What comes to your mind when someone says Kobe, Japan? I assume wagyu beef! ;) Kobe beef is, after all, famous worldwide. So when we decided to do a daytrip to Kobe, we knew that eating this expensive beef would be our main priority. Plus there was also this pretty illumination… But that’s much later. So let’s focus on our main reason for visiting Kobe… Wakkoqu Kobe Beef (Shin-Kobe Branch) There are obviously plenty of restaurants …
{Japan Winter} Kobe: Be enlightened by wagyu beef & Luminarie winter illumination
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{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 8): Hipster art gallery hotel Anteroom & recommended hotels
In our two trips to Kyoto, we have now stayed in 3 different hotels – and each of them has their pros and cons. I will go through the hotel comparison soon, but for now, let me show you my favourite hotel in Kyoto thus far… Hotel Anteroom. If you are looking for an affordable accommodation that is more than just a bed to sleep on, come and hang out at Hotel Anteroom. I highly …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 7): Savouring the many food & desserts of Kyoto
I’ve talked a lot about Kyoto’s beautiful temples and serene walking routes, but not too much about food (apart from the Kyoto Ninja & Nishiki Market post)… So I think it’s about time we concentrate on the food and desserts that make Kyoto even more alluring… A taste of Gion Gion is one of the most popular areas in Kyoto, Japan. And I totally get why… The main roads are filled with shops and bright …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 6): Food crawling like a Ninja around Nishiki Market
Kyoto is beautiful. Almost everyone can vouch for that. But did you know that Kyoto has some of the yummiest food in Japan? We didn’t even get to experience many of them. In fact, there were plenty of Michelin star restaurants that I wish we could try, but due to time and money constraints, I’d say: there’s always a next time! ;) What we did get to experience though… Ninja Kyoto Introducing the Ninja Kyoto Restaurant. It’s not …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 5): Festival of lights at Arashiyama Hanatouro
Did you know that twice a year, Kyoto lights up with super gorgeous illuminations? It’s called Hanatouro and it’s spectacular. Hanatouro is held in March at Higashiyama area and in December at Arashiyama. I’m privileged enough to have been to both now (humble brag, mm hmm), so do read up on the Higashiyama Hanatouro if you want. After our walk along the quieter side of Arashiyama, we began our journey of enlightenment (well, you know, searching for …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 4): Down the winding road of Saga-Arashiyama
When most people talk about visiting Kyoto, they will usually mention checking out the Golden Pavilion, the Kiyomizu-dera, or the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama. But did you know that there are more to see in Arashiyama and Sagano area? We decided to take the off-the-beaten path route this time around by taking a taxi from Saga-Arashiyama Sta. to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple… The idea was to slowly walk down to the more touristy side of town. And …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 3): Admiring the charms of Higashiyama
One of the wonders of Kyoto is that you can just walk along the streets and find yourself back in time… Old houses, temples, shop-filled streets. Everything is so charming. That’s exactly what we experienced when we walked along the streets of Higashiyama, on our way back to Gion area after visiting the picturesque Kiyomizu-dera. Why Higashiyama? The Higashiyama District along the lower slopes of Kyoto’s eastern mountains is one of the city’s best preserved …
{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} Shirakawa-go, Gifu: Snow-covered fairytale heritage village
What’s better than a snow-covered town? A snow covered UNESCO world heritage village that looked like it came out of a fairy tale, of course! And that was exactly what Shirakawa-go looked like on the day that we visited. Only about an hour away from Takayama by bus, Shirakawa-go is a beautiful little village famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means “constructed like hands in prayer”, as …