The main sites on our Osaka list were the aquarium, the castle and Dotonbori. Since we left Hakone early and used our extra time in Osaka to visit the aquarium on our arrival day, we had some extra time to play with. We decided to visit Namba Yasaka Shrine. Not only is it home to one of the most unique shrine buildings in Japan but it is an easy and quick visit, making it the perfect addition to our full day Osaka itinerary. Located in the Namba district in Osaka, the Namba Yasaka Shrine is tucked away in the city …

In my original itinerary, we were supposed to do the Hakone Loop on our arrival day in Hakone and then visit the Hakone Open Air Museum on the second day before containing on to Osaka. But the weather threw a wrench in our plans for both days. The Open Air Museum would clearly not have been an enjoyable experience in a double typhoon but I held out hope that we could still sneak a peak at the Hakone Shrine (the real Hakone Shrine, not Kuzuryu Shrine Hongu). But I put it to a vote – go see the shrine or …

A double typhoon and suboptimal planning kept us from doing the Hakone Loop on our arrival but I was determined that the day would not be a total loss. I knew (or at least thought I knew) that the Hakone Shrine was within walking distance to the hotel so I went to the front desk and asked for directions. Turns out I should have been more specific when I asked for directions to the shrine but I grabbed an umbrella and headed out to the trail that the helpful woman at the front desk said would lead me there. It …

You know what they say about the best laid plans. Our Hakone trip was a total bust. After careful planning and much excitement, we arrived in Hakone to thick fog, intermittent downpours, and two typhoons heading right towards us. My well-timed purchase of observation car seats on the Romancecar was all for naught. There was nothing to observe but thick rolling fog and rain beating against the windows. With no views to observe, I spent my time on the train trying to adjust our schedule and figure out which, if any, of the activities we would still do. And trying …

We knew we wanted to go to some sort of sumo experience while we were in Japan. There are only 6 professional grand tournaments each year in Japan and even if you are lucky enough to be visiting while one is being held (which we were not), they are almost impossible to get tickets for. Another less touristy and more authentic option is to go to a morning sumo practice in a sumo beya (sumo training and living facility). These are legitimate practices where you simply get to watch, with no explanations, announcements or fanfare. It seemed like it would …

On our last full day in Tokyo, we had tickets to teamLab Borderless in the morning and tickets to the Shinjuku Sumo Show in the evening. In between, we decided to split up and explore different interests. My husband and oldest son went to an off the beaten path neighborhood to go thrifting and record shopping. My youngest and I went to the Imperial Palace. Unfortunately for my youngest son, this was my first planning failure. I didn’t do a ton of research. I had seen pictures and thought it would be something cool to see that was historical and …

teamLab is an international art collective. Their digital art museums are immersive experiences that explore the intersection of art and technology. Originally formed by a group of artists in Tokyo in 2001, the collective now has dozens of museums, exhibitions, and public art displays both in Japan and around the world. Perhaps two of the most famous are teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless in Tokyo. Planets is most well known for its water exhibit where visitors take off their shoes and walk through shallow water with digital koi swimming all around them. Borderless is a museum that takes its name …

Our last stop in Kamakura was Yuigahama Beach. Kamakura is a popular day trip from Tokyo not just for tourists looking to visit its temples and shrines but also for locals looking for a weekend beach getaway. There are three main beaches in Kamakura – Zaimokuza, Shichirigahama, and Yuigahama. Zaimokuza is a great option for water sports, with paddle boarding and windsurfing ranking among its top activities. Shichirigahama boasts views of Enoshima and Mount Fuji but swimming is not allowed due to water conditions. Yuigahama is the most convenient, popular, and family and swimming friendly of the beaches. We didn’t …

As far as Japanese temples and shrines go, Kotoku-in is definitely on the small side. There are no large halls, tall pagodas or expansive gardens to explore. You can walk from one end of the temple to the other in less than 5 minutes. But what the grounds lack in size is more than made of by its enormous feature attraction, The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu). The Great Buddha is a 121 ton, 13.35 meter tall bronze statue that sits outdoors on the temple grounds of Kotoku-in. The backdrop of trees makes its size and exposure even more …

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is Kamakura’s most important shrine. Originally established in 1063 as a small shrine in Yui Wakamiya in honor of the deity Hachiman (the god of war, guardian deity of samurai and patron of the Minamoto clan), Tsurugaoka Hachimangu was moved to its current location in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo, the first of the shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. Although you can reach the shrine from the popular Komachi-dori Street, it is best approached from Dankazura, the raised pedestrian walkway that runs down the center Wakamiya Ōji street. This path leads you past komainu statues and through torii …