As part of 6 days in Kyoto, we took a day trip to Hiroshima and the nearby island of Miyajima. Looking at a map, it might not be apparent that this is possible as it’s roughly 360 km each way, but the Shinkansen trains are so fast and efficient that this is something that can be done if you are willing to get on an early train. We had an itinerary where we saw the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum and spent the afternoon on the Island of Miyajima before we travel back to Kyoto.

As part of 6 days in Kyoto, we took a day trip to Uji – Japan’s Matcha capital. Why Uji, when there are many other activities to do in and around Kyoto? If you like Matcha and Tea, it’s worth the experience - to be fair, We were on the fence between Uji and Nara for this day trip, and ultimately the rainy weather made Uji a nice choice as it offered a lot of indoor activities in tea rooms, tea shops, and cafes.

We spent a week in Kyoto — here’s a overview of some of the highlights! Fushimi Inari — Senbon Torii This is the “Thousand Torii Gates” shrine that you’ll see in many pictures if you spend any time researching Kyoto, you’ll see pictures of this and it was a priority for us to get here early and not be rushed through the experience. We got here at about 5:40 in the morning, to try to have some areas where we were able to walk through the gates and appreciate the beauty of it all without loads of people, and we were very successful.

We’ve been doing ski vacations all over the US, but lately it feels like Epic / Icon are making these trips cost an arm and a leg. We’ve been talking about doing a ski trip overseas and last year we ditched the Epic pass and hit Europe for the big ski trip. If you are thinking about skiing the Swiss Alps but worried about cost? You’re not alone. Switzerland has a reputation for luxury—and price tags to match.

Practical tips and personal highlights from my visit to the Osaka World Expo 2025. Pavilion strategies, views, people, and a few pain points.