In 2025, the friend group decided to go to Japan. This time, only three of the previous members came along and everyone else were people who missed out the 2019 trip. Memories, that was the goal. And they were made successfully. This time the group split the trip between Kyoto and Tokyo equally so that there was more time to make stops to other cities nearby.

Japan - Spring ‘25

w/Pranav, Sid, Adithya, Ritin, Vedanta, Harsh, Avi, & Avanish

Six Days in Kyoto

Fushimi Inari
Nisshiki Market
Kiyomizu-dera
Kinkaku-ji
Arashiyama
Gion
Osaka Castle
Dotonburi
Umeda Sky Tower
Nara Park
Kobe
Hiroshima Memorial Park
Hiroshima Castle

Fushimi Inari

Day one. After a night of finding the Airbnb and getting some yakitori dinner. Repeat the climb, give your respects to Inari-sama and bless the trip.

Kinkaku-ji
Arashiyama

Since we’re in Kyoto, it’s easy to get over to the temples. Which was hard for us last time since we took day trips over from Tokyo.

Kiyomizu-dera
Osaka Castle
Umeda Sky Building

Kiyomizu-dera in the morning, next to our Airbnb. A day in Osaka. Some italian at Ricepurare Takeuchi. A lot of walking to and from the Osaka Castle + Umeda Sky Building.

“But dreams have meaning for you because you’re fighting for them within reality. Doing nothing but projecting yourself into other people’s dreams is the same as being dead.”

— Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex)

Nara Park

A quick stop at Nara to see the park. Very fun. The rest of the day involved going to Kobe for sake tasting and the Kobe beef teppanyaki. And then a night out in Osaka.

Hiroshima Memorial Park
Hiroshima Castle

Last day in Kyoto, five of us took the train to see the Hiroshima Memorial. A truly reflective moment about who we are as mankind. I recommend this for anyone who can make it.

Twelve Days in Tokyo

Tokyo Sky Tree
TeamLabs: BORDERLESS
Mt. Fuji
Akihabara
Roppongi
Ginza
Noda
Takadanobaba
Shinjuku
Shibuya
Harajuku

Tokyo Sky Tree

One of the days we went up to the Sky Tree after letting every free for the day. Unforunately it rained in the daytime and so it was too foggy to see anything. That doesn’t stop a photo though.

Mt. Fuji

Rented cars from Omoshiro Rentacar in Noda and drove to Mt. Fuji (and back.)

Driving the
Nissan Z
Honda S2000 Type-S
Nissan GT-R R34
Toyota Supra

TeamLabs: BORDERLESS

In Roppongi, you can visit one of the TeamLabs exhibits. This is BORDERLESS. A space with no barriers. A flowing art exhibit were elements flow in and out of space, change, and are always moving.