A short drive from Montezuma Castle is Montezuma Well, which is part of the Montezuma Castle National Monument. Again, this place has nothing to do with the Aztec leader Montezuma! Instead, it was a source of water for indigenous people who lived there hundreds of years ago.
Read MoreLocated in Campe Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument is a well-preserved, impressive ancient cliff dwelling. It only takes about 30 minutes or less to walk through this pretty area, but the view of the castle itself is worth the visit!
Read MoreMiyajima 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreSpanning 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreKinkaku-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.
Read MoreThe Hamarikyu Gardens sits in the heart of Tokyo; nestled between Tsukiji, Ginza, Tokyo Tower, and Tokyo Bay. Though this peaceful park is located in the middle of the city, it’s large enough to be immersive. You don’t feel like you’re in the middle of a city - until you look up and notice the skyscrapers.
Read MoreAt the heart of Asakusa lies the most famous temple in Japan: Senso-Ji. Originally built in 645 AD, Senso-Ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo. In 1945 it was destroyed during a bombing raid on March 10th and was later rebuilt as a symbol of peace and the rebirth of the Japanese people. Now Senso-Ji is the most visited spiritual site in the world.
Read MoreWe visited the Tokyo temple where the legend of the maneki neko originated!
Read MoreWe took the subway out to a suburban area of Tokyo, walked down a town street lined with convenience stores and other storefronts, and turned off the street toward a forested area where a red metal bridge arched over a ravine. This is the Todoroki Valley, which feels like it must be hours away from the busy center of Tokyo instead of a quick subway ride.
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We’re Taylor and Michelle and welcome to our blog documenting our travels and food we eat. We hope this inspires you to visit new places and try some delicious food!
Nom Nom the Adventure Cat
