Remember when I informed you guys that I was going to Japan? Well, it happened over Thanksgiving break! It was my first time visiting an Asian country, so I was a little nervous and anxious about what to expect. I didn’t speak or read the language. I did give Duolingo a try, but it didn’t help me out too much. Turns out though, I had nothing to worry about. The trip went pretty smoothly, and we only got lost a handful of times! I have so many stories from our trip, but to kick off my Japan posts, I put together a photo essay of Japan to share some of my favorite pictures!
photo essay of japan:
tokyo:
Zozoji Temple and Tokyo Tower– While we were at the temple, a family was holding a ceremony for their two young daughters. Everyone was dressed up and the daughters were wearing kimonos. It was pretty neat to be able to see!
Asakusa Shrine – The Asakusa District may arguably be my favorite. Here, you’ll find this stunning shrine which is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in all of Tokyo. This shrine stands to honor the three men who founded the Sensō-ji Temple.
Sensō-ji Temple – Right next door to the Asakusa Shrine, you’ll find the Sensō-ji Temple. You’re able to go in and see the intricate details that make up the temple. People still go there for religious reasons, and no photographs are supposed to be taken during any ceremonies.
MariCar Tour – Vika and I went on a MariCar Tour, and it was honestly one of the best tours I’ve ever been to. It was so much to actually pretend like I was part of the Mario Kart game, as that was a large part of my childhood, and I still play it to this day! Stay tuned for a blog post specifically about our experience!
kyoto:
Fushimi Inari Shrine – Seeing this in person was so surreal! I didn’t realize how long the shrine actually went. We only saw a portion, and there are actually differing heights of these structures. I didn’t know that either!
Entrance of the Fushimi Inari Shrine – Walking up to the Fushimi Inari Shrine was incredible. There were so many people coming from different parts of the world to see this famous shrine. Before entering, you’re supposed to cleanse yourself by washing your hands and mouth using the fountain and ladles provided for visitors.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Just like the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Bamboo Forest went on a lot longer than we originally thought. Due to time constraints, we only saw a portion, but it was so cool. When the wind would blow, the bamboo would sway and bend, some trees almost touching the ground, and none of them would break! It was so cool to see in person!
Sogenchi Garden – We actually almost missed this incredible garden! We had just finished visiting the Bamboo Forest, and we passed the sign for this United Nations World Heritage Site. Of course we had to stop to see what it was about, and I’m BEYOND happy we did. The beauty this garden had to offer was truly breathtaking! The richness of the fall colors were stunning!
osaka:
Osaka Castle – Before entering the Osaka Castle, we had the opportunity to take a picture as Samurai warriors, so of course we did! Afterwards, we walked through the Osaka Castle, which is now turned into a museum for people to learn of its history. This was the first museum that I’ve ever been to that had holograms to help depict what happened in the past.
Osaka Castle – This museum you have to start at the top and work your way down. We weren’t disappointed when we arrived at the top level and saw this view. Of course in the past it was to aid in spotting oncoming enemies.
Noodle Pancakes – To say I ate a lot of noodles during my time in Japan would be an understatement. You can find many different variations of noodle dishes throughout the country, even noodle pancakes. They were made right in front of us, and it was definitely an interesting and tasty meal!
The Famous Dōtonbori Sign – We had no idea about this sign actually, but the friends we met up with informed us that this sign was iconic of Osaka, and represented where the center of the old town stood. They also told us it was customary for visitors to come and take a picture with the sign, imitating his position, so of course I did 🙂
Well, there you have it – some of my favorite pictures from my incredible trip to Japan! As I’m working on my photography skills, I know my photos did not truly capture the beauty the country has to offer, but I tried 🙂 Let me know which picture is your favorite!
Japan looks like a beautiful place. Maybe one day, I’ll go there too.
I hope you are able to make that happen! 🙂
WOW I have always wanted to travel to Japan. Your photos are making it really hard not to book a trip right now!
Thank you for those kind words! Sometimes, you just got to book the ticket, and think about it later. Haha…I still can’t believe I went!
Wow! Japan looks amazing! Definetely on my bucket list 😀
That’s awesome to hear! I hope you’re able to go there soon!
Going to send this post to my son. He has always wanted to visit Japan and I know would enjoy reading and seeing your photos.
Oh that’s awesome! I hope he has the opportunity to visit one day 🙂 I have a few more Japan posts lined up, if he wants to stay tuned 🙂
It looks like you had an amazing time on your trip! I’ve always wanted to visit Japan but have not made it there just yet.
Yes! I had a blast! I love how you say “just yet” because that means you’re going!! When you make it happen, you’re going to have an amazing time!!
Japan is amazing! I was fortunate to live there for 5 1/2 years while I served in the Navy. I lived in Sasebo (southern Japan) and we drove all over. So many amazing temples, parks filled with cherry blossoms, and the people are just wonderful! I would really love to go back there now that my kids are older.
That’s incredible. Thank you for your service. I had the opportunity to visit various shrines and temples, but unfortunately the famous cherry blossoms were not in season. I guess I’ll have to go back in spring one year! I hope you’re able to go back! I bet that would be a truly special trip! Do you remember any Japanese?!
This looks like a great trip! That MariCar tour though, that looks like a blast!
Oh my gosh! That tour was so much fun! I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time, and then my teeth would get cold from the wind! Hahaha…highly recommend if you’re ever in Japan!
What an amazing experience! Japan is definitely a place I’d love to go. Really enjoyed looking at the photos.
Thank you for your kind words Kristine! I hope you’re able to go one day, and experience it for yourself. It truly is incredible!
How awesome! It looks like you had an amazing trip! Japan is one of those places I’ve always wanted to visit. P.S. Those Noodle Pancakes actually look super good – I think I’d have a blast trying all the different food! 🙂
I had a blast, and I was able to try new things – experiences and foods – and sometimes it was just so surreal that I was even there! Those noodle pancakes were quite tasty, but I was a little skeptical at first. Thank you for your comment 🙂
Wow this all looks so amazing! I know a lot of people who have been to Japan and it’s never really been on my list but just to see the mountains and the bamboo and the temples I’d go lol. It looks so beautiful and fun!
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to make it to Mt. Fuji, but maybe I’ll be back one day to see it. The pictures I’ve seen are incredible! And the Bamboo Forest and various temples and shrines we visited are definitely worth the trip! Truly breathtaking!
That bamboo! Oh my gosh it is incredible! It looks like you had a great time here!
I had a lot of fun! It was such an amazing experience. And yes, the Bamboo Forest was fabulous!
Congrats on your first visit to Japan! You made the most of it, loved your pics! 😀
xoxo, Pilar
Thank you! 🙂
This looks amazing! I would love to visit Japan – for the temples, and for the food 🙂
Thank you! And yes – so worth the visit! On one of the pictures I shared on my Instastory, the caption was: “Bc the only thing I literally do is find new treats to try”. Haha…because I realized all my pictures were of food!
Japan?? That’s so amazing!! Super jealous. It looks like you had a lot of fun, I can’t wait to travel there one day on my own. Thank you for sharing your adventures! ♥
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! It was definitely a blast. You’re going to have so much fun when you go 🙂