To understand Japan, it is essential to acknowledge the values instilled by Shintoism  and Buddhism  over the centuries, along with the external influences on the Japanese population. We explored beyond Tokyo by visiting Kamakura , a coastal town an hour to the south. Our Context guide, Fabien, a French expatriate, took us on this journey. Kamakura is a charming town, renowned for its remarkable 13.35-meter-tall bronze Buddha at Kotoku-in , which was constructed in 1252. We p

We wandered through the gardens of the 17th-century Ritsurin Park.  The beauty and serenity of the numerous gardens and parks we explored is likely my top highlight from Japan. This garden features over 1,400 pine trees, most of which are pruned by the gardeners to resemble large, elegantly curved bonsai.

The Singapore Botanical Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The average temperature is about 88 degrees with high humidity. The climate was quite oppressive, and similar to those three-shower summer days in NYC. Strolling through the gardens was a way to acclimate to the environment. The gardens were breathtaking, featuring a diverse array of tropical plants, enormous fig trees, Ficus, a small rainforest, and a magnificent orchid garden. Given how precious land is in S

We arrived in Singapore around 8 AM after a 17-hour flight from LAX. Singapore Airlines Business Class was impressive. The food and service were excellent, and the lay-flat beds have a unique design where you fold down the seat back to create the bed. It was comfortable for me, but my 6'4" husband found it a bit short, though he slept well despite the person snoring behind him. The flight left LA at 11 PM, and I was worried about staying up late for supper service, but the ex

We arrived in Kyoto from Singapore a day before the National Geographic Inside Japan tour to acclimate and explore on our own. Before discussing Kyoto, I must mention the ordeal of getting through Osaka Airport. Our Singapore Airlines flight was excellent as usual, but the immigration process in Osaka was chaotic. We spent two hours in a line moving at a snail's pace, seemingly due to more visitors than available officers. There is a “ Visit Japan Web QR code ” we could hav