Mari | Japan Travel 🎌

As of July 7, 2026, Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa has officially transformed into the world’s first Pokémon-branded airport. ⚡️ This isn’t just a fun collaboration: it’s a meaningful initiative run by the Pokémon with YOU Foundation and Ishikawa Prefecture to boost tourism and support local communities rebuilding after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. 🙌 🗓️ Fromt now until September 30, 2029. 🔍 What to look out for: • A massive Pikachu airplane balloon floating in the main atrium. • 111 different Flying-type Pokémon hiding along the airport walls. • The "Pikachu Satoyama" observation deck celebrating local countryside beauty. • Exclusive regional merch and themed treats at the on-site restaurant. Noto peninsula offers a lot more, so many beautiful spots around to visit and it’s so close to Kanazawa for example! 🙌 #pokemon #pokemonairport #notopeninsula #ishikawa

This is the stunning view from the Satsukiyama Shūbōdai lookout point in Ikeda. The red torii gate frames the iconic Ayamaha Bridge and the valley below perfectly. 🌅 🚉 How to get there: 1. Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line from Osaka-Umeda Station to Ikeda Station (approx. 18-20 mins). 2. From the station, walk about 10-15 minutes through the shopping street to reach Satsukiyama Park. 3. Take the “Daimonji Course” hiking trail up the mountain for a scenic 15-minute walk to the viewpoint! 4. 🚗 Driving? You can drive up via the Satsukiyama Driveway (¥300 toll for cars, open 5 AM–10 PM)📍 Satsukiyama Shūbōdai, Ikeda, Osaka #osaka #gateinthesky #torii #ikeda

There are actually so many around Japan, not as unique as Fushimi Inari in Kyoto maybe but still so beautiful and so peaceful 🙌🥰 1️⃣ Yamaguchi: Motonosumi Shrine. 123 vibrant red gates winding along a dramatic ocean cliffside. 2️⃣ Aomori: Takayama Inari Shrine. Known as the “Fushimi Inari of the North,” these gates snake like a dragon through a traditional Japanese garden. 3️⃣ Saga: Yutoku Inari Shrine. One of Japan’s top 3 Inari shrines, built directly into a steep hillside valley. 4️⃣ Oita: Ogimori Inari Shrine. Completely off the tourist track, offering peaceful, wooded torii paths all to yourself. #inarishrine #inari

Check out my Klook Kreator Shop in my bio to see all the fireworks event in Japan and book yours! 🎆 Spend a perfect summer day escaping Tokyo to experience the very best of Yamanashi Prefecture. 🍑 This seasonal day trip seamlessly blends the region's famous agricultural bounty with a classic Japanese summer tradition right against the backdrop of Mount Fuji. The journey begins in the afternoon at a local orchard, where you can indulge in an all-you-can-eat fresh peach picking experience, sampling the sweet, juicy fruit Yamanashi is celebrated for. As evening falls, the tour heads to the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, giving you the perfect vantage point to watch a spectacular summer fireworks festival (hanabi) light up the night sky over the water. 📋 Useful Tour Info: 📍 Departure Point: Round-trip transport from Tokyo ⏰ Time: Approx. 12:30 PM – 10:30 PM (Half-day to evening itinerary) 🍑 Highlights: All-you-can-eat seasonal peach picking & Lake Kawaguchiko evening fireworks display 🗣️ Language: English and Chinese-speaking guiding available 👇 Head to my profile and click the link in my bio to my Kreator shop to book this exact summer itinerary! #japan #fireworks

If you love the aesthetic of Kyoto’s bamboo and moss gardens but want to experience them a bit further away from the crowds, add Rokuo-in to your itinerary! I found out about this temple just recently through the Arashiyama app, just like Matsuo Taisha (see my recent reels about them 🎋). Rokuo-in is a quiet Rinzai Zen temple sits just a short walk away from the bustling center of Arashiyama. You’ll be greeted by a stunning, stone-paved path framed by a mix of maples, moss beds, and a beautiful, intimate bamboo grove. It’s smaller than the main one but it’s so peaceful and beautiful! 🥰 📍 Access: A 5-minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, or a 3-minute walk from Rokuouin Station on the Randen Line. ⏰ Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry 4:30 PM) 🎟️ Admission: ¥400 (I think the price could change with the season!) #kyoto #arashiyama #bambooforest

I’ve been exploring Kyoto for years, but I completely missed this place until I came across it on the Arashiyama app I shared recently. 🙌 Just one stop away from the busy streets of Arashiyama you’ll find Matsuo Taisha, one of Kyoto’s oldest and most unique shrines. Founded in 701, it is deeply tied to the Matsuo-no-Kami deity, revered across the country as the god of sake brewing. It’s also a powerful spiritual spot for love and matchmaking (enmusubi). Couples and singles alike visit to pray at the Aio no Matsu, a sacred ancient pine tree whose roots uniquely grew together as a symbol of lifelong companionship. 💕 Right beside it, hidden quietly against the mountain, is the Mitarashi-no-taki, a small, sacred waterfall with a torii gate standing gracefully beneath the cascading water. ⛩️ Before you leave, make sure to walk through the three breathtaking gardens designed by the master of modern landscape architecture, Mirei Shigeori. They beautifully blend ancient, powerful rock arrangements with 20th-century modernism. 🥰 If you want to step away from the crowds and experience a 1,300-year-old piece of living history, add this to your Kyoto list and don’t forget to download the Arashiyama guide on Apple Store of Google play! (Link in my highlights 🔗) #arashiyama #kyoto

Ōme is located less than on hour by train from Shinjuku, a bit before Okutama, the mountainous region that has gotten more popular in recent years in the western side of Tokyo. It seems like it’s stuck in time, more precisely during the Showa period and it is simply just so cool! Its connection to cats 🐈 is quite interesting: before it leaned into its retro, artistic side, Ōme was a major hub for weaving and textile production. In the old days, the town’s absolute prized possession was silkworms. 😮 Because mice 🐁 could easily ruin an entire season’s silk harvest by eating the cocoons, local weavers began treating cats like invaluable business partners. Every workshop and home kept them around and over time they created tributes to cats and you can see them around on the streets today 😆 and just like this the area was called “Nishino Nekomachi” (The Cat Town of the West). 🐱 I’d just recommend walking around Ōme because you’re gonna spot so many cat details around and the posters are so cool! 🙌 These are the areas I have explored: - Stained glass studio Minamo; - Shōwa Gentō-kan; - Sumiyoshi Shrine; - Ome Nekomachi hall; - “The door into summer” cafe; - Yukimori Alley; - Nyanyamagari (quite difficult to find tbh lol). Some are hidden alleys and the area around the station changed quite a bit from what I had researched! Whether you like Showa vibes or cats, this is definitely a nice trip from central Tokyo! 🐈 #tokyo #cattown #ometown #ome

Fireworks season has started, and I got to see my first ones in a long time and in a magical spot: at Oike Park on the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko! 🎆 I actually booked a tour around the area on Klook, and it included this firework show at the end of the day. You can get your own tickets to so many different events around Japan this summer, too! 🙌😍 Get your tickets on Klook and use my discount code MARIJAPANKLOOK 🎟️ #japansummer #fireworks

While millions of travelers visit Kyoto’s Arashiyama every year, most stay strictly on the main street and the bamboo forest, without knowing there are so many spots in the area that are so beautiful and unique! 🙌 To help visitors navigate away from the heavy congestion and experience the tranquil side of the region, a new local navigation app has been launched specifically to promote regional exploration and sustainable travel! ✈️ Rather than relying on standard commercial maps that funnel everyone down the same crowded avenues, this specialized app actively guides you to the lesser-visited cultural gems of Arashiyama. It highlights off-the-beaten-path walking routes, helping to distribute foot traffic and preserve the peaceful atmosphere that makes Kyoto so historic. ⛩️ You can choose between: 👉 Free Version: full access to the digital map, basic navigation features, and congestion-avoidance routing tools. 👉 Premium Upgrade: 1,100 JPY (valid for 3 weeks). This tier unlocks rich, curated audio guides, detailed historical backgrounds for every landmark, and deep cultural commentary put together by local experts. #arashiyama #kyoto #guide #pr

It is not that easy! 😂 During an evening in Kyoto, I had the chance to challenge a Maiko to Konpira Fune Fune, a traditional Ozashiki game played with a small wooden cup. The rules seem simple at first: you alternate touching the cup or taking it away to the rhythm of the music. But once the Maiko speeds up the pace, maintaining total focus and composure becomes challenging. 😆 Would you like to try? 👘 #kyoto #maiko #konpirafunefune

If you are looking for an urban retreat that balances spaciousness with direct connectivity to the city, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba is an exceptional choice. 🙌 Sitting right along the edge of Tokyo Bay, its standout feature is the architecture: every single one of its 453 guest rooms features a private balcony overlooking the water. 🥰 Why it’s a great choice: - The view! Unobstructed 180-degree panoramas of the iconic Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, and Tokyo Skytree. Watching the city light up from your own private balcony at twilight is an incredibly serene experience. 🗼 - The rooms are quite spacious by Tokyo standards featuring generous seating areas and deep soaking tubs. - The executive lounge is located on the 3rd floor and it features expansive windows and an outdoor terrace. It serves a beautifully curated breakfast spread, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails with a direct view of the bay. 🍸 - It is situated right next to Daiba Station on the Yurikamome Line, making it incredibly easy to cross the water into the city center. It’s also steps from the Odaiba seaside park trails and local dining complexes. 😆 A perfect, peaceful bubble just outside the dense city grid! @hilton_tokyo_odaiba #hilton #tokyo #odaiba #hotel #pr

Slowpoke (Yadon) is the official tourism ambassador for Kagawa Prefecture! It’s a genius Japanese wordplay because “Yadon” sounds just like “Udon”, the famous noodles Kagawa is legendary for! 🍜 If you’re traveling from Takamatsu Port to Shodoshima Island (Tonosho Port), you can catch this fully themed Slowpoke ferry. 👉 Check the Shodoshima Ferry timetable ahead of time! Multiple boats run daily, but only specific slots feature the Slowpoke ship. Save this for your next trip to Japan! 🇯🇵 #slowpoke #ferry #pokemon #kagawa

I didn’t know what to expect from this island, but I’ll never forget the peace, the nature and the mysterious atmosphere around it. It reminded me of the Ghibli world, maybe it was the rain and the fog but it felt like stepping into one of those movies… the weather got super sunny only when I was leaving! Looked beautiful so I think I’m gonna go back one day ☀️ Here are some locations I’m showing and I’d recommend visiting if you ever get to the island. Which is less than two hours by ferry from Tokyo: 🌋Mount Mihara and the black desert (the only official desert in Japan!); The massive coastal cliff face that looks like a giant slice of layered cake, the delicious baumkuchen, showcasing thousands of years of earth history; Senzu Kiridoshi, impressive tree roots, the first clip in this reel; There are also lots of cafes and observatory decks where you can enjoy the coast and the waves 🌊 ⛴️ Take a High-Speed Jet Boat from Tokyo’s Takeshiba Terminal via the Tokai Kisen ferry, arriving at the island port in 1 hour and 45 minutes. One way is around 10,000¥ ✈️ There are also flights from Chofu airport and that takes only 25 minutes. #oshima #tokyo #blackdesert #ghibli

On the second floor of a beautifully renovated former elementary school near Osaka’s Korea Town, you’ll find 秤 sold by weight. 🏫 The concept here is so unique: you choose exactly how much cake you want, and they weigh it right in front of you on a retro balance scale! The vibe is the perfect mix of nostalgic school hallways, cozy wooden aesthetics, and great music. 🙌 📍 秤 sold by weight 🏢 2F, Ikuno Park (Former Miyukimori Elementary School) 🚶‍♂️ ~15 mins walk from Tsuruhashi or Momodani Station #osaka #cafe

Aren’t these pastries just so cute?! 🐈‍⬛😆 Chat Noir is a chain of Parisserie that have the cutest cat-themed treats 🥰 There are different locations around Osaka and Kyoto. You can check them all out on the main website and visit the one that’s more convenient for you! 📍Chat Noir, different locations #chatnoir #osaka #kyoto #cafe

Tozan Shrine is unlike any other Shinto shrine in the world. 🙌 Instead of the traditional stone or wood, its massive Torii gate, protective komainu (lion-dogs), and intricate lanterns are all handcrafted from beautiful white and blue porcelain. 😍 This incredible shrine stands in Arita, the historic heart of Saga Prefecture, which is famous because it’s the official birthplace of Japanese porcelain. Back in the early 1600s, high-quality porcelain stone was discovered right here in Saga’s mountains. Local artisans quickly mastered the craft, producing stunning, durable ceramics known worldwide as “Arita ware” (Imari porcelain). These pieces became so highly prized that they were exported across the globe, heavily influencing European luxury ceramics! Tozan Shrine was actually built by these legendary local potters to honor the deities guarding their craft. ⛩️ #saga #porcelainshrine #arita

I have found so many cool and interesting activities on Klook, and I’m doing my best to find the time to try them all 😆 So far these are my top three, they were very educational and so fun! Also I got to make myself some great memories and souvenirs: 🧣 1. Kumihimo (traditional Braiding) in Kagurazaka, Tokyo: using a traditional wooden stand (marudai), you weave vibrant silk threads together into a beautiful cord, the same technique used for centuries to make samurai armor ties and kimono sashes. It is a peaceful, rhythmic process, you might have seen it on “Your Name”! 🥢 2. Chopstick Making at Hashi Lab, Kyoto: I shared about this not long ago and it was really fun! You get to plane down a raw block of local wood into a perfectly balanced, custom pair of chopsticks. From selecting the wood to fine-tuning the shape and applying the final finish. 🥷 3. Ninja Weapon Forging, Kyoto: a truly rare experience where you step into an authentic blacksmith workshop. Under the guidance of a master craftsman, you learn the intense process of heating, hammering, and shaping steel to forge your own traditional kunai or small blade. All three of these experiences are fully beginner-friendly, incredibly rewarding, and easy to book ahead of your trip. If you’re planning your itinerary, feel free to use my code MARIJAPANKLOOK at checkout to save on your booking! #kyoto #tokyo #experiences

I’ve been to Odaiba countless of times, I’ve always enjoyed it and I always recommend people to come here: the beach, the walks, the attractions. But I never really realized how beautiful Tokyo is from here. You can literally see the whole city and with the “Tokyo Aqua Symphony” water and light show, it was even more beautiful! The show has been ongoing since January but they don’t do it everyday, you have to check the schedule in the main website. I was so lucky to have a great location to see it from, and to also catch the last show! 🙌 (and also the last day in June according to the schedule 👀) It’s defined worth staying here as a base, it might not be super central but to be honest I’ve learnt (especially the past months) that Tokyo is huge… places look close to each other on the map but then it can take so much time going from one place to the other 😂 These are just my thoughts though, what do you think? Where do you usually stay when in Tokyo? Would you stay in Odaiba? 🥰 #odaiba #tokyo

When I was looking for a place to end the day and relax one night in Kyoto, I decided to check out this place, it’s called Kissa & Snack Umineko 🐱 It opens at 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM and it’s located on the first floor of the retro Reihou Kaikan building in Kiyamachi. You cannot see it right away so enter the corridor and you’ll notice it! It captures the nostalgic aesthetic of a Showa-era kissa (traditional café) mixed with the warm, intimate energy of a nocturnal snack bar. 🍻 There are no actual umineko (specifically black-tailed gull) of course but instead, you’re greeted by rescue cats! There are three in total, one is particularly shy but the other two are up to cuddles 😆 It’s a great cozy midnight refuge and the perfect spot to experience an authentic slice of Kyoto’s retro subculture. Of course to me the cats were the stars and got all my attention lol 📍 喫茶・スナックうみねこ (Umineko) Check the times and closure days on their instagram account! 📌1F Reihou Kaikan, Kamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto #kyoto #cafe #snackbar #cat

While many people think of the famous Tottori Sand Dunes, only this Ura-Desert on the volcanic island of Izu Oshima is considered the country's (and only) official desert 🏜️ Despite getting a fair amount of rainfall (as you can see exactly in the video lol), the landscape remains entirely dark and barren. It’s covered in layers of black scoria from past eruptions of Mount Mihara which prevents vegetation from taking root. 😮 🚢 Take the high-speed jetfoil from Tokyo's Takeshiba Pier to Izu Oshima (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes). 🚗 It would be best to rent a car, but you can also take a local bus to the Mount Mihara trailheads. I got the bus pass for two days, I stayed the night because there aren’t many buses, and not many ferries either so doing everything I wanted to do on the island would have been impossible in just one day! You’ll have to bring cash with you, and be careful cause there aren’t many restaurants that stay open until late. Also there are no convenience stores! I would suggest staying at a hotel that also has onsen (I booked this trip so late I was lucky enough to find spots on the ferry and a guesthouse 😆). It was raining quite a lot, but I really liked the atmosphere that the rain created ☔️ of course I’d love to come back on a sunny day 🤣 #izuoshima #blackdesert #tokyo