Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Just ten minutes away from Kobe by ropeway, Nunobiki Herb Gardens offers a spectacular view of the city. Comprising of 12 spacious gardens, visitors can enjoy 75,000 herbs and 200…
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Meet the Deer of Nara Park
At the foot of Mount Wakakusa sits one of the oldest parks in Japan. Sprawling across 660 ha (1631 ac), Nara Park is home to temples, shrines, and a national…
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Inside Nara’s Mall Museums
Nara is best known for the four-legged locals that roam freely around its 660-hectare park. But friendly deer aren’t the city’s only animal attraction. Visitors can also get up close…
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The Hidden Gems of Orizuru Tower
Across the street from the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima stands the 14-floor Orizuru Tower. It’s known for its specialty souvenir store and organic café, which you can easily access from…
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Plum Blossoms at Hiroshima Castle
The original Hiroshima Castle, built in the 1590s, was older than the city itself. But like most buildings, it was largely destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. The castle…
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Hiroshima’s Peace Park from Day to Night
I was lucky enough to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park once before in 2015. That year was the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. I remember seeing the Genbaku…
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Plum Blossoms at Shukkeien
As some of the first flowers to open each year in Japan, plum blossoms signal the start of spring. They may not be as popular as cherry blossoms, but they’re…
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Exploring Kyoto’s Higashiyama District
If you’ve ever looked up Kyoto on social media, chances are you’ve scrolled through a dozen pictures of people posing in a traditional-looking street with a tall pagoda in the…
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A Quick Guide to Kyoto’s Sake District
The Fushimi area in southern Kyoto is one of Japan’s major sake production sites. Located at the junction of the Uji, Katsura, and Kamo Rivers, it’s blessed with high-quality springs…
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Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion
One of the most famous images associated with Kyoto is that of a golden temple. Kinkaku-ji, as it’s known, is indeed completely covered in gold leaf—the top two floors, at…
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Heian Shrine and Gardens
On the 1,110th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto, which was once known as Heian, a shrine was built to mark the occasion. Heian Shrine is dedicated to the spirits…
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