This can’t-miss shrine is one of my favorites! I came here often when I studied abroad in Osaka, and I was really happy to be able to see it again on my recent trip to Kyoto. It’s got everything — impressive gates, plenty of greenery, a giant festival (one of the most...
When Hunter and I were planning out where we were going to visit during our 6 days in Kyoto, Bishamon-do wasn’t even on the list. I was actually just goofing off on Google Maps, exploring the area near where we were staying, when I happened to click on it. The first picture I saw...
After driving past field after field of cherries in Yamagata Prefecture, Hunter and I finally parked and made our way to 立石寺 (Risshaku-ji), more commonly known as 山寺 (Yama-dera). That 山寺 literally translates to “mountain temple” should give you some idea of what getting to...
What’s a goshuin, you ask? Simply put, they are the best things ever. To put it more informatively, they’re red and black collectable stamps that you can receive at many shrines and temples across Japan! They act as a kind of record, so people can always remember where they...