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Japan Home Movie

I took so many photos in Japan but didn’t really make it a priority to take videos (as usual). I always love when I stumble upon an old clip from our travels, but it’s usually something silly like one of us dancing in a hotel room or something we thought was amusing at the time. Those videos usually just end up on Instagram stories or never to be seen by the public, on a hard drive.

We did manage to string together this video of a bunch of clips from our time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Every time I watch it I want to go back to Japan ASAP. But it also makes me wish I spent a little time thinking about making compelling videos instead of it being an afterthought.

About a decade ago, we bought a tiny octopus-like device with flexible arms called a Joby Gorillapod. It was meant to screw our little point-and-shoot camera onto so that we could wrap it around a tree or prop it up on a bench to get pictures of the two of us when we were traveling alone and didn’t want to ask another tourist. So, when Joby reached out to us to see if we’d like to try something from their new range of equipment, we thought it would be fun given we were early adopters ;) JOBY has an entire section on their website dedicated to phone tripods and devices that are perfect for people who want to make creative videos.

I'm looking forward to trying out the gear they sent us. We already have a large rig for our Sony and a big clunky old tripod for the DSLR, so the Gorillapod Mobile Rig will be lightweight compared to the two - which means it’s more likely we’ll actually reach for it and makes it easier to travel with.

If you’re curious to see us testing it out, find me and on Instagram where I’ll be posting about using the rig in my stories in the upcoming weeks. - Mina

Staying At A Traditional Japanese Ryokan - Ikumatsu Kyoto

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Comfort is something that we really value when traveling, so sleeping on the floor doesn't typically sound like an ideal option... especially on vacation. We were, however, intrigued enough to stay at a traditional Japanese Ryokan, so we left our cozy bed at the Brighton and booked one night to check it out. The rooms in the 200-year-old building have been arranged in an authentic Japanese style with tatami mats and decorated with antiques and collectibles.

One night here was enough. A lot of Ryokans have onsens which probably give them more of a spa like environment. I might consider that someday, but I'll stick to regular hotels for awhile.

The people at Ikumatsu are really accommodating and friendly. Your breakfast is included with the stay. We shared one traditional Japanese breakfast and one "American" breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs and cold cut ham. After eating, we tried on the yukatas they left for us (with instructions) in our pink room. The experience and serene atmosphere definitely made up for the poor night's sleep. - Mina

Next Stop: Osaka!

Find us on Instagram: @minaseville | @alexanderseville

Around Kyoto

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The Brighton Hotel

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The Brighton Hotel was where we chose to rest our heads during most of our time in Kyoto. It's highly rated, really clean, and relatively inexpensive if you can find a deal. It's not a luxury hotel and the beds were very much on the firm end, but I loved the amenities. You can't go wrong with shower rooms that have rainfall nozzles and a Japanese Toto. I'd definitely consider staying there if we returned and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. - Mina

Oden at Ebisugawa Enraku | Kyoto

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When our tea ceremony was over, our friends took us to one of the most popular restaurants in Kyoto: Ebisugawa Enraku. They wanted us to try Oden, a traditional dish in Japan. Consisting of fishcakes, boiled eggs, daikon, and konjac, it's basically a soup. The aforementioned ingredients are stewed in a soy-flavored dashi broth to make a one-pot meal. I'm not certain if Ebisugawa Enraku does this, but I've read that some restaurants keep the broth as a "master stock", meaning they replenish it while it simmers over months, sometimes years, to add depth and complexity to the flavour.

This finally answered our question of "What is that?" when we saw a bunch of foreign-to-us items stewing next to the cashier at 7-Eleven or Family Mart. Ebisugawa Enraku, however, doesn't serve convenience store oden. The quality is one of the reasons it's loved by locals for a nice evening out.

We can see how this can be a comfort meal in the evening or during cold months in Japan. Honestly, we preferred the sashimi. I think this is something that would be so much more enjoyable if the flavours were introduced to your palate at a young age or if you're a huge seafood fan. We're grateful for friends who introduce us to new things - this was such a fun experience.

The restaurant is beautiful and, while they do have chairs, we sat at a chabudai on the floor which, at 6'2, Alex always struggles with. I'm fairly flexible and it does take some getting used to. Eating soup over a table while sitting cross-legged can be challenging!