Let’s be real for a second. When you first move to Japan, you have this vision of spending your weekends strolling peacefully through empty, mist-covered temple grounds, finding your inner peace. Then reality hits. You realize that most of the famous spots involve navigating chaotic train transfers, squeezing onto sidewalks that are roughly the width […]
2026 Guide to the Hasedera Temple Hydrangeas
June has officially hit the Kanto region, and if you live here, you know exactly what that means. The sky has settled into a permanent shade of gray, the humidity has casually spiked to eighty percent, and suddenly trying to get your laundry to dry indoors feels like an unwinnable extreme sport. Figuring out how […]
Honest Guide to the Misaki Maguro Ticket: Is It Actually Worth It?
It feels like almost every train line in Japan has those “Otoku” or discount passes, but since Keikyu is my home line, I am a bit biased toward theirs. They have a ton of options like the Hayama Excursion Ticket or the Yokosuka Enjoy Ticket, but today we are talking about the heavyweight: the Misaki […]
Kamakura in January: The Best Time for Mt. Fuji Views & No Crowds
Transparency Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog! If you ask the internet when to visit Kamakura, you are going to get blasted with photos of Hydrangeas (Kanji: 紫陽花 / […]
The Perfect Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Itinerary
Transparency Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog! So, you’re heading to Kamakura! Awesome choice. You’re probably planning to visit the city’s number one landmark: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. And you totally […]
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu History: Kamakura’s Tragic First Family
Transparency Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog! When you visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura, it’s easy to see it as just a beautiful, ancient shrine. But that’s like looking […]
The Best Kamakura Festivals to Experience Year-Round
Transparency Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog! Ever wanted to step back in time? Kamakura is that kind of place—a historic city full of incredible temples and shrines, all […]