In March 2024, we enjoyed a five day exploration of Japan, followed by a two week cruise from Bangkok to Hong Kong.
In Japan, we decided to focus all our time on Kyoto. We’d heard that Kyoto was the single-most interesting city, with plenty to do and see for 4 days. We hate packing and unpacking, and we love settling into a convenient hotel and exploring an area thoroughly. In retrospect, we had no regrets with that decision!
Each post below covers a full day or two of the trip.
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Japan – Arrival and Day 1 in Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera, Gion
We arrived in Japan late in the afternoon, and had to get to Kyoto that night by bullet train. Our first full day in Kyoto included Kiyomizu-dera temple, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka streets, Gion district, Takashimaya food court, and dinner in Gion.
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Japan – Day 2 in Kyoto – Arashiyama
Our 2nd day in Kyoto included a trip to Arashiyama for the Bamboo Forest, the ‘Sagano Romantic train’, Tenryu-ji temple, and the monkey park. Kaiseki dinner at Giro Giro Hitoshino.
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Japan – Day 3 in Kyoto – Kinkaku-Ji, Nijo-jo, Osaka
Day 3 in Kyoto included a visit to the Kinkaku-ji ‘Golden Temple’, Nijo-jo castle, and a quick visit to Osaka for dinner.
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Japan – Day 4 in Kyoto – Fushimi Inari, Gion
Day 4 in Kyoto started with a visit to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, then a wander around the nearby town, followed by a return visit to Gion for further exploration. Our dinner was a hole-in-the-wall Ramen joint.
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Japan – Day 5 and departure
Day 5 was a day for packing, and then taking the bullet train back to Tokyo Narita airport, and flying on to Bangkok, Thailand.
After five wonderful days in Japan, we flew to Bangkok for a few days before joining a cruise, then visited Cambodia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong on a two-week luxury cruise with Viking (only 930 passengers).
Cruise itinerary:
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Bangkok, Thailand
Our time in Bangkok included a couple of incredible temple complexes – The Grand Palace, and Wat Pho – plus an exploration of the vast food court at a nearby shopping mall.
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Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville, Cambodia was the least attractive place on our itinerary; a sad town that has been ruined by over-development. Still, we managed to visit an interesting temple and a pretty beach.
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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City – formerly Saigon – is the most populous city in Vietnam and a perfect example of how this region is thriving.
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Hue, Vietnam
Hue is the most interesting destination we visited in Vietnam, full of historic buildings. It was the capital of Vietnam from 1800 to 1945, and still retains a lot of its history.
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Ha Long Bay / Hai Phong, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is by far the prettiest destination we visited in Vietnam, with over 1,600 limestone islands jutting out from the sea. Hai Phong is the 4th largest city in Vietnam, retaining much of its original charm.
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Hong Kong / Macau
Hong Kong is still one of the most interesting cities in the world, despite having reverted to Chinese rule. The night markets, food markets, and great infrastructure make it a joy to visit.
Here are a couple of posts about the Viking cruise ship and the food on board.
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Cruise Ship
We chose to sail with Viking because their ships are small (only 930 passengers), and very well appointed. The ship never feels crowded and there are so many places to relax.
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Cruise Ship – Dining
The food on our Viking cruises has so far been outstanding – far surpassing our expectations. Best of all, their ‘buffet’ is hardly a buffet at all, with cooks on hand to prepare a meal for you (rib-eye steaks, tuna steaks, eggs for breakfast, etc)