A Roundup of Restaurants We’ve Tried in Japan with Kids: Fine Dining and Reservation-Worthy Picks
If you’ve been to Japan, you probably already know that most fine dining restaurants there do not allow children—here meaning kids under 12. As a serious foodie, restaurant researc...
Osaka: St. Regis Osaka Stay, a Famous Tempura Restaurant, and a Former Top-Tier Sushi Spot
Three days of eating and shopping in Osaka, plus my flight experience from Osaka to Tokyo. The St. Regis Osaka After arriving in Osaka and getting off at Umeda Station, I didn’t ev...
On a Daily 10,000 RMB Antarctica Cruise, What Did We Do Every Day?
I took my first-ever trip to Antarctica on Polar Latitude’s Seaventure, a standard Antarctic Peninsula itinerary: 2 days crossing the Drake Passage + 4 days on the Antarctic Penins...
A Relaxed Day in "Kobe": Kobe Yakiniku, Japan’s Top-Ranked Himeji Castle, a Seaside Train Ride, and Night Views
“Himeji Castle is a castle located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Because of its white exterior walls, it is also known as White Heron Castle. Along with Kumamoto Castle...
Kobe: A Hotel with Amazing Views, Great for Families, Must-Try Kobe Beef, and the Highly Interactive Kobe Animal Kingdom
After saying goodbye to Arima, we set off to explore a new destination: Kobe. Famous Kobe beef is widely regarded as one of the most iconic varieties of Japanese wagyu and is celeb...
Arima Onsen | Soak in the Gold and Silver Baths, In-Room Massage, and a One-Night, Two-Meal Onsen Stay
Arima Onsen is one of Kobe’s attractions, and the Kobe Rokko cable car can also be taken to Arima. Our main goal was simply to soak in a hot spring, stay at an onsen hotel, and spe...
"Kyoto, Take Two": The Stark Contrast of Ninenzaka, and Goodbye to Park Hyatt Kyoto
Another entry in the early-morning walk series. As we gradually got over the jet lag, we also started waking up later each day. We got up early to take some practical photos of the...
Second Visit to Kyoto: One Meal Took Four Hours! Park Hyatt Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera, Cherry Blossoms, and the Ultimate Udon
Morning on Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka I kept seeing posts through cherry-blossom season showing how crowded Sannenzaka was, with lines so thick people couldn’t walk through. It was a...
A Second Visit to Kyoto: A Rainy Day During Cherry Blossom Season (Roku Kyoto, Finding Calm at Sanzen-in, the Philosopher’s Path, and a Yakiniku Restaurant)
Picking up from the previous post, after enjoying a wonderful kaiseki meal, we took a taxi back to the hotel to officially check in....
Second Trip to Kyoto: Roku Kyoto, the Best Cherry Blossom Spots, and a Surprisingly Great Kaiseki Meal
Last year, I only stayed in Kyoto for two days, so there were still many places I didn’t get to visit and I was left wanting more. This year, I went all in and stayed for five nigh...
Finally Made It to Machu Picchu—and It Cost Less Than Expected
Machu Picchu Another term from my middle-school geography textbook, finally unlocked. In the faint light of dawn, looking out over the full panorama of Machu Picchu—the "Lost City...