Staying in a traditional ryokan is just one of those quintessential Japanese experiences that you can’t miss when exploring Japan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, typically with tatami-matted rooms, sliding doors and communal baths. It is common courtesy to remove your shoes and...
Just because Tokyo is the largest city in the world, it doesn't mean that the entire city is concrete and congested. Yes, it is busy and crowded, but there are many places within the city where you can go for a bit of nature, peace...
Tokyo is the world's largest city, and although it can be quite overwhelming at times, I fell in love with Tokyo all the same. Everything was so incredibly different from what we are used to, and I found myself in a constant state of confusion,...
A night market that’s filled with steaming bowls of soup, plastic crates as chairs and the hum of energetic patrons swirling through the air. Small, back alleys are dotted with shops and restaurants have lines out the doors. It’s everything you would hope to find...
The Fushimi Inari Shrine was one place we just had to add to our itinerary when we decided to head to Kyoto. Thousands of iconic, orange torii gates straddle the paths all the way up the mountain, and we couldn’t resist following the crowds to...
She moved with reverence and grace while we quietly observed every dance-like move. The entire ritual was performed with precision and intention. We were watching an authentic tea ceremony in a 100 year old traditional Geisha ryokan, and it just so happened to be one of...
Shibu Onsen is an adorable, tiny town in the middle of nowhere. We literally had to take planes, trains and automobiles to get there, but it was definitely worth the hassle. Our visit to this town came about because of Micah's obsession with visiting the...
Getting a view from above has long been one of my favorite things to do--whether it's from an aircraft, natural cliff, or an observation tower, I'm always excited for an aerial view. So, when heading to Tokyo, the largest city on earth, we just had...
We made our way out of the city as the clouds looked like they were about to burst. Crossing our fingers for good weather, we hoped we weren't about to get stuck on a rainy day trip to Arashiyama, a district of Kyoto. As luck would...
Ichiran Ramen may not be the best bowl of ramen out there, but I have to say it is certainly one of my favorites. However, the process of purchasing a bowl can be a bit intimidating for first timers, so we wanted to create a...
The streets were alive with the hum of chatter trickling out from the privacy of the teahouses and restaurants lining the streets. Lanterns were lit and umbrellas were glowing a fiery red. "Hey, those ladies you were talking about just drove by in that taxi", Micah...
While I loved the gigantic city of Tokyo and the tiny village of Shibu Onsen, Kyoto seemed to have the best of both worlds. It was still a larger city with all the fancy, modern conveniences, but the historic, small town charm was also abundant....
