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ANANYA RAY

@ananya.ray

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A 9-5 girl helping you see more of the world
👩🏻 cool stays | fun activities | unique foods
📍 Alberta, Canada🇨🇦
✉️ [email protected]
📷 @sonyalpha

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It’s fall, time to be insufferable again 🍂
And honestly, Canmore makes it way too easy. This little mountain town looks like it was literally made for a Hallmark movie. The only thing missing is a small town baker and a stressed out city girl (no I don’t mean me) falling in love!
📍Canmore town
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#canmore #canadianrockies taken in Canmore, Alberta by @ananya.ray

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11 days ago

Take the damn photo and be a bit cringey🤌🏼
Would I still travel, hike, explore, and do all the things I love if I couldn’t take a photo? Of course. But I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to document the highlights of your life. Yes, you’ll have the memories, but memories fade. One day you might look back at a photo and think about that trip with your friends, remember how beautiful that sunset was, or realize just how proud you felt after finishing that marathon. Taking a photo doesn’t mean you weren’t present. So take the damn photo. Post it if you want, and let yourself have the memory!
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#positivemindset #mindfulliving taken in Around The World by @ananya.ray

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23 days ago

Hayao Miyazaki actually stayed here 👀
He spent two months in the little fishing village of Tomonoura, drawing inspiration for Ponyo, and honestly, it’s easy to see why the second you start exploring. You can even spot the inspiration for Sosuke’s house in the distance, which felt surreal to see in real life. Even cooler, you can actually stay at the inn that Miyazaki helped design during his time here! Save this for your future Japan itinerary and send it to someone who loves Studio Ghibli!
Some spots I recommend:
📍 Fukuzenji Temple Taichoroh
📍 Tomo Castle Ruins Observation Deck
📍 Io Temple
📍 Jōyatō Stone Lighthouse
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#studioghibli #hiroshima taken in Tomonoura by @ananya.ray

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2 months ago

This town is literally out of an anime 😳
No, literally! Hida Furukawa was one of the real life inspirations for the show Your Name, and I only discovered this by accident while wandering through the streets and finding little information boards showing scenes from the movie. If you love quiet koi canals, charming old wooden buildings, and places that feel untouched by crowds, you need to save this and add this town to your Japan itinerary! It’s also super easy to visit, just a short train ride from Takayama! Send it to someone who loves discovering magical hidden towns!
📍 Setogawa and Shirakabe Dozou Street, Hida Furukawa
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#gifu #hidafurukawa taken in Hida-Furukawa by @ananya.ray

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3 months ago

Symi deserves way more attention🤌🏼
Just a quick 50 minute ferry ride from Rhodes, this colorful Greek island still feels like a hidden gem. Compared to some of the busier islands in Greece, Symi is surprisingly peaceful and has a much slower pace of life. Most people visit as a day trip, but the real magic happens when you stay overnight. Once the crowds leave, you get to experience the island’s charming harbor, colorful houses, and quiet atmosphere that makes Symi feel so special. Save this for a quieter Greek island getaway, and send it to someone you’d love to explore Symi with!
Places I recommend visiting:
📍 Kali Strata Restaurant
📍 Tarsanas Greek Cuisine
📍 Porte Cafe Bar
📍 Kirtos Beach Cafe
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#symi #dodecaneseislands taken in Symi Island by @ananya.ray

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3 months ago

Wisteria > Cherry Blossoms in Japan 💜
If you missed cherry blossom season, don’t worry! Wisteria season typically runs from April through May, depending on the region, making it a perfect alternative if you’ve missed the cherry blossoms. One of the most unique places I found to see wisteria in Osaka was actually someone’s house. I’m not even kidding. Every year during wisteria season, they open their garden to the public so visitors can enjoy it. Entry is just a ¥100 donation, and honestly, it was worth it just to sit beneath the wisteria, relax, and soak in the atmosphere. If you’re planning a spring trip to Japan, save this spot. Send this to someone who loves discovering places most tourists miss!
📍 Nodafuji Wisteria, Osaka
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#wisteria #osaka taken in Osaka, Japan by @ananya.ray

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4 months ago

Can’t beat human imagination💭
Some places in Japan genuinely made me stop and think…how did humans even come up with this? From massive shrines to surreal architecture that feel straight out of a fantasy movie, Japan constantly feels like proof that human creativity will always be more fascinating than AI generated ideas!
📍 Peace Tower, Osaka
📍 Shirakawago Village, Gifu
📍 Shibuya, Tokyo
📍 Shikoku Aquarium, Kagawa
📍 Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
📍 Ine, Kyoto
📍 Tōzan Shrine, Saga
📍 Face House, Kyoto
📍 Namba Yasaka Jinja Shrine, Osaka
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#japan #japanarchitecture taken in Japan by @ananya.ray

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5 months ago

I bet you thought this was Kyoto 👀
Everyone visits Kyoto for the geishas, but did you know Kanazawa has its own geisha district too? Every local I spoke to told me I’d probably enjoy it more than Kyoto! I rented my kimono from @kanazawa.kimono.karen and loved how personalized the experience felt compared to bigger rental shops. They helped me choose everything from the kimono style and colors to the hairstyle and accessories, and were so patient whenever I wanted to change something. I definitely recommend adding the hair styling option because you can choose from so many accessories and keep the look for the whole day! Walking through the Higashi Chaya District and samurai district in a kimono honestly felt like stepping into another era. If you’ve wanted to do a kimono experience in Japan, I’d genuinely recommend Kanazawa over Kyoto if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. Save this if you’re looking to change up your Japan itinerary and send this to someone you’d explore Japan in a kimono with!
📍 Kanazawa Kimono Karen
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#kanazawa #homongi taken in Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa by @ananya.ray

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5 months ago

What I mean by “let’s go for dinner” 🙂‍↔️
Not every restaurant in Greece comes with both incredible views and unforgettable food…but Astypalea proved me wrong! Every meal here was amazing, but one spot stood out the most, Antikastro. This spot specializes in meat (with plenty of fish and vegetarian options too), and everything I tried was unreal. I was recommended the fried cheese with honey and goat in tomato sauce both were easily my favorite dishes from my trip! And the portions are massive. Save this if you’re a foodie planning a Greece trip and send it to someone you’d have dinner here with!
📍 Antikastro, Astypalea
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#astypalaia #greekislands taken in Antikastro Traditional Restaurant by @ananya.ray

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7 months ago

I bet you’ve never heard of these 🤫
Most of these shrines are tucked across Kyushu, Kansai, and the Kanto region and they’re some of the quietest I’ve ever visited. My favorite is the cyberpunk style shrine in Fukuoka where it was literally just me and a couple of crows at night which made it feel spooky in the coolest way. Even during the day it stayed calm and empty. The best part is that many of these spots are mostly visited by locals so even if you go mid day you can almost always have the shrine to yourself! You can wander every corner without bumping into anyone. Save this if you’re always saying there are no empty places in Japan it is all crowded and send this to someone who needs proof otherwise!
Here are the locations:
📍 Tōzan Shrine (Sueyama Shrine)
📍 Ōtataneko Shrine (Wakamiya Shrine)
📍 Ōmiwa Jinja
📍 Kibune Shrine
📍 Futami Okitama Shrine
📍 Goryo Shrine
📍 Miyajidake Shrine
📍 Nakatsukasa Magotaro Inari Shrine
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#onlyinjapan #japanshrine taken in Japan by @ananya.ray

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a year ago

Looked like something out of a movie set👀
I still can’t believe more people don’t talk about this seaside amusement park! It feels like the West Coast version of Coney Island but with better views, ocean breeze, and that classic California vibe. Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been around for over a hundred years and honestly it instantly became one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco. If you come outside of summer, the boardwalk is only open on weekends so keep that in mind when planning. Save this if you want a fun date spot or a nostalgic friend hangout outside of SF. Send this to the person you’d scream on these rides with!
📍 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California
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#thingstodoinsf #santacruz #californiavibes taken in Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk by @ananya.ray

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a year ago

Places in Tokyo that don’t even feel real
From hidden temples to cinematic streets, these spots genuinely made me pause and take it all in. Whether it was the quiet beauty of Hie Shrine or watching the city from the top of Tokyu Plaza Ginza, Tokyo constantly finds new ways to surprise you. Save this post for your next Tokyo trip and send it to someone who needs to see the cinematic side of the city! Here are a few places that left me in awe:
📍 Sensoji Temple
📍 Tokyo Sakura Tram
📍 Beside Yoyogi Station
📍 Hie Shrine
📍 Tokyu Plaza Ginza
📍 Hijiri Bridge
📍 Random Street in Shinjuku
📍 Nittele Tower
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#tokyo #japanitinerary #thingstodointokyo taken in Tokyo by @ananya.ray

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a year ago