My Endless Discoveries of Japan
(Tokyo - Yamanashi - Osaka - Nara - Kyoto - Hiroshima - Kobe)
08 - 16 September 2018
It's been a year when I first started discovering the beauty of Japan. Up until now, I still remember every single moments of our trip during the Canon Photomarathon Asia Championship 2017. With that, I became more excited to go back and continue travelling around Japan and rediscover some of the places that I have been to. Again, thank you very much for spending some of your time to visit my blog and please enjoy my endless discoveries of Japan.
TOKYO
My trip started revisiting some of the places I have visited before in Tokyo like Daiba Park, Ginza, Tsukiji Market and especially the Asakusa where I witnessed previously one of the biggest festivals in Japan, the Sanja Matsuri. Of course there are some places that I really want to visit this time around like the Shibuya, Akihabara and Harajuku.
Tokyo Bay at Daiba Park
Ginza
Tsukiji Market
Senso-ji Temple at Asakusa
Shibuya Crossing
Akihabara
Harajuku
Kimono
Tokyo Skytree
YAMANASHI
Who wouldn't want to see the famous Mt. Fuji in their own eyes? I guess most of the tourists in Japan would likely find their way to see this iconic landmark in Japan. I have chosen to make my way to one of the five lakes around the Mt. Fuji, the Lake Kawaguchicko to get the best view of Mt. Fuji. I was very excited at first when I saw the mountain from the train and upon arrival at the place, the clouds are getting thicker at the top. It was a very unfortunate time for me at that morning and I kept on praying that the clouds will clear sooner. I spend hours at Oishi Park where you can see the best view of the mountain but I think she was too shy to show her majestic beauty. Then I went up near to the Mt. Tenjo by the Kachi Kachi Ropeway, another recommended way to see the Mt. Fuji. Alas! I finally get a nicer view, although there are still some clouds covering the top but still I get to see it for few minutes.
Lake Kawaguchicko
Mt. Fuji View at Oishi Park
Mt. Fuji
OSAKA
After few days around Tokyo, I have decided to go to Osaka and stay there until the rest of my stay in Japan. From there, each day I traveled to nearby cities like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe and all the way down to Hiroshima.
It was a very amazing to be in Osaka because of their rich culture and lots of places to visit. Of course, first in my bucket list is to eat in Dotonbori, a famous landmark of Osaka where you can slurp as many foods as you want. Okonomiyaki is a must try and one of their famous dish, it is a savory pancake that contains variety of ingredients such as cabbage and seafood grilled together.
Other places that I have visited are the Osaka Castle, Shinsekai Street, Tsutenkaku Tower, Shitennoji Temple, Osaka Musuem of History, Umeda Sky Building, HEP Five Ferris Wheel, Hozenji Temple, Shinsaibashi Shopping District and of course, the Universal Studios Japan.
Dotonbori
View of Osaka from the Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle
Shinsekai and the Tsutenkaku Tower
Shitennoji Temple
Shinsekai Street View from the Tsutenkaku Tower
Universal Studios Japan
NARA
One hour from the city Osaka, you'll find the amazing Deer Park of Nara. It was amazing to interact with the deer around but of course, tourists should pay attention that these are still wild animals and we must be careful at all times. Around the park, I have visited Kofukuji Temple, Nara's most celebrated shrine, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and one of the Nara's famous landmark, the Todaiji Temple.
Nara Deer Park
Deer around the Todaiji Temple
Kofukuji Temple
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Todaiji Temple
HIROSHIMA
Located in the western region of Chugoku, one of the largest city of western Honshu is the Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a two hour bullet train from the city of Osaka before you reach this City. One of the most visited island in Hiroshima is the Miyajima Island where you can see one of the World's Heritage Site - the Itsukushima Shrine. Other places that I have visited are the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Children's Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Castle and the Hondori Shopping Street.
Miyajima Island
Itsukushima Shrine
Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Hiroshima Castle
KYOTO
Once become the capital of Japan is the city of Kyoto, an island in Honshu that is famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, imperial palaces and shinto shrines. It is a 15 minutes bullet train ride from the city of Osaka and this place is a must to visit at least once in your life. Located near the city of Kyoto is one of their famous landmark with thousands of vermilion torii gates, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Other places that I have visited are Tofukuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Gion, Nishiki Market, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto Tower and of course their famous Starbucks inside a Japanese townhouse or Machiya.
Fushimi Inari Shrine Torii Gates
Tofukuji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo Groves
Kinkakuji Temple
Gion
Old Japanes Townhouses including the Starbucks Store at Ninen-zaka
Kyoto Tower and the City
KOBE
A city on the Osaka Bay in central Japan is widely known as Kobe. Famous for their signature marbled beef and scenic setting of mountains framing the harbor. Like Kyoto, it is also a 15 minutes bullet train ride from the city of Osaka. Here you can find the greatest divine falls in Japan, the Nunobiki Falls. Some of the places that I have visited are Kitano Ijinkan, Nankin-machi, Motomachi Shopping Street, Meriken Park, Kobe Port Tower and the Harbor Land Park.
Nunobiki Falls
Nunobiki Falls
Kitano Ijinkan
DANJIRI MATSURI FESTIVAL 2018
A cart-pulling festival that is held yearly in Kishiwada is the main highlight of my trip in Japan. It was amazing to be one of the many tourists witnessing this kind of festival in Japan. The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is a traditional festival in Osaka held every September. It features more than 20 Danjiri floats that represents every area of the city. Danjiri are large wooden carts in the shape of a shrine that is used every year for the cart-pulling festival throughout the streets of the town by the member of towns guild wearing their happi coat and head band.
markanthonylim|photography2018
Canon 5D Mark IV | Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Shibuya Crossing
Tokyo
Yamanashi
Osaka
Nara
Miyajima Island
Kobe
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Universal Studios Japan
Tokyo
OSAKA
After few days around Tokyo, I have decided to go to Osaka and stay there until the rest of my stay in Japan. From there, each day I traveled to nearby cities like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe and all the way down to Hiroshima.
It was a very amazing to be in Osaka because of their rich culture and lots of places to visit. Of course, first in my bucket list is to eat in Dotonbori, a famous landmark of Osaka where you can slurp as many foods as you want. Okonomiyaki is a must try and one of their famous dish, it is a savory pancake that contains variety of ingredients such as cabbage and seafood grilled together.
Other places that I have visited are the Osaka Castle, Shinsekai Street, Tsutenkaku Tower, Shitennoji Temple, Osaka Musuem of History, Umeda Sky Building, HEP Five Ferris Wheel, Hozenji Temple, Shinsaibashi Shopping District and of course, the Universal Studios Japan.
Dotonbori
View of Osaka from the Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle
Shinsekai and the Tsutenkaku Tower
Shitennoji Temple
Shinsekai Street View from the Tsutenkaku Tower
Universal Studios Japan
NARA
One hour from the city Osaka, you'll find the amazing Deer Park of Nara. It was amazing to interact with the deer around but of course, tourists should pay attention that these are still wild animals and we must be careful at all times. Around the park, I have visited Kofukuji Temple, Nara's most celebrated shrine, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and one of the Nara's famous landmark, the Todaiji Temple.
Nara Deer Park
Deer around the Todaiji Temple
Kofukuji Temple
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Todaiji Temple
HIROSHIMA
Located in the western region of Chugoku, one of the largest city of western Honshu is the Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a two hour bullet train from the city of Osaka before you reach this City. One of the most visited island in Hiroshima is the Miyajima Island where you can see one of the World's Heritage Site - the Itsukushima Shrine. Other places that I have visited are the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Children's Peace Memorial, Hiroshima Castle and the Hondori Shopping Street.
Miyajima Island
Itsukushima Shrine
Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Hiroshima Castle
KYOTO
Once become the capital of Japan is the city of Kyoto, an island in Honshu that is famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples, imperial palaces and shinto shrines. It is a 15 minutes bullet train ride from the city of Osaka and this place is a must to visit at least once in your life. Located near the city of Kyoto is one of their famous landmark with thousands of vermilion torii gates, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Other places that I have visited are Tofukuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Gion, Nishiki Market, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto Tower and of course their famous Starbucks inside a Japanese townhouse or Machiya.
Fushimi Inari Shrine Torii Gates
Tofukuji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo Groves
Kinkakuji Temple
Gion
Old Japanes Townhouses including the Starbucks Store at Ninen-zaka
Kyoto Tower and the City
KOBE
A city on the Osaka Bay in central Japan is widely known as Kobe. Famous for their signature marbled beef and scenic setting of mountains framing the harbor. Like Kyoto, it is also a 15 minutes bullet train ride from the city of Osaka. Here you can find the greatest divine falls in Japan, the Nunobiki Falls. Some of the places that I have visited are Kitano Ijinkan, Nankin-machi, Motomachi Shopping Street, Meriken Park, Kobe Port Tower and the Harbor Land Park.
Nunobiki Falls
Nunobiki Falls
Kitano Ijinkan
DANJIRI MATSURI FESTIVAL 2018
A cart-pulling festival that is held yearly in Kishiwada is the main highlight of my trip in Japan. It was amazing to be one of the many tourists witnessing this kind of festival in Japan. The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is a traditional festival in Osaka held every September. It features more than 20 Danjiri floats that represents every area of the city. Danjiri are large wooden carts in the shape of a shrine that is used every year for the cart-pulling festival throughout the streets of the town by the member of towns guild wearing their happi coat and head band.
markanthonylim|photography2018
Canon 5D Mark IV | Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Shibuya Crossing
Tokyo
Yamanashi
Osaka
Nara
Miyajima Island
Kobe
Kyoto
Hiroshima
Universal Studios Japan
Tokyo
