Sedona isn’t where we would expect to find some delicious Korean food, but this town is quite amazing and full of surprises. We happened to come upon Momo’s Kitchen and decided to get some lunch. We were not disappointed.
Read MoreHideaway House is a relaxed, friendly Italian restaurant set in the middle of scenic Sedona. Unfortunately, our visit took place at night when it was dark, so we couldn’t enjoy the beautiful views! Hideaway House has three open-air patios from which patrons can enjoy the stunning red rock formations. Happily, we were still able to enjoy their wonderful food!
Read MoreRed Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve located about ten miles outside of Sedona. The park boasts a five mile network of trails ranging from walks by Oak Creek Canyon lined by tall trees to paths that take you to the top of some great lookout points. The Miller Visitor Center has educational exhibits with information about the park and Sedona area, as well as restrooms and a gift shop.
Read MoreEvery time we visit Jerome we always make sure to swing by the La Victoria Studio to watch a glass blowing demonstration. It’s easily the best part of visiting the town for us, besides eating at the Haunted Hamburger. At this studio we get to watch a master at work.
Read MoreHigh up on the side of the Black Hills mountain range, on Cleopatra Hill, is the location of the ghost town of Jerome. What once was a booming mining town became a deserted ghost town, but has been revitalized and is now a great place to visit.
Read MoreWe don’t make our way to Jerome very often, but when we do we always make sure to eat at the Haunted Hamburger. The restaurant is nestled high up the hill and offers patrons some nice views to go along with the tasty food. The Haunted Hamburger’s name is fitting since Jerome is the most famous ghost town in Arizona. There are plenty of other restaurants in the small town, but it’s hard to pass up going to one of our favorite spots to get a great burger.
Read MoreWhile 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.
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 MoreDuring 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!
Read MoreLake 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.
Read MoreAt 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreNikko 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.
Read MoreAfter 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.
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 MoreOur 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.
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 MoreKoyasan 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.
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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
