Japan Travel Log

August 2 - Goodnight, Tokyo

• Checked the Nintendo, SEGA, and Pokémon shops for a final loot run.
• Cooled down in my favorite spot: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
• Wrapped the trip with the light show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

August 1 - Tabula Rasa

• Picked out and bought souvenirs while navigating a full-on sensory overload.
• Met up with fellow travellers for an easygoing evening.
• Got caught in my first real Japanese downpour-no jacket, soaked in seconds-then thawed out in the onsen back at my accommodation.

July 31 - Rechasing Fuji (From Takao)

• Hiked up Mount Takao-apparently I had not had quite enough trails yet.
• Clouds hid good ol' Mount Fuji, but the climb made it worth it.

July 30 - Gyoen Green & Lucky Encounters

• Wandered the city, then retreated to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden to rest under the trees.
• Ran into a traveler I'd met before and took an unplanned stroll together.
• Wrapped up with a hard-won vegetarian dinner.

July 29 - Summerland Vibes

• Day trip to Tokyo Summerland.
• Soaked up the sun, unwound in the onsen, and did a few runs on the water slides.

July 28 - Little Edo

• Visited Kawagoe-"Little Edo"-and wandered its preserved kurazukuri streets and old bell tower.
• Stumbled into a thrift shop and came out with some unexpected finds.
• Rounded off the day with a good whisky in Shinjuku.

July 27 - Summit by Bullet

• Bullet-climbed Mount Fuji in 3.5 hours via the Yoshida Trail.
• Set off at 4:30 AM, gained ~1,500 m, and stood at 3,776 m by 8:00 AM.
• Marked the moment with a celebratory beer on the summit.
• Drove back to Tokyo in the evening and slept like a rock.

July 26 - Fast Track Fujiyoshida

• Rode the Shinkansen from Kyoto back to Tokyo.
• Transferred to Fujiyoshida to stage for the Yoshida Trail.
• Stocked up on food and drinks and did a final gear check for Fujisan.
• Enojed a good night's sleep of 3 hours - being more than well rested for the hike.

July 25 - Nara Ara

• Took the train to Nara and pet the famously polite deer of Nara Park.
• Looked up to the giant Daibutsu inside Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall.
• Recharged with freshly pounded mochi and a bowl of gyudon.

July 24 - Halt and Catch Fire

• Watched the ornate floats of Ato Matsuri parade through Kyoto's streets.
• Spent the rest of the day indoors to recover from AC and heat.

July 23 - Matcha Lessons

• Took a hands-on tea-ceremony class-learned how matcha is grown, stone-milled, whisked, and sipped.
• Followed up with matcha soba and matcha ice cream.
• Visited Byodo-in Temple, the Phoenix Hall immortalised on every 10 Yen coin.

July 22 - Bamboo Breeze

• Visited the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in the morning.
• Unwound in Kyoto Gyoen National Garden; however the Imperial palace was off-limits.
• Caught the night rhythm of out Gion Matsuri with its festival flair.

July 21 - 36 Grad - und es wird noch heißer

• Met the morning at the Kiyomizu-dera before all the tourists arrived.
• Wandered through Nishiki Market, pairing Kobe steak with chilled sake.
• Strolled the gardens of Higashiyama Jisho-ji, all raked sand and mirror-still ponds.
• Closed the evening with Kyoto-style okonomiyaki.

July 20 - Osaka Express

• Explored storied Osaka Castle.
• Went up the twin Umeda Sky Building towers to the open-air Floating Garden Observatory—40 floors above the streets, linked by glass skybridges.
• Hopped a rapid train to evening Kyoto and wandered lantern-lit lanes along the Kamo River.

July 19 - Expo²⁰²⁵

• Spent the day at Expo 2025 Osaka, exploring bayside pavilions under a flawless sky and 33 degrees.
• Wandered through national showcases—from Germany and Austria to the UAE—collecting tech demos, and regional treats.
• Closed the evening with a drone show over Osaka Bay, lights and music choreographed in mid-air.

July 18 - Mainland Munchies

• Flew out of tropical Ishigaki and straight into the nation's kitchen - Osaka.
• Spent the night drifting from canal-side bars.
• Got other street-stall treats while weaving through neon-lit Dōtonbori.

July 17 - Islanders 2

• Hopped a short ferry to Taketomi, greeting the island's famous water-buffalo carts.
• Sampled fresh buffalo milk and silky caramel pudding—simple perfection.
• Strolled around the city center and bought souveniers like a good tourist.

July 16 - Islanders 1

• Ferried to heart-shaped Kuroshima, where about 200 people share the island with 300 cows.
• Rented an electric bike any% speedran all the beaches.
• Snorkelled a reef near Taketomi and explored the phantom island that disappears at high tide.
• Ended the day bar-hopping with new friends and sharing travel tales.

July 15 - Snorkels, Stocks & Sea Views

• Snorkeled in the blue cave, where sunlight paints the walls turquoise.
• Hiked up to the Emerald Sea Observatory Deck for sweeping views of reef-ringed coastline.
• Swapped Taiwanese stock tips over bowls of ramen.

July 14 - Sunburned but Spirited

• Sheltered indoors to soothe a nasty sunburn.
• Re-visited the Angel Beach for some fresh air.
• Teamed up with a friendly German traveller and turned recovery time into a relaxed bar-to-bar wander, sampling local awamori.

July 13 - Peaks & Pineapples

• Hiked Mount Omoto, Okinawa's highest summit, up a dense jungle path—strenuous but rewarding.
• Strolled the quiet, rugged north coast of Ishigaki, pausing at hidden lookout points.
• Sampled two local pineapple varieties— peach and golden—and found new favourites.

July 12 - Gear Shifts & Sea Drifts

• Pedaled from Ishigaki City all the way to the northern jewel of Kabira Bay.
• Rode through 33 °C heat and 80 % humidity—challenging but rewarding.
• Finished the day at Angel Beach, relaxing in clear shallows and fine white sand.

July 11 - Mangrove Greeting Party

• Wheels down on sun-baked Ishigaki—humidity slapped harder than the welcome sign.
• Hopped on a rental bike to keep the island's one lonely mangrove company.
• Looped Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, chasing sea views.

July 10 - Scroll, Stroll, Soak—Repeat

• Lost myself in the dreamscape of teamPlanet Borderless.
• Wandered the maple-lined paths of Koishikawa Korakuen Garden.
• Relaxed in a traditional japanese Onsen.

July 9 - Miau 😼

• Visited Gōtokuji Temple-Tokyo's 'Lucky Cat' temple.
• Played with some cats in a cat cafe while enjoying a drink.
• Enjoyed Tokyo's nightlife in Shinjuku.

July 8 - Amazing Green!

• Strolled through Hamarikyu Gardens’ tidal ponds.
• Visited Senso‑ji Temple’s iconic Kaminarimon gate.
• Wandered over the warm avenues of Ueno Park.
• Explored the Tokyo National Museum’s samurai armor collection.
• Relaxed in the wonderful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

July 7 - Business & Blessings

• Toured Dan’s company headquarters in Tokyo—thanks for the invitation!
• Enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere among the tall cedar trees at Meiji Jingu Shrine.

July 6 - Exploring Mount Fuji

• Explored Oshino Hakkai’s eight crystal-clear ponds, fed by Mt Fuji snow-melt.
• Took in amazing views of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko, the most popular of the Fuji Five Lakes just north of Fujiyoshida.

July 5 - New Planets!

• Experienced teamLab Planets’ barefoot digital art in Toyosu.
• Strolled the Imperial Palace East Gardens.
• Hand-made seasonal wagashi sweets and tasted them with ceremonial matcha.

July 4 - Day of Arrival

• Took in the 360° skyline from Tokyo Skytree, recognised as the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world.
• Spent the afternoon battling vintage and modern arcade games in Akihabara’s neon-lit game centres, right in the heart of Tokyo’s famed “Electric Town”.