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Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs

The best things to do in Japan in winter include savouring steaming hotpot and soaking in hot springs in onsen towns, dining at Tokyo’s best restaurants, when it’s easier to get bookings, and sipping new season sake. Winter in Japan is also the best time for cultural experiences such as trying your hand at pottery or ikebana, taking Japanese cooking lessons, and experiencing a tea ceremony.

Since re-opening, Japan has become one of the hottest destinations during its coldest time of year. As readers loved this local guide to Japan in winter by Hakuba resident Peter Schellenberger, a snowboarder and skier who, with his Japanese wife Shiko, owns the stylish, comfy Hakuba Downtown Apartments, we thought we’d share more tips to travelling Japan in winter.

This time we’ve got a guide to things to do in Japan in winter from another Japan insider, Jane Lawson, a food and travel writer, culinary tour guide, and cookbook author whose book Zenbu Zen – Finding Food, Culture and Balance in Kyoto is one of the very best Japanese cookbooks. (You can get a taste of Jane’s butaniku no kakuni recipe here.)

The lovely Jane has travelled Japan for 40 years, living in Kyoto and Tokyo, and hosts small-group Japanese food and culture tours through her business Zenbu Tours. Jane’s trips offer deep dives into Japanese cuisine and crafts, with plenty of immersive experiences and loads of opportunities to connect with locals in the places you explore.

Jane is currently in Japan (you can follow Jane on Instagram) preparing for upcoming winter tours (and she still has a few spots left!) and a delicious 12-day Kyo-ryori Kyoto cuisine and culture tour in May 2023, which Jane is co-hosting with iconic Australian chef Peter Gilmore, of two of Sydney’s best restaurants, Quay and Bennelong.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

If you can’t get to Japan in winter, our friends at Luxury Escapes, an online travel agent offering luxury holidays for a lot less than you’d normally pay, also have a 10-day Japan tour on offer from May 2023 to April 2024 including flights, accommodation, breakfasts, some other meals, a Shinkansen bullet train trip from Kyoto to Mt. Fuji, and lots of other experiences, from $4,299 per person.

Before we share Jane’s guide to the things to do in Japan in winter, I have a favour to ask. Grantourismo is reader-funded. If you’ve enjoyed our travel guides, itineraries, stories, or recipes, please consider supporting Grantourismo by using our links to book accommodation, rent a car or campervan or motorhome, buy travel insurance, book a tour on Klook or Get Your Guide, or a trip on Luxury Escapes (link above). We may earn a small commission but you won’t pay extra.

Other ways to support our work here, include making a donation to our epic Cambodian cuisine history and cookbook on Patreon or buying something on Amazon, such as these award-winning cookbooks, cookbooks by Australian chefs, classic cookbooks for serious cooks, cookbooks for culinary travellers, travel books to inspire wanderlust, or gifts for Asian food lovers, picnic lovers and travellers who love photography. Again, we may earn a commission.

You could also shop our Grantourismo store at Society 6 for plenty of great gifts designed with Terence’s photography. Here’s Jane’s insider guide to the best things to do in Japan in winter.

Things to Do in Japan in Winter – An Insider Guide to What to Do, See, Eat and Drink

Q. What’s Japan in winter like?

A. Cool, crisp air in most parts – colder, with a lot more snow up north, less so down south. I prefer travelling in Japan in cool weather – lugging yourself around in the heat of summer is exhausting, which is one of the reasons why most of my Japan tours run during winter.

They’re also often Kyoto-based as the atmosphere is so sublime at that time, cloaked in pristine alpine air from the mountain ranges which encircle it. It’s also a great escape from hot humid summers in other parts of the world! 

Q. The best way to travel around Japan in winter?

A. Honestly, the best way to travel around most of Japan is by train. Their public and private railways network is phenomenal. You can even move from one island to the other, for example, from Hokkaido to Kyushu by the Shinkansen (bullet train) network.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Taking trains is much easier and quicker than attempting to drive, which I don’t recommend unless you are visiting certain regional areas (like Aichi prefecture and parts of Kyushu), where it’s more convenient and interesting to drive and there’s a lot less traffic. Don’t even think about driving in Tokyo.

Q. Best kind of accommodation to check into in Japan in winter?

A. One of the quintessential things to do in Japan in winter is to experience a ryokan or traditional inn, which usually includes a sumptuous dinner and breakfast as part of the package, and an in-house onsen or public baths for soaking and relaxing.

In ryokan, you sleep on futon on tatami floors. Although ryokan owners are embracing the western bed concept. People usually only stay a couple of nights, really enjoying the facilities. They range in styles from rustic to very high end.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Alternatively, if luxe floats your boat, try to choose a five-star hotel that also has an air of traditional style, such as Kyoto’s Hyatt Regency and The Okura Tokyo. We’ll stay at both during my early 2023 cuisine and culture tours.

Another kind of accommodation to check into in Japan in winter are machiya or old shop houses which have been converted into contemporary lodgings and are suitable for couples, small families or close friends.

They are ideal for travellers who really want to enjoy a truly local experience. They’re easiest to locate in Kyoto neighbourhoods, but are also popping up in Kanazawa and smaller, atmospheric regional areas.

Q. Best places to experience Japan in winter and things to do there?

A. Some of the best things to do in Japan in winter are cultural experiences and activities like trying your hand at pottery, attending a tea ceremony, doing an ikebana class in flower arranging, or taking some regional Japanese cooking lessons.

Winter is Japan is also the best time to visit some of the many incredible museums, art galleries and design spaces or attend a musical or dance performance.

Another of my favourite things to do in Japan in winter is soak in the hot springs in onsen towns like stunning traditional Kinosaki, not far from Kyoto, or Beppu in Oita in Kyushu, which have plenty of natural hot springs for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Taking photos in Japan in winter is a real joy. Photography lovers should settle into Kyoto or Kanazawa, both of which are a photographer’s dream for the temples and the traditional gardens under snow.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Q. Japan is even more serene in winter, isn’t it?

A. Definitely. There are less people around during winter in Japan, allowing for a truer, quieter appreciation of special temples and gardens. Japan is noticeably less rushed, more peaceful and relaxing, even in the cities, such as Tokyo.

Q. Best local things to do in Japan in winter?

A. The winter environment is perfect for diving into cosy cafes, reading that book you never got around to, sipping new season sake, and just wandering and taking it all in – perhaps embracing the starkness of a winter garden or lingering in the sunshine on temple decks. 

Q. Winter in Japan is the best season for food, right?

A. Absolutely. One of the best things to do in Japan in winter is to eat! Winter is the best season for food, particularly the country’s beautiful seafood, and it’s easier to get into the best Tokyo restaurants in winter.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Q. Best Japanese specialties and drinks to savour during winter in Japan?

A. The first Japanese dish to try is katsu kare, which is super popular in Japan in winter. Crumbed and friend pork loin or fillet is deep fried to perfection, sliced, and served with rice, a rich Japanese curry sauce over the top, and addictive pickles. In some regions, like Gifu or Aichi prefecture, a deep red (aka) or brown (hatcho) miso sauce is preferred.

Another one of the most delicious things to do in Japan in winter for food-lovers is to experience nabe (hotpot), named for the nabeyaki cooking vessel or hotpot. This is quintessential Japanese winter fare.

Hotpots include a meat of your choice, fresh veggies and/or tofu, and noodles or rice are added to the broth at the end. Every household or restaurant has a different variation, adding local miso or other seasonings.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

A must-try drink in Japan in winter is yuzu-cha, a hot drink made with a kind of yuzu jam and hot water, sometimes with honey or fresh grated ginger, or a splash of sake or shochu!

Q. Best ways to meet locals in Japan in winter?

A. Simply hang out in cafes or bars – locals who are confident enough with their English skills may strike up a conversation for practice. Or wander craft markets or streetscapes of areas where people live or study. Kuramae, Shimokitazawa or Kichijoji in Tokyo spring to mind.

Explore regional areas, where people are usually a bit more interested in why you are there and more likely to chat. Those passionate about their village or region sometimes offer to guide you freely around their town.

Joining a Japan tour that goes deeper into Japanese culture is a great idea. For example, we’ll travel to Mie prefecture on my January tour where we’ll meet some Ama octogenarian female pearl and abalone divers who will regale us with their stories of the sea while they barbecue our freshly fished lunch.

Things to do in Japan in Winter from Savouring Hot Pot to Soaking in Hot Springs. Grantourismo Travels.

Q. Packing tips for Japan in winter?

A. It depends what part of Japan you visit and what part of winter you’re travelling in, but note that February is peak winter time. Layers are super important, as indoors are often well heated. So if you are carrying around a coat when in a shop, for example, you’ll want to make sure it’s warm but lightweight.

Comfortable walking shoes or boots need to be easy to take off, too, as the Japanese don’t wear shoes indoors, particularly in traditional buildings, including temples. Warm hole-free socks are important for the same reason.

Take gloves, scarf and a beanie or similar if you really feel the cold. In the southern part of Japan some days can be quite warm, so again, layers are important.

If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors you might want to consider thermals. Thermal tights and under shirts are easily available at Uniqlo in Japan if you find you need them.

Also, it’s easy to find hand or pocket warmer packs in 100 yen stores or supermarkets. They’re great for those who really feel the cold as you can crack them open any time!

Q. Quintessential winter souvenirs from Japan?

A. A beautiful indigo scarf from a local artisan, a vintage kimono, or a stunning handmade ceramic cup to have your morning coffee at home… reminding you of your time in Japan. 

Images courtesy of Luxury Escapes

Do you have any suggestions to add to our insider guide to things to do in Japan in winter? Feel free to share your Japan tips in the comments below.

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
(Link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
#blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #picoftheday 
#christmas #christmastree #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas #cambodia #siemreap
This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

#siemreap #cambodia #asia #travel #instatravel #traveldeeper #slowtravel #localtravel #experientialtravel #exploremore #neverstopexploring #goexplore #igtravel #angkorwat #angkor #temple #temples #angkorwithoutcrowds #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #unescoworldheritage #archaeology #archaeologicalsite #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #travelgram #wanderlust #picoftheday📷 #grantourismotravels.
Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

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It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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