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Wit & Folly

Finding whimsy and wonder, one adventure at a time.

12/11/2024

Postcard moments from Stillwater, MN 💌

As one of Minnesota’s oldest towns, visiting Stillwater felt, at times, like taking a step back in time to its old lumber days. The town has preserved so much of its historic character and charm that you can’t help but feel as if you’re entering a classic Americana postcard.

From its old-world Victorian mansions, brick storefronts, vintage ice cream parlors, and iconic Lift Bridge (one of the last remaining of its kind), Stillwater offers you a window into the lives and stories of those who once lived here hundreds of years ago.

This carousel series was inspired by that feeling of nostalgia and remnants of a bygone era ✨

Swipe through to see these postcard moments 📸:

🚢 A classic riverboat ride along the St. Croix River that reminds you of Stillwater’s lumber history, when logs used to float down this very river and steamboats would bring people and supplies to this bustling town

🍦Vintage ice cream parlors, cozy cafes☕️ , and home made candy shops 🍬

🚃 The Stillwater Trolley, which captures the essence of simpler times and offers a glimpse of what local travel might have felt like before the rise of cars and modern transportation

Stillwater is living proof that the past can be beautiful and preserved alongside the present ❤️

16/04/2024

Are you team pink 🩷 or team yellow 💛? Why not both? 😉🌸🌼

You can find fluffy pink Sakura blooms contrasted beautifully against the cheerful bright yellow of nanohana (rapeseed blossoms) along the riverbank of the Arakawa River at Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi.

This is one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom spots and easily accessible from Tokyo by train to Kumgaya Station.
During the cherry blossom viewing season, you can find vendors lined up along the path selling food and drinks, and with over 500 cherry trees lining 2 kilometers, this makes the perfect spot to practice hanami ✨🌸✨
So make sure to bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic under the harmony of pink, yellow, and blue colors that the sky and flowers create! 🌸🌼🧺🍡

📍Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi in Saitama. 7 minute walk from Kumagaya Station
🗓️ Blooming period is usually from late March to early April
📸 Taken on 03/27/23 by .shu

02/04/2024

Although it can be crowded during Sakura season in Japan, you can always wander off the beaten path to find lesser known spots that feel serene and peaceful. The great thing about cherry blossoms in Japan is that you can literally find them everywhere, and there are always places large enough where everyone can enjoy them! 🌸😌

Here are four of my favorite hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots that are away from crowds or have enough ample space for yourself to enjoy.

🌸 Shikanoidesui (“deer well water”), Takamatsu City #鹿の井出水
🌸 Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi, Saitama #熊谷桜堤
🌸 Yoshinoyama, Nara #吉野山
🌸 Fushimi Jikkokubune, Kyoto #伏見十石舟

📍Which place would you like to learn more about?

27/03/2024

Located in Kagawa, the smallest prefecture of Japan, is a magical place tucked along the northwestern peninsula of Shonai in Mitoyo. Here, you’ll find the hidden gem of Mt. Shiude (Shiudeyama).

Mt. Shiude’s name means “the mountain where purple clouds emerge” and blooms into a pink wonderland during cherry blossom season.🌸

This place might be off the beaten tourist path, but it’s absolutely worth it. The easiest way here is by car, which also requires an advance reservation.

It was our first time renting a car in Japan and although it felt weird driving on the opposite side of the road (compared to the U.S.) at first, we quickly got used to it. We loved the freedom and flexibility it gave us, especially in smaller cities and rural areas where public transportation isn’t as prevalent. (Note to self: Google maps doesn’t always give the best route and you might find yourself get stuck in superrr narrow alley roads 😅).

The cherry trees at Mt. Shiude were planted 60 years ago by the local community who continue to support visitors during Sakura season. The price of admission is also well worth it, as it directly helps fund the conservation of these cherry trees to ensure future visitors can continue to enjoy their beauty.✨🌸✨

📷: This photo was taken on April 3, 2023. Peak bloom this year is estimated to be until April 10th!

#紫雲出山 #桜 #三豐市 #四國 #日本景點

24/03/2024

If there’s one sunrise that’s always worth getting up early for, it’s the one with Mt. Fuji ✨🗻✨

When Tom and I arrived here, an old Japanese man had already set up his camera. “Ohayou!” [good morning!] He called out to us.

“Ohayou gozaimasu!” We replied back.
This is when I wish I knew Japanese, as he tried to converse more with us, but all we could say was “Sumimasen, nihongo hanasemasen” [Sorry! We can’t speak Japanese 😭]

Somehow we figured out he was asking us where we were visiting from, and he understood when we told him America. With our limited vocabulary, I was able to piece together that he is a local of the nearby city, Fujiyoshida, and would come photograph Mt. Fuji at sunrise every day! He showed us some of his incredible images on his camera and even recommended additional spots for us to visit.

He pointed to one image exclaiming, “Honcho-dōri!” This time, I was excited to know that location, nodding “hai!”and showed him with photos on my phone that we had just visited there the day before. He also proudly shared with us a few photos he took that were made into postcards and won some local awards in his city!

Although we may not have shared the same language, conversing through photographs transcended these barriers. Next time I come here though, I hope to have learned a few more words so that I can understand more of his stories and experiences, if I’m lucky enough to run into him again! 😌

#日本景點 #富士山 #山中湖

27/02/2024

🎉 Facebook recognized me as a top rising creator this week!

18/02/2024

We decided to take the early morning train from our base in Matsumoto to explore the sleepy but well preserved historical post-town, Narai-juku.

Located as the halfway point on what used to be the main road connecting Kyoto and Tokyo during the Edo Period (known as the Nakasendo Trail), Narai-juku is now Japan’s longest post town - a 1 km trail comprised of old wooden houses dating as far back as the 1600’s that makes it feel as if you’ve traveled back a few centuries in time.

When we arrived, there was a group of photographers near the start of the old winding street, so we stayed back to avoid getting in the way of them capturing the iconic street during the early morning light.

One of the photographers (who probably noticed all of Tom’s photography gear on him 😅) struck up a conversation with us. He also knew Chinese, so we had a good laugh switching between speaking Chinese and English with him!
We learned that they were South Korean and taking photos throughout Japan; when they showed us their photos, we felt so inspired by their talent and all the places they’ve visited around the world.

I knew they had waited and planned for just the right moment when the sun would light up the back mountains in a soft glow, so I was surprised when they insisted I be in their shot and hyped me up as I twirled around in the middle of the street ✨💃🏻
They even wanted to take a photo of Tom and I together before we said farewell and were kind enough to send over the photos.

Huge thanks again to .sm for sending us these stunning images! 📸

These moments where we connect serendipitously is what makes our travels and life all the more richer. Hope to meet again, .sm, , , ! 🫶

#奈良井宿 #木曽 #古き良き時代 #江戸時代 #長野のいいところ

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