*If you like this post, it is now available as a self-guided walking tour! Click here to download it. From samurai swords to beautiful kimonos and ancient Buddhist scrolls to interactive displays and much more…the museums in Tokyo have a lot to offer. I know I may be in the minority here, but I really…
Have you ever heard of a “Maid Cafe?” I had only recently heard of such a thing…I’m aware of cat cafes and actually visited an owl cafe, but the maid thing sounded a bit creepy. However, I’ve been getting told repeatedly to visit one…So, I finally caved this last weekend and went to see what…
Asakusa is a district in Tokyo that has a lot going on…and I, personally, loved it. I thought it had a similar feeling to Kyoto. This is probably because Asakusa has more buildings from the 1950s and 1960s than the rest of Tokyo…giving it a much older feeling. (There aren’t many buildings over 50 years…
Out of all the things to see in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Shrine was by far the most recommended sight to me in Kyoto. Everyone said to I had to see it…and I mean everyone! From random folks I met at the gym in Tokyo, to the person whose apartment I was renting through Airbnb..there were…
Looking for some cool places to visit in Kyoto, Japan? This post explains! Did you know there is a temple in Kyoto covered in pure, gold leaf? (Well, the first two floors of the temple, that is.) Or that there’s a castle with floors that squeak and creak every time someone walks on them…so, no…
I’ve always wanted to try wearing a kimono and was very excited to have the opportunity to wear one in Kyoto. I felt like a real-life princess wearing it! I’m not going to lie, though, I don’t think wearing a kimono on a regular basis is something I would want to do. It wasn’t the…
Baseball is America’s favorite pastime…but I think it just might be Japan’s favorite pastime too! I went to my first Japanese baseball game yesterday, and it was unlike anything I had experienced at home. The level of excitement and fan participation was incredible! The only sporting event I’ve experienced that has even come close to…
Iwatayama Monkey Park If you’re not a fan of monkeys, this is not the post for you! And just a warning: this post isn’t going to have many words, but there are certainly a lot of funny monkey photos! (I also have a few photos from the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove if you get tired of…
I’m still a bit in shock that I was not only able to meet a Geisha, who has trained for more than 10 years, but I was able to spend an evening being entertained by her and an apprentice Geisha! It was incredible and a dream come true. They performed traditional songs and dances, and…
Planning an outfit for an evening with a geisha is something I never thought in a million years I would have to think about. The only way you can even spend an evening with a geisha is if you know someone who knows the geisha and they introduce you. (And I know a total of…
Are there any Peanuts fans out there? I’m a big fan! Who doesn’t love Snoopy? Haha. And apparently, there are a lot of Peanuts fans in Tokyo as well. I had absolutely no idea there was a Snoopy Museum just minutes from where I am staying. I took a different route home from the gym…
I am very proud to say, that this past weekend, my husband and I successfully climbed Mount Fuji! It was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience! But holy smokes, I am here to tell you, I was a bit underprepared for this adventure. Everything I had read about Mount Fuji, prior to climbing it, said it was…
I promised to show off my panda photos today, and I’m going to keep that promise! Haha. And, of course, the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo doesn’t just have giant pandas. They also have hippos, okapis, rhinos and even tapirs! It was pretty awesome to see tapirs or okapis in real life! And the hippos were…
Happy 4th of July! It’s weird not being in the United States to watch the fireworks and parades with my friends and family this year, again. But anywho, 2 years ago, I did get to celebrate America’s Independence Day like no other in Philadelphia. So, this post is taking a look back at my 4th…