Osaka is the third largest city in Japan and is filled with covered shopping streets, multi-level mall complexes, and lots and lots of food. Its location in the Kansai region makes it perfect for day trips out to explore places such as Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji (all only an hour or two train ride away), but it's also worth setting aside some time to explore what else this lively city has to offer.
Read MoreA walk around the Dotonbori area in Osaka is a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. The Japanese word "Kuidaore" is rumored to have originated from this Osaka district and means "to ruin oneself by extravagance in food". Not sure where start? Large, helpful billboards and 3D signs offer larger than life suggestions for that next meal or perhaps even the next ten meals.
Read MoreA two hour train ride from Osaka takes us to the city of Himeji, home to an exceptionally preserved World Cultural Heritage Site site well over 400 years old. Himeji castle is a prime example of Japanese architecture from the feudal period. Although, heavily fortified against enemy invaders, the sprawling white plaster walls have inspired images of a bird taking flight resulting in more peaceful nicknames such as "The White Heron Castle" or "The White Egret Castle".
Read MoreThere's a lot of good stuff packed into Universal Studios Japan. We arrived before the gates opened and stayed until well after dark. There are dinosaurs, terminators, zombies (especially released for Halloween) and much much more. However, this post focuses on where we spent most of our time which was lost in the two worlds of minions and wizards.
Read MoreIt's hard to wander through Osaka without snacking. Little shops (and even some not-so-little shops) are everywhere offering bite-sized treats and beverages. With the average price hitting only a dollar or two, there are a ton of sweet deals to keep us fueled up and going.
Read MoreCome to Nara for the deer, but stay for the many other amazing sites that are here. What else is there to see in Nara? Oh, just a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and lots and lots of lanterns.
Read MoreOne of the great things about travelling is getting the opportunity to mix and mingle with the locals. A short train ride from Osaka took us to a place where we got to meet a few of its famous citizens. And when I say "a few", I actually mean about 1,200 of them. Welcome to Nara, home to those 4-legged messengers of the gods, the sika deer.
Read MoreOsaka is historically known as "The Nation's Kitchen". Although the original intent of that phrase was more practical than complimentary, Osaka has blossomed into a food-centric city where almost everything is made fresh, delicious, and right before your eyes.
Read MoreA short train ride to the outskirts of Kyoto took us from bustling city streets to a little taste of Japanese nature. Most people come to Arashiyama to visit the Bamboo Grove. To be honest, that site takes about 10-15 minutes to go through when there's no crowds, but there are many other sites to see here.
Read MoreOut of all the places that we travelled to on our world trip last year, Japan was one of the countries that we wanted to return to again. So, a little over a year later, we're back and ready to explore. Our first stop was the old capital, Kyoto, which still glows with that old world feel.
Read MoreThree words come to mind when describing Japanese food: preparation, presentation, and perfection. There is a lot of care and practise that goes into creating these beautiful morsels. Although indulging in steaming bowls ramen was on our must-eat list, Kyoto's thirty degree temperatures made us unable to resist the sweet temptation of cool icy treats.
Read MoreThere are over 2000 shrines and temples in Kyoto, so it's a good idea do a little research beforehand. There are the must-sees (i.e. every guidebook will recommend them, and every tourist will be there), and there are some that are known for having a unique feature or location, but sometimes the best ones are those quiet little places tucked just a few steps away from the busiest of streets.
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