And we are back, to Japan that is! Spending at least one or two weeks there for the past 11 years as most of you know Japan has become somewhat of a second home to me. So this year I headed over there with two friends of mine (as this is typically my annual Boys Trip) one of which had never been. So we experienced many of the places we have already visited as well as some that we hadn’t. We began our trip in Toronto to Osaka going up to Kyoto and finally Tokyo where we spent the end of our trip before heading back home.
Osaka has quickly become one of my favourite cities besides Tokyo, mostly because it’s like Tokyo without some of the pretentiousness that comes with it. The feeling in Osaka is real! The city has a bit of that Tokyo vibe but all its own, a bit grungier, a bit more soul. It’s really quite refreshing if you’ve ever spent any time in Tokyo you will understand a bit better. Your first time in Osaka? You will be spending most of your time in Dotonburi, its the major hub for shopping, eating, and partying! If you are in the market for anything, you can basically find it there. it’s most lively at night, but like Shibuya in Tokyo, it’s busy any given time of day. The biggest attraction being the Glico Man who has been shining in all its neon greatness for the past 84 years….yes 84 YEARS! It was originally set up in 1935 and has since become the mascot of Osaka pretty much! I recommend to literally go into Dotonburi and just get lost, go up and down each street systematically and explore everything it has to offer. Osaka is very well known for it’s fried foods so be sure to stop in literally anywhere and pick something up to eat!
Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:
- Osaka T-Site
- Umeda Sky Building
- America Mura
- Shitennoji Temple
- Glico Man
- Dotonburi
- Osaka Station
- Shinsekai
- Osaka Castle
This is THE SPOT! If you want “Japan” in all its glory, Kyoto is the place to be. from it’s countless temples and shrines to Kinkakiju and Arashiyama, I could easily spend 2 months shooting Kyoto itself and it’s surrounding areas. where else can you find a walk through a bamboo forest, hike up a mountain through hundreds of Tori gates, visit a palace completely covered in gold leaf? Kyoto is my FAVOURITE city out of the big 3 to enjoy the culture and sightsee without all the hustle and bustle that goes on in Tokyo or Osaka.
Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:
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Kinkaku-ji
- Katsuoji Temple
- Shimogamo Jinja Shrine
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Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Gion District
- Philosophers Path
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Arashiyama Kimono Forest
- Yoshida Shrine
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- Kifune Shrine
- Yasaka Pagoda
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Kiyomizu-dera
What can I say about Tokyo I haven’t already said in other posts? Tokyo is and will probably always be like my second home. The only thing that seems to change is that I keep getting older and there are more tourists every year I visit. Some places shut down, new ones pop up in their place. but the vibe of Tokyo really hasn’t changed that much over the past 11 years. More and more Tokyo is catering to tourists now with English menus and signage.
Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:
- Teamlab Planets
- Teamlab Borderless
- Tokyo Tower
- Sensoji Temple
- Meiji Jinumae Shrine
- Kabukicho
- Shibuya Scramble
- Piss Alley (Shinjuku)
- Drunkards Alley (Shibuya)
- Anata No Warehouse (Kawasaki) [NOW CLOSED!!]
- Harajuku/Omotesando
For me Footwear is always a hot topic when discussing travel and Japan is no different. For me it’s absolutely essential to take a good pair of walking shoes, as I spend most of my time exploring and discovering new places. I’ve been on board with Merrell for some time now, from solid hiking shoes for more tropical destinations to water shoes they’ve got you covered. I’ve been rocking my Merrell Primer Leather shoes. I spent a good majority of my walking days with them and they held up, were comfortable and didn’t tire out my feet even after 20km+ walking days!
With all the travel I do, trying to save a buck wherever I can goes a long way in the long run. For those of you that don’t know, you can get Cash back every month on the purchases you make online using Rakuten.ca! Everything from my Amazon purchases, clothes, and electronics, getting cash back on my purchases has never been easier! Like this outfit I was rocking from H&M, and of course my workout gear I always pack when i travel!
Speaking of outfits, you can bet I always tend to pack one suit when I travel, mostly because I tend to take one night and go to either a find dining joint or a higher end party places that requires one. Plus it never hurts to look good fresh! I have a plethora of choices in my closet but opted to go with a nice lightweight cream coloured suit from Le Chateau, pretty happy with it, their styles have been evolving and the colours available are quite nice. Not to mention I’ve been buying dress shirts from Le Chateau for the last 15 years, maybe I’m a little biased but I do like the quality of their stuff!
For those that have Japan on your bucket list, it is still my top destination after visiting 20+ times I always find myself going back. It has literally something for everyone and 100000000% lives up to the hype! Let me know your experiences and how you feel after visiting!
