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Category Archives: Asia

Visiting the Edo-Tokyo Museum

UPDATE: The Edo-Tokyo Museum will be temporarily closed for renovations from April 1, 2022 until 2025 or early 2026. The entire facility will be renovated including displays, equipment and more. It’s not very often that I go out of my way to visit museums when I travel, but once in a while I find one...

Feeding Deer in Nara Park, Japan

Entering into the heart of Nara Park we are greeted by a small, friendly deer wandering freely throughout the grounds. Approaching us, the deer bows its head down, as if to say hello. “Oh, so cute! Look how she’s bowing her head,” I enthusiastically announced to Mike. “I think she’s politely asking for some deer...

Nikko Toshogu Shrine- Japan’s Most Lavish Shrine

When I hear a place described using the words “best” or “most”, I become skeptical of the claim. Sometimes I’m even disappointed upon visiting, since not every place warrants such high praise. However, that was not the case with Nikko Toshogu Shrine- it absolutely lives up to the hype of being called Japan’s most lavishly...

A Day Trip to Nikko, Japan

For our last day in Japan, we decided to ditch the hustle and bustle of modern Tokyo, and head to the forested area of Nikko for one last opportunity to experience the traditions, spirituality and natural beauty of Japan. Nikko is a Buddhist-Shinto religious centre, its shrines and temples scattered among the hilly woodlands. At...

Photo of the Week: Sake Barrels at Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine

During our two weeks in Japan, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful sake barrels that were piled on top of each other at Shinto shrines. Called kazaridaru, these “decoration barrels” are physically empty, but hold immense spiritual significance. Sake (Japanese rice wine) has long been an important part of Japanese culture. Traditionally, sake is...

Himeji Castle- A National Treasure of Japan

“Ooh…it’s so elegant,” I exclaimed as we approached Himeji Castle, the largest castle in Japan. Its bright white walls, delicate decorations and grey roof tiles gleamed brightly, even through the light mist of a rainy spring morning. Himeji Castle, as we would soon find out, is a popular place. It survives as one of Japan’s...

How to Spend 3 Days in Kyoto- Our Itinerary

A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting Kyoto. It’s a city full of enchanting sites- geisha hurrying down dark streets, ancient temples rich with spiritual tradition, a natural beauty that is both appreciated and celebrated, especially during cherry blossom season. We spent 3 days in Kyoto and it was just enough time...

Kyoto’s To-ji Temple- By Day and By Night

The rain was coming down hard during our visit to To-ji Temple, but not enough to conceal its simplistic beauty. Finding shelter under our umbrella, we dodged puddles as we walked down the gravel path. Pink-blossomed cherry trees lined its edge, leading the way to To-ji’s five storied pagoda, a symbol of Kyoto. As we...

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We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!

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