Happy Throwback Thursday!
Before Fox was born, Tyler and I made it our mission to cast aside beach vacations and head straight for city centers. Japan was technically Tyler’s pick and while I was so very excited to go, I craved another European getaway and wondered if I would feel comfortable getting around there.
We stayed for about nine days and filled our schedule airtight with activities. It was SO fun! And I quickly learned that one of the best things about Japan is the people. Exceptionally polite, kind, and welcoming.
Here are a bunch of my favorite things that we did.
Tokyo
Hamarikyu Gardens
The tea house at Hamarikyu Gardens
Matcha ice cream before catching the ferry
Wandering the streets
Visiting Asakusa Shrine
O-mikuji, or fortune strips, at Asakusa Shrine
More Asakusa Shrine
Meiji Shrine
Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, at Shinjuku Gyoen
Pretending to be Bill and Scarlet at the New York Bar in the Park Hyatt Tokyo where Lost in Translation was filmed
Robot restaurant deserves…
…not one…
…but three pictures!
Tip: Stay at the Park Hotel Tokyo and pay the small upgrade fee for a room with a view.
Japanese Cooking Class Tokyo with Mari – private class that comes highly recommended
Photo booth near Shibuya Crossing
Not pictured in Tokyo: Visiting Akihabara to play games at the arcades and see the department stores, Andy Warhol exhibit at the Mori Art Museum atop Roppongi Hills Shopping Center (GREAT view at night), conveyor belt sushi, buying all the Japanese snacks and street food in sight and doing a taste test
My Tokyo favorite: Waking up at the Park Hotel. We had gotten in so late that the lights of the Tokyo Tower were off so our view was pitch black. When I woke up it was like Christmas morning and seeing presents under the tree!
Tyler’s Tokyo favorite: “Robot Restaurant because it was the most over-the-top, sensory overload experience of my life.”
Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha foxes
*The Fushimi Inari Taisha is where Fox got his name. Read more about that here.
Toji Temple
Toji Temple
Sakura blossoms
Tyler with the sakura blossoms
Traditional matcha tea ceremony
Staying at a ryokan in our yakatas
Tea shop
Taking in the peaceful scenes at temples and shrines
Eating with our shoes off at Yasaka Shrine
Beautiful scenery outside the Yasaka Shrine
Sunset and cherry blossoms
Food vendors outside the Yasaka Shrine with amazing candied strawberries
More matcha ice cream
Geisha viewing at the Gion district
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama Monkey Park
Arashiyama Monkey Park and Kyoto setting the scene
My favorite thing we did in Japan hands down – rowing down the Katsuragawa River
More rowing
And more!
Absolute best vending machines around – hot creamed corn and (not pictured) hot milk tea
Not pictured in Kyoto: Eating traditional ramen, zen meditation, and milling about with our amazing guide (I highly recommend!), Kyoto Tower (store your luggage at the train station lockers if you want to explore before hitting your hotel), Heian Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple, Tofuku-ji Temple, Shokoku-ji Temple, Imperial Palace, an adorable little handmade paper shop, learning the word oishi (tasty, and for obvious reasons), traditional onsen
My Kyoto favorite: As I said above – rowing a boat down the river. We had just come from the Monkey Park (another must-do) and had a bunch of temples and shrines to go see, but the water tempted us. We brought on sake and matcha ice cream and cruised around for an hour.
Tyler’s Kyoto favorite: “Beer, sake, and an impromptu market experience right outside of Yasaka Shrine.”
Osaka
Purikura – so fun!
Karaoke in Osaka
Tyler’s karaoke game was strong
Dotonburi at night
The Instant Ramen Museum – I couldn’t help it, I had to go
So excited about ramen
We even got to make our own cups!
Not pictured in Osaka: More conveyor belt sushi (this time where it was invented and one other delicious place), Umeda Sky Building (click this link, you have to see it) where we had champagne and fastened a love lock to the top, pachinko, tons of games at Round 1 and SEGA Joypolis where we left with as many prizes as we had luggage
My Osaka favorite: Karaoke. For under 2300 yen we rented a room for an entire 24 hours. The memories I have of Tyler singing The Little Mermaid will forever be emblazoned in my memory – ha!
Tyler’s Osaka favorite: “Endless hours in the arcades; specifically the pseudo-gambling ‘medal games.'”
Let me know if you are interested in a trip to Japan and have any questions! I can talk your ear off with suggestions, tips, and stories.
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