Number 1 most visited shrine in Japan by foreigners according to TripAdvisor 2014, 2015, and 2016? Fushimi Inari! It is popular among foreigners for the mountain trails that lead into Mount Inari, considered sacred in Shinto. It is known for its multitudes of brilliant red torii gates and dozens of fox statues— torii gates marking…
Category: Travel
Kenroku-en Gardens, Kanazawa, Japan
Considered one of The Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kenroku-en (meaning “having six factors”) was thus named for having the six attributes that comprise the perfect garden landscape: antiquity, artifice, magnificent views, spaciousness, tranquility, and waterways. The spectrum of flowering trees allows the garden to be beautiful throughout all four seasons. In the spring, plum…
Takayama, Japan
Dubbed as Little Kyoto of the Japanese Alps, Takayama —meaning “tall mountain”— (sometimes Hida-Takayama) in Gifu Prefecture, is an ancient feudal city known for its Edo-style preserved old town. Despite its distance from the rest of Japan, it gained prosperity during the Edo period when the city was placed under direct control of the shogunate…
Visitor Tips for Art in Island, Manila
Yes, I had been living under a rock for the last few years so I’m probably one of the last to come to Art in Island but late is better than never! Speaking of rocks, here’s me on one: In case you haven’t been here either, you too can be part of the spectacularly painted 3D…
From Osaka to Gion, Kyoto with Lunch
From Osaka to Kyoto, there are several travel options and the most convenient/ quickest will depend on where you are coming from in Osaka. If you have the JR Pass with unlimited train rides, from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto is a 15 minute train ride but you will need to make train changes from where you…
What to Do If You Fall From A Train Platform
… at least from this station…
Feed the Birds: George C. Reifel Sanctuary
Situated next to Westham Island’s flat marshlands and farms, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, British Columbia provides food and rest for millions of migrating birds. Originally, the farms and fishing communities in this area along the Fraser River were safeguarded with dikes. Other areas in further islands were not reinforced with dikes…
The Old Spaghetti Factory, Gastown
It was quite a hike from our downtown hotel to Gastown but it was our entertainment to get a higher figure for the pedometer every day so we explored this neighborhood that’s a National Historic Site of Canada. (It has a different vibe in the daytime than the last time I came here on a…
Exploring Vancouver in Water Taxis
If you don’t mind walking for exercise, it’s easy to get around Vancouver via buses, trains, and water taxis (Aqua Bus and False Creek Ferries)! False Creek Ferries also offers sightseeing cruises. This is a fun way of exploring the city. Just bring a lightweight umbrella and shoes with good nonslip rubber soles. This is…
Mink Chocolates, Vancouver
Award-winning Mink Chocolates are preservative-free artisan chocolate bars made in small batches with Belgian chocolate. Among their many interesting flavors they have are Fountain of Youth (with blueberries and goji berries) No Grumpy (organic espresso) Open In Case Of Emergency (Kentucky Bourbon and fresh mint in chocolate ganache) PB Wannabe (almond butter and organic grape…
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 