22-26 Nov 2019
Colorful, laid-back, convivial. Our much awaited Japan trip began in the Kansai area.
From the glowing lights all over Dotonbori, to the more quiet back alleys surrounding our airbnb in the Nishinari Ward, an area that I learned too late is dubbed as the most notorious neighborhood of the city, Osaka has proven that it has its own character. The anti-capital— Osaka boasts of equally mesmerizing streets, lined with amazing lights and textures, without the restlessness of Tokyo.
Known as Japan’s kitchen, the food in Osaka is great and relatively cheap, especially if you share with everyone in your group. Must-try’s are takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu and melonpan. These must-try’s, however, should not hinder you from exploring while on your nights out in Dotonbori and/or Shinsekai.
Meanwhile, Nara is doable as a daytrip from Osaka, and a visit to its great temples are definitely worth-doing! The deers loitering in front of Todaiji Temple are more aggressive than polite, to be honest. We did not spend too much time feeding them, but I did spend time taking photos as they takeaway deer snacks from unsuspecting tourists!
We also did daytrips to Kyoto, the former capital. It felt even more quiet than Osaka, but is probably the best representation of how I’ve pictured Japan without the glitz and the eccentricity. Straight-from-a-postcard machiya houses and the reddest autumn leaves (we were there during the peak of autumn in Kyoto) are what stuck with me the most. I can spend an entire trip in Gion alone and just be taking photos of its streets and alleys, day in and day out. If I had one regret from this trip, it’s that we didn’t spend more time in Kyoto.
I do hope you enjoy going through this set as much as I enjoyed working on it! I am really happy with how the photos turned out. For any questions on our Kansai itinerary or anything related to the photos, feel free to drop a comment or send a message.
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