tokidokitraveller

I got to ride this road bike around the island! I’m not used to road bikes so it took a bit to get used to 😅but riding next to the ocean and seeing the blue water was so refreshing!

OMG just look at how beautiful the beach is!!! The water was INSANELY clear, and the sand was so white!! I’m going to be thinking about this beach constantly until i get to go back 😭

Miyakojima is known for their sea salt! I found this cider at an onsen which is miyakojima salt flavoured 👀 the taste reminded me of a fizzy pocari sweat actually! I really enjoyed it! 😌

When we arrived in Miyakojima we stopped to have some food, and I got to try some local things I hadn’t tried before! I tried Mozuku which is a kind of seaweed dish with vinegar, it had a bite to it but was a great flavour to add to the meal! 🤤

Here I am after swimming in the ocean! The water was a bit chilly but really not that bad with a wetsuit on 😄 The sun also kept me warm! Maybe a little too warm cos I got sunburnt 😂definitely will bring sunscreen next time 😬

Here I am just after I got into the water! It was winter when we went, and even in winter the water wasn’t tooo cold… but it was still cold 😂 After I got more used to it, it was so nice to swim in the ocean! 😄

A famous spot in Tokunoshima that I got to visit is Glasses Rock! It’s called that because it has two holes next to each other like a pair of glasses 👀The view was so beautiful and it was great to be able to breathe the fresh sea air 😌

On our trip around the island we stopped at a small restaurant run by some lovely local old ladies and it was so sweet! We got some ramen and it was only 400 yen, or about 4 USD for this giant bowl 😱

At Guest House Michi they had this little chicken that I fell in love with. Its name was Jan and it was super friendly with people, it even jumped on my hand. I wasn’t sure if i was a dog or cat person, but now i know I am 100% a chicken person.

At Guest House Michi they had this goat called Haruka who lived in the garden! She spent most of ther time basking in the sun on the porch and looked so relaxed 😌 She is actually an expectant mother so soon she will have a kid!

There were so many beautiful rock formations on Tokunoshima! They were formed from uplifted coral reefs, so a lot of the island is surrounded by these beautiful cliffs. There’s also some beautiful beaches too, it would be so nice to swim in the summer!

We had this suuuuper beautiful and delicious meal on the island. There were some things in the meal I wasn’t used to, like pigs feet, peanut tofu, and a type of seaweed called ‘aosa’. It was all SO delicious and I’m still thinking about it 😭

I can’t believe I got to eat a whole fancy Maizuru crab 😱 This crab was the cheapest out of all of the Maizuru crabs at 10,000yen, about 100 USD! The rest were from 20,000~30,000 yen 💀 It was so soft and flavourful, and such a cool experience!

This is Yoshiwara Inlet in Maizuru! The still water with the perfect reflection from the sky is just amazing. I could have sat and watched the water for hours. Also there were plenty of fish in the river, with such a peaceful atmosphere 😌

I feel like this is such a classic shot and popular spot to see in Kyoto, however it felt so different visiting there this time. There were so few people compared to usual, I felt like I could truly admire the area and view more than I have been able to before!

I got to travel out to Maizuru in Kyoto to go and see Yoshiwara Inlet! The houses are built so close together along the canal and directly onto the water. This place is sometimes referred to as Japan’s Venice, and I can definitely see why!

This is the best warabi mochi I’ve ever had! 100% recommend! Warabi mochi usually has a chewy jelly texture, but this one was somehow so soft and flavourful that it felt almost like a completely different food! (Located in Kyoto City on the way to Maizuru)

The hotel I stayed at in Kyoto was an incredible experience, not only was the room huge and beautiful, but we could see the shinkansen trains passing by our window at Kyoto Station! Lying in bed and watching was a really fun experience!

Right near Kasugataisha, there was a little cafe serving Zenzai, which is a red bean soup with mochi! On a chilly day, this is the perfect snack to warm you up and re-energise! The one in the middle is Konbu (seaweed)!

Deer in sunlight! Oh my gosh this deer really knew how to pose! Honestly if you don’t have deer crackers on you, the deer are super friendly and polite. Also it’s very simple to get good photos with and of the deer, they’re everywhere!

So lucky we got to visit Nara during autumn! There was so much beautiful autumn foliage, and it made everywhere look so colourful. The path up to Kasugataisha (shrine) was particularly beautiful! I would love to come back here in other seasons too.

The deer are very chill and friendly, until you have deer crackers. As soon as you get them they transform into cracker obsessed juggernauts and it can be pretty scary 😂
Purchase deer crackers at your own risk! The crackers themselves are made out of acorns 😊

This is a ‘shikamikuji’ I got from Kasugataisha! In the deer’s mouth is a fortune, and I got the biggest luck 😱 Definitely the cutest way I’ve received my fortune at a temple. The temple itself was very beautiful too, and they had a big wisteria vine which would look beautiful in the right season!

Playing around on a giant soccer field in the hills of Nara surrounded by autumn leaves was such a great experience! I really felt like I was representing the Aussie spirit too haha! In Tokyo I don’t have the opportunity to kick a ball around much, so I had such a great time 😂

I got to visit Maruyama Park in Ageo City! I’m so happy I got to see some autumn leaves, it was my first koyo viewing this year. The park was very peaceful and was huge! So much water too (and ducks haha). I hope I can visit again. It would be amazing in cherry blossom season too! Or a picnic in summer.

I visited a wagashi shop in Ina Town in Saitama and got some super cute snacks! ? The shop’s name is Toraya, and the owners were so sweet! I’m a big fan of wagashi, especially Nerikiri. It’s a mix of white bean, sugar, and mochi, and it’s usually shaped into beautiful flowers or shapes based on the season.

Many onsens have a restaurant inside, where you can enjoy a variety of Japanese food. Soba noodles with vegetable tempura is a popular meal to enjoy. You dip the cold noodles into a dipping sauce and slurp to eat! Definitely a great food to try when you’re in Japan.

Here’s some wagashi I bought at a store called Toraya in Ina Town in Saitama! On the dorayaki is a character called ‘Rose-chan’, she’s the local mascot because the area is famous for roses ? I also got two Nerikiri, one shaped as Totoro and one shaped as a ‘Amabie’. Amabie is a Japanese yokai mermaid, and it has 3 legs! It’s interesting, so I had to try it!

In Ageo in Saitama I got to take a private onsen! It’s so luxurious having your own onsen, being able to enjoy the water without anyone else there ? I love going to private onsen with friends because you can talk as much as you want and relax together! This bath also had a private room, which was perfect for chilling in afterwards :)

I got to relax in a private onsen while I was in Ageo city in Saitama prefecture! The feeling of getting into a piping hot onsen after a cold day outdoors is one of my favourite feelings in the world, especially in an outdoor onsen while being able to look up at the stars? I wanna stay in there forever but have to be careful not to get too dizzy!