Not knowing what a spectacular evening we had ahead of us, we thought we’d pay Okayama Castle a quick visit after we returned from our cycling tour in the Kibi Plain. As it was approaching 5 p.m. – the usual closing time of museums and castles in Japan – we didn’t even expected being able…
Tag: Fujifilm X-T20
Autumn Leaves Festival at Showa Kinen Park
With this being our second year in Japan, we’re trying to catch up on as many events that we missed last year, as possible. One of them being: attending an autumn leaves festival. There are actually quite a number of parks and gardens in Tokyo that open late in the evening with the trees lit…
A Small Act of Kindness Can Have a Big Impact
When we deliver a small act of kindness to a friend or even a stranger, it will have an even bigger impact on them receiving this kindness, than it took you to deliver it. Not just that, but people who have received an unexpected act of kindness, are more likely to pass it on to…
Escaping Tokyo‘s summer heat
It‘s the beginning of our second year living in Yokohama, near Tokyo, and there are still so many places in Tokyo on our bucket list. One of them came highly recommended for hot summer days by Tokyo tourist website „Tokyo-go“: Todoroki Valley. Todoroki Valley The valley is easy to reach as it’s just a few…
Maokong Gondola: A Scenic Viewpoint with Tea Plantations in Taipei
When we boarded the train to Taipei Zoo station to get on the Maokong Gondola, we had no idea what to expect and were completely blown away by the whole trip, leading up to stunning mountain views. This was easily one of our best day trips in Taipei! As Taipei’s summer weather changed from raining…
Tour de France Stage 7 in Mervans
This year, we were fortunate to see the Tour de France live, going through a nearby village of where we stayed in France as part of our summer holiday. Already a few weeks prior to the cyclists coming through Mervans, the whole village has put their best efforts into decorating every path and shop with…
White Sand Beaches and Hidden Gems in Shimoda
After many of our colleagues have recommended the Izu Peninsula, and in particular Shimoda to us, we had to go and see it for ourselves on a long weekend in April. Shimoda is less than a 3 hour train ride away from Yokohama station and you can ride on the Super View Odoriko train along…
The Japanese Alps & Beyond
Seeing photos of the autumn foliage in the Japanese Alps made our decision on where to go in late October very easy! Matsumoto seemed like the perfect place to start, as it’s just a 3-hour train ride away from Yokohama and a perfect base for day trips and getting deeper into the Japanese Alps. Our highlight at the end of our trip was visiting the Gassho (thatched roof) Villages in and around Shirakawa-Go and staying in a traditional guesthouse in the mountains.
Rainy days at Yokohama English Garden
Just a few hours before the last typhoon hit Yokohama, we headed to the Yokohama English Garden and were surprised by a rain shower. The garden was almost empty due to the weather, but a few other people were as crazy as us, taking photos of the flowers covered in raindrops. It’s actually quite challenging…
Lantern Festival in Kamakura
Kamakura is an ancient city famous for its’ beaches and temples, especially the Giant Buddha (Daibutsu). Our first time to visit Kamakura marked the day of the lantern festival, and after watching a beautiful sunset on the beach, we headed to the temples. Goryo Shrine is located closest to the beach and situated right next…
Jitensha Adventure 