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Visiting Himeji – Japan’s Grandest Castle and Ancient Temples
Located between the Japanese cities of Okayama and Kobe lies the city of Himeji. Not known to many foreigners, Himeji is one of Japan’s best kept secrets. Himeji is home to Japan’s most beautiful and grandest castle, Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle dates back to 1609 and is still intact. Himeji Castle has escaped being damaged by civil wars, WWII, and natural disasters. When visiting Himeji, the castle is a must but there are many attractions that are worthwhile, especially if taking a day trip to Himeji. Across from the castle lies the beautiful Koko-en Gardens, there is a fantastic arcade street with dining and shopping options, and don’t forget to…
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Guide to Iwakuni, Japan – Our Second Home
This is post 1 of 5 in the series “Guide to Iwakuni, Japan” Iwakuni is not on everyone’s radar when visiting Japan. After all, it’s far from the typical places tourists visit like Kyoto and Tokyo. But Iwakuni is easily accessible from Hiroshima and deserves a visit. Iwakuni has one of Japan’s prettiest historical bridges at the foot of the mountain where Iwakuni Castle sits upon. For a city of its size, Iwakuni has a lot to offer. Check out the Kintai Bridge, learn about the famous White Snakes, and try some local cuisine. Iwakuni’s location makes it a popular outdoor destination. Surrounded by both mountains and oceans, there are…
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Top Things to do In Hikone, Shiga Prefecture
Hikone is a fairly small sized city located on Lake Biwa’s eastern edge in Shiga Prefecture. Hikone is most famous for Hikone Castle, one of the original castles of Japan dating back to 1622. Besides visiting Hikone Castle, some other top things to do in Hikone include a visit to Genkyuen Garden and exploring the Yume Kyobashi Castle Road. Also while in Hikone, make sure to take a photo with their official mascot, Hikonyan! Things to do in Hikone – How we Spent our Time here To further my mission of visiting all the original castles in Japan, Hikone was high on my list of places to visit due to…
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Visit Matsumoto Castle, A National Treasure
Matsumoto Castle, originally known as Fukashi Castle is one of Japan’s greatest castles and is listed as a National Treasure. The distinct black and white colors of the castle along with the red bridge, large moat, and stunning backdrop of the Japanese Alps, makes Matsumoto one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. A visit to Matsumoto Castle is a must when visiting Japan! History of Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle’s history dates back to the Eisho era between 1504 and 1520. During this era, a small border post was at this location, named Fukashi Castle. After years of Civil War, in 1550, Fukashi Castle was taken over by the Takeda…
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Day Trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina seems to be looked over by many tourists. Especially since Croatia, its neighbor gets all the attention. Bosnia has had a violent past and honestly is still recovering from years of war. The history of Bosnia is extremely rich and diverse, probably more so then most other places I’ve visited. We were staying in Split, Croatia for a few days and decided to take a day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Departing Split for a Day Trip to Bosnia Split, Croatia is a great destination to set up a home base if wanting to explore the Balkans. Split was incredibly touristy so finding tour companies offering day…
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First Timer’s Travel Guide to Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka, Japan’s 6th largest city and the capital of Fukuoka prefecture is a modern city with a fantastic food scene. Fukuoka is the result of two cities, Hakata and Fukuoka being merged together in 1889. The city of Fukuoka has two main districts, Hakata and Tenjin, each unique with an exciting nightlife. Fukuoka was the first city I visited when traveling to Japan in 2017. Fort first timer’s, Fukuoka is a great introduction to Japan. The subway line here is easy to figure out, it’s walkable, tourist friendly, and has amazing attractions. Since the first time I visited Fukuoka, I’ve been back here a half dozen times at least. This…
