Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
Yakitori was never in my list of priority foods to eat in Tokyo. There are so many yakitori joints where I live and the ones beneath the railway tracks near Ginza were never that great. But Fuku's yakitori is unlike others (due in part to quality ingredients) and is proof that you can eat really well in Tokyo and for very reasonably as well.
For travellers to Tokyo, Fuku is also relatively visitor friendly. The owner speaks very good english and was able to provide more details...
If you’re in Arashiyama for a day (or more), there are three great dining options for lunch - Shigetsu, Unagiya Hirokawa and Hirano-ya. They are very different from each other and I really enjoyed all three. So, depending on your food preferences and available time, at least one of these should tick the boxes.
Shigetsu - Zen Vegetarian (Shojin Ryori)
Shigetsu is a zen buddhist vegetarian dining hall in Tenryu-ji temple. The story goes that it started with the monks cooking...
Katsura Imperial Villa is evidence that good design lasts forever. Designated a cultural treasure by the Japanese, this garden - said to be the most beautiful in Japan according to the Imperial Household Agency - and its buildings were completed in 1645 and used as a royal residence. The design of the villas and its tea houses are simple, due to the influence of zen buddhism, and look as modern now as they may have done more than four hundred years ago. Its garden is also said to be...
Michelin 3-starred Kitcho Arashiyama is known as a temple of Kyoto Kaiseki cuisine that comes with a high price. Reviews thus, are often mixed. Having now been there in winter and summer, I say that it’s worth trying at least once because of the complete experience it offers. However, if you’re just going for the food, you can get as fulfilling a Kaiseki experience elsewhere for a lot less financial pain.
I’m a sucker for Japanese ceramics, so to see the antiques that Kitcho...
No rolling stones here. One of the most enchanting gardens in Kyoto is that belonging to Kokedera (also known as Saiho-ji) or the Moss Temple. As its name suggests, it’s known for its moss. In my view, it’s well worth the trip to Kyoto’s western district to visit this garden.
I came here in June 2014 on a very hot day. We had a 10 am visit slot and since we didn't want to be late, we took a taxi from our hotel to Kokedera. It was only a 20 minute ride, although our hotel told us...