Playing Dress Up

I love traditional Asian outfits and one of my favorites has to be the kimono. I've always wanted to wear one and was excited when my friends recommended Okamoto, a kimono rental shop, in Kyoto. There were numerous kimonos, obi, hair accessories, etc. to choose from. I went with Plan 3 which gave me the most selection. It costs around $60 to rent it for the day and getting my hair done was only an extra $5! I really love the whole process. It was interesting to see the amount of work that goes into wearing a kimono. It was beautiful to watch how they put the kimono on me layer by layer. There were many layers and each had to be folded and tied in different ways. It really is an art in itself. 

Btw, I love that my obi has the same pattern as the bottom layer of our wedding cake! I may or may not have chosen it because of this reason ;)

James was my photographer for the day and he did an amazing job! I'm usually the one behind the lens so it was strange to be in front of the camera for that long. It was a nice treat though :) Kyoto is beautiful and so picturesque. I'm happy to have these fun photos to remember our wonderful time there.

Nara

Nara, like many places in Japan, is very magical. As we walked around, I can't help but feel like we were in a mythical place. Walkways are lined with hundreds of moss-covered lantern structures. The temple and shrines are grand yet understated. Friendly deers roam freely around the city. They are loved by the locals because they are believed to be messengers to the gods. It is definitely one of my favorite places in Japan. 

I was in awe as we approached Todaiji. It is beautiful and serene. I especially love the golden horns on the rooftop. 

The deers are used to people petting and feeding them. This one followed me for a while :)

Large ornaments on the temple's door.

Todaiji's main hall is the largest wooden building in the world. (This picture is the view of the ceiling.)

(left) One of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu) sits in Todaiji's main hall; 

(right) Lantern structures outside of Kasuga Taisha.

I felt like I was transported to a different time...so magical. 

Hanging lanterns' silhouettes

(left) Taking a small break from all the walking; (right) Deers going shopping ;)

Cuteness

We saw cute signs, logos, and displays everywhere we went in Japan. Looking at them makes me feel so happy. Here are just some of the photos. Aren't they cute? Happy Friday everyone!

Heavenly Parfait

We're having quite the heat wave here in Boston. It's going to remain in the mid 90s for the rest of the week. Hot days like these make me yearn for the cool fall weather. I find myself daydreaming about my favorite season and the wonderful honeymoon we had last year. I'm very late in sharing these pictures but I hope you'll enjoy these upcoming posts about the Japan portion of our trip :)

The hot weather is making me think of ice cream so I'll start our Japan recap with our trip to Gion Kinana :) Michael aka Kyoto Foodie wrote a great post about it. I knew we had to make a stop there. We got the seasonal chestnut autumn parfait and it was amazing! There was a beautiful balance of textures and flavors from all of the components of the parfait - the candied chestnut, the chestnut mousse, the biscotti, the cake pieces, the ice cream, and the mochi. Only twenty of these are made daily. James and I went to the shop right when they opened at 11am and all of the seats were filled within 30 minutes. (So remember to get there early if you want one of their seasonal parfaits!)

I love the presentation with the teacup and pot...so simple and pretty. 

We also ordered the highly recommended kinako (roasted soybean flour) dekitate ice cream. Dekitate ice cream are ice cream that are just made. Since they haven't been frozen yet, they are very creamy and super smooth. The flavor is delicate and unlike anything I've tasted before. Oh what I would give to eat it again!

The shop is easy to miss if you're not looking for it ;)

Thank you Michael for the wonderful recommendation. I agree that it's definitely a "do not miss" if you are in Kyoto :)

Dream Trip

One of the many cute shops in Tokyo

My friends are en route to Asia visiting multiple cities including Tokyo and Kyoto. I'm so excited for them. Have a wonderful time Judy, Carrie, and Julie! Can't wait to see photos and hear all about it :)

Kokeshi Dolls

Today I'm working on picking out photos for the Spring Festival. They bring back such great memories from my trip to Japan. Here's a picture of cute kokeshi dolls. I love their simple shapes and pleasant expressions. They make really great souvenirs. I always smile when I see mine :)

Old vs. New

I love how Old Kyoto is nestled among the trees and hidden away from the modern city in this photo.

If I can travel to one place right now, it'll be Kyoto, Japan. It's such a magical place with breathtaking views,  beautiful traditions, delicious food, lovely handmade crafts, cute snacks and so much more. Now it's even easier for me to fly there! American Airlines have officially announced its partnership with Japan Airlines and will offer Boston its first nonstop service to Tokyo Narita starting on April 22nd. This will cut a few hours off of a very long flight for us Bostonians. I'm so excited! Kyoto...I'll see you soon :)