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Destination

Destination

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m MAUI (aka Bella/ Lykishkeane) the creator of Sauntering Boots and I'm also a Freelance Writer/ Blogger/Amateur Photographer/ Illustrator/Potato Junkie based in Japan, who is constantly looking for scenic spots to write and shoot with my ‘Instagram Husband.’

My Travel Photos

What’s the city you’ve always wanted to visit? What’s the city you’ve always wanted to visit? . . For me, it was 📍 Tokyo and Paris ❤️ . Tokyo because I loved watching anime and reading manga and Paris because I love its architecture ^_^ . When I was a child I never thought I’ll be able to make those dreams come true, because we were poor and a visa is needed to visit those places 😔 So, I’m very thankful that God blessed me that I can now go back and forth in Japan and France! . . This was taken at KAMINARIMON in Asakusa, Tokyo. . This is the gate towards the Buddhist temple SENSO-JI and it’s one of Japan’s popular tourist’s spots! . Kaminarimon was constructed in 941 😯 HOWEVER, in 1865 it was sadly ruined by fire 🔥 😢 HOWEVER (again 🤣) it was rebuilt in 1960 with the help from Konosuke Matsushita—the founder of PANASONIC. . FUN FACT🤔 . 1.) Traditional Japanese lanterns, like what Kaminarimon has, is called CHOCHIN. It is made from washi paper and bamboo hoop that makes it possible to fold and easily store when not in use. A candle 🕯 is used to illuminate it, but modern CHOCHINs uses a bulb 💡 and batteries 🔋 or electricity ⚡️ to lit it up! . 2.) You’ll see Konosuke Matsushita’s name and Panasonic’s previous title (Matsushita Denki Sangyo Kabushiki Gaisha) written in a name plate at the base of the chochin. . . . . . . . #tokyo #tokyocameraclub #visitjapanjp #pinayblogger #lovers_nippon #japan_of_insta #japan #japantravel #matcha_jp #gaijinpottravel #myjapan #instagood #日本#japancollective #visitjapan #travelblogger
Has your wish come true last year? . . For me, som Has your wish come true last year? . . For me, some of it came true 😆 There were some disappointments, but I prefer to focus on the positives ^_^ . . This was shot in 📍 SHORINZAN DARUMA-JI TEMPLE in Gunma Prefecture, Japan 🇯🇵 . It is said that this temple is the birth place of DARUMA DOLLS. . These dolls are lucky charms to help your WISHES come true by drawing its eye 👁 And when your wish DO happen, you then need to draw its other eye 👁 and finally you must go back to the temple to burn it 🔥 . I haven’t tried it out though, maybe in the future ^_^ . . . . . . . . #japan #travel #japan_of_insta #lovers_nippon #japan_inside #japantravel #visitjapanjp #gaijinpottravel #matcha_jp #myjapan #pinaytraveler #bloggerlife #japantravelblog #japantraveldiary #群馬
Do you need LUCK in LOVE? . If you are then head t Do you need LUCK in LOVE? . If you are then head to UNETORI-JINJA in Iwate, Japan. . This shrine is said to fulfill one’s romantic wish by writing your heart’s desire in a piece of red cloth and then tie it on a branch at the shrine with your LEFT HAND ONLY!!! Remember, just the LEFT HAND or your wish won’t come true. . The red cloth can be bought at the shrine for 100¥ and there’s also markers that you can borrow. . Unetori-Jinja is located at a roadside that is 22 mins on foot or 5 mins by car from Tono Station (its closest train station). . In addition, there are no staff or caretakers around which can make you feel lost, but the red cloths and markers are easily found at the wooden shrine. . Although there isn’t much to do around the shrine, it was still a fun experience to get to know more the romantic side of Japanese culture! . HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY! . . . . . . #日本 #japan #lovers_nippon #japan_of_insta #ig_japan #travel #都北 #visitjapan #japantravel #travelbloggers #discoverunder10k #japaneseculture #japantraveldiary #dametraveler #goexperience_cp
What is your Chinese Zodiac? . . Mine is Dragon 🐉 It is said that people born in Year of the Dragon are intelligent , confident, and lucky 🍀 However, they are hot-headed and aggressive 😠 . I don’t consider myself smart and I’m actually quite shy 😆 But I do agree on being hot-headed 😝 . Anyways, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 🧧 🐂 . . This shot was taken from TSUGARU-HAN NEPUTA MURA ( or VILLAGE) in Hirosaki, Aomori. . This museum exhibits artifacts about Aomori Prefecture’s biggest festival, the NEPUTA MATSURI, which is an event that is celebrated around August and it showcases colorful floats with illustrations of Japanese warriors by parading them around Hirosaki. . Since Neputa Matsuri only happens in summer, Neputa Mura is a great alternative to see some floats and get to know more about the history of this fascinating festival. . This museum also has shamisen lessons and performances, souvenir shops, and traditional arts and crafts center. . I always want to see the Neputa Festival, but I’m usually busy around August. Last year, I planned to go there but COVID happened 😢 But at least I was able to visit the Neputa Village and got a picture in front of 12 Chinese Zodiacs lanterns! 🐉 🐍 🐂 🐀 🐅 🐇 🐎 🐐 🐒 🐓 🐕 🐖 . . . . . . #青森 #日本 #japan #lovers_nippon #japan_of_insta #2021 #ig_japan #japancollective #gaijinpottravel #matcha_jp #dametraveler #visitjapan #japantravel #travel #beautifuldestinations #passionpassport #allaroundtheworld #mytravel #travelpic #globetrotter #travelguru #placestovisit #travelinspiration #travelphotoblog #dametraveler #pinayblogger #philippines #girlstravelingsolo #goexperience_cp
How did you come up with your IG name? . . If you How did you come up with your IG name? . . If you noticed, I changed my IG name from Lykishkeane to Sauntering Boots. . I enjoy aimlessly walking and boots are my favorite footwear, hence the name Sauntering Boots 🥾 . It’s also the name of my website saunteringboots.com ^_^ It’s still not finished, but please visit it when you have time🙏🏼 Thank you 🙏🏼 . . This shot was taken from KOIZUMI INARI SHRINE In Gunma Prefecture. . There are more than 200 Torii (Japanese traditional gate) of various sizes that are lined up in front of this shrine. . For me, it’s one of the scenic spots in Japan, however it’s not easy to go here unless you have a car 🚗 It takes around 18 minutes by car from the closest train station, which is Isesaki station. . . . . . . #japan #群馬#travelphotography #travelgram #japan_of_insta #japantravel #ig_japan #japanblog #gunma #visitjapan #travelblogger #dametraveler #discoverunder10k #instagood #bloggerlifestyle
What’s the place you’ve visited more than once What’s the place you’ve visited more than once? . . For me it’s TOHOKU. This region is composed of Yamagata, Fukushima, Iwate, Aomori, Miyagi, and Akita. . I lived in Yamagata for 3 years, so whenever I have free time, I usually visit it and its neighboring prefectures. . Tohoku isn’t well known, but it has one of the most scenic landscapes and colorful history in Japan 🇯🇵 😀 . This shot was taken from HIROSAKI PARK in Aomori Prefecture. . I visited this place 3 times 😆 Once in Winter and twice in Autumn.😍 I really enjoyed gazing its vibrant red trees during autumn 🍂 and making a snowman ⛄️ during winter— fyi, Aomori is one of the snowiest places in Japan 🥶 . I hope I could visit this place again in SPRING, because the moat that surrounds this park turns to PINK because of the CHERRY BLOSSOMS 🌸 . . . . . . . #visitjapan #japan #青森 #日本 #japantravel #japan_of_insta #japantravelblog #japantraveling #ig_japan #japancollective #gaijinpottravel #matcha_jp #dametraveler #goexperience_cp #discoverunder5k
Do you wanna stay in a places with NO electricity, Do you wanna stay in a places with NO electricity, NO cellphone reception, and NO internet? . . If you’re answer is YES, then I highly recommend staying at LAMP NO YADO AONI ONSEN ♨️— where this shot was taken 😊 . . Nestled on the lush mountain of Aomori Prefecture, Lamp No Yado Aoni Onsen is a Japanese traditional in (or Ryokan in Japanese) that has NO ELECTRICITY, NO INTERNET, and NO CELLPHONE SIGNAL. . However, at night time, OIL LAMPS lighten up this ryokan, making you feel the simple and calming lifestyle of the countryside. . Visiting Lamp no Yado reminds me of my childhood because my grandparents also had a lot of oil lamps, which we often used since my hometown usually had BLACKOUTS 😔 . . Anyways... despite being disconnected from the outside world, me and my husband enjoyed staying in Lamp no Yado. We just endlessly talk with each other and bathe in the hot spring 😆 . So if you want to visit this place, I highly suggest going with someone you love talking with or you can just go solo and experience the tranquility in Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen. . . . . . . . #japan #visitjapan #日本#温泉 #discoverunder10k #igersjp #pinaytraveler #japantravel #japan_of_insta #travel #travelgram #traveljapan #traveltheworld #travelblog
Do you wait for discounts before buying stuff? . . Do you wait for discounts before buying stuff? . . I’m guilty of this 😂 so sometimes I end up not buying at all because it ends up getting SOLD OUT 😂 . . Before we moved to Fukuoka, we went to Aomori to do MOJIGARI (紅葉狩り), which means autumn leaf viewing or “hunting for autumn leaves.” . We used the JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020, which is a special limited DISCOUNT pass available ONLY to foreign passport holders in Japan, regardless of the visa status. . It only costs 12,000¥ and you can have UNLIMITED rides for all the JR East trains—including Shinkansen— in the areas of Tokyo, Tohoku, Nagano, and Niigata for 3 consecutive days. . Normally, a roundtrip shinkansen ticket from Saitama to Aomori costs around 32,000¥ 😯 It’s very pricey, so when this JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020 came out, We took this chance to visit Aomori before moving to Fukuoka — it might take me a while to visit Tohoku area again since Fukuoka is quite far. . . This was taken from HIROSAKI PARK, Aomori Prefecture. . We were surprised because it has long rows of RED FOLIAGE 😳 Usually, it’s just yellow, orange, or brown. If you did see a red one, it’s often just one or 3 trees. Hence if you love red foliage, I highly suggest visiting Aomori ^_^ . . . . . . #aomori #青森 #japan #visitjapan #japantravel #japaneseculture #travelgram #travelblogger #discoverunder10k #ig_japan #dametraveler #fashiongram #japan_of_insta #日本 #lightroom
How do you find the places you wanna visit? . . As How do you find the places you wanna visit? . . Aside from IG, I usually find them through... - word of mouth - Listicles - Official website of the prefecture/ city I plan to visit (it’s an easy way to find “off-the- beaten-track” destinations) - Google Maps (fantastic app to find places to visit near your main destination) . . This was shot at GOHYAKU RAKAN in Iwate Prefecture. . During the 18th century in Tohoku region, there were countless of crop failures which sadly caused the DEATH of many people. To appease their souls, Buddhist priests then carved 500 disciples of Buddha on rocks in the mountain of TONO, IWATE PREFECTURE. . The boulders that you see in this picture still have the carved disciples of Buddha, but they are mostly covered with moss so it’s not very prominent 😣 However, looking for it is actually fun, like “Where’s Waldo?” . When we went here, my husband and I were the only people 😯 So, we could freely inhale the fresh air without wearing our masks 😷 😆 . It’s my second time to visit this place! And it’s still one of my fave places in Tohoku ❤️ . . . . . #岩手#japan #tohoku #iwate #japan_of_insta #myjapan #matcha_jp #gaijinpottravel #japantravel #instagood #dametraveler #discoverunder10k #ig_japan #japantravelblog #japancollective #goexperience_cp
How’s the start of the NEW YEAR for you? . Hopef How’s the start of the NEW YEAR for you? . Hopefully, 2021 will be better 🙏🏼 Aside from recovering from this pandemic, what do you hope this year?? . . This was taken from AMAHARASHI COAST, Toyama Prefecture. . I wanted to see the sunrise from this place, since it’s one of the prettiest sunrise view in Japan, but unfortunately lady luck wasn’t on our side— it was a rainy day. . I was so disheartened because it’s the reason why I wanted to go to Toyama 😢 . Although I had bad luck, I am BLESSED with a loving husband ❤️ He tried his best to get me a couple of INSTA- worthy shot— which he did— to put a smile on my face 😊 . We also saw some photographers around the area, who were also hoping to see the sunrise 🌅 We even got to talk to one of them, who successfully got a shot, but from a day before... . Anyways, I am thankful that my husband always makes me happy and I am thankful that we have survived 2020 😂 . . . . . . . #japan #gaijinpottravel #matcha_jp #toyama #japan_of_insta #igersjp #visitjapan #visitjapanphilippines #japantravelblog #japantravelguide #japancollective #myjapan #discoverunder10k
What do you like to do during cold weather? . Duri What do you like to do during cold weather? . During winter in Japan, I like snowboarding 🏂 and then go to an onsen (hot spring) to help my aching muscles recover because of snowboarding 😂 . But sadly, maybe I won’t be able to do that this time >_< . This was taken from TSUCHIYU BETTEI SATONOYU ONSEN in #Fukushima Prefecture last summer. . . So far, this is the BEST ONSEN I’ve been too! . This Ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) has 3 onsens and they are ALL PRIVATE! So if you aren’t very comfortable with bathing with other people—naked—this is the perfect onsen for you! . Plus, Tsuchiyu Bettei Satonoyu is secluded and close to nature, making it the ideal place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. . If I have a chance go ho here again this winter, I would 🙏🏼 . . . . . . #福島#日本#gaijinpottravel #travelblogger #discoverunder10k #dametraveler #japancollective #japantravel #visitjapan #myJapan #ig_japan #japantravelblog #japaneseculture #girlsthatwander #goexperience_cp
Which one do you prefer to explore, nature or city Which one do you prefer to explore, nature or city? . . I enjoy both, but I have more fun when I’m surrounded by greeneries and flora ^_^ HOWEVER, I’m always bitten by MOSQUITOES 🦟 😢 . . This photo was shot at CHOKEIJI Temple in Toyama Prefecture. . Chokeiji Temple has around 500 stone statues of Ahrats (those who have achieved spiritual enlightenment) that ascends to a hill surrounded by lush greeneries. . Hence, when we went here around August, mosquitoes 🦟 were following me around in this Temple 😢 I got 20 mosquito bites even though we only stayed there for 15-20 mins.... . But, we still had great photos despite being a mosquito buffet 😂 . . . . . . . . . #japan #富山 #gaijinpottravel #discoverunder10k #japan_of_insta #japantravel #visitjapan #dametraveler #ig_japan #matcha_jp #japancollective #myjapan #japanlife #lifeinjapan
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