An unexpected stop led me to Fukuchiyama Castle, where quiet grounds and lingering stone walls tell the story of one of Japan’s most controversial samurai.

Visiting Nijo Castle after fresh snowfall offered a rare glimpse into the refined world of the Tokugawa shoguns, where nightingale floors, gilded gates, and serene gardens reveal the elegance of Japan’s feudal past.

Seeing Kinkaku-ji dusted in fresh snow transformed an already iconic Kyoto landmark into something quietly magical, where gold, white, and stillness came together in perfect balance.