Yosemite National Park’s Firefall at Horsetail Fall is a natural phenomenon visible in winter. This viewing guide offers info & tips from my experiences, best dates & locations, reservation requirements, parking restrictions, California snowfall & more. (Updated January 21, 2025.) First, you can read about my last photography attempt in Firefall Snowy Weekend Photo Report from […]
This guide to sakura season in Japan and cherry blossom forecast for 2025 covers our favorite spots, best temples & shrines in Kyoto, tips & tricks for avoiding crowds. We also take a deeper dive into the topic, highlighting hidden gems where you’ll find fewer people and no busloads of tour groups. (Updated January 21, […]
Shibuya Sky is the highest open-air rooftop observation deck in Japan. Located on the 47th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square building, the top deck is at about 230m or 751 feet high. This review offers info, tips & tricks, and recommendations for getting the most out of your experience at Shibuya Sky. Review might […]
Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in Japan, with an observatory & restaurant at its higher levels overlooking the city, and a shopping center at lower levels. This guide provides info, tips, and a review of whether the Skytree is worth the time and money, plus a comparison to alternative viewing spots. (Updated January 20, […]
Our 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 4, 2025.) If you’re already in Kyoto and are scrambling to figure out what to […]
Wondering whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth the money? This buying guide covers where you can use the JR Pass, how much value you’ll get on a normal trip to Tokyo and Kyoto, and answers to frequently asked questions about the unlimited train ticket. It also covers our many experiences purchasing the JR Pass […]
Our 2025 Tokyo travel guide offers info & tips, things to do, transportation info, where to eat, best hotels, avoiding crowds, itineraries for the city, and more. Whether you’re visiting for cherry blossom, fall colors, or in between, we’ve got you covered. (Updated January 4, 2025.) Tokyo can be an intimidating place to visit. As […]
Laguna Beach is the perfect relaxing vacation destination in Southern California, and this planning guide offers tips for visiting, things to do in 2025, hotel & restaurant recommendations, and what to know before your trip to Orange County. (Updated January 4, 2025.) We love Laguna Beach. It’s our favorite of the beach cities, and one […]
Japan was behind the world in reopening, and as COVID-19 is now endemic, Japanese continue to wear face masks more commonly than almost any other country. This covers Japan’s face mask rules, laws (or lack thereof), and expectations, as well as other health safety measures and our experiences with masking in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & beyond. […]
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