SCMaglev and Railway Park is a museum in Nagoya, Japan devoted to the Shinkansen, Superconducting Maglev, and other high-speed trains. In this post, we’ll review the railroad museum, share photos of the exhibits, tips for visiting, and our thoughts as to whether it’s worth your time and money. The SCMaglev museum is operated by Central […]
The Edo-Tokyo Museum offers an interactive walk-through of Japan’s history via exhibits that present a hands-on timeline of the city from the Edo Period through modern times. In this post, we’ll review the Edo-Tokyo Museum, offer tips for visiting, and share photos from the museum. Simply put, the Edo-Tokyo Museum is one of my favorite […]
Kurodani, or its formal name of Konkaikomyo-ji, is a free temple in Northeast Kyoto located near Path of Philosophers. Here, we’ll share photos of Kurodani, info & tips for including this in your Japan itinerary, and why we recommend visiting Konkaikomyoji Temple. Perched atop Yoshida Hill, which is home to a trio of temples and […]
When I finished the first edition of our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan and showed it to Sarah, her first reaction was whoa, that’s long. Her second was that it was highly personal in nature, with the first section being a love letter to our favorite city in the world. As usual, she was absolutely right. Nevertheless, it was […]
When flying from Japan to California recently, we did what some experts said was impossible: dined at Shake Shack and then traveled back in time to eat at In-N-Out on the same night. Others have compared these two fine burger establishments, but none have been scientifically reliable, carefully controlling important variables. No one else has eaten at […]
The Samurai Museum is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with exhibits featuring swords & armor, and a sword battle experience. In this review, we’ll cover whether it’s worth the money and time. Most importantly, we’ll offer feedback as to whether this attraction in Tokyo’s notorious Kabukicho district is actually a bona-fide museum, or just a tourist trap. […]
During our summer trip to Japan, we encountered record heat and humidity that made going outside nearly unbearable. Wanting to escape this oppressively hot weather, we purchased the Tokyo Museum Grutto Pass and focused our energy on museums. In this post, we’ll share thoughts on the Grutto Pass, whether it’s worth the money, and to whom […]
This Kobe itinerary offers a step-by-step touring plan for visiting the best museums, seeing the harbor & port highlights, and eating at the best beef you can find in Japan. In so doing, we detail the must-see points of interest, all of which are easily accessibly via walking and public transit in Kobe, Japan. Our […]
We just returned from another trip to Japan, having spent a week in Kyoto during early July before continuing on to Tokyo. In this post, we’ll recap our visit to Kyoto, sharing some of what we experienced. Rather than this being a play-by-play trip report, this will mostly contain photos and observations (plus some condensed […]
Heian Shrine (平安神宮, Heian Jingū) was built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto’s founding as capital of Japan. This modern re-creation is a 5/8 scale replica of the original Hiean Palace. In this post, we’ll discuss whether this free shrine is worth your time, if the paid gardens are worth the money, and […]