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Ah, Kyoto. Japan's former capital is chock full of history, must-see temples and sites, amazing food, wannabe geishas and hordes of tourists. We spent three days and nights stuffing our faces with everything we didn't try in Tokyo and worked it off by hitting the pavement to see some of Japan's oldest and most beautiful and important relics.
When we were deciding what to see and do in Japan, one day trip that we both agreed had to be part of our plan was Naoshima, a small island in the Seto Inland Sea and a three hour journey from Kyoto. In recent years, the island has become a draw for Japanese and international tourists alike, who flock to see the impressive collection of contemporary architecture, art museums and exhibits.
Mist blows slowly from the crevices running up the lush mountains, while a green tunnel of trees transports you into a more spiritual realm. The trail is 1,000 years old. 1,000 years! And as we enter the first gate, and begin climbing up the neatly groomed trail with vibrant green moss, I can't help but realize it is exactly what we need.
Hakone can only be described as magical. Two hours outside of Tokyo, we were oohing and aahing at every turn of the Hakone Tozan Railway, a miniature train that maneuvered down grassy, hydrangea-lined tracks through tiny tunnels, switchbacks, and little mountain villages.
Everywhere we've been in Tokyo, it has been hard not to notice the beauty, perfection, innovation and quirkiness of each area. However, occasionally, we were also able to escape the crowds, luxury brand stores, and Michelin-starred restaurants to find some gems.
Lost. And late. We meandered down a Tokyo alley in a light drizzle.
After asking a few strangers, a security guard ushered us to a pebbled entranceway, where a red and blue curtain marked the spot. We poked through, and found a locked sliding door and a small black doorbell.
We did a very touristy thing in Tokyo today...and we loved it! We woke up at 3am (thank you jetlag) and headed over to the Tsukiji Fish Market to witness the daily tuna auction. While the auction was once open to the public, they now only allow the first 60 people that show up when the office opens. Lucky for us, we made it!
After a 2 hour wait in a holding area, we were escorted into a huge warehouse filled with fishermen, buyers, auctioneers, and of course, a few hundred tuna carcasses.
For our first night in Tokyo, we headed to Omae XEX Teppanyaki. The restaurant was beautiful...but empty! We were a little nervous, but once the food started coming out, we were put at ease. This is nothing like your local hibachi restaurant!
After walking around all day, racking up a list of funny cultural differences, we decided to do a recurring post about each country. First up, Country #1 - Japan...