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2-Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: Best Highlights and Must Eats!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city, is a melting pot of culture, history, and modern architecture. Kuala Lumpur is known for its skyscrapers like the Petronas Twin Towers, delicious food scene, and religious sites like the Batu Caves. Obviously, you can spend several days to weeks here, but if you are short on time and want to see Kuala Lumpur’s best highlights and try local food, then don’t worry, I did all the research prior to my trip and came up with this perfect 2-day Kuala Lumpur itinerary. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting to Kuala Lumpur from KL International Airport There are a few transportation methods of getting to Kuala Lumpur from KL International Airport. If you are visiting for the first time like me, I recommend either taking the train which I did or using Grab which I also did and highly recommend. One option to get to Kuala Lumpur from the airport is to take the KLIA Express. This is an easy and relatively stress fee method. At KL International Airport, following the signs to the KLIA Express, tickets can be purchased using the automated machines. You can then pass through the gate and wait for the KLIA Express to Kuala Lumpur. Tickets were about RM 44-50 which is about $ 9 – 11. We booked to KL Sentral which is the main station in Kuala Lumpur. From KL Sentral we took a fixed taxi to our hotel, Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur. The cab ride was another RM 40 so around $8. The other and highly recommended way to get from KL International Airport to your hotel in Kuala Lumpur is to book a ride share through Grab. Using the Grab app, we were picked up in front of our hotel and dropped off at the correct terminal. The price for Grab was RM 72 or about $15. Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur Did you know that Kuala Lumpur has some of the cheapest 5-Star hotels in the world. So you can stay at a luxurious hotel and it won’t affect your wallet like other places. Depending on where you want to stay in Kuala Lumpur will have a huge impact on what hotel you decide on. I stayed in the city center just based on the walking distances between several attractions in Kuala Lumpur I wanted to visit. Based on price, accommodations, city views, pool, and breakfast, I stayed at the Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur. The Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur had it all. The rooms were unique with amazing floor to ceiling views of the Petronas Towers. The hotel also had a roof top pool, gym, and bar. Breakfast in the morning was a nice mix of local cuisine and western items. Again, I stayed at the Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur and was very satisfied with my stay after spending 2 days in Kuala Lumpur. 2-Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary 2 days in Kuala Lumpur is enough time to see the main highlights and try a lot of the tasty dishes. I did my research prior to visiting Kuala Lumpur and managed to fit in a few more attractions then originally anticipated that I feel are worth mentioning. This Kuala Lumpur itinerary is based entirely on my trip to Malaysia and my recommendations. Feel free to copy my Kuala Lumpur itinerary, mix and match, or explore the city your own terms. If doing the latter, please comment and let me know what other attractions you managed to find that are worthwhile! Day 1 Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque and River of Life The Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque or simply Jamek Mosque is an iconic mosque and one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest. The Jamek Mosque is beautiful and from our hotel was on the way to Merdeka Square. I didn’t go inside, to be honest, I am not sure if it is allowed, but I enjoyed looking at it from the other side of the river. The River of Life is an area in Kuala Lumpur where the Gombak and Klang Rivers meet right by the Jamek Mosque. There are some nice river trails and fun murals to take photos of. Merdeka Square To outsiders, Merdeka Square is a huge square with a grass center surrounded by beautiful buildings. But to locals, Merdeka Square is the location of their independence that occured on August 31, 1957. The iconic flagpole is the tallest in the world, 95m (311 ft) in height. Central Market The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur is a must when visiting the city, if anything just to escape the hot and humid weather during the day. This historical market has been around since the late 1800’s although the building itself was finished in 1937. With hundreds of shops and vendors at the Central Market, there is something for everyone. I found most shops sold cheap tourist goods but a few shops did have some worthwhile items. You can find shops here that sell clothing, jewelry, unique art, religious items, and much more. There was a food court here, a few restaurants, and some outdoor stalls selling snacks, fruits, desserts, and drinks. I found a cookie place here called Aeira Soft Baked Cookies that stood out to me. The cookies she made were freshly baked and the perfect treat after being on my feet all day. Petaling Street Market If you love cheap goods and haggling for good deals then Petaling Street Market might be just for you. I wasn’t a huge fan of this area to include Chinatown. Honestly, it was kind of a let down, I expected more food vendors but it was full of vendors selling knock off brands. There were a few cool areas within the Petaling Street Market area that I found were pretty neat though. So because of these attractions, I recommend at least coming to this area. The Petaling Street Art area is a cool block of alley ways with interesting street art. If you are looking for a cool bookstore to visit while in Kuala Lumpur, check out the REXKL. This was one of the most unique book stores I’ve visited and well worth popping in. KL Forest Eco Park and Canopy Walk The KL Forest Eco Park and Canopy Walk was getting a lot of hate on Google Reviews, but I had a few hours to kill prior to the food tour I scheduled that evening, so I decided to keep an open mind and visit the KL Forest Eco Park. I’m glad I decided to go to the Forest Park in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I had a blast on the Canopy Walk and walking through other jungle trails. I did see a few groups of monkeys here as well. The entrance fee was RM 40 for foreigners. Food Tour I recommend joining a food tour on your first evening of exploring Kuala Lumpur. I just feel like on the first day of visiting a new city, it’s nice to have someone hold my hand and guide me through the process of ordering food, what to eat, and how to differentiate tourist traps and places where locals go. I booked the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15 + Tastings through Viator and highly recommend this tour. The guide was great, I learned so much about Malaysia’s history, culture, and of course the food. We sampled Durian from a local fruit vendor and had Nasi Lemak, a local favorite. If you want to read more into Kuala Lumpur food tours, I have a whole post dedicated to it, Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: Sampling Malaysia’s Culinary Delights. Day 2 Batu Caves On day 2 of exploring Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend a visit to the Batu Caves. These limestone caves are located just outside of Kuala Lumpur and are easy to get to via Grab or train. The Batu Caves is not only a spectacular natural phenomena but also a cultural and religious site. You’ll notice the 42.7 (140 ft) golden statue of Murugan. Behind the statue are 272 rainbow painted stairs leading to the cave entrance. Within the cave is a beautiful Hindu temple. Oh yeah, there are monkeys everywhere here. So if like me, you love wildlife and nature, the Batu Caves is a must! Interested in visiting the Batu Caves? I have a post on the Batu Caves with information on the caves, how to get here, and so much more. Feel free to read my post here: Guide to Visiting the Batu Caves: Everything you Need to Know Petronas Twin Towers After a visit to the Batu Caves, I highly recommend making your way to the Petronas Twin Towers. The Petronas Twin Towers are a symbol of Kuala Lumpur. These impressive towers stand at a height of 452m (1,483 ft) tall and are one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. I recommend both seeing the Petronas Twin Towers from various locations around Kuala Lumpur, but visiting the inside is well worth your time. Do not miss seeing the Petronas Towers at night, they are lit up beautifully. For more information on the Petronas Towers to include booking a tour, admission and hours, I have a guide dedicated to Visiting the Petronas Towers. KLCC Park In need of a break from all the skyscrapers and shopping malls? You are in luck, there is a nice relaxing park called KLCC Park at the base of the Petronas Towers. KLCC Park is a great place to unwind, there is so much to do here. If you are looking for things to do in Kuala Lumpur for kids, then KLCC Park is the perfect place as there are playgrounds and a waterpark. I really enjoyed the trails within KLCC Park and the views of the Petronas Towers. Jalan Alor Food Street Jalan Alor is a popular food street in Kuala Lumpur located in the Bukit Bintang district. This whole area is full of fun restaurants, food stalls, and stores. I came here at night for one thing and one thing only, Food! I walked up and down Jln Alor street looking for a place to grab a beer and sample some local Malay dishes. Most restaurants have a similar menu and atmosphere. I randomly sat down outside at a place called Restoran Sai Woo and am glad I did as I had one of my favorite dishes in Kuala Lumpur. I sat down, ordered an Anchor Smooth Pilsener with a mix Satay. Jill on the other hand ordered a Crispy Fried Yam Basket which blew me away. The Yam Basket consisted of yam that is mashed and shaped like a bowl that is full of some style of stir-fry. The dish has Chinese Five Spice in it, which I am now addicted to. But the texture of the mashed yam and other flavors made this dish a total winner! After eating at Restoran Sai Woo, I found a Shawarma place and ate a very satisfying Shawarma. Conclusion I hope you found this 2-day itinerary for Kuala Lumpur to be beneficial. Although you can spend much more time in a city of this size, I feel 2 days is enough to cover the basics, see some of the main highlights, and eat incredible Malay food. If you have to just pick a few sites to see in Kuala Lumpur, I highly recommend a tour of the Petronas Towers, seeing the Batu Caves, and of course trying the food. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do
Guide to Visiting the Batu Caves: Everything You Need to Know
The Batu Caves, are a series of limestone caves located just outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Batu Caves are considered one of Kuala Lumpur’s most popular attractions, but they are also an important cultural and religious site. This guide provides everything you need to know when visiting the Batu Caves from how to get here to what not to miss. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit the Batu Caves: The Batu Caves are one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist and religious destinations. The caves and Murugan Statue are an impressive attraction to see. Top Things to do at the Batu Caves: Visit the 42.7 m tall Murugan Statue. Climb the 272 colorful stairs. Ramayana Cave. If you don’t have a car when visiting Kuala Lumpur, consider booking a Batu Caves Temple Tour or a Cultural Half Day Tour to the Batu Caves. Brief Background on the Batu Caves Batu Caves are an interesting and unique natural and religious site just outside of Kuala Lumpur. The site where the Batu Caves are is considered a mogote. As a geography major, I learned that a mogote is a sometimes standalone hill. A mogote can be steep along the sides and are common in tropical climates. Limestone is the dominate rock at the caves. The caves themselves are millions of years old, although human activity has been recorded here for hundreds of years. The most notable feature of Batu Caves is the large state of Murugan. The statue measures a height of 42.7 m or 140 ft. In the Hindu religion, Murugan is the God of War. When entering the main cave complex, there is a decorative temple called The Subramaniar Swamy Temple. Visitors will notice the rainbow staircase behind the Murugan Statue leading to the cave entrance. There are a total of 272 colored stairs. Getting to the Batu Caves There are a few options to get to the Batu Caves. Visitors can take the commuter train, hail a taxi, or use Grab. The Batu Caves are about 13 km from the city center. Personally, I recommend just using Grab to get to Batu Caves. This was definitely the easiest way and it was very affordable. But I’d like to show you what other options there are. Trains do run directly from KL Sentral to the Batu Caves via the KTM Komuter. You can view the Train Schedule, ticketing, and more information on the KTM website. Depending on your location, you might not need to head to KL Sentral. If departing from KL Sentral to Batu Caves, the journey can take around 45 minutes to an hour. Price wise, the KTM Train ticket is RM 2.20. Besides hailing a cab to the Batu Caves, I recommend using the Grab app and getting to the Batu Caves via Grab. For those that are unaware, Grab is a ride hailing app like Uber and is popular in some countries in Asia. Again, I’ll use KL Sentral as an example. If you are at the train station and get a Grab, the drive time is around 20 minutes to the caves depending on traffic. The Vehicles we took each way were comfortable and I felt safe every time we used Grab in Malaysia. The price for the Grab to Batu Caves from our location was RM 15 so around $3. Admission and Hours An attractive feature of visiting the Batu Caves is that the rainbow staircase and main temple area are free to visit. That’s right, there is no admission fee to walk the stairs and enter the cave. However there is one portion of the caves, the Ramayana Cave – Suyambu Lingam, that does charge an entrance fee. The fee was very cheap, at the time, RM 7 for locals and RM 15 for foreigners which is still very cheap. The Batu Caves are open daily from 7:00 am – 21:00. Best Time to Visit the Batu Caves The Batu Caves are open year round from 7:00 am – 21:00. It is recommended to visit the Batu Caves either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon into the evening hours. The weather is a bit cooler, the sun isn’t beating down on you, and the crowds tend to be smaller during non peak hours. When I visited the Batu Caves, I was here by 8:00 am and although there were already people here, I felt it wasn’t very crowded and there was still a lot of breathing room. The monkeys were out and about and I got great photos. Once the time got to around 10:00 am I immediately felt how crowded it really gets. Many of the monkeys scattered off, the crowds at the entrance were almost unbearable and the rainbow staircase looked like an an hill. Things to Do at the Batu Caves Visiting the Batu Caves is much more then just seeing Malaysia’s tallest statue and climbing to the top of the rainbow staircase. There is a lot to explore here and I recommend a minimum of two hours for your visit. I think I spent at least 3 hours here if not 4. If you are wondering what else is there to do and see at the Batu Caves, below are my recommendations. Arulmigu Murugan Statue Batu Caves Batu Caves Murugan Statue is an impressive 42.7 m (140 ft) tall statue at the entrance of the caves. The Murugan Statue is the tallest statue in Malaysia and is made of steel and concrete. Its gold color, detail, and sheer size truly make it stand out. Climb the 272 Steps at the Rainbow Staircase Directly behind the Murugan Statue is the rainbow staircase. This beautiful staircase consists of 272 steps. From afar, the stairs are incredibly beautiful. Walking up the stairs is no easy task but doable if you take your time. Hence another reason to visit the Batu Caves earlier. It’s cooler out and the stairs are less crowded. Many of the monkeys tend to hang out on or around the stairs so keep an eye out for your belongings and give them their space. Batu Caves and the Temple The entirety of Batu Caves is impressive and the Subramaniar Swamy Temple within the caves is just as marvelous as the rest of the cave. The temple within the cave is a Hindu temple, it’s decorative and colorful. visitors can enter the temples, but be warned it’s a religious site, so follow the rules and be respectful. Ramayana Cave – Suyambu Lingam A far less touristy side but absolutely worth it part of the Batu Caves is visiting Ramayana Cave. Ramayana Cave is the portion that charges an admission fee of RM 7 for locals and RM 15 for foreigners. Paying the admission fee is well worth your time. First, you will notice the 15m (49ft) tall statue of he diety Hanuman. Once you enter the Ramayana Cave you will be greeted by the friendly staff and can freely walk around. This cave was not crowded at all, in fact when I was here, there were about 4 other people in the cave, compared to the hundreds next door. There is a giant statue of Kumbhakarna lying in the cave with smaller statues of what I assume are servants around him. Shopping and Snacks At the base of the Batu Caves are numerous shops and a few restaurants. I didn’t spend much time here, but for those that like to shop for religious items and souvenirs, all this can be found at the many shops. The Monkeys at Batu Caves Any attraction that has wildlife will always be a favorite of mine, especially when monkeys are involved. Seeing monkeys in the wild never get old to me. I spent most of my life in Europe and North America, so seeing wild monkeys just isn’t a thing. When visiting the Batu Caves, obviously, the first thing I saw was the statue of Murugan, it’s kind of hard to miss. But right away I noticed a ton of pigeons being fed by people and within the groups of pigeons were wild monkeys scavenging for food. The monkeys at Batu Caves are known as long-tailed macaques. They have extremely long tails in comparison to their bodies. For the most part, the monkeys seemed to mind their own business and not be bothered by humans. I did see a few cases of people losing their belongings to the monkeys, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings and keep things close to your body. I also witnessed a baby monkey tug on a women’s dress and an adult monkey get territorial with a man. Please, respect the wildlife here and give them space. Popular Questions on the Batu Caves Is there a Dress Code to enter the Batu Caves? – Yes, this is an active religious site. For both men and women, please make sure your knees and shoulders are covered. I did my research before and made sure to wear my hiking pants and a t-shirt. If you do come unprepared, a Sarang can be borrowed near the entrance. How Many Stairs to the Top of the Batu Caves?– There are a total of 272 stairs on the Rainbow Staircase. But be warned, there are more stairs within the caves and on other parts of the Batu Caves complex. For instance, there are numerous steep stairs inside Ramayana Cave. How long do you need at Batu Caves? – I recommend a minimum of two hours at Batu Caves. We explored the area for about 3-4 hours and saw most of the must see sites. Are the Batu Caves worth visiting?– 100% the Batu Caves are worth visiting. In fact, this is a must visit when in Kuala Lumpur. The site is only 13 km from the city center and can easily be seen in the morning. Conclusion Visiting the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur is a must. For a free attraction in Kuala Lumpur, you get to visit a stunning limestone cave, Hindu Temple, and see wildlife, what’s not to love? The Batu Caves are easy to reach from Kuala Lumpur’s city center and offer a unique experience for each and every visitor. Plain and simple, the Batu Caves should be on everyone’s Kuala Lumpur itinerary. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Our Guide to Visiting the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Towers are truly an incredible site to see. Standing at an impressive 452 meters (1,483 ft), the Petronas Twin Towers are amongst the tallest buildings in the world and hold the title as the tallest twin towers in the world. The Petronas Towers can be spotted almost throughout the entire city of Kuala Lumpur. During the day, the towers stand out nicely but at night once lit up, the Petronas Towers really stand out. Visiting the Petronas Towers is a must. Visitors can walk the skybridge and even go to the 86th floor. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world, standing at 452 meters or 1,483 ft. From 1998 until 2004, the Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. According to the Petronas Towers website The design of the Petronas Towers were by an Argentine architect, Cesar Pelli. His vision was to create the towers to reflect the culture of Malaysia. The towers when seen from above are in the shape of an eight pointed star. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so the eight pointed star represents unity, harmony, stability, and rationality. The construction of the Petronas Towers began in 1993 and were completed in 1996. These 88 story twin towers are connected at the middle by a skybridge. At the base of the Petronas Towers is a luxurious shopping mall. Visiting the Petronas Towers Visiting the Petronas Towers is a must when in Kuala Lumpur. It’s one thing to see this iconic skyscraper from the outside, but actually visiting the inside, seeing the skybridge, and going to the 86th floor is a whole different experience. We booked our Petronas Towers tickets online through the Petronas Towers website. Remember, tourists pay a different entrance fee then locals. For adults we paid RM98 which comes out to about $20. You can buy tickets for the Petronas Towers at the towers itself, but they tend to sell out. So it’s worth it to plan in advance and have your electronic tickets. It took us some time to figure out where to go for the tour as the map they provide on the website isn’t 100% user friendly. We entered through KLCC Park and went to the ground level. From here you see the ticket counters and place to queue for your time slot. Visiting the Petronas Towers includes a trip to the Skybridge, where you get a 360° view of Kuala Lumpur, and you can take the elevator to the 86th and 83rd floor. I found the experience of visiting the Petronas Towers really enjoyable. The amount of people per group is limited to a small number so it doesn’t get congested anywhere. It’s nothing like Tokyo Skytree where they allowed hundreds of people enter at a time. Admission and Hours Admission Infant – FreeChild – RM 17 (MyKad) RM 50 (Non-MyKad)Adult – RM 35 (MyKad) RM 98 (Non-MyKad)Senior Citizen – RM 17 (MyKad) RM 50 (Non-MyKad) **MyKad is for locals and Non-MyKad is non locals. Hours Closed on Monday (Open on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month) Tuesday – Sunday 9:00 am – 21:00 Skybridge The Skybridge is the bridge that can be seen between the two towers. The Skybridge is on the 41st floor and is 170 meters high. Visitors get a chance to walk across the Skybridge and can view Kuala Lumpur from either side of the bridge. Observation Decks After visiting the Skybridge, the tour continues to the 86th floor, 370 meters high. From this observation deck, you get a close up view of the other tower and can actually see Merdeka 118 and the Menara Kuala Lumpur (KL Tower) off in the distance. The observation decks are smaller, but clean, and well organized. You get great views of Kuala Lumpur and the mountains surrounding the city. The 83rd floor has a cafe and gift shop, there are also restrooms. Conclusion Visiting the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur is a must. The Petronas Towers are a sight to see from the outside, but to truly discover these iconic twin towers it is recommended to visit the inside. The tour includes a chance to walk the Skybridge linking the two towers and offers visitors some of Kuala Lumpur’s nicest views from the observation decks on the 83rd and 86th floors. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: Sampling Malaysia’s Culinary Delights
Malaysia’s vibrant capital city, Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of both cultures and cuisine. You can find a wide variety of delicious dishes in Kuala Lumpur from Chinese street food to Indian style satay cooking over charcoal. One of the best ways to eat like a local and sample some of the cities best foods is by doing a Kuala Lumpur food tour. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Book a Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur: One of the best ways to experience a new culture is through food, and a food tour allows you to dive in, try, and learn about the food of that region. I like to book a food tour on my first day just to see what the locals eat, how to order, and try as much as possible. Top Kuala Lumpur Food Tours: Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour, 15+ Tastings Kuala Lumpur Local Street Food Private Walking Tour by Night Kuala Lumpur by Night and Malaysian Food Tour Why Book a Kuala Lumpur Food Tour If you are like me, I visited Kuala Lumpur not knowing much about this magnificent city. I barely knew anything about Kuala Lumpur’s cuisine or food scene. Lately, when I travel to a new destination, I like to book a food tour on the first day or two depending on time. This way, I am more confident when ordering at food stalls or restaurants and have a brief understanding of that country’s particular food. Our first night in Kuala Lumpur, we arrived to our hotel later in the evening, so both Jill and I walked around a local market basically clueless. We found something that looked familiar, a local sat us down, and we were really unsure of the process, quality of food, and even how to pay. But after taking a food tour, my confidence levels are boosted, I know what type of restaurants to look for, and how to pay without looking like I am completely lost. Recommended Food Tours I always book food tours online prior to my trip through either Viator or Get Your Guide. Once you enter in your destination, you can see there are many food tour options available. I tend to look at the description and read a few of the latest reviews and have yet to be let down! Here are a few recommended Kuala Lumpur Food Tours.: Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15 + Tastings Laksa Lanse Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14 + Tastings Kuala Lumpur: Local Street Food Night Tour Kuala Lumpur by Night and Malaysian Food Tour Our favorite food tour, honestly one of the best we’ve ever done was the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15 + Tastings. Our guide was so informative, flexible, and gave us many options of foods to try while on our Kuala Lumpur food tour. What to Expect on a Kuala Lumpur Food Tour For most food tours in Kuala Lumpur, you will explore a lot of the street food scene and pop into a few restaurants for specific dishes. In my experience, food tours generally take you to places where locals go to eat and make it a goal to get you to try local food that is both popular and some dishes that are unknown to outsiders. I really didn’t have any expectations when visiting Kuala Lumpur in regards to the cuisine. I booked the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15 + Tastings through Viator and had such a memorable time and had the opportunity to try so many fabulous dishes that Kuala Lumpur is known for. We met our guide for the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour along with six other visitors. Our guide was from Kuala Lumpur. She was super knowledgeable, friendly, and understanding. The food tour lasted about 4 – 4.5 hours and we really did sample at least 15 dishes. Our food tour in Kuala Lumpur started at the Chow Kit Road Market and ended at the base of the famous Petronas Towers. The Various Food and Dishes we Sampled The first stop along our Kuala Lumpur Food Tour was at a local restaurant called Najas Maju. Here we had Limau Ais. Limau Ais is a refreshing drink that is made with small limes and carbonated water. To go along with the Limau Ais we got to try Mee Goreng Mamak. Mee Goreng Mamak is a noodle stir fry dish. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to make our own Roti Canai and eat it afterwards. Roti Canai is an Indian flatbread that you can dunk in curry sauces. Making the Roti Canai looks easy but after attempting to flatten the bread it was much more difficult then expected but tasted delicious! After sampling three different Malaysian favorites we tried a few fruits from a stall. First we tried Salak also known as the snake skin fruit. We tried Salak in Bali and I love it. The skin does look like snake skin, the fruit is a bit bitter at first but has a wonderfully refreshing taste afterwards. We tried Rambutan, which I’ve had before in Hawaii. This is a reddish/furry looking fruit. You peel the skin and eat the inside. It’s refreshing and juicy. The main event at least for sampling fruits was the Durian. I know we’ve all heard nightmare stories of Durian. It’s stench, flavor, and texture is very off putting. Our guide assured us that Durian in Malaysia is the best of the best and much better then other parts of the world. Not really excited to try Durian again, I gave it a try and although I didn’t love it, I managed to take three bites and told myself it wasn’t that bad. Along with the Durian we tried Cendol, an dessert dish with shaved ice and rice flour jelly. This dish was very refreshing and was nice to slurp down after eating the Durian. We walked further into the Chow Kit Road in Kuala Lumpur and tried Putu Bambu from another local vendor. Honestly, Putu Bambu was my least favorite dish of the tour. It’s a steamed rice cake with palm sugar. I found it to be bland and sugary. After a somewhat disappointing Putu Bambu, we were surprised by two delicious soups at a nearby restaurant, Bihun Sup and Mi Kari. Bihun Sup is a beef noodle soup while Mi Kari is more of a spicy curry soup. We also tried a variety of Sambal. Sambal is a very popular chili sauce in the region. This food tour was no joke, you think we’d be done by now but we were about half way through. Next, we tried Ikan Bakar. Ikan Bakar is a fish dish where the fish is cooked in a traditional way over charcoal. On our way to the grand finale, we tried Satay Padang and Satay Malaysia, both served fresh from a local food cart. Satay is usually seasoned meat on a skewer and cooked over a grill or fire. These make for great snacks! The grand final and largest meal was of course at the very end. We ate Nasi Lemak and drank a Mango Smoothie at a well known restaurant in Kuala Lumpur called Wanjo. The Nasi Lemak at Wanjo was definitely the best for last! This dish consists of rice cooked in coconut milk paired with a juicy chunk of chicken. Summary of What we Ate During our Food Tour FruitsSalakRambutanLonganDurian Dishes and MealsRoti CanaiMee Goreng MamakPutu BambooChendolMihun SoupMi KariOtak OtakNasi LemakIkan BakarSatay Padang and Satay Malaysia Conclusion In the end, the Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour was a highlight of our vacation in Kuala Lumpur. Not only did we sample amazing local dishes in Kuala Lumpur, but we learned about the history, culture, and traditions of this vibrant city. I highly recommend booking a food tour in Kuala Lumpur on your first day or two. A food tour is a great way to learn and try local dishes and build confidence for the set of your trip! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇲🇾 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Dive Cape Maeda: Okinawa’s Famous Blue Cave
Cape Maeda, is one of the best and most popular dive sites in Okinawa, Japan. Mostly known to tourists for the Blue Cave, Cape Maeda is also known for its great visibility, vibrant marine life, and healthy coral formations. Cape Maeda is an easily accessible dive site and can be accessed by shore, stairs, or through boat tours. Whether you live in Okinawa or are visiting, a dive at Cape Maeda is highly recommended. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting to and Parking at Cape Maeda If visiting Cape Maeda, the best way to get here is by car, unless you are taking a personalized tour through a reputable company. Simply take Route 58 north from Naha passing the Chatan area and Cape Zanpa. I usually take a left onto Route 6 right in front of the Renaissance Okinawa Resort. Follow Route 6 past The Bros. Sandwich Stand and take a right onto a small farm road. This road leads to the parking lot for Cape Maeda. There will be signs along the road as well for Cape Maeda. According to the Cape Maeda website there are 180 parking spaces. For vehicles there is a ¥100 an hour fee. Facilities at Cape Maeda A huge pro about Cape Maeda are the convenient facilities offered. Below is a list of the main facilities at Cape Maeda. ✅Restaurant and Place to Grab Drinks✅ Supply Shop✅ Restrooms✅ Shower Rooms (Shower cost ¥200 for a couple minutes)✅ Coin Lockers✅ Changing Rooms✅ Vending Machines✅ Pavilion with Seating Area Diving Cape Maeda Most visitors that come to Cape Maeda are here to either dive or snorkel. You’ll find a good mix of locals and tourists here. I always recommend going early to beat some of the larger crowds. I’ve dove Cape Maeda several times up to this point and it remains one of my favorite dive sites in Okinawa for many reasons. Cape Maeda is easily accessible, it’s well suited for beginner divers and advanced divers, the coral is healthy, and there is an abundance of marine life. Below you’ll find more information for specifics on Cape Maeda to help you better prepare for your day at one of Okinawa’s best dive sites from getting in the water to what marine life you might encounter. Always Check Conditions and the Live Camera For some reason, Cape Maeda isn’t always open. But you can check the Cape Maeda website for conditions and the status of the flag. There is a live camera view to monitor and see the current sea conditions. Throughout the day, staff updates the flag at the position depending on water conditions. Here is what the flag colors that are shown on the live camera view represent. 🟦 Swimming is Allowed🟨 Swimming is Allowed with Dive Companies or Instructors🟥 No Swimming or Getting in the Water🟧 Tsunami Warning, Do Not Swim You can check live conditions and read more about safety and the site through the Cape Maeda website. Entrance to Cape Maeda Dive Site From the parking area, the dive site is down a long set of stairs. I read online it was around 90 or so stairs. Trust me, after dive #2 going up the stairs is quite the workout. But there is a railing and leaving the stairs to enter the water is very easy. Dive Cape Maeda – The Dive Site Cape Maeda is a great place for beginner divers. The coral reef and marine life starts the second you access the water. The coral is abundant here, you can follow the reef either left or right. For more advanced divers, you can easily go 100′ or deeper if you wish. When I dive at Maeda, I typically hang out between 20′ and 60′ as the coral is vibrant and there are plenty of fish and other marine life at these depths. When accessing the water, I prefer to hang left, I usually have better luck seeing fun marine life like cuttle fish, octopus, and eels. When diving to the right, I tend to see the usual suspects, small tropical fish. The Blue Cave The Blue Cave is Cape Maeda’s most famous attraction and this is where tours tend to take their visitors. The Blue Cave is to the right once you access the water, usually you can follow the crowds. I’ve been here twice diving and it leave little to be desired to be honest. It’s dark inside, no coral, and the only fish that hang around here are some type of squirrel fish. That being said, I have taken some pretty cool shots exiting the cave with the light shining through. Diving with a Local Tour There are numerous companies that offer dive and snorkel tours to Cape Maeda. There are tours geared more towards divers with their certifications and there are also touristy tours that will basically take anyone no matter what skill. I had friends visit from mainland Japan, they had kids that have never dove before. The local company that we went with did a one tank dive with the kids. They did their brief and hung on to the dive master until reaching the Blue Cave. All in all, for kids and visitors with little to no experience, this is a great option. But for some one like me who has logged several dives, it was a little to touristy. We rolled off the boat, dove to the Blue Cave, took photos, and then dove back to the boat. Prior to getting on the boat, the tour guide had us grab on to coral and feed the small fish. I wasn’t to thrilled about touching the coral or feeding the fish. So, just keep in mind what skill level you are and what you really want out of a dive at Cape Maeda before scheduling a tour. If you have any questions on dive shops or tours, feel free to reach out to me and I can assist in any way possible. Dive Maeda Flatts To the left of Cape Maeda is another dive site known as Maeda Flatts. This makes for a great alternative to Cape Maeda if the flag is yellow or red or if the site is just to crowded. Maeda Flatts is a bit challenging to access as you have to walk with your gear through some farm fields and to the beach. Once you get to the beach, you can access the water and dive the coral shelf either toward Cape Maeda or away from it. Conclusion Okinawa offers some of the best dive sites in the world. The visibility allows divers to see 100′ or more on good days. The coral in Okinawa is still healthy and there is an abundance of marine life. Cape Maeda is considered one of the best dive sites in Okinawa and is perfect for any skill whether you area a beginner just starting out or more advanced. Cape Maeda is also a hot tourist destination and most tours offer dives to the Blue Cave. So whether you are here to see the Blue Cave or just leisurely dive around Cape Maeda, it’s definitely a memorable dive. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Make the Most of a Full Day Arashiyama Itinerary, Kyoto
On the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan is the famous and highly visited district of Arashiyama. Arashiyama is a beautiful part of Kyoto renowned for the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji Temple, Monkey Park, and streets lined with traditional shops and restaurants. This charming district of Kyoto offers visitors a little bit of everything when it comes to traditional Japan and is a perfect blend of culture, nature, and history. My Arashiyama itinerary hits all the must see highlights so you can make the most out of your full day in Arashiyama. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Arashiyama: Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular districts. Arashiyama is home to the famous Bamboo Forest and UNESCO World Heritage temples. Top Things to do in Arashiyama: Walk the Bamboo Forest. Visit Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. Discover lesser-known temples in Kyoto. Take the hassle out of figuring everything out on your own and consider booking a Kyoto Arashiyama Walking Tour or try a Rickshaw Tour through the Bamboo Forest. Information About Arashiyama Arashiyama is a district in Kyoto located in the north western portion of the city. Arashiyama is wedged at the base of the mountains and the Katsura River. Arashiyama was a popular destination during Japan’s Heian Period (794 – 1185) and to this day remains one of Kyoto’s most visited destinations. Most visitors plan to come to Arashiyama for the famous bamboo forest but then realize there is so much more to do and see in Arashiyama. How to Get to Arashiyama There are many ways to get to Arashiyama. You can take a taxi, get here by bike (which I’ve done before from Kyoto Station), hop on a local bus, or take the recommended trains. If visiting Arashiyama by train, there are various lines that stop at different stations in and around Arashiyama. If departing from Kyoto Station, take the San’in Line. It’s direct and takes nearly 20 minutes. The fare is ¥240. If departing from Shijoomiya Station, take the Randen Arashiyama Line directly to Arashiyama Station. The fare is ¥250. From central Kyoto, say Karasuma Station, you can take the Hankyu Line to Katsura Station and then to Arashiyama Station. I prefer this route if staying in central Kyoto or if visiting Kyoto’s Monkey Park. 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Arashiyama Tours If visiting Kyoto and the Arashiyama area for the first time, I think tours can be a great way to experience and learn more about the area. Sometimes, I like to book tours that way I don’t have to do the planning and I usually learn a lot more from a legit tour guide then if I were to go alone. I like to book in advance through either Get Your Guide or Viator. Here is a list of some of the tours offered for the Arashiyama area. Kyoto: Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Matcha, Monkeys, & secrets Kyoto: Arashiyama Customized Rickshaw Tour & Bamboo Forest Kyoto Early Morning Tour with English-Speaking Guide Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour Arashiyama Itinerary – Must Visit Places and Things to Do The Arashiyama District is a must when visiting Kyoto. Many visitors come for a half day to check off the bamboo forest and maybe do some shopping. But if you really want to see what Arashiyama has to offer, I recommend spending a full day in Arashiyama. I’ve been to Arashiyama at least three times now. I hope this Arashiyama itinerary is helpful to make the most out of your trip. Below are my recommendations and places to see during your visit to Arashiyama. Grab a Snack or Ice Cream at Arashiyama Station Arashiyama Station is always a popular place. Every time I am here, it is crowded. For good reason, there are shops here, food stalls, clean toilets, and places to rest. If you don’t want to sit down at a restaurant, I recommend grabbing a snack here from one of the food vendors. You can find matcha related items or savory treats like delicious pork buns. My biggest recommendation here is to try the Cremia ice cream. It’s sold at the same stand that sells pork buns and is literally some of the best and richest ice cream I’ve ever had. Souvenir Shopping on the Main Street Some of Kyoto’s best souvenir shops are found in Arashiyama along the main shopping street between Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Forest. You can find everything along this strip of road from custom chopsticks and touristy knick-knacks to food items and stuff worthy enough to send home. There is this amazing store in Arashiyama that sells a special furikake. Furikake is a mix in for rice. Furikake makes for a great gift! Cross the Togetsukyo Bridge for Beautiful Views Crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge is a must, if anything just to get great views of the Arashiyama area. Be warned, Togetsukyo Bridge can be very crowded and vehicles do drive on it. See and Feed Japanese Macaques at Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama If you are interested in wildlife and nature then I highly recommend visiting Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. It is recommended to visit the monkey park in the morning as it can get quite hot and crowds can be overwhelming. Thankfully, the park opens at 9:00 am. Kyoto’s monkey park is at the top of the hill, it takes about 20-30 minutes to walk. Once at the top, you will be greeted by cute and curious Japanese Macaques. There is a facility here that sells food to fee the monkeys, visitors can feed them from within the building. Otherwise, the park is small, so you can just walk around and take photos of the monkeys and enjoy their company. For more information and to learn about the macaques, I have a post on Visiting Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Visit Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji is the main temple in Arashiyama and is a must when in the area. Tenryu-ji is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. According to information at the temple, Tenryu-ji was originally built in the year 1255 and converted to a Zen temple in 1339. The temple itself is a masterpiece, but there is a spectacular garden that wraps around the temple. The garden has a large pond, rock formations, and a dry landscape. The exit to the garden links directly to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Walk Arashiyama Bamboo Forest The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is easily the most popular attraction in Arashiyama and one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions. Although I don’t like crowds, I still have to include the Bamboo Forest to my Arashiyama itinerary, because it is a site to see. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is not that big and can be seen in 30 minutes or less. Most people come here for photos, you can even rent a kimono for photos at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I can’t lie, the bamboo forest is amazing and well kept. Depending on the time of day, it gets painfully crowded. But if you go early in the day or later the crowds tend to be minimal. Don’t Miss Out on Okochi Sanso, A Beautiful Mountain Retreat At the end of the bamboo forest is the entrance to Okochi Sanso. It took me two times of visiting the bamboo forest to convince myself to visit Okochi Sanso, but I am glad I visited this attractions and wish I went sooner. Okochi Sanso is a mountainous area that used to be the estate of Okochi Denjiro who was a famous actor. The reason I recommend visiting Okochi Sanso is because of the sheer beauty of this place. It’s more of a Japanese-style garden with traditional structures and a tea house. You can take your time here, relax, go on a leisure stroll, and enjoy green tea. Stop at a Traditional Restaurant for a True Japanese Meal The main shopping street in Arashiyama is lined with great restaurants. Just because it is a touristy area does not mean you get the tourist prices and food. You can find cheap and authentic meals here. You can find all your favorite Japanese meals here from soba noodles to tonkatsu. Not to mention there are cute cafes tucked away all over Arashiyama. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, Secret Bamboo Forest I have a post dedicated to lesser known temples in Kyoto and Adashino Nenbutsu-ji is one of them. Within walking distance from Kyoto’s bamboo forest is one of the most surprising temples in Kyoto, Adashino Nembutsu-ji. Two reasons why I highly recommend visiting this temple. One, there are 8,000 Buddha statues and two there is a bamboo forest here that is in my opinion superior to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest mainly because it is less crowded and has a similar atmosphere. See the 1,200 Stone Statues at Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple One of the more unique temples in Kyoto and not a far walk from Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple is Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple. This temple is also included in my lesser known temples in Kyoto post, in case you are interested in learning more. What makes Otagi Nenbutsu-ji unique and a must visit are the 1,200 rakan moss covered stone statues. Each rakan has a different expression, some are serious while others are more comical. Conclusion My full day Arashiyama itinerary covers the must do sites and attractions in this district of Kyoto. Obviously, pick and choose what sites and temples you want to see based on your schedule and time. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and a visit to Tenryu-ji are a must if you are on a tight schedule but it is recommended to spend a day in Arashiyama to fully explore the area. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
A Day in Nara Park: From Ancient Temples to Sacred Deer
Nara Park is a unique city park located in the city of Nara, Japan. This picturesque park offers visitors an opportunity to get close to and see the famous bowing deer while immersing themselves in the rich history of ancient Nara. Nara Park is home to thousands of deer as well as shrines and temples that date back hundreds of years. A day in Nara is a must, especially if staying in nearby Kyoto or Osaka. This post is ideal for those wanting to spend a day in Nara and highlights all my recommended places to see and how to make the most out of your visit to Nara Park. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Nara Park Nara Park is by far the most popular attraction and most visited area in Nara. For good reason, Nara Park is home to the famous bowing deer as well as many of the shrines and temples to include Tōdai-ji. If you only have a day in Nara, I highly recommend making Nara Park your main attraction. You can spend all day here, but for those traveling from places like Kyoto, a half day is sufficient enough to see some temples and feed crackers to the deer. Nara Park covers about 66 hectares or 1,600 acres and was established in 1880. There are a total of 8 sites within Nara Park that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. Nara Park is free to enter, but many some of the temples and museums do charge an entrance fee. Getting to Nara Park from Nara Station In my Travel to Nara post, I detailed information on getting to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka by train. Once you arrive at Nara Station, Nara Park is still about a 15-20 minute walk away or a 5 minute bus ride. The few times I’ve traveled to Nara, I opted to walk directly to Nara Park from Nara Station. Walk down the main road (Sanjo Dori St) in the opposite direction of Nara Station toward Nara Park. Sanjo Dori St is a hopping place full of fun shops and restaurants. I do recommend browsing the shops and taking your time along this road and the covered pedestrian streets, but first, Nara Park. Following Sanjo Dori St will lead you directly into Nara Park. From here, you can walk around or relax at Sarusawa-ike Pond, continue straight, or take a left up the stairs and visit Kofu-ji Nan-endo and the Kofuku-ji Pagoda. The Deer at Nara Park The deer at Nara Park are one of the main attractions. Every tourist that visits Nara Park always talks about the deer, they are definitely the stars of the show here. Within Nara Park, there are around 1,400 wild deer that roam the grounds. These deer although cute are still wild and deserve respect. They are sacred after all and considered a national treasure. The deer are scattered all throughout Nara Park, so don’t let the first few deer fool you into thinking you need to capture photos or feed them right away. Trust me, they are everywhere. The deer in Nara Park can freely walk the park and are often times unfazed by us humans or even traffic going through Nara Park. There are opportunities to feed the deer. Please only feed them with crackers sold throughout the park. Shika Senbei is a type of rice bran cracker sold within Nara Park. Besides being a national treasure and if the deer in Nara couldn’t be any cooler, they are known to politely bow for their treats. So next time, you visit Nara and want to feed the deer, make sure they lower their heads and bow to you in order to receive that delicious treat. Must Visit Sites in Nara Park If you only have a day in Nara Park, I recommend at least visiting the sites below. These are my favorite recommendations and sites I take victors to every time for a great experience. Srusawa-ike Pond If you decide to walk Sanjo Dori St from Nara Station to Nara Park, you will find yourself at Sarusawa-ike Pond. I recommend Sarusawa-ike Pond just to take a quick breather, figure out how you want to tackle Nara Park, and take in the beautiful scenery of the pond surrounded by historical buildings. Kofuku-ji Complex After visiting Srusawa-ike Pond, I recommend going left up the stairs to the Kofuku-ji Complex which is home to a beautiful Five-storied Pagoda, Kofuku-ji Nan-endo, and Kofuku-ji Chukondo. Tōdai-ji Tōdai-ji is the most famous Buddhist temple in Nara and one of Japan’s grandest. Tōdai-ji is home to the Daibutsuden or Great Buddha Hall. The Great Buddha Hall in Nara houses the Great Buddha Vairocana Buddha. Vairocana Buddha is 15 meters tall. The Great Buddha Hall in Nara is considered to be the largest wooden structure in the world, it is a site to see! For more information about Tōdai-ji, I have a whole post dedicated to visiting Tōdai-ji. Kasuga-Taisha Another important shrine in Nara is Kasuga-Taisha. This shrine is dedicated to the deity that is responsible for Nara’s protection. Visiting Kasuga-Taisha does take some walking as it is the furthest shrine from the park entrance. But the walk is gorgeous and well worth the effort. The moss covered Toro or lanterns line the path leading to the shrine. Kasuga-Taisha is beautifully painted white and orange and is full of hundreds of golden lanterns. Ukimido My day in Nara Park starts at Sarusawa-Ike Pond and kind of ends at another pond, but the main attraction here is Ukimido, a beautiful gazebo. Ukimido sits beautifully above the water. There are benches inside the gazebo, so it makes for a perfect place to rest. There is a boat rental here in case you want to do more then just relax and take in the beautiful sites. Conclusion Nara and especially Nara Park is one of my favorite places to visit in Japan. Nara Park is a unique and beautiful destination that offers visitors a chance to interact with the famous bowing deer, explore the ancient temples and shrines, and see beautiful nature. If you want that Instagram photos with the deer in Nara or are a history buff and want to see Todai-ji and the Great Buddha then a day in Nara Park will definitely leave a lasting impression. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Narita Airport Layover: Why Not Visit Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple?
Do you have a long layover at Narita Airport? Or have a hotel near Narita Airport and want to experience a historical and authentic temple in Japan? I recommend a visit Naritasan Shinshō-ji. Naritasan Shinshō-ji is a stunning temple complex with a beautiful garden and the perfect destination for those that are passing through Narita. Forget staying at Narita Airport during a long layover. Head out to Naritasan Shinshō-ji for a peaceful respite. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Long Layover at Narita Airport If you have a long layover at Narita Airport and want to get out and explore some of what Japan has to offer, then I recommend taking the JR Line to Narita Station or Keisei Main Line Express to Keisei-Narita to visit Naritasan Shinshō-ji and Omote-sando. It’s about a 12 – 15 minute train ride from Narita Airport to Narita Station. From Narita Station it is about a 15 minute walk to Naritasan Shinshō-ji. Prior to reaching Naritasan Shinshō-ji, there is a shopping street called Omote-sando. This shopping street is lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and other shops selling local goods and Japanese items. It is only recommended to leave Narita Airport during a long layover if you have at least 3 – 4 hours. Take into account, the time it takes to leave the airport, purchase train tickets, finding the correct platform, and getting back to the airport and security in time. Getting to Naritasan Shinshō-ji Temple from Narita Airport Getting to Naritasan Shinshō-ji and Omote-sando from Narita Airport is fairly easy and stress free. Taking a train from Narita Airport is the cheapest way to get to Naritasan Shinshō-ji. But visitors can also take a taxi if you feel it’s necessary. From Terminal 1, 2, or 3, you can take the JR Narita Line Rapid. This train ride is roughly 12 minutes to Narita Station. Visitors can also take the Keisei Main Line Express to Keisei-Narita. This train takes about 10 – 12 minutes. Both stations are located in Narita City and are across from one another, so it really does not matter which station you end up on. I’d recommend going with either option that works best for your schedule. From either Narita Station or Keisei-Narita it is about a 15 – 20 minute walk to Naritasan Shinshō-ji. Omote-sando One of the benefits of visiting Naritasan Shinshō-ji during a long layover from Narita Airport is shopping for souvenirs and trying local Japanese food at Omote-sando. This 800-meter long road is a historical road that dates back to the Edo period and connects Narita Station to Naritasan Shinshō-ji. Earlier in the day when the shops begin to open Omote-sando is not as touristy but as the day progresses, it gets crowded, just keep that in mind. Many of the shops sell local goods like chop sticks, masks, and antiques. This is a perfect place to come to if you are just passing through Narita or staying nearby to catch an early flight. You can get all your souvenirs here. Another item on the list for visiting Omote-sando is trying fresh unagi or grilled eel. Unagi is a specialty in the area. You can’t leave without trying unagi at one of the local restaurants. Naritasan Shinshō-ji Naritasan Shinshō-ji or just Narita Temple is the largest and most beautiful temple that is within a quick train ride from Narita Airport. Naritasan Shinshō-ji has a history dating back to over 1,000 years. Today there are buildings around the temple complex that vary in age dating back a couple hundred years. You could spend hours walking Naritasan Shinshō-ji. There is a beautiful Main Gate, decorative three-story pagoda, and main hall. Don’t forget to walk around the back to see the impressive Great Pagoda of Peace. One of the hidden gems of Naritasan Shinshō-ji is Naritasan Park. This park, like the temple is free to visit and is a beautiful Japanese and Western style garden. Naritasan Park is made up of several walking trails, ponds, and beautiful structures. If you really want to escape Narita Airport and relax, then Naritasan Park is the best place for a peaceful respite. Conclusion A visit to Naritasan Shinshō-ji from Narita Airport or Narita City is as easy as a quick train ride away. If you have a longer layover at Narita and are itching to escape the airport to see a truly beautiful temple and area in Japan, then making your way to Naritasan Shinshō-ji is the perfect opportunity. The historical Omote-sando street is filled with shops to buy fun Japanese souvenirs. Then head over to Naritasan Shinshō-ji which is a massive temple complex with a beautiful garden. You could spend hours here. Just make sure you leave yourself with plenty of time to make it back to Narita Airport. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Top Things to do in Nikko, Japan: Must-See Sites and Attractions
Located in the mountainous Prefecture of Tochigi, Nikko is a picturesque town known for it’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shinkyo, Nikko National Park, and authentic Ryokan hotels. For a town of its size, there is no shortage of things to do in Nikko. Nikko is a popular day trip from Tokyo, but it is recommended to stay at least two days to get a feel for the town and take in the sites. This post shares my recommended things to do in Nikko to include where I stayed and can’t miss attractions. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Nikko and How to Get Here Nikko is in Tochigi Prefecture, just to the north of Tokyo. Tochigi is a landlocked and mountainous prefecture known for Nikko National Park and Tosho-gu, the famous golden shrine. A Nikko day trip from Tokyo or other northern cities is possible although not highly recommended, at least by me. I feel Nikko has plenty of things to do and see to keep anyone busy for a few days. There are many train options to get to Nikko from Tokyo. Train travel to Nikko is possible by The Tobu Nikko Line, JR trains, or a combination of the two. There are three passes, the All Area Nikko Pass, World Heritage Area Nikko Pass, and Kinugawa Theme park Pass, that allow unlimited access to trains to Shimo-Imaichi to Tobu-Nikko and Kinugawa Station from Tobu-Asakusa. The three passes can be purchased at the Tourist Information Center at Asakusa Station. Of course if you have the Japan Rail Pass, you need to take the JR lines. Instead of taking the train to Nikko, I actually rented a car through Rentalcars.com and picked up and dropped off the car near Narita Airport. The drive time from Narita to Nikko was about 2.5 hours. Of course, I turned it into a road trip and stopped at other recommended attractions like the Ushiku Daibutsu (Japan’s tallest Buddha statue) and Kairaku-en, one of Japan’s top three gardens. Top Things to do in Nikko If you are traveling to Nikko from Tokyo or any other place really, it will be a jam packed day. Although Nikko is a smaller mountain town, there is an abundance of things to do and see in and around Nikko. I spent almost three days in Nikko and already have plans to go back. I hear the fall season in Nikko is spectacular. I visited Nikko in late March and Early April. I didn’t know what to expect but I was surprised there was still snow in Nikko at the time. After spending nearly three days in Nikko, I managed to hit all the main attractions and scoped out places I think others would really enjoy. Here is a list of my recommendations and top things to do and see in Nikko. 1. Drive Around Nikko National Park Most people who visit Nikko probably visit Nikko’s temple area for the day before heading back to the train station. One of the highlights and reasons for visiting Nikko at least for me, was to drive through Nikko National Park. From Nikko, take Route 120 directly to the park passing by very curvy and steep mountain roads. While in Nikko National Park, you can drive by the beautiful Lake Chunzenji and get incredible views of Mt. Nantai. Depending on the type of adventure you are looking for while in Nikko, I’d recommend at least a brief stop at Senjogahara Grassy Plain. This is a scenic march area that has observation decks, boardwalks, and kilometers of trails. The day I visited, the ground was snow covered, so I didn’t get a chance to hike here much. I’d also recommend stopping by at least one waterfall in Nikko National Park. A few of the famous waterfalls within the park include Kegon Falls, Ryuzu Falls, and Yudaki Falls. Yudaki Falls was definitely my favorite. One of the most memorable experiences while driving through Nikko National Park was seeing the wild Japanese Macaques. Especially close to the evening hours, they seemed to be everywhere, from parks to parking lots. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 2. Explore the Temple Area: Toshogu, Rinnoji, and Futarasan Besides the beautiful nature in Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko’s Temple Area is what puts Nikko on the map and the reason why this area gets so many visitors. The temple area in Nikko consists of three temple complexes, all within walking distance from one another. The three temples include Toshogu, Rinnoji, and Futarasan. Unfortunately, all three temples charge an admission price so you have to pay to visit each one. Toshogu Shrine Easily one of the most beautiful shrines in Japan is Toshogu. The shrine was constructed as a memorial to the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The dozens of buildings at Toshogu Shrine were constructed in 1634 by Tokugawa Ieyasu’s grandson. Many of the buildings within Toshogu Shrine are covered in gold leaf. When walking around Toshogu Shrine, visitors will notice the five story pagoda near the entrance and ticket booth. Don’t miss the famous Three Wise Monkeys who “hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil.” You can’t miss it, just look for the crowd of people standing in front of the famous monkey carvings. Like the Three Wise Monkeys, you have to see the “Sleeping Cat.” The Sleeping Cat is located on the gate that leads to the Tokugawa Ieyasu Mausoleum. Admission and Hours AdmissionAdults – ¥1300Children – ¥450 Hours9:00 – 17:00 (April to October) and 9:00 – 16:00 (November to March) Rinnoji Rinnoji Temple, was just as impressive as Toshogu Shrine but in a completely different way. The complex was smaller but visitors can access the interior of Rinnoji to see the three Buddha statues here. According to the Nikko Official Guide, the three Buddha statues include the eight meter tall thousand armed Buddha of Mt. Nantai, the Amida Buddha of Mt. Nyoho, and the Horse headed Buddha of Mt. Taro. Photos are not allowed inside Rinnoji Temple. Included with Rinnoji is Shoyoen Garden, a peaceful Japanese Garden with a pond, walking paths, and seasonal plants and trees. Admission and Hours AdmissionSanbutsudo Hall – ¥400Treasure House and Shoyoen Garden – ¥300 Hours8:00 – 17:00 Futarasan Shrine Futarasan Shrine, is the oldest shrine in Nikko. It was founded in 766 by the Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin and is dedicated to Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyoho, and Mt. Taro. Admission and Hours Admission¥300 Hours8:00 – 17:00 (April to October)9:00 – 16:00 (November to March) 3. Don’t forget to visit the Other Shrines and Temples There are more shrines in Nikko that have nothing to do with the Temple Area yet are well worth a quick visit. Across the street from shinkyō bridge, up a few stone stairs, hidden in the woods, is Hongu Shrine. Considered to be one of the oldest shrines in Nikko, Hongu Shrine was also founded by the Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin. If you walk around Nikko, you will spot other temples along the hillside. 4. Take Photos of the Shinkyō Bridge (Red Bridge) A Symbol of Nikko, the Shinkyō Bridge, is a red bridge beautifully constructed over the Daiya River. This highly photographed bridge in Nikko is iconic and a must visit attraction. Visitors can get photos of the Shinkyō Bridge from the sidewalk at no cost. But if you wish to get closer and even walk on the bridge, there is a ¥350 charge. I don’t think it’s necessary. Photos from the sidewalk should suffice. 5. Visit the Tamozawa Imperial Villa A surprising attraction in Nikko was visiting the Tamozawa Imperial Villa and Gardens. According to information at the villa, the Tamozawa Imperial Villa was built in 1899 for Prince Yoshihito and was used by three emperors until 1947. The imperial families used this villa as a retreat during the summer and winter months. The Tamozawa Imperial Villa is huge, at 23,000 m². There are a total of 106 rooms and a beautiful Japanese Garden behind the villa that is a must. The garden has a 400 year old weeping cherry blossom tree. Admission and Hours AdmissionAdults – ¥600Children – ¥300 Hours9:00 – 17:00 (April to October)9:00 – 16:30 (November to March) 6. Walk the Kanmangafuchi Abyss About a 15-20 minute walk from the Tamozawa Imperial Villa is the Kanmangafuchi Abyss. This is a scenic gorge with a beautiful raging river but the most notable feature are the Jizo Statues lining the side of the trail. The sign at the trail entrance states that these Jizo Statues are Boddhisatva Jizo, which is the guardian deity of children. Most of the statues carry a Red Hat and Bib. In 1902, the Kanman Gorge flooded and damaged many of the statues some left as a pile of rubble. 7. Sample Local Beer, especially at Murmur Biiru Stand Nikko was my kind of place. I loved the shrines, the nature, food, and I found great craft beer in Nikko. It didn’t strike me as a beer destination, but I found liquor stores with local craft beers and stumbled upon an amazing craft beer stand called Murmur Biiru Stand, honestly one of the best craft beer places I’ve discovered in Japan. Murmur Biiru Stand was a tiny beer stand in town. The day I was there, a single brewer was working and they had four beers on tap. The Coffee Stout and Cinnamon Brown Ale were phenomenal. 8. Stay at a Ryokan Guesthouse If you are traveling around Japan and want to try staying at a Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), Nikko is a great place as there are many Ryokans and authentic Japanese hotels. There are so many Ryokans in Nikko, it was hard to choose, I went with one that was close to the temple area and budget friendly. I ended up booking a few nights at the Nikko Tokanso Hotel. I booked the Nikko Tokanso Hotel through Agoda. The Nikko Tokanso Hotel blew my expectations as well as everyone else in my party. It was a highlight of the whole trip and a positive memory. Nikko Tokanso Hotel was a traditional Ryokan with an onsen (hot spring or hot bath), rooms with tatami mats, and comfortable futon mattresses. Although everything was incredible, the food was the most impressive. We booked the hotel with breakfast and dinner each night and both meals were elaborate, unique, and delicious! Each meal was different each day. We tried everything from shabu-shabu and sukiyaki to grilled chicken and Nikko’s famous Yuba. Yuba is the skin that is left over from soy milk when boiled. If you are looking for a recommended Ryokan in the Nikko area close to the shrine and within walking distance to town, I highly recommend the Nikko Tokanso Hotel. Nikko Day Tours: Get the Most out of Your Time in Nikko I always love day tours whenever I travel somewhere new. The guides are usually local and know the area well, so I end up learning more then I ever would had I gone myself. Now a days, when I visit a new destination, I look at sites like Viator or Get Your Guide. Below are a few tours offered that provide half day or full day tours of Nikko. These tours will take you to places like the Nikko Shrine Area, Nikko National Park, and other exciting destinations within Nikko. Nikko Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide Full Day Private Tour & Sightseeing to Nikko (English Speaking Driver) From Tkyo: Private Nikko World Heritage Sight Day Trip Tokyo: Nikko Toshogu Shine and Kegon Waterfall Tour Conclusion Nikko remains one of my favorite places to visit in Japan. From spending a day at the temple area seeing Tosho-gu,
Three Great Gardens of Japan: Kairaku-en, Kenroku-en, Koraku-en
Japan is renowned for its gardens that blend a perfect setting of nature, relaxation, and tranquility. There are hundreds if not thousands of Japanese gardens throughout the country. But there are three must-visit gardens in Japan that are considered the most famous. The three Great Gardens of Japan include Kairaku-en in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kenroki-en in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Koraku-en in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Three Great Gardens of Japan The Three Great Gardens of Japan are said to be the most beautiful and impressive gardens in all of Japan. These gardens have a historical background, dating back to the Edo Period. Massive, diverse, unique, traditional, and sometimes minimalistic best describes Japan’s Three Great Gardens. The Three Great Gardens of Japan include Kairaku-en in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kenroki-en, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Koraku-en, in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture. Kairaku-en Kairaku-en, one of Japan’s three famous gardens is located in the city of Mito, in Ibaraki Prefecture. Kairaku-en has been around since 1842. According to information at the site, Kairaku-en started off as a gardening project by Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth feudal lord of the Mito Clan. Originally Kairaku-en was built for feudal lords, warriors, and even commoners. Today, visitors can walk the park and enjoy the beautiful cherry or plum blossoms when in season, enter Kodokan, or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Kairaku-en. I visited in the off season and the cherry blossoms were not in bloom. It is supposed to be a spectacular site with hundreds of trees in bloom. My favorite highlight of Kairaku-en was the bamboo trees. Admission and Hours Admission Kairaku-en Park Adults – ¥300Students – ¥150 KodokanAdults – ¥400Students – ¥200 Hours Kairaku-en ParkOpen Daily6:00 – 19:00 KodokanClosed 12/29 – 12/319:00 – 17:00 Kenroku-en Located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture is the beautiful and honestly my favorite of the three gardens, Kenroku-en. Kenroku-en used to be the gardens attached to the famous Kanazawa Castle. Kenroku-en is hundreds of years old and was owned by the Maeda Clan until the 1840’s. In 1870, Kenroku-en was open to visitors. Kenroku-en is my favorite garden for several reasons. This one actually feels like a traditional Japanese garden. There are various parts to the garden, with gorgeous open ponds, small streams, tea houses, and spectacular old trees that are worshipped and full of supports. It is recommended to visit a tea house while at Kenroku-en. The setting is phenomenal and the green tea makes for a traditional Japanese experience. Admission and Hours Admission Admission for Kenroku-en is ¥320 Hours Open Daily7:00 – 18:00 (March to October 15)8:00 – 17:00 (October 16 to February) Koraku-en The final Great Garden of Japan is Koraku-en. Koraku-en is in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture. Koraku-en was built by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the lord of Okayama at the time in 1700. The garden was created as a place to really relax and unwind. Koraku-en is most famous for its rolling hills, ponds, and tea houses covering a total of 133,000 square meters. Koraku-en is in a beautiful location, right behind Okayama Castle. The castle is perched on a hill and can be seen from the garden. There are many lantern festivals that take place here, so it’s great to visit at night. Make sure to visit the Okayama Korakuen Garden website for a list of events and additional information. Admission and Hours Admission Individual Ticket – ¥410Combined Ticket that includes Okayama Castle – ¥640 Hours Open Daily7:30 – 18:00 (March 20 to September 30)8:00 to 17:00 (October 1 to March 19) Conclusion The Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kairaku-en, Kenroki-en, and Koraku-en are impressive Japanese gardens that are well worth visiting. Each garden is unique in its own way and very different meaning visiting each garden a must! These three gardens differ from your traditional Japanese gardens because of their size, historical backgrounds, uniqueness, and variety. The cherry blossoms of Kairaku-en, the beautiful water landscapes of Kenroki-en, and the gorgeous landscapes found at Koraku-en, make the Three Great Gardens of Japan truly incredible. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.