Himeji Castle (姫路城)

Himeji Castle (姫路城) is one of the largest surviving castles in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's definitely one of the best places for viewing Japanese castles up close, and is also surrounded by sakuras.

The castle was closed for over 5 years for renovations, which were finally completed in March 2015. The castle often draws large crowds, especially during sakura season and even more so now due to the long renovation.

Entry to the castle is ¥1000, however the main keep is limited to the first 10,000 visitors each day. You'll receive a pass for the main keep as you enter the castle, the pass is required to enter the main keep.

Line to enter the keep. Even on a rainy day it took 40 minutes.
On a sunny day the wait can be up to 3 hours as everyone is still coming to visit the newly renovated castle.

view from the top of the keep

shrine at the top floor of the keep

interior of the keep

the keep was only used for defense, not for every day living, so the interior is bare even by Japanese standards

living quarters along the castle wall

hallway along the wall

Getting there: Himeji Castle is 1.5 km north of the Himeji JR train station, just walk straight along the main road. There is also a sight seeing bus that will take you within 500 m of the castle for ¥100.
Fees: ¥1000 for adults / ¥300 for children.
There is also a ¥1040 combined Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden ticket (normal fee for the gardens is ¥300). The gardens is right next to the castle grounds and is worth a visit if you have time.

Kita-in Temple (喜多院) | Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kita-in Temple (喜多院) in Kawagoe

entrance to the temple

traditional dance

hanami

Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kawagoe (川越市) is a town just north of Tokyo where many buildings from the Edo period are still preserved today.
Getting there takes about 30 minutes on the Tobu Tojo Line express train from Ikebukero Station in Tokyo and costs 450 yen each way. However, a discounted round-trip ticket is available for only 700 yen. It's intended only for foreigners, though they didn't check passports when we purchased it.

Bell of Time (時の鐘 Toki no kane), built 350 years ago and still rings four times a day

Kawagoe Castle

interior hallway

Kawagoe Castle garden

Meguro River (目黒川) | Tokyo, Japan

Meguro River (目黒川) hascherry blossoms located right outside Nakameguro Station, which extend for almost a kilometer north. There are many restaurants and street vendors along the sides, though not much space for sitting.

lanterns illuminate the cherry blossoms in the evening

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) | Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is one of the largest parks in Tokyo and a popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms, as the large crowds can attest to. I was lucky enough to arrive in Tokyo at the start of the cherry blossom peak and see the blossoms.

The park is close to Shinuku Station, just follow the crowds if it's during sakura season. Entry is 200 yen.

嵐山, 京都, 日本 (Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan)

Arashiyama (嵐山), Kyoto (京都), Japan (日本)

Oi River

Togetsukyō Bridge

somewhere outside of Sagano?

Sagano Bamboo Forest

Sagano Bamboo Forest

scenic train that runs along the Hozu River

(which later becomes to Oi River, and then becomes the Katsura River)

Rice paddy in Takai, outside the Torokko Kameoka Station トロッコ亀岡 on the otherside of the mountain

京都, 日本 (Kyoto, Japan)

Kyoto (京都), just North of Nara, was the former capital of Japan so there's lots of history to see there, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here's a few I was able to visit while there.

Byodo-in (平等院), but over a thousand years ago as a country-side retreat but is now a Buddhist temple.

different angle

somehwere.... i forget where...

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), one of the most well-known Buddhist temples in the country.

Otawa Waterfall as seen from the wooden deck in the previous picture.

The people are lined up to drink from the water. Each of the three streams is suppose to bring different benefits.

Kiyomizu-dera, from a different angle

a niomon by the Kiyomizu-dera temples

small street by the shops next to Kiyomizu-dera