High speed bullet trains were born in Japan. It's where they began and one of the countries that are most famous for these exciting machines! We decided to catch the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto while we were in Japan. It was such an easy and fun way to travel, avoiding airport baggage lines, long queues to board and disembark planes, and so spacious and comfortable!

Kibune is a small town in a forested valley in the northern mountains of Kyoto, which was developed around Kibune Shrine. I first heard about Kibune as a place where you could dine in the forest directly on top of a waterfall! But the arriving in Kibune itself, the town was far more beautiful than I could have imagined! 

Gran Ms Hotel was absolutely the perfect place to stay in Kyoto. On the recommendation of one of Laura's friends who is Japanese and visits Kyoto often, it kind of felt like we blindly booked Gran Ms without much research into the area, but I couldn't have been happier. The designer hotel is very new and absolutely beautiful. The staff were so lovely and friendly and were great with the English language, which made asking for help and directions so easy!! 

Located in the Gion District on one of the main streets of Kyoto, everything was within our reach! From subway stations and train lines, marketplaces and high-end shopping, to all kinds of dining options including traditional and more western options, we were within walking distance of everything we needed. There is a 7/11 located right next door to the hotel, so late night snacks were never a problem. 

Hidden at the top of Mount Arashiyama is a crazy little place called Iwatayama. A monkey park at the top of the mountain, with beautiful views over Kyoto and monkeys roaming freely around the mountain top. Looking over the Oi River it is inhabited by over 170 macaque monkeys.

As a visitor to Japan you will no doubt be visiting quite a few temples or shrines. They are a staple of a Japanese itinerary and with their rich culture and beautiful grounds, and they are definitely a highlight of any trip to Japan. There are many different pieces to a Japanese temple, each with their own importance and significance. Here is a quick guide to what you might find in a Japanese Shrine and what they mean.

Japan is known for trains. They have one of the best underground systems in the world, are famous of their bullet trains, and have one of the most efficient public transport systems I have ever seen. But there are heaps of different options, from the Tokyo Metro, to JR Trains as well as the Shinkansen bullet trains! Here's a quick guide to help you understand the different types of trains you're going to find in Japan and some tips to help you get around this amazing city!

If you're looking for the best views over Tokyo you can't go past Tokyo Tower (東京タワー). Standing at 333 meters high, Tokyo Tower is the world's tallest, self-supported steel tower and 13 meters taller than it's more famous big brother, the Eiffel Tower! 

Japan is famous for its shopping. From designer brands and luxury items to the best beauty and cutting edge electronics you could think of, Japan has everything!! Here is a quick guide to what some of the best suburbs in Tokyo have to offer! 

The Japanese Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku is one of the craziest experiences you will have in a Japan. For a country and a culture that is so polite, refined and traditional, everything about the Robot Restaurant show will surprise you! Located in the Kabukicho red-light district, the Robot Restaurant is an eclectic one hour cabaret show with performances full of flashing lights, taiko drums and techno music.  To be honest, I definitely think that the best way to approach the show is with no preconceived ideas about what you are about to experience and just let it consume you! So, while I will include lots of photos, I'm not really going to give you a descriptive recount of what went on, instead just a few tips to make the experience even better! 

If you ever wanted to have that moment that makes you think "Wow, I'm really in Tokyo!" the Shibuya Scramble will do it! Rumour has it that this crossing in Shibuya is the busiest in the world, with up to a thousand people crossing with every light change during peak hour in the city. It's incredible to watch, and although it might seem silly, it is even incredible to experience walking in such a crazy sea of people.  To see what it's like, watch the video below!

It's been a while between posts. I guess we can all see that I have unfortunately neglected my blog for a while now. For the last eight months I was working as a travel consultant for a massive international travel agency, and it was the worst job of my whole life. The hours were so long and I was so exhausted all the time that I could barely stay awake when I got home, let alone think about updating my blog. But I have recently accepted a new job with my dream company and I couldn't be happier! It's only been two weeks but I already feel so much better than I have in a long time! And the best part is I can get back to the things I actually enjoy doing, like this blog, rather than working all the time! 

So, I'm sorry for the neglect but I am back! I have still been travelling over the last eight months, so I have lots of new places and so many new photos to share with you. First up is Japan! If you would like to chat with me about anything you can e-mail me at [email protected].