u/photo-trips

At Mt. Koya in Wakayama, one of Japan’s most important Buddhist spiritual sites and a UNESCO World Heritage location, monks are asking visitors to avoid overly revealing clothing during temple visits. Things like: very short shorts,sleeveless tops, mini skirts, etc…

What do you think about this?

This is one my recent discovery in Kyoto! Ichijoji is just few minutes away for Kyoto city centre and it has such a pleasant local vibe.

It’s known as Kyoto’s main ramen area, and part of what makes it fun is that it’s not just one famous shop. The whole neighborhood has a real ramen culture, with lots of different styles packed into the same area.

A nice extra if you’re planning to go is the Kyoto Ichijoji Ramen Ticket. It includes an Eizan Railway 1-day pass plus a ramen ticket you can use for one designated bowl at one of the participating ramen shops in Ichijoji. It’s ¥2,000 and you can buy it at Demachiyanagi Station.

What’s cool is that it’s not only about ramen. Since the ticket covers unlimited rides on the Eizan Railway for the day, you can also combine Ichijoji with places further north like Yase, Kibune, or Kurama and make a full day out of it.

Not all sushi restaurants are expensive! In fact, my favourite ones are quite affordable and very local. If you want to find this kind on hidden gems in Tokyo, you need to go away from the city centre and explore more residential areas.

This was my lunch last weekend in Fuchu and the restaurant is called Mimatsu. Here's the exact location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZMxvyiNjoP2mAXP28

I also love the old building architecture and the staff was very friendly and helpful. They don't really speak english so prepare some Japanese sentences and use Google Translate to translate the menu.

Itadakimasu!

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This week, we feature a beautiful photo of a happy couple exploring the streets of Seoul. The editing style here is vintage and evokes nostalgia. It mimics the typical Korean drama colour palette.

Shot by Photo Trips during this photoshoot: Korean Drama Love Story: A Cinematic Couple Photoshoot in Seoul

Get more info on how to hire a photographer in Seoul here!

This week, we feature a gorgeous photo that we took during the last cherry blossom season in Kyoto! When you choose your kimono, make sure the colour match the season.

Shot by Photo Trips during this photoshoot: Traditional Photoshoot In Kyoto With A Professional Photographer

You can discover more kimono photoshoots in Kyoto here!

Shimeiso is a wonderful traditional Japanese house surrounded by a beautiful garden where spring water flows naturally. It is a place with a very calm and relaxing atmosphere, so I really recommend stopping by and enjoying a matcha tea there, for example.

If you want to learn more about this destination, check out my guide on the best things to do in Shimabara!

Unless you truly have a deep desire to visit, I suggest you skip Haedong Yonggungsa. I went there this morning and due to an accident where something fell on a tourist, the entire area used for the famous “postcard view” was closed off. That is, both the sunrise platform and the bridge are inaccessible. You can still visit the temple itself, but you won’t be able to see it the way it’s always shown in photos online, which is a shame. I'm not sure how long the area will be closed. It was also far more crowded than expected, and the souvenir stalls lining the entrance took away from the experience for me.

For a more quiet temple visit, I highly recommend Samgwangsa. It’s famous for its lantern displays for Buddha’s Birthday, and it is much bigger than Haedong Yonggungsa.

I was there from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, and while I wasn’t alone, the temple grounds are large and have so many levels that it almost felt like I was. The first photo is my favorite view, I just sat there and listened to the birds while taking it all in. It was a very peaceful experience, especially compared to how noisy and crammed Haedong Yonggungsa felt this morning.

When I left, the parking lot was filling up and I passed several packed buses on the way down, so I’m assuming it gets pretty crowded once the lanterns light up, just keep that in mind. The temple is open 24/7 and visiting is free. It‘s not super central, but it is kind of close ish to the popular Jeonpo cafe neighborhood, so I recommend grabbing a drink or snack there before/after visiting the temple.

Starting today, we will share with you our favourite pictures taken by our team of Photo Trips photographers in South Korea.

Today, it's a cool night shot in the trendy district of Eljiro. Full of neon lights, it's one of the best place for a street photoshoot in Seoul!

You can have more info on our available photoshoots in Seoul here.

From now on, I will share our favourite photo of the week that we took with our Photo Trips photoshoots in Japan!

This week, it's a picture of a cute couple that was shot in Shinjuku, just in front of Kabukicho road. I have to admit that those cool Japanese jackets made a difference!

This was taken with this photoshoot / photographer: Epic Street Photoshoot Experience at Tokyo Most Iconic Locations

You can also find more option to hire a photographer in Tokyo here.

Not a usual tourist spot deep in the mountains. Wanted to share a side of Korea rarely shared on reddit.