Where am I – Japan (Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka & Kamakura)

Duration – Three weeks (during May)

Suitable for – Just about every type of traveller. It has cultural experience, natural beaty and heaps of adventure!

Is Japan really just as good as everyone says it is…?

My three weeks in Japan was nothing like I had ever experienced. You always hear about how amazing Japan is and wonder ‘is it really just as good as everyone says it is?’… YES – yes it is!!

Tokyo & Surrounds

Like most travellers, I started my journey in Tokyo — Japan’s largest city with over 14 million people. No matter where you go it feels like rush hour, but somehow it just works. Despite the crowds, I absolutely loved it! The Tokyo metro system is incredible — fast, clean, and connects you to every major attraction with ease.

My first five days in Tokyo were packed with sightseeing and activities (Senso-Ji Temple, Ueno Park, Yanaka, Mt Fuji, teamLabs Planets, Imperial Palace, Shibuya Sky and Meiji Jingu). And LOTS of shopping!

The highlight for me was Mt. Fuji. We were lucky to have clear skies and could see the mountain in all its glory. If you have a spare day, I highly recommend visiting Lake Kawaguchiko. The views are stunning, and there are great restaurants and shops nearby. Just beware — it’s a popular day trip, so it can get very crowded.

Kanazawa

Next, we took the bullet train (about 2.5 hours) to Kanazawa. The bullet trains are amazing — smooth, fast, and comfortable. We brought snacks on board to enjoy while watching the scenery fly by (literally!).

Kanazawa is gorgeous and compact — you can see most of it in a day. We explored Higashi Chaya Gai, a beautifully preserved historical district that feels like a “mini Kyoto,” but without the heavy crowds. Of course, we tried the famous gold leaf ice cream — delicious! We also visited Kenroku-en Garden, considered one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens. It’s quite large, so picking up a map is helpful. Even with the crowds, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. Right across the street is Kanazawa Castle, another highlight with its own lovely garden.

Kyoto & Nara

Moving onto to Kyoto! During our 4nts here we visited Kinkakuji temple, Arashiyama, Nijo Castle, Fushimi-Inari, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the Gion corner. I loved all of these places, but nothing beats my jaw dropping when I saw the Kinkakuji temple – which is indeed covered in real gold leaf! Visiting later in the afternoon meant fewer crowds, which made it even better. I also really enjoyed my time at Arashiyama. The bamboo forest was stunning but very crowded so I did find myself walking through this part quicker than I would have liked. I went on a 20min boat ride around the base of the forest which I really enjoyed as it was very calming and the views were spectacular. I did a walking tour of the Gion corner, and we were lucky enough to see three working Geisha on our travels (which is apparently not very common!). Learning about their culture and seeing the teahouses where they work was fascinating.

From Kyoto, I took a day trip to Nara, known for its friendly (and persistent!) wild deer. The main park is close to the train station which is perfect for arrival and departure via train. You can buy rice crackers for about 200 yen (AUD $2-ish) to feed the deers. Be warned…they’ll nudge you until you hand one over which I found out the hard way! It was hilarious watching other tourists have the same experience.

I visited the Kofuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple and Isuien Gardens. The Todai-ji temple was super busy so I only viewed it from afar. I really enjoyed my time at the Isuien Gardens. There weren’t many people when I went so I was able to enjoy each part of the garden at my own speed. The garden was very well preserved and is taken care of regularly.

Osaka & Surrounds

Next stop - Osaka! We went straight to Dotonbori, the city’s famous entertainment and shopping district, and of course stopped by Don Quijote to buy way too many snacks and souvenirs. Later that night we visited the teamLab Botanical Garden and it was amazing. It was very interactive and they only let a certain amount of people in at a time (it starts from 8pm) so you didn’t feel rushed going around. It was a highlight, I feel more people should know about it!

While in Osaka, I couldn’t miss Universal Studios. Despite a rainy start, the weather cleared, and it ended up being one of the best days of the trip. The Express Pass was totally worth it — we got on rides quickly, and everything was so well designed. The highlight for me was the Harry Potter World section — we spent two hours there! The staff were so kind and cheerful, I couldn’t stop smiling all day.

From Osaka, we did a day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima. It was an early wake up to catch the train to Hiroshima, but it was worth it. From Hiroshima, we caught a local train to Miyajimaguchi and then a short 10-minute ferry to Miyajima Island, where more wild deer greeted us (this time I didn’t buy any food!). We visited the famous red torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine — though the tide was in, so we couldn’t walk up to it. We also shopped along Omotesando Street, the island’s lively main strip, before heading back to Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, we visited the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. The museum was crowded but deeply moving. Seeing the photos and stories of survivors was emotional and unforgettable.

Kamakura & Nikko

Heading back to Tokyo, we stopped for one night in Kamakura. Kamakura is a popular day trip from Tokyo but there is so much to see that I squeezed in an overnight stay here. The train station is right in the heart of the city so you can easily explore. Some sightseeing we did was visit the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Hasedera Temple and Great Daibutsu. We also did a bit of shopping in the main area and headed over to the beach where people were enjoying water sports and swimming. Next time, I’d love to visit nearby Enoshima Island, just a short 30min train ride away.

Back in Tokyo, I squeezed in one last day trip to Nikko and was so happy I did. We took a day trip via bus. Nikko isn’t too far from Tokyo so it only took about 2hrs to reach it. We visited the famous Toshogu Shrine which was breathtaking. There are over 500 carvings in the shine, the detail was crazy! From here, we headed to Kegon Falls which was a very windy road up to the waterfall. You have to take an elevator (which is imbedded in the bedrock!) down 100 levels. It takes about 3mins in total travel time. This is payable at about 600 yen but there is a free viewing platform from above. When the elevator doors opened, it was instantly 10 or so degrees cooler than above the waterfall. The waterfall itself is amazing and worth the money down to the platform. It was also very quite down where the waterfall is, and you can only hear the sound of the water splashing against the rocks at a high speed. Definitely another highlight of my trip! We ended the day at Chuzenji Lake, just 10 minutes away, enjoying a peaceful walk by the water before heading back. It was very windy going back down to mountain, but it was very cool to see – our bus driver had everyone on the edge of their seats!

Sayonara Japan - sadly.

My time in Japan was truly unforgettable. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the peaceful temples of Kyoto and the emotional history of Hiroshima — every place had something special. Japan is one of those destinations everyone should visit at least once in their life…maybe more than once. Next time I hope to explore further north.

Japan: Katrina

Hong Kong: Hugh