Japan is famous for all-things green tea or matcha… and the most popular place to get your green tea fix is in Kyoto, but where in Kyoto? As a huge fan of green tea desserts, I decided to go for a matcha pilgrimage to a small city on the southern outskirts of Kyoto called Uji (宇治) during early March. Is it worth the trip? We started our day with a trip from Osaka to Uji without knowing what to expect. …
6 articles Tag temple
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 2): Taking in the view around Kiyomizu-dera
Most people who have been to Kyoto will say that they love how beautifully unique it is. It’s a city filled with traditions and temples, featuring some of the most popular sights in Japan such as the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion or the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari. Another famous temple in Kyoto is the Kiyomizu-dera, and I’ll be your guide today… Apart from the temple itself, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera. …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 1): The golden pavilion of Kinkakuji and the torii gates of Fushimi Inari
In the next few weeks, I will be writing about my (second) experience of being in Kyoto, Japan. We were there for about 3 days in December and visited a number of beautiful places and wonderful food. I’m sure many of you have heard of (or have been to) Kyoto before… Hopefully these Kyoto posts will inspire you to check it out the next time you plan a Japan trip. I mean, why wouldn’t you?! …
{Japan Winter} Kamakura: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu & Komachi-dori shopping street
Now that that’s done, here’s Kamakura: We started in Yokohama, when we walked around Minato Mirai and stumbled upon Queen’s Square for lunch. We stopped by at a katsu place called Tonkatsu Saboten (とんかつ 新宿 さぼてん). The menu looked pretty appetising (plus there’s an English menu)… and we were hungry, so in we went. As you can see, Tonkatsu Saboten didn’t disappoint. We got to crush our own sesame too, which was fun. With so many options to …
{Japan Winter} Asakusa, Tokyo: The hustle bustle of Sensoji Temple & Nakamise street market
Have you been to Asakusa? We didn’t have time to visit Asakusa during our first trip to Japan back in 2012. So the second time around, we decided to spend a few hours in Asakusa to enjoy the market atmosphere of Nakamise-dori. Upon arrival in front of Kaminarimon, we realise how touristy Asakusa is. Hundreds of people posing in front of the gate, trying to get the best photo without having too many people in the background. …
{Japan Winter} Kawagoe, Saitama: A nice walk around Kitain Temple
I love big cities. That’s just the way I am. But I also love visiting little towns with characters. So, when visiting Tokyo, I always take the time to at least make one day trip visit to a small town nearby. Totally different from the style suburb Harajuku/Shibuya and also equally unique to the quirky Kichijoji is a small town called Kawagoe, just 50 minutes away from Shinjuku. Kawagoe (川越) is suitable as a day …