Niji Castle, also known as Nijo-jo, is nestled in Central Kyoto, hidden from passing pedestrians by its surrounding battlements. What can be glimpsed from the outside resembles a temple rather than the Western image of a castle. Is It Worth Visiting? While you probably won’t spend hours here, the art and experiences you get from … Read more
Gion: Much More than Geisha Unlike Nijo Castle and Ginkakuji, the beautiful Gion district in Kyoto’s Southern Higashiyama doesn’t suffer from having a more famous counterpart. Instead, it’s misunderstood. Is It Worth Visiting? A visit to Gion in Kyoto is something you need to do while you’re in Japan. While there are crowds of tourists, … Read more
One type of attraction in Japan that is popular with both foreign and local tourists is castles. There are more than 100 castles in present day Japan; an impressive number until you learn that in days gone by there are thought to have been more than 5,000. Many Japanese castles have fallen into disrepair or … Read more
Every visitor to Japan should experience an onsen. These uniquely Japanese baths will rejuvenate you after a long journey. The onsen themselves are an attraction, located in areas of great natural beauty or charming historical buildings. Relax and strike up a conversation with a local. Japanese bathers are more likely to chat with a stranger … Read more
Itsukushima, or more commonly known as Miyajima, is home to a giant torii gate which is a world heritage site. It is ranked as one of the three best views in Japan. Miyajima: The Sacred Island Filled with History, Good Food, and Friendly Deer While there are no amusement parks or high-tech attractions on … Read more
There are many places in Japan that I absolutely love, and the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen area are both at the top of my list. As the title suggests, they are both onsen towns. So if you don’t like onsen, you might not enjoy this place as much as I do. However, there are still … Read more
If you have ever seen a picture of a monkey bathing in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by snow in Japan, it was probably taken at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan. This park is located in Yamanouchi city, in Nagano prefecture. Jigokudani means, “hell valley,” because of the many streams of steam that comes … Read more
Disneyland. The place where dreams come true and magic is made. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be build outside of the United States and was opened in 1983. As of 2013, it was the 2nd most visited theme park in the world. With this much hype, Disneyland should be a must-visit place … Read more