Things to do in Kyoto Japan

Kyoto Bucket List: 18 Amazing Things to do in Kyoto, Japan

Julie Japan 7 Comments

Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan. Visiting the shrines and temples, with their perfectly landscaped gardens and views over the city, top the list for most visitors to Kyoto. But there are also bamboo groves and small neighborhoods to explore, food markets and shopping streets to visit, and some very cool day trips that you can take. The list …

Himeji Castle

How to Plan a Himeji Castle Day Trip from Kyoto or Osaka

Julie Japan 5 Comments

Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan. If you are staying in Kyoto or Osaka, Himeji is easily accessible, making this a fantastic day trip to consider. What is Himeji Castle? Himeji Castle is a brilliantly white castle located in Himeji, Japan. It is called Hakuro-jo or Shirasagi-jo (“White Egret Castle” or “White Heron Castle”) for …

Tokyo in Photos

Tokyo In Photos

Julie Japan 13 Comments

Tokyo has so much to see and do. We were here for a week (the final international destination of our around the world trip in 2014 and 2015) and barely scratched the surface of this amazing place. We visited the main neighborhoods of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and Akihabara, as well as made it out of the city for several day …

Feeding Deer in Nara Japan

Feeding Deer in Nara, Japan

Julie Japan 1 Comment

While getting ready in the morning, I was greeted with Tyler’s typical question, “Mom, what are we doing today?” When I asked them if they wanted to feed deer in Nara, I got a half-hearted yes from both Tyler and Kara. When I asked if they wanted to see more temples, I got an emphatic “No!” from both kids. If …

How to Visit Hiroshima

How to Plan a Hiroshima Day Trip from Kyoto, Japan

Julie Japan 50 Comments

Hiroshima is the site where the first of two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan during World War II. I had imagined Hiroshima to be a radioactive wasteland, a terrible, lingering reminder of the horror of WWII. As we learned on our day trip to Hiroshima, that is not the case at all. Hiroshima is a thriving city, very much …