Our Japan itineraries provide plans and step-by-step strategy for self-guided tours of Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Miyajima Island, Kyoto, Uji, and more. These offer tips & info for temples to visit, where to eat, transportation, and efficiently seeing the highlights as part of a 1-day itinerary. With our 1-day to 1-week Japan plans, you’ll be […]
Kiyomizudera Temple Fall Foliage Evening Illumination
/4 Comments/in Things to Do Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerIn autumn, vibrant fall colors are illuminated at Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, Japan for a special night lighting. We’ve done the event multiple times, and share info, our experiences, and tips we’ve learned during visits to see the 1,000+ maple trees that form a veritable sea of red koyo along the temple’s hillside. Kiyomizudera is […]
California Best Beaches: Laguna’s Victoria Beach
/16 Comments/in Tips & Tricks California, Laguna Beach, SoCal /by Tom BrickerVictoria Beach is one of the best spots in Laguna Beach, California. Despite featuring one of the city’s most famous icons (a pirate tower!), this beach is also a hidden gem in terms of crowds. This post covers what you need to know about visiting, including practical tips for getting here and other points of […]
Guide to Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan
/3 Comments/in Things to Do Japan, Tokyo /by Tom BrickerSensoji Temple is one of the most popular free things to do in Tokyo, Japan. Due to it being one of the city’s most iconic and significant sites, Senso-ji can be very crowded. This info guide provides tips & tricks for visiting, a unique aerial view, and photos of Asakusa Kannon Temple. If you watched […]
1-Day to 1-Week Japan Itineraries for Kyoto, Tokyo & Beyond
/26 Comments/in Itineraries Japan, Kyoto, Tokyo /by Tom BrickerOur Japan itineraries provide plans and step-by-step strategy for self-guided tours of Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Miyajima Island, Kyoto, Uji, and more. These offer tips & info for temples to visit, where to eat, transportation, and efficiently seeing the highlights as part of a 1-day itinerary. With our 1-day to 1-week Japan plans, you’ll be […]
When to Visit Kyoto, Japan: Best & Worst Times (2024)
/12 Comments/in Tips & Tricks Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerWhen to visit Kyoto to avoid crowds, experience seasonal beauty, and enjoy the top festivals is important for first-timers to Japan. There will be no single worst or best time–it depends on your priorities. (Updated January 3, 2024.) In this guide, we’ll narrow down your options to help you assess when is the best time […]
Ultimate 2024 Kyoto, Japan Planning Guide
/96 Comments/in Planning Guides Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerOur Kyoto, Japan planning guide offers tips & tricks, recommendations for hotels and other accommodations, best temples & shrines, transportation hacks, where to eat, crowd info, what it’s like to visit post-reopening, why we love the city, and more. (Updated January 3, 2024.) If you’re already in Kyoto and are scrambling to figure out what to […]
2024 Universal Studios Japan Guide & Tips
/107 Comments/in Planning Guides Japan, Osaka, Universal Studios, USJ /by Tom BrickerThis guide to Universal Studios Japan offers tips & tricks for visiting Osaka’s popular theme park, which is home to Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter, Jaws, and more! This includes USJ strategy & info about where to eat, what to do, how to avoid crowds, minimize wait times, and more! (Updated January 3, 2024.) After being […]
November 2024 in Kyoto, Japan: Special Events, Crowds & Weather
/9 Comments/in Tips & Tricks Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerNovember 2024 is Kyoto’s peak fall color dates, great weather, special events & night illuminations, and festivals at temples & shrines. Despite heavy crowds, it’s an excellent month to visit Japan, and you’ll have too many choices for seasonal things to do during a November trip to Kyoto. Note that exact dates listed below are tentative and […]
Grand Cayman Island Planning Guide
/47 Comments/in Planning Guides Caribbean /by Tom BrickerThe Cayman Islands are the Caribbean’s most picturesque place, popular with travelers and cruise-goers. This vacation planning guide offers tips for visiting Grand Cayman, best & worst things to do, where to eat, hotel & resort recommendations, beach photos, and more. (Updated January 3, 2024.) We love Cayman and look forward to our next visit; […]
What’s New in Kyoto, Japan
/8 Comments/in Reports Japan, Kyoto /by Tom BrickerFollowing the reopening of Japan to tourists, we returned to Kyoto and spent several weeks in the city. Suffice to say, a lot has changed. We revisited every major temple and shrine, checked in on hotels, wandered Gion, Arashiyama, Higashiyama, and other districts to see what things are like now. This update shares Kyoto photos, how things that […]