Hi buns,
I've been planning my next trip to Japan and decided to make a bucket list to help me remember everything that I would like to do the next few times I visit. There is are somethings that I want to do, like visiting both Northern and Southern Japan, that I haven't included on this list as they are kind of vague (in all honesty, I haven't yet made many notes or done much research on what I would like to see in both the North and the South). As my list is pretty extensive I've broken this down into 3 blogs - this blog, one for temples and shrines and another for cafes! Let me know if you would like to visit any of these places!
Happy reading
Keri AKA Ichigo Bunny
1. Take PuriKura
Can you believe that I've been to Japan twice and never been in a purikura booth? Purikura booths are great fun, you take pictures and edit them afterwards to make them look super kawaii (this means cute in Japanese!) I'm really hoping that I can visit one next time I go to Japan, I want get some kawaii pictures of me and Gwyd!
2. Visit Shimokitazawa
I've heard of this ward and seen a lot of people mention it online when talking about going thrifting. Shimokitazawa is supposed to be amazing for finding good food and coffee as well, so as a coffee addict it's a place that I have to check out! Among the many places to eat you can find 500-yen (roughly £3.50) pizza and Shiro-Higes Cream Puff Factory, a place famous for it's Totoro cream puffs.
3. Visit Koenji
Koenji was home to Tokyo's punk scene in 1970s. It's now known for it's thrift stores, food, live houses and some shrines. There's so much to do here and I would love to be able to spend a few days exploring this area. I want to spend a day nosing through shops and dining at cute cafes and spend my evening drinking beer and listening to some live music.
4. Watch a gig
I am a rock and metal fan and it's one of my dreams to go to a gig while in Japan! While I would cry if I could see Crystal Lake or Crossfaith in Japan, the one band I would love to see is my friend's band. He's a talented drummer and it would be so cool to be able to support them. I love small gigs in tiny bars, and it would be pretty neat to experience this in Tokyo.
5. Spend a few days in Kamakura
When looking up temples and shrines to add to my ever expanding want to visit list, I realised that there were loads in Kamakura. Roughly an hour away from Tokyo by train, Kamakura is famous for it's giant bronze Buddha and the many temples and shrines there. I've got an A4 page filled will with notes on where I would love to visit in Kamakura, there is so much to do there!
6. Visit Satsuki and Mei's house, Aichi
If you are a fan of Totoro, this is a house that you would like to visit! I've recently discovered this online and I would love to see it with my own eyes. This is a place that you need to pre-order tickets to be able to visit it but judging from the reviews I've read online, it's worth it.
7. Go to Okunoshima Island (Rabbit Island)
As a bunny lover I am DESPERATE to visit this island. It's my ultimate dream to come here, buy bunny feed and be surrounded by tiny adorable bunnies. The island is 15 minutes away by ferry from the main island and played an important role during WW2 because of the chemical research plant that was built there. The remains of the plant still stands although entry is prohibited. There is a museum on the island that was built to educate people about the horrors of using poison gas, which I would like to visit as well.
8. Visit Japan during Christmas and New Year
Christmas has been celebrated for a long time in Japan, but it got it's big break after WW2 (you can read the full history of Christmas being celebrated in Japan here). I really want to see how people celebrate it in Japan and to visit some Christmas markets! It would be really sweet if we could buy a little Christmas tree decoration to bring home with us. I've heard that there's a fox festival that takes place as part of the New Year Celebrations in Oji and I would love to admire it and photograph it one year.
9. Visit Shiratani Unsuiko, Yakushima Island
Princess Mononoke is one of my all time favourite films and Shiratani Unsuiko is the forest that Miyazaki visited for inspiration for the film. This forest is a registered UNESCO world heritage site with scared trees and a rare ecosystem that has been nicknamed "Princess Mononoke's Forest" since the movie was released. I love walking in forests and it would be an absolute dream to be about to walk through the forest that inspired my favourite film.
10. Visit an art museum
I've always enjoyed art but since I studied it for a part of my Open University course that I done a few years ago, I've been able to appreciate art as lot more. I would like to visit an art gallery and take the time to admire the work that went into it. I would like to visit galleries that show either old traditional art or new bold, up and coming artists.
11. Go for a hike up a mountain
I love spending time outdoors, walking, exploring and taking pictures. There are many places that you can go for a hike through nature in Japan, mountains being the location choice for many. There are many mountains that I would LOVE to climb in Japan, but the ones that stand out for me are Mt. Takao and Mt. Koya. Takaosan is between 40- 1 hour away from Tokyo depending on what station you depart from and what line you take, and I would love to be able to hike up the mountain and get a cable car back down. Koyasan is south of Osaka, has many hiking trails and is home to many temples, one of which is on my to visit it.
12. Visit as many of the Pokemon Centers as I can
As some of you may know I am a MASSIVE pokemon fan and there are several Pokemon Centers (pokemon shops) in Japan. I've visited most of the pokemon centers in Tokyo but I would love to check out the new store that has opened in Shibuya and visit as many of the other stores that are in various locations across Japan.
13. Stay in Atami for a few nights
Atami is an onsen (hot bath) town and it takes about 1 hour 35 minutes to get there via train from Tokyo. I first heard of this town when watching a video about it and I became really interested in visiting this place. I think it would be really cool to be able to stay in a hotel that has private onsen. As a person with a lot of tattoos there are not many options to be able to visit a public onsen, not that I personally would feel comfortable enough to do so. It would be lovely to spend the day exploring and then spending the evening soaking in the onsen with a beer.
14. Either watch or take part in Harajuku Fashion Walk
I love J-fashion, and Harajuku Fashion Walk is THE event to take part in or admire if you have the chance. Every time I see pictures from the fashion walk it makes me want to see it for myself and take part. I really enjoy talking to people who have similar fashion interests and taking part in fashion shows so it would be lovely to be able to experience this.
15. Visit as many gardens and parks as I can
There are so many beautiful gardens in Japan and my list is crazy long! The gardens and parks in Japan are well maintained and often have a variety of plants in them. Ashikaga Flower park has been on my to visit list for a long time because of the over 100 year old beautiful wisteria tree and the accompanying flowers. Other gardens and parks on my list are Rikugien Gardens in Tokyo, Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Hakone.
16. Go to Kiso Valley
Kiso valley is one of the last highways from the Edo-period that connects Kyoto to Tokyo. In Kiso Valley you can find post towns that have been preserved so they look the same as they did during the Edo-period with wooden buildings and stone paths. I think it would be really cool to visit a place that holds so much history and to experience what life would of been like for the travelling merchants and samurai at that time. I would love to walk along the old highway and photograph the old towns.
17. Visit Nachi Falls, Wakayama
Nachi Falls is another place that has been on my to visit list for a long time. It's the tallest waterfall in Japan and overlooked by Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine. It would be amazing to visit the shrine and to take the time to listen to the sound of the waterfall.
18. Walk from Kurama to Kibune
Kurama and Kibune are two small villages in northern Kyoto that are connected by a hiking trail. These villages and the trail that connects them are picturesque and it would be incredible to experience it for myself. Along the trail there are waterfalls, shrines, temples and scenic scenery to take in and I cannot wait to be able to see it all with my own eyes.
19. Go to a food, small business and flea markets
I love nosing around second hand shops, markets and car boot sales. It would be really cool to wander around some of the flea markets that take place in Tokyo and see if I can find something really quirky to bring some with me. I would also like to be able to visit a small business market, the kind where you can find up-and coming artists or other small business owners and find a new artists or designer that I love and want to support. Food markets are a great way to try new food and it would be really cool to explore a food market and see what veggie or vegan food is available. If I could find a veggie or vegan food market I would be over the moon, especially as those kinds of food can be difficult to find in Japan.
20. Experience a traditional festival
There are many traditional festivals that take place in Japan and it would be so cool to see one! When I was last in Japan I got to experience some sakura festivals that were taking place around Tokyo and they were so much fun! The few festivals that I would like to see are as follows:
-Seijin-no-hi (coming of age day). Seijin-no-hi celebrates the day that young adults turn 20. Some men, and most women wear traditional types of kimonos for the ceremony and it would be wonderful to be able to see some different types of kimono.
- Shumbun-no-hi (vernal equinox day). This festival celebrates the beginning of spring and is a part of a 7 day festival called Haru no Higan. The festival celebrates the blooming of flowers and nature after a long winter.
-Tsukimi (moon viewing). This festival celebrates the beauty of the moon and, as someone who loves to gaze at the moon and all of her beauty, this is something that I would love to take part in.
and the one festival that I would LOVE to see is
Yokai Matsuri, a festival that celebrates the yokai (monsters) with a parade showcasing the many different types of monsters! The town that holds this parade have deep connections to the yokai through years of tradition and folklore. You can read a little more about this here.
That's all for my bucket list! Let me know if there are any of these that you would like to add to your bucket list or if you have any similar things on yours!
I've been planning my next trip to Japan and decided to make a bucket list to help me remember everything that I would like to do the next few times I visit. There is are somethings that I want to do, like visiting both Northern and Southern Japan, that I haven't included on this list as they are kind of vague (in all honesty, I haven't yet made many notes or done much research on what I would like to see in both the North and the South). As my list is pretty extensive I've broken this down into 3 blogs - this blog, one for temples and shrines and another for cafes! Let me know if you would like to visit any of these places!
Happy reading
Keri AKA Ichigo Bunny
 |
| Taken outside the Pokemon center in Ikebukuro during my last trip to Japan |
1. Take PuriKura
Can you believe that I've been to Japan twice and never been in a purikura booth? Purikura booths are great fun, you take pictures and edit them afterwards to make them look super kawaii (this means cute in Japanese!) I'm really hoping that I can visit one next time I go to Japan, I want get some kawaii pictures of me and Gwyd!
2. Visit Shimokitazawa
I've heard of this ward and seen a lot of people mention it online when talking about going thrifting. Shimokitazawa is supposed to be amazing for finding good food and coffee as well, so as a coffee addict it's a place that I have to check out! Among the many places to eat you can find 500-yen (roughly £3.50) pizza and Shiro-Higes Cream Puff Factory, a place famous for it's Totoro cream puffs.
3. Visit Koenji
Koenji was home to Tokyo's punk scene in 1970s. It's now known for it's thrift stores, food, live houses and some shrines. There's so much to do here and I would love to be able to spend a few days exploring this area. I want to spend a day nosing through shops and dining at cute cafes and spend my evening drinking beer and listening to some live music.
4. Watch a gig
I am a rock and metal fan and it's one of my dreams to go to a gig while in Japan! While I would cry if I could see Crystal Lake or Crossfaith in Japan, the one band I would love to see is my friend's band. He's a talented drummer and it would be so cool to be able to support them. I love small gigs in tiny bars, and it would be pretty neat to experience this in Tokyo.
5. Spend a few days in Kamakura
When looking up temples and shrines to add to my ever expanding want to visit list, I realised that there were loads in Kamakura. Roughly an hour away from Tokyo by train, Kamakura is famous for it's giant bronze Buddha and the many temples and shrines there. I've got an A4 page filled will with notes on where I would love to visit in Kamakura, there is so much to do there!
6. Visit Satsuki and Mei's house, Aichi
If you are a fan of Totoro, this is a house that you would like to visit! I've recently discovered this online and I would love to see it with my own eyes. This is a place that you need to pre-order tickets to be able to visit it but judging from the reviews I've read online, it's worth it.
 |
| I love Totoro! He's so cute |
7. Go to Okunoshima Island (Rabbit Island)
As a bunny lover I am DESPERATE to visit this island. It's my ultimate dream to come here, buy bunny feed and be surrounded by tiny adorable bunnies. The island is 15 minutes away by ferry from the main island and played an important role during WW2 because of the chemical research plant that was built there. The remains of the plant still stands although entry is prohibited. There is a museum on the island that was built to educate people about the horrors of using poison gas, which I would like to visit as well.
8. Visit Japan during Christmas and New Year
Christmas has been celebrated for a long time in Japan, but it got it's big break after WW2 (you can read the full history of Christmas being celebrated in Japan here). I really want to see how people celebrate it in Japan and to visit some Christmas markets! It would be really sweet if we could buy a little Christmas tree decoration to bring home with us. I've heard that there's a fox festival that takes place as part of the New Year Celebrations in Oji and I would love to admire it and photograph it one year.
9. Visit Shiratani Unsuiko, Yakushima Island
Princess Mononoke is one of my all time favourite films and Shiratani Unsuiko is the forest that Miyazaki visited for inspiration for the film. This forest is a registered UNESCO world heritage site with scared trees and a rare ecosystem that has been nicknamed "Princess Mononoke's Forest" since the movie was released. I love walking in forests and it would be an absolute dream to be about to walk through the forest that inspired my favourite film.
10. Visit an art museum
I've always enjoyed art but since I studied it for a part of my Open University course that I done a few years ago, I've been able to appreciate art as lot more. I would like to visit an art gallery and take the time to admire the work that went into it. I would like to visit galleries that show either old traditional art or new bold, up and coming artists.
11. Go for a hike up a mountain
I love spending time outdoors, walking, exploring and taking pictures. There are many places that you can go for a hike through nature in Japan, mountains being the location choice for many. There are many mountains that I would LOVE to climb in Japan, but the ones that stand out for me are Mt. Takao and Mt. Koya. Takaosan is between 40- 1 hour away from Tokyo depending on what station you depart from and what line you take, and I would love to be able to hike up the mountain and get a cable car back down. Koyasan is south of Osaka, has many hiking trails and is home to many temples, one of which is on my to visit it.
12. Visit as many of the Pokemon Centers as I can
As some of you may know I am a MASSIVE pokemon fan and there are several Pokemon Centers (pokemon shops) in Japan. I've visited most of the pokemon centers in Tokyo but I would love to check out the new store that has opened in Shibuya and visit as many of the other stores that are in various locations across Japan.
 |
| The cute clock outside Pokemon Center DX in Tokyo |
13. Stay in Atami for a few nights
Atami is an onsen (hot bath) town and it takes about 1 hour 35 minutes to get there via train from Tokyo. I first heard of this town when watching a video about it and I became really interested in visiting this place. I think it would be really cool to be able to stay in a hotel that has private onsen. As a person with a lot of tattoos there are not many options to be able to visit a public onsen, not that I personally would feel comfortable enough to do so. It would be lovely to spend the day exploring and then spending the evening soaking in the onsen with a beer.
14. Either watch or take part in Harajuku Fashion Walk
I love J-fashion, and Harajuku Fashion Walk is THE event to take part in or admire if you have the chance. Every time I see pictures from the fashion walk it makes me want to see it for myself and take part. I really enjoy talking to people who have similar fashion interests and taking part in fashion shows so it would be lovely to be able to experience this.
15. Visit as many gardens and parks as I can
There are so many beautiful gardens in Japan and my list is crazy long! The gardens and parks in Japan are well maintained and often have a variety of plants in them. Ashikaga Flower park has been on my to visit list for a long time because of the over 100 year old beautiful wisteria tree and the accompanying flowers. Other gardens and parks on my list are Rikugien Gardens in Tokyo, Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa and Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Hakone.
 |
| I love exploring gardens and parks, no matter what the weather looks like! |
16. Go to Kiso Valley
Kiso valley is one of the last highways from the Edo-period that connects Kyoto to Tokyo. In Kiso Valley you can find post towns that have been preserved so they look the same as they did during the Edo-period with wooden buildings and stone paths. I think it would be really cool to visit a place that holds so much history and to experience what life would of been like for the travelling merchants and samurai at that time. I would love to walk along the old highway and photograph the old towns.
17. Visit Nachi Falls, Wakayama
Nachi Falls is another place that has been on my to visit list for a long time. It's the tallest waterfall in Japan and overlooked by Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine. It would be amazing to visit the shrine and to take the time to listen to the sound of the waterfall.
18. Walk from Kurama to Kibune
Kurama and Kibune are two small villages in northern Kyoto that are connected by a hiking trail. These villages and the trail that connects them are picturesque and it would be incredible to experience it for myself. Along the trail there are waterfalls, shrines, temples and scenic scenery to take in and I cannot wait to be able to see it all with my own eyes.
19. Go to a food, small business and flea markets
I love nosing around second hand shops, markets and car boot sales. It would be really cool to wander around some of the flea markets that take place in Tokyo and see if I can find something really quirky to bring some with me. I would also like to be able to visit a small business market, the kind where you can find up-and coming artists or other small business owners and find a new artists or designer that I love and want to support. Food markets are a great way to try new food and it would be really cool to explore a food market and see what veggie or vegan food is available. If I could find a veggie or vegan food market I would be over the moon, especially as those kinds of food can be difficult to find in Japan.
20. Experience a traditional festival
There are many traditional festivals that take place in Japan and it would be so cool to see one! When I was last in Japan I got to experience some sakura festivals that were taking place around Tokyo and they were so much fun! The few festivals that I would like to see are as follows:
-Seijin-no-hi (coming of age day). Seijin-no-hi celebrates the day that young adults turn 20. Some men, and most women wear traditional types of kimonos for the ceremony and it would be wonderful to be able to see some different types of kimono.
- Shumbun-no-hi (vernal equinox day). This festival celebrates the beginning of spring and is a part of a 7 day festival called Haru no Higan. The festival celebrates the blooming of flowers and nature after a long winter.
-Tsukimi (moon viewing). This festival celebrates the beauty of the moon and, as someone who loves to gaze at the moon and all of her beauty, this is something that I would love to take part in.
and the one festival that I would LOVE to see is
Yokai Matsuri, a festival that celebrates the yokai (monsters) with a parade showcasing the many different types of monsters! The town that holds this parade have deep connections to the yokai through years of tradition and folklore. You can read a little more about this here.
That's all for my bucket list! Let me know if there are any of these that you would like to add to your bucket list or if you have any similar things on yours!
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