by Sarah Gallo | Dec 8, 2016 | Asia, Japan
Mt. Yoshino is known to be one of the best places in Japan to spot cherry blossoms. Despite it being the tail end of the cherry blossom season, we decided to stop in Yoshino on our way from Nara to Koyasan. A bit out of the way, but very worth it. While I had thought...
by Sarah Gallo | Dec 6, 2016 | Asia, Japan
Nara is a very easy day trip for those visiting Japan, as it's located less than an hour from Osaka and Kyoto. Believe it or not, Nara (once named Heijo) was Japan's first established capital in 710. As many people only spend one day there, here are 5 things to do in...
by Sarah Gallo | Dec 4, 2016 | Asia, Japan
When planning my trip to Japan, I had put Matsumoto Castle on my list for “next time.” It appeared to be too out of the way to squeeze into my busy schedule. Thanks to Craig Shaw's kindness, however, I was driven directly to Matsumoto to see the cherry...
by Sarah Gallo | Dec 2, 2016 | Asia, Japan
After two full days taking in the chaos of Tokyo, I wanted the mountains and the tranquility that typically surrounds such an area. While checking into Ryokan Biyu, I knew I’d made the right decision. I was initially drawn to Yamanouchi because I was guilty of wanting...
by Sarah Gallo | Nov 30, 2016 | Asia, Japan
Tokyo is one of the world’s largest metropolises and is overwhelming at first glance. One look at the metro map, and you’ll want to give up, crumple it, and never look at it again. In a city with everything from authentic shrines to anime-filled streets, and the...