Las Vegas

https://www.esbnyc.com

Barrett Ishida 9/11/17 Barrett Ishida 9/11/17

NYC: Manhattan

New York City is the world's gathering place. Roaming around and taking in the city was quite fulfilling.

New York City is the world's gathering place and I could sense that right away. Looking around, there are people from all walks of life and you hear a variety of different languages wherever you go. I've yet to visit a bigger, more diverse city and I don't think I ever will.

I've been to the Big Apple a few times and am nowhere near to having explored even a small fraction of it. To be honest I haven't really tried to, opting instead to "just be" and leisurely roam around. No itineraries, no tight schedules - just hanging out with my good friend who lives there and walking the streets.

There were, of course, a few things that I made a point to do and that I'd recommend and do again.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan at dusk was great because not only is it an easy walk full of great views, the views also change dramatically as the day turns to night. The Manhattan skyline begins illuminating as you walk towards the city and the cars start to streak lights as they zoom by down below.

The Empire State Building

For anyone who likes nighttime cityscapes as much as I do, heading up the Empire State Building after sundown is incredible. 360-degree views of the massive city from an open-air deck at the top of a skyscraper that was built at a ridiculous speed, being completed in just over a year.

The Statue of Liberty

It may be the most touristy thing to do in New York, but the Statue of Liberty is on everyone's list and no visit is complete without seeing it. Don't be like me and not see it on your first visit - long story short: Overbooked flight, couldn't join my friends who went before I arrived. Thanks United ;)

I didn’t have a burning need to go right up to Lady Liberty, so I rode the Staten Island Ferry because it gives a view of her at a cheap price. Just hop off when the ferry docks, u-turn and hop right back on. I definitely wasn’t the only one doing that.

Here are some other places I visited:

Freedom Tower. Stop by the 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial nearby to pay tribute to the victims and fallen heroes.

Other places like Chelsea Market, the High Line (a park & rec area built from a converted railway), SoHo, or seeing a Broadway/off Broadway play are other fun tourist activities to do. I don't consider myself someone big on plays, but the first time I went (RENT), I was completely blown away. To see the talent that these actors have is mind-blowing.

Of course I walked through Central Park and Times Square as well.

I wandered random streets and people watched.

Guys playing a pick-up basketball game with spectators watching.

Walking into any random store, talking to some random person (and being OK with being ignored or told to hurry up and move along - personal experience!) adds to the trip.

Halal Guys

Halal guys is already famous and it's for good reason. Not only are they open late, but they're affordable and damn delicious. They mix Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors and their foods really hit the spot. Quite possibly the best food truck food I've ever had. I'm definitely stopping by the next time I'm in the city.

https://thehalalguys.com

Serendipity 3

First seeing this in the movie Serendipity, I decided I had to try their frozen hot chocolates. Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack made them look so good! It was a bit of a wait outside, but popping into this quaint little, hole-in-the-wall style dessert cafe was great, especially since I liked the movie.

http://www.serendipity3.com

Juice Generation

My favorite fresh juice and smoothie bar. I've tried a few of their smoothies but their Mr. Greengenes with hemp milk is my favorite. Creamy and smooth with perfectly balanced flavors.

https://www.juicegeneration.com

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http://www.wildberrycafe.com/

Barrett Ishida 8/1/17 Barrett Ishida 8/1/17

Chicago

The third largest city in America, it holds its own and has its own vibe that separates itself NYC and LA.

Chicago is that third city often getting left out of the conversation when talking about the main cities to visit in America, always in the shadows of New York and Los Angeles. It's the capital of the Midwest, however, and it definitely has a unique feel that separates itself from its bigger brothers.

Being into photography, it's a blast to shoot around as I found it to be an extremely photogenic city.

I went to visit my sister who was living there, so having a resident guide take me around was nice. While Chicago's a big city, it still had a somewhat laid back feel to it, letting you explore at your own pace. To top it off, it has one of the most beautiful skylines you can find.

One of the unique characteristics about Chicago is the canals that run through the city. They run right between some of the iconic towers that shape the skyline. We took a boat tour through them and it was a very good experience. The one that we took was Wendella Boats, and their Original Architecture Tour will take you by and explain about some of the city's most historical buildings.

Taken from Michigan Ave's DuSable Bridge.

Michigan Ave is one of the main streets, and is known as the shopping street. Even if you're not looking to get some new clothes, it's just a nice walk - lined with tulips and various flowers when I went - and it also crosses one of the main canals for a good photo op.

Another iconic spot is Cloud Gate, otherwise known as "The Bean" at Millennium Park. After walking around and taking some cool mirror pics, you can check out the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pitzker Pavillion nearby.

Conveniently next to it is Bike and Roll, a place you can rent bicycles to ride around the city. This was such a good idea and I'm glad that we got to do it. You can head out towards the lake and head south. You'll pass Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park towards the Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Soldier Field. We didn't go into any of them, choosing to enjoy the city views then head up a little north to explore a bit.

If you go north along the shoreline, you'll pass Navy Pier. Continue on to the sand volleyball courts, then look back and you'll see another nice cityscape behind you with the buildings wrapping around the lake.

Chicago is quite a great sports city as well, as it's the home to NFL (Bears), NBA (Bulls), MLB (Cubs & White Sox) and NHL (Blackhawks) teams. We checked out a Cubs baseball game at Wrigley Field, and while I'm not a big baseball fan, it was fun and you could sense the history there.

Chicago was a good time and I can't believe that I hadn't visited it earlier. It's very well rounded and there's something for everyone. There's also a lot of good food:

The Angry Crab

There's no way to make this look appetizing, but this is one of my favorite eats that I've had on any trip. Seriously. I've been to other delicious, cajun seafood on the table, dig in with your hands and get messy type of places, but this one is the best. The flavor is maxed out and with spiciness levels named after local professional sports teams, it's fun. You can't go wrong.

Yelp

Giordano's

What's a Chicago trip without some Chicago deep dish pizza? Giordano's was one of two shops that was recommended to me and it didn't disappoint. I had some of the cheesiest, wholesome slices ever here and would go again for sure.

https://giordanos.com/

Wildberry

If you're a pancakes or brunch fan, check out Wildberry. It's immensely popular and, as you might have guessed, is known for their berry pancakes. I'm not a big sweets person nor a pancake one so I only tried a little, but I'm quite sure anyone who is a fan of them would love it. I went with their Los Altos Benedict, which featured chorizo sausage. Delicious.

Del Seoul

If you ever wished for a combination of Mexican and Korean food, Del Seoul is a pretty good wish granted. It's got a good balance of both. I tried an assortment of tacos as well as their kim chee fries. Nothing was a disappointment, it should definitely be considered if you're in the area.

http://www.delseoul.com/

Molly's Cupcakes

Molly's Cupcakes is a cute little shop a little north of the downtown area, right down the street from Del Seoul. They've got small batches of creative combos of cupcakes and a nice, homemade feel. The creative vibe continues as the counter chairs are actually playground swings, and their window sign is quite different (last pic).

http://www.mollyscupcakes.com/chicago/home.aspx

Subway station at O'hare International Airport.

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https://www.diddyriese.com

Barrett Ishida 7/13/17 Barrett Ishida 7/13/17

Los Angeles: West LA

The West LA area has some of the most iconic settings in Southern California, and is one of the best places in the state.

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US and the anchor of the west coast. The West LA area is what people typically imagine when thinking about California - palm trees, open sky and beaches.

I was fortunate to live in the Santa Monica area for a couple years, so I know first hand that there are endless places to go and see.

Santa Monica Pier is one the most iconic locations in LA, and with rides and games there, it's a nice place for kids or for a date. In close walking distance is Third Street Promenade, a walkable shopping street of a few blocks and the Santa Monica Place mall at the Broadway Ave end. There's a little bit of everything here, from food and shopping, outdoor hangout spots, and street performances.

Venice Beach is another area to check out. While it's known for its hippie slash hipster vibe, it's equally as beautiful as it is entertaining. The area leading up to the beach has canals that, well, are the Southern California version of Venice.

Venice canals

Parking in the area can be a real pain, so I recommend catching an Uber or Lyft. Once there, you can rent bicycles and ride along the beach's bike path. You'll pass the random shops, Muscle Beach with serious body builders, the famous basketball courts and skateboard park as you go by the Boardwalk. To top it off, there's a pier here as well.

Skateboarders at Venice

View from the Venice Pier

If you're looking for more shopping, there are some boutiques nearby on Abbot Kinney and Main Street. Both are nice walks in any case if you're not looking to go have more bags in your hands. There's also a fair share of cafes and eateries in both areas as well.

Montana Ave is another area I would go to sometimes. It's a quaint area north of Third Street Promenade with some nice cafes and boutiques amongst a very residential area. Take a walk in the neighborhood and you come across all sorts of architecture.

If you're looking for a drink after a day of sightseeing, check out Blind Barber. It's a barber shop in the front but walk through the back door and you enter a hip lounge bar with some good eats. When it comes to food, LA is a mixing pot of a lot of different cultures and cuisines, and California has a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in-state to supply these food spots. There are endless places to check out, but here are a few others (of many) to check out.

Urth Caffe

These cafes were started in southern California from organic coffee blends and teas. The food and baked goods came after, many of which reflect the southern California cuisine of fresh vegetables with a little bit of a Mexican twist. Pick anything off their menu but my go-to's are their Tostada Salad and their Organic Green Tea Boba (smoothie with tapioca balls in it).

https://urthcaffe.com

Diddy Riese

Located in Westwood, right off the UCLA campus. They're most famous for their ice cream sandwiches made from their freshly baked cookies. Absolutely delicious, and the fact that it's less than a couple dollars each, fantastic. Stop by if you can.

Hakata Shin-sen-gumi

The first time I tried a bowl of Hakata Shinsengumi ramen, I thought it was great. I then moved to Fukuoka, Japan where the capital is Hakata - this type of ramen's hometown. Visiting LA again, I went to Hakata Shinsengumi thinking I probably wouldn't think it was good after being in Hakata all the time. To my surprise, I found the tonkotsu ramen here to be quite good and probably the best you can get in LA. The broth and noodles are authentic, and while the topping options may venture away from traditional, they encompass everything good that you can put in a bowl of ramen. Approved.

https://shinsengumigroup.com

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https://www.hozugawakudari.jp

Barrett Ishida 7/5/17 Barrett Ishida 7/5/17

Kyoto: Beyond the Shrines

There's a different side of Kyoto that goes beyond the temples and shrines, and they are worth experiencing.

Kyoto is absolutely loaded with traditional Japanese sights to see, especially in the temples and shrines category. Most of us want to explore other things as well, however, and Kyoto definitely has a lot more to explore.

I've traveled to Kyoto several times, seeing it in 3 out of the 4 seasons, and it's been a beautiful experience each time. If you're looking for temples and shrines, check out some of my favorites here.

If you're looking for other things in Kyoto, here are some sights that I'd recommend:

Arashiyama

The bamboo grove in Arashiyama is an incredible experience. It's so tranquil (pray that there aren't too many tourists) to be surrounded by these enormous bamboo stalks reaching to the sky.

It's a short walk from Saga Arashiyama train station, and after walking through the grove, you can follow the path back to the river and the main town of Arashiyama.

The town in Arashiyama has lots of different Japanese restaurants and craft stores that sell everything from handmade trinkets to umbrellas that display designs when wet.

One of the main attractions is Arashiyama station where lanterns mimicking Japanese fabric design lead you on a path around the train platform. Wait for the sun to go down and take a walk through it.

Hozugawa-kudari Boat Ride

The Hozugawa-kudari boat ride is a 16 km boat ride that ends up in Arashiyama.

This boat ride has been around for a long time where skilled boaters would navigate wooden boats down the river while avoiding the numerous rocks.

The journey begins after a short walk from JR Kameoka station and lasts for roughly a couple of hours. I went with my parents in the fall, and the waters were quite calm the entire way down. Near the end, other boats come by selling traditional Japanese snacks such as dango (rice cake balls) and smoked squid.

If you ride one of the morning boats, you can check out other parts of Arashiyama for the rest of the day.

Nijō Castle

Nijō-jō, or Nijō Castle, isn't what you'd expect a castle to look like. The castle itself resembles more of a building at a temple or shrine, and isn't outlandish or decorated any more than other sights around town.

There's a nice garden to take a walk in but perhaps the most famous and well known attraction is inside. The "nightingale floors" make a chirpy sound when walked on, a form of security in the old times meant to protect from being creeped up on.

http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp [J] [PDF]

Cormorant fishing in Uji

Uji is a short train ride from Kyoto Station and is known to have good matcha.

In the evening, fishermen head out in the river with a burning bucket and some comorant birds tied up. These birds dive for fish, and before they can swallow it, the fishermen squeeze it out of the bird's neck.

While you can see it from the riverside, the boat tours bring you a lot closer to the experience.

http://www.kyototourism.org/en/sightseeing-info/58.html

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market [J] is a covered alley that sells all sorts of Japanese food items. Pickles, candies, rice, fish, you name it.

It's centrally located, parallel to Shijō-dōri Street and west of Teramachi street, and is a cool old-fashioned Japanese market type of experience.

http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp [J]

Kitano Flea Market

This flea market is one of many in Kyoto, but it's huge. It happens only on the 25th of each month, however, and is at the Kitano Tenman-gu shrine.

The walk around the shrine is pretty and the flea market spans the streets of the surrounding area. You can find everything from antiques to kimonos to old collectables, and there are stands selling yakitori meat skewers and other food items as well.

Bargaining is normal here and you can really find good deals. If you're lucky, you can find the knife-maker selling Japanese pairs of knives for US$40 or less.

Fall leaves around Kitano tenmangu shrine in Kyoto

http://kitanotenmangu.or.jp

Nanzen-ji

Ok, so Nanzen-ji actually a temple. There's actually a lot to see and definitely check it out, but one of my favorite things about Nanzen-ji is the Shirokaku Aqueduct which carries water from Lake Biwa. Its western-looking, red brick architecture seems out of place, but it's quite beautiful. Heading up to the top makes for a nice walk.

The aquaduct at Nanzen-ji temple in Kyoto

http://www.nanzen.net

If you're stopping for food, make sure to eat tofu, yuba (tofu skin) and drink matcha, as Kyoto is known for both. There's many places to choose from but I do have a recommendation.

Yachiyo

Yachiyo is a ryokan hotel, but they have a restaurant as well. It specializes in tofu, so the there's a lot of that along with the main course is yudofu (tofu hot pot). It's an excellent Japanese "washoku" meal experience, my family and I are repeat customers.

http://kyoto-nanzenji-yachiyo.jp/ [J]
Reservations [J]

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Barrett Ishida 7/3/17 Barrett Ishida 7/3/17

Kyoto: Temples & Shrines

Good at any time of year, Kyoto is best known for its temples and shrines. Here are some to definitely see.

Despite having been to Kyoto several times, it has never gotten old. For a foreign traveler, it represents "Japan," as the former capital is full of historic temples and shrines.

Fall is the ideal season - and my favorite - to travel to Kyoto, especially if the fall leaves are peak in color. Seeing the temples and shrines at that time of year surrounded by the reds, oranges and yellows is one of the most beautiful sights in the country.

There are so many historic sights to see in Kyoto that you can rule out seeing them all. Not going to happen. But here are some must sees temples and shrines:

Kinkaku-ji

Kinkaku-ji, the famous "Golden Pavilion," sits quietly surrounded by water and the area around it has the same vibe as well (besides the photo area in front of it). Even with the flood of tourists storming here, it sill manages to be a pretty peaceful place.

Fall leaves in the gardens at Kinkakuji temple in Kyoto

http://www.shokoku-ji.jp [J]

Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera sits on top a hill surrounded by Japanese confectionary shops, restaurants and crafts. The temple's main hall is known for it being only built from wood.

Being one of the more popular attractions in the city, it gets quite crowded. Towards the end of the walk through, there are three waterfalls that you can drink from, each meant to help you in a different area of life: Health, longevity and success in studies.

During the fall, the temple does a light-up at night. The line goes quite a ways down the street but if the leaves are at peak, make sure you suck it up and wait. It's absolutely worth it.

http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp

Fushimi-inari

Fushimi-inari Taisha. This shrine's tunnel of red gates has become one of the iconic views of Japan in recent years.

It's a 15-minute train ride from Kyoto Station, and is right next to Inari Station. The afternoon is the best time to visit since the light shines through the gates to create a beautiful effect.

The tunnel of gates go up a long ways and while it's a good hike, it's not necessary to go all the way up.

The walk at Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto

http://inari.jp

Heian-jingu

Heian-jingu [J] stands out due to it's white and orange design. You can see it right when you enter, but make sure you take a walk in the garden as well.

Nearby is the Philosopher's Walk, a path named after a philosopher, Kintaro Nishida, and full of sights that can invoke deep thoughts. Take a walk through the path when you're done with the shrine.

http://www.heianjingu.or.jp [J]

Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji

While there is a temple, Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji is most known for its natural surroundings. It's most beautiful in the fall, and during the peak period, "beautiful" is an understatement. The variety of colors and their vibrance are incredible.

There are a more temples and shrines to see in Kyoto, and some may enjoy different ones from this list. None will disappoint. Be sure to check out other sights to see in Kyoto as well if you're in town.

http://www.eikando.or.jp

Fall leaves at Eikan-do Zenrin-ji at night

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Barrett Ishida 6/23/17 Barrett Ishida 6/23/17

Osaka

Known for being Japan's capital of comedy, Osaka is an outgoing, lively, party city.

Many of Japan's popular comedians are from Osaka, and the local dialect of Japanese - Osaka-ben - is often mimicked and used around the country in casual conversations.

Older women here are famous for fashion such as animal-print jackets, and it's said that if you pretend to shoot someone with your fingers in the city, they'll act out their death and take part in the fun. I haven't tried that personally, but I've seen the leopard prints!

Locals like to drink here, many times until the wee hours of the morning, and are generally more likely to be open to random strangers than other cities.

While there's room for both, people often tend to be either Team Tokyo or Team Osaka. Culturally, the two can be rather different, even to things like which side of the escalator to stand on (Tokyo: Stand on left. Osaka: Stand on right.). I tend to be more Team Tokyo, but I have friends who prefer Osaka.

Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, America-mura (America Town) and Namba Parks are some places to venture to and check out.

Umeda is right next to Osaka station and vibrant at night. There are small streets full of izakayas, perfect for jumping in for some casual Japanese food and drinks.

Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori have a lot of shopping, and are some of the more photographed areas of Osaka. Both are electric at night, and the Glico Man sign in Dotonbori is one of the iconic sights in the city.

America-mura is another shopping area and has streets of boutiques geared towards the younger crowd.

Namba Parks is a shopping mall that serves a double purpose as a park. It's fresh architecture attracts everyone from casual shoppers to couples to photographers.

Osaka Station train platforms - [BUY PRINT] — Osaka Station train platforms - [**BUY PRINT**]

Some of Osaka's famous foods are takoyaki (doughy balls with a piece of octopus inside), okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese pancake), taiyaki (a fish-shaped, doughnut type of snack with a variety of fillings inside) and udon.

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Barrett Ishida 6/23/17 Barrett Ishida 6/23/17

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.

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.

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Barrett Ishida 6/23/17 Barrett Ishida 6/23/17

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.

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Barrett Ishida 6/19/17 Barrett Ishida 6/19/17

Yukuhashi: Cherry Blossoms

I lived in one of Fukuoka's secret cherry blossom spots.

A Sonic Express train passes over the Imagawa river in Yukuhashi during cherry blossom season

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.

A car passing under cherry blossom sakura trees along the Imagawa river in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka

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.

The bank of the Imagawa river at night under the cherry blossoms

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!

My Yelp Review
Map

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.

My Yelp Review
Map

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http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp

Barrett Ishida 6/14/17 Barrett Ishida 6/14/17

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 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.

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

Natural steam rises from the mountains of Owakudani

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

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

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 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.

http://hitosara.com/0003008961/
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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.

http://www.tomoei-unagi.com [J]
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Barrett Ishida 6/13/17 Barrett Ishida 6/13/17

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.

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.

http://bearfruits.jp/

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Barrett Ishida 6/12/17 Barrett Ishida 6/12/17

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.

Clear waters at Ikeyama Suigen freshwater spring

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Barrett Ishida 6/5/17 Barrett Ishida 6/5/17

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.

Fish at the Kagoshima Aquarium seen from the underwater tunnel

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.

http://mujyaki.co.jp/

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Barrett Ishida 5/31/17 Barrett Ishida 5/31/17

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.

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.

http://www.6-sei.com/

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Barrett Ishida 5/30/17 Barrett Ishida 5/30/17

Yufuin: Oita's Onsen Town

Spending a night in Oita's quaint little onsen town.

View of Yufuin in Oita from the roadside

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.

One of the private onsens at Yadoya for guests.

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.

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.

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Barrett Ishida 5/21/17 Barrett Ishida 5/21/17

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 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 at sunset in Hiroshima

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.

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Barrett Ishida 5/18/17 Barrett Ishida 5/18/17

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.

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."

A woman grilling mushrooms at Jiufen, Taiwan

After Jiufen, we returned to Taipei.

Sharp glass lining the walls of a home in Taipei, Taiwan

Sheet metal walls of apartments in Taipei, Taiwan

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.

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Barrett Ishida 4/15/17 Barrett Ishida 4/15/17

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!

An ice cave bar alongside the main street leading up to the Niseko runs.

A panorama taken from the ski slopes of Niseko, Hokkaido

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.

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