Of all the incredible places I’ve been lucky enough to visit in Japan, Fushimi Inari remains one of my favorite memories. Like many travelers, I had seen photos of the thousands of bright red torii gates and heard how beautiful, vast, and majestic it is, but experiencing it in person was something else entirely. I will remember it for the rest of my life. As such, it just wouldn’t feel right to have a travel blog without dedicating a page to Fushimi Inari!
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the Shinto god, Inari. It’s located in southern Kyoto, Japan, and it is famous for its thousands upon thousands of torii gates that line the many trails that lead to the top of Mount Inari. It is a popular tourist destination, so the lower paths get very crowded in the afternoon. Many people don’t hike all the way to the top- an endeavor that can take around 3 hours.
What made our visit to the shrine especially memorable was the somewhat unusual and lesser-known-to-tourists way that we entered. Before our trip, my husband Tim found an alternate trail online that leads into the shrine from the side instead of through the main entrance. We took a taxi to the beginning of the trail and entered into the shrine that way! Doing this allowed us to reach a higher point on the mountain than many people are willing or able to walk to, and we were completely alone on that first trail! It was our third full day in Japan, and the experience of wandering through the quiet and peaceful forest felt like exploring a hidden gem. We got to really take our time and we ended up with some beautiful pictures of just the two of us under some of the bright red torii gates.
When we got to the main trail, we started working our way down. And the further we walked, the more I came to realize that Fushimi Inari is so much more than the iconic tunnel of gates spread across the mountainside that it is so well known for. There are also smaller shrines, fox statues, koi fish ponds, cats, stone lanterns, and beautiful views of Kyoto. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to admire. Some of my favorite moments were the little surprises along the way. A bright red bridge, tiny torii gates, a friendly black and white cat we saw wandering through one of the shrine paths, and a very nice lady who was selling good luck charms. I bought one, and she blessed it with a flame.
If I have one piece of advice for anyone visiting Fushimi Inari, it’s this: don’t just walk through the first section, take a few photos, and leave. Keep exploring. Whether you start at the main entrance and hike up the mountain, or utilize some of the lesser known walking trails to access the shrine like we did, it’s worth it to see as much of the shrine as you are able. Don’t push yourself too hard, or make yourself so tired that you are unable to enjoy yourself, but try to see everything that you can within your ability. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anything like it. The atmosphere, all the big and small details, the sheer amount of culture and history to soak in make Fushimi Inari truly beautiful. It feels so magical.
Fushimi Inari is one of the first places I think about when I start daydreaming about Japan (which is quite often!). I can’t wait to go back one day. It has a piece of my heart forever.
Planning my first trip to Japan was as exciting as it was overwhelming. There is so much to see and do, and it’s easy to worry about everything that could go wrong, or like you have to cram as much as you possibly can into a single itinerary.
After spending 18 days traveling through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and Nara, I came home with a few lessons that I wish I’d known before I left. If you’re planning your first visit to Japan, here are my biggest tips.
1. Plan A Rest Day If You’re Visiting For Two Weeks Or Longer
If you’re walking 20,000+ steps per day, navigating busy train stations, traveling between cities, and constantly taking in new sights, it catches up to you. Traveling and sight seeing is truly amazing, but it is also very exhausting.
About halfway through our trip, I kind of hit a wall. For a couple days, I was extremely tired and burnt out. We didn’t plan a slower itinerary or a rest day around the middle of our trip; instead, we visited three theme parks almost back to back: Nagashima Spa Land in Nagoya, Ghibli Park in Nagoya, and Tokyo DisneySea. While I still had a great time, I felt like I wasn’t able to enjoy some of the attractions quite as much as I would have liked, particularly the large and sprawling Ghibli Park. At the end of our visit to Ghibli Park, it was time to walk over to the area of the park to see the Whisper of the Heart attractions, including a replica of the antique shop that is a focal point of the film. Whisper of the Heart is my favorite movie, and instead of being as excited as a little kid on Christmas Eve, I considered skipping the trek to that area! Thankfully, my husband talked some sense into me and we went. I am so glad because I had an amazing time exploring that antique shop. I even got a little emotional at times because Whisper of the Heart has meant a lot to me over the years!
Point being, the exhaustion of a packed itinerary is no joke! Plan a rest day or a couple of slow paced days in the middle of your itinerary so that you can recharge. Your body will thank you. It’s better to have one slow day, or one day with not much planned, than to spend 3 days not enjoying yourself to the fullest. Give yourself permission to slow down so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation.
2. Use Google Translate’s Camera Feature
Google translate was probably the most useful app on my phone during my trip to Japan, largely due to the camera feature.
The camera feature in Google Translate allows you to point your phone at menus, signs, museum information, product labels, and more. It will display the translation over the Japanese text. I used it constantly throughout our trip. It came especially in handy when I needed to purchase ibuprofen for a headache. The drug store I went to had hundreds upon hundreds of products, and, obviously, none of the labels were written in English. It was also quite useful while leafing through restaurant menus. Use the technology you have at your fingertips to make your trip as smooth and seamless as possible!
3. You Only Really Need To Know A Few Basic Japanese Phrases
Before our trip, I was worried that the language barrier would make traveling difficult. I even purchased a deck of flash cards containing a bunch of common Japanese words, phrases, and questions. I have also had several friends ask me how I was able to spend so long in Japan without knowing the language. This seems to be a common point of stress and worry among travelers, and I can see why!
In reality, learning just a handful of phrases went a long way. The ones I used the most often were:
-Hello (Konnichiwa)
-Thank you (Arigato gozaimasu)
-Excuse me (Sumimassen)
-Please (Onegaishimasu)
The most interactions you’ll have as a tourist are with cashiers, restaurant staff, hotel employees, and transportation workers. I rarely had to say much more than these few phrases. When I did, I spoke into Google Translate and showed whomever I was speaking to the Japanese translation on my phone screen. Everyone I spoke to was very patient and kind. Don’t let a language barrier keep you from visiting Japan!
4. Spend More Time In Fewer Places
This is actually my husband Tim’s best piece of Japan travel advice.
While planning a trip to Japan, it’s tempting to try to squeeze in as many cities as possible. But instead of asking yourself, “How many cities can I visit?” ask, “How much can I experience?”
Tokyo is a perfect example. We spent 9 of our 18 days there, and we didn’t even scratch the surface. Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world, and you should treat each of its many neighborhoods as separate cities. There is so much to see in Tokyo that you could live there for YEARS and still have so much to see and experience. You don’t have to take every possible day trip from Tokyo just to check more cities off your list. If you take this approach, you will spend a sizable portion of your vacation on a train or bus! Cut some of the day trips, and explore some of Tokyo’s many, many neighborhoods. We visited Shibuya, Shinjuku, Toyousu, Shiodome, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, Odaiba, Ginza, and more. Each neighborhood has its own personality and could easily fill a whole day.
Quality beats quantity every time. On your first trip to Japan, make sure you don’t neglect one of the most impressive and awe inspiring cities in the world. Take your time in Tokyo.
5. Let Google Maps Handle Public Transportation
Japan’s train system has a reputation for being intimidating, but Google Maps made it surprisingly manageable.
The app doesn’t just tell you which train to take. It tells you which platform to go to, when the train leaves, where to transfer, and how long each part of your journey will take. We relied on it every single day!
If you have Google Maps and a reliable data plan, navigating Japan becomes a lot less complicated than many first-timers expect. We did make an error or two in our travels, but we were able to course correct fairly easily and without losing too much time. I can’t imagine taking the trip we did without it.
6. Star Places On Google Maps Before You Go
This is another tip I learned from Tim, and it completely changed how we explored.
Before the trip, we starred attractions, shops, restaurants, and other areas of interest to us. That way, whenever we found ourselves with extra time, we could simply open Google Maps and see what was close by!
Some of our favorite discoveries happened because of this approach. Instead of strictly following a rigid itinerary or, conversely, wandering around aimlessly, we were able to wander while knowing there was always something interesting nearby.
7. Make Time For Your Own Interests
Your itinerary doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s! Tokyo is enormous, and there is truly something for almost every hobby imaginable.
As a huge K-pop fan, I loved exploring Shin-Okubo, Tokyo’s Koreatown. I browsed K-pop stores and hunted for albums, photocards, and niche merchandise. (Read more about my K-pop adventures in Japan here!) I also stumbled across stores dedicated to everything from ball-jointed dolls to Lolita fashion to tabletop miniature painting. I visited themed cafes, Ghibli stores, and niche museums. Some of my favorite memories came from the things I did that wouldn’t be on a typical “Top 10 Things to do in Tokyo” list. I recommend opening Google and seeing what’s out there for your hobby or interest!
8. Leave (Or Make) Room For Souvenirs
If this is your first trip to Japan, there’s a good chance you’ll come home with a lot more souvenirs than you anticipated.
Many people visiting Japan purchase stationery, anime merch, snacks, clothing, beauty products, kitchen items, and more. In my case, I bought souvenirs for just about every city, attraction, and Tokyo neighborhood that I went to. I also bought gifts for friends and family, as well as a comically large amount of K-pop merchandise! I knew I had run out of luggage space less than a week into the trip.
An easy solution for me was to buy a huge duffel bag to check on the flight home. I stuffed it full of all of my souvenirs and other purchases. Stores like Don Quijote make this easy. I was relieved to have the extra room when it was time to pack!
9. Bring A Portable Phone Charger
Your phone will be working harder while you’re in Japan than when you’re at home. You’ll be using data and GPS throughout the day, translating signs and menus, taking hundreds of photos, filming videos, looking up train routes, and more.
A portable power bank will give you peace of mind and will mean that you never have to worry about your battery running out halfway through the day.
10. Take More Photos Than You Think You Need, And Then Take Even More Photos
This may sound obvious to some, but it needs to be said. Some people don’t think to take a lot of pictures, or are just not inclined to, but it is so important to thoroughly document your trip. I took over a thousand photos and I regret nothing.
Take photos of the major attractions, but also take photos of your meals, the view from your hotel window, a funny souvenir, a cute looking cafe you happen to walk by. Just take the damn photo. These smaller moments can be just as meaningful as the famous landmarks.
When I got home, I chose a couple hundred of my favorite picture and had them made into a photo book that I can look back on forever. I framed a few and have them displayed in the living room. Years from now, you’ll be grateful that you took the extra picture. Looking back through them might bring back memories that you would otherwise have forgotten!
Final Thoughts
Japan was everything I had hoped it would be and more.
If I had to sum up my one biggest piece of advice, it would be: don’t try to see everything. Explore neighborhoods instead of racing between cities. Follow your own interests. Make sure to leave some wiggle room and flexibility for unexpected discoveries.
I hope you find these tips helpful as you prepare for your own trip to Japan. It’s really not as intimidating as you may be thinking. Don’t forget to look up from your itinerary once in a while!
When people think of day trips from Kyoto, Osaka and Nara tend to get most of the attention. And while those destinations are incredible and certainly worth visiting, one of my favorite excursions during my honeymoon trip to Japan was our day spent in Uji.
Located just outside of Kyoto, Uji is best known for centuries of superior quality matcha. For those unfamiliar, matcha is Japanese powdered green tea. In the last decade or so, it has become increasingly popular globally. Most popular coffee shops, including Starbucks and Dunkin’, offer their own matcha latte drinks. The matcha you’ll find in Uji, however, is the real deal! We saw some matcha shops with signs boasting their centuries-long tenure. One shop in particular was 400 years old. Uji is also home to Byodo-in Temple and the recently-opened Nintendo Museum.
Pre-Nintendo Museum lunch: conveyor belt sushi at Kappa Sushi
Kappa Sushi, located near the Nintendo Museum, is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. This is a popular genre of sushi restaurants in Japan, and it was our first time eating at one. You order small plates on a tablet or on your phone, and the food arrives at your table shortly after via conveyor belt. Ordering many dishes is encouraged, as each dish is usually only two pieces of sushi. We really enjoyed eating at Kappa Sushi. There’s just something about conveyor belt sushi restaurants that make me so giddy with excitement. It is a lot of fun getting to try so many different kinds of sushi. Visiting a restaurant like this on your trip to Japan is an absolute must if you are a sushi lover like me!
The Nintendo Museum
After our early lunch at Kappa Sushi, we headed straight to the Nintendo Museum. As lifelong Nintendo fans, this was an attraction that my husband and I were both very excited to visit. Fun fact: this museum is in a former Nintendo manufacturing plant!
The museum opened only recently, and it does an incredible job of showcasing Nintendo’s history. There were lots of interactive exhibits and opportunities to play Nintendo games, and a gift shop that sold exclusive items that you could only get at the museum. The layout and the design were very modern and pleasing to the eye, and the displays did a great job of highlighting the evolution of the company over the years.
Photography isn’t allowed in much of the museum, so I don’t have a lot of photos. You’ll have to go see for yourself! And trust me when I say that it’s more than worth a visit for any Nintendo fan. I am not always a huge fan of museums, but I had an absolute blast here.
Uji Matcha
After finishing at the Nintendo Museum, we took a bus to historic Uji, where we wandered into a cute little cafe called Rokujoan to finally sip on some world-renowned Uji matcha. We got some traditional hot matcha to try, as well as a brown sugar iced matcha latte topped with a scoop of matcha ice cream. We also shared a crepe with some fun toppings. Everything we got was delicious. I really enjoyed hanging out in a matcha cafe in historic Uji, and I recommend anyone visiting Uji find a similar place to relax and refresh for a little while. Spending some time here was the perfect little pick-me-up before continuing our sight seeing.
Our goodies from the cafe in historic Uji!
I’ve enjoyed matcha many times, but drinking it in Uji felt like a special experience. It is clear that this city takes a tremendous amount of pride in being the matcha capital of the world. There are endless tea shops and matcha related treats and souvenirs to see while you visit. While you’re here, make sure you take some time to walk the streets and pop into some of the shops. The vibes here are traditional yet modern in a uniquely Japanese way.
Byodo-in Temple
Next, we went to Byodo-in Temple and museum, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. It’s even featured on the ten yen coin! Sadly, we arrived after ticket sales to visit the interior of the temple had closed, but we were still able to explore the grounds, admire the temple from the outside, and visit the museum. Just walking around outside was really nice. As you can see, Byodo-in Temple is quite a sight to behold!
The museum was very interesting. There were restorations of old paintings, maps of Uji created during the Edo period, statues, and other artifacts. No photos were allowed, but the exhibits offered a wonderful glimpse into the history of Uji.
And even without visiting the inside of the temple, I thought it was one of the most beautiful sights of our trip.
A sunset stroll
My favorite memories from Uji weren’t from visiting a major attraction! We left Byodo-in around sunset, wandered away from the more densely touristed areas, and explored some of the city’s side streets. Eventually, we found a bench overlooking the Uji river and a pedestrian bridge. Across the river, there were mountains visible in the distance, as well as a mix of both traditional and modern Japanese homes. The sky was pink, and the energy was quiet and reflective. I remember that during this part of our day in Uji, it hit me that I’m in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and in one of it’s most historically and culturally rich cities.
Why Uji was one of my favorite day trips
My day in Uji was packed with variety, which is one of the things that made it stand out the most. On the modern side, I got to experience conveyor belt sushi and the incredibly impressive and brand-new Nintendo Museum. On the more traditional side, I got to sip matcha in historic Uji, and I got to visit the stunning Byodo-in Temple. It was cool getting to see one of Japan’s newest major attractions before learning about centuries of history. And our evening spent at a slower pace and enjoying the sights and the sunset on the slower side streets made for a beautiful end to our day.
If you’re visiting Kyoto on your upcoming trip to Japan, I strongly recommend a day trip to Uji. It’s an easy day trip, and it combines food, culture, and history with a little bit of Nintendo magic. I don’t think you’ll regret coming to this beautiful city.
