Shirakawago: A Pretty Village in the Japanese Alps
Our side trip to Kanazawa and the Japanese Alps all stemmed from one thing: my desire to visit the village of Shirakawa-go. Its winter scene of snow-capped roofs and light … Continue reading
Takayama: Hida Beef Adventures
Over the course of researching what to do in Takayama, eating Hida beef, the region’s famed wagyu, was one of the top results. I never thought that we would be … Continue reading
Takayama’s Sanmachi Suji: A Walk Back in Time
Takayama’s Sanmachi Suji is arguably Takayama’s biggest draw. I was one of those who, upon seeing photos of the town, searched how to get there on that very instance. It … Continue reading
Takayama Jinya: A Detour
Trying our best to avoid the sudden rain, we sought refuge to the nearest tourist attraction, Takayama Jinya. It was the only place I could think of where we could … Continue reading
Train Travel: From Toyama to Takayama
Next up on our itinerary was to travel from Kanazawa to Takayama. Two segments were involved: a bullet train to Toyama and a scenic train from Toyama to Takayama. Though … Continue reading
Kanazawa: Stepping Back in Time at Higashi Chaya
Following our visit to Kenrokuen, we decided to drop by Higashi Chaya, Kanazawa’s answer to Kyoto’s Gion. It was still relatively early for our journey to Takayama, so we opted … Continue reading
Kanazawa: Strolling around Kenrokuen
It was drizzling by the time we were ready to leave Omicho Market, but no weather misfortune could deter us from heading to Kanazawa’s claim to fame: Kenrokuen. Touted as … Continue reading
Kanazawa: Enjoying Seafood at Omicho Market
Early the following morning, it was time to embark on another journey in Japan. My initial goal was to see the village of Shirakawa-go, but a day trip from Kyoto … Continue reading
Osaka’s Kuromon Ichiba
Though we were to visit several markets over the course of our trip, I was admittedly more excited to visit Osaka’s own. The city is known as a gastronomic hotspot, … Continue reading
Himeji-jo: A Striking Japanese Castle
Barely an hour from Kyoto, Himeji was an easy day trip from the historic capital. The city’s pride, Himeji Castle, had a commandeering presence even from the train that passengers … Continue reading
Kyoto: Ginkakuji and Honke Owariya Soba
Shortly after our exploration of Nishiki Market, we were back on the bus to get to our next destination. Ginkaku-ji, or Silver Pavilion, stood in the shadow of Kinkaku-ji when … Continue reading
Snacking at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market
Kyoto’s Shijo Street may not exactly be the first image that comes to mind when talking about this Japanese city. This modern hub is filled with sprawling commercial establishments, and … Continue reading
Kyoto’s Temples: Kiyomizu-dera
The steps leading to Kiyomizu-dera were almost devoid of crowds, a far cry from the sea of people standing there a few years back. Indeed, it paid to get to … Continue reading
Kyoto’s Alleys: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka
Disclaimer: All photos were taken prior to the photography ban. As it was my brother’s first time in Japan, we decided to revisit a lot of the must-see temples and … Continue reading
Back in Japan
I had long been dreaming of visiting Japan, a dream that came true in 2015. It was short, but it was a trip of lifetime. We saw bits and pieces … Continue reading
Rediscovering Ayutthaya
Our visit to Bang Pa-in was short, but it was already almost lunch time by the time we arrived in Ayutthaya. Lunch first, and there was only one thing in … Continue reading
Revisiting Bang Pa-In Palace
I remember Bang Pa-In Palace fondly from the trip I had with my friends back in 2013. Though it was not the most extravagant Thai royal residence I had visited, … Continue reading
Bangkok Food: Som Tam Nua
When I started researching for food to try in Bangkok, som tum was one of the most common dishes to try. This green papaya salad began my familiarity with one … Continue reading
Bangkok Food: Inter and Pe Aor
More typical Thai dishes were up on our to-do Bangkok list. Lucky us, some of these were quite close to our hotel, so we didn’t have to travel far to … Continue reading
Bangkok Food: Queen of Curry and Boonsap
The next place for us to visit was a bit far from our hotel, but hopping onto the city’s BTS system made the journey a breeze. More than that, it … Continue reading
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