If the capital city of Tokyo is the modern mind of Japan, and Kyoto is the cultural heart, then Osaka is definitely the country's stomach. Together, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are referred to as the Golden Route, the country's most visited cities. Yodo River View on Train Ride from Kyoto to Osaka If you're short on time, the great news is that Osaka is less than 30 minutes from Kyoto by train, meaning that if you're planning to visit one of these two cities, you can easily acc

I launched this Kyoto series with a restaurant called Kikunoi Roan that made my " Greatest Hits " list. Kikunoi Roan epitomizes everything I loved about the food in Kyoto, and for that matter, Japan. Everything is done with intention and precision, there is a balance between innovation and restraint and every ingredient is flawlessly fresh. Tanghulu Vendor For example, in Kyoto and Tokyo, I had the opportunity to try what is known as luxury fruit, or fruit cultivated with

In addition to the places I suggested in my last post , below are five additional recommendations for how to spend your time in the beautiful city of Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji Temple Kinkaku-ji Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Temple is a must see in Kyoto. It was originally constructed as the retirement villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. After his death, and per his wishes, it was converted to a Zen Buddhist temple. The three story pavilio

I boarded the Shinkansen in Tokyo, my home base during my travels in Japan, and headed west toward Kyoto . Traveling aboard the Shinkansen is one of the quiet pleasures of moving between cities in Japan. It provides a journey defined by efficiency, punctuality and relaxation. Like many travelers, I stopped at a nearby 7‑Eleven to pick up a meal for my two and a half hour ride to Kyoto. Ham and Egg Sandwich As you can see, 7-Elevens in Japan offer high-quality meals like n

Higashiyama District Kyoto is both a city and one of Japan's two urban prefectures. It is nestled in the heart of Honshu, surrounded by majestic mountains and replete with streets that embody the essence of Old Japan. Takase River In Kyoto, time seemed to move in a different way. It didn't pass, so much as it gathered. It moved with intention, making the pauses between events, events in and of themselves. I could try to describe it by painting a picture with metaphors,

Kaiseki is the pinnacle of Japanese haute cuisine, refined over centuries in Kyoto and deeply influenced by Zen aesthetics and the formal structure of a Japanese tea ceremony. While it may have roots as a modest, pre-tea meal, today, it is a highly codified, culinary art form where flavor, color, texture, seasonality, and presentation are balanced with ceremonial discipline.

I came to Japan with very few expectations. I wanted to take in the experience as it presented itself and enjoy the adventure and excitement that accompanies uncertainty. That said, I did have some goals in mind and seeing Mount Fuji was among them, as the mountain, with its graceful conical form, has become symbolic of Japan itself. From day one, I was chasing the legend across the skyline, scanning between buildings and searching in the distance for that perfect, maybe fl

Armed with a brief introduction to Tokyo and several restaurant suggestions from my previous posts , you may be wondering what activities and sightseeing opportunities Tokyo has to offer. In addition to a trip to Shibuya to watch the famous Shibuya Scramble crossing and to Toyosu Market , for excellent sushi at the world's largest seafood market (both of which I have already written about), below are three suggestions for things to do while in Tokyo. Take in the View First,

As promised in my last post dedicated to foreign cuisine in Tokyo, in this post, I will focus solely on local specialities. Hibiki The first restaurant on this Tokyo food adventure is a hidden gem nestled in Meguro that was recommended by my family, who are locals. Every ingredient that the chef sources is fresh, and often rare, because the restaurant features a seasonal omakase menu. Radish To cleanse and prepare our palate for the courses to come, we were given a small pi

One fact that I have not yet mentioned while writing this series on Japan, is that the reason I was able to stay in the country for so long (almost six weeks) was because I stayed with my family, who lives in Tokyo. My cousin, who I grew up with in California, relocated to Tokyo with his wife almost ten years ago. Meguro, Tokyo They, along with my niece and nephew, live in Meguro, a part of Central Tokyo. Meguro seemed to have everything one could want, pedestrian-friendly

The late, great, author, chef and traveler, Anthony Bourdain once said, "If I had to eat only in one city for the rest of my life, Tokyo would be it." I wholeheartedly agree. And if there is a living, breathing heart of Tokyo's food culture, I propose that it is Toyosu Market. Auction Floor, Toyosu Market Opened in 2018 as the successor to the legendary Tsukiji Market, once the world's largest seafood market, Toyosu is now the home of the world-famous fish auctions. Buye

Japanese Violet Blossom, First Snow Sapporo, Hokkaido I started writing this blog in late 2022, a year filled with more change and loss than perhaps any other in my adult life. What started as a single idea has blossomed into a journey of growth through the fleeting, yet beautiful, moments that writing has helped me capture. Writing this 200th post feels less like crossing a finish line and more like pausing on a long, exquisite journey, to reflect with gratitude on every st