If you’re visiting California and want to visit the best beach cities near Los Angeles, this 1-day itinerary for a morning in Venice and afternoon and evening in Santa Monica will help you have a great day. This step-by-step Southern California touring plan is almost entirely walkable, with and will allow you to have a […]
With over 1,600 temples and shrines, Kyoto is unquestionably the spiritual capital of Japan. This list of Kyoto’s 100 best temples and shrines is narrowed down from the 200+ that we’ve visited during our months in the city. From Kiyomizudera to Golden Pavilion to Fushimi Inari, Kyoto is home to some of the best places […]
Our step-by-step Kyoto, Japan itineraries offer single and multi-day plans for Arashiyama, Higashiyama, and cover everything from the best-of temples & shrines like Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari to hidden gems you’ve never heard of. These Kyoto touring plans provide tips for what to do, where to eat, districts to see, and the most efficient […]
The Annenberg Space for Photography is a free museum in the Century City area of Los Angeles, California’s Westside. It showcases themed galleries of digital and print photography that rotate a few times per year as well as special programming that includes lectures, workshops, classes, and family-friendly events. The space’s galleries are curated to highlight […]
Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrine (or the Kamo Shrines) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto, Japan. In this post, we’ll share photos from the these ‘important’ (and free!) Shinto shrines and thoughts on whether they’re worth including in your itinerary. In terms of basic background and placement, Shimogamo Shrine, or the Lower Kamo Shrine, is located […]
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. The free shrine is a popular place to visit during spring for its plum trees and fall for its autumn foliage, as well as during its monthly flea market. In this post, we’ll share photos from our experiences here, tips for visiting, whether it’s worth your […]
When it comes to fall colors, Fushimi Inari Taisha doesn’t make a lot of ‘best of’ lists for shrines & temples to visit in Kyoto, Japan during the autumn. This is really unfortunate, as I’d argue that it can be one of the better spots for fall foliage in Kyoto. I understand why Fushimi Inari is conspicuously […]
Our Japan itineraries provide 1-day plans for every area of Kyoto, plus 2-day ‘best of’ Tokyo step-by-step itinerary, and strategy for walking tours of Nara & Miyajima Island. These touring plans offer guides and tips for which temples to visit, where to eat, transportation, and the most efficient order of seeing the highlights of each […]
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 […]
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of the top sights in Kyoto, Japan, with its dense pathway of bamboo that stretches as far as the eye can see. This post features serene photos of the Kyoto’s bamboo forest and tips for visiting this bucket list destination. In terms of basic background, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove […]