Adventure With Julia

I spent 11 days exploring a wide variety of places in Japan, but a few experiences stood out to me. I created this list based on my best memories, and I hope that you can find some inspiration for your next trip to Japan, or learn about what the country has to offer. 

Kyoto at Night

Our group spent one night exploring Kyoto, and it made me want to explore the city much further. We took the subway from the hotel to downtown, which was busy but calm at the same time. First, we saw an impressive street performer who uses pots and pans as an instrument. We then stopped for taiyaki and walked through the lantern-lit streets. Finally, we reached the Yasaka Shrine, where we were lucky enough to witness the dragon dance rehearsal for the upcoming Star Festival.

Fuji-Hakone-Itsu National Park

Here, I started the day with a drive up the Hakone Volcano, featuring lake views and creating the unique opportunity to look down into an active volcano. After I continued across the mountain to board a cable car to the top of the mountain within the clouds, where I saw the Hakone Mototsumiya Shrine, and hiked around the mountain. The elevation offered cooler temperatures, which were a relief from the regular summer heat. When I visited, it was very cloudy, but on a sunny day, the iconic Mount Fuji is visible in the distance. 

Hama-rikyu Gardens

After spending time in the busy streets of Tokyo, visiting the serene Hama-rikyu gardens felt like the perfect escape. This park features beautiful landscaping inside with borrowed city buildings as its backdrop, creating a unique place where city and nature meet. Visitors will enjoy a pleasant walk with plenty of beautiful photo opportunities.

Karaoke

Japan is well known for being a karaoke hub, but going into the trip, I was not looking forward to the activity. Though once I experienced it, it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the trip. Throughout Japan, there are Karaoke places where you can rent a private room and sing. I was on a group tour, so we had a room for 26, but there are also smaller ones available. Each has a TV on both the front and back wall, along with microphones and an iPad to cue each song. Bring along your friends and family for a fun night of singing together.

Miyajima Island

The ferry ride to Miyajima Island was breathtaking! Not only does it offer gorgeous ocean views, but also of the nearby mountains. After a quick ride across the bay, hop off to see the Iksukushima shrine, situated over the Pacific. I visited during low tide and was able to walk out under the giant torii gate, as well as view the rest of the shrine. Afterwards, explore the cute oceanside shopping street and enjoy yummy food and desserts. There are deer that live throughout the island that are very friendly and will come up to tourists to try and eat their food, who like pets, and make a great photo-op. 

Written by Julia Gordee 7/10/25