Nijo Castle, built in 1603 for Japanese Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, is home to some 400 cherry trees, impressive architecture, sprawling traditional Japanese gardens, and is famous fro its unique Nightingale floors. We visited during cherry blossom season to see flower arrangements from Japan’s oldest school of Ikebana, traditional Japanese flowering arranging, and learn more about this castle’s 400+ year history.
Quintessential Japanese Foods You Need to Try
These quintessential japanese foods are iconic Japanese dishes that everyone should try when in Japan. This guide will also help decipher menus at Japanese restaurants, and teach you the basics of Japanese food and cooking vocabulary, so you can order with confidence during your next visit to your favorite Japanese restaurant.
Your Favorite Posts 2020
2020 was certainly a year. The pandemic shut down most of the world back in late February – early March, and nothing has been the same since. In early 2020 I had to indefinitely postpone more than 45 trips, some of which had been in the works for more than a year, I missed out…
Onsen Etiquette & How to Use a Traditional Japanese Bath
Japanese onsen, hot spring baths, are found all over Japan and are an incredible experience for anyone interested in participating in Japanese culture, relaxing, and living like the locals. While it may seem intimidating to bathe in the nude with strangers, this guide will help you understand what to do and what to expect so you can get straight to relaxing, while overlooking mountains, forests, and other incredible views best enjoyed from a hot spring bath.
A Visit to the Seattle Japanese Garden
The lush, verdant Seattle Japanese Garden was the perfect place to spend a morning strolling along stone paths, alongside a koi pond, amongst Japanese maples, surrounded by moss and Japanese stone lanterns. Explore the incredible features of this delightful 3.5 acre garden which just celebrated its 60th anniversary, and understand why people travel from around the world to visit this oasis of tranquility.
Exploring Himeji Castle in Hemji, Japan
Himeji Castle is nearly 700 years old, and has survived for centuries through earthquakes, battles, and World War II. This magnificent castle was nestled in cherry blossoms, surrounded by a moat full of colorful koi fish, and filled with incredible decor. I hope this guide to Himeji Castle helps you have a wonderful time during your day trip to Himeji!
Osaka, Japan: The Luxury Travel Guide
My Osaka Luxury Travel Guide will introduce you to the most elegant and meaningful sights, flavors, and sounds of Osaka, Japan during Cherry Blossom Season. From Michelin Star Restaurants, 209 of them to be exact, and one of the world’s best street food scenes, to the mysterious tomb and surrounding forest of Emperor Nintoku and some of the highest rooftops in Japan, you’ll be ready to take on Osaka like a local, without breaking a sweat. Are you ready to explore Osaka with me?
Kyoto: The Luxury Travel Guide
The Kyoto Luxury Travel Guide is full of the best temples, shrines, gardens, museums, and fine dining in Kyoto, as well as useful cultural notes, ideas for day trips to nearly a dozen nearby cities, and advice on what to wear, how to spend rainy days, and much more. Travelers with distinguished tastes will immediately be drawn to Kyoto’s many Michelin Star restaurants, cultural events and learning opportunities, luxury ryokan, and traditional crafts.
Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, Japan
Fushimi Inarir Taisha Shrine is perhaps Japan’s most famous and photographed shrine. This beautiful collection of thousands of red torii gates, which wind up and around Kyoto’s Mt. Inari, leads visitors through breathtaking views of the city of Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital city, and offers incredible insight into Japanese culture and traditions. Read on to see how to reach the shrine, what to do at the shrine, where to eat near the shrine, and much more.
Japanese Temple & Shrine Etiquette | What to Do at Shinto Shrines or Buddhist Temples
Visiting temples and shrines across Japan is one of the best ways to learn about Japanese culture, history, and customs. Shintoism and Buddhism, the two primary systems of beliefs in Japan have heavily influenced Japan more than perhaps any other influencing force. Understanding how these two belief sets work will help visitors make sense of Japanese culture, food, history, and even art and architecture.
Hakone, Japan: The Luxury Travel Guide
Hakone, Japan is only about an hour away from Tokyo by shinkansen, or bullet train, making it the perfect day trip from Japan’s capital. Famed for its proximity to Mount Fuji, and home to beautiful Lake Ashi and several sacred Shinto shrines historically popular with samurai, Hakone is a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Japan’s big cities, explore the great outdoors, and learn more about Japanese culture and traditions. Explore where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and how to make the most of your Hakone adventure in this travel guide.
