Japan needs no introduction. Although winter is not the most popular season to visit Japan (except for skiing), the country is breaking records for tourism with every passing month thanks to a very weak yen.
Travel thought: Japan has been stuck living in the year 2000 for the past 50 years. Will Japan’s economy recover in the next decade, or is it doomed to fail due to the declining population?
Tourist info at the airport guiding you straight to the anime
The famous Glico Running Man sign
Osaka Castle is a favorite photo spot, for obvious reasons
Giant stones used in the fortifications of Osaka Castle
Osaka Umeda sky building
The attention to small details is visible everywhere. Orange cones don’t fit the neighborhood aesthetic? No problem, we can fix that.
A tiny countertop dishwasher, free kawaii included
Even construction must include kawaii
Caution: this door knows karate
Gion district at night
Everyone’s favorite children’s book just got new graphics: Cat in the Hat
The Chiikawa craze is visible across the entire country. You can’t escape it.
Kyoto is a smaller city in Japan. The Kyoto train station is… not so small
Montbell, Japan’s answer to outdoor brands like Patagonia, North Face, and others
Nitrogen infused loose leaf tea, anyone?
Japan’s oldest teahouse in Uji: Tsuen, since 1160
Ready to catch some Pokemon?!
Yes, there is Pokemon noodle
Titanium chopsticks: only for the most adventurous of eaters. Pairs perfectly with Pokemon noodle
Kyoto at night
Kyoto during the day
Forget a smartphone, you need the Robohon robot phone
Forget having friends, you can hang out with robots
Kyoto station. This is what they call just a small city
Only in Japan is Yahoo still considered high tech
Giant sanmon in Nanzen-ji temple area
Kyoto temple perfection
Gio-ji moss garden
Gio-ji moss garden is hard to beat
Oba-in in Daitokuji
Tatami mats at Sesshu-ji at Tofukuji during a surprisingly quiet visit
View from Sesshu-ji at Tofukuji
Mandatory sushi photo
Mandatory wagyu beef yakiniku photo
The exclusive matcha parfait at the Nakamura Toichi main store
Views overlooking Uji, matcha capital of the world
River view on the outskirts of Arashiyama
Byodo-in in Uji, a famous temple found on Japan’s 10 yen coin
Bamboo
The Hachiko statue may be at Shibuya, but this photobooth is much more fun
Garden perfection at Adachi Gardens
It’s hard to get more perfect than this
The Shunkaen Bonsai Museum is absolutely amazing
This bonsai is 1000 years old
Look at the delicate little red maple leaves!!
Bonsai with a bridge
Bonsai with sakura
Even MORE bonsai
A very cool cafe entrance
Tsutaya in Daikanyama is an amazing bookstore
Tsutaya in Ginza6 is also fantastic
Should all restaurants deliver food to tables with a cat robot? Yes, yes they should
If you want to buy chiikawa food…
you have to wait in line for over 1 hour. There is NO line for the same food without the branding
And if you want to buy other chiikawa items… sorry, sold out
Claw games with cute prizes
Can you handle the extreme cuteness??
A deer admiring the view at Miyajima Island
The REAL dogwifhat
Flying fish? Or just dolphins performing?
The zen garden themed train to Osaka
Okayama castle
Himeji castle
Himeji garden
The first manga in Japan, Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga
Omotesando is a polished part of Tokyo. Shiny, even
The Okinawa pineapple park features all things pineapple
Baskin Robbins? No, this is Okinawa’s Blue Seal
Sakura season is a special time in Japan
When it’s sakura season, EVERYONE is at the park
Shibuya scramble from above
Shinkansen at Tokyo Station
Shinkansen at Tokyo Station
Inside the shinkansen, with a snack!
Street artist drawing with only water
Sushi overload
Now this looks like a teashop I would enjoy!
The Tokyo Imperial Garden’s pines with skyscrapers behind
Wagyu for dinner
The Okinawa aquarium is one of the few in the world to feature a whaleshark
Watching a whaleshark is even better while drinking whaleshark-themed tea
The whaleshark steals the show
Penguins love feeding time
Seal-themed hotdogs, anyone?
Fish perched on a shell
