Seoul is one of my favorite cities in East Asia with its colorful spaces, delicious food, and mix of modern and traditional. There are tons of neighborhoods to explore for days on end, as well as thousands of cafes and hidden places to check-out. Without further ado, here’s a list of several of my favorite spots in Seoul, South Korea. Cafes Cafe Onion: Cafe Onion seems a tad out of place upon first glance, as the surrounding streets are lined with…
Many tourists flocks to Japan’s major cities—Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hakone to name a few (click on the cities to view my travel guides!)—for obvious reasons. After my family’s visit to Japan, I realized that many visitors feel overwhelmed from spending a majority of their time in the larger urban areas and could benefit from a couple days in lesser-frequented regions of the country, such as Shizuoka, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures. Hiking, fruit picking, and tea picking are all…
Zeniarai Benten Ugafuku Shrine is a popular shrine in Kamakura, Japan where people visit to wash their money. This 800-year-old shrine is quite unique, as it is completely surrounded by high rock walls and is totally invisible from the outside—a tunnel must be used to access it. 800 years ago Yoritomo Minamoto ordered the shrine’s construction after a god appeared in his dream. The god recommended that he build the shrine to bring peace to the country. Minamoto’s dream occurred on the…
#1. Sakura: What makes spring special in Japan are the cherry blossoms, known as “sakura” in Japanese. The sakura start blooming in the south in Okinawa and make their way north to Hokkaido between February through May. #2. Spring flavors: Many restaurants, bakeries, and patisseries feature special sakura-inspired menu items to celebrate the season. Sakura ice cream, manju, Pocky Sticks, and more can be found across Japan. Be sure to sample some of these seasonal treats! #3. Weather: Spring is…
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for having over 1,600 limestone island formations amongst teal blue waters. The region is home to an impressive range of biodiversity as well as host to outdoor activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking. Through a tour with Cát Bà Ventures, I spent a day out in Halong Bay admiring its natural beauty, including kayaking on the water and seeing a traditional fishing village. Halong Bay via Cát Bà Island…
About Gamcheon Culture Village Gamcheon Culture Village has been labeled the “Santorini of Korea” or the “Machu Picchu of Korea” due to the colorful homes built around the foothills of Saha-gu Mountain. The area used to be a poor neighborhood, but the government gradually turned it into an artsy tourist destination. The homes and buildings are painted in vibrant colors with murals and paintings along the alleys and walls. There are cafés, restaurants, and food stalls inside the village, too….
Jigokudani Monkey Park is a famous location in Japan where snow monkeys openly bathe in natural hot springs in the winter. It’s located in the Yokoyu-River Valley in Nagano Prefecture and is part of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. Winter is the best time to visit, as they turn to the hot spring to keep warm in the harsh winter months. Top Tips for Visiting Jigokudani in Winter #1. Dress appropriately: Temperatures in Jigokudani can drop significantly—sometimes as low as -15…
Sabang is a small village that’s part of larger Puerto Princesa, but is approximately 80 kilometers northwest of the city center. You must drive through heavily forested land along winding roads for more than one hour to get to the beautiful, remote Sabang area. Activities in Sabang Sabang Beach: The beach in this cute little village is absolute paradise. The waters are crystal clear, the sands pure white, and not a piece of trash can be found. It’s the perfect…