Sapporo, a “Winter Wonderland,” during the winter months, is Japan’s 5th largest city and by far Hokkaido’s most populous city. Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and is one of Japan’s most popular destinations for winter activities. Compared to other cities in Japan , Sapporo is fairly new, being established in the late 1800’s. One of Sapporo’s most famous winter events, where visitors from around the world flock to is the famous Ice Festival. We had plans on visiting the Ice Festival in February 2022, because of COVID-19, the festival was cancelled for a second straight year. We still planned on visiting Sapporo and spent a weekend exploring the city, here is our weekend itinerary for Sapporo.  Sapporo and How to Get Here Sapporo is the capital city of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. If you look at the map of Japan above, Hokkaido is the large oddly shaped island above the main island (Honshu) of Japan.  The easiest way to reach Sapporo is by plane although rail is also an option if coming from northern Honshu. The main hub for Hokkaido is the New Chitose Airport. This airport is located south-east of Sapporo. To reach Sapporo’s city center from the New Chitose Airport visitors have a few options. There is the obvious and more expensive taxi. But Buses and Trains are the recommended and cheapest modes of transportation. Visitors can hop on the JR Line directly from the airport, or take the Express Bus. The JR Line is the quicker option and is about ¥100-¥200 more expensive, in my mind, totally worth it!  Word of advice. Once again we learned the hard way. Since Sapporo does receive massive amounts of snowfall, the JR Line does cancel its services if the weather is bad. On our last day, we headed to the train station to head back to the airport only to find out that the trains weren’t in service. We were told to take the subway to Fukuzumi Station, head to the bus station there and hop on a bus toward the airport. It seemed everyone had a similar itinerary for Sapporo and were headed back that same day. With all the trains shut down, everyone scrambled to the bus station. The line literally wrapped around the building and then some. Prior to this, we met a nice military family on our flight to Sapporo and ran into them again at the bus station. Our flight was due to depart in two hours and the line for the bus didn’t move an inch after several minutes. The military family mentioned taking a taxi and left the line. After a few minutes of debating, Jill and I both opted to catch a taxi as well to the airport. The taxi was actually quite memorable as we shared the cab with a Japanese couple and had a great time talking to them the hour-ish cab ride to the airport. We made it to the airport with only a few minutes to spare. Luckily, we made it on board. There was no way we would have made the flight if we waited in line for the bus. Our flight was half full, meaning there were a lot of other not so lucky travelers that were most likely still in line at the bus stop as we flew off. So my word of advice is have a plan when heading to the airport and leave several hours prior. Also, if staying at a hotel, the staff might be able to inform you on travel delays.  Climate and Snowfall Sapporo has a semi-continental climate consisting of long, cold, and snowy winters and warm weather and rain during the summer months. Temperatures and weather can change drastically here, so always do your research and come prepared.  Sapporo is considered the second snowiest city of its size in the world. It receives around 15 ft. of snowfall a year. During winter, the cold winds come from Siberia which collects moisture over the Sea of Japan dumbing massive amounts of snow on the city. I read that Sapporo gets more then double the snow of Buffalo, New York which is The United States snowiest city.  Surprisingly enough, the amount of snow Sapporo receives doesn’t really affect daily lives of the local residents. Everyone was out and about doing normal daily activities. Honestly, everyone here is so used to it. The sidewalks and roads were nicely cleared. If the sidewalk couldn’t be cleared, they still cut out paths within the snow. I was so surprised by the drivers here, especially the little Kei cars (Kei cars are small Japanese passenger vehicles with tiny engines). Not one fender bender, heck cars didn’t even slide around or have problems going after being stopped at a light. In America, this amount of snowfall on the roads would cause mass chaos!   Itinerary for Sapporo Since the Snow Festival was yet again cancelled, we still decided to fly to Sapporo and check out the city and enjoy the snow. We basically had a full weekend here with two travel days. Each day, we really had one set plan. Saturday we would go to Sapporo Brewery and Sunday we had plans to visit the Ishiya Chocolate Factory. Everything else we did was based on location from our hotel and access to and from our main plans. Without having set plans, we still found ourselves out and about exploring pretty much all day. Our itinerary for Sapporo and what we saw and ate is outlined below.  Like Jill jumping into the snow, Let’s dive in! Day 1 The only set plan for our first day was a visit to the Sapporo Brewery. The brewery was about a 30 minute walk from the hotel. Of course, our travel days usually start off with pastries and coffee. We found a Vie de France, one of our favorite bakery chains on mainland Japan.  After breakfast and along the way to the brewery, we stopped at the Nijo Market, which is a large fish market in the middle of town. Sapporo is famous for its seafood especially the hairy crab. I’ll be honest, I didn’t try it this time around. I do love local markets, especially seafood markets, so I enjoyed walking around looking at the fresh seafood being sold.  After browsing Nijo Makert, we walked through local neighborhoods eventually ending up at Sapporo Brewery. I’ll be up front, I’m not a huge fan of Sapporo Beer, but I do like visiting older breweries and sampling beer during the tours.  Sapporo is Japan’s oldest brewery and was founded in 1876. Seibei Nakagawa, considered to be Japan’s first “German-trained brewmaster,” (according to information read at the brewerymuseum). He traveled to Germany in his teen years and learned how to brew beer the right way. With his new knowledge of brewing, Sapporo Beer was born!  Today, visitors can tour the brewery. There are two tour options, a Free tour and a Premium Tour. Currently because of Covid-19, the Free Tour is the only option available. Additional information regarding the museum and tours is below.  Sapporo Beer Museum  Open – 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Premium Tour – Approx. 50 minutes. ¥500 per adult.  Premium Tour Hours begin at 11:30 am until 4:30 pm, and tours are offered every half hour. The Premium Tour is in Japanese only.  We did the free tour. It was a bit underwhelming, I would say the museum can be covered in about 10-20 minutes. The free tour is on one floor and has information on the history and beer. Some of the signs had English explanations. After the museum, visitors exit through the tasting room. Here, you can order a single beer or flight. We ordered a flight which included three samples, Sapporo’s Black Label, Classic, and Kaitakuchi Beer. The Sapporo Classic is a limited edition Hokkaido beer and can’t be purchased anywhere else. The Sapporo Classic tasted just like the regular Sapporo Beer and was nothing to write home about. I found the Kaitakuchi Beer to be the best out of the bunch.  After exiting the museum, Jill and I headed next door to their restaurant for more drinks and bar foods. The restaurant serves up a Genghis Khan style all-you-can-eat. In Japan, they name all-you-can-eat Genghis Khan or Viking. Either way, it was yakiniku style which means grilled meat. Each table had a small grill placed in the center, and you can order meat and vegetables using a tablet for an unlimited time. We actually didn’t do the Genghis Khan here but it looked delicious, so next time. We just ordered a few appetizers and more beer. The best feature about this restaurant was the waiter. The waiter was a robot (picture on the right) that served food directly to our table!    After a visit to the Sapporo Brewery, we stopped at the Hokkaido Shrine Tongu and it started to snow pretty heavily. We briefly made a pit stop here before the brewery when it was still sunny out. Below is a fun before and after photo.  Prior to the trip, we knew we wanted to have ramen. After all, ramen is the perfect meal for a cold wintry day. There is a spot near central Sapporo known as Ramen Alley.  Apparently, Ramen Alley is where Miso Ramen got its start and made Sapporo a “Ramen Destination.” Ramen Alley started in 1948 with 8 small restaurants, now there are at least 17 different ramen restaurants that are currently open. Assuming all the restaurants are good, we kind of just picked one and went inside. These restaurants are small, maybe room enough for six people max. I don’t even know the name of the restaurant we went to but the ramen was delicious, filling, and extremely satisfying!  Day 2 The heavy snow from the previous day never let up. Day two, started off with a wintry walk to a bakery called Dominique Geulin, which was located in one of Sapporo’s underground walkways.  After breakfast, our plan was to visit the Ishiya Chocolate Factory, located north-west of Sapporo. From Sapporo Station, we took the subway line to Miyanosawa Station which was a short walk to the chocolate factory. Ishiya Chocolate Factory was part of Shiroikoibito Park. Upon arrival, we noticed the beautiful building that housed the chocolate factory, it was very European looking.  Tickets to take the tour and visit the factory were ¥800 per person. Honestly the experience was a bit underwhelming. We got a few free chocolate snacks and got to see the actual factory. Their little minions around the factory were little cats, that we enjoyed looking at, they were everywhere and very cute.  The museum had a very nice café on the second floor and gift shop on the first floor. I don’t know why, but I expected more, I guess it’s probably a lot more fun for couples with children. The Shiroikoibito Park itself was pretty fun, small but fun. There was a tiny village set up. Again, more for kids, but Jill had fun peaking inside the little houses. Oh, and there were cute snowmen set up around the park. Their seasonal decorations change, so there is always something new. We were probably here for an hour or two before moving on. I was pretty fascinated by the Tongu Shrine being blanketed by snow and wanted to check out more shrines. The Chocolate Factory wasn’t far from Maruyama Park and the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine. We stepped off the subway at Maruyama Koen Station and walked 5 minutes to the park. To be honest, visiting this park was probably my favorite stop we did in Sapporo. During the winter months, Maruyama Park is a true “Winter Wonderland.” There are several walking trails here leading toward the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine. The trails were snow covered yet walkable. On either side of the trail were several feet of snow with tall pine trees scattered throughout.  After meandering through the park, we

Nagoya, located in Aichi Prefecture is an overlooked city in Japan that is home to an abundance of attractions, both old and new. In my opinion, Nagoya has one of Japan’s finest castles, even more charming then Osaka Castle. Outside from the castle and multiple shrines around the city, Nagoya is home to many famous manufacturing companies like Toyota and Honda. Therefore, Nagoya has a lot of futuristic and innovative museums and attractions that are well worth visiting. If you are planning a trip and wondering what to do in Nagoya? This post is a guide to Nagoya with my recommendations on attractions, places to eat, and day trips.  **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! Travel to Nagoya and Getting Here Nagoya, Japan is in Aichi Prefecture located in the Chubu region of Japan’s largest island, Honshu.  Nagoya, is conveniently located between Osaka and Tokyo. Being Japan’s fourth largest city, Nagoya has a large international airport (Chubu Centrair International Airport) and is located along the Tokaido Shinkansen Route.  The airport was built on an artificial island about 30-40 minutes south of Nagoya’s city center. Side note, this is probably our favorite airport in Japan so far, based on the traditional Japanese influence they used to decorate the interior. We flew with Peach Airlines from Naha, Okinawa to Chubu Centrair International Airport, roughly a two hour flight. We easily navigated the airport to the train station and found the Meitetsu Airport Line and took the train to Nagoya Station which was in the vicinity of our hotel. Nagoya is south enough where our ICOCA cards worked, so we loaded money on our cards and had no issues navigating the trains and subways. Recommended Places to Stay in Nagoya When picking hotels in Japan especially when the budget is tight, I always recommended hotel chains like APA or Toyoko Inn. Both great, cheap, and comfortable hotels in Japan and there are plenty of both chains in Nagoya.  For our trip to Nagoya,  we decided to stay at Kuretake Inn Premium Meiekiminami. We chose this hotel based on the approximate location to Nagoya Station and their daily breakfast buffet.  I’ve said it before and mentioned this in my  10 Things I Love About Japan post, that I absolutely love Japanese hotels. The hotels are so unique, they might be on the smaller side but have traditional Japanese bathrooms and modern furniture. Most hotels even have free bathroom amenities (combs, tooth brush, razor, etc..). One of my favorite aspects of the hotels are their breakfast buffets. Only in Japan (and probably other Asian countries), can you get fermented vegetables, a croissant, spaghetti, soup, eggs, rice and curry all in one sitting. Below are some photos of random breakfast plates we had. Must See Attractions and Sites in Nagoya Nagoya is a huge city, it’s Japan’s fourth largest city. The city has many different districts and neighborhoods. Thankfully most places can be reached by train or subway throughout the city. Several attractions and sites are spread out across the city. Jill and I tend to walk a lot, so many attractions we just walked to. I felt Nagoya to be very walkable. We only had about 2.5 days in Nagoya, which included our half day trip to Inuyama. But we saw many major attractions in Nagoya to include the Nagoya Castle, Toyota Commemorative Museum, and much more!  Nagoya Castle If planning to travel to Nagoya, make the Nagoya Castle a must. Nagoya Castle was our favorite site in Nagoya. Honestly, I felt this castle is more impressive then the Castle in Osaka. This castle is open from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm daily. It is closed on December 29 – January 1. Entrance Fee is ¥500 Nagoya Castle is not an original castle but has a very important history and is still regarded as one of Japan’s finest. Nagoya Castle was built in the year 1612 by the Owari Domain. During its reign of power, Nagoya Castle was one of the most powerful castles hosting one of the most important and powerful castle towns.  Unfortunately, the castle was destroyed by air raids during WWII. The main keep and palace were all completely ruined. The main keep and surrounding watch towers have been restored with steel reinforced concrete. The Hommaru Palace was rebuilt in 2018, visitors can now walk the extensive palace.  Visitors can walk the castle grounds, visit the palace, stroll through the gardens, and even visit a tea house for a traditional tea experience.  For more information regarding Nagoya Castle, I recommend visiting their  Website.  Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology Japan does museums right. They are generally cheap, informative, and interactive. To this date, I’ve enjoyed every museum I’ve visited while in Japan, but the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology might rank amongst my favorites.  This museum is ¥500 for adults, ¥300 for seniors and Junior/High School students, and ¥200 for Elementary students.  When you think of Toyota, you probably automatically think of cars. Actually, Toyota started as a company that built automatic looms.  The automatic looms were invented by Sakichi Toyoda. Sakichi’s oldest son, Kiichiro spent his childhood in the factory and learned many skills to include engineering. From here, Kiichiro’s passion began to evolve into motor vehicles, which eventually led to the Toyota Motor Corporation. So yeah, the automobile maker we all know as Toyota started as an invention of automatic looms by Sakichi Toyoda.  We spent well over two hours exploring the museum. It started in the Textile Machinery Pavilion, which had displays of the original loom and how it progressed as technology made further advancements. Many museum employees showed us demonstrations on separating and strengthening cotton and gave presentations on how certain machinery worked.  After visiting the Textile Machinery Pavilion, we made our way to the Automobile Pavilion. I very much enjoyed this section. The automobile portion had many interactive displays, you would press a button and it would show you the technology used to assemble a car. There was also many showcasings of cars on display, everything from Toyota’s first cars the A1 and G1, all the way to fancy and expensive sports cars.  Adding to the cherry on top, there is a violin playing robot at this museum near the entrance. He plays a several times a day, there is a schedule with the times. The partner robot played 2 songs and received a round of applause from the audience. Nagoya City Science Museum We visited the Science Museum on a snowy December morning. Because of the weather and it being a weekend, the museum was pretty crowded, mainly families with kids. The outside of the museum is pretty noticeable since there is a large circular structure in the center of the museum. This is actually the world’s largest planetarium. We decided to pass on the planetarium because I read reviews that it was only in Japanese, so I feel it would be wasted on us. Instead we just explored the exhibits on each floor and played around with the fun science experiments set up for visitors.  Osu Shopping District Osu Shopping District was a large arcade style street in Nagoya that we visited one evening. Compared to other arcade streets, this one was lively and the majority of the shops and restaurants were open. I always recommend checking out the covered arcade roads in Japan.  Shikemichi Shikemichi is a historic street near Nagoya Castle lined with old historical wooden buildings. During the construction of Nagoya Castle, a large castle town surrounded it, and Shikemichi was a district for merchants. A fire in 1700 destroyed a lot of this district, but the present day homes here date back to 1740.  Must Try Restaurants in Nagoya Miso is King in Nagoya. Miso is a sauce or seasoning that is created by fermenting soybeans with salt and grains. Miso compliments tonkatsu well, so misokatsu is found all over Nagoya.  Another popular and surprising popular food item in Nagoya was chicken wings. Chicken wings were found in almost all izakaya’s in Nagoya. Most places used their own seasoning. A tad salty but paired nicely with a cold beer.  Misokatsu Yabaton I read that you can’t leave Nagoya without trying Misokatsu. Misokatsu is a fried pork cutlet with a red miso sauce. Based on a quick Google search, we found Misokatsu Yabaton, which is considered one of the more popular chains around Nagoya. Their logo is a fun Sumo Wrestling Pig. We each ordered a misokatsu set with cabbage, rice, miso soup, and fermented vegetables. The misokatsu was excellent, we very much enjoyed our meal here. Yamachan Yamachan was recommended to me by a co-worker. This restaurant is known for their seasoned chicken wings. This restaurant is more of an Izakaya style, as they have many cheap small dishes that are meant for sharing. After walking all day, our appetites were large so we ordered wings, salads, fried pork, fried cheese, bean sprout stir fry, and gyoza. Everything we ordered was excellent, it was such a great experience. To be honest, I felt their wings were a bit to salty, still good but I found other items on their menu to be better.  Y Market Brewing I try to at least visit one brewery while visiting a new city in Japan. Breweries are still few and far in between in Japan, so it’s always a treat to find one. Craft beer here is not cheap, anywhere from ¥700 to ¥1200+ for a pint. I found Y Market on my Untappd app and we spend a few hours there sampling IPA’s. Their beer menu was heavy on the IPA’s, out of the 15 or so beers on they had, at least 10 of them were IPA’s, I’m wasn’t complaining. My favorite beer they brewed was the Lupulin Nectar Imperial IPA. I ranked it 4 out of 5 stars on Untappd. Side note, their beers are sold throughout grocery stores in Nagoya and are much cheaper. Y Market also serves food, we ordered a plate of their wings and I must say they were superior to Yamachan’s. Popular Day Trips from Nagoya If you travel to Nagoya, Japan, there is plenty to do in the city to keep you busy for a few days. Nagoya is also a great place to use as a home base and do day trips from. From old castles and shrines to potter footpaths and cat artworks, here are a few of my favorite day trips from Nagoya.  Inuyama If you are looking to venture out of Nagoya and see an original castle, I highly recommend a day trip to Inuyama.  A 30 minute train ride from Nagoya Station, visitors can find themselves at Inuyama Station. From Inuyama Station, it is about a 20 minute walk to Inuyama Castle.  Leading to the castle is Inuyama-jokamachi, a castle street lined with old homes turned into souvenir shops and local restaurants.  Inuyama Castle is Japan’s castle. Inuyama Castle was built in 1537 by Oda Yojirou Noboyasu, Oda Nobunaga’s uncle.  Inuyama Castle has seen several battles. During the Meiji Period in 1871, the government seized the castle and tore down many of the remaining buildings and structures. In the 1960’s, restoration began on the castle, bringing it back to life.  Today, visitors can go to Inuyama Castle, tour the main keep, walk the grounds, and get incredible views of the Kiso River and surrounding mountains.  Tagata Jinja Shrine If you are like me and enjoy bizarre attractions in Japan, I recommend a brief stop at the Tagata Jinja Shrine.  A visit to Tagata Jinja Shrine can be done as a day trip from Nagoya or added to a trip to visiting Inuyama

Up until 1609, Okinawa and the surrounding islands were its own country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. In 1609, the Satsuma Domain from present day Kagoshima Prefecture invaded Okinawa. After the invasion, the Ryukyu Kingdom was considered a tributary state of Japan. The Ryukyu Kingdom at this point was still ruled by the royal family of Shuri Castle. In 1879, the Ryukyu Kingdom ultimately became a prefecture of Japan known as Okinawa Prefecture.  Okinawa has thousands of years of history. But during the 12th and 17th centuries (about 500 years worth of history), the Ryukyu Kingdom flourished during a time known as the Golden Age of the Ryukyu Kingdom. There are hundreds of historical and cultural sites around Okinawa. But in the year 2000, nine sites were combined into one by UNESCO. These sites were grouped under the name of the “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”. These Okinawa World Heritage Sites are scattered throughout the main island of Okinawa and include five castles, two stone monuments, and two cultural landscapes. A lot of research for this post was from the  UNESCO website and historical markers and signs from all nine sites we’ve visited.  **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! Katsuren Castle One of the more scenic castles, due to its locations is Katsuren Castle. Katsuren Castle is located on top of a hill overlooking the coast. Like many of the castles left of the Ryukyu Kingdom, only the walls and some foundation still stand.  According to  japan-guide, the castle was for Lord Amawari in the 15th century. He was considered a strong leader and defeated an opponent to take over the castle. Unfortunately, it seemed he got to greedy and tried attacking Shuri Castle, and Lord Amawari was defeated. Since Okinawa, is not that big, you would think that these war lords would unite together to defend against attacks from mainland Japan. But all these warlords who built these castles around Okinawa were at war with each other.  Admission for Katsuren Castle is ¥600 for adults and ¥400 for children.  Nakagusuku Castle Nakagusuku Castle, is located in the Okinawan district of Kitanakagusuku. The term “Gusuku” is Okinawan for castle or fortress. In the Japanese language a castle is referred to as “Shiro”. To visit Nakagusuku Castle there is an entrance price of ¥400, parking is free at least. This castle is open from 8:30 until 16:30.  Nakagusuku Castle was actually built as a defense fortress to block attacks from neighboring Katsuren Castle. The commander of this castle was Gosamaru, who was a lord at the time of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. In the year 1458, Lord Amawari actually defeated Lord Gosamaru at Nakagusuku Castle. Lord Gosamaru eventually committed suicide at the castle after killing his children and wife because he was being accused of rebellion by the king of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. Nakijin Castle The ruins of Nakijin Castle are located on the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa. This castle was constructed in the late 1200’s.  This castle was a bit different then the others when it comes to history. I read that prior to the Golden age of the Ryukyu Kingdom, there was a period of civil war in the area that divided the Ryukyu Kingdom into 3 separate kingdoms. The 3 kingdoms were the Hokuzan, Chuzan, and the Nanzan. Nakijin Castle was part of the Hokuzan Kingdom but was taken over by the Chuzan Kingdom. After the reunification of the three kingdoms, Nakijin Castle was used as a residence.  Today, visitors can walk the grounds of the castle, view the gift shops, and try local food at some of the nearby stalls. Entrance to this castle is ¥400 and the hours are from 8:00 to 18:00.  Zakimi Castle Zakimi Castle is a very accessible gusuku (castle), located in Yomitan. This castle is located in a nice city park with plenty of parking and there is no admission to visit this castle. Zakimi Castle was built in the early 1400’s. It was built to protect the area from rebels located in northern Okinawa. During the war, this castle was used as an emplacement by Japanese forces. Later on, the US used it as a radar station. Like the other sites, Zakimi Castle now belongs to the Okinawa World Heritage Sites and has since been restored.  Shuri Castle Shuri Castle or Shurijo Castle is perhaps the most well known of the Okinawa World Heritage Sites. Shuri Castle was considered the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom from the years 1429 up until 1879. This castle was heavily destroyed during the war. The castle was rebuilt many times. Sadly, the main hall of the castle and several other structures burnt to the ground on October 31, 2019. This is the fifth time in its history that the castle has succumbed to fire. Shuri Castle is currently being rebuilt and is scheduled to be complete in 2026. Shuri Castle was the site of residency by the royal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shuri Castle was also the core site for religious activities in the area.  Today, visitors can freely walk the castle grounds. Many of the structures that are being restored are off limits, but visitors can watch the progression of the restoration taking place. Like many of the other Okinawa World Heritage Sites, the entrance fee to visit Shuri Castle is ¥400. Sefa-Utaki Sefa-Utaki is considered the Ryukyu Kingdom’s most sacred site. According to information read at the site, Sefa-Utaki includes six sanctuaries at this location. The “Oaraori,” was the most important ritual at the site. This ritual included an inauguration of the Kikoeokimi priestess. The Kings and Kikoeokimi would set off on a pilgrimage to Sefa-Utaki.  Two notable sites I found interesting were the Shikiyodayuru and Amadayuru Jugs. These jugs were placed perfectly below two stalactites. The water that dripped from the stalactites were collected in the jugs, this was their “holy water.” The second notable site was the Sangui, which is pictured above. This was the opening between two large rocks used as a place of worship.  Today, Sefa-Utaki is still a place of worship. Admission to the site was ¥300 per person. There is a parking lot near the visitor center. Visitors are required to walk a bit to the site and the trail to get to the sites was somewhat slippery.  Shikinaen Royal Garden Shikinaen Royal Gardens was considered the second residence of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s royal family. Shikinaen was a place for entertainment and relaxation.  Shikinaen was built at this location around the later half of the 18th century. Udun Palace, is a beautiful palace built in true Okinawan style that overlooks the pond. There are two bridges in the middle of the pond and a beautiful Japanese Garden surrounding the pond.  If you get lucky, there are traditional performances at Shikinaen. We had the opportunity to sit in the palace and listen to traditional sanshin music and singing. The sanshin is an instrument from Okinawa. Traditional sanshin’s consist of a body made from snake skin, a long narrow neck, and three strings (Sanshin = three strings). After the sanshin performance, we got to see a traditional Ryukyu dance known as kumi-odori.  Sonohyan-Utaki Stone Gate Probably the least exciting but just as important site is the Sonohyan-Utaki Stone Gate. I actually had to revisit this site as the first time, I just walked right by it without noticing.  The Sonohyan-Utaki Stone Gate was build in 1519 and was used by the royal family as a site for prayer. The king would pray here for safe travels when leaving Shuri Castle.  The architecture of the gate is unique. The design was common at the time in both Japanese and Chinese architecture. The gate was made using limestone from the area. During the war in 1945, the gate was severely damaged but has since been restored.  Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum is  a mausoleum that was built in the year 1501, by King Sho Shin to re-entomb his father, King Sho En.  According to the museum at the location, there are three separate rooms at the mausoleum. One room was used to store the remains and wash the bones. The room located on the eastern side was created for the kings and queens, and the third room to the west was for the rest of the Royal family members.  The Mausoleum was almost entirely destroyed during WWII, but through restoration projects it has been almost completely restored.  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. 

Iriomote Island, is a remote island located in south-western Okinawa Prefecture. Iriomote is part of an archipelago known as the Yaeyama Islands. The entire island of Iriomote is a National Park, more then 90% of the island is covered in lush rainforests and mangrove forests. Being the second largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, after Okinawa Island, Iriomote only has 2,300 residents. The most famous resident that calls this island home is the Iriomote Wild Cat.  **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 Iriomote Island? Iriomote is in Okinawa Prefecture and belongs to the Yaeyama Islands. The Yaeyama Islands are a chain of islands that can be found in Okinawa’s western most side. In fact, Iriomote is closer to the country of Taiwan then the main island of Okinawa.  Getting to the Island of Iriomote Although Iriomote is a remote island, getting here is a breeze, especially if  you live in Okinawa.  Iriomote doesn’t have its own airport, in fact this island can only be reached by boat. Thankfully, the island of Ishigaki has a new airport that is a quick 40 – 50 minute flight from Naha. Flying into Ishigaki was breathtaking during the day, you get incredible views of the coast and coral surrounding the area.  For the first time since being in Japan we flew Solaseed Air, which is a Japanese regional budget airline. I’d have to say, both Jill and I were very impressed with this airline. The seats were cushiony and I actually had quite a bit of knee room. Peach Airlines could really take a lesson from Solaseed Air.  After landing in Ishigaki, take a bus to the ferry port. The bus system worked out nicely, the buses were cheap and arrived/departed often. Bus fare from the airport to Ishigaki port was ¥540 each way. Buses only take exact change, so make sure to set that amount aside right away.  Ishigaki had a real nice ferry port, full of vendors and information stalls. You can grab a lunch here or browse the souvenir shops.  There are two ferries that traverse between the islands of Iriomote and Ishigaki,  Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko. By selecting the link, you can view the ferry timetable and prices. Prices were ¥5170 Roundtrip. There are two ports on Iriomote, Ohara Port and Uehara Port.  Our hotel was near Uehara so we took the ferry to this port, it was around 50 minutes. Note, this ferry does get cancelled often due to weather, so the ferry might change route and go to Ohara. Amazingly enough, the ferry services provide free shuttle buses on Iriomote that generally drop you off at your hotel. Another warning, the ferry ride was a wild ride, so if you tend to get sea sick easily ( I loved the bumpy ride, but someone else wasn’t as thrilled as I was) either take Dramamine or a puke bag.  Once on Iriomote, talk to the ferry service help information desk and they will hook you up with a shuttle to your hotel, if it is not already provided.  Must Visit Beaches on Iriomote We stayed on a peninsula just north of Uehara. The deciding factor for this location was Hoshizuna Beach. Jill knew of this beach as it is famous for its star shaped sand. We stayed at Pension Hoshino Suna, which was a hotel right on the beach. Star sand beach wasn’t the only beautiful beach we were able to visit from the hotel. We found ourselves walking Nakano Beach and Tsukigahama Beach on the northern peninsula. Hoshizuna Beach (Star Sand Beach) Scoop up some sand, look closely! In the mix, there are tiny pieces of sand that are in the shape of  stars. Hoshizuna Beach, is one of Japan’s most popular beaches for this reason. In fact, there are only two other beaches in the world where you can find star shaped sand.  The star shaped sand is created by tiny organisms that are unicellular known as Foraminifera. Like other shells and organisms, once the foraminifera passes on, its shell washes ashore.  Many visitors come to this beach and automatically start collecting sand. But there are other activities that can be done on Hoshizuna Beach. Even in November, when we were here, the water was warm enough for swimming. We brought our snorkel equipment and spent an evening snorkeling. While snorkeling, we saw beautiful coral, a few spider conchs, sea slugs, and some new (to us) fish species. Ever since moving to Okinawa, and snorkeling I’ve noticed how much personality fish have. There were some large fish that would follow us the whole time, it was fun hanging out with them!  We spotted a hermit crab without its shell. The end part of the hermit crab is very soft, making the vulnerable without their shell. We kindly found shells around the beach and placed them near him so he would have real estate options. No idea which home he eventually decided on.  One more thing. While walking toward Nakano Beach, Jill found a Glass Float! I’ve never heard of glass floats before coming to Okinawa. A glass float is basically a glass ball full of air that were used to keep fishing nets afloat in Japan. They were in production in the early 1900’s and stopped around the 1960’s and 70’s. This means, the glass float we found could potentially have been floating around for over a hundred years. They are rare to find, they don’t look like anything spectacular, but still an awesome souvenir.  Nakano Beach Nakano Beach is walkable from star sand beach. This beach was far from touristy but stretched for miles it seemed. We walked for hours on this beach looking for shells, floats, and gazing out at the blue waters. I renamed this beach to Large Shell Beach, as we found so many clams and spider conchs that were enormous, far to large to pack in our suitcases. The only negative thing about this beach was the trash. Since it opens up to the East China Sea with nothing but open ocean, a lot of trash gets washed up here. I looked at many of the bottles washed ashore and they were all from China.  Tsukigahama Beach Perhaps the greatest walking beach my feet have ever felt. The sand on Tsukigama Beach was so soft and soothing, I could have walked here from morning until evening. There was no trash here, hardly any shells, just sand, lots and lots of sand. The scenery here was amazing as well, the beach was in a cove like area surrounded by smaller islands, forests, and mountain peaks.  Wildlife The Iriomote Wild Cat “Iriomote Yamaneko” – This is the Japanese name for the Iriomote Island Wild Cat. The Iriomote wild cat is only found on Iriomote island and unfortunately, there are only about 100 of them alive today. The Iriomote cat was discovered in 1965. The Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center website has a lot more information regarding the Iriomote Cat. According to their website, the Iriomote cat is described as having round ears with white spots behind them and white fur around the eyes. The cat has a flat nose and bushy flat tail. The cat is fairly small, about 3-5 Kg in weight and around 50-60 cm in length. Of course, on our trip we didn’t see the Iriomote wild cat. They are nocturnal, territorial, and like any cat, they like to hide. Our tour guide for the kayak trip we did, has lived in Iriomote and seen the cat twice, both times by driving at night along the main road. Iriomote Island has done a phenomenal job when it comes to protecting the wild cat, at least when it comes to awareness and making the roads as safe as possible for the kitty. There is basically one main road in Iriomote, connecting Uehara and Ohara. Along this road there are underpasses so the cat can freely walk under the road. There are also zebra-pattern rumble strips all along the road. When cars drive on the rumble strips, the noise is supposed to scare the cat from the road. There are also warning signs all along the road, not to mention the speed limit is only 40 kph or about 25 mph. Coconut Crab This crustacean we actually did see, not once but three times! I’ve yet to see one on the main island of Okinawa, but have been searching for them. Alas, we saw one the first night walking back to the hotel from a local Izakaya. The coconut crab is considered the largest land crab in the world, weighing up to 9 lbs., these guys are built like tanks. Color wise, they can be brown and deep purple, the three we saw were all purple. They are considered scavengers and eat whatever they can get. I’ve heard they will dig through trash cans on the island and eat rice and other scraps of food that gets thrown out. They seemed to be camera shy, very hard to get good pictures of them at night. They would slowly back away into the grassy area when they heard the shutter of the camera. Utara Coal Mine Out of the 3 days we were here, we had a free day and walked from the hotel to the Utara Coal Mine Ruins. It was an hour walk from the hotel, but once at the trail head it was about 20 minutes to the ruins.  Coal was discovered along the Utara River in 1935 and a year later mining began in the region. The Utara Coal Mine was the largest in Iriomote. After the war, the mine closed down due to lack of resources and need. In 2007, the ruins became a Heritage of Industrial Modernization in Japan. The ruins are accessible by a 1 km trail, once at the end the trail it became a boardwalk where visitors can walk enjoy the sites of the jungle taking over the ruins without walking through the swampy mangroves. Kayaking and Trekking to Pinaisara Falls Visitors come to Iriomote for the nature. It’s an outdoorsman’s paradise! Iriomote Island offers snorkeling, scuba diving, caving, trekking, kayaking, etc.. The island is rural, so a great way to explore the beautiful nature is via a reputable tour company. We booked a kayak and trek tour to Pinaisara Falls through Kazaguruma Tours.  This tour company was great! They picked us up from our hotel and supplied us with gear, food, transportation, and the guide even spoke English, which was great because I had so many questions about Iriomote. It was forecasted to rain the entire day of the tour and it did rain for the first hour. Afterwards, we got lucky as the weather cleared up.  The tour started with a 45 minute kayak trip up the Mare and Hinai Rivers toward Pinaisara Falls.  The rivers were lined with beautiful mangrove forests. Our guide explained to us that Japan had seven different types of mangroves and Iriomote is the only place in Japan that has all seven types in one location.  After about 45 minutes of kayaking, we got our first glimpse of Pinaisara Falls. Pinaisara Falls is the tallest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture.  Once the kayaks were docked, the trekking to the top of the falls began. The trek was about 45 minutes to the top. Although a short trek, it was steep and definitely no walk in the park.  We finally arrived at the top of Pinaisara Falls and were rewarded with incredible views of the distant beaches and jungle mountain tops.  Our guide was great and cooked us hot bowls of Okinawan Soba while we explored a bit. Soba is a type of

Fukuoka, Japan’s 6th largest city is located on the island of Kyushu. Known for it’s history, delicious ramen, and friendly locals, Fukuoka offers an abundance of things to do that can accommodate any visitors interests. Whether you are visiting Fukuoka to slurp down some of Japan’s best ramen or here to visit ancient temples, Fukuoka will surely impress you. This article highlights things to do in Fukuoka but also the surrounding area. Whether you are spending a day in Fukuoka or longer, there is plenty of attractions and sites to see.  **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! 15 Top Things to do in Fukuoka Fukuoka, is one of my favorite cities in the world. Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest city and the 6th largest city in Japan. Like me, prior to traveling to Japan, most people probably haven’t even heard of Fukuoka. The truth is, Fukuoka should be high on everyone’s list. There are so many attractions here and in my opinion some of the best food in Japan. Fukuoka is the first city I visited in Japan and I wrote a general post on our  Trip to Fukuoka but I’ve been here at least 5 times since and have a lot more recommendations to share. Here is a list of my recommendations of 15 things to do in and around Fukuoka. 1. Board a Ferry to Nokonoshima A quick ten minute ferry ride from Meinohama Port in Fukuoka is the beautiful island of Nokonoshima. The main attraction is Nokonoshima Island Park. Nokonoshima Park is a decent sized park famous for its flowers that bloom throughout the year. We went in October to see the Cosmos flowers. The park is well paved and offers beautiful views of Hakata Bay. The island is small enough that visitors can walk to the park. To see the hours, fees, and how to get here, you can visit the Nokoshima Website. 2. Dazaifu Tenmangu Located outside of Fukuoka City is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. This shrine is one of the three great Tenjin Shrines in Japan and is dedicated to the scholar Michizane Sugawara. There is a large Torii Gate at the entrance of the shrine followed by two arched bridges crossing a pond. Once on the other side of the pond, visitors can reach the Main Hall of Dazaifu Tenmangu. The main hall is a beautiful red, white, and gold color. 3. Dine and Shop in Canal City There are so many dining and shopping options in Fukuoka, but Canal City stands out as one of the more popular and unique places. Canal City gets its name from the canal that run through the complex. The architecture of Canal City is pretty impressive, the buildings around the canal are circular and colorful. There are over 250 shops here and many restaurants on various floors. On the 5th floor is a popular spot called Ramen Stadium that has eight different ramen restaurants.  4. Explore the Castle Ruins A short walk from Ohori Park, lie the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. At one point, this castle was the largest on the island of Kyushu. Because of the Meiji Restoration and the one castle per territory law, this castle was torn down. Today, the castle walls and some turrets still remain. Regardless, the castle foundation is still very impressive and fun to explore.  5. Go on a Relaxing Stroll Around Ohori Park In Japanese, Ohori means “moat.” The famous pond at Ohori Park was once a part of the moat that connected to Fukuoka Castle. Today, Ohori Park is a massive city park. In the center of the park are three islands that are all connected by bridges. There is also a 2 kilometer track that goes around the entire pond.  6. Have Fun at TeamLab TeamLab is an indoor attraction, so perfect for rainy days. TeamLabs consists of various exhibits that displays artworks and memorizing activities through digital technology. I knew Tokyo had a TeamLab but was unaware of the one in Fukuoka until Jill mentioned it. Apparently there are several TeamLabs in Japan and a few in other countries around the world. The TeamLab we went to in Fukuoka had a forest where we downloaded an app used to catch and collect animals throughout the forest. It was actually pretty informative, if you collect an animal species, the app would show a brief description of the animals habitat, location, and diet.  Other exhibits at TeamLab Fukuoka consisted of the Sphere Caterpillar House which was full of squishy balls that change color as you walk on them. There was the soft terrain and Granular Topography Room which was a 3-D room with a trampoline floor. Afterwards there is a room with balance stepping stones followed by the Shifting Valley. The Shifting Valley was a large room with uneven floors where flowers and animals appeared on the floors and walls. Our favorite exhibit was the Typhoon Balls room. This room was full of gigantic ovoid’s which were extremely light and float around. Both Jill and I felt like kids here, it was fantastic!  7. Hop on a Train to see the Reclining Buddha We have wanted to see the Reclining Buddha for years and finally got a chance to visit this last time around. The Reclining Buddha is located at the Nanzoin Temple just outside of Fukuoka City. It is easiest to reach the Nanzoin Temple via train. From Hakata Station take the train to Kidonanzoin-mae, about a 26 minute train ride.  The Reclining Buddha is massive, it is 41 meters long, 11 meters tall, and weighs about 300 tons. The Buddha Statue is much newer then the Daibutsu Buddha Statue in Nara and was completed in 1995.  8. Pet Hedgehogs and Owls at the Owl Cafe Tenjin After a days walk, why not relax and have a drink with a few owls, hedgehogs, or both! Near the Tenjin Station there is an owl and hedgehog café. Visitors pay ¥1800 ($18) can grab a drink and then sit down and play, cuddle, or just relax with these adorable animals.  The owls are quite intimidating at first, but once you know how to pet them it is pretty calming. The hedgehogs on the other hand are just adorable. They are small enough to curl up in your hand and they just pass out cold. Toward the end, I had a little owl sit on my shoulder while I had a hedgehog in one palm and a baby hedgehog in my other hand.  9. Ramen, Ramen, Ramen Hakata Ramen otherwise known as Tonkotsu Ramen is a style of ramen that originated in Fukuoka. Tonkotsu Ramen is by far my favorite style of ramen. As of now, I’ve been to nine different Tonkotsu Ramen restaurants in Fukuoka and can’t wait to come back to try more.  Tonkotsu Ramen differs from other styles because the broth is created by boiling pork bones for several hours giving the broth a rich and creamy flavor. The ramen is generally served with Chashu (pork belly), ramen noodles, green onions, ginger, sesame seeds, and other ingredients depending on the restaurant.  In Fukuoka, Ichiran and Shin Shin are some of the more popular restaurants. But I am still a fan of Ramen Unari, it was the first ramen joint I tried and instantly fell in love.  10. Shop Around at Hakata and Tenjin Stations If shopping is your thing, then I recommend browsing the shops at both Hakata Station and Tenjin. I am always amazed by the train stations in Japan and believe Fukuoka has some of the most impressive stations with shopping options for everyone from luxurious clothing stores to ¥100 Shops.  The Tenjin Underground Mall is absolutely beautiful, hosting 150 different stores. Hakata Station has several plaza’s and department stores. I swear there are hundreds of shops in and around Hakata Station, it’s overwhelming.  11. Take the Elevator to the Top of Fukuoka Tower At 234 meters (768 ft), Fukuoka Tower is Fukuoka’s tallest building and considered the tallest seaside tower in all of Japan. Visitors can spend ¥800 and take an elevator ride to the observation deck. You get a 360 degree view up here and can see all of Fukuoka City and Hakata Bay as far as the eye can see.  12. Tochoji Temple and the Giant Wooden Buddha Tochoji Temple is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism of the Kyushu sect according to yokanavi.com. This temple was constructed and dedicated to the monk Kobo-Daishi. The temple grounds are gorgeous, there is a main temple, pagoda, and grave sites of lords here. But perhaps the most impressive site at this temple is the Giant Wooden Buddha. This Buddha was much bigger then expected. The Buddha statue measures 10.8 meters high and weighs around 30 tons. The Buddha was hand carved from wood. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed here, so you’ll have to Google Image the Giant Wooden Buddha at Tochoji Temple.  13. Try a “Yatai,” or Mobile Food Stall Yatai, or mobile food stalls can be found in certain areas of Fukuoka. The Yatai typically open for dinner and drinks around 6pm and can stay open as late as 2am. Each Yatai is different, but they generally have enough room for about six to eight people. The Yatai I saw all serve different dishes to include ramen, yakitori, and other traditional Japanese dishes.  14. Visit Kushida Shrine and Get a Omikuji Fortune Slip This Shinto Shrine is located in the heart of Fukuoka. Kushida Shrine is said to have first been built in 757, although it has been remodeled since. On non-Covid years, this shrine is most famous for the Yamakasa Gion Matsuri which is Fukuoka’s biggest festival. On the festivals last day, there are seven teams that gather here and race, carrying a Kazariyama which are these giant and elaborate floats. There is one on display here at the shrine.  Omikuji Fortune slips are found at most Shinto Shrines, but both Jill and I got a fortune slip here while visiting Kushida Shrine. These fortune slips predict the near future. You can usually purchase one for ¥100. The fortune slip will show your fortune and a rank of very lucky, slightly lucky, and bad luck is listed on them. I believe these work because Jill got one that said Very Lucky, and she got a free hand dry towel from a random lady on the street and landed a dream job in Okinawa the day we got back from our trip.  15. Walk to the Top of ACROS Building One of the more unique buildings in Fukuoka is the Acros Building. Acros is an office building that has a terraced exterior that is basically a park. Visitors can walk the stairs over the terraced sections through the park which is actually on top of the building itself. There are 35,000 plants on Acros. The park on Acros was created by Emilio Ambasz & Associates. Their vision was to keep as much green space as possible around the office building. Not only does the forested building look unique, it also provides many benefits and reduces energy consumption. Think about it, the plants provide shade meaning the inside temperatures of the building are more comfortable, the roofs here collect rainwater from runoff and it supports a generally healthy ecosystem here that generally wouldn’t exist.  Conclusion Fukuoka is one of my favorite cities in Japan. This magnificent city offers many unique yet exciting things to do. A Few of my favorite attractions in Japan like the Reclining Buddha or Giant Wooden Buddha at Tochoji Temple can be found in Fukuoka. Additionally, my favorite style of ramen, Hakata Ramen is from Fukuoka and can be found on almost every

From 794 until 1868, the city of Kyoto was the imperial capital and is still considered the cultural capital of Japan. Kyoto is also known as “The City of a Thousand Shrines” and is home to 14 World Heritage Sites known as the Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Kyoto is not all cobble stone streets and temples. In reality it is a huge city with a modern downtown area with a population of 1.5 million. After being in Japan for over two years, we finally got a chance to visit this wonderful city and spent 2 days in Kyoto. Kyoto is one of those cities that needs time to explore, you could spend a week here and still miss out on attractions and things to do.  **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 Kyoto? And How to Get Here? The city of Kyoto is located in the Prefecture of Kyoto. This area makes up a part of the Kansai Region on Honshu, Japan’s main island. Kyoto is so spread out that it is included in the Keihanshin metropolitan region which connects Kyoto to the cities of Osaka and Kobe.  Kyoto is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains. Due to its geography, Kyoto experiences hot and humid summers and cold winters.  Getting to Kyoto is fairly easy. There is no airport here, instead visitors usually fly into one of Osaka’s two airports – Kansai and Itami.  Trains run frequently between the two airports and JR Kyoto Station. We flew into the Kansai Airport in Osaka. From Kansai airport, domestic travelers can take a free bus shuttle from the domestic terminal to the Japanese Rail (JR) West Haruka. The Haruka Express takes around 75 minutes from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station. Prices vary based on the train service but we paid around ¥2850. The Japan Rail Pass website has a lot more helpful information on transportation to Kyoto.  Getting Around Kyoto When it comes to navigating and getting around Kyoto, there is no better way to explore the city then by taking public transit or renting bikes and cycling around the city. Kyoto is a complex city with historical temples, beautiful gardens, and modern shopping areas scattered throughout the city. The subway system in Kyoto is a useful means of transportation that can get you close to most of these attractions. Renting a bike through the Pippa bike service, is also a good way to leisurely explore the city at your own pace. Kyoto Station and Taking the Subway Kyoto Station is a massive train station centered in the city of Kyoto. So far, Kyoto Station might be the most impressive station I’ve seen in Japan so far. Kyoto has an extensive train network, so traveling around Kyoto is fairly easy. Kyoto even has an efficient subway system. Buses are another popular way of getting around Kyoto. Bus stations can be found throughout the city, even in front of most attractions.  The subway system in Kyoto is a bit ore complex then other cities. Honestly, I was a bit confused during my first visit to Kyoto. My second trip was a completely different experience, I managed to hop on the subway and get to most if not all attractions I had planned on visiting.  Once again, I recommend using the JapanTravel App to find stations, times, and fares. To get to places like Arashiyama Monkey Park and the Bamboo Forest you might have to take a few different lines from Kyoto Station. Thankfully the JapanTravel App plans the trip out in great detail.  Pippa A fun way to get around and see Kyoto was by bike. Jill booked our hotel and next to the hotel was this bike rental service named Pippa.  Pippa allows anyone to rent bicycles using the Pippa App. The app was quite simple to use. You can use the bike for 30 minutes or even rent it for a whole day or multiple days like we did. The bikes have a locking mechanism on the back tire that can be opened via the app. There are designated Pippa parking spots scattered throughout the city. These spots can be found using the app.  The bikes were cruiser bikes, certainly not top of the line but they did the job. The bikes had a few gears and even a little basket up front.  Kyoto had amazing bike trails throughout the city. There were designated bike trails within the city and nature trails outside the city alongside the Katsura river. 2 Days in Kyoto 2 Days in Kyoto is just enough time to scratch the surface of the city. Obviously, one can spend a whole week or more here and not see it all. There are hundreds if not thousands of temples and shrines around Kyoto. If you are that guy that thinks if you’ve seen one temple then you’ve seen them all, then there is an abundance of nature surrounding Kyoto with fun outdoor activities.  We’ve been to Kyoto twice now and have probably done more then you can truly fit into two days.  The attractions and sites listed below are our recommendations for travelers when visiting Kyoto. Obviously, you don’t have to follow our itinerary to a “tee” but I do feel that many of these attractions are a “must see” when doing Kyoto. You might be staying in a different part of town and are closer to other historical landmarks and temples, feel free to mix and match or visit some of these sites and venture off and discover something new.  The itinerary below follows how Jill and I spent our first two days in Kyoto. I’ve also included potential side trips that are worth visiting and a little bit off the beaten path.  Day 1 Fushimi Inari Taisha The hotel we stayed at was located south of Kyoto Train Station. Fushimi Inari Taisha was the first shrine we visited while in Kyoto. To get here by bike, it took us around 20 minutes. Walking to the shrine from Kyoto Station will take anywhere from 30-45 minutes.  Fushimi Inari Taisha is most notable for its thousands of red/orange Torii Gates that wind through the trails behind the main shrine. Normally, this shrine would be packed with tourists but because of Covid-19 it was practically empty, meaning great photos!  Apparently there is a clan of aggressive monkeys that live around Fushimi Inari Taisha. The sign, said not to approach them and take photos. Although we did not see the monkeys this time around I don’t think I would be able to contain myself and not take photos if we saw them. If aggressive monkeys aren’t enough, there are dangerous boars in the area as well.  Kiyomizudera One of the most famous temples in Kyoto if not all of Japan is Kiyomizudera. This is an old temple, dating back to the year 780. In 1994 this temple was added to UNESCO and because of this there is a small entrance fee of ¥400. Kiyomizudera most notable feature is its size and the wooden platform that is 13 meters above the ground. This temple is also popular to visit during the autumn season as maple trees blanket the surrounding landscape.  Otowa waterfall is located near the base of Kiyomizudera. The waters from the waterfall diverge into three different streams. Visitors can stand beneath the waterfall and use the long wooden cups provided to collect and drink water.  Within walking distance from the Kiyomizudera is the Koyasu Pagoda, a three storied Pagoda. This location is adjacent from Kiyomizudera, so visitors can get excellent photos of Kiyomizudera and the surrounding temple complex.  Sanneizaka Imagine a picture of Kyoto, Sanneizaka is most likely what popped up in your mind. This stone paved road leads to and from Kiyomizudera. This road is just picture perfect and is lined with traditional Japanese buildings and souvenir shops.   Walking around here, we stumbled upon the Yasaka-no-to Pagoda. Just based on the location and beauty of the area, this might be the most beautiful pagoda I’ve seen.  Nishiki Market, Shinkyogoku, and Teramachi-dori After a visit to a few temples, why not take a break and grab some food and do some shopping? We visited the Nishiki Market in hopes of finding great street food! Unfortunately, for us this was more of a local market selling fresh produce and meats. Sure, there were a few stalls and restaurants offering food, but it wasn’t quite what we were looking for. Either way, it is still worth a stroll through the Nishiki Market, just to see what is being sold.  For a real food experience, we recommend walking around both the Shinkyogoku and Teramachi-dori. These are your typical arcade style covered streets found throughout Japanese cities. The streets offered everything from izakaya’s to fine dining. We weren’t overly hungry so we stopped at a small place called Mezopotamia Kebab House. They advertised Döner Kebab and those that know me know that I can’t pass up a döner. Usually I am disappointed in döner kebabs outside of Germany but this one actually tasted authentic.  Ginkaku-ji After a nice lunch, we jumped back on our Pippa bike rentals and headed to the Ginkakji Temple. Another one of Kyoto’s world heritage sites, the Ginkakuji Temple was constructed in 1482. Ginkakuji is best known for the Silver Pavilion, moss covered garden, and the dry sand garden.  Okazaki Shrine The last shrine and stop of a very busy day was to the Okazaki Shrine also known as the Rabbit Shrine. This is a very old shrine, dating back to the year 794. This shrine was built in dedication of Susano-no-mikoto and Kushinadahime-no-mikoto who are kami (kami are considered spirits or a sort of holy power related to the Shinto religion). This shrine is often associated with childbirth since an empress gave birth here in the year 1178. Rabbits are known to produce offspring and have been considered servants of the kami at Okazaki Shrine. Today, there are hundreds of rabbit statues in varying sizes in and around the shrine.  Day 2 Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama Interested in seeing the Japanese Macaque but don’t have time to go to destinations like Jigokundani Yaen-Koen (Snow Monkey Park)? Then I recommend a visit to Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama.  Located in the western outskirts of Kyoto is a unique park that offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal to wild Japanese Macaques.  Arashiyama Monkey Park is open all year. But visiting the park does involve a bit of a hike. Afterall, the park sites on top of Mt. Arashiyama. Once you arrive at the top, you will be greeted by several of the macaques. Visitors even have the chance to feed them.  For more information on visiting Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, I have a whole post on my visit here:Visiting Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama Tenryu-ji (Temple) Tenryuji is located in the Arashiyama district in Kyoto and is considered the most important temple in the district. Tenryuji is also listed as a heritage site and was built in 1339. Many of the original buildings in this temple complex have burnt down or were lost to wars. The garden on the backside of the temple has escaped both fires and war and remains original.  Like many of the heritage sites throughout Kyoto, there is a ¥500 fee to view the temple and gardens. Visitors can take the train to the Keifuku Arashiyama Station and the temple and bamboo forest are a short walk away.  Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Perhaps one of Kyoto’s most famous attractions is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. This forest is located behind the Tenryuji Temple and is free of charge. Although a beautiful walk, the bamboo forest is relatively short. It took

Located between the cities of Kyoto and Nara, Uji is one of Japan’s oldest towns. Uji’s prize attraction is the Phoenix Hall at Byodoin Temple, a renown World Heritage Site which happens to be featured on the back side of the ¥10 coin. Walk across one of Japan’s oldest bridges to view the Ujigami Shrine, considered Japan’s oldest Shinto shrine. And, a trip to Uji is not complete without tasting and purchasing Green Tea!  **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! Uji on a Map and Getting Here Uji is easily accessible by train from either Kyoto or Nara. From Kyoto Station, take the Nara Line for roughly 20 minutes until reaching Uji Station. Price is ¥240. From Nara Station, take the Nara Line roughly 40 minutes to Uji Station. Price is ¥510. Attractions and Sites in Uji Worth Seeing Originally, the plan was to go directly  to Nara from Kyoto but Jill made the decision to stop in Uji to see the Byodoin Temple and try Green Tea. It turned out to be a great decision because Uji had several historic attractions, we would have otherwise missed. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, as it poured rain the entire time. For being a small town, Uji had a lot to offer. A trip to Uji deserves at least a day but we could have spent an extra day here. Listed are the sites we stopped at and some of the fun Green Tea infused treats we ate.  Uji Bridge and River Uji Bridge After getting off at Uji train station, headed toward the Byodoin Temple, the first attraction was Uji Bridge, crossing the Uji River. It is one of the oldest  bridges in Japan. Apparently, the bridge was constructed by a monk in the year 646. In 1996 it did get a makeover, so it’s not as is from 646. But during the reconstruction of the bridge, builders kept the original shape and even left a few original pieces from the original.  Byodoin Temple Originally, the Byodoin Temple was a villa but converted into a Buddhist Temple in 1052. The Phoenix Hall (pictured above) is an original building and the most famous building at the Byodoin Temple complex. Inside the Phoenix Hall is an Amida Buddha statue surrounded by smaller Bodhisattva statues. Bodhisattva is a person that is practicing Buddhism, ultimately wanting to become a Buddha.  After viewing the Phoenix Hall, there is a museum behind the temple showcasing National Treasures from the Byodoin Temple. Photos were not allowed in the museum. It’s worth looking at the Museums Website  to see photos of the exhibits that include the Temple Bell, a Phoenix from the roof, and the Bodhisattva’s that were found inside.  Access to the Byodoin Temple cost ¥600 Kosho-ji Temple Kosho-ji Temple is located on the opposite side of the Uji River from Byodoin Temple. Kosho-ji is an active Zen Temple and is open to the public. There is an admission fee of ¥500.  Green Tea A trip to Uji is not complete without trying Green Tea. It is said that Uji produces the finest green tea throughout Japan. Because of this, Uji green tea is very popular which also means it is the most expensive.  Green tea arrived in Uji around the year 700 from China. Green tea was not very popular at first. 400 years later, it gained popularity with the  nobility. Since then, drinking green tea has become popular for the masses and enjoyed to this day.  Finding good tea in Uji is not difficult. Almost every shop sells local tea and a wide variety of it from matcha (powered green tea) to cold and hot tea. We stopped in a store and the clerk offered us tea right away. We sat down and enjoyed a small cup of tea and purchased a variety of teas afterwards.  Green Tea Infused Food The main street leading to Byodoin Temple is full of cute souvenir shops, tea shops, and restaurants. One restaurant we found called, 京都宇治 蛸Q (according to Google) had traditional Japanese cuisine infused with green tea. Included on the menu were ramen, takoyaki, gyoza, soba, and even ice cream, all with green tea as an ingredient.  We weren’t overly hungry but really wanted to try something. We ordered a round of Takoyaki (Octopus balls) and Gyoza (dumplings), these sides are explained in detail in my  Dining in Japan post. Honestly, both dishes were excellent! The green tea flavors were there yet not overpowering. The matcha was mixed in the dough for the takoyaki with a green tea drizzle on top. The gyoza wrapper was made with matcha, included was a dash of green tea salt which was surprisingly good!    A Trip to Uji – We will be Back One day in Uji provides enough time to see the Byodoin Temple, grab lunch, and maybe see another temple or two, but there is so much in the area that was missed. Near the Kosho-ji Shrine is the Ujigami Shrine, considered the oldest Shinto Shrine in Japan. Because of the poor weather conditions and our cravings for green tea, we missed this shrine. I also would like to visit Uji again in hopes of nicer weather conditions in order to photograph the Byodoin Temple with a nice blue sky and reflection in the water.  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.