Takayama
Leaving the city of Kyoto and heading north into the Japanese Alps for the city of Takayama was a much needed break from the fast pace of city life. Takayama has a population of just under one hundred thousand, but it feels like much less. It was cool, less humid and just what the doctor […]
Kyoto Yes, Kyoto Noh
An early start helped us beat the crowds to a special spot called Fushimi Inari. The shrines were originally dedicated to the gods of rice and sake, and later expanded to include prosperity in business. Along with a number of pretty shrines and countless statues of foxes (messenger of Inari), the area provides a peaceful […]
Temples Temples Everywhere
Kyoto is Japan’s ancient capital. There is much to see and do: it’s got historical, cultural, natural, culinary, and modern treasures around every corner, and it can be totally overwhelming. We tried to choose a few must-sees and a few less-visited spots and squeeze in what we could in the time we had here. To […]
Osaka: More is More
Osaka is a great jumping off point for exploring the region. It has a bit of everything, and no doubt something for everyone. Like any big urban center, it can be overwhelming until you get oriented and find what neighborhoods suit you best. We were couchsurfing in the Daito area, not far from Nozaki station, […]
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Don’t Feed the Deer
We visited Nara for the day on the way between Sakurai and Osaka. Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan and has eight Unesco World Heritage sites. It is grand and glorious, described in an ancient poem as “a flower in full bloom. We took advantage of the coin lockers in the station, stored […]
New Friends, Ancient Roads
We had the pleasure of our first couchsurfing experience with the Higashi family in Sakurai, about an hour south of Nara. For those not familiar with couchsurfing, it’s a program where people open their homes to travelers who not only benefit from a free place to stay, also get to know local hosts (and vice […]
Takamatsu
Since we were so close, we decided to make a quick trip to the island of Shikoku. Takamatsu was the natural choice because it wasn’t too far over the bridge and was along to main train lines. After doing a little investigation we found out that they have a wonderful bike rental program run by […]
Garden City Okayama: Home of Momotaro, Peach Boy
It seems every Japanese city has a hometown hero, mascot or theme. You see it in decorations, in gifts for purchase, even in the food. The story of Momotaro, the boy who sprang from a peach with his dog and monkey to fight off demons is a well known and well loved tale. His statue […]
Hiroshima and Miyajima
Hiroshima City Hiroshima was built on a delta, so rivers and canals crisscross the city at various points. Our hotel, Reino Inn, was at the western end of one of the main roads, in a convenient spot. It seemed to be a cross between a hotel and a hostel, with the good parts of each! […]