Quick eats in Tokyo can be more than just convenience store munchies (although honestly, convenience store food here is pretty awesome and the local Family Mart was still our regular go-to breakfast choice). From ordering from a vending machine to a ready-to-microwave soup that wasn’t half bad, we found some new ways to get quick cheap food.
Read MoreAn hour's train ride south of Tokyo takes us to Kamakura, a former ancient capital and now a popular seaside town.
Read MoreOkay, so after hitting some of the big-name areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku. We decided to visit some of the lesser known but still charming areas that each seem to have their own iconic animal.
Read MoreSince I am a big book person, we had to check out Tokyo’s book district, Jimbocho.
Read MoreWe arrived in Tokyo during a September heatwave which meant priorities shifted from seeing all the things to trying to keep from boiling over.
Read MoreOsaka 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 More
