Japan was my first step into Asia and it was a long one. That 12 hour flight definitely had me going crazy, but it was all worth it once I landed. I learned so much about the culture, the language, the food and much more while in Japan. It truly felt like a giant playground for me, where there was always a new destination and a new perspective that I wasn’t exposed to prior. All photos were shot on my LG V30 and Lumia 950, I hope you enjoy them!
Tokyo, my first stop when landing in Japan. Initially, I was extremely confused by the train map and had to follow the colors to get by, but as the days went on, things began to feel familiar. My Japanese improved and interacting got much easier. It felt like everything I saw was photo worthy in Tokyo and in Japan overall, which made making selections that more difficult. 7/11 became my go-to spot for breakfast onigiri and Google maps was clutch when I needed to go somewhere. In my photos, I decided to focus more on the tranquil side of Tokyo that I experienced.
Kyoto is currently my favorite city in Japan. I think it merges the vibe and architecture of feudal Japan with modern Japan perfectly. Everything was eye catching and I just felt at ease while there, which is usually hard for me since I’m from NY. From Kyoto, I took a day trip to Arashiyama where I got to check out the bamboo forest and see some chill monkeys.
I call it a more polite version of NYC. Osaka is where I spent the bulk of the trip because it was perfectly located for day trips on the Shinkansen (amazing way to get around!). In Osaka I got to meet some cool people, try paddle boarding, and see how well I handled sake. From Osaka I visited Miyajima Island, Kurashiki, Himeji and Nara. It was a lot to pack into 6 days but I was able to appreciate each location and what that had to offer.