From Sakura to Sacred Temples: Ajaykumar’s Japan Trip with Thrillophilia
It is not easy to plan something special for the love of your life. My wife means the world to me, and I wanted to do something memorable for her birthday in March 2025. She always wanted to visit Japan and see its cherry blossoms and peaceful temples. So, I decided to give her this dream trip on her birthday.
After searching through many travel options, I came across Thrillophilia. Soon after, they organised everything, and Deepshikha, our coordinator, was always available to help.
We boarded our flight to Tokyo, just two days before her special day.
The First Glimpse of Japan
As we landed in Tokyo, we saw that the city sparkled with clean streets, smiling faces, and lively energy. Our hotel was cosy and centrally located.
On the first night of the trip, we walked hand-in-hand through the nearby streets and had warm bowls of ramen. We also admired the paper lanterns above small restaurants. “This already feels like the best trip,” she whispered. I just smiled, thinking, Just wait for your birthday.
A Date with Mount Fuji
We got ready to visit Mount Fuji the next day. I had chosen this day because I knew how much she loved nature and mountains. The sky was clear, and the view of Fuji was gorgeous. We could see the reflection of the mountain on Lake Kawaguchiko.
At Oishi Park, early cherry blossoms had started to bloom. We took photos, laughed like kids, and even danced a little with each other.
We also visited Oshino Hakkai, where tiny ponds of clear water reflected the sky. Then we climbed the steps to the Chureito Pagoda. That view of the red pagoda, cherry blossoms, and Mount Fuji behind us looked beautiful.
As the sun began to set, we stopped at Gotemba Outlets, where I bought her a necklace that she had been admiring. I put it into my backpack quietly when she was not looking.
City of Lights and Memories
On the day of her birthday, we woke up early and went for a Tokyo city tour. We visited the Sensoji Temple, where I bought her a charm pendant to bring happiness and good health. She smiled when I gave it to her, but she did not know about the bigger surprise.
At Meiji Shrine, we prayed together and asked for more years of love, travel, and small and beautiful moments.
Later, we stood at Shibuya Crossing and watched the world move around us. “This place is crazy,” she said, laughing as we crossed hand in hand.
When we reached Tokyo Tower, I handed her the small box with the necklace. “Happy birthday,” I said. Her eyes lit up, and she gave me a hug. “You are making this the best birthday ever.”
We ended the day watching the sunset from Tokyo Skytree, with the entire city lit up below us. It was one of the best moments of our lives.
Magic in Lights and Waterfalls
The next day, we visited TeamLab Planets. If love could be made into art, that would be it. We walked barefoot through water with floating flowers and stood in a room filled with lights and mirrors.
In the evening, we saw the city glowing under a pink-orange sky from the top of Shibuya Sky. My wife looked at me and said, “This is the kind of birthday every woman dreams of.”
The next day, we escaped into nature with a full-day Nikko tour. We saw the Kirifuri Waterfalls and the peaceful Rinno-ji Temple - everything was calm and beautiful. The intricate detailing on the sacred Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine made us stop and admire every corner. We even crossed the Shinkyo Bridge and imagined ourselves as Japanese folktale characters.
At Chuzenji Lake, we sat quietly and watched the water. Then we ended our day at the powerful Kegon Falls.
Speed and Sweet Surprises
We took a bullet train to Osaka on the 6th day. It was my first time on Shinkasen, and I could not believe how smooth and fast it was. In just a few hours, we were in Osaka, where there was the smell of street food and neon lights all around.
The next day was for Kyoto and Nara. In Nara, we fed the deer, visited Todai-ji Temple, and stood beneath the 15-meter Buddha. It was peaceful, spiritual, and grounding.
Though Kyoto brought the real surprise. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove was spectacular. My wife said, “I feel like I am walking inside a dream.” We explored Tenryu-ji’s Zen gardens, admired the golden glow of Kinkaku-ji, and walked hand in hand under the never-ending red gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine.
One Last Adventure in Kobe
The next day, we took a day trip to Kobe. Though this was a self-guided tour, everything was set up perfectly. We walked through Kobe Port, watched boats move by, and visited the Kobe Animal Kingdom, where we giggled like children watching animals play.
The Kitano Ijinkan-Gai district was full of old Western-style houses. We had coffee in a café and watched the world pass by.
The most special part of the trip was visiting the Jain temple. It was a spiritual pause in a foreign land. We offered our prayers together and thanked the universe for a perfect journey so far.
Last Few Days in Japan
We kept the last day for ourselves. As it was a leisure day, we made the most of it. We explored local streets, bought souvenirs, ate mochi and sushi, and just enjoyed being in each other’s company.
We sat by the river in the evening and watched the city lights reflect on the water. “This has been the most beautiful birthday week,” she said while leaning on my shoulder.
Read More: Thrillophilia Japan Reviews