A week in Japan, Kyoto and Tokyo

Here are some of the highlights for a week in Japan.

Kyoto

Visit some of Kyoto’s most famous sights. Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, beautifully situated beside the water and covered in gold leaf. Continue to Ryoan-ji, famous for its peaceful Zen rock garden, before visiting Kiyomizu-dera, with wonderful views over Kyoto.

Finish the day with a walk in Gion, Kyoto’s historic entertainment district. Its narrow streets, traditional wooden buildings, teahouses, small shops and restaurants.

In Kyoto I recommend to book a ramen-making class by the Ramen factory. The ramen-making class is available to book on Viator.com

Explore the wonderful food market where almost everything seemed to be available on a stick – from vegetables to sausages!

You can rent kimonos, take a class in calligraphy and take part in a tea ceremony, all at the same place in Kyoto.

The name  of the place is Nishiki Orizuruy. 

After all that, a visit to a chocolate café Mariebelle can definitely be a perfect way to relax and enjoy.

Tokyo 

A sightseeing tour including a visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, where you can look out across the city. You can also visit Miraikan, Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, walk near the Imperial Palace and explore the shopping area in Ginza.

Another stop is Sensō-ji in Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s temples. You can find a very nice food market and a market in the area. 

If you like music, you should try karaoke! Instead of singing in front of a whole bar, you book your own private karaoke room. 

One of the favorite food experiences in Tokyo is the sushi-making class in Asakusa. It is arranged by Sushi Making Tokyo. You can reserve it on Trip Advisor. The location has a great view of the river. 

There is also the area of Ryōgoku, an area strongly associated with sumo wrestling, and you can visit the sumo arena. If it is closed you can visit the nearby building to see the example below. 

Close to the sumo wrestling arena you can find the public transport boat. You can take a boat along the river before – once again – returning to Asakusa, or go for a trip to see Tokyo from the river. 

You can take the train from Kinshi-cho to Akihabara, an area filled with anime, manga, gaming and fan culture. 

Next stop is to go to Ueno and walked through beautiful Ueno Park. It has ponds, a market and a beautiful avenue lined with cherry trees. There is also a concert hall if you want to visit a concert in the evenemang.

You should also explore Shinjuku, famous for entertainment In Kabukichō, there is even a giant Godzilla head looking out over the neighbourhood from the top of a building.

Last stop is Shibuya. Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s best-known shopping and entertainment districts and home to the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing. When the lights change, pedestrians pour into the intersection from several directions at once. 

If you have time. You can take the train from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, hoping for a glimpse of Mount Fuji.

Top 10 Things to Do in Barolo, Langhe - by train and taxi, without a car

 Top 10 Things to Do in Barolo - by train and taxi, without a car

If you love wine, beautiful landscapes, charming Italian villages and unforgettable food, a trip to Barolo in Piedmont should be high on your list.

The Langhe wine region is a beautiful destination famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines, rolling vineyards, medieval villages and exceptional cuisine.

I recommend spending a few nights exploring Barolo, La Morra and Barbaresco, with either Milan or Turin as your starting point. Go by train från Milan or Turin to Alba. Take a taxi from Alba to Barolo.

Here are my Top 10 things to do in Barolo and the surrounding Langhe region.

1. Explore the village of Barolo

Start your trip in the small but beautiful village of Barolo, surrounded by vineyards in every direction.

The village is compact and perfect for wandering on foot. Take your time exploring the narrow streets, wine shops and little restaurants, and enjoy the views across the surrounding vineyards.

One of the highlights is the Wine Museum.

Barolo is also an excellent base for your first two nights. We found that two nights is a comfortable amount of time to experience the village and visit several wineries without feeling rushed.

Where to stay

A wonderful option is Hotel Barolo at Brezza, a winery located in the heart of the village. The property combines accommodation, a restaurant and wine tasting, making it particularly convenient for wine lovers.

In Barolo village, Easy Cosi is a popular restaurant and a good choice for lunch or dinner.

2. Go wine tasting at legendary Barolo wineries

Of course, no trip to Barolo would be complete without visiting the wineries.

Make sure to book your tastings in advance. The smaller villages have limited availability, and many wineries operate by appointment.

Some wineries worth considering in Barolo include:

• Marchesi di Barolo – one of the historic names of the region, with cellar tours and tastings.

• Borgogno – another well-known producer with a long history in Barolo.

• Brezza – a lovely option if you are staying at Hotel Barolo.

• Enoteca del Barolo – a great place to taste wines from different local producers in one location.

3. Take an Ape Calessino tour through the vineyards

For one of the most memorable experiences of the trip, take a sightseeing tour through the Langhe in a classic little Ape Calessino.

Taxi Langhe Tour offers tours through the vineyards and surrounding villages, with stops at beautiful viewpoints and the opportunity to taste wine from a local winery.

It's a wonderful way to see the landscape without worrying about driving after wine tasting.

The rolling hills, vineyards and hilltop villages make this one of those experiences where you'll want to keep your camera ready.

4. Visit La Morra and enjoy one of the best views in the Langhe

Next, take a taxi to to La Morra, another beautiful hilltop village in the Barolo wine region.

The village is small, so you don't need much time to explore it, but the views are spectacular. From La Morra, you can look across a sea of vineyards and see many of the famous villages of the Langhe.

Allow one or two nights here, depending on your itinerary.

Wine tasting in La Morra

A great option is Rocche Costamagna, a winery located right in the village. They offer wine tastings and have accommodation, making it possible to combine your stay with a winery experience.

You can also visit Cantina Comunale di La Morra, the local wine shop and tasting room, where you can sample wines from different producers.

5. Spend a night in Barbaresco

From La Morra, continue with taxi towards Barbaresco, another of Piedmont's most famous wine villages. The village sits above the vineyards, offering beautiful views over the Langhe countryside. Staying overnight gives you the chance to experience the village after the day visitors have left.

Stay at a winery

Casa Boffa is a charming hotel and winery right in the village. You can combine your stay with a tour and tasting in their own cellar.

One of the best things about Casa Boffa is the outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding vineyards with a glass of wine.

6. Taste Barbaresco wines

Barbaresco deserves its own wine experience.

Visit the Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco to discover wines from different producers in the area.

Barbaresco, like Barolo, is made primarily from Nebbiolo grapes, but the wines have their own character and style. Tasting the two side by side is a great way to understand the differences between the neighbouring wine regions.

If you have time, book a winery visit as well. As with Barolo, advance reservations are highly recommended.

7. Have an unforgettable dinner at Campamac

The Langhe is just as famous for its food as it is for its wine.

One restaurant that is well worth booking in advance is Campamac in Barbaresco.

The food is exceptional and makes for a memorable dinner after a day of exploring vineyards and tasting wine.

This is a popular restaurant, so don't leave the reservation until the last minute.

8. A practical tip about taxis

If you are planning to drink wine — and you probably are — don't rely on finding a taxi at the last minute.

My advice is to pre-book your taxi transfers before your trip, especially between Barolo, La Morra, Barbaresco and Alba.

9. Finish your trip in Milan or Turin

The easiest way to reach the Langhe is to fly into Milan or Turin and then take the train to Alba.

From Alba, arrange a taxi to your first village.

At the end of your trip, return to Alba by taxi and take the train back to Milan or Turin.

Both cities are worth adding to your itinerary for a night or two.

If you choose Milan

Visit the magnificent Duomo di Milano and explore the surrounding city centre.

For dinner, head to the rooftop restaurant at Rinascente, where you can enjoy a meal with beautiful views over the Duomo and the Milan skyline.

If you choose Turin

Turin has a completely different atmosphere and is a fantastic place to end a wine trip.

Visit the Royal Palace of Turin and spend some time exploring the elegant squares and streets of the city.

For the evening, find a table at Mated Cocktail Bar, a cosy spot on one of Turin's atmospheric squares, and enjoy a cocktail before or after dinner.

Itinerary inspiration

For a relaxed wine trip, I would suggest something like this:

Day 1: Fly to Milan or Turin → train to Alba → taxi to Barolo
Day 2: Explore Barolo → Wine Museum → winery tasting → dinner
Day 3: Vineyard tour → La Morra → overnight in La Morra
Day 4: Barbaresco → winery tasting → dinner at Campamac
Day 5: Taxi to Alba → train to Milan or Turin. Explore Milan or Turin → fly home.

10. A Few Final Tips

Book wine tastings in advance. The best-known wineries can fill up quickly.

Pre-book your taxis. This is especially important when travelling between the smaller villages.

Stay in the villages. Spending the night in Barolo, La Morra or Barbaresco gives you a much more authentic experience than simply visiting on a day trip. And you do not need to rent a car. This allows you to go by taxi. 

10 things to do in Bilbao

10 things to do in Bilbao

1.  Look at the art outside and the architecture of the Guggenheim museum. (free)

 

2. Visit a winery. The winery Gorka Izagirre is located 20 minutes by car from Bilbao city centre. They offer at tour of the wine production and wine tasting. They produce wine to a restaurant with several Michelin stars. The wine tasting was very nice and costed 25 euro per person. 
https://www.gorkaizagirre.com/en/visits-and-tastings/
If you have more time you can also visit the Rioja district that is about 1,5 hour from the city centre by car. 

3. Visit the Guggenheim museum to see the art inside.

4. Visit the food market in Bilbao by the river. (free entrance)

5. Eat pintxos in the old town of Bilbao. The best place to have pintxos in Bilbao is the old town according to the locals.

6. Stroll by the river in Bilbao city centre. (free)

7. If the weather is nice, you can visit a beach. You can go to the beach by the metro or by taxi. It takes approximately 30 minutes from the city centre. Bring you own towel. (cheap if you go by Metro) 
https://www.bilbaoturismo.net/BilbaoTurismo/en/playas-a-un-metro 

8. Go to the view point by the cable train Funicular to see the city from a hill. The train only takes a few minutes. (It think the price was 4 euros per person for a two-way ticket)

 The surroundings are nice to take a walk in. There is a park, a restaurant etc in the area on the top of the hill.

The name of the bus stop, outside the cable train to the view point on the hill. 

9. Walk around and enjoy the paintings on the bridges and doors in the street. (free). This art was in the area of the ground station for the cable train Funicular and across the river over the bridge from the Guggenheim museum. 

10.  Visit the town San Sebastian by the sea and take a surfing lesson, swim or eat great food. There is a bus from the airport, you can also take a taxi from Bilbao. The train seems to take a very long time.