Well, it’s official: our Switzerland trip has been postponed. I’m so sad, but during a pandemic, it’s for the best! Not having a trip to plan has given me a lot of spare time… and what do you do with spare time? Look at Facebook waaaaay too much! All of that to say, a Facebook friend of mine is asking for tips/recommendations for visiting Japan. And guess what? I have some! Here is a list of some of my favorite places we visited in Tokyo and Kyoto
Meiji Jingu & Yoyogi Park in Tokyo
Meiji Jinku is such a special place; a huge forest right in the middle of Tokyo! If you look down at Tokyo from the sky (like from SkyTree), you’ll see it clearly: a huge wooded area neighbored by the bustling Harajuku area. Walking through these woods were a great midday break from the busy city.
Nakamise Dori + Sensoji Temple in Tokyo
Nakamise Dori is one of the areas I wish I had spent more time at on our first trip to Tokyo, and I can’t wait to go back! It’s a large shopping area that leads up to Sensoji Temple. There are lots of snacks, shopping, and a busy, large temple right in the middle of Tokyo. You can get your fortune read at Sensoji Temple, and if you end up with a bad fortune, you can tie it to a nearby tree to release the bad luck. Unfortunately… the fortunes are all in Japanese, so good luck knowing if it’s good or bad!
Fushimi Inari in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari is one of the more famous landmarks in Kyoto, known for its thousands of Torii gates. The shrine honors the god Inari, whose messenger is a fox. This is a legit, up-hill hike, with many torii gates, many fox statues, and many people! There are a few different trail options you should research ahead of time. We weren’t aware of the options, and ended up sticking to the medium trail for time reasons, but would have loved to do the full thing!
Otagi Nenbutsuji in Kyoto
We walked from Arashiyama Station to Otagi Nenbutsuji and back (about 4.5 miles round trip). I’m not sure that I would recommend the trek both ways… maybe bus to Otagi Nenbutsuji and then walk to Arashiyama? Either way, Otagi Nenbutsuji is 100% worth it! It’s a small temple up in the hills of Arashiyama and features 1200 Rakan statues. Check out the pictures below and you will be swayed. And for info about visiting, check out my post all about Otagi Nenbutsuji!
Cherry Blossom Viewing
If you plan to visit Japan in late March through early May, you will want to research cherry blossoms! Japan is famous for their beautiful cherry blossoms, which bloom throughout the spring each year. We traveled through Japan in late March / early May, and got to see the early blooms. Our favorite viewing spots were Tokyo’s Ueno Park and Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path.
Ueno Park is very busy at this time of year, but that just adds to the fun! If you go on the right days there are full on parades to honor the blossoms. The area around the lake is a little less busy if you want to escape the crowds.
Philosopher’s Path is a much more relaxing experience, where you get to stroll along a gentle river, stopping at small stands for shopping/snacks, and enjoying the cherry blossoms!
**Featured image by Chantal Lim
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