Going to see the Northern Lights in the arctic is a bucket list item for many people. And after having seen it twice last year (once at home in Cleveland and once while exploring Lapland), I've got a lot of tips and information to help you hopefully see them!

The aurora borealis is an incredible sight to see if you catch it when it is dark and really active! But there are some key things to note to help you out like what time of year to visit, factors that affect the northern lights, and even a great northern lights chasing tour in Rovaniemi to increase your chances of catching them!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-How to See the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/how-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-rovaniemi-best-tours/

-Ultimate 7-Day Finnish Lapland Itinerary: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/7-day-finnish-lapland-itinerary/

-Northern Lights Chasing Tour with Arctic GM: https://getyourguide.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/ALvnCrKPEm

-Apukka Resort: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/c0NPAim4RG

-Aurora Alert App:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aurora-alert-realtime/id6443596649

-What Causes the Northern Lights? https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/what-causes-northern-lights-aurora-borealis-explained

-Space Weather in Finland: https://rwc-finland.fmi.fi/index.php/space-weather-in-finland/

-Why You Can't See the Northern Lights Like Your Camera: https://theauroraguy.com/blogs/blog/what-does-the-aurora-really-look-like

-Aurora Colors Explained: https://www.space.com/aurora-colors-explained

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France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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The Christmas markets in Europe are completely magical! That Christmas magic you feel as a kid comes rushing back to life once you wander around the European Christmas markets, admiring the lights, enjoying the music, and eating delicious holiday cuisine.

After having visited many Christmas markets in Europe across Germany, France, Central Europe, and more, here are our Christmas market superlatives like best food, best decor, best vibes, best Christmas market mugs, and more!

Christmas Market Blog Posts:

-10-Day Christmas Market Itinerary: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/european-christmas-market-trip-in-10-days/

-Cologne Christmas Market: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/christmas-markets-in-cologne-germany-itinerary-cologne-christmas-market-map/

-Prague Christmas Market: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/christmas-in-prague-best-christmas-markets-in-prague/

-Vienna in December: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/vienna-in-december-best-christmas-markets-in-vienna/

-Alsace Christmas Market Itinerary: https://francevoyager.com/best-alsace-christmas-markets/

-Colmar Christmas Market: https://francevoyager.com/colmar-christmas-market-dates/

-Strasbourg Christmas Market: https://francevoyager.com/strasbourg-christmas-market-dates/

-Kaysersberg Christmas Market: https://francevoyager.com/kaysersberg-christmas-market/

-Obernai Christmas Market: https://francevoyager.com/obernai-christmas-market-dates/

-Ribeauville Christmas Market: https://francevoyager.com/ribeauville-christmas-market/

-Paris at Christmastime: https://francevoyager.com/paris-at-christmastime-best-christmas-markets/

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Culture Craving Couple: https://culturecravingcouple.com/most-romantic-christmas-markets-in-europe/

-Bratislava in a Day: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/bratislava-in-one-day-vienna-to-bratislava-day-trip/

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If you're staying in a place like Osaka or Okayama (or even the Hiroshima area itself) this is a day trip you must take!

We started out by meeting our guide, Joe with Travel Japan Together, and taking the ferry over to explore Miyajima Island. We loved exploring the island, boating under the floating torii gate, and visiting some temples. Then, we went back to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum.

It was a heavy afternoon learning about the events of August 6, 1945, days after its 80th anniversary. It's tough to learn about tragic history and dark history including the aftermath of such devastation. We learned a lot this day, and while heavy, it was well worth it.

Because if we never learn about our past, we're doomed to repeat our mistakes.

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Travel Japan Together Tour: https://yatra.thick.jp/hiroshima-miyajima-private-custom-tour-with-local-guide/ (our guide was Joe)!

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"Why are you going to Okayama?" To be fair, we got this question more than once while traveling around Japan.

I get it. It's not really a tourist hot spot like Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka. So when we told people where we were going, there were certainly a few raised eyebrows.

But hear us out: Okayama is incredible! The city has enough things to do on its own like Okayama Castle, Korakuen Garden, and Kurashiki nearby!

AND

It's a top-notch base for day trips to Hiroshima, Naoshima Art Island, Himeji, and more! So in this episode, we're discussing the top things to do in Okayama Japan, best day trips from Okayama, and why we chose this lesser known city to spend 4 nights during our 2 week trip to Japan.

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Okayama Hotel (Koraku Hotel): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/PH-cUT2oZz

-Fat Bear Week: https://explore.org/fat-bear-week

-Donate to The Otis Fund for Katmai National Park: https://katmaiconservancy.org/donate

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During our 2-week trip to Japan, we visited Nara as a day trip from Kyoto. While there, we had one big goal: to see the Daibutsu of Nara, the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. 

We also saw the deer in Nara Deer Park, loved the Nara National Museum, and really enjoyed the lanterns at the Kasugataisha Shrine. We also had some amazing Japanese curry!

Would you enjoy a day trip to Nara in Japan?

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Kintetsu Limited Express: https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/about/limited_express/

-Nara Line: https://www.kyotostation.com/jr-nara-line-for-tofukuji-inari-uji-nara/

Podcast Episodes/Blogs Mentioned:

-Central Europe Christmas Market Trip: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/european-christmas-market-trip-in-10-days/

-Alsace Christmas Market Trip: https://francevoyager.com/best-alsace-christmas-markets/

-7-Day Finland Itinerary: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/7-day-finnish-lapland-itinerary/

-Travel to Vienna: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-to-vienna-austria/id1453905777?i=1000472980477

-Vienna Christmas Markets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-christmas-markets-in-vienna-austria/id1453905777?i=1000501798257

-Travel to Budapest: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-to-budapest-hungary-top-things-to-do-in-budapest/id1453905777?i=1000462547529

-Travel to Prague: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-to-prague-czech-republic/id1453905777?i=1000489802006 

-Christmas Markets in Prague: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-christmas-markets-in-prague-czech-republic/id1453905777?i=1000502534789 

-Cologne Christmas Markets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-cologne-christmas-market-crawl-you-can-do-in-1-day/id1453905777?i=1000485691386

-Christmas Market Trip Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ultimate-european-christmas-market-itinerary/id1453905777?i=1000544280457

-Christmas Market Tips: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-10-european-christmas-market-tips/id1453905777?i=1000501037386

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During our 2-week trip to Japan, we got to spend 2 full days in Kyoto. And while it wasn't enough, we had a great time with the short time we had! So here is the ultimate guide to Kyoto including where to stay, things to do, where to eat, and more! Plus, this is what you can do with 2 days in Kyoto including a couple of day trip ideas.

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Hotel in Kyoto (The Celestine Hotel Gion): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/mqR6ZrbDBC

-Shigetsu (at Tenryu-ji): https://www.tenryuji.com/shigetsu/

-Vermont Road Trip Itinerary: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/vermont-road-trip-itinerary/

-Paris at Christmastime: https://francevoyager.com/paris-at-christmastime-best-christmas-markets/

Podcast Episodes Mentioned:

-Japan Itinerary: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unique-2-week-japan-itinerary-for-first-timers/id1453905777?i=1000724676370

-Tips For Visiting Japan For the First Time: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-tips-for-visiting-japan-for-the-first-time/id1453905777?i=1000723666561

-Travel to Tokyo: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-to-tokyo-japan-the-best-things-to-do-in-tokyo/id1453905777?i=1000725828660

-5 Things We Wish We'd Done Differently in Japan + 5 Things We're Glad We Did: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-things-we-wish-we-did-differently-in-japan-5-things/id1453905777?i=1000727139434

-Vermont Itinerary: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ultimate-vermont-fall-road-trip-itinerary/id1453905777?i=1000534652652

-Travel to Stowe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-to-stowe-vermont/id1453905777?i=1000500167288

-Vermont Beer Guide: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ultimate-vermont-beer-guide/id1453905777?i=1000536228932

-Vermont Road Trip Tips: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ultimate-vermont-road-trip-tips-for-fall/id1453905777?i=1000497151145

-Travel to Kyoto (Amateur Traveler): https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-kyoto-japan/

-Travel to Normandy (Amateur Traveler Episode I'm in): https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-normandy/

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After spending 2 weeks in Japan, we certainly learned a lot! And after reflecting upon our trip to Japan, we have 5 things we wish we would've done differently while in Japan, but also 5 things we are glad we did do in Japan.

From Japan travel regrets like not visiting Uji to being glad we went to Okayama, this is what we are happy we did and things we'll just have to do differently next time!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Tour of Uji with Matcha grinding experience: https://getyourguide.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/kh_8FW0zB9

-Nintendo Museum: https://museum.nintendo.com/index.html

-Giant's Baseball: https://www.giants.jp/en/schedule/ 

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France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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We spent about 2.5 days in Tokyo during our recent trip to Japan. And for being the largest city in the world…we LOVED it! So let's talk about some exciting must-sees, hidden gems, and even a really awesome thing to do in Tokyo: going to a baseball game!

So check out where to stay in Tokyo, when to visit, the best things to do in Tokyo, where to eat in Tokyo, and more for a fun trip to the capital of Japan!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Hotel in Tokyo (Hyatt Regency Tokyo) in Shinjuku: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/slLm0tQaRF

-Mags Park Lounge: https://magnetbyshibuya109.jp/en/shop/shibuya-mag8/

-Teamlab Borderless: https://www.teamlab.art/e/tokyo/ 

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

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We're back from Japan, and we're breaking down our full 2-week Japan itinerary including stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Naoshima, Himeji, Hakone, and then ending back in Tokyo for a baseball game!

This was a fun and unique 14-day Japan itinerary for first timers that combined classic places you need to go at least once and then lesser-visited spots like Okayama and spending more time in Hakone to dive deeper.

Would you go on this trip?

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Hotel in Tokyo (Hyatt Regency Tokyo) in Shinjuku: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/slLm0tQaRF

-Hotel in Kyoto (Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/iMzHI_oMTs

-Alternative Japan Destinations: https://substack.com/home/post/p-159927917

-Hotel in Okayama (Koraku Hotel): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/2fWMi3hz6p

-Travel Japan Together Tour of Hiroshima: https://yatra.thick.jp/hiroshima-miyajima-private-custom-tour-with-local-guide/ (Our guide was Joe)

-Hotel in Hakone (Ryokan Hakone Ginyu): https://tripadvisor.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/wxI8q9vMyr

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

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World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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After spending 2 weeks in Japan, we've got some Japan travel tips to share!

We've got tips for surviving Japan in August (because we visited Japan in the summertime), things you don't need to bring, some cultural insights, and more! 

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

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