Japan Trip Photos!

~ stashy

Helloooo, I’m baaaaack! 🙂
I’ve been back since last week and getting back into reading blogs a bit here and there… it’s always a challenge to get back into blogging for some reason. I think it’s about routine. Having 2 weeks of unstructured time really makes it difficult to follow a schedule again.
Anyway, this post is about my trip! I debated about the level of detail to include about my Japan trip – this isn’t a travel blog and I’m no travel writer. So I’ll devote a few posts to the trip itself: today will be an overview of where we visited with photos. I’ll do another post on random stuff like food and cultural stuff. Then, the MAKEUP!!! 😀 😀 😀

We started our trip out with a 5 day stay in Tokyo:

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Our first stop was the Tokyo Skytree

The view from on top of the Tokyo Skytree
The view from up on the Tokyo Skytree
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Penguin feeding time at the Sumida Aquarium
The famous Shibuya crosswalk
The famous Shibuya crossing
Senso-ji Temple
Senso-ji Temple
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Senso-ji Temple
Akihabara District
Akihabara District
Imperial Palace grounds
Imperial Palace grounds
Imperial Palace grounds
Imperial Palace grounds
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Uneo Park & Zoo
Uneo Park & Zoo
Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum
Meji Shrine
Meji Shrine
Gundam statue in front of Diver City at Odaiba
Gundam statue in front of Diver City at Odaiba
National Museum of Emerging Science (aka Miraikan)
National Museum of Emerging Science (aka Miraikan)

Then we headed out of Tokyo, first to Nagano, then to Kanazawa, then Kyoto and finally back to Tokyo.

Matsumoto Castle in Nagano
Matsumoto Castle in Nagano
View from inside Matsumoto Castle
View from inside Matsumoto Castle
Matsuya Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn)
Matsuya Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn)
The same room is converted into our bedroom!
The same room is converted into our bedroom!
Omicho Market (fresh fish market) in Kanazawa
Omicho Market (fresh fish market) in Kanazawa
Higashichaya Old Town in Kanazawa
Higashichaya Old Town in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa
A crane at Kenroku-en Garden
A crane at Kenroku-en Garden
Kanazawa Castle
Kanazawa Castle
Kyoto train station
Kyoto train station
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle
Typical Japanese street in Kyoto
Typical looking Japanese street in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
View from on top of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
View from on top of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kurodani Temple
Kurodani Temple
Heian Shrine
Heian Shrine
Toji Temple pagoda, the tallest wooden tower in Japan
Toji Temple pagoda, the tallest wooden tower in Japan
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Sanjūsangen-dō Hall which houses 1,001 life-sized golden statues
This nondescript building is the Sanjūsangen-dō Hall which houses 1,001 life-sized golden statues. No photos were allowed inside so this is the only photograph I have of the place.
Here's a photo of the statues I found online. Source.
Here’s a photo of the golden statues I found online. Source.
The Hippity Hoppity Springtime parade at Tokyo Disneyland
The Hippity Hoppity Springtime parade at Tokyo Disneyland – I’ll devote an entry on my visit to Disneyland
Walt Disney and Mickey statue at Tokyo Disneyland
Walt Disney and Mickey statue at Tokyo Disneyland

What I loved about Japan was the mix of modern with the traditional. My personal favourite was the short stay in Nagano: both the Matsumoto Castle and our overnight at the ryokan were highlights of the trip for me. I also really enjoyed Kyoto – the city of a thousand temples!  Thanks to everyone who followed me on Instagram and Twitter while I was away – I hope you enjoyed looking at a snippet of the sights I saw in Japan. There’s so much to explore there – I can’t wait to go back! ❤

77 thoughts on “Japan Trip Photos!”

  4. Japan looks beautiful! I have always wanted to go, sounds so good! Looking forward to seeing your makeup picks and what you thought on the food cause I can imagine their food is pretty damn good!

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    1. Yes Japan is a beautiful country – Canada is such a young country, we don’t have historic buildings like they have. We love seeing all of the cultural aspects of the various places we visited too. Tokyo is so different compared to Kyoto and other smaller cities. I’m busily editing those posts – I bought a lot of makeup lol.

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    1. We saw a lot of workers busy with tidying or keeping things in order everywhere we went. It is pretty amazing how dense the population is, but everything is maintained very clean and orderly.
      Kenroku-en Garden is touted as one of 3 top traditional gardens in all of Japan! It has a very historical feel to it – some of the trees are hundreds of years old, and the garden also contains Japan’s oldest fountain!

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    1. Thanks! 🙂
      We did a lot of research and stuck to our itinerary as much as possible. In fact, we condensed some of the days and that’s how we were left with an extra “free” day so that’s why we went to Disneyland!

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    1. Haha, Toronto isn’t boring, it’s just… lacking in stuff! 😉 I was amazed when I looked back at photos, just how much we managed to see in our stay there. But there’s still SO much more to see!
      We love visiting aquariums at every place we visit – I much prefer aquariums to zoos for some reason.

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  10. Yay welcome back! And your photos are amazing!!!!! I was so excited to see Gundam (LOL) we used to watch it when we were kids back home.. One of my fave japanime’ series back then.. I’ve heard so much about Omicho Fish Market.. Lot’s of Filipino celebrities go there and feature that market due to the quality, cost and kinds of seafood you can find.. Also, I was hoping you’re able to drop by Hochiko Statue which I’m sure you’ve heard of him.. (Just an amazing story).. And again awesome post! Can’t wait to see more..😍😍😍

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    1. Thank you! It is nice to be back home in my own bed etc.
      When I saw that giant Gundam statue, I asked my SO if that was like Transformers and he shook his head at me, lol!
      I’d never heard of the Omicho Market before! We literally stumbled on it when we were walking to another attraction. But we’re so glad we found it!
      My SO saw the Hachiko statue (and stuffed animals of him are sold everywhere in Shibuya) – I didn’t because I wasn’t feeling well that day so he was fetching me some food! Next time we go back I will take a picture!

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      1. Ohh!! Haha what’s funny is that my hubby and I always talk about old cartoons and japan anime’s and Gundam is always part of that convo.. Japanime is very popular back home (ofcourse-we’re close to Japan..duhh). But you’ve been to a lot of places there which is amazing! And Yeah.. There’s no place like home for sure! Hehe

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    1. I hope I won’t disappoint you with my Tokyo Disneyland experience – I was unfortunately sick that day so I didn’t take full advantage of the park / rides. But it was a fun day overall! We had the most perfect weather.

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    1. Oh you must do a side trip! I must confess, I was in Japan years ago but only spent time in the Narita airport when I was connecting from a flight in Hong Kong! 😛

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  15. Oh yay, Japan post! Amazing pictures…the ones of Miraikan and the gardens are stunning.
    I have to agree with you, it’s so cool how there’s such a big contrast between the modern and the traditional, as well as technology and nature. You’d never see that in a country like Canada, which is essentially still a baby in terms of history!
    Heh, every time my fiance and I go on vacation, we always have to visit the local aquarium. We joke that we should start an aquarium blog! 😛
    Can’t wait for Disneyland post, and of course, your haul! 😀

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    1. Miraikan is such an interesting take on what I think of as a “science centre”. They had this creepy android that was a child, and she read out news headlines. So. ODD. But the showcase of the place was that giant globe – it showed what would happen to the planet if a catastrophe struck like an asteroid.
      So funny, we visit all the aquariums too! I have soooo many pictures of the aquarium but I won’t bore everyone. 😛 I can email you some pictures separately!
      It’s so true – Canada is so YOUNG – we have none of these old OLD sites like they do in Japan. It was incredible to me to think I was touching the original walls and railings of something built hundreds of years ago.

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      1. Wow, that globe sounds awesome! Would be really interesting to see what would happen to the world in the car off a catastrophe.
        Bahaha, yes, please email me with your aquarium pictures! We came home from our trip and I was like “uhhhhm I may have taken 100 pictures just of jellyfish and sea stars at Ripley’s Aquarium and the Biodome” 😆
        Indeed! I’m sure they do refurbishments, but it’s still astounding how they have managed to keep all of the historical sites in such tip top shape (at least that’s how it comes across in your pictures!)

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  16. Beautiful pictures! It looks like you had a fantastic time! I enjoyed following your travels on instagram so I’m even more enjoying seeing your photos on your blog! Can’t wait for more Japan posts!! It’s definitely on my travel bucket list!

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  17. Welcome back! I hear you on trying to get back into blogging, I was only gone for a week but I’m really struggling to get back into a “routine”…not that I had much of one before. Haha.

    Your pictures are stunning! It looks like you had an amazing trip, everything is so colourful! What did you use to take all your pictures?

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  21. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww! I HAVE to put this on my bucket list!!! I think it’s so fun how they converted your room. Were those beds comfortable!? They look so thin! I love how colorful everything is too. I really expected a HUGE New York City but Japan is really pretty!

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    1. Yes you HAVE to go to Japan! Parts of Tokyo is like NYC but there are so many parks and historical buildings too. It’s amazing and unique, for sure!
      The beds on the floor were surprisingly comfortable! (yes, they’re super thin, not mattresses, more like a blanket) We both slept so soundly that night. The bamboo floor / mats help a lot, I think.

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  27. Your photos are stunning, they could easily have been from a magazine or a travel blog. I particularly love the photos of the gardens and the temples. And the castles. The architecture in Japan just seems so incredible!

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  30. Wow such beautiful pictures!! Looks like you’ve had a fantastic trip and enjoyed your time off! 🙂
    I also saw you came back with lots of new makeup!! Must have been amazing to see how different everything is in Japan. By the way, such funny and cute packaging they’ve got over there! Curious to know if you like the quality of the products?

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    1. Thank you! Yes, the trip was amazing!
      It really was incredible to see all the new (to me) Japanese brands and products.
      Yes, the quality of Japanese products are very good! They’re not crazy high pigment but the product formulation is very fine so they blend well into the skin. 😊

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