Part 2 of our journey through Japan.
If the first half of Japan felt like an introduction — skylines, Disney magic, mountain landscapes, and our ongoing game of hide-and-seek with Mt. Fuji — the second half felt more personal.
Japan shifted from futuristic trains and city lights into wooden streets, centuries-old traditions, and eventually one of the most emotionally powerful places we’ve visited anywhere in the world.
Act IV: Kyoto — Wooden Streets and Wandering Souls
Kyoto immediately felt different.
After modern skylines and train stations buzzing with activity, Kyoto felt like stepping into another era.
We stayed in a restored traditional Japanese house tucked into the heart of Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district.
Gion feels almost cinematic.
Wooden buildings line narrow streets. Small lanterns glow at night. Hidden restaurants and tea houses sit quietly behind sliding doors.
If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a geisha or maiko (an apprentice geisha) quickly moving through the streets.
And we did.
Several, actually.
Much of our time in Kyoto was wonderfully unstructured. We simply walked.
And walked.
And walked some more.
Kyoto contains thousands of temples and shrines, each with its own history and personality.
Our favorite ended up being Kennin-ji Temple, home to its famous painted twin dragon ceiling.
Looking up at those enormous white dragons twisting across the ceiling felt almost surreal.
One afternoon while wandering around the river, we also spotted something unexpected:
A swamp beaver.
Okay… technically a nutria.
Adorable? Absolutely.
Native to Japan?
Very much not.
Apparently they’re considered invasive to the area.
Still cute though.
Rules, Rules, and More Rules
Japan has a lot of rules.
Casey and I also genuinely try to be good tourists.
These two things occasionally create tension.
You’re expected to stand on certain sides of escalators.
You shouldn’t eat while walking.
You line up in designated places for trains.
There aren’t many public trash cans, so you’re often expected to carry your trash with you.
Visible tattoos can prevent entry into some gyms and onsens.
When seeing a movie, you’re generally expected to stay through the credits.
Bowing replaces handshakes.
And those are only some of them.
We tried to research customs beforehand and follow them as closely as possible.
Respecting local culture matters to us.
I only wish we could say the same for some of the tourists we encountered.
There were definitely moments where we found ourselves thinking:
“We’re not even from here and somehow we read the instructions.”
The Great Chopstick Incident of Kyoto
One day we decided to attend a chopstick-making class.
This was my idea.
Important detail.
Because I nearly regretted it immediately.
The process seemed simple enough:
Shape the wood.
Carve carefully.
Sand it down.
Easy.
Except I apparently possess the woodworking skills of a confused tanuki.
I made mistake after mistake.
Three separate pieces of wood had to be replaced.
Three.
Eventually I think our instructor quietly decided intervention was necessary for everyone’s safety and dignity.
He mostly took over while generously allowing me to continue sanding.
In the end I technically made chopsticks.
We’re all just operating under very flexible definitions of “made.”
Wandering Gion
Some of my favorite moments in Kyoto involved absolutely nothing planned.
Walking through Gion early in the evening felt magical.
Shrines seemed tucked around unexpected corners.
Small temples appeared between homes and shops.
Stone pathways, wooden architecture, quiet side streets.
Kyoto somehow manages to feel alive and peaceful at the same time.
Convenience Stores Are a Way of Life
Japan has elevated convenience stores into an art form.
Back home, convenience stores usually mean grabbing gas station chips and questioning your life choices.
Japan said:
“What if we made them incredible instead?”
7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart aren’t simply stores here.
They’re part of everyday life.
Fresh sandwiches.
Instant noodles.
Desserts.
Hot foods.
Snacks.
Entire meals.
Some instant ramen varieties are even overseen by Michelin-starred chefs.
Meanwhile, I personally consumed no fewer than twenty egg salad sandwiches during our time in Japan.
Twenty.
No regrets.
None.
One of the most surprising experiences during our time in Kyoto was seeing Svengali.
Trying to explain it is difficult without spoiling it.
Part theater.
Part immersive experience.
Part psychological puzzle.
Entirely unique.
It was thought-provoking, highly entertaining, and unlike any live show we’ve experienced before.
Sometimes the things you know the least about end up becoming favorites.
One of the most surprising experiences during our time in Kyoto was seeing Svengali.
Trying to explain it is difficult without spoiling it.
Part theater.
Part immersive experience.
Part psychological puzzle.
Entirely unique.
It was thought-provoking, highly entertaining, and unlike any live show we’ve experienced before.
Sometimes the things you know the least about end up becoming favorites.
The Chicken Heart Incident
One evening in Kyoto we decided to visit a highly-rated local restaurant.
Feeling adventurous, we ordered chicken skewers.
Seems harmless enough, right?
Chicken on a stick.
Very straightforward.
Except as it turns out…
The skewers included every part of the chicken except the white meat.
I unknowingly took a bite of chicken heart.
After that?
I was finished.
Absolutely done.
The remaining skewers mysteriously disappeared beneath an unfinished salad where they could no longer hurt anyone.
I’m all for trying new foods and experiencing local culture.
I simply prefer learning what I ate after I’ve already swallowed it.
Learning during the first bite creates trust issues.
Coffee in Two Dimensions
One of my favorite café experiences in Kyoto was the 2D Cafe.
Walking inside feels like stepping directly into a sketchbook.
Tables, walls, chairs — everything appears hand-drawn in black and white.
Your brain spends several minutes trying to process what it’s seeing.
Very Instagram-worthy.
Very fun.
Very weird.
A Change of Scenery
After four nights, we switched Airbnbs and moved into something completely different:
A converted sushi restaurant in a quieter part of Kyoto.
One afternoon we wandered into a cinema and finally watched The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Casey actually liked it more than the original.
I still haven’t fully processed that statement.
Osaka: Sick Days & Universal Studios Japan
We planned two nights in Osaka with visions of food, city exploration, and plenty of adventure.
Unfortunately…
This is where our bodies collectively decided to file a formal complaint.
I started getting sick.
Exploring quickly became limited.
But we powered through and made our trip to Universal Studios Japan.
Casey was particularly excited for one reason:
Jaws.
For him, getting to experience that ride with me meant something a little more personal because visiting Universal Orlando wasn’t really in the cards for me growing up.
The park itself is gorgeous.
And on its own? It’s fantastic.
But here’s where things get unfair.
When your comparisons become:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Islands of Adventure
- Epic Universe
…the bar becomes ridiculous.
Harry Potter World is larger in Orlando.
Super Nintendo World is larger.
Overall, Orlando benefits from having more space and more parks to spread the magic around.
Still, that’s less of a criticism of Osaka and more of a reminder that comparisons can be unfair.
What did surprise us again?
Pricing.
Tickets were around $60 each.
Food and drinks were significantly cheaper too.
Universal without the financial assault.
Act V: Hiroshima — Beauty, Grief & an Unexpected Meal
By the time we arrived in Hiroshima, both Casey and I were officially sick.
Despite feeling awful, there was one place we knew we wanted to experience:
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Walking through the park felt heavy.
Quiet.
Reflective.
Humbling.
Standing there, it hit us:
We were standing in one of only two places in human history where nuclear weapons had ever been used in war.
Seeing the Atomic Bomb Dome in person was difficult to process.
Photos don’t quite prepare you for it.
The remains of the structure stand preserved as a reminder of both unimaginable devastation and the importance of peace.
It wasn’t simply history.
It felt personal.
Human.
Sobering.
Afterward, we wandered into a small restaurant called Grande and accidentally discovered what may have been our most memorable meal in Japan.
We sat at the counter while the chef prepared a Western-Japanese fusion dinner directly in front of us.
Conversation flowed naturally despite language differences.
The food was incredible.
But honestly?
The human connection was even better.
Travel often works that way.
Sometimes the experiences you remember most aren’t the ones you planned.
Day two in Hiroshima?
Bed.
Blankets.
Episodes of The Closer.
Zero movement.
We’re still not entirely sure whether we caught a bad cold or COVID.
Epilogue: Fukuoka — Recovery Mode
We only had two nights in Fukuoka, and unfortunately our timing wasn’t ideal.
We were still recovering and decided not to push ourselves.
Sometimes travel isn’t always Instagram moments and nonstop adventures.
Sometimes it’s listening to your body.
Sometimes it’s ordering ramen and watching TV in bed.
Fukuoka happens to be famous for its ramen — particularly rich tonkotsu broth.
So naturally we ordered some in.
And thankfully…
It absolutely lived up to expectations.
As I write this, tonight is our final evening in Japan.
Tomorrow we leave for an entirely new adventure.
Next stop:
South Korea. 🇰🇷
Brand On The Run 