When the weather is clear, Tokyo Skytree surely is one of the best options to enjoy Tokyo’s skyline from above. If you’re lucky you even can see Mt. Fuji. Just be aware that lines can be very long. You can get "fast track" tickets in advance, so you don’t have to wait, but as the date is set you might end up with a bad weather day. It’s a bit of a gamble, but you’ll surely be happy if you catch a great view of Tokyo on a clear day. It’s definitely a breathtaking experience, especially if you’ve never seen Tokyo from above before. It also offers a wider view than some of the other towers and observation platforms within Tokyo.

If you’re visiting Tokyo Skytree, you shouldn’t leave immediately. In the lower floors of Solamachi you’ll find several shops, cafes and restaurants.
And if you’re up for a special experience, then I recommend eating at “Shokkan Solamachi” which is a restaurant on the 30th floor, offering also breathtaking views of Tokyo.
It’s on the east side, so you won’t get to see Mt. Fuji, but you can enjoy delicious food (tempura, steak, sashimi) while looking down on Tokyo’s skyscrapers. It’s not the cheapest restaurant as you pay for the view, but it’s still quite affordable.

If you’re interested in the history of Tokyo (formerly known as “Edo”) then the Edo-Tokyo Museum is a great place to visit. It’s also a good option on a rainy day as all the exhibitions are inside.
You’ll see replicas of many former buildings of Edo. You can even walk over the famous Nihonbashi. Learn how Tokyo became what it is today and how everything had to be rebuilt several times in the past due to natural disasters. It’s hard to believe how Edo started out when you see what a big metropolis Tokyo has become nowadays. The Edo-Tokyo Museum helps you visualize this change.

If you want to experience something typical Japanese or if you simply want to take a break from the big city life, then checking out one of the Japanese-style landscape gardens is a great idea.
Rikugien Gardens features a huge pond and a tea house where you can enjoy matcha and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets). Like most Japanese landscape gardens it offers something in every season. Personally I like autumn the best where you can gaze at the vibrant colors of the foliage.

If you’re up for something rustic, why not check out a small Japanese izakaya such as “Denjiro”? You can share food with your friends, enjoy alcohol and you’re also allowed to smoke in there. Typical food includes fried potatoes, yakitori and fried rice balls.

This was my first time staying at Daiichi Hotel Annex which is just a short walk (2-3 mins) from Shimbashi Station. That means it’s located on the Yamanote Line which is super convenient. It also has a good connection to Haneda Airport.
The rooms are relatively spacious, the beds are comfortable and the bath amenities are lovely. The buffet-style breakfast offers a good variety of Japanese and Western food. You can even choose the location for breakfast. Either in the hotel itself or in the sister hotel right next to it. On top of that there are several restaurants nearby as well as convenient stores.

I was positively surprised by the machine we got for this domestic flight with ANA from Tokyo Haneda to Okayama in Western Japan. It was a really modern one that had a full-fledged entertainment system on board. Just like with an international flight you had a personal screen in front of you and could either watch a drama or listen to music. As always I enjoyed the free on-board service as I like the coffee they offer. Again I couldn’t see Mt. Fuji from above which was a shame. The flight was so comfortable that I was sad it was so short. I could have stayed in the airplane for much longer.

I’ve visited Okayama a few times already, but unfortunately I never bothered to peek into the side streets. That’s a shame because I missed out on “Ajitsukasa Nomura” where I ate the best katsu ever. They use their own secret family recipe for the demi glace sauce. Also, they use mostly local and organic ingredients and you can really taste it. It’s a cozy little restaurant that’s been running for 80 years and is now in the 4th generation. When I visit Okayama next time, I’ll be sure to go there again. It’s just a few steps away from the main road that leads from Okayama Station to the famous Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle.

I’ve been to the garden many times already and I love coming back there. Each season has its own charm. The garden is especially popular during cherry blossom and autumn foliage season. There is so much to explore that you find something new every time you visit. It's one of Japan’s top 3 landscape gardens. I have been to all three and Korakuen is my favorite by far. I’ve already dragged family and friends along to show them around. Green tea fields, ponds, koi carps, cherry blossoms, plum blossoms … and the list goes on and on. The highlight, tough, is that you can see the black “Crow Castle” in the background which makes it an even more special experience. Make sure to stop at the tea house to enjoy some matcha and Kibi dango (famous regional sweets).

As a huge castle fan I’ve visited Okayama Castle countless times. Although it’s not an original tower anymore, I like its shape and black color. A big bonus is that you have one of Japan’s top 3 landscape gardens right next to it. You can take great photos of the castle featuring sceneries from within the garden. Okayama Castle’s black color is the exact opposite to nearby Himeji Castle with its white castle tower. It’s the Black Crow Castle vs. the White Heron Castle. You really should visit both. It’s just a short ride on the Shinkansen after all.

The dinner at “Kidoairaku” was a special experience. Before we got to eat, we actually had a lesson about how to prepare sushi and decorate the side dishes. Our teacher was a famous sushi master who has also appeared on TV several times. We learned how to correctly do nigiri sushi and also how to divide and hold chopsticks correctly. We were taught how to pick up and eat nigiri sushi the correct way. Even the Japanese people who were with us said they didn’t know about it yet. After we created our own dinner plate which you can see on the photo, we were able to enjoy delicious seafood together. It certainly was an evening I won’t forget so fast.

The hotel “Via Inn Okayama” is right within the JR station building. Thus it’s conveniently located if you have to catch an early train the next morning. The rooms aren’t very spacious, but you’ll find everything you need. I enjoyed taking a long shower and washing my hair and it wasn’t a problem at all. The bed and the provided massage pillow were extremely comfortable and helped me fall asleep very quickly. They offer a buffet-style breakfast with both, Japanese and Western-style food. As the hotel is within the JR station building, you have several shops, convenience stores and restaurants right there.

Taking the JR Yakumo is a very fast and convenient way to travel around in Chugoku, e.g. when going from Okayama to Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle or even further to the famous Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture.
It’s a limited express where you can reserve seats, but there are also unreserved seats available. It’s similar to a Shinkansen, just not as fast. The seats are a lot more comfortable than in a local train. The Japan Railpass is valid on this train. They also provide extra storage for large luggage.

In rural Bitchu-Matsuyama you can experience a phenomenon that is called “sea of clouds”. Only the peak of the surrounding hills can be seen, the city itself will vanish beneath a sea of clouds. You have to be very lucky to experience this phenomenon. Your chances are best from October to November in the morning hours (7-9 a.m.). On one of the hills that peek out of the clouds, you’ll see the famous Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle. I was so excited to take a shot of a “castle in the sky”, but unfortunately there weren’t enough clouds on that day. It was still a great experience and the observation platform provides stunning views of the city and the surrounding hills.

Bitchu-Matsuyama Castle is one of the 12 remaining original castle towers in Japan. As I’ve been to all 12 I can say that I loved coming back to this one. Last time I went in spring and the scenery certainly changes for the better in autumn. The castle is the highest among the 12 oldest castle towers, so you really shouldn’t miss out on this one. Needless to say that you also have stunning views from up there. The remaining castle walls, especially when approaching the castle tower, are breathtaking.

After the castle hike, we were looking forward to our lunch at “Uotomi”. It’s a small, cozy restaurant that serves a variety of food (e.g. tempura, udon, fresh seafood). The lunch set was quite affordable. I went for the sashimi and udon set and it was really tasty. The staff was nice and the food was served quickly after we ordered.

It was my first time experiencing how hina dolls are being made. I’ve always loved looking at the beautiful displays during the Hina Matsuri in March, but I had no idea how much work and effort goes into making these traditional dolls. You’ll definitely look at hina dolls with different eyes once you learned all about the process that goes into making them. It was a lot of fun walking through the halls, seeing all the different types of pattern of cloth that are being used to create the colorful kimono. Some are traditional, some a bit more modern. The sizes of the dolls also vary greatly. The larger they are, the more expensive, of course. Unfortunately we didn’t have much time. I’d love to visit again, hopefully then with a bit more time at hand. I once visited Bitchu-Matsuyama during the Hina Doll Festival and people displayed their really old hina dolls in their houses for everyone to see. It feels like Bitchu-Matsuyama is THE hina doll city.

I’ve never been to Fukiya Furusatomura before. It feels like a hidden village in the mountains of Okayama. The village is famous for “bengara” which is a color pigment made from oxidized iron. You'll notice that color at almost all of the houses and especially the walls there. As the village is in the mountains, you can enjoy autumn colors there earlier than in Okayama City. The leaves seemed almost in their peak when we visited in early November. We also got to make our own tote bags using bengara colors. It was a lot of fun! The village is a quiet getaway and you can experience the real Japanese countryside there. They also have lodging up there, so you could even stay the night.

In the evening we arrived at Ryori Tsurugata Ryokan, a traditional Japanese guesthouse where dinner was served in our room. The food there is praised to be very exclusive and delicious. There were several courses and one was better than the other. Each and every course was displayed in a beautiful manner with expensive looking plates that enhanced the dish. I liked the fact that they offered a detailed explanation for each course. They also had a printed menu featuring Japanese and English. Having your meal served to you in your room makes you feel very special, so it was a great experience. Thus far I’ve only experienced having breakfast served in my room in a Japanese ryokan.

Obviously we also stayed the night at said ryokan. It wasn’t my first time in a Japanese ryokan, but I liked the fact that you had your own huge bathtub with a view into your private little Japanese-style garden outside. They also have a small public bath which was very clean and convenient. The staff is very helpful and makes sure you have everything you need to make your stay as pleasant as possible. The ryokan is located right next to the river in the historical district of Kurashiki, so you can stroll around in the evening or early morning to take photos with no people around. The guesthouse is the second oldest building in the historical quarter and is quite famous and popular, especially among newly-weds.

Strolling along the river in the historical district of Kurashiki makes you almost forget that you are in Japan. There are many folks craft and art museums along the way. It’s a very calm area with many tiny cute cafes and restaurants. If you have enough time, make sure to take a short boat tour on the river. The photos you take from within the boat will offer yet another perspective. You’ll also understand why some call it the “Venice of Japan”. My personal highlight is the toy museum. You can spend hours in there staring at all the dolls, kites, traditional toys and masks that are being displayed.

The lunch at Pesce Luna presents the adaption of Italian food in Japan very well. The location used to be a garage, but you wouldn’t notice it at all. It offers a very cozy atmosphere and the lunch menu consisting of a soup, white bread, spaghetti and a plate with fresh seafood is affordable and delicious. The restaurant is conveniently located within the historical district of Kurashiki.

There are many cycling tours you can actually do in Okayama. A very relaxed and yet beautiful one leads you through the Japanese countryside from one shrine and temple to the next. That’s why the Kibi district cycling tour is quite popular. There are no steep hills, so it’s an easy ride. Along the path you’ll also learn more about Momotaro’s legend. Don’t forget to take a break and eat Kibi dango! It was my second time doing the cycling tour. It’s not crowded at all and as you ride along rice fields you can soak in the true Japanese lifestyle. I used to live nearby, so it felt like being back home again. It’s certainly a different experience from all the crowded and well-known tourists spots.

On the highest floor in one of the neighboring buildings of Kurashiki Station you’ll find “Hamura Chaya”. From up there you’ll have a great view of Kurashiki Station and surroundings.
I like how they offer many different tiny portions of food, so you can enjoy a lot of different things at once without overeating. Their specialty is sesame tofu with kuzuan. Of course I had to try it and I really liked it. If I ever go to Kurashiki again, I’ll make sure to eat it once more.

Tokyo is definitely a great starting point when you travel to Japan and no matter how often you visit, there's always something new to explore. However it's really worth checking out other parts of Japan as well to get a good contrast to the modern life of the famous metropolis. If you want to experience rural Japan while enjoying one of Japan's top landscape gardens and stunning castles, Okayama is a great choice! It's on the main Shinkansen line that leads from Tokyo to Kyoto to Hiroshima, so definitely go check it out and enjoy some of the famous food there as well (grapes, Kibi dango etc.).