Tokyo is debatably one of the most popular cities for tourists and locals alike. It’s also one of the most coveted. With a soul that never sleeps, it’s not hard to see why it would climb several peoples’ lists. I was excited about visiting Tokyo but I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. It’s probably my favourite place in Japan.

Tokyo’s History

Tokyo actually doesn’t have much ancient history, like say its predecessor Kyoto does. Tokyo, formerly called Edo, was fortified in the 1100s and Edo Castle was built circa 1457 (at the site of … Continue reading

Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan and now it’s one of the country’s largest and most visited cities. Since it wasn’t destroyed during WWII, it still retains a lot of its historic Japanese character, which draws people in from around the world. It’s a great city to visit in Japan and it is huge, with a tonne of things to see and do.

Kyoto’s History

Even though Tokyo is now the capital of Japan, it’s only been that way since 1868. For over a thousand years before, it was Kyoto, starting in 794. Kyoto’s history goes back farther … Continue reading

Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities and is a less popular tourist destination (though it does see its fair share). However, it is very near Kyoto and also has an international airport, so it’s a good place to fly to for visiting central/southern Japan. It’s actually the gastronomical capital of Japan so since my brother’s a foodie, we decided to spend a day in Osaka and subsequently went almost every night for dinner.

Unfortunately, this Highlight post is a bit different from the others. My big mistake with Osaka was thinking I could see what I wanted in one … Continue reading

Miyajima is one of the most beautiful places in Japan according to locals, but it’s also someplace that a lot of tourists skip over. However if you have more time to spend in Japan, Miyajima is definitely worth a visit.

A History of Miyajima

Miyajima has been a pilgrimage site for the Japanese for over 1000 years and is still seen as a pilgrimage today. The giant torii gate and the tall pagodas aren’t an incidental part of Miyajima’s architecture; the island is set up as a Shinto shrine and a place to worship. The story goes that Kobo Daishi … Continue reading

Being a vegetarian abroad can be super difficult but with planning, it can be a lot easier. I actually didn’t think being a vegetarian in Japan was super hard but I got to try a few vegan restaurants, which was incredibly fun and honestly, I had some of the best food.

Tip: I got these from lists on travel blogs, but unfortunately several of those restaurants I went to didn’t even have vegetarian options. Walking a mile out of the way to get to a “vegetarian” restaurant to find out they don’t have anything I can eat is a huge … Continue reading

Nara is one of the most popular day trips in Japan, but unfortunately the history and temples are not actually well written about. It’s known for its deer park, where deer roam freely and aren’t afraid of humans. And actually, I wasn’t super interested in going. After doing some research and finding out about all the different temples Nara has, I decided to make it a day trip from Kyoto. So what did I think?

Well, I thought it was amazing!

The History of Nara

Kyoto is known as being the ancient capital of Japan since it served that position … Continue reading

I grew up watching Studio Ghibli and even took a class in college that covered some Ghibli films. My friend studied abroad in Japan a while back and got tickets several months ahead for the Ghibli Museum, which introduced me to the museum and the fact that it’s super exclusive (details at the end of this post). I went with my brother and a pair of friends to Mitaka and didn’t know what to expect. So, here’s a post to let you know what visiting the museum is really like.

(Just a note, photographs are not allowed inside the … Continue reading

Himeji Castle is one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan and the most popular Japanese castle. It was originally built in the 14th century and the castle as seen today dates roughly to the 17th century, if my understanding is correct. Himeji is one of the best (if not the best) examples of of Japanese castle architecture and it survived the bombing of Himeji during World War II, even though the entire city was bombed. It’s a popular day trip from Kyoto and since it’s been named one of the best sites in Japan, if not the world, … Continue reading

Even though Nikko’s listed as a common day trip from Tokyo, it’s a little off the beaten path. This town, which revolves around its several temples and shrines, was founded in the 8th century, but its popularity grew in the Edo period as it became the burial spot for the Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the famous Tokugawa Shogunate. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Brief History of Nikko

Have you ever seen those videos on YouTube of people being covered in rabbits? Most likely, they’re on the island of Okunoshima, nicknamed Bunny Island. Since rabbits are one of my favourite animals, it was something I absolutely needed to do and it’s one of the most unique and fun things to do in Japan (and the world).

Warning: Tonnes of cute bunny pics ahead!

What’s with the Bunnies on Bunny Island?

Okunoshima has a fascinating backstory. It was used in the 20s-40s as a chemical weapon base and was actually kept in secrecy so other countries wouldn’t know of … Continue reading