The Ambitious Day Trip to Shirakawago and Gokayama

I knew I had to see the rustic thatched-roof houses of Central Japan when I first saw them on TV years ago. The scenery was wintertime, the snow blanketed traditional houses, and on nighttime, instead of being surrounded by darkness, the entire village is illuminated with bright lights in an event called the Winter Light-up. Alas, I came a few months early and was not able to witness this glorious scenery. However, since I was already visiting Kanazawa and Takayama that sandwiches this remote area, I decided to visit it anyway. Due to budget limitations however, I had to scrap my intention of staying the night at Shirakawago and eventually decided to just do a day trip. Not just to one, not two, but to all three villages!

Kanazawa Travel Guide

Kanazawa was not on my radar when I booked this trip to Japan, I originally intended to go to Takayama after my stay in Tokyo  and neighboring places like Kamakura, Nikko and Mt. Fuji. I learned about this place when I was researching for budget passes and thought to myself that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see one of Japan’s renowned garden. However after exploring Kanazawa, I think this city has so much more to offer and is surely worth a visit.

Fuji Five Lakes DIY Day Trip: Kawaguchiko and Saiko

When I was jotting down must-see places for my Japan trip, Mt. Fuji garnered the top spot. The next question that I asked myself was if I wanted to do the hike or see the mountain from afar. The hiking trail closes as early as September so going up was impossible. Budget also restrains me to stay longer – autumn is tourist peak season so lodging prices might be a bit steep. Eventually, I just opted for the more practical option, which for me was to do a day trip. My choices were then narrowed down between Hakone, a destination famed for its hot springs with majestic views overlooking Fuji, or Fujigoko, which in English is the Fuji Five Lakes. I didn’t need to think much before deciding that the lakes is where I will spend my sixth day in Japan.

Seeing Kamakura’s Highlights on a Day Trip from Tokyo

Even though I stayed in Tokyo for six days, I only spent half of it in the city and I ventured to towns that Tokyoites frequent when they are eager to get outside the capital. I first went to Nikko famed for its shrines which I failed to fully explore, but on the upside, I was able to soak in some nature-filled scenery. On a busy Sunday, I decided to take the train to Kamakura to do more laid-back sightseeing.

The Not-So-Successful Day Trip to Nikko

I am not that fond of big cities, I dislike being in crowded places and so even though I immensely enjoyed my three-day stay in Tokyo, I still craved the rural scenery. I did three day-trips that were accessible from the city, and first of which was in Nikko, a location known for its UNESCO World Heritage status and amazing natural scenery. As to why this post’s title is an epic fail will be further explained in this post, but as a heads up, this letdown is all thanks to me.

Wulai and Bitan Scenic Area

Everything looked sad and bleak on my last day in Taiwan. I certainly hope it would be sunny this time at least, but I didn’t want the gloomy weather to dampen my mood, so it’s still up to me to liven up my day. In times like this, I would usually just curl up in my bed with a book, but not today. As hard as it was, I prepped to do some light walking in the laidback district of Wulai in New Taipei.

Keelung City’s Pride – Heping Island and Miaokou Night Market

More from my New Taipei series, after my rock exploration in Yehliu Geopark, I decided to embark on another rock-filled adventure in Keelung City. Keelung 基隆 is one of the bigger cities in Taiwan known for having the second largest seaport in the country, the Port of Keelung, that now serves as a gateway to places like Xiamen, China and Okinawa, Japan. With frequent train trips from the capital, it is so convenient to travel back and forth without any hassle, another city worth recommending if you’re looking for day trips outside Taipei.

just one of the many interesting sights in Keelung

Yehliu Geopark - Taiwan’s Rock Theme Park?

Aside from Taroko Gorge National Park, one of the places that I was really looking forward to seeing in Taiwan was Yehliu Geopark. I had several friends who visited Taiwan before it got popular with the Filipinos and they posted pictures of these oddly shaped rocks that looked out of this world. Do you think I saw them with my two own eyes? Of course I did!

Beitou and Tamsui – Your New Favorites in Taipei

For my last five days in Taiwan, I decided to explore cities around New Taipei like my previous hike around the mountainous area of Daxi, Dali and Fulong. My agenda that day were the popular cities of Beitou and Tamsui, situated up north of Taiwan. These places are usually visited together due to its proximity to each other.

Getting Lost Around the Taoyuan Valley and Caoling Historic Trail

Taiwan will surely be enjoyed by hikers. There are lots of beautiful mountains located nearby Taipei so if you only have a few days, you can easily sneak in about 3 or 4 hikes in your schedule. After my travels around Central, South and East Taiwan, I decided to settle again in the capital and explore the neighboring cities around New Taipei for six more days and find out why the locals are raving about the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area.

Breathtaking view of Taoyuan Valley

Jampacked Day of Fascinating Sights in Tainan

I always enjoy strolling around small heritage cities, that’s why when asked about travel suggestions, I always mention places like Gyeongju in South Korea, Pingyao in China, Melacca in Malaysia and of course, Vigan in the Philippines. So it was a must for me to go to Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city.

Located southwest of Taiwan, Tainan is a well-known destination for its temples and ancient buildings that has been a witness to almost 200 years of history. What makes it attractive to travelers like me is its rich culture that can be observed through the colonial buildings scattered around the city and its variety of snacks and street food.

Good morning from Tainan!