Northern Kyoto boasts one of the most famous temples in Kyoto and perhaps in Japan, the opulent Kinkakuji or ‘Golden pavilion’. Kinkakuji was built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu the shogun as his retirement villa in 1397. Yoshimitsu was instrumental in reopening trade with China and importing goods such as green tea and pottery, he was a…
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Nishiki markets are in central Kyoto and easily accessible from Kyoto station. The market is five blocks long and packed with fresh food stalls, shops and all things food related, no wonder it’s nicknamed, Kyoto’s kitchen. What to buy Kyoto is known for so many foods, however, these are some of the foods recommended to…
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Arashiyama is in the Western area of Kyoto. It is a little further away than other sites in Kyoto and can get busy particularly in autumn and sakura seasons. However, it is a beautiful area and the kids enjoyed it as there are lots of areas to explore. These were our three favourite things and…
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Kyoto is the capital of old Japan, it is a picturesque city steeped with history and tradition with streets that make you feel as though you have stepped back in time. Kyoto is known for its breathtaking scenery, particularly its Autumn colours. There are temples of gold set above tranquil ponds, moss gardens, sand gardens,…
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Gunkanjima, translated as Battleship Island, because it’s an island that looks like the outline of a battleship. Gunkanjima or Hashima Island is an abandoned mining community where miners and their families lived. This island has concrete remains of houses and schools, eerily abandoned when the underground mines closed in 1974. The only way to get…
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The Peace Park in Nagasaki, is a place of remembrance of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945 during WW2. It is located near the hypocentre of the explosion and consists of two parks and Museum. The black monolith commemorates the Hypocentre of the explosion. Nearby is a portion of the Urakami cathedral that was…
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Nara deer park you can walk among the 1200 wild deer that freely roam around the park each day. Deer were considered messengers of the gods, they are now a national treasure. Throughout the park, stalls sell deer crackers which you can feed to the deer, they will bow first to ask for food before…
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Todai-ji temple is a wooden Buddhist temple built in 752. The main temple is the largest wooden structure in the world and houses a 15m tall bronze statue of Buddha. The Nandaimon or Great South Gate leads up to the temple and is guarded by two fierce statues the Ni-o or two kings of Todai-ji.…
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We do not claim to be a skiing family or experts of any sort! This post if for families like us that want to check out Japan and spend some time in the snow while they are there. Here are our suggestions for planning and organising your trip. Decide which ski field to visit This…
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Japan is home to 500 ski fields! With so much choice it can be hard to know where to visit. Deciding where to go will depend very much on what you want to experience. Do you want a big ski village with lots of options of slopes? Do you want to stay close to Tokyo…
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