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Luca Castagnini Photography

ホーム
日本
Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
Luca Castagnini Photography

🍝Italian
🗺Lover of the Unknown
🇯🇵Likely roaming Japan
📸 Creator 2021

06/06/2026

Some places keep showing up in your mind months, sometimes years later 🇯🇵✨

Not necessarily because they’re the most famous. But because of how they made you feel.

♨️ Kusatsu: the steam rising through the town, the smell of sulfur, the Yumomi tradition, and the feeling of being in one of Japan’s great onsen destinations.

🌊 Itoshima: coastal roads, cafés overlooking the sea, and a pace of life that feels completely different from nearby Fukuoka.

⛩️ Amanoiwato Shrine: one of the most spiritual places I’ve visited in Japan, surrounded by mythology, forests, and rivers.

🌸 Ashikaga Flower Park: especially during wisteria season, when the entire park feels almost unreal.

🌺 Nezu Shrine: when the azaleas bloom, it’s one of the most beautiful corners of Tokyo.

🌴 Nakijin: tropical Okinawa at its best, where jungle landscapes meet crystal-clear water.

🎋 Kamakura: temples, bamboo groves, ocean views, and a slower atmosphere that makes it easy to spend an entire day wandering.

🦔 Ito Shaboten Zoo: one of the most unique animal parks I’ve visited, and yes... this is where you’ll find the famous capybaras relaxing in hot springs.

🌊 Kii-Katsuura: fresh tuna, dramatic coastline, nearby Nachi Falls, and a side of Japan that feels wonderfully disconnected from the country’s biggest cities.

The funny thing is that these places have almost nothing in common.

Some are famous. Some aren’t.

Some are cities. Some are shrines. Some are just small corners of Japan.

Yet they’re the places I still think about when someone asks me about my favorite memories from Japan 🇯🇵✨

31/05/2026

Hong Kong is one of the most intense cities I’ve ever visited 🌆🇭🇰

Massive skyscrapers, mountain trails, ferries, temples, markets, islands, beaches, and some of the best food in Asia: all packed into a surprisingly small area.

The mistake many travelers make is treating Hong Kong as either a quick stopover or trying to see everything in two days.

💡 My recommendation?

📍 3 days minimum if you’re adding Hong Kong to a larger Asia trip.

📍 4–5 days ideally if you want to experience the city properly without rushing.

A balanced visit could look something like:

🌆 Day 1: Hong Kong Island
Central, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, and the skyline after dark.

🍜 Day 2: Kowloon
Street markets, local food, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and some of the city’s most famous urban landscapes.

🏝️ Day 3: Beyond the skyline
Lantau Island, fishing villages, hiking trails, beaches, or the Big Buddha.

✨ Extra days?
This is where Hong Kong gets really interesting. Explore smaller islands, hidden cafés, scenic coastal walks, and neighborhoods that most visitors never see.

What surprised me most is how much nature exists alongside the skyscrapers.

One moment you’re surrounded by some of the tallest residential towers on Earth. The next, you’re on a mountain trail overlooking the South China Sea.

Hong Kong isn’t just a city.
It’s a city, a coastline, a mountain destination, and a food trip all at the same time 🇭🇰✨

visithongkong

26/05/2026

Okinawa is not just one destination, it’s an entire chain of completely different islands 🇯🇵🏝️

Some are built around beaches and coral reefs. Others feel wild, remote, slow, and deeply connected to nature.

And the biggest thing I learned? Your Okinawa trip depends entirely on which islands you choose and how you plan to move around them.

Some places are perfect without a car. Others completely change with one.

That’s why I created an entire Okinawa section inside my Japan guide 🇯🇵✨

It includes: • island breakdowns • transportation tips • ferry info • itinerary ideas • maps • hidden spots • and realistic advice on where to stay depending on the kind of trip you want

Because Okinawa can either become the highlight of your Japan trip… or the part people struggle to plan correctly.

The guide is linked in bio ✈️

19/05/2026

Japan gets even better when you go beyond the standard route 🇯🇵
This itinerary connects Kansai Region and Kyushu through temples, coastal towns, volcanoes, onsen villages, and places that feel much slower and more immersive than the classic Golden Route.

You start in Kansai with places like:
📍 Osaka
📍 Kyoto
📍 Nara

Then continue south into Kyushu:
🌊 Itoshima
🏺 Arita
🌋 Mount A*o
⛩️ Takachiho
♨️ Kurokawa Onsen

The best part?
The trip gradually changes atmosphere:
from busy cities → to spiritual mountains → to volcanic landscapes and rural Japan.

💡 A few important things to know:
• Kansai works perfectly with trains
• Kyushu is easier and far more flexible with a car in many areas but the trail here is absolutely doable with trains
• 2 weeks is ideal to avoid rushing
• Kyushu rewards slower travel more than packed schedules

This side of Japan feels more local, more scenic, and honestly… more memorable for many travelers.
All bookable with ! Link in BIO! 👀

12/05/2026

Tokyo is the kind of city that keeps revealing new layers every time you visit 🇯🇵✨

One moment you’re inside a quiet temple hidden between buildings, the next you’re in a tiny coffee shop, a design store, a museum, or a neighborhood that feels like its own world.

That’s what makes Tokyo special:
it’s not just about landmarks: it’s about the small places in between.

This mini guide is filled with some of my favorite spots across the city:
☕ cafés
⛩️ temples & shrines
🖼️ museums
🛍️ stores & neighborhoods
…and places that make Tokyo feel unforgettable.

📍And if you want the full version:
my Japan guide is linked in bio with:
• maps
• itineraries
• hidden spots
• transport tips
• food recommendations
• and all the planning info I wish I had before my first trip 🇯🇵✈️

Tokyo can feel overwhelming at first: but once you understand its rhythm, it becomes one of the most rewarding cities to explore. ✨

05/05/2026

Hong Kong is one of those places that doesn’t hit you all at once… it builds up around you 🏙️🇭🇰

Walk a few minutes in Hong Kong and you start noticing it: the way the buildings close in, the light bouncing between glass and concrete, the feeling of being completely surrounded.

It’s not random. The city had no choice but to grow vertically: mountains behind, sea in front, and very limited land. So instead of spreading out, it stacked everything.

And it shows: • 9,000+ high-rise buildings, more than any other city • Entire neighborhoods built upwards instead of outwards • One of the highest population densities in the world

But what makes it special isn’t just the numbers. It’s the contrast.
One moment you’re between skyscrapers, the next you’re looking at the skyline from Victoria Peak, or watching it reflect across Victoria Harbour at night.
It’s dense, intense, sometimes overwhelming, but that’s exactly what makes Hong Kong feel alive.

Not a city you just visit. A city you experience from every angle ✨

23/04/2026

Okinawa is not what most people expect from Japan 🇯🇵
And if you don’t know these things… you might plan it completely wrong 👇

🌊 The best beaches aren’t on the main island
If you want that crystal-clear water, look at Kume Island, Ishigaki Island, or Yoron Island.

🌺 It feels different from the rest of Japan
Food, culture, pace: Okinawa Prefecture has its own identity, and that’s exactly why people love it (or don’t).

⏳ Don’t go for less than 4 nights
Anything shorter feels rushed. Okinawa is meant to be slow.

🚗 Public transport is very limited
Outside Naha, you’ll need a car, or choose smaller islands where you can move around easily.

🏖️ Beaches “close” in winter
From ~November to March, swimming isn’t really a thing (even if the weather looks fine).

☕ Yes, there are coffee farms
And they’re surprisingly good, a side of Okinawa most people don’t know.

🚦 Naha = traffic
Much more car-dependent than cities like Tokyo or Osaka.

🐋 The aquarium is worth it
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is home to a whale shark: one of the highlights of the island.

🛍️ Kokusai-dori… love it or hate it
Busy, touristy, and very different from the rest of Okinawa.

🌤️ Best time to visit?
Spring & autumn → fewer typhoons, better balance overall.

15/04/2026

Things I wish I had known before going to Kyoto 🇯🇵👇

Kyoto is incredible… but it’s also one of those places where a few small tips completely change your experience:

🚌 Buses > trains (most of the time)
Kyoto isn’t built like Tokyo. Many major sights aren’t directly connected by train, so buses are often more convenient, just don’t expect perfect punctuality.

📍 Stay in Shimogyo Ward
Central, well-connected, and often more affordable. It’s one of the best bases to explore the city without overpaying.

🎋 Arashiyama isn’t the only bamboo grove
Yes, Arashiyama is famous, but there are smaller, quieter bamboo spots across Kyoto that feel way more peaceful.

🚆 Don’t just stay in Kyoto
Pair your stay with easy day trips:
→ Uji (matcha + temples)
→ Shiga Prefecture (Lake Biwa & quiet towns)

⏰ Go EARLY (like really early)
For places like Fushimi Inari Taisha, aim for 5:30–6:00am.
It’s busy at the entrance, but as you hike up (toward areas like Kumataka Shrine) it gets quieter and way more enjoyable.

📅 Give it time
Kyoto isn’t a 2-day stop. You need at least 4–5 days to really explore it without rushing.

Kyoto is beautiful: but with the right approach, it becomes a completely different experience ✨

05/04/2026

Rating places I’ve been in Japan in no particular order, just honest impressions 👇

📍 Omiya: super livable, local vibe, I loved walking around and the temple.

📍 Osaka: fun, chaotic, amazing food... but personally didn’t connect with it as much as other cities.

📍 Takachiho: undeniably beautiful, but more crowded and less “hidden” than I expected.

📍 Itoshima: incredibly peaceful and all around beautiful place, especially in early morning!

📍 Shimoda: coastal Japan at its best. Beaches, nature, relaxed atmosphere... one of my absolute favorites.

📍 Kumamoto: interesting stop with a strong local identity, but not the highlight of Kyushu for me.

📍 Arita: quiet, authentic, and full of history. One of those places that really stays with you.

📍 Zamami Island: unreal. Crystal-clear water, nature, and that feeling of being completely disconnected, one of my favorite places on earth.

📍 Naha: convenient and lively, but more of a base than a destination.

📍 Ashikaga Flower Park: especially during wisteria season, it feels almost surreal.

Japan is one of those countries where every place gives you a completely different experience, and that’s what makes it so addictive. 🇯🇵

👉 comment Japan and I’ll send you the link to the Japan Travel System (my guide!)

住所

Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka