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.

April 29, 2020

Lockett Meadow

April 29, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Fall colors in Arizona isn’t something we usually get to see often and in great quantity, so we were recommended by a friend to stop off at Lockett Meadow to see some. We happened to pass by the road for the meadow on our way back from the North Rim and had to make a quick detour.

April 25, 2020

North Rim Trails and Viewpoints

April 25, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

The North Rim consists of a smaller area of the Grand Canyon than the South Rim, but it still has so much to offer. Although the park has fewer viewpoints than the South Rim, it has many more trails. These trails have a wide range from the difficult North Kaibab Trail to the very easy Cape Royal Trail. The viewpoints still offer breathtaking views of the canyon and from a lesser seen perspective.

April 22, 2020

North Rim Lodge

April 22, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has only one place to stay at overnight, other than the campgrounds, and that’s the North Rim Lodge. Fortunately, the lodge is actually very nice and provides a wonderful place to enjoy the park.

April 18, 2020

Lower Antelope Canyon

April 18, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Antelope Canyon is located on the outskirts of the town of Page in northern Arizona, which is also home to Lake Powell and Horseshoe Bend. Visitors can tour either Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon - but only by guided tour! The tours can book up months in advance, so it’s recommended to book early if you can. We booked our tour with Ken’s Tours. It is recommended to make reservations, but walk ups can work to fill in spots.

April 15, 2020

Bird House

April 15, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

In the middle of Page, Arizona we found a restaurant that specializes in fried chicken. It’s an odd location, but it’s a place that easily rivals the popular chicken chains.

April 11, 2020

Horseshoe Bend

April 11, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Just outside the city of Page is Horseshoe Bend which is one of the most iconic viewpoints in northern Arizona. Finding Horseshoe Bend is easy, just take US 89 to the parking lot about 2 miles south of Page. There are signs for the turnoff so it isn’t hard to find.

April 08, 2020

Wildcat Trail

April 08, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Traversing the Monument Valley Drive was great and we saw so many wonderful views, but it isn’t quite close enough to some of the rock formations. We decided to go hiking and take the Wildcat Trail, the only self-guided trail in Monument Valley, to get a different perspective of some of the landmarks.

April 04, 2020

Forrest Gump Point

April 04, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Just north of Monument Valley up US 163 is Forrest Gump Point. The spot doesn’t have a big sign or anything, so it can be easy to miss while driving. However, depending on the time of the day it can be very easy to spot by the number of cars parked on the side of the road and the periodic person in the road.

April 01, 2020

Comb Ridge Eat and Drink

April 01, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

The food options around Monument Valley are a bit lacking since it’s rather remote. So we opted to head northeast to one of the nearby towns to the Comb Ridge Eat and Drink to get some good food.

March 28, 2020

Monument Valley Drive

March 28, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

While the panorama from the View Hotel and its parking lot, campgrounds, and cabins is phenomenal, the best way to truly get to appreciate the rock formations of Monument Valley is through the Monument Valley Drive. A 14-mile grade dirt road will take you to see many of the major monuments in the valley, which will take two to four hours to traverse at slow speeds. A vehicle with four-wheel drive and high clearance is recommended, and there are warning signs to this effect at the beginning of the drive. The road is bumpy and rocky in many places, but the experience is worth it!

March 25, 2020

The View Premium Cabins

March 25, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

We’ve been wanting to visit Monument Valley for a long time and were thrilled to find the View Hotel for accomodations. While the rooms at the View Hotel all offer fantastic views of Monument Valley, we opted for a different option; the premium cabins.

March 21, 2020

Tokyo DisneySea: Food Edition

March 21, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

There are many delicious snacks, meals, and desserts to be had at Tokyo DisneySea! Michelle did some research, made a list, and here’s what we tried!

March 18, 2020

Tokyo DisneySea

March 18, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

Tokyo DisneySea is unlike any other Disney park. This is mainly due to the fact that it is not owned by Disney at all, but rather the Oriental Land Company who licenses the use of Disney themes and characters. The license allows the park to feature many different Disney properties and use their own as well. The mascot of Tokyo DisneySea is Duffy, the Disney bear. Although Mickey and other Disney characters are seen around the park, the real star is Duffy. There’s dedicated stores, viewpoints, and more around the park that allow the visitors to show their love of Duffy.

March 14, 2020

Tokyo Disneyland: Food Edition

March 14, 2020/ Nom Nom Abroad

There are many delicious snacks, meals, and desserts to be had at Tokyo Disneyland! Michelle did some research, made a list, and here’s what we tried!