Japan
Japan is one of our favourite countries to visit. We went on our honeymoon here, so Japan holds a special place in our hart. Japan is modern but at the same time presents a bit of a culture shock for the western traveller. This makes it great for travelling. Getting around is fast, simple and safe. The cultural sites are littered all around the country, the fact that it had multiple capitals throughout the ages has helped a lot. And if you had enough of the cities you can always escape into the Alps, go on a pilgrimage or lay on a tropical beach. Japan has it all.
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A magical day in Tokyo
We conclude our series in Tokyo with two iconic Japanese cultural forces: Studio Ghibli and contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. If you haven’t watched any of the movies of Studio Ghibli you should change that immediately. Both the movies of Studio Ghibli and the art of Yayoi Kusama explore the magical and surreal so it’s interesting…
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Mito & Tokyo | Great garden of Japan and the history of Edo
Three Great Gardens of Japan Japan is famous for many things, among which it’s highly stylized gardens. Traditionally there are three gardens seen as the best. These are Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Koraku-en in Okayama and Kairaku-en in Mito. The first two are too far away from Tokyo for a day trip, but the Kairaku-en in…
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How to spend a fabulous week in dazzling Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world and with its ever-sprawling suburbs it feels like a city with no end. So, it can be hard to decide where to start and how to spend your limited time there. We’ll try to help you on your way with our favourite places, great ideas…
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Best itinerary for 4 unforgettable weeks in Japan
Are you ready for Japan? U-erukomu! Are you ready for a modern world in the eastern part of the globe spread out over 6,000 islands? Get ready for an unending journey of temples, pagodas, modern art and high tech. But also neighbourhoods of samurais and geishas, Japanese gardens and a highly organized society? A world…
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Top 3 Japanese Gardens
Introduction:Most list of Japanese gardens list the same three gardens in no particular order, the so-called three Great Japanese gardens. After visiting dozens of different Japanese gardens, we came to a different conclusion. Continue reading to broaden your horizon. Nr. 3 Ritsurin-koen Ritsurin-koen is not on many other lists, but undeservingly so. Maybe because the…
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Eating in Japan
Eating in Japan is a treat and an experience on its own. From the quality of the products to the love and work put into the preparation and presentation, it’s hard to have a bad meal. Furthermore, eating out is relatively inexpensive, even more so when you skip the alcoholic drinks. Japanese food is a…
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Day trip to Nara and Uji
While you’re in Kyoto or Osaka, make sure to leave some time to visit Nara, Horyu-ji and Uji. Nara was founded in 710 CE as Heijo-kyo (Citadel of Peace) to serve as the permanent capital of Japan. This lasted for 74 years until emperor Kammu decided to move the court out of Nara due to…
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Soaking away in Beppu
Beppu is a world apart. Throughout the town steam and sulfur fumes are rising up from between the tiles. It is easy to feel lost in all choices for hot springs, sand, mud and foot baths. We will give you some pointers. [japanad] The Hells of Beppu The hells (Jigoku) of Beppu, are eight spectacular…
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Kyoto in two days part II
Welcome at day 2 of our crazy schedule to get most of the highlights in Kyoto. If you missed the first part, you can read it here. Whether you’re a business traveller with a day to spare, on a tight schedule or just wanting to see as much as possible. We will give you as…
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How to do Kyoto in two days part I
Of course, Kyoto can keep you occupied for a week, or even a lifetime. However, if your time in Japan is limited, and you want to visit more places during your stay, choices have to be made. In this post, you will learn how to maximize your sightseeing in Kyoto and pack the highlights in…
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Himeji Castle: an UNESCO WHS Review
History of the Himeji castle First, a fort was built on the site of the current castle in 1333. This fort was demolished in 1346 and a castle was built to replace it. In the 16th century this castle was remodelled into Himeji castle. Some more extensive remodelling followed in the early 17th century. Apart…
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Five days in Tokyo | Nature in the city
This day in Tokyo is one of nature, this may seem surprising in one of the biggest cities of the world, but there are a lot of green spaces in Tokyo when you look for it. We will also visit the Mori art Museum for some great contemporary Japanese art and the best panoramic view…
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