My third time in Tokyo and though there is finally a sense of familiarity it doesn't lessen the joy that bubbles up in my heart whenever I set foot in this city. It must be the anticipation for uncovering new secrets of this layered city, eating the best meals of our lives every single day, …
Our first onsen stop was Shirahone. Shirahone literally translates to "white bone" because the hot springs in this area are so saturated with minerals that they appear milky white. Mid-November is a quiet time for the Japanese Alps when many popular mountain passes like Kamikochi are closing down for the winter and the ski season …
I can't say for sure when I actually started to like the maneki neko. Maybe because growing up I've always been accustomed to its presence. Whenever we went to a Japanese or Chinese restaurant, or any other Asian establishment, the playful figurine is sure to be lurking somewhere, waiting to catch my eye. Now whenever …
In the couple of times I've visited Japan, it always struck me how Japanese people strive to coexist harmoniously with wild animals, from deer to the Japanese macaque monkeys, these animals have come to trust and even depend on humans for their survival. I'm not a wildlife expert so I can't say for sure if …
All the trees around here have been blooming since January, because California goes from fall directly to spring. Plum, cherry, peach, and the slightly more unsubtle magnolia blossoms add joy and color to our daily walks. Ellie always points at the plum or cherry blossoms and say "Look mama! Cherry blossoms! Just like Japan!" I …
Japan vlogs. This is probably the most surreal and visually stunning place I've ever been. To get to these remote hills takes about a two hour train ride from Nara. The mountain has a tiny village that sadly only have a couple of weeks a year to sell their wares during cherry blossom season and …
Japan vlogs. This town definitely has a country feel to it coming from Tokyo and Kyoto, but that's what I liked about it as well. The main attraction here is the sprawling Nara park, which is home to hundreds of semi-tame deer that will pester you for crackers. They are not shy about taking food …
Japan vlogs. I cannot recommend anyone going to Kyoto during the peak cherry blossom season. I can see that beneath the throngs of obnoxious tourists that it is a beautiful city, but it becomes completely overrun by tourists during these weeks and takes on an almost amusement park quality. If you can visit Kyoto during …
Japan vlogs. Hanami or "cherry blossom viewing" in Japan was truly a dream come true. For a few short weeks in March and April the otherwise ordinary streets and riverbanks are transformed into an artists impressionist dream. Hues of pink punctuate the gray asphalt, flashes of white catches ones eye as one zips past a …
milkywaypicnic 