gate that sits in the water. The rest of the shrine is on the coastline, and due to the tides, the landscape of the shrine changes quite drastically from being surrounded by water to being able to walk out right under the gate.
Another sight I'd recommend is Senjogaku Hall which is only about 10 minutes away up the hillside.
Below Senjokaku Hall (Toyokuni Shrine), the name referencing its size of 1000 tatami mats.
Oh, and those famous deer walking around in Nara? They're all over Miyajima as well.
Of course the Hiroshima Peace Memorial is also a must see. It's one of the museums in the world that will give you a real sense of the tragedies of war. It was one of the most impactful memories of my first adult trip to Japan, and I strongly feel it should be on everyone's list. It speaks to the heart of any human being.
As you'd might imagine, due to bearing the brunt of the consequences, locals feel strongly against war and nuclear weapons here. On one of my visits to the museum, an older man was walking around handing out handmade paper airplanes with a colorful little origami crane on it - a message to visitors that we all need to work for peace.
The Atomic Bomb Dome.
Hiroshima people are pretty nice and laid back being that it's a smaller city. I've visited a few times and have always enjoyed my stay.
Hiroshima's most well known food is okonomiyaki, something like a Japanese pancake. While Osaka is also known for it, the difference with Hiroshima's is that it has a lot of noodles in it. Here's one place to check out:
Henkutsuya
While there are many okonomiyaki spots, Henkutsuya was a recommended one. It's an old, hole-in-the-wall type of place near a shopping district. What's great about it is that it's an authentic local experience with a mix of Japanese and foreign tourist customers. Some good Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and a Japanese beer isn't a bad way to end a day here.
Keep in touch:
More travels:
Taipei, Taiwan
A few nights to explore the city of Taipei and the nearby mountain town of Jiufen.
Taipei has a modern feel mixed with a hint of that Southeast Asian vibe. I went with some friends and we made sure to check out the main sights within the few days that we were there.
Here are a few things that we did:
Memorial of Chiang Kai-shek
We started off with the Memorial of Chiang Kai-shek. The hall itself is bigger than you'd probably guess, and there are a lot of historical buildings in the vicinity.
The changing of the guard there is definitely something to see; the discipline and precise movements of the soldiers are borderline mind-blowing. You can snap photos of them all you want and they won't even blink.
Changing of the guard at the Memorial of Chiang Kai-shek
Shilin Night Market
The Shilin Night Market has everything from clothing, knick knacks to food and deserts, and it makes for a fun night out. After daring - and it was no easy task for me - to try a bite of stinky tofu, I went to clean everything off with an amazing dessert - shaved ice topped with mango, tapioca balls, mochi, mango syrup and mango ice cream.
One thing's for sure: Taiwan has some of the best desserts.
Dessert at Shilin Night Market
Jiufen
Just outside of the city in the mountains, there's a town called Jiufen. It's a maze of narrow streets, walking paths and stairs - amazing for photography. They're packed with small shops with people cooking and selling different types of foods to try out. You also get a pretty nice view of the ocean.
The A Mei Teahouse, which is known to be the inspiration for the bathhouse in Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away."
After Jiufen, we returned to Taipei.
We made sure we got some nightlife in, so we went to a bar called Barcode, a club called Spark, and my favorite, a bar with an outside terrace area called In House. Taipei was a nice short getaway, perfect for a few days.
Here's some of the food we ate:
Din Tai Fung
I know, this was already on the top of your list of places to go. I'm here to confirm that you need to make it a point to do so. They have staff that speak multiple languages to help you, it's a really well run operation.
Xiemen Town
This was a random shop that we hopped into. There was no English spoken, so we had fun pointing and gesturing.
MK King
MK King was a Taiwanese hotpot restaurant that we went to at the recommendation from my local friend. It's all you can eat, and everything is according to how you want it. You can choose two broths for each bowl, make your own sauce, and pick from a variety of meats and vegetables at the bar.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Sapporo and Niseko
Two trips to Sapporo for the Snow Festival and a little snowboarding trip to Niseko didn't disappoint.
Two winter trips to Sapporo, Hokkaido has made one thing clear: It's not just another Japanese city.
The foreign influence is quite visible just by looking at the western-style, block layout of the city. Other Japanese cities tend to have a lot of winding streets and narrow alleys that you randomly wander down. Add to that the icy slick and snow galore during the winter, and it's a different Japan.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a main attraction during winter, and it's worth checking out. Ice sculptures and food stalls line the streets in between more gigantic ice sculptures, some of which serve as stages for concerts and performances. There's also a ramp in the streets where snowboarders are jumping of and performing aerial tricks.
On my second trip, we headed a couple hours outside the city to Niseko. It's a well done ski resort - not quite as upscale and fancy as some others, but the facilities, runs and snow itself are great. Powder!
Niseko
An ice cave bar alongside the main street leading up to the Niseko runs.
Do check out some food in Sapporo as it's a tweak on the Japanese dishes that many know of. Due to the cold environment, foods like their ramen tend to be rich and hearty. Their ramen style is a heavier, miso broth, thick noodles, various seafoods and corn with a slice of butter on top. The cold climate also leads to excellent seafood, but yakiniku BBQ is also a big deal. When it's time to get your grill on, it's all about the lamb.
Hokkaido's butter miso ramen
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Nagoya
A couple of days to taste Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city and home to an iconic castle.
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya is in Aichi Prefecture and is Japan’s 4th largest city
It’s considered Japan’s automotive capital with makers like Toyota being from there
Aka-miso (red miso) cooking and tebasaki (chicken wings) are some of the foods they’re known for
Despite being one of Japan’s largest cities, Nagoya may not be one of the most popular destinations to visit.
Honestly, it ranked below places like Kobe or seeing more of Kyoto for me as well, but I decided to spend a couple of days there in 2011, just to get a taste of what Japan’s fourth largest city was like.
How to get there
Nagoya is in Aichi Prefecture, which is quite central on the main Honshu Island. It’s between Kyoto and Tokyo, and most people travel there on the Shinkansen Bullet Train. I recommend doing so as well.
Where I went
Nagoya Castle
My first stop was Nagoya Castle (pictured at the top), arguably the main attraction in the city.
The castle was completed in 1615 by the Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. It’s one of the more famous castles in the country and is recognized for the golden shachiko, mythical carp with a head of a lion, at its top.
https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp
Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Shrine is another top attraction in Nagoya, and is said to be around 1,900 years old. It’s one of the most famous in all of Japan and is visited by about 9 million people each year.
The shrine sits in a park-like area, and is perfect just to take a stroll in, really.
Toyota Museum
Toyota Museum
If you’re in the city where Toyota was founded, you have to see its museum, right?
The Toyota Museum gave a full historical look at the origins and growth of the company, the different businesses that it started, and the technologies that they created.
Being that I only thought of them as the car company that they are today, learning about everything that they did was an eye-opener.
SCMAGLEV and Railway park
JR's SCMaglev and Railway Park is fun for anyone interested in Japan's massive train network.
There's a variety of retired trains and futuristic maglev concepts on display, as well as learning rooms and a simulator.
One exhibit, the Greatest Railway Diorama Room (pictured in the slideshow above), featured an impressive, large scale model train model environment that showcased a day in the life on the Nagoya railways. Very meticulous and well designed.
https://museum.jr-central.co.jp
Osu Shotengai (Shopping street)
The Osu Shopping Street is one of the main shopping areas in Nagoya and attracts a lot of people.
It’s known for selling things at reasonable prices, items such as Japanese dishes and tea to kimonos and used clothes.
Nagoya City Hall
Food-wise, Nagoya is known for a variety of dishes, but are best known for their tebasaki (chicken wings) and aka-miso (red miso) dishes.
Where I ate
YABATON
Misokatsu - tonkatsu covered in aka-miso. One of the most well-known Nagoya misokatsu spots is Yabaton.
The katsu itself is nice, meaty and tender, and the aka-miso adds a light sweetness to it. Definitely worth a try if you're in town.
Keep in touch:
More travels:
Japan Cherry Blossom Wallpapers
Free wallpapers of Japan’s cherry blossoms - FREE TO USE!
[Updated April 2019] Japan's cherry blossoms are iconic and I make it a point to see and photograph them as much as possible each year.
I've been lucky to experience them through my years in Tokyo and Fukuoka, so I edited them into wallpapers for you. Feel free to use them!
A cherry blossom canopy covering the Meguro River in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms on a sunny day in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
DOWNLOAD
Kayabacho cherry blossom tunnel near Nihombashi, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
I also have this as a print!
Cars zoom under the cherry blossoms at Tokyo Midtown
DOWNLOAD
Cherry blossom clouds over the Meguro River in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Naka-Meguro cherry blossom tunnel over the Meguro River
DOWNLOAD
I also have this as a print!
Cherry blossoms hanging over Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms under the spring sky in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
DOWNLOAD
Glowing cherry blossoms in Nogawa, Tokyo for a 3-hour light up festival
DOWNLOAD
Illuminated cherry blossoms along the quiet streets around Ark Hills, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Cherry blossoms drape over the sides over the Meguro, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Lunch time hanami in Ueno, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
Lights reflect over the cherry blossom-lined Imagawa river in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
DOWNLOAD
Cherry blossoms over the pink lanterns in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
A train passes under cherry blossoms in Nakano, Tokyo
DOWNLOAD
A car leaves light trails under cherry blossoms in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
DOWNLOAD
Hope you found one you like! Also, if you’re planning to check out cherry blossoms in Tokyo, here’s a list of the best cherry blossom spots in Tokyo!
KEEP IN TOUCH:
Hamamatsu
Exploring Hamamatsu, Shizuoka - one of Japan's unagi capitals - for a day.
Edited 2022
Hamamatsu is a mid-sized city at the western end of Shizuoka Prefecture
It’s most famous for Lake Hamana, unagi and gyoza
Hamamatsu is a coastal city on the western end of Shizuoka Prefecture, neighboring Aichi Prefecture.
How to get there
JR Hamamatsu Station is one of the stops on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line, making it rather convenient. While there is a train line in the city, getting around it is best done by car.
About Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu is a mid-sized city with a population of just under 800,000. It’s Shizuoka Prefecture’s largest city. Many Brazilians live in the city, with a large portion of them working at local manufacturing plants.
Lake Hamana and unagi, or Japanese eel, are the two things Hamamatsu is best known for. A lot of the shops in the city even sell unagi-flavored confectionary treats as well, and it’s usually the omiyage, or gift brought back from travelers to the city.
I’ve visited Hamamatsu twice. The first was a spur of the moment decision in which I stayed for a couple of days, and the second was to stay at the Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu resort ryokan.
I've been a big fan of unagi since I was a child, and since it’s considered Japan’s unagi capital, I decided that I needed to go there and try it. My only real goal on that first trip was to head to a shop that was recommended to me. (shown below)
Here are some places that I’ve been to in the city.
Where we went
Act Tower
Often times when I travel to a place, I try to make it to a high point in the city to get a view overlooking the area. I headed to Act Tower, which is just outside of Hamamatsu Station on the east side. The view from the tower the photo at the top.
Airpark JASDF Hamamatsu Air Base Museum
The Airpark is a large museum for people interested in jets and planes in general. I was able to go on my second trip to Hamamatsu.
Entrance to the park is free and there’s free parking as well. There are decommissioned planes and replicas located in the museum, models showing the evolution of flight suits, a replica of a room in the Japanese Air Force One that the Emperor, Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials use when traveling overseas.
There are interactive exhibits as well such as a flight simulator and virtual experience for the Blue Impulse, Japan’s air acrobatics team.
The park is located at an actual air base, so we saw a couple training jets take off. Overall it’s a fun experience.
https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/ [J]
MAP
I mentioned that food was my main reason why I first visited Hamamatsu. And because I got to go again, I ate at some good places that I can recommend.
Unagi Nakaya
Mission accomplished. Unagi Nakaya was recommended to me and the main place I wanted to eat on my first trip to Hamamatsu.
It's quite far from the central area and inconvenient to get to without a car, but as of today, it’s one of the top 3 unagi that I've ever had.
The chef cuts, grills and prepares the unagi right in front of you. It's extremely fresh, moist and tasty.
MAP
* This place seems to have closed.
Atsumi
Another favorite unagi spot. Both Unagi Nakaya above and Atsumi here are two of my three favorite unagi places that I’ve ever eaten.
Atsumi is centrally located and just a short walk from Hamamatsu Station. It’s straight forward, selling unagi sold in a few different ways such as sauce, sauceless, in a round bowl, etc. Each comes in about 3 different sizes. The one that I got here is a medium, which contains 1.5 unagi.
So fluffy and moist, yet just the right amount of char on the outside. Absolutely delicious.
Fukumitsu
Gyoza, or Chinese dumplings, are also famous in Hamamatsu. In fact, the city competes with Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture for the title of gyoza capital of Japan.
Fukumitsu is a local spot and during lunch hours, you’ll see a line of locals - a good sign. Hamamatsu style gyoza is filled with a lot of vegetables like cabbage and onion, as well as pork. Fukumitsu’s gyoza wrapping was a little thicker than average, but still maintained a light feel to it.
I got a small-sized, 10-piece lunch set which was filling enough. Lunch sets go up to 20 pieces, and you can order gyoza platters of up to 50 pieces. Fukumitsu is very satisfying for lunch and I imagine it’d be a great place to gather with friends for gyoza parties in the evening as well.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
More travels:
Okinawa: Naha & Zamami
A few days in Okinawa spent roaming Zamami and Aka Islands, then Naha.
Okinawa is that kind of Japan but kind of not place, due to history. I got to check it out in 2011.
We started off by taking a boat from Naha, Okinawa's main city, to Zamami island, an island just west of the main city. As we pulled up to the dock, a happy young woman from the hostel that we were staying at was waiting to warmly greet us.
Zamami Island is small and very walkable, with little beach coves every so often. The main area is condensed, so getting across it takes only several minutes on foot. It has a very small community vibe being that it's a small town, one where everyone knows everyone. People are extremely laid back, casual and friendly.
We went in late April/early May, and the water was still quite cold. The beaches are swimmable, but due to the temperature, not the most comfortable. We wore wetsuits one day, then toughed it out without them on another. The water is clear, and in some places there is an abundance of fish, but there are sea snakes that hide in the coral so beware of them.
Here are a few food spots on Zamami Island that I'd recommend:
Umibaru
This fried fish, Gurukun karaage, doesn't have much meat but is quite tasty. Keep in mind though that this restaurant doesn't have rice, though.
La Toquee
La Toquee's rafute, Okinawa's well known way of cooking pork, is a must. It's tender and juicy, and a treat to eat.
Marumiya
Marumiya is a good place on the island for dinner. Soki soba, Okinawa's version of ramen, is fat noodles and a nice piece of pork in a light broth. If you've had Hawaii saimin, the flavor is very similar.
After our stay on Zamami Island, we made a quick stop at another neighboring island, Aka. Getting back on the boat, we headed back to Naha city.
Naha is a lot bigger as it is the central city in Okinawa. The vibe is very different as well, it's culturally quite diverse and feels somewhat like a mix of Japanese, American and Chinese cultures. There are a lot of businesses geared to internationals, a big reason is due to the big American military presence there.
The nearby Churaumi Aquarium is one of the major attractions as it's one of the most well known aquariums in Japan. It will take a big chunk out of your day as it's big and not central, but it houses a wide range of animals, even whale sharks.
Foods aren't any different from what we had on Zamami, but we did get our fill of seafood at Makishi Food Market.
Makishi Fish Market
Lined with vendors with fresh fish, they'll prepare sashimi for you right there. You can grab a table upstairs and they'll come up and deliver your order to you.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Shanghai, China: World Expo
Checking out the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China.
During the couple days that I spent in Shanghai in 2010, the majority of the time was at the World Expo. It was the reason why I traveled there when I did, but because of that, I didn't get to thoroughly explore the city as much as I'd like to.
Shanghai is a very busy, modern city that has a little bit of grunge to it. When looking at photos of the city from the 90's, it's almost unreal to see how much it's been developed. The enormous skyscrapers and neon lights are just a part of it. You can see it just from walking around the streets, like the digital displays at bus stops telling you bus location information in realtime.
While I'm sure much has changed in both these cities since I've visited, Shanghai has a different feel from Beijing, which I went to a couple years earlier in 2008. Beijing had a more spread out feel, with sections that included ancient temples, old buildings and walled-off neighborhoods. You could sense that it was an old, historical city beginning to transform into a modern one. Shanghai on the other hand, had an instantly modern feel that would fall into the same category as Hong Kong or Tokyo.
Crowded subway
Chinese flags in a subway station
The World Expo was nothing short of amazing, and a big display of countries showing off their design and tech to the world. Many of the country's "booths" had a couple hours wait time, but I was was able to make it into a few, the highlights being Dubai's and Spain's.
Spain's pavilion with digital displays showcasing its culture and history, along with a weird, gigantic baby inside.
South Korean's World Expo pavilion.
One of the moments that stick out to me was leaving the Expo. Everyone was lined up in a long line waiting for taxis. Keep in mind that the idea of personal space here is different from other countries, so everyone was body to body - with the woman behind me carrying her baby on her stomach pushing him into my back. Someone got impatient and jumped the line, running into the street to an open taxi. When that happened, it was chaos; a flood of people followed, running into the street to find any open cab, carrying kids in their arms and all.
Overall, I found that Shanghai took me a little more time getting used to than Beijing. Even though it had a more modern feel, it still was a bit less refined. It could've been just my experience. That being said, however, I did find it intriguing and I would want to visit again to see more of the actual city.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Phuket & Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
A vacay down south to Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.
A few friends and I took a trip to Thailand in 2010 to Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. Bangkok and Chiang Mai were initially on the itinerary, but due to riots and uprisings at the time, we decided to scratch those two off the list and spend more time down south.
It was my first time to Southeast Asia, and the biggest recommendation that I can give not just about Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, but Southeast Asia in general, is get "local." By that I mean check out random eateries, sit down for some street food, take a wooden boat captained by a local who doesn't speak your language. The more expensive, fancy tours may be great for living it up in Thailand, but balancing it with some raw, local life will, I feel, make for a more well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
We stayed at the Deevana Patong hotel in Phuket. It's reasonably priced, has a nice pool, excellent service and we got a free Thai massage included with our stay. The hotel is in a pretty central location which it made it easy for us to get out and explore the town.
We went for a swim at nearby Patong Beach and caught some tuk tuks out to Karon Beach, both really easy to swim in with really nice light blue waters. There's a lot of street food and open markets selling all sorts of goods nearby, from fabrics to knockoff clothing, particularly on Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Road [map].
Koh Phi Phi
From Phuket, we took the Phi Phi Cruiser to head out Koh Phi Phi. When we arrived at Ao Tonsai pier on the island, we negotiated (somehow!) with wooden boat owners and one of them took us around the nearby islands.
The sights were incredible. Giant rock islands jetting straight out of beautiful light blue waters warm enough to take a swim in. This is an absolute must-do.
The thing about our trip to Koh Phi Phi was that it was a last minute decision and we didn't make any arrangements to stay the night. We ended up walking along the coast until we came across some cheap bungalows. They were less than US$20/night, I believe, so you can probably imagine that they weren't all that luxurious.
A couple memorable moments on Koh Phi Phi was the foot spa done by fish that nibbled at your feet, and a random "restaurant" that we stopped at for food. After ordering our meals, the woman left and bought the ingredients at a nearby market. During that time, we noticed a kitchen area next to us, a bit dirty with flies around it, and were hoping she wouldn't use that space. She did. We managed to block that out of our minds for a while and eat. Luckily, no one got sick!
Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful area. Even though our bungalows only provided the basics that we needed for the night, right next to it was this incredible view. I'd love to visit again sometime.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
MORE TRAVELS:
SHARE:
Venice, Italy
Navigating the alleys and canals on my second trip to Venice, Italy.
The Grand Canal, taken from the Rialto Bridge
Venice is one of the most interesting cities because it's so different. Take a walk around and get lost, you probably will if you start to really explore. Venice, unfortunately, has become quite a tourist place and all of the main areas are geared towards their business. The backstreets and alleys is where you'll find more authentic sights.
The streets are extremely narrow and you'll find yourself surrounded by buildings making it difficult to get your bearings. But enjoy it, there's always a shop to peep into, and you'll find a lot to see and take photos of.
Gondolas in Venice with Murano in the back
Keep in touch:
MORE TRAVELS:
Share:
Innsbruck, Austria
A pitstop for a few hours in Innsbruck, Austria.
I got to check out Innsbruck for half a day while on a tour around Europe with some friends through Contiki in 2010.
At that time, Austria wasn't really on my radar of places I wanted to see, but it definitely got my attention on this stop.
The central part of Innsbruck is very quaint and walkable. We were blessed with some really good weather, so we headed to the Inn river.
Inn River
At that time, I had already been to Switzerland (in 2004) and was blown away by its nature. The view from this river rivaled some of the Swiss sights. Absolute gorgeous light blue water and amazing mountains around it.
Inn river, taken from the Innbrücke bridge.
Maria-Theresien-Straße
We walked through the town and checked out some shop along the central, Maria-Theresien-Straße street.
The most notable one was Swarovski, the Austrian crystal jewelry brand. They had a big location here, one that might tempt jewelry lovers a bit too much.
Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck, Austria
As we left the city and drove through the alps and made our way to our next stop in Venice, Italy, all I could think of how I’d love to visit Austria again.
It’s gorgeous.
Altstadt Magic Kebab
Huge pizzas and kebabs. While it wasn't exactly what I expected to eat on a trip to Innsbruck, but these didn't disappoint. There are seats in a courtyard inside as well as outside of the shop, near the Inn river.
McDonalds
Eating at McDonalds in every country I visit is a religious thing that I do when I travel, and I can honestly say that the McDonalds here is one of the best that I've had. There's a lot of variety and special menus galore, to the point where it was hard to choose what exactly to order. Definitely try their round fries (similar to curly fries) with sour cream dip, I haven't come across another McDonalds with that anywhere..
Keep in touch:
Japan’s fall colors are absolutely beautiful, and Kyoto is one of the best places to go for them.