• Nanzen-Ji Temple and Dinner at Asuka

    Across the street from the Keage Subway station and the Westin Miyako Hotel, is an arched entrance to a brick lined tunnel with leads to the Southern end of the Philosopher’s Walk. This pathway follows a canal lined with cherry…

  • A Visit To Kyoto’s Nijo Castle

    After our morning filled with food, we finally make it onto the subway and exit across the street from Nijo Castle where we’d attempted to walk to the day before in driving wind and rain. Tip: we bought a 600 yen…

  • Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and Daimaru Depachicka (Food Hall)

    Kyoto’s Nishiki Market Street If you’re interested in food, when researching Kyoto, it’s almost impossible not to come across references to Nishiki street. This market is often referred to as an “alley” but really, it’s quite clean and comfortable because…

  • Kyoto; Westin Miyako Hotel Review

    Kyoto; Westin Miyako Hotel Review We arrive into Kyoto station on the Shinkansen train from Tokyo and head outside to in search of the hotel’s free shuttle bus which turns out not to be clearly marked. It’s located where all the…

  • Shinkansen Tokyo to Kyoto and Our First Okonimiyaki

    Taking the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto Our reservation is on the 8am Shinkansen train from Tokyo station to Kyoto and it’s raining. Hard. On a nice day, without luggage, it’s about a 10 minute walk from the Tokyo…

  • Tips and Observations For A First Time Traveler To Japan

    I’ll admit, I was intimidated by the thought of traveling to Japan. Even though I’m fairly well traveled in Asia, I knew things would be different. There’s the language issue, etiquette, unfamiliar food and even with the research I did, I found…