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 …

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 …