July 11, 2020

Mount Misen

July 11, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

While in Miyajima we made the trip up to the peak of Mount Misen where we were treated to some gorgeous views of the nearby sea and islands. The mountain itself is part of the World Heritage site of the Itsukushima Shrine. Founded by Kukai, one of Japan’s most famous monks, it is home to the Daisho-in temple and a flame that has been burning for over 1200 years. It is a popular tourist spot for locals, and from the top of the mountain there are breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

July 08, 2020

Itsukushima Shrine

July 08, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Miyajima is home to one of the most iconic locations in all of Japan: Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii gate. The large vermillion gate emerging from the water is quite the sight to behold and is beautiful with both high and low tides.

July 04, 2020

Watanabe Inn

July 04, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

During our time at Miyajima we stayed at the Watanabe Inn. Once we arrived at the island we decided to walk to our ryokan rathan than call and have them pick us up. Since we walked, we had to traverse through the main part of the town full of restaurants and stores. We left the main touristy areas to find our ryokan, which is nestled in the midst of the Japanese houses on the island, right next to a bubbling brook and near a shrine and a Buddhist temple. The Watanabe Inn is a ryokan housed in a traditional Japanese building and is run by the Watanabe family. It only has 3 rooms, and it is lovely and intimate!

July 01, 2020

Kegon Falls

July 01, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Lake Chuzenji’s only outlet is the Daiya River which begins at the eastern end of the lake. Shortly after the start of the river it drops down a cliff of the Akechidaira Plateau and forms the gorgeous Kegon Falls as the river makes its way towards the valley below. Kegon Falls is considered one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. With the waterfall being only 5 minutes from our ryokan, we made sure to stop by.

June 27, 2020

Ryuzu Falls

June 27, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

At the north end of Lake Chuzenji along the Yu River is Ryuzu Falls. Ryuzu Falls is known as one of the five best waterfalls in Nikko. Getting to the falls is less than a 10 minute drive from the town area at the east end of the lake. The drive took us through a lovely tree lined road that goes along the shore of the lake.

June 20, 2020

Akechidaira Ropeway

June 20, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

On the way up the winding NR 120 from Nikko to Lake Chuzenji is a small rest stop overlooking the slope and road below. Here snacks and ice cream can be purchased, but the reason we stopped was the Akechidaira Ropeway and its amazing view.

June 17, 2020

Kanmangafuchi Abyss

June 17, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Nikko is a beautiful town that offers so much to visitors, but we wanted to get away from the crowds for a bit. So we headed to the Kanmangafuchi Abyss to enjoy a quiet stroll. Don’t let the ominous name throw you off, it’s a fantastic walk through a very old walking trail.

June 13, 2020

Hippari-Dako

June 13, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

After a long morning of exploring the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, we wanted to get some lunch. So we walked back towards the train station and found Hippari-Dako. Located just a few minutes walk from the Shinkyo Bridge, Hippari-Dako is a small yakitori shop with some fantastic food. Their menu features a variety of items beyond yakitori, including ramen, yakisoba, yuba (tofu skin), sashimi, curry rice, tonkotsu, tempura soba, and much more.

June 10, 2020

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

June 10, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

On the western end of Nikko lies the massive complex that is collectively known as the Shrines and Temples of Nikko. The complex is comprised of the Futarasan Shrine, Tosho-gu Shrine, Rinno-ji Temple, and Taiyu-in Temple. This very culturally significant site is further enhanced by the gorgeous forest surrounding it.

June 06, 2020

Shinkyo Bridge

June 06, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Spanning the Daiya River in Nikko is the Shinkyo Bridge. This bridge is known as one of the three finest bridges in Japan. Its striking vermillion color and traditional design combined with the river and surrounding hills make it a very picturesque scene.

June 05, 2020

Kai Nikko Kaiseki

June 05, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Our time at the Kai Nikko was fantastic, and one of the best parts of it, besides the amazing view from our room of Lake Chuzenji, was the food. As with other ryokans, Kai Nikko serves kaiseki meals for dinner. These meals usually offer seasonal and regional ingredients, and the regional specialty for Nikko is yuba.

May 31, 2020

Kai Nikko

May 31, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

The Kai Nikko is a high-end modern styled ryokan on the western outskirts of Nikko. The ryokan sits on shore of Lake Chuzenji with many rooms boasting amazing views of the lake and nearby Mount Nantai.

May 27, 2020

Okunoin

May 27, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

The main reason we came to Koyasan, besides staying at a shukubo, was to visit Okunoin. Okunoin (pronounced: Oku-no-in) is the largest graveyard in Japan, with over 200,000 tombstones, and is the holiest place in all of Koya. It is here that the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, rests. It is believed that he, instead of dying, is awaiting the return of the future Buddha: Maitreya.

May 23, 2020

Fudouin

May 23, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Koyasan is on Mount Koya and is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. We were fortunate enough to be able to stay at Fudou-in, a Buddhist temple, in the town. Koyasan is located in the mountains just a two-hour train ride south of Osaka. Getting to Koyasan required a ride on a rural train with a few change-overs. Eventually we got to Gokurakubashi Station and took a cable car up the mountain to our final stop. From the station we took a cab through Koyasan to our lodgings at Fudou-in.

May 20, 2020

Nishimuraya Honkan

May 20, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

During our time in Kinosaki Onsen we stayed at the exquisite Nishimuraya Honkan. This ryokan has numerous awards and recently was added to the Relais & Châteaux group of hotels and restaurants. The wood structure of this ryokan dates back over 150 years and the latest addition was added in 1960 by the prominent architect Masaya Hirata. From its walled exterior the ryokan doesn’t look like anything special, but once we entered into it, we realized this was an experience we would never forget.

May 16, 2020

Kinosaki

May 16, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Kinosaki is a hot springs town on the western shore of the main island of Japan. As in Tamatskuri, the last hot springs town we stayed in, a small river wound its way through the center of this town, crisscrossed many times with sturdy stone bridges and lined with small willowy green trees. The roads are narrow and crowded with storefronts, restaurants, and hotels clustered together. The architecture of these buildings is pleasant and traditional.

May 13, 2020

Kai Izumo

May 13, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

In a small town just outside Matsue, called Tamatsukuri, we stayed at the lovely Kai Izumo. The Kai Izumo is a high-end ryokan that takes the traditional aspects and design of a ryokan and melds it with a more modern feel.

May 10, 2020

Tamatsukuri

May 10, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

During our time in Matsue we stayed in the small town of Tamatsukurionsen. It is just one train stop west from the start of Matsue and is a quiet little getaway from the city. Like many small towns, it clings along the banks of a creek with a few side streets springing from along the banks. It’s a quiet little town with very little traffic from either vehicles or pedestrians. Tamatsukurionsen lies within the Izumo region and is known for its hot springs. The waters of the onsen here are known to promote healing and thus, the town is lined with many ryokan.

May 06, 2020

Kinkaku-ji Temple: The Golden Pavilion

May 06, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Kinkaku-ji Temple, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, is the most famous temple in Japan. Kinkaku-ji Temple is located in northwestern Kyoto and is easily reached by bus or taxi. It is a short 5 minute bus ride or 20 minute walk from Ryoan-Ji Temple to the west. We arrived at the temple on a rainy day just before lunch time. Even the inclement weather did not stop crowds of tourists from visiting one of the most popular temples in the country.

May 02, 2020

Kikunoi

May 02, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

During our stay in Kyoto our hotel managed to get us reservations at Kikunoi for lunch. Kikunoi is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world for kaiseki cuisine, and holds a 3-star Michelin rating. Located in eastern Kyoto, Kikunoi is nestled in a quiet charming neighborhood just south of Yasaka Shrine.