A very special experience that I had in Japan, and something I had high on my bucket list before I even arrived, was staying in a ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese guesthouse. You can find ryokans all over Japan, to be honest, since they are essentially just traditional inns. But because the Gion area…
I feel like this is one of the questions I hear the most from you guys! Everyone is always asking me: “Where should I stay? Where should I go? Should I spend more time in Kyoto or Osaka?” If you look on a map, you’ll probably realize pretty quickly that they’re right next to each…
I’ve realized that visiting Kyoto, and actually Japan in general, is such a different experience depending on the time of the year you choose to visit. I guess that makes sense because Japan has proper seasons, ranging from hot and humid summers to cold and snowy winters. Kyoto, in particular, is known for its stunning…
When I first arrived in Seoul, I had no idea how big the city actually was. I showed up with a long list of things I wanted to do, only to quickly realize that most of them were about a 45-minute train ride from each other. And when you have limited time in the city,…
I was lucky enough to have six full days in Seoul, and while I was planning out my itinerary, I decided to include a day trip to the DMZ. I mean, never in my life did I think I’d be able to get that close to North Korea. It wasn’t even remotely on my radar….
Kyoto is definitely one of my favorite cities, if not the absolute #1 spot, in all of Japan. And I’m not saying that lightly! The city is packed with some of the most incredible sightseeing and unique experiences you can find in the country. Because Kyoto is so historically and culturally rich, many of the…
If you’ve read any of my other Japan guides, then you might already know that Kyoto is one of my favorite cities in the entire country. It just has some of the most amazing sightseeing, the most beautiful shrines and temples, incredible architecture, and, of course, amazing food. But today, I don’t want to talk…
Joining a tea ceremony is easily one of the biggest things to do in Kyoto, and it was definitely a highlight of my trip. It’s a super unique way to actually participate in Japanese culture rather than just looking at it from behind a barrier. I’ll be honest with you: I was actually pretty skeptical…
As I’ve probably mentioned in a dozen other guides by now, Kyoto is hands-down my favorite city in Japan. There’s just something about the traditional, historical charm here that gets me every time. I’ll also be the first to admit I’m a total nerd when it comes to Japanese architecture and the shrines, the temples…
I am actually still so surprised by how amazing the coffee culture in Japan is. Especially in Kyoto, I really took my time to visit some amazing cafes and coffee shops, and it was worth it. Out of all the cities in Japan, I think my favorite cafes were in Kyoto. The city just has…