Yoshiminedera (吉峰寺) is a Japanese Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s southwestern mountains, comparable to Kiyomizudera or Kuramadera. That’s high praise considering their quality, but this is one of Kyoto’s crown jewels, which is also one of its best “hidden” gems. In this post, we offer info on getting to this off-the-beaten path temple, details about its […]
Katsura Imperial Villa is an exemplar of traditional Japanese architecture and garden design in Kyoto, but can only be visited by joining a guided tour. The good news is that these tours are free (update: from November 1, 2018 there will be a 1,000 yen fee charged per person). The bad news is that advance reservations […]
As promised in our Top 10 Favorite Experiences in Japan (So Far), we are back with a travel bucket list for the country. While we’ve made several trips to Japan and visited most major cities, we have yet to experience the far reaches of Japan. We’ve also yet to eat everything, attend every major festival, see […]
Kyoto National Museum features traditional Japanese art and rich culture associated with the early capital of Japan. In this post, we’ll share tips for visiting this museum, photos from around the museum, and basic info on what to expect from the rotating gallery of exhibits in Kyoto National Museum. If you’re only going to visit […]
Our top priority when we visited Copenhagen, Denmark was a day at Tivoli Gardens, which is widely considered the original inspiration for Disneyland. In this post, we’ll share our experience at the amusement park, share photos of the design, rides, and whether we think it’s worth your time if you’re visiting Scandinavia. Located in the heart […]
Our 1-day Northern Kyoto Itinerary features temples, an imperial villa, hiking, an onsen in the mountains, a scenic railway journey, and more. This touring plan offers strategy for efficiently having a jam-packed day, and a step by step plan of attack for Northern Kyoto that will be almost entirely crowd-free. I was going to title […]
For many visitors, particularly those with the Japan Rail Pass, Himeji Castle is a popular day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. This guide covers the city of Himeji, and offers our tips for things to do, how to get there, and dining tips based upon our trips to Himeji for cherry blossom, fall colors, and other seasons. […]
Kokedera, also known as Saihoji, also known as the Moss Temple, is one of the most spectacular places in Kyoto, Japan. It’s one of the most difficult to access UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not because of remote location, but because of a cumbersome mail-only reservation process. Finally, it has gained some recognition as being Steve Jobs […]
Fushimi Inari Taisha is popular for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which draw more tourists than any other temple or shrine in Kyoto, Japan. However, if you go off the beaten path, you can find a secret bamboo forest that rivals the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and without any crowds. In this post, we’ll share photos […]
The Sigma 14mm f/1.8 lens is yet another groundbreaking lens in the Sigma Art line. This photography review weighs the strengths and weaknesses of this ultra wide angle prime lens, with sample photos I’ve shot while traveling with the Sigma 14mm f/1.8 over the last six-plus months. A few years ago, I said my “Dream Team” of […]