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Littlest has just returned from a half-month trip to Japan
Share with you the new ways to play that you can't find in the guide books
Tell you
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What are some of the unmissable experiences of traveling to Japan?
The best things to do in Japan are to shop for local food and drink.
1? Strolling through a local market
When I travel to an unfamiliar city, one of the things I always do is stroll through the local market to get a glimpse of what life is like for the locals, which is something I'm accustomed to.
The vegetable market is an interesting place, if the city's buildings, squares and avenues is a city of beautiful makeup, then the vegetable market is a city of the face of the original color, I want to lift your cover to see the most real life style.
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Feel free to feel the price level of Japan
Vegetable market, never a city's business card, but is the city's most urban, the most real place, if you want to " heart " to feel an unfamiliar city, then go to the vegetable market, and look for the local vendors to talk about, basically this city has What specialties, the accent of the locals talking, people living rhythm is busy or leisurely, what strange anecdotes interesting to see, eating habits are how ...... probably understand.
China's modernization process so that all cities have been built into a uniform stone forest, tourist attractions a variety of fooled outsiders, and no matter which country in which region, the food market is the local daily mouth and stomach of the place, but also strangers to explore the city's most real place.
Going to the market, you are not only into the local life, more practical benefits: you can bring back some unique beauty from, with the tour guide recommended things than, you in the market to find their own things cheaper, more authentic.
Walking through the market is a great way to get to know the city, and to find the freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables, the most authentic food, and the most colorful and vibrant images.
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? Participate in local festivals
The most direct way to experience the local culture and customs is to participate in local ceremonies, traditional festivals, and modern entertainment celebrations. Not only can you interact with local people, but you can also gain different regional folklore experiences. This time in Kyoto, Japan, I experienced the Gion Matsuri, a grand traditional festival in Japan.
The Gion Matsuri is an annual festival held in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The Gion Matsuri is a month-long festival held in Kyoto every year from July 1, which began in the Heian Period and continues to this day. The festival has evolved from a blessing for the people to the present day, and is a festival not to be missed~
Such a grand event is the result of a year's worth of preparations by each of Kyoto's townspeople. People born in Kyoto have witnessed the Gion Festival since they were young, and it is the biggest festival in Kyoto, but it is also an important part of the life of Kyoto people. Seeing it with your own eyes, bia
Every year, the Gion Matsuri is held on the 16th of July at Hiyama, and reaches its climax on the 17th, when Kyoto families saturate their roofs with shinobori (sacred lamps), spread out their mats, fill them with flowers, and put up their screens to brighten the festival, and instrumental sounds of traditional percussion resonate from all the streets.
See the most traditional festival on the busiest street in Kyoto
The Gion festival can be roughly divided into two parts, a pre-festival on July 17th, which is the yamahoko parade. the post-festival on July 24th, the hanaboko parade is very nice to see, and yama here doesn't mean mountain, but car. yamahoko refers to yama-cars and spear-cars, and here there are 32 of them in a ****, and the spear-cars are definitely larger in scale than the yamaboko, usually weighing more than ten tons and about 25 meters high.
The real highlight, is after the Yasaka Shrine, this is the core of the whole after the festival activities, because at the end of the Yasaka Shrine's most attractive geisha performance, usually geisha is to pay to hire, and this time, you can see a large number of geisha performances for free.
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? Enjoy traditional art performances
There is a place called Yayoi Kaikan in Kyoto, where you can enjoy the traditional Geisha Kyodai performance up close and feel the traditional Geino culture of Kyoto, as well as traditional art performances such as Flower Ceremony, Tea Ceremony, Nihonkoto, Yagura, and Bakuran at once.
In addition, the Yayoi Kaikan has a display of small items that can be used to learn more about the history of maiko.
It's super convenient to search VWD on your own for a group rate of 126 to book e-tickets, and book directly for the day!
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? Taste a meal of authentic kaiseki cuisine
Come to Japan can experience Japan's authentic Ichiran ramen, rotary sushi, matcha desserts, soba ....
And kaiseki cuisine, it seems to be a special existence. The rapid pace of life in the era, it still retains the unique elegance of the Japanese diet .
As one of the representatives of high-end Japanese food, the domestic a decent meal of kaiseki cuisine basically easily thousands of dollars. What exactly is kaiseki cuisine? What makes it a representative of high-end Japanese food?
The birth of kaiseki cuisine, initially originated in the Japanese tea ceremony on the tea table, in order to give the guests "pad bottom", to prevent "drunken tea" and provide small dishes. Kaiseki cuisine can be as simple or as complex as you like, usually starting with a pre-dinner appetizer of first pay and eight inches, then moving on to Xiangsui, Yakimono, Yangsui, and Burning Hap, which step-by-step pushes the experience of the tastebuds to the peak, followed by Oiran, Aroma, etc., which clears the palate and relieves fatigue, and finally ending the meal with seasonal desserts of Mizutaki.
Different restaurants will adjust their menus at different times of the year, and the number of courses may vary, from "three courses in one sauce" to a dozen in a high profile restaurant. My pick of the litter in Japan was a two Michelin-starred 11-pin fine-dining restaurant in Kyoto, tucked away in an alleyway.
This is the kaiseki we had.
You need to make a reservation to eat Kaiseki, because it's a long meal and the ingredients are very delicate, so there's a limited amount of Kaiseki available every day, so if you go without making a reservation, you might not have enough ingredients and have to turn away customers. (PS: Some restaurants can be booked in advance on Dianping)
At that time, it was my foodie friend who took us all the way to find the past, because there was no prior booking, so the store was very difficult, said he could not receive us. Later, my friend said we said we came all the way here just want to taste your family's specialty dishes, or received us, but also apologized and said and room have been booked, can only arrange for us to eat in the hall.
The waitress was super gentle and introduced us to the food and its specialties
Kaiseki cuisine promotes a slow and sequential approach to food, with dishes presented one by one in front of the customer, interspersed with a variety of wines, soups, and small dishes, but the silence, peace, and lightness of the style is the theme of Kaiseki cuisine.
Sushi, octopus, oysters, matcha, orange, mousse, plum wine ...... The taste buds are gently treated by the food, and a great harmony of life is achieved between the lips and teeth! Cleverly proportioned and exquisitely flowed, with a plain environment and friendly service, no one character stands out in particular, yet it feels like a perfectly blended show.
At the end of the meal, the waiter and the chef watched us at the door and didn't go back inside until we had left.
As Chichi said, "As a foreigner, whether you are enjoying the taste of the food itself or experiencing the culture of the island, it's important to enjoy the food with a sense of nostalgia in your heart, to "use the right ingredients for the right time", to "utilize the flavors of the ingredients effectively", and to "have a heart for the food". "It is more important than anything else to be thankful for the food of Kaiseki, the chef who "uses the right ingredients", "utilizes the flavor of the ingredients effectively", "cooks with passion and concern", and the attentive service you receive while enjoying it with all your heart."
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Staying in a traditional Japanese townhouse
As an in-depth traveler, I like to spend my time and energy digging out the characteristics of each city. In addition to taking photos to record my travel experiences, I pay more attention to the travel experience, i.e., clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
"Kyoto Reflections" time-lapse photography
One of the best ways to get to know the local life when traveling to a place is to think of yourself as a local, and preferably stay at a local's home, i.e., at a bed and breakfast, which is an experience that the Hilton, Accor, and Intercontinental can never give you.
One of the experiences you can't miss in Japan is a traditional townhouse, a unique stay on Japanese tatami mats.
This time, I stayed in Kyoto, Japan at the Barbarian Minshuku Barbarian Minshuku - Gojo Flagship Store - Kyoto Hundred Years Machiya.
This over 150 year old traditional Kyoto townhouse was originally built by a wealthy local merchant family and has a unique atmosphere that cannot be matched by any ordinary residential house.
The entry stone corridor and exquisite atrium reflect the splendor of Kyoto's great families of a century ago, and the Japanese-style tatami rooms offer views of the quiet garden, with 500-year-old pines and stone toads inviting good fortune and fortune telling its history.
? Don't miss the experience of rolling around on the tatami mats at Barako Minshuku
Carefully designed and remodeled by Japanese architectural craftsmen, the hotel retains its historical flavor and Kyoto ambiance while incorporating modern architectural techniques to create a warm, cozy, and comfortable stay.
Living like a local is my recommended way of traveling, and one of the greatest conveniences of staying at a B&B is being able to cook your own meals.
What surprised me was that the backyard of the Barbarian B&B was planted with a lot of fruits and vegetables, naturally grown, no pesticides at all, green and organic ingredients! The green and organic ingredients!
The vegetable yard is thriving
The night I stayed, I used the yard to pick ingredients to make a sumptuous dinner, from the garden to the meal in less than an hour, the freshness of the ingredients is the life, but also largely determines the taste of the food, to eat up is the highest respect for the food.
The freshest tomatoes in the garden
The backyard of the Manzanita B&B is full of food
The kitchen is fully equipped with pots and pans!
It's a warm and cozy feeling to eat your own food in a foreign country. The warm yellow light of the B&B makes it quiet and beautiful, and you can savor the original flavor of the ingredients in the vegetables and vegetables.
My home cooking in the B&B kitchen
The next day, in a traditional Japanese tatami bedroom, I was gently awakened by the first rays of sunlight ...
Downstairs, open the big fridge and make breakfast from scratch, French fry bread garnished with blueberries and cherries, warm milk Warm Calbee cereal with 711's Lemon? Honey cake with sautéed bacon?....
The kitchen is large and spacious, calling for a cooking mood
A good day starts with breakfast
Traveling even if you're busy, a good breakfast is a point of presence in a rushed life, a high profile of love of life, and a little bit of happiness in the midst of hard work. To a certain extent, a high-quality trip and accommodation are closely related, and this 100-year-old townhouse is definitely a good choice for experiencing life in Kyoto. (Booking link: http://www.onehome.me/h/22606490?guest=1)
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Wearing a Japanese kimono
Putting on a gorgeous kimono, clogs, and an oil-paper umbrella, you'll walk through Kyoto's Hanami path .... You can also experience the scenes from Memoirs of a Geisha, played by Zhang Ziyi!
There are many stores in Kyoto that offer kimono rentals, and there are so many beautiful kimono styles that there is no barrier to communicating with the Chinese-speaking waitresses.
The online group purchase of more than 100 dollars a set can wear all day oh!
Pick your favorite kimono, clogs, and handbag, and have a makeover in the vermillion-colored Chihonbird house.
Chihon Birdhouse to make a card, a Chinese tourist girl to help me shoot, at first in English to communicate, and then know is Chinese, then direct Chinese!
The first time I wore a kimono, I stepped on the clogs, and could only walk a little bit haha?
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Overlooking Tokyo at night from the city's highest point
Many cities have a spot where you can get a great panoramic view of the whole city. For example, the Empire State Building in New York, the Montparnasse Tower in Paris, the Ping An Building in Shenzhen, China, and the Macau Tower in the Macau area ......
In Japan, the Roppongi Observatory has an indoor observation deck with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the whole of Tokyo at night ....
Tokyo sparkles at night
If you can, allow yourself to travel as much as possible to challenge the different heights elevation, horizon, sea level, latitude and longitude ... When you break through geographic boundaries of different heights, widths, and depths in different dimensions, these are all unique experiences that can't be duplicated.
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Buy a lunchbox on the train and try it
Japanese railroad lunchboxes are affordable, with meat and vegetables, sweet and salty flavors; they are packaged in wooden paper packaging, which is environmentally friendly and easy to carry, and the colors are vibrant, making them look more appetizing; they are generally priced at ￥800 to ￥1200, or ￥45 to ￥75.
You can buy Japanese railroad bento at stations and on trains
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? Japanese bookstores
Japanese bookstores are especially worth a visit, in the bookstore you can buy cheap second-hand comic books, you can also find a very old sense of collectible photo albums, soundtrack movie discs, postcards...
Vintage record player
Interesting comic books
what?!!!!!? A Japanese version of Springtime?
This time I saw an old movie at a small theater in a Japanese bookstore, which cost 60 RMB a ticket, and when I entered the theater, it was a theater with a capacity of about 30 people, and it was showing an old black and white movie.
Movie schedule
The theater is playing black and white movies
10
? Cycling the streets
This time to Japan for half a month, went to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, my favorite or Kyoto, Kyoto does not have Tokyo and Osaka that kind of traffic, high-rise buildings, Kyoto has is the past Edo period restored in the city of the small people living in the streets, devout believers to worship temples: Kinkakuji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, Kiyomizudera Temple, Inari Shrine prayers ......
I always think that in order to understand the flavor and culture of a place, it is better to go to the street corner to see the most real. Driving is too fast, walking is too slow, cycling is just right, and Kyoto is just the right city for a slow, leisurely stroll on a bicycle.
In the morning, when the sun shines through the air and the trees, you can ride your bike through the old streets, through the boulevards lined with cherry trees, and through the green stone roads in July, to a hot and fragrant breakfast place, where you can sit down and have your breakfast.
There are sparse pedestrians on the road, will not be glanced over the head of me, the shadow of the trees and the sound of birds swaying in the morning breeze, this scene is warm enough to let me years later to recall .....
I rode my bike through the streets
I always find the most interesting images in the streets, for example, I play a game with myself: pay attention to all the red color you see after going out, and look for Kyoto red. So I found:
Such a red
Such a red
Such a red
And such a red
I would encounter all kinds of interesting stores, such as:
So many dogs, where am I?
Unknown delicacies:
Uji matcha cones from an old matcha store?
Traditional pastries that many locals line up for
Japanese fixings made by an elderly couple at this shop
A century-old store that sells traditional clothing: