Category: Trips

Here I share all Trips content.
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Travel/

A Jordanian Adventure with Roady Travel

May 2025 – We just got back from a lovely little getaway to Jordan and I have to say, it exceeded every expectation. Let me start with a word about Roady Travel. They’re a travel startup founded by two passionate globetrotters with a simple but brilliant vision: to offer unique, thoughtfully curated travel experiences. Most tours are led by Marcos, one of the co-founders and are capped at around 12 people, usually in their 30s to 40s—which creates an intimate, friendly vibe right from the start.

Needless to say, I highly recommend experiencing a trip with them.

Now onto the trip! This was a three-day mini getaway packed with highlights: the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum desert and the city of Amman. We had a designated driver and guide, Ayman—an exceptional human being, both knowledgeable and kind-hearted.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea isn’t actually a sea—it’s a massive salt lake, formed millions of years ago. It’s located between Jordan and Israel, and sits at the lowest point on Earth’s surface. You can’t really swim in it all you can do is float. The floating experience is real and surreal. But note: don’t stay in the water too long—10 minutes is ideal, or your skin might start to feel irritated from the high salt concentration.

Tip: Bring flip flops, a swimsuit you don’t mind getting salty and a GoPro for some unique floating shots.

Petra

Petra is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and for good reason. Walking through the Siq (a narrow canyon) and seeing the Treasury appear for the first time is an unforgettable moment. The rock formations, the silence, the sense of history… it’s magic.

We arrived in the evening and went straight to the Petra by Night show. The price had just increased to 30 Jordanian Dinars per person (lucky us), but honestly? Worth it. The show itself was simple, but the walk there (approximately 2 km) under a trail glowing with candles and a sky full of stars was utterly romantic and deeply atmospheric. The next day, we had plenty of time on our hands to walk through the canyon once more and explore this magnificent wonder.

Tip: Wear comfy shoes, it’s a long but gentle walk.

Where to stay: Petra Premium Hotel, perfect location and lovely staff.

Wadi Rum

I’ve been to the desert before, but nothing compares to this. The Martian-like red sand, the sweeping landscape, the quiet and the sense of otherworldliness! It’s no wonder films like The Martian, Dune, and Lawrence of Arabia were shot there, the Wadi Rum desert. We hopped into the back of 4×4 jeeps for a sunset tour—wind in our hair, dunes flying by, total bliss. At sunset, we joined the locals for traditional singing and dancing, an unexpected highlight.

Tip: Don’t wear white shoes unless you’re into the post-trip cleaning challenge.

Where to stay: Hasan Zawaideh Camp. Located right in the heart of the desert, this place offers both traditional Bedouin charm and the kind of comfort that makes your stay extra memorable. You can choose from standard tents or opt for the bubble tents (which we did) with panoramic views of the stars. Magical isn’t it?

Amman

We wrapped up our journey in Amman. It’s a city that blends ancient with modern and has a charm all its own.

  • The Citadel is a must visit with beautiful views and deep history.
  • The local market is worth wandering for souvenirs, local crafts and street snacks.
  • The Rainbow Street, while popular, felt a bit like a tourist trap as it was overpriced.

Where to stay: Khan Khediwe Hotel, perfect location, comfy rooms and friendly staff.

Don’t Miss Out On…
  • Eating out in Amman. We dined at Mijana restaurant and the food was amazing (yes, even for vegetarians like me), super welcoming staff, and such a cozy vibe. Trust me, you’ll leave happy.
  • Chatting with the locals—everyone we met was kind, curious, and so welcoming. It made the trip even more special.
Travel Tips
  • When to go: May was perfect. Warm but not scorching. Try to avoid July and August—it can get extremely hot.
  • Pack smart: Bathing suit, flip flops, sunscreen, an action camera, and leave the white sneakers at home.
  • Capture the memories: Photos, videos, little notes—whatever helps you relive it later. I’m a photo junkie, so I took plenty!

It was a lovely trip!  A mix of nature, culture, history, and kindness. If you’re considering Jordan, take this as your sign. And if you want to go the Roady way—well, you’re in for a treat.

Travel/

Bergen, Norway – The perfect winter holiday destination

December 2024 – We decided to go on a short winter holiday and Bergen turned out to be a phenomenal choice. Located in the heard of the Fjords, Bergen is picturesque, cute, cosy with mesmerising views and sooo much more. It is located in the west coast of Norway and is surrounded by seven mountains. Once you get there, you definitely don’t want to miss Bryggen – the old Hanseatic wharf. The vibrant area of Bryggen is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. I definitely recommend you staying in that area as you will enjoy it to the fullest.

What to do in order of priority (according to my view that is)

  1. Fjord cruise: We booked the Bergen – Mostraumen fjord cruise of duration 4 hours. The views were breathtaking and despite the challenging weather conditions we couldn’t resist standing out on the ferry deck taking it all in. Check out a short clip capturing the highlight of our experience. [You should expect to see narrow fjords, steep mountainsides and waterfalls! We sailed up the 27-kilometer long Osterfjord towards Modalen, the country’s second smallest municipality with only around 380 inhabitants. Along the way, we safely navigated through strong currents in the shallow and narrow Mostraumen straits. We got so close to a towering waterfall that we even felt a refreshing spray on our face! – Source: visitbergen.com]
  2. Fløyen mountain: Mount Fløyen is definitely something you should explore during your visit in Bergen. It’s easily accessible via a state of the art cable car (Fløibanen) which is quite affordable – approximately €11 roundtrip for adults. There are many options once you are up there – enjoy the majestic views, hike, visit the troll forest and capture the unique creations, access the nearby lake and more. We explored the map available once you get to the top via QR code and it is fairly easy to navigate as everything is appropriately signposted.
  3. Walk around the beautiful city
  4. Christmas Market: The entrance to the Christmas Market is free – be sure to check the dates it will be operating prior visiting.
  5. Museums: There are many museums that are worth a visit. Click here to explore the available options.

Where to stay

I strongly recommend you staying at Radisson Blu Hotel as it is affordable and perfectly positioned in Bryggen. And when I say perfectly, I mean perfectly. The pick up point for the Fjord cruise we booked was conveniently enough right outside the hotel and the same holds for the AirPort Express shuttle Flybussen (the cost was approximately €14).

How to get there

The most convenient way is to fly to the Bergen Airport – and then get the Bergen Light Rail Line 1 to the centre (the cost is approximately €5 and it is very convenient and smooth). If you are staying at the centre the distance is short so you will definitely be able to walk to your accommodation.

When to go and for how long

As mentioned we wanted to experience the winter holiday vibes of Bergen so visiting in December right before Christmas was a good choice. Make sure you look up the dates the Christmas Market will be available though as the last available date to experience it during our visit was 22nd December. Three to four (3-4) days are more than enough to explore the city and make the most of it.

Tips

  1. If you are worried about the language, don’t. Everyone speaks English in Norway, they are very kind and eager to help.
  2. Bergen is the most rainy city in Europe so having an umbrella with you may be useful.
  3. During this time of year temperatures vary from 0 to 2 degrees centigrade so bring lots of layers with you and a warm coat.
  4. This is funny coming from me being a vegetarian, but if you are a meat eater definitely try out the local hot dogs at Trekroneren.
  5. My mummy friends have been asking whether it is a suitable city for babies and the answer is of course. Navigating with a stroller is super easy there! Make sure you bring all necessary equipment and you will be more than fine.
  6. Bergen City card: Is it worth it? Well if planned properly yes, making sure you have enough time to visit the free attractions included in the price. If not, then it is not worth it.
Travel/

Giza & Cairo – A historic getaway

January 2024 – Alright, hands down to have an amazing local experience of Giza, Saqqara Necropolis and Memphis you have to get a local guide. Egypt is a country full of history, and Giza (an Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile, near Cairo) is really like an open air museum. To get a chance to enjoy it you have to make sure you are not being hassled by locals trying to sell you things, or take you on tours and trick you. We can definitely validate that as we attempted to visit the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx on our own and it was an exhausting 3 hour adventure. Locals were trying to make us ride camels, take pictures with camels and make us pay, sell us local souvenirs. It is too much to handle. It is understandable as the past 5-7 years Egypt inflation is through the roof and people are trying to make ends meet the best way they can. We gave it another go with a guide and honestly it was an absolute pleasure.

Getting a local tour guide (for Giza, Saqqara Necropolis, Memphis)

We booked a tour with the company Emo Tours Egypt and were lucky enough to meet Hamdy our egyptologist guide and Ali our driver. They made this experience as smooth as possible. We love knowing historic facts about the places we visit and Hamdy gave it his all in a very visionary and memorable way. He was super flexible and adjusted his approach to our wants.

Tour details (for Giza, Saqqara Necropolis, Memphis)
  • We visited the following:
    1. Giza Pyramids – Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos
    2. Sphinx – Legendary guardian with a lion’s body and the head of King Chephren
    3. Saqqara Necropolis – Step pyramid for King Zoser and explore the inside of Unas pyramid
    4. Memphis – Ancient Capital of Egypt
    5. Local crafts store – We requested this to get our own tailored Egyptian Cartouche (read more details below)
  • Duration: 8 hours
  • Private tour
  • Lunch was included at a local restaurant with traditional food
  • Entrance fees to the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara Necropolis and Memphis was included
  • Tips were excluded along
  • You could opt for a camel ride for an extra fee (wasn’t our cup of tea so didn’t go for it)
Egyptian Cartouche (for Cairo)
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an oval with a line at one end tangent to it, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name (source Wikipedia). In many local stores you get the option to get a silver Cartouche with your name written in hieroglyphics. That is exactly what we did and we explored two possible ways to get this done. The cheaper way was at the Al Khalil Market in Cairo. To get your own silver Cartouche (2 sided engraving) the price was 750 Egyptian pounds (around €22). You place your order on the spot and they make it there – it takes around 30 minutes.
Food (for Cairo)
Well, it’s no secret that I am not much of a foodie. People insist that it’s not a Cairo experience if we don’t eat at Abou Tarek and he was right. This multistory restaurant that serves only one dish: koshary which is a traditional Egyptian vegetarian dish made with chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, vinegar, fried onions, rice, and noodles. It was delicious and soooo filling and the waiter was making fun of us for selecting the small dish option. But it was definitely more than enough. It is a nice local experience and I would definitely recommend it.
Where to stay (for Giza)
Ok this is not the most affordable option but we were really lucky as we had a Mariott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status. This gives us discounts, free upgrades to amazing rooms and free access to the executive lounge. So this is where we stayed and was an absolute pleasure with the best view right by the Giza pyramids.
Tips
  • Don’t drink water from the tap as it could upset your stomach. Get a bottle of purified water instead. Use purified water for brushing your teeth too. It is not worth the risk of feeling unwell during your holiday.
  • Visit Egypt during October to April, that is when the weather is best (i.e. not too hot) and it can make the whole experience more pleasant.
  • Uber: it is definitely safe to use Uber in Cairo, however, make sure that you have an e-sim and thus access to the internet at all times. It can get a bit hectic in the city centre during pick hours so a good signal is a must have. If they tell you at the airport that it’s forbidden, not allowed or doesn’t work don’t believe them.
  • Cash: You can withdraw Egyptian pounds from the ATM. In general most nice hotels, restaurants, even the Giza tickets can be paid via credit / debit card. It is a good idea to carry some cash for you for the market and other places you want to visit that may not give you that availability.

To many more travels to come.

Yours,

Tati

Travel/

The perfect day road trip: Roßtrappe – Quedlinburg

January 2023 – Alright if you are as lucky as I am and have the chance to visit Germany with a local then the experience will definitely exceed your expectations. That’s what we did, planned a day trip from Berlin to two iconic destinations Roßtrappe & Quedlinburg.

I was overjoyed visiting both of these destinations and I would totally recommend them. So what are you waiting for? Add them to your bucket list.

A glimpse of Roßtrappe

Let me tell you about this beautiful valley, which takes its name from what is supposedly a horse’s hoof print, visible in stone on the cliff, left by the mythical Brunhilde when she sprang over the gorge on horseback to avoid marrying the giant Bodo. He leapt after her, landing in a watery grave, horse and all. (Source: Lonely Planet).

We drove directly from Berlin and got to the valley by driving through Thale, a town in the Harz (454 m above sea level, district in Saxony-Anhalt). We parked right next to Akzent Berghotel Rosstrappe and made our way to the view point which was really close in proximity walking distance. I was really excited when I realized that the valley was covered in snow.
It felt like pure magic! we walked to the view point and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. But why don’t you see for yourself.

A glimpse of Quedlinburg

Following the breathtaking views of Roßtrappe beautiful valley, we headed to the UNESCO world heritage town, Quedlinburg. A town known for its medieval streets, its castle complex and for the best cheesecake out there as per German media or Käsekuchen as the Germans call it. Wondering around this beautiful town has been a wonderful experience, it truly felt as if we were walking into a fairytale. A picture is worth a thousand words, that’s what they say isn’t it?

You have to get to “Vincent Cafe” and try out the different variations they offer and you will definitely not regret it. We did! It was the perfect end to a really cold day.

Oh by the way, as we were driving to Quedlinburg we stopped quickly at Thale. There was a local carnival parade which was nice to watch from the comfort and warmth of our car of course. I am from Cyprus after all, not exactly made for snow.

How we got there

I definitely suggest renting a car for the day, it makes things easier and more convenient.

Travel/

Cenotes in Mexico – a unique and refreshing adventure

August 2022 – I was so thrilled when my friend Theodora (friend of mine from uni) reached out and asked my to be her plus one at her best friends wedding. I jumped at the opportunity to explore Mexico with her and of course her lovely Mexican and Norwegian friends. Right before the wedding when everyone started to get to know each other we went on a beautiful group activity in Puerto Morelos (Yucatan Peninsula) to explore the magnificent Cenotes. The Cenotes Zapote Eco Park was really close to the hotel we were staying and the wedding venue so it was our first choice and definitely wasn’t one to regret.

Cenotes

Let me start off by saying that Cenotes (pronounced: se -no-te) are large sinkholes / caves / natural pits formed by the collapse of surface limestone, filled with cool and clear groundwater. Some of them are overground (open Cenotes) and some of them are underground. We chose to take the Zapote tour that included access to four (4) different cenotes (two open cenotes and two undeground ones). We paid 55 USD per person (adults) and our local Mexican friends mentioned that this a reasonable price and it was pretty convenient as we had a guide with us the entire time. The guides were very friendly and were sharing with us all necessary information.

Facilities

  • 4 cenotes (I recall the names for two of them: Las Palmas Cenote & Cenote El Abuelo Che Che)
  • Zip line circuit
  • Mountain bikes
  • Life jackets
  • Lockers
  • Restrooms
  • Restaurant
  • Hammocks
  • Round trip shuttle

What to take with you

  • A waterproof camera or your phone in a plastic case
  • Wear your bathing suit
  • Dry towel
  • Comfortable shoes

It’s an amazing experience, if you are with a group of friends or your family you will definitely enjoy it. You get the chance to swim or float or jump even in some of the cenotes. Our group of friends kept jumping again and again in the open water cenotes and loved every minute of it. The water is very clean and if you look closely you will observe some turtles and fish in there. In the underground cenotes the water is a bit colder but it is worth it as you will be amazed by the scenery.

Stay tuned for more adventures in Mexico!

Travel/

Thermal waterfalls in Tuscany: Cascate del Mulino

October 2021, the second day of an amazing road trip in Italy and following an overnight stay in Pitigliano, a beautiful town located in the Tuscany region, we took our rental car and headed very early in the morning to Cascade del Mulino, thermal waterfalls located just a few kilometers from the village of Saturnia. Looks amazing doesn’t it? The entrance to the springs of sulfuric water is free and that is exactly why you have to go very early in the morning as soon it will get packed with locals and tourists. The temperature of the water is 37.5° C, creating open-air thermal pools. The experience is amazing and relaxing once you get the chance to secure a comfortable spot and the best part is Cascate del Mulino is open all year round 24/7.

What to bring

1. Your swimsuit
2. Water shoes (to protect your feet from the rocks as they can get slippery)
3. Towel / Bath rope
4. Dry clothes
5. An underwater sports camera (if you have one)

How to get there and where to park

We got there by car from Pitigliano, about a 30 min drive (23km away). There is a car park right outside the thermal waterfall which is easily accessible. It is strongly recommended to rent a car if you are keen to explore the Tuscany region in Italy. It’s worth it! You will be able to take your time at every stop and enjoy your adventures abroad. If your trip abroad is approaching, hurry up. Due to the pandemic lately a rental car is the preferred means of transportation.
Just download a navigation app like Waze. It’s absolutely amazing, helps you navigate and warns you about speed cameras or hazards in the road.

 

Where to stay

As previously mentioned we stayed at a near by town, Pitigliano, an absolutely stunning ancient town built on tuff rock. Also known for as “Little Jerusalem” for the historical presence of a Jewish community, Pitigliano is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We rented an earth house via AirBnB for the night, La Grotta, which means cave in English. Surprisingly enough it looked exactly like a cave inside, with an amazing panoramic view of the town. It is by far the most unique accommodation I’ve stayed in the past decade.
Stay tuned, there’s more to read and explore!
Note that Cascate del Mulino is different to the Terme di Saturnia – the latter is a luxurious spa resort so don’t get confused when you get to Saturnia.
Travel/

Walking into a fairy-tale: Strasbourg – Colmar – Eguisheim

January 2019 – I had to be in Paris for work and thought to myself, I need to combine this with a short adventure. I reached out to a good friend of mine and asked her whether she would join and she said yes. That’s how this mini escape started and turned out to be an amazing trip.

Strasbourg

Located in the Alsace region (the German region of France; next to Germany and Switzerland), Strasbourg is a mesmerizing destination. If you ever choose to visit Strasbourg you definitely need to stay in “Petite France (Little France)” area. It’s literally like walking into a fairy-tale. The streets were still decorated for Christmas. A perfect wintery scenery! It was a bit freezing for us (being Mediterranean and all) but breath-taking. There was only one thing missing from turning this into the perfect winter get-away… Snow. That’s what we kept discussing with my friend and just our luck, the last day of our trip we woke up and everything was covered in snow. It was 6 am and I begged my friend to get out and start taking pictures of the fantastic scenery. Luckily she said yes, and to tell you the truth it was totally worth it, we were ecstatic.

But why don’t I show you.

Petite France – on a snowy day

How to get there

By train: We took a train from Paris to Strasbourg, booked it online to make sure there are available seats via https://en.oui.sncf/en/ouigo

By plane: You can fly there to Strasbourg Airport if it’s convenient to you. Use skyscanner.net to identify flights that are most suited for you and your itinerary.

By car: You can always rent a car and use it to explore the near by towns as well.

Where to stay

We booked our stay at this fantastic boutique hotel “Hotel Suisse”. Cute and cozy, those are the words that come to mind first. If we are ever back in Strasbourg it will definitely be our number one choice.

What I bought and absolutely loved

Well of course the handcrafted German wooden Cuckoo clocks. My grandma used to have one in her living room and I always wanted to get one myself. When I walked into a local store with handcrafted wooden clocks, right in the centre of Petite France, I couldn’t resist.

Worth seeing in Strasbourg

  1. The iconic Petite France Area
  2. The Strasbourg cathedral
  3. The covered bridges (“Les Ponts Couverts de Strasbourg”)
  4. Vauban Barrage (“Vauban Dam”)

Colmar

We jumped into a train and in just 30 minutes we were in Colmar. It was absolutely freezing for us so we had to make a short stop to a local store and buy an additional sweater to wear. But it was worth it, Colmar was as beautiful as Strasbourg. Amazing narrow little streets, wooden houses, fairy-tale vibe. We walked into a local coffee shop and enjoyed our coffee and tea gazing at the beautiful view. 

Eguisheim

Despite the really cold weather we decided to walk there. It was a 2 hour long pace walk that gave us the opportunity to take lot’s of pictures and walk through the vine yards. I would suggest to go the in Autumn if you want to see the vine yards, the town will be a bit busier and you will also get a chance to visit local shops, eat and taste the local wine. By the time we got there the town was empty, mostly because we were there off-season but we didn’t mind at all. We started walking around the centre of the town… and there it was the street Eguisheim is mostly known for. Trust me in real life is much more beautiful.  Just grab a map or use your phone and get yourself lost in the narrow streets of the old centre of Eguisheim.

We wanted to go back to Colmar and the only way there (besides walking) was a taxi. We walked into the information centre and asked a kind lady there to call for one as considering the small size of Eguisheim taxis are only available from Colmar.

Interesting fact: The Alsace region has long been associated with White Storks (Ciconia Ciconia). They represent tenacity, loyalty and fidelity of the region’s inhabitants.

Petite France on a snowy morning

P.S. I loved all three destinations I had to go back. But I’ll tell you about this story later on.

Travel/

Kanchanaburi – Our unique stay at a floating hotel

August 2018 – There are literally no words to describe our experience at River Kwai Jungle Rafts a floating hotel or floatel in Kanchanaburi – Thailand. How did it all start? Well we decided to spend 3 weeks in Thailand. The first 2 weeks we explored Thailand through an adventurous holiday we booked via Shoestring, a fantastic travel agency. It offered a very well organized itinerary through which we got the chance to meet our amazing local tour guide, Wan and other likeminded wanderers. But let me tell you a bit more about the floatel.

Key facts to know

Facilities – When we arrived the hotel we realized that as the name suggests, it floats on the river Kwai. The coolest thing about this floatel is that it is ecofriendly, which means that throughout our stay there was no electricity! The rooms were made of local bamboo and decorated with wood, the shower was outdoors facing the river bank for more privacy and our porch was equipped with a veeeery comfortable hammocks. They also have wellness facilities and and a local restaurant where you can enjoy the delicious Thai local food. In the evening we enjoyed a live traditional and Mon tribal performance. This was definitely a unique experience.

The River Jump & other activities – When we got there (a 20 minute ride from the Phutakian Pier via a long-tail boat) they told us that we could actually swim or float in the river if we wanted to. I was trying to figure out how exactly we were going to do that. Well the hotel provided us with lifejackets and instructed us on how to stay safe while jumping from one end of the floatel to the other. The so called “River Jump”! We enjoyed “swimming” or “floating” in the river so much that we kept going in again and again. From a point onwards we literally couldn’t stop laughing. Other activities you can enjoy at the floatel include boat trips, canoeing, paddling, you can even participate in cooking classes.

Our morning surprise

The day after we had to go! We kept wishing our stay at this floatel would last longer. While getting ready to depart from the floatel I saw a group of people (tourists probably) approaching the river bank and speaking in a language that I couldn’t understand! ( So far I can only speak fluently Greek and English). That’s when I asked my cousin Leda to go over there and check out what was going on. And so she did, standing by the crowd, trying to figure out what everyone is staring at.

She said to me “Tati, I can’t see anything. Everyone is staring at the river bank but I honestly can’t understand why!”. That’s when I decided to join her and try to solve the mystery. And then I saw it…a huge elephant bathing in the river. I started laughing and I couldn’t stop, I completely forgot that Leda did not have her eye lenses on. “It’s an elephant, I can’t believe it. But Leda mou, it’s huge I can’t believe you couldn’t spot it” (mou means my dear in Greek).  We immediately crossed the bridge that was connecting the floatel with the local village and went there to take a closer look. The elephant was friendly and a guide was escorting it so we got the chance to get even closer. We were ecstatic! I took a picture let me show you!

Honestly that’s it one of the funniest and concurrently most fascinating moments I’ve experienced travelling abroad.

And that is why I definitely recommend staying at a floatel if you are ever in Kanchanaburi!

Travel/

Gems in Japan: Takaragawa Onsen (Hot Springs)

August 2017 – One of the highlights of our trip to Japan was the Takaragawa Onsen (hot springs), located in the wider Minakami area. The Onsen has a unique touch which gives a feeling of traditional Japan as soon as you arrive. The energy of this little piece of paradise made me feel like a weight was lifted off my chest when I walked in. The staff was very welcoming, respectful and polite! If you have visited any part of Japan you know exactly what I mean. I wouldn’t expect anything less. When we checked in we were given yukata (a casual version of kimonos) and zori (Japanese sandals) to wear throughout our stay there. Truth be told that was the first time during our trip we had a chance to feel like locals.

The baths

Lush, mesmerizing sceneries, breathtaking views. We decided to visit the baths very early in the morning (6 a.m.) so we had them all for ourselves. The Onsen has four outdoor baths, three mixed gender and one for women only. There are also separate indoor baths for men and women. The Onsen staff will give you instructions as to what to wear in the baths. From our experience there, women wear a dress robe in the baths (provided by the Onsen) whilst men are not required to wear anything in the baths. They can, however, cover themselves using a small towel (provided by the Onsen).

Tattoos

It seems that the Onsen is tattoo friendly, it would be a good idea to cover your tattoos, however, prior entering the baths. Generally in Japanese hot springs access is restricted to customers with tattoos. The reason for this, is that people with tattoos are associated with members of Japanese organized crime (Yakuza) so before accessing any other Onsen be sure to do your research for any restrictions.

The rooms and the food

The rooms were very comfortable and traditional. People always ask me about the food and local cuisine. Those of you who know me well enough you’ll know that I am clueless when it comes to food tasting. Luckily, I had an amazing crew that absolutely loves Japanese cuisine, thus I can confidently say that the food was amazing. Being a vegetarian was not a problem at all, we enjoyed a tasty traditional buffet dinner.
If you want to feel the lifestyle of traditional Japanese this is your answer.

How to get there

From Tokyo get to the Jomo-Koegen train station (takes approximately 1.5 hours). From the Jomo-Koegen station you can get by bus to the Onsen. We bought the Minakami 3-days pass (costs ¥2100 approximately €15) and in approximately 1 hour you will get to the Onsen.

Tip no.1: Contact the Onsen in advance as they may offer a free ride from the station to the Onsen and back.

Tip no 2: To check the availability, pricing and timing of trains and other transportation means in Japan use the site hyperdia.com. We were impressed by the punctuality of all transportation means so be there on time.

When to get there

We visited the Onsen during August and the weather was just perfect (not cold and not hot either). If you love winter sceneries though you can definitely visit the Onsen during Autumn or Winter as well. Judging by what my friends said when they visited the Onsen in April, it will definitely feel like walking into a fairytale as everything will be covered in snow.

Sincere thanks to my cousin Leda and my friends Maria and Stefania for providing some captures from this wonderful adventure. Together with Ashley and Qeoni you made this a very unique adventure for me. Special thanks to the welcoming locals that shared their stories and made us feel like home.

Thank you ” Arigatōgozaimasu” in Japanese- (ありがとうございます)

What are you waiting for, book your stay at Takaragawa Onsen, you won’t regret it. The video below has been published on the Onsen’s official website.

But that’s not all we did in the Minakami area, we also did Bungee Jumping in a river near by. I will tell you more about this story later though.

You know what? I want to go back and explore more aspects of the Minakami area. I’ve done my research and it’s at the top of my bucket list.

Hint: Snow monkeys