Plan of the Rising Son

Several of you have reached out about how we planned our trip to Japan, asking if we'd used a tour group or not. The short answer is no: Damian is my travel hero, more capable of putting together a dream vacation I will never forget than I am for myself! I'd like to flesh this out with photos and ephemera at some point. But in the interest of time, I'm going to start with just the lineup for now. xo

Osaka: 

Okawa river cruise 

Osaka Castle Park 

Kaiyukan (night aquarium) 

Himeji (aka White Heron) Castle (incl. Koko-en Garden) 

Yakushima: 

Stayed in Miyanoura, Hotel Yakushima Ocean & Forest 

Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, incl. Taikoiwa Rock and Bugyosugi Trails 

Kyoto: 

Gion (Geisha) district, incl. Hanamikoji (lanterns) and Pontocho (along canal) Streets, Kennin-ji and Yasaka shrines, as well as Miyako Odori geisha performance at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater 

Philosopher's Path (cherry blossoms along canal), starting at Nanzen-Ji Temple w/ large archway and park 

Sanjusangendo Temple (garden and long temple w/ 1,000 statues, near hotel) 

Nijo Castle (incl. garden w/ cherry blossom trees, tower terrace, and Ninomaru Palace w/ nightingale floor and tapestries) 

Tenryu-ji (botanical garden w/ large pond and cherry blossom trees, and temple complex), next to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest 

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (with red "torii" arches and fox statues along mountain path) 

Lake Kawaguchiko (Fuji Five Lakes): 

Fufu Kawaguchiko hotel w/ private onsen 

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum (ornate gate and little garden by hotel) 

Kawaguchiko North Coast Walking Trail (lakeside promenade) 

stairs to Chureito Pagoda w/ viewing platform of Mt. Fuji 

Tokyo: 

Stayed in Shinjuku District 

Shibuya Crossing (plus Tower Records nearby) 

Ueno Park (Sakura Boulevard, cherry blossom trees on both sides) 

Yoyogi Park (and Meiji Jingu shrine nearby with a few large gates) 

Kabukiza Theater (w/ kabuki single-act performance) 

Ginza Six mall w/ rooftop garden 

Cat Cafes: Mocha Lounge Ikebukuro (large) and Monta (small) 

Harajuku District and Omotesando Boulevard (large Beverly-Hills-esque) 

Kamakura: 

The Great Buddha at Kotoku-In temple 

Kamakura Hasedera temple (hillside with ocean view and gardens) 

Matsumoto (aka Crow) Castle (in Nagano Prefecture w/ mountains)