I Visited an Owl Cafe in Tokyo…and just felt sad.
Japan is full of animal cafes — not just cat cafes but we noted otter cafes, penguin cafes, and more. We love owls, so we visited an owl cafe…but it just made me sad. Here’s more.
Japan
Walking the Philosopher’s Path…Plus
The Path of Philosophy is a classic Kyoto walk — especially in Spring as the path is lined with cherry trees.
This is an extended route (with accompanying routemap) that takes you not only on the Tetsugaku no Michi itself, but also through many nearby temples.
The Cutest Little Cream Puffs in Tokyo
Toyko (and much of Japan, for that matter) is a great place to find kawaii (cute) desserts! If you’re a Studio Ghibli fan visiting Toyko, you might find these cream puffs a little too cute to eat! Here’s more about visiting Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory.
Visiting the Gion Kyoto Starbucks
I’m from Seattle, where there seems to be a Starbucks on every corner. So when travel, I tend keep away. But I’m glad I ended up going into the Gion Starbucks in Kyoto — it’s a different world than your average Starbucks.
Otaku Kyoto
Tokyo, of course, is known for its Anime, Manga, pop culture — but what about Kyoto? When I toted my Anime-loving daughter along to Kyoto, I was worried that she would simply hang out at the AirBNB which, largely, she did. But we did find some loosely “Otaku” things to do in Kyoto (my daughter’s objection to the term duly noted).
A Day in Arashiyama
When you think of the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Sagano Bamboo Forest. But there’s so much more to do in this beautiful area of Kyoto. Plan to spend at least a day here — here are some of the many things to do to make the most of your day in the area.
Ten Zen: Temples in Kyoto
While I was visiting a temple in Kyoto, I heard someone repeating “this is the heart of Zen.” Kyoto is, at least, the center of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and there were far more temples than I could visit during my time there. Here are ten that I visited from the highly touristed to the more remote.
Going Ghibli: Visiting the Ghibli Museum
Visiting the whimsical Ghibli Museum is a must-do in Tokyo if you’re a fan of the animation of Hayao Miyazaki. But getting tickets can be a bit challenging and confusing for foreign visitors. Here’s what you need to know about the museum, including getting tickets and getting there.
