How We Spent One Month Traveling Through Japan
After a summer of adventure through Canada, we decided to carry that momentum overseas to Japan. This was our first time there and frankly, it blew our minds. Never has a place captivated us quite like Japan. Below is a video documenting the month we spent in Japan through Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and Fujikawaguchiko. We also have added in this blog post a list of places we went in addition to highlights at each location. Enjoy!
Why Japan?
Japan has been at the top of our bucket list for some time now. For one, I’m half Japanese and have always wanted to learn more about the culture that is a huge part of who I am. Aside from that, the food and art is rich and storied. Lastly, we were looking to experience an all new culture to us and Japan definitely checked that box.
When We Visited Japan
We visited Japan in the fall, specifically from early November to December. Japan is famous for the colorful leaves changing in autumn and this had us catching the tail end of the colorful foliage. We found the weather to be pleasant, not too hot and not too cold most of the time. However, in the town of Fujikawaguchiko it was quite chilly and many mornings there was frost on the ground.
What We Did in Japan
Tokyo
Most trips to Japan will start here. Tokyo is home to two major airports and therefore the majority of international flights land there. Spread out over a stint at the beginning and end, we spent a total of just over about a week and a half in Tokyo. Its a great place to get your feet under you and take care of any basic travel needs like procuring an ESim for your phone. Some highlights are:
teamLab Borderless: An immersive interactive digital art exhibition. It’s truly an unforgettable experience. It does get crowded so we recommend signing up for your ticket early in the day. You also need to reserve ahead of time so don’t wait until the last minute!
Sensō-ji: This is Tokyo’s oldest temple founded in 645 AD. It is absoultely stunning and we really enjoyed visiting at night when the temple is lit up and you can see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance. There is also a lot of wonderful places to eat nearby!
Tsukiji Outer Market: A famous fish market in Tokyo. The parts you used to see on TV shows in the past is closed to the public now, but there are tons of food stalls outside with all kinds of offerings. We had masago, sushi, shave ice, onigiri, mochi and so much more! It is outside so dress appropriately!
Tokyo National Museum: Located near Ueno Park (also worth a visit), this is considered Japan’s largest art museum and oldest national museum. It is absolutely huge and we spent the better part of a day inside and felt like we were only getting cliff notes. One of our favorite things was seeing the ancient swords! There is also an old tea house on the grounds that serves a wonderful lunch!
Kyoto
Kyoto is much smaller than Tokyo, however it isn’t exactly small. It’s full of so many amazing temples and other sites that you could easily spend your entire trip here and not see it all. We spent a week in Kyoto and that felt like a nice amount while still getting to see plenty of other places. Some of our favorite things we did were:
Fushimi Inari Shrine: Perhaps one of the most popular destinations in Kyoto and for good reason. This temple is home to roughly 10,000 torii gates that line the walkways all the way up the mountain that it sits at the base of. While the bottom is VERY busy, the higher you walk up, the more the crowds thin.
Arashiyama: This area is located on the west side of Kyoto and is home to a park where some resident monkeys live (Japanese Macaques). It’s a lovely area to walk around and grab a bite to eat and there is a river running through that you can walk alongside. It’s also home to a famous bamboo forest.
Nishiki Market: A large shopping area that is kind of indoor and outdoor. You can find just about anything you’re looking for here from a camera store to a pig cafe. I picked up a pair of denim jeans here that are far and away the best pair I own.
Kennin-ji Temple: This was one of our favorite temples to visit. There are beautifully manicured zen gardens and courtyards. The architecture is stunning as always, but what captured our imagination most was a massive mural on the ceiling of two dragons.
Byodo-in Temple: Located in Uji (about 40 minutes south of Kyoto by train) is this amazing temple. In fact, its represented on the 10-yen coin. The museum on the grounds is full of incredible artifacts from the nearly thousand year old history of the temple.
Nara
Just an hour away by train from Kyoto is Nara. Nara is the ancient capitol of Japan. Presently, it seems to be best known for the deer that live in the area. They are completely acclimated to human presence and casually walk with the rest of the crowds through the parks. Nara is also home to many temples and markets. We did five days in Nara, but I think you could do two or three and feel content while balancing the rest of a trip.
Nara Park: A beautiful and large park where over a thousand deer freely roam. The deer are sacred and considered messengers of the gods.
Tōdai-ji Temple: This temple is one of the largest wood buildings in the world (and it’s smaller than it use to be)! Inside the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) there is a giant bronze Buddha statue. The grounds are impeccably kept and it’s easily accessed from Nara Park.
Nigatsu-dō Temple: Located within Nara Park, this temple sits high on a hill and gives panoramic views of the city. At night the lanterns turn on and create a beautiful atmosphere.
Nara National Museum: Home to a large collection of Buddhist sculptures, writings and artworks. We learned so much while cruising through this museum. Like so many places, the employees were kind, helpful and knowledgeable.
Nakatanidou: Mochi like you’ve never had before (if you’re not from Japan). Long lines gather outside the store front to watch the traditional method of making mochi. Two men rhythmically pound the mochi to give it the perfect texture and consistency. The mochi is served up warm with some peanut dust on top. So freaking good!
Hiroshima
Everyone knows Hiroshima for being the target of one of the atomic bombs dropped by the United States. Its a difficult past to escape and certainly feels like part of Hiroshima’s identity. However, the people here are warm and kind and the city is lovely. As far as cities go, the vibe here might have been our favorite. We spent five days on the outskirts of Hiroshima so that we would have access to the city and to more small town life.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: Peace Park is located where the atomic bomb detonated. Its now a UNESCO World Heritage site containing monuments to peace, including the Children's Peace Monument and the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims. The museum located here is a sobering look at what happened in Hiroshima. Seeing the individual stories is powerful and this was the most impactful experience we had in all of Japan.
Miyajima Island (Itsukushima): An island known for the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine and its famous floating torii gate. You take a local ferry across the water to get there and then you can walk around the island. There are deer here too! We took the ropeway up to the top of the mountains and walked around taking in the view which was fantastic. You can also find delicious Momiji manjū on the island (look for ones that are made fresh to order!)
Okonomiyaki: My favorite food we had in Japan! Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake dish that is a must-try local delicacy in Hiroshima. The “pancake” is made up of grilled noodles and filled with whatever you choose and topped with a delicious sauce. We LOVED adding pickled ginger to the top too! We went to THIS one twice it was so good!
Fujikawaguchiko
Fujikawaguchiko is one of a handful of towns near the base of Mt Fuji. It was definitely the smallest town we visited on this trip, but it was teeming with people trying to catch a glimpse of Fuji. We spent four days in the area biking and hiking around to see different sides of the mountain and a couple of temples.
Oishi Park: A park along the lake famous for its flower displays and unobstructed views of Mount Fuji. It’s a busy place but we found some quiet areas to get away and snag some unique photos. There’s also food here too if you get hungry!
Chureito Pagoda: This location provides one of Japan's most recognizable postcard views, with the pagoda set against Mount Fuji. We were here in the fall, but in the spring you can catch it with cherry blossoms blooming!
Kawaguchi Asama Shrine: We stumbled upon this shrine by accident. We had made it across the lake on our bikes to go to Nagasaki Coffee and we noticed this shrine right next door. Naturally, we walked in and were amazed by 1,200 year old cedar trees. Side note: Nagasaki Coffee made the best iced coffee we had all trip and the owner had an incredible collection of photography books. Highly recommend!
We hope you enjoyed this stroll through Japan, and if you make your way there hopefully this guide can be helpful in your planning process! Let us know if this blog helps you out and if we missed anything. See you down the road!