MorganeL

Often visited along with Kamakura, the island of Enoshima is truly wonderful for a half-day trip. Be ready to climb a bunch of stairs, or else pay for the escalators! The island is full of little magical spots to discover, and please do check out both Iwaya caves, which are absolute gems. The island has crazy charm, between the rocks, the sea, and the (potential) view of Mount Fuji. I did it as part of a GetYourGuide tour, and it definitely takes more than two hours to really explore it thoroughly! Take the time to eat on site at the small fish restaurants.

I absolutely fell in love with the little coastal town of Morro Bay, a one-night stop on a California road trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is hard to miss its massive, majestic rock, but beyond that, the vibe of this town is so peaceful, and the locals are so welcoming. If you are an early bird, you can see the little otters sleeping next to the boats at the harbor, the height of cuteness! There are also expeditions you can take to go whale watching!

It is hard to visit Tokyo without walking through the upscale neighborhood of Ginza. Like many other places in the city, your eyes will be wide open, especially at night with shop windows that are more extravagant than the next. You will find all the biggest luxury brands there, but not only that... For me, the must-see stops are the twelve story Uniqlo and the rooftop of Ginza Six, with a gorgeous view of Tokyo Tower (try to go at sunset, take advantage of it while it is still not super well known!!), and do not miss an awesome bookstore in that same building either.

Symbol of the city of Matsumoto, you simply can't visit without going to check it out. The black castle really has an impressive presence, and definitely go see it at dusk, what a sight ✨ I didn't do the interior tour because there's still quite a bit of waiting. If you get the chance to go in winter, they put on amazing light projections at night too!

If you are visiting Matsumoto, even though the museum is a bit out of the downtown area, it is a great opportunity to discover many of the most famous prints, which are truly stunning. The museum is pretty quick to get through, in about forty minutes you will be done, and the gift shop offers some really nice items.

By far the best imperial villa I've visited, and the most beautiful gardens. It was the very start of the momiji season so the colors were gorgeous, but honestly I think it's beautiful in every season! Not surprising, since the imperial family still comes here from time to time for events. For me, it's a must for your to-do list if you want to see a truly beautiful Japanese garden, and you get the explanations on top of that. Be sure to send in your reservation request ahead of time on the Imperial Household Agency website, because access is restricted.

Everyone knows Kamakura for its Great Buddha and that famous shot of the train by the sea, but this town has so much more to offer! So many beautiful shrines, and my favorite was Hase-dera temple. The garden and the view over the coast are absolutely stunning, and there's even a little cave to explore, I love it. The town is really pleasant to walk around, with a pretty central avenue lined with lanterns, the shopping street, and the seafront, a surfer spot that feels like the California coast! It's a town where you should take your time, and see it in the evening and the morning when the tour buses leave.

A must-do if you are visiting Las Vegas! Just a few minutes away by car, this scenic drive is spectacular! Admission costs $20 and you can book your time slot online in advance (even the day of) and stay as long as you want. You have the option to pull over all along the route for photo stops, and there are about a dozen hikes of varying lengths. If you had to choose just one, I recommend the Calico Tanks trail, which is gorgeous!

What a wonder Kamikochi is ✨ I visited in the rain in the fall, in the mist, and it was magical, but I can imagine it must be gorgeous with the sun shining through! There are trails all along the Azusa River, and every little corner is photogenic, it's incredible. Stop by the visitor center, which is really pretty. You can buy a little bear bell there, and there are some beautiful photo exhibits and displays on the species of the region. For transportation: you need to book the bus (Alpico) in advance, starting one month ahead. For the return, know that you can change your departure time at the ticket counter the same day, which is super handy if, for example, you're soaked from head to toe and, even though it's beautiful, you're dreaming of a nice hot shower a bit earlier 🙃 And the bus ride alone is worth the trip! The whole route is just stunning from start to finish.

I fell in love with Matsumoto ❤️ This city is so peaceful, with beautiful spots for walks, and everything is close by so you can do it all on foot. It's a real breath of fresh air after Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka. The city is surrounded by mountains, and you're right next to the spectacular Kamikochi National Park. Of course, don't miss Matsumoto Castle and its park, which are gorgeous. Bonus: the train ride between Matsumoto and Nagoya is really beautiful!

This temple is absolutely gorgeous, huge and full of little corners and viewpoints that are each more beautiful than the last. You've got the pagodas, the big wooden terrace, and the panoramic view over Kyoto. But in this city, crowds attract crowds, so everyone ends up packed into the same spots. My advice: always go a little farther than the groups of people, and you'll find beautiful hidden corners with way fewer people! The neighborhood is really pretty too, and I'd guess that early in the morning or in the evening it's a bit more peaceful!

Huge garden in the heart of Kyoto, all around the Imperial Palace. It's a pretty spot for a stroll or your morning run! I bet it's gorgeous during cherry blossom or maple leaf season. If you're after a more "typical" Japanese garden, I'd recommend visiting the Katsura or Shugakuin Imperial Villas instead, which are absolutely stunning (reserve ahead of time).

Just a few minutes from Osaka Station, you've got this iconic building of the city! You can go up to the observatory for a gorgeous view over the city, both indoors and from an outdoor platform. Going around 10am, it was pretty quiet, but when we left there were a ton of people waiting for the elevator! Apparently it's a great spot for sunset. The little extras: the basement is full of restaurants done up in a traditional style, and there's a pretty garden right next door on level -1. If you don't have much time in Osaka, it's a good combo just steps from the station.

It was the very last stop of my trip, before heading to the airport. It is a super park for a nice walk, very open with a great view of Osaka, and of course the castle. Lots of little surprises: an old man with his eagle, a crowd of hundreds of Japanese women with their little fans featuring a star, and great sun to enjoy this last day. Top notch for a nice chill walk, combined with visiting the castle!

Opened in 2025, this is one of the new kids on the teamLab block. While my favorite remains the one in Osaka's botanical garden, this one, like its Tokyo counterpart, is really nice to do at least once, even though it is crowded and a selfie paradise. The room right up top with all the greenery is truly gorgeous! Some rooms are the exact same as in Tokyo, so on a trip I would recommend doing just one of them between Planets and Biovortex, with a preference for the latter if you have to choose.

Visiting the island of Milos is a really good alternative to the Cycladic islands that are overrun by tourists, like Santorini. Between the port of Adamas, the island's capital Plaka, or even Pollonia way out to the east, every town has its own charm, and the island is packed with must-see tourist spots: the fishing villages of Mandrakia and Klima, Sarakiniko and its lunar landscapes, the spectacular cliffs of Kleftiko... You can spend a week here without getting bored! As a little bonus, don't hesitate to head over to the neighboring island of Kimolos, which is also absolutely worth the trip!

Visiting the Paris hotel is definitely worth it. Yes, it is a bit kitschy and completely over the top, like a lot of other hotels on the Strip, I grant you that, but the vibe and decor are incredible (not to mention the slot machine sounds you eventually get used to after a few hours in Vegas!) and the Eiffel Tower on the Strip still makes an impression, especially once it is lit up at night! You even have the Arc de Triomphe a little bit further down. I did not do it, but there is an observation deck right across from the Bellagio fountains, and I think it is a great combo for the view :)

If you like roller coasters, you are definitely going to have your eye on this one! The price is not cheap ($25 per ride + $10 to go again), but it is really cool to do, a great shot of adrenaline! Especially at nightfall, with a breathtaking view of the Strip. The harness is not very reassuring at first because it is flexible, but actually you are pinned to the seat the whole way, and the staff checks everything: nothing can happen to you! Don't miss the visit to the New York New York hotel of course, which is well worth the trip!

I really like TeamLab, it is always a slightly magical sensory experience, it is gorgeous and extremely well done. BUT... It is a total highway, there are crowds everywhere all the time and a lot of waiting in line to get the most instagrammable photos possible. So the experience is a bit mixed on my end, it is a super place but you have to expect it to be packed. On the flip side, the experience is really great for kids, with activities specially dedicated to them where they can have an absolute blast!

As a huge fan of natural history museums, I can totally recommend it! For the record, at first I only visited one building, which hosts the temporary exhibits (crocodiles at the time, it was incredible), without realizing there was a HUGE multi-story one right next door. And I was already thrilled!! And then I discovered the whole dinosaur skeleton section, and let me tell you, it is just bonkers. It is an absolute feast for the eyes if you love dinos and fossils. A must-do for adults and kids alike, you will have a blast!