Tag Archives: Japan

Kiyomizu-dera

Posted in Kyoto by

Kiyomizu-dera is the temple of pure water because it was built around the Otowa waterfall, which flows spring water from the mountain. The temple has been burned down several times, a reoccurring theme in Japan it seems. The current buildings were rebuilt during the Edo period. The temple is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Deva Gate

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West Gate

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Hideously colored pagoda

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The main hall (hondo) houses the eleven faced and thousands armed statue of Kannon. The infamous extended Kiyomizu stage is made out of wood 12 meters high and held together without nails.

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No nails used to support the stage….

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You may drink the water from the Otowa waterfall. Each stream represents  longevity, academic success, or fortunate love life. You may drink from more than one stream but to drink from all three streams is seen as greedy.

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Loved the spring mountain back drop.

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View of Kyoto.

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Secret pagoda for some peace and quiet away from the people pollution.

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Admission: 400 yen

(294 Kiyomizu 1-chome, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0862 Japan)

Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream

Kyoto is known for it’s love of desserts. Where ever you go in Kyoto, you will find plenty of shops selling matcha green tee ice cream. I didn’t catch the name of this place but it was on the way to Kiyomizu-dera.

The little old man that runs the place was adorable as he was the front man of the shop and also the behind the scenes man. He had to keep taking his shoes off to run to the back of his shop to fill up a cone. It was selling like hotcakes that the owner had to turn customers away because his ice cream machine broke down. 

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Posted in Kyoto by

Home to the infamous thousands of red (vermillion) torii gates shrine. Below is the Romon Gate donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1589. Behind it is Honden, the main shrine building.

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Fushimi Inari is named after the mountain it sits atop, Mount Inari,

and the Shinto god of rice it gives homage to, Inari. Foxes are known to be Inari’s messengers. Therefore, you will see them everywhere before the shrines.

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Beginning of the ascent to the thousands of red torii gates.

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One of the many mini shrines that dot the mountain.

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Senbon trail is the parallel rows of mini torii gates. Each torii gate is donated either by an individual or company in hopes of prosperity. The small gates start at 400,000 yen while the larger ones can cost up to 1 million yen.

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One is not like the other.

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After about a 40 min ascent, you will come across Yotsutsuji intersect with a view of Kyoto. Tip: Bring some snacks and water with you as it is mostly uphill. Onigiri is a small and filling snack. 7-11 offers a decent variety.

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If you’re adventurous, you can continue the path for another 1.5- 2.5 hours to reach the full summit.

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Admission: free.

(68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 612-0882, Japan)

Tsurugyu (蔓牛)

Posted in Osaka by

Kobe beef refers to the Tajima strain of wagyu beef, therefore, only wagyu from Kobe, Japan can be called kobe.

Tsurugyu is known for its grade A Kobe beef. This place is amazing melt in your mouth goodness. Be ready to drool over the following epic food. 

Placing the hot, fiery coals to grill the luscious meat. 

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The most delicious cow tongue, which is then dipped in lemon, salt and pepper dipping sauce.

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Two cuts of rib eye steak full of natural umami. 

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Close up natural beauty shot.

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Melt in your mouth kalbi (short rib).

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Marinated belly goodness.

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Cold handmade noodle soup.

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To end the meal, they provided an ume (plum) tea and matcha green tea.

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Overall, this was the best meal I had in Japan.

We were lucky and got to sit at the counter and watch the chef prepare the meat. He also kept an eye on us to ensure we didn’t overcook any of the precious meat, which was fine with me since I believe the chef knows all. All of the beef was rich and melted in your mouth. Each cut of meat had a special dipping sauce, so it was swapped out with every cut of meat. All of this cost about 60 USD per person, which is cheap for kobe wagyu. A must try when in Osaka.

(3 Chome-5-14 KawarayamachiChuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0066Japan)

Umeda Sky Building

Umeda Sky building consists of a pair of skyscrapers connected by a floating garden observatory, depicted above, with a 360 degree view of Osaka. The mirrors reflect the sky to give the observatory a floating effect. 

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Escalator down from the observatory.

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View of how high up the observatory is.

Admission: 800 yen

(Japan〒531-0076 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka 北区大淀中 1−1−88)

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle played a major role in the unification of Japan in the sixteenth century. In 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi began the construction of the castle featuring eight stories, five stories main tower and three stories underground.

Despite it being an iconic landmark of Osaka, it has been rebuilt several times due to sieges and being burnt down multiple times. In 1615, Tokugawa Ieyasu seiged the castle from Toyotomi Hideyori, the heir of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In 1620, it was reconstructed by Tokugawa Hidetatada, son of 

Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1655, lightning struck the main tower and burned it down. The current castle is a restoration, completed in 1997, representation of the Toyotomi period. The interior is now a museum of the history of Osaka Castle. 

Before you is the amazing Osaka Castle. Just kidding. It’s one of the few remaining turrets.

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The south half of the inner moat is grass while the north half is filled with water. This was how it was during the Toyotomi period and has remained that way since. 

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The inner stone wall was built in 1620 and still stands today. The granite boulders, from a rock quarry in Seto Inland Sea Rock, interlock together without mortar. 

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View of Osaka from the top floor with half of the golden Shachihoko. It is a mythical creature with a dragon head and fish body and symbolizes prestige and authority. 

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Admission: 600 yen

(Japan〒540-0002 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, 中央区大阪城１−１)

Endo Sushi

Posted in Osaka by

A little unknown secret is Endo Sushi, located in Osaka’s fish market. There is approximately only a 10 min wait. The place is small and they will seat you with strangers at the same table. They offer 5 different sushi sets options for ¥1050 each. Each set comes with 5 pieces if nigiri.

I got two sets. The first set came with kani (boiled crab), akagai (arc shell), hotate-bashira (scallop), toro, and tachiuo (hairtail). I looooved the sweetness of the scallop.

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My next set came with ika (squid), ikura (salmon roe),

sayori (halfbeak), toro, and sake (salmon). I chose this one because I’m a fan of halfbeak. Overall, the fish was super fresh and sweet.

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There are no individual soy sauce plates. It is custom to brush the soy sauce from the communal bowl onto your sushi. If you want miso soup, you can order it as a side.

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(1 Chome Noda, Fukushima Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan)

Sushi Dai


Be prepared to wait for Sushi Dai, one of the two acclaimed sushi restaurants at the Tsukiji fish market. By wait, I don’t mean 1-2 hours. I mean over FOUR hours. You have to be committed, or just wake up super early to be first in line. I got to Sushi Dai around 5 am and was immediately told it will be a four hour wait. So I waited….and waited….and waited 4.5 hours for:

Fresh and smooth toro

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Robot Restaurant

Posted in Tokyo by

When my friend first recommended Robot Restaurant to me, my first instinct was pass. Too loud. Looks like Vegas on steroids in one room. However when my friend said “Let’s go!”, I went along and I’m glad I did. Throughout the show it was “Wtf are they thinking?,” yet I was amazed by their musical ability, taiko drumming abilities, and dancing. Overall, it was thoroughly entertaining.

First, you check in here. 

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Then you go down the street and turn right to the entrance of the restaurant. Go upstairs and redeem your free drink, admission includes one free drink. Take a seat, but don’t get too comfortable, and enjoy the pre-show concert of robotic guitarists and singer.

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After about half an hour, you are instructed to head downstairs. Take your seat and enjoy the show!

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Before the show, you are instructed to lean back if you are in the first two rows. The stages can swipe your head off as they come by. They are THAT close.

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Taiko drumming battle.

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Everything is measured to the inch. The stage drops down with barely an inch left between you and the stage.

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Robot vs. animal battle ends with pyrotechnics. 

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“Ssssss”- snake robot

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Superman peacing out with his robot friend.

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We booked our reservations from here. 

The show comes with a sushi dinner option for an extra 1000 yen but we opted out due to reviews stating that it’s mediocre.

( ロボットレストラン Japan〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−7−1新宿ロボットビルB2)

Meiji Jingu

Posted in Tokyo by

Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

When you first enter, you will come across the huge Torii gate.

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As you follow the path, you will come across the sake and wine casks dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Each year a sake cask is donated by Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association in hopes of prosperity.

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Emperor Meiji is known for embracing the Western culture and starting the modernization of Japan, which allowed Japan to become one of the world’s major power. Below are wine casks in commemoration of his radical actions of consuming Western food and enjoying wine with it. 

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Before you enter the shrine, it is custom to rinse your hands and mouth at the temizuya.

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Another Torii gate before you enter the shrine.

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Shrine entrance

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Alas the shrine.

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Write your wishes on an Ema, wooden tablet, and hang it under the tree.

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Shinto wedding procession at the shrine.

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Admission is free unless you plan on entering the treasure house, which displays the emperor’s and empress’ personal possessions, or inner garden.

(Japan〒151-0052 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Yoyogikamizonochō, 1東京都渋谷区代々木神園町1)