Nara was our last stop for the Global Travel Blogger Summit, and I can’t think of a better way to conclude this amazing trip. Read on for more about our bicycle trip through Nara and the beautiful cherry blossoms!
グローバルトラベルブロガーサミットのラストストップは奈良でした。１２人の中のブロガーで残り３人になってしまいましたが、奈良でサミットを完結できて良かったです。奈良でのママチャリツアー、そして旬の桜の写真を是非ご覧になって下さい。
Our host, Hiro, is an expert when it comes to Nara, and he took Lena, Melina and I on a bicycle tour through the best cherry blossom spots in town. We saved so much time traveling by bicycle, and I think it’s rare to do this kind of impromptu tour. We were all in awe of the never-ending cherry blossom heaven – it’s almost impossible to see this level of beauty in Tokyo. Since it was Lena and Melina’s first time in Japan, I’m so glad they enjoyed themselves.
主催者の中西さんは奈良のエキスパートであって、私、レナとメリーナをママチャリ奈良ツアーに連れて行ってくれました。自転車で移動時間を短縮できたし、こういうツアーもレアで良いなと思いました。川沿いを自転車乗りながら、３人とも果てしなく続く満開の桜に魅了されました。東京ではこんなに綺麗な桜は見たことがなかったです。レナとメリーナの初来日だったので、二人ともとても喜んでいました。
After our cherry blossom viewing along the river, we biked through Nara Park, skimming and dodging through tourists and deer (I unfortunately didn’t have enough time to stop and take photos of them, sorry!), until we arrived at the Nara Visitor Center & Inn for our Japanese tea ceremony experience. This was actually my first time doing a traditional tea ceremony, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I didn’t know that you’re only supposed to drink up to two cups of matcha green tea a day, otherwise it’s too much. And the trick is to have a bite of something sweet to really enjoy the bitter flavor of the matcha.
満開の桜のあとは、奈良ビジターセンターへ向かいました。奈良公園を観光しながら移動することができたので、とても楽だったし楽しかったです。他の観光客や鹿さんを避けながらだったのでちょっと心配でしたが、無事着きました。ビジターセンターでは、茶道の体験をすることができました。実は、初めての茶道だったので、色々学べて良かったです。抹茶は一日二杯までとか、飲む前に甘い茶菓子を頂くこととか、初めてのことばかりで素敵な体験でした。
After the tea ceremony experience, Hiro also took us to a mochi shop nearby called Nakatanido which is well known for the mochi-tsuki, or the pounding of rice to create the soft, chewy mochi cakes. The demonstration was crowded with customers, and it was nothing like I’ve ever seen before! I think it was the freshest mochi I’ve ever had, and the kinako powder made it so much more delicious. These are both places I would highly recommend to anyone planning to visit Nara. Although my stay in Nara was a short one, I think the three of us were extremely lucky to have seen the cherry blossoms in full bloom because cherry blossom season lasts only 2 weeks at the most. I hope the photos do them some justice. And many thanks to Hiro for showing us around Nara on the best bicycle tour ever 🙂
茶道のあとは、中西さんに有名なお餅専門店、中谷堂に連れて行ってもらいました。餅つきのパフォーマンスで有名なのを伺っていたので、ちょうど見ることができて嬉しかったです。できたてのお餅はとても柔らかくてもちもちで、何個でも食べれたと思います。奈良へ観光で行く方にはすごくおすすめです。奈良での滞在は短すぎましたが、三人とも満開の桜を見ることができて本当にラッキーでした。写真でその美しさが少しでも伝わると良いです。そして、中西さん、楽しい奈良ツアーありがとうございました！
27 comments
Mariann Yip
I can stare at cherry blossoms all day! Your photos are so gorgeous 🙂 if you go on another trip and need a travel buddy, let me know 🙂
Diana Free
The cherry blossoms and the buildings are so beautiful. You look so gorgeous in your outfit! The tea ceremony looks so calming and the mochi looks so authentic compared to the ones I used to get at Trader Joe’s. I need to find a vegan version asap.
Jennifer
Very beautiful! I love the historical and traditional sites. The cherry blossoms are lovely too. Great post as always. 🙂
Yasmin
A bicycle tour through the amazing cherry blossoms? Sounds like a wonderful idea! These photos turned out beautifully. And I think a cute lace top goes perfectly with the glorious backdrop of the blooms.
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Gracie
Your photography of the cherry blossoms are incredible. What a back drop for your blog. I really need to put Nara on my bucket list. Beautiful!
Xxgracie
snappedbygracie.com
Stephanie
Cherry blossoms are the prettiest trees ever (well for me they take second to weeping willows, but they’re very different of course) and these photos are spectacular. I wish I could go take a million photoshoots there!
Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com
Sharon Wu
oh my goodness these photos are spectacular! i wish there were gorgeous cherry blossoms near me! p.s. i love your black leather jacket! xo, sharon
http://www.stylelullaby.com/fashion/top-3-toms-shoes-season/
@stylelullaby
Jane
Beautiful cherry blossoms!
Lyndi
Oh the cherry blossom photos are SO beautiful! I love how you captured them here. I did a post on the Cherry Blossoms too, but in Vancouver Canada. They are so spectacular to see in person.
Lyndi
http://www.stylecalling.com
Samjah
I can live anywhere that has cherry blossoms. This is such an amazing sight. Breathtaking! Bike tours are my thing! We do them all the time here in New Orleans. It’s the best way to tour the city and it’s good exercise. You look stylish as ever by the way! Loved this post!
http://www.styleandenergy.com
Jennifer Lee Quattrucci
Wow ! Between the extraordinary tea ceremony, the amazing mochi and the absolutely beautiful cherry blossoms this was so delightful and inspiring! Thank you so much for the detailed descriptions and gorgeous photos !
Thomas Falkenstedt
I’m so happy you got to do some hanami while in Nara as well, but most of all, the tea ceremony. I have been to a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and I loved every bit of it, despite my legs began cramping about 20 minutes into the ceremony and they told me I could adjust my feet a bit so I wouldn’t die out of uncomfort, haha. Nara is a place I’ve never heard of, but thanks to you will be added to my list as well!
xoxo
Thomas
http://thomasfalkenstedt.com
Eva
Beautiful your trip sorry ending because the photos are gorgeous and beautiful even this season with the cherry blossoms shame that they do not last all year, indeed all life everywhere I want life in pink. 😉 Your outfit with lace top I love so much and certainly to try matcha green tea in those parts of Nara is very different than they do it drink to us here in Europe;)
Xx
Eva
http://www.themermaidfashion.com
Jen
Mochi, green tea and cherry blossoms. What more could a girl ask for?! I love matcha green tea and drink it quite a few times a week. I didn’t know you were only supposed to have 2 cups. Oops… I’ve been having more than 2 cups. Oh well. I’m glad you enjoyed your last leg of the blogger summit!
Charissa
Ahhh I would lOVE to experience a tea ceremony myself one day. A few weeks ago I saw a Geisha girl here in Holland [I think because of a dress-up party] but yeah. Love such traditions. Those cherry blossoms look so amazing by the way. Too bad they don’t last that long 🙁 XO Charissa || http://www.ladygoldapple.com ||
Gina Diaz
What a beautiful way to end the trip! These cherry blossoms are just pure bliss, It is such a stunning backdrop for your images. The ceremony looks so beautiful, I wish one day to be part of one. Thanks for sharing such a magnificent experience!
Happy weekend, xx.
Gina
Jo
Looked like such a lovely experience! I really enjoyed reading your posts on this whole trip through Japan. Everything looked so beautiful here, from the cherry blossoms to the tea ceremony. I didn’t know that you should only have two matcha green teas a day either. I’m yet to have more than two anyway but it’s still very good to know!
xo, Jo
http://www.cutandchic.com
Jordan Chapman
These photos are freaking gorgeous! I could look at these cherry blossoms for weeks!! It looks like you had an amazing time love!
Jordan xx
http://thehatlogic.com/they-come-in-twos-not-threes/
Candace
I had no idea cherry blossom season only lasted 2 weeks. What a waste of those beautiful trees! It’s so good that you were able to take some pics by them and capture them all in their beauty. What a great way to end your summit!
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Meg
You are seriously so stunning. You always look so great in all of your pics! And these cherry blossoms are so beautiful.
meg
http://www.meghanlaurie.com
rachel vogt
OMG the cherry blossoms are so beautiful, i want to go there so bad. I was planning to go back to japan last month but i didn’t happen. So maybe next year.
@rachelvogttrends
http://rachelvogttrends.com
Jenelle
More places to bookmark! This time for the food!! Yum! I love matcha! Actually you are making me want some right now… I just might go and whisk some up.
Loving these cherry blossoms!!
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
Gabriela Vera
I absolutely love your outfit girl! Looks like you had fun at the blogger summit. And the trees look beautiful too. Love this post.
Xo,
Gabriela Vera
http://www.gverastyle.blogspot.com
Bernixe
Only two cups of matcha a day?!? Uh oh I’ve had too much already today haha
https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2017/05/10/Peachy-Keen-Sweater-Review-with-Inu-Inu
marcy
WOW Sam just by looking at your pictures is definitely heaven!! I can imagine how it feels to be in person and seeing this beautiful landscape!!!
Definitely booking this place soon when I ever visit Japan!!! Love your outfit btw
xoxo
Marcy
Deddeh Howard
Wow this is so heaven, these images are amazing girl and it looks like you had a lot of fun.
KATE TIK
Omg I am so jealous! Your trip looks incredible and it is so awesome you had these wonderful ladies to share it with. Cherry Blossoms in Japan are something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now but haven’t had the chance to do it. What I also really love is your black outfit against the pink backdrop of flower trees. Love it and thank you for sharing!!!
katetik.com