Food for the Eyes and Food for the Mouth at Asakusa

We were staying at Oak Hostel Fuji, just half a kilometer east of Asakusa. No doubt a visit to Asakusa was part of the itinerary.

Food for the Eyes

First up was the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. FIRST UP literally because we zoomed past the information desk and the display of brochures on the ground floor and headed straight to the 8th floor for a view of Nakamise Shopping Street and Senso-ji to the north, and Tokyo Skytree to the east. (Also on the 8th floor is a cafe, but we didn't go to that floor to feed our mouth, but to feed our eyes.)

Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise Shopping Street

From our 8th floor perch, we swooped down the elevator to see Nakamise Shopping Street up close. We joined the gaggle of tourists swarming Senso-ji's Kaminarimon Gate. (Chotto matte, before entering the gate to go to Nakamise, do a 180-degree turn and admire the architectural design of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. We did.)

Nakamise Shopping Street is, duh, a shopping street: the path from Kaminarimon Gate down to Hozomon Gate (Senso-ji's second gate) is lined with souvenir shops and food stalls on both sides!

 Nakamise Shopping Street

(If you abhor crowds and don't care much for shopping, trade the crowds with murals on the shops' rollup shutter doors by visiting Nakamise early in the morning or late at night, when the shops are closed.)

Murals on shutter doors of shops

Senso-ji or Asakusa Kannon Temple has a main hall, a five-storied pagoda, four small halls/buildings, and three gates (including Kaminarimon and Hozomon), all painted red. Senso-ji, completed in 645, is Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple! (If you're not afraid to read your fortune and to part with your 100 yen, try your luck with Sensoji's omikuji, a fortune telling paper—Senso-ji has omikuji in English.)

Senso-ji

How to draw omikuji

After visiting Senso-ji, we traced our steps back along Nakamise, but turned right at Denpoin Street. It wasn't the goods that attracted us (the shops were already closed), but the storefronts and the paintings on the stores' rollup shutter doors, made to transport you to Japan of old.

Denpoin Street

Storefronts along Denpoin Street

Before crossing Sumida River, the river which separates Taito City (where Asakusa is) from Sumida City (where our hostel, Oak Hostel Fuji, is located), we took some snapshots of the great yellow poop Asahi Flame on the Asahi Beer Hall. Oh, and Tokyo Skytree, too.

Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Hall

Food for the Mouth

There are many food stalls along Nakamise Shopping Street, but we only tried taiyaki at Kurikoan, and age manju (deep fried mochi) at Asakusa Kokonoe. We had to leave some space for dinner...

Different flavors of taiyaki at Kurikoan

Asakusa Kokonoe

...at Ganzosushi, a conveyor belt sushi restaurant near Asakusa Station. Would you believe it's my fifth visit to Japan but my first time to eat at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant?! *facepalm*

Ganzosushi

Sushi plates at Ganzosushi cost 95 yen up to 600 yen (each plate color/design has a corresponding price). I picked anything that caught my fancy and I ended up picking really expensive—and very delicious—ones!

Delicious sushi!

Across the street from Ganzosushi is Exit 8 of Asakusa Station. So what, you ask? Well, well, well, this is the portal to Asakusa Chikagai, an underground shopping area with restaurants and bars (and a bank of coin lockers).

Entrance to Asakusa Chikagai

A bar at Asakusa Chikagai

I explored Asakusa Chikagai when I went looking for Tobu Tourist Information Center (more on that after this Japanecdote). The first thing I saw when I went down the steps to Asakusa Chikagai was the stand-up noodle shop called 文殊 Monju. There was only one customer. I checked the menu, it was in English, and when I turned to the machine to place my order I couldn't figure out how to use it, it was in Japanese. The lone customer helped me order kakiage (noodles, choice of soba or udon, with vegetables and seafood tempura) for only 390 yen. The man behind the counter asked me where I'm from and when he found out I'm from the Philippines, he made chitchat with all the Filipino words he dug up from his brain while I furiously blew on my very hot soba noodles.

 By the time I left, the stand-up noodle shop had attracted a couple more customers

Cheap eats

Kakiage

There is no food in Tobu Tourist Information Center Asakusa, but this information might or might not be useful for you, so I am including it in this post about Asakusa. Tobu Tourist Information Center is located in the Ekimise building, behind Exit 8 of Asakusa Station, and it is where you can buy discount passes for Nikko. You're welcome.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.



Sa May Kanto (2019)
Pocket WiFi: Japan Wireless
Keisei Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Tickets
Tokyo Accommodations: Oak Hostel Fuji, Hostel Owl Tokyo Nippori, Centurion Ladies Hostel  Ueno Park
Food for the Eyes and Food for the Mouth at Asakusa (you're here!)
A Day at Ueno Park
Tokyo Sights Using the Toei 1-Day Pass
Teamlab Borderless
Escape to Mount Takao

Wisdom from the Road #74

On feeling overwhelmed

When feeling overwhelmed:

Keep your wits about.

Take deep breaths.

Be calm.

You can do this. 

Nagoya Station is Japan's (and the world's) largest station. JR, Shinkansen, Kintetsu, Meitetsu, and Nagoya Subway lines all converge here. Different train lines, different gates, different levels, different exits. I found myself in the belly of this beast of a station and I felt like I was in a computer game: I had to figure out how to get to the next level and the next level and the next level until I could go out of the station. Yes, it took me quite some time, but I finally found the right exit. Without going crazy.

Asahikawa Accommodation: Asahikawa Ride

Asahikawa Ride, just a kilometer from Asahikawa Station, is a small guesthouse with dorm beds. There are 4-bed and 8-bed mixed dorms, and a 4-bed female dorm. Each bunk has a curtain for privacy, a reading light, a socket, a laundry line, coat hooks and hangers. The dorm rooms are not that big but the bunk is quite spacious (you can keep your luggage in the bunk, beside the futon). The dorms share toilets (one for each gender) and shower rooms (one for each gender). The guesthouse also has a common room and a small kitchen. From the station to the hostel, there are many restaurants and convenience stores.

Upon entering the guesthouse, I noticed two things: a fat cat and a reception area full of sports stuff—bikes, skis, tools, etc. Looks like the owner, Tetsu, is into sports...biking, skiing, mountain climbing, etc... and has thought of ways to make it easy for his guests to keep their sports equipment. Tetsu would be happy to assist his guests, whether sports–related or not. His cat, Tama, would be happy just stalking about in the guesthouse.

Guesthouse Asahikawa Ride
2F Nissho Building, 6-jodori 7-chome, Asahikawa City
+81 166737923
facebook page: @asahikawaride
A dorm bed costs around 3700 yen per night
Book a bed at Asahikawa Ride through booking.com

 Common area

6-bed mixed dorm

Note: Photos of Asahikawa Ride were grabbed from booking.com

What's to see in Asahikawa? Not much. On one afternoon when I had a bit of free time, I just went for a walk in the area near Asahikawa Ride. That little walk brought me to Tokiwa Park (just 500 meters from the guesthouse), where, because it was summer, there were many booths set up. Locals were selling food, some had set up small summer games for kids (such as catching little fish using a paper scoop). There were also people giving out fans (the fans were actually ads). It was pretty nice to see an ordinary local event.

 Booths at Tokiwa Park

A little girl caught some fish!

Why, then, did I stay two nights in Asahikawa? Although I had a Hokkaido Rail Pass for this trip and, therefore, could have stayed in Sapporo the entire time and could have just gone on day trips to wherever, I wanted to save some time on journeys to/from Biei, Nakafurano, and Daisetsuzan National Park. By train, Asahikawa is 1.5 hours from Sapporo; then from Asahikawa, Biei is 40 minutes by train, Nakafurano is 1 hour 10 minutes by train, Asahidake (part of Daisetsuzan National Park) is 1.5 hours by bus.

Staying in Asahikawa did save me time and Asahikawa Ride did give me some good(?) memories:

Japanecdote #1: I booked a bed in Asahikawa Ride using booking.com. I booked it early. And over the next few months, I'd check again for other options (hoping for cheaper rates and/or other options closer to the station) and every time I found the price at Asahikawa Ride had dropped, I would cancel the booking and book a new one. I think I did it four times until finally, the owner, Tetsu, suggested to book directly on the guesthouse's website. He probably thought I was such a cheapskate to change my booking for a 200–yen difference!

Japanecdote #2: During my stay, there were maybe four or five other guests. But I only had a conversation with one guy, and he enthusiastically told me he was in Hokkaido on a biking trip. Over the course of our conversation, I asked him, "Are you from Singapore?" Surprised, he answered, "Yes, how did you know?" I pointed to his cap with the flag of Singapore. (It was his accent really, but I didn't tell him that.)

Japanecdote #3: I just came back to the guesthouse and had brought with me a small container of cherries which I had bought from Biei earlier. I shared the cherries with Tetsu. He took maybe three or four cherries. After our small talk, I looked in the container to get some cherries for myself and saw there were some seeds I had spit out earlier in the day! Yipes! Guess that's why he only took a few!

Japanese Summer 2018

Sapporo Accommodation: Grids Sapporo Hotel + Hostel

See Sapporo: Parks, Towers, Streets

Otaru on Foot
Asahikawa Accommodation: Asahikawa Ride (you're here!)
Beautiful Nature in Biei Town
Lavender Fields in Nakafurano
Daisetsuzan National Park: A Short Hike in Asahidake
Shikotsu-Toya National Park: Hiking Thru Hell in Noboribetsu
Six Short Hours in Hakodate
Shikotsu-Toya National Park: Walking Through Abandoned Places in Toya
Hokkaido Rail Pass

Sawara Town
Narita Accommodation: Narita Sando Guesthouse

Itinerary and Expenses: 9D/9N Hokkaido and Sawara Town

A Quick Visit to Chino and Suwa

My purpose in visiting the Suwa area of Nagano was to visit a friend who I haven't seen in years. She kindly picked me up at the station and showed me interesting places in Chino and Suwa Cities.

Chino City, in Nagano, is home of Fujimori Terunobu, an architect known for his unique designs. Just 3 kilometers from Chino Station, one can see four of his creations: Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum, Dorobune, Takasugi-an, and Hikusugi-an. All four are located within a few meters of each other. To get there from Chino Station, if you don't have a car, you only have two choices: either walk or rent a bike; there are no buses going there.

Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum was built in 1991. This building with four tree trunks poking through the roof at the entrance houses documents (dating as far back as the 11th century!) collected by the Moriya family, a family who played an influential role in religion in Suwa.

The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9AM to 430PM. The admission fee is 100 yen.

Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum

Dorobune or Flying Mud Boat is a tea house suspended on tension cables over four wooden posts. How does one get inside? By ladder. But at the time of my visit (October 2017), there was no ladder in sight— the tea house was not open to the public. (If I get up there, I think I'd just rock the "mud boat" and make myself dizzy.)

Dorobune

Takasugi-an is a tea house built on top of two chestnut trunks. The ladders to gain access to the tea house were also missing. This, too, was for my eyes only. In other words: not open to the public.

Takasugi-an

Hikusugi-an is a tea house built partly dug into the ground. In terms of height, Hikusugi-an is pretty much the opposite of nearby Takasugi-an, the too high tea house. Hikusugi-an is said to resemble a pit house from the Japanese Jomon period. My friend told me the top half of the roof can slide to the side for an open-air tea experience. (When I visited, Hikusugi-an was still under construction.)

Hikusugi-an

Update: As of 2020, the three tea houses can be entered by joining a—quite expensive, in my opinion—guided tour.

Suwa City is the city just next to Chino and also the next stop (Kami-Suwa Station) after Chino Station on the JR Chuo Line. Suwa City is located on the south of Lake Suwa, the largest lake in Nagano. In Suwa City, we visited Suwakokohan Park and Takashima Castle and Park.

Lake Suwa, I am sure, is very familiar to fans of the anime "Kimi No Na Wa" (English title is "Your Name"). Lake Suwa is said to be the inspiration for the lake in the movie.

Lake Suwa

We visited Suwakokohan Park along the southeastern shore of Lake Suwa. The southern end of the park is only a 6-minute walk from Kami-Suwa Station. There were several sculptures around the park, a dock for boat rides around the lake, a footbath with a view of the lake (if you want to soak your feet in the footbath, be sure to bring your own towel), and Suwa Lake Geyser Center. In Suwa Lake Geyser Center are exhibits about filming locations around Suwa and about the fireworks display that happens in summer in Suwa. Right outside Suwa Lake Geyser Center, one can witness a geyser eruption at 930AM, 11AM, 1230PM, 2PM, 330PM, and 5PM.

A sculpture in Suwakokohan Park

A little Japanecdote. While we were at the footbath, a little Japanese boy of about seven spoke to me in Nihongo. He kept talking and asking questions. After a bunch of questions, none of which I understood, I said, "No....English...." Since I was against the light, he came closer to peer at my face. He circled me, trying to see better, then asked, "Nan jin?" I answered, "Firipinjin". He looked confused, "Firipinjin?" He paused and pondered. "Spainjin?" No. "Indo?" No. "Francejin?" No. "New Zealand?" No. "Amerikajin?" No. He can probably name all the nationalities (except Filipino!) and go on all afternoon, if not for his mother calling him.

Public footbath

Lake Suwa Geyser Center

Takashima Castle and Park is about 1 kilometer from Kami-Suwa Station. In the park are a pond and garden, playground, shrine, and Takashima Castle. Takashima Castle stands on the northwest corner of the park. The castle was built in 1592, but the castle keep that exists today is a restoration. Takashima Castle is open from 9AM to 430PM. Admission fee is 300 yen.

Takashima Castle

The pond in Takashima Castle and Park

Maido Ookini Takashimajo Shokudo まいどおおきに 高島城食堂, near Takashima Castle and Park, is a cafeteria-style eatery. This was the first time I have seen and been to a cafeteria-like eatery in Japan. It was such a delight to be able to choose from so many items. I wish I could find more places like this in my future travels in Japan!

Lots of dishes to choose from

Meals of our choice

A huge thank you to my friend, Cheryl, for taking me around Chino and Suwa. It was great catching up with her, meeting her kids, and seeing places in her second home.

Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari

Inuyama is a city just 30 minutes by train from Nagoya or an hour by train from Chubu Centrair International Airport. Although Inuyama is very close to Nagoya and can be visited on a day trip, I wanted to spend two days in Inuyama and chose to stay a night there.

Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari

4-6 Nishibabasaki, Inuyama, Aichi 484-0081

+81 90 9941 5214

Why I chose Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari:

• 3000 yen for a futon in dorm (budget right on target!)
• 15-minute walk from Inuyama Station
• 7-minute walk to the castle town at Honmachi-dori

Pleasant surprises at Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari:

• the owner offered to pick me up at Inuyama Station
• there was a basket of free snacks in the dining area
• I was the only guest at the time and I had the room all to myself!

Photo grabbed from Agoda

Photo grabbed from Agoda

The futon was ready when I arrived!

A Japanecdote:

I planned to stay at Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari on the second night of my trip. But because my flight was cancelled because of typhoon, Inuyama became my first destination upon arrival.

My flight arrived at night and I left Chubu Centrair International Airport a few minutes before 10PM. I arrived at Inuyama Station at 11:13PM and 亜沙美 Asami, the owner of the guesthouse, was waiting for me at the station's exit gate—she offered to pick me up at the station because it was late; it would take 15 minutes on foot from station to guesthouse. Because I was so hungry, I asked if we could stop by a konbini and she kindly obliged. I hurriedly bought two onigiri because, as I said, very hungry. When we reached the guesthouse, which was actually her home, she gave me a bowl of curry. Hunger must have showed on my face! She told me she had been to Cebu a year ago and went to Moalboal, but having arrived in Moalboal late at night, could not find a place to stay, but a very kind tricycle driver offered to let her stay at their house. I guess her offering me food was kind of a way to pay it forward.

A bowl of curry

The following day, before I went out to explore the town, she gave me a key to the house because she said she'd be out all day and could not see me off at check out time. It just surprised me how she entrusted the key to her house to me, a stranger.

Chubu Challenge 2017

Nagoya Accommodations: Hostel Wasabi Nagoya Ekimae, Glocal Nagoya Backpackers Hostel
Eating and Gawking in Nagoya
Toyota Museums: Havens for Car Enthusiasts
Inuyama Guesthouse Kodinmari (you're here!)
Inuyama Castle Town

Wisdom from the Road #57

On waking up early

They say: The early bird gets the worm.

I say: The early bird gets to avoid the crowd.

I probably won't make a good travel buddy because I wake up early (no matter how much I want to sleep in, I always wake up early) and go to wherever it is I am going before everyone else has had breakfast. The advantage of this is that I get to enjoy the place (especially if it's a touristy one) before the droves of people come.

Exhibit A: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto. The beautiful photos we see on the internet that had us putting the bamboo grove on our to–visit list is always a picture of tranquility. To catch this zen moment means arriving early.

There were only half a dozen souls at the bamboo grove at 830am.

I arrived at the grove around 830AM and there were only five or six other people there. When I passed by the grove again in the afternoon, around 2PM, it was flooded with people. It was an "expectation versus reality" moment, and not a smidgen of zen.

The 2pm crowd

I have no Exhibit B, but you get my drift.

Kansai Diaries, Day 7: All Day in Arashiyama

November 29, 2016

The first time I visited Gion and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove was last year, both when it was too late to see anything except for little Japanese yokai popping out of the shadows. Not the best time to visit. This year, a second attempt. Last night: Gion. First thing today: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

It is rush hour in Kyoto Station. I feel like I am in slow motion—everyone around me is a blur of  blue or black suits. But I am not the only one in slow motion, there are two little kids in school uniforms with matching hats and bags right in front of me taking their precious time chanting as they climb the stairs: 'Saisho wa gu, jan ken pon!' Sounds just like our own jak en poy! It is the same! They are playing rock paper scissors! I look for my platform and the kids disappear behind a jumble of slacks.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

I arrive in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. There are only a handful of people scattered along the path. Woohoo! This is close to those beautiful photos of the grove I have seen on the internet. I take in the serene surroundings and am thankful I got here before the busloads of tourists arrive.

There are many places to see in this area, not just the bamboo groves. Should I head south of the groves to recommended sites such as Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge? Or north to less visited sites? I pick north. (In hindsight, Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge would have been better visited early to avoid crowds.)

Rakushisha

落柿舎

March to December 9AM to 5PM

January to February 10AM to 4PM

Admission fee: 250 yen

North then, to Rakushisha ("fallen persimmon hut"), a hut owned by Mukai Kyorai, a 17th century haiku poet. I have never heard of this guy before today. But I stop by the hut anyway because Matsuo Basho—him I have heard of—is Mukai Kyorai's teacher. And Matsuo Basho has visited this hut and composed some of his poems here. Maybe I can find my inner poet at Rakushisha.

I peek inside the hut and visit its small garden with bare trees, green grass, and poetic stones—stones engraved with poems, not only by Matsuo Basho, but by other poets as well. I sit on a bench and squeeze my brain for a haiku, but no haiku poem comes.

Rakushisha

Inside Rakushisha

Kitchen

One of the engraved stones in the garden

Maybe one will come to me later. I leave the hut and walk farther north passing rows of trees dressed in autumn colors, a quirky shop or two, quiet homes, a neglected-looking shrine, restaurants, more shops, and then more houses...

The field in front of Rakushisha

Lots of tanuki here

A neglected-looking shrine

Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street

...and walk and walk until it seems I am transported back in time. The houses have turned ancient. I am now in Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street.

Adashino Nenbutsuji

9AM to 430PM (until 330PM from December to February)

Admission fee: 500 yen

At the end of Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street is Adashino Nenbutsuji, a temple said to have been founded by Kukai or Kobo Daishi. (This guy is great: he also established a monastery in Koyasan!) In ancient times, Adashino, the area where the temple is now, was where the dead were buried and stone statues were put there as gravestones. A creepy thought. Adashino Nenbutsuji now has these stone statues neatly arranged in lines. Very organized. Not creepy at all.

In Adashino Nenbutsuji, I find a path cutting through a bamboo grove. It is a short ascending path. Pretty. And quiet. And leads to a cemetery. A very, very quiet cemetery, that somehow gives me the creeps so early in the morning.

After visiting thousands of gravestones, I continue farther north, passing by many residential houses, until I reach a vermilion torii at a fork in the road. There is a tea house right behind the torii. A hot drink would be perfect right about now, but the tea house is still closed. I take the road on the right, which is the right road to my next destination.

Otagi Nenbutsuji

愛宕念仏寺

8AM to 5PM

Admission fee: 300 yen

1200 stone statues greet me at Otagi Nenbutsuji. Each stone statue has a different facial expression and I busy myself peering into each face. Some make me smile, others almost make me laugh out loud, a number make me want to poke their cheeks and tummies. These stone statues are too cute! I wish I could take one home! These pleasant looking stone faces are well worth the long walk!

Can you guess which one is my favorite?

In half a day I have only explored the northern half of Arashiyama, which is technically Sagano. I go back the way I had come and step into いっぷく処つれづれ, one of the many restaurants I had earlier seen. It is time for some carbo loading.

Carbo loading

It is around 2pm when I find myself back at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, this time weaving through swarms of tourists. I must make my way to the end of the grove to get to Tenryuji Temple.

Tenryuji

天龍寺

830AM to 530PM (until 5PM from late October to late March)

Admission fees:

Gardens 500 yen

Buildings 300 yen

Dharma Hall 500 yen (open on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays

and during special spring and autumn exhibits)

There are too many people in this UNESCO World Heritage Site and I decide to just buy a ticket to see the gardens of Tenryuji. One might think I've had enough of gardens yesterday, but these Japanese gardens have the power to make me hand over my money.

Tenryuji's meticulously designed stone and pond garden is a pleasant picture. It is one of the oldest gardens in Japan and has retained the same form from the 14th century. Most awesome! But the crowds too are awesome in number that I do not stay for very long.

Tenryuji's Main Hall

Togetsukyo Bridge

I have to go to the south bank of Katsura River, and to get there I need to cross Togetsukyo Bridge, which literally means "Moon Crossing Bridge". It's not nighttime yet, but my face is as round as a moon, so it is quite fitting. Eventhough it is cold and windy, I do not hurry and stop every now and then to observe the boats and the birds.

Monkey Park Iwatayama

9AM to 5PM (until 430PM from October to mid-March)

Admission fee: 550 yen (if you have a Kansai One Pass, you get a 100 yen discount)

The only reason I am on this side of the bridge is to visit my cousins at Monkey Park Iwatayama. What my primate cousins (and the woman at the ticket booth) did not tell me was that this 10-minute walk is uphill. I huff and I puff all the way to monkey territory. The monkeys are free to roam the area, bask in the sun, eat their meals on the roof of the rest house, enjoy the view of the city on the bench. While they are free to roam outside the rest house, we humans have to get inside if we want to feed them (monkey food is available for sale inside the rest house).

I'm inside the rest house, while this guy is outside begging for food

Lots of monkeys here, including monkeys in clothes :D

Do not disturb, eating ongoing

View of the city from Monkey Park Iwatayama

I have fed the monkeys. Now it is time to feed myself. I make my way back down and navigate the streets to the train station. Until I smell something delicious. I see a bunch of taiyaki turning golden brown. Drool! I stop and wait in line and can barely hold my saliva in. My turn comes and I order one chocolate and one matcha taiyaki. The guy looks at me like he can't believe I am such a big eater, but hands me the goods anyway. I happily bite into my taiyaki. Believe it mister!

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.

Japan
Know Before You Go
Single Entry Tourist Visa for Japan
Roam Around Japan with a Swagger
An Ignoramus in Japan: Vending Machines
An Ignoramus in Japan: Bathrooms and Toilets
An Ignoramus in Japan: Manhole Covers
I Spy With My Little Eye: Japan's Fashion Contradictions
I Spy With My Little Eye: On the Go in Japan

Kansai Diaries (2016)
9D/9N | Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kansai Region
Osaka: Day 0: Arrival
Osaka Accommodations: Hotel Raizan, Hotel Mikado
Wakayama: Day 1: Going to, Sleeping in, and Eating in Koyasan
Wakayama: Day 1.5: West Side of Koya Town
Wakayama: Koyasan Sidewalk Shorts
Wakayama: Days 1.75~2: Okunoin, Three Times
Nara: Sleep, Eat, and Explore Nara City
Nara: Day 3: Horyuji, Hokkiji, and some Japanecdotes in Ikaruga Town
Nara: Day 3.5: Yakushiji, Toshodaiji, and Heijo Palace Site in Nara City
Nara: Day 4: Early Morning at Nara Park
Nara: Day 4.25: Naramachi Walking Tour
Nara: Day 4.5: Yoshiki-en, Todaiji, and Kofukuji in Nara Park
Kyoto Accommodations: Guesthouse Wind Villa, Shiori Yado
Kyoto: Day 5: Rainy Day in Uji City
Kyoto: Day 5.5: Tofukuji, Kawai Jinja, Shimogamo Jinja
Kyoto: Day 6: Ginkakuji, Ryoanji, Ninnaji
Kyoto: Day 6.75: Gion Night Walking Tour
Kyoto: Day 7: All Day in Arashiyama (you're here!)
Kyoto: Day 8: Last Day in Kyoto
Osaka: Day 8.75: Dizzying Dotonbori
Osaka: Day 9: Osaka, Over and Out