Finally, I get to write about my Japan Trip!
I have come back from Japan few weeks ago. Although I shared a lot of pictures on the Internet but I didn’t get a chance to tell the story properly. Now, with the free time I have today, I’m thinking to share what happened and what I think about the trip overall (and why do I miss it so much?)
This was back in December when the Smexy Nerd (Davide) received his birthday gift to come to Japan with me because I knew that’s always his dream so I thought it would be nice to make it happen and then it happened. For us, we would like to see and experience Japan as much as we could when we’re there, so I asked for the advice from my Japanese colleagues on where to visit and what to do, and they helped me out.
Another adventure for this trip is to find the gluten-free food (for the sake of coeliac disease) in Japan, this has been quite challenging, or maybe not. It’s possible.
Now, let us fly to Tokyo Narita Airport!
I watch Big Hero 6 on the plane. Davide does the same, and he cries for like 3-4 times. Most of the time, I’m just resting because I know when I arrive to Tokyo, first thing to do is to be as productive as possible and follow everything that is in the plan.
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We arrive in Tokyo Narita with a slight delay. Without wasting more time, we go straight to the JR office to register our JR Pass. I activate the JR Pass from Day 3 until the last day. So what I have to do is to get the ticket to the central Tokyo. It’s half price if you get the ticket in the JR office there!
So we take the train and we see 2 familiar Westerners walk pass by us. They’re our friends, Charlotte and Matt. We had a great chat (well I had) but Davide told me off for talking way too much (sorry Charlotte for my ‘blah’ing). But this is mainly because I’m too excited!
We reach to the station, saying good-bye to Charlotte and Matt, the journey continues. We stay in Kodenmacho which is a station away from Akihabara.
After dropping the bags off, it’s time to experience this dream trip! We walk towards Akihabara and it’s raining, it doesn’t really matter. There are a lot of things in Akihabara, but the ones at the main streets with some English words, the price is normally higher.
Akihabara is famous for its many electronics shops. It has gained recognition as the center of Japan’s otaku culture and many shops devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district.
We have sushi.
Sushis are amazing there. Then, I walk to the bakery nearby and I take 2 of these melon buns. They’re so delicious with cream inside. I have decided to have 2 every day for this trip!
We are in Akihabara all day during the first day, mainly looking around because we decide to do a proper shopping on the last day.
We just walk around a lot, just like experiencing Akiba’s Trip (oh, I finished this game). After six or seven hours going to various shops (Kotobukiya, Super Potato, Softmap, etc), we feel tired and we walk back to the hotel to have a shower and continue to Ginza at night.
So, this is Ginza, full of shopping malls (my sister will like it). I see the stairs in Sony building which when you walk, it makes different sound. Sorry, forgot to take pics.
Ginza is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs and cafes.
..and there’s this guy with the talking bird, or is it a parrot? I don’t really know.
We walk around, mainly just to find a good restaurant for dinner. We visit many restaurants, unfortunately they don’t have the gluten free menu available there. This thing is still new for most of them.
So, guess what? It’s sushi time again.
It’s not a bother to me because I love sushi.
Around 9-10pm, we just go back to the hotel, because we are tired.
…zzzz (but first, lemme take a selfie!)
(..until the next morning)
I wake up around 3:30am in the morning.
I’m hungry.
I go to the FamilyMart (a convenient store) downstairs next to the hotel and I buy some food to eat.
It must be a jet lag. I can’t fall asleep, so around 5am (while Davide is still sleeping), I just go out to take the metro (which they start it around 5:15am at the Kodenmacho station) to Tokyo.
It’s a cold morning. It’s early. But I can’t fall asleep and I don’t want to use the time to just sit in the room for doing nothing. So here I am, in Tokyo Imperial Palace.
Tokyo Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. It is the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.
It’s not just me alone. I see some people jogging around the park in the morning. So, I decide to do the same.
..after an hour or so, it’s about 6:30am in the morning, I decide to go back to wake Davide up so we can have a breakfast and continue the trip together.
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Today is a food-hunting time. I have the gluten-free restaurant list I’d like Davide to experience, so at least he gets to eat something, not just watching me eating all the Matcha cakes and frappucino (at Starbucks). Yes, I have one in Shinjuku.
So, this is Shinjuku. It’s still quite early in the morning as most shops are still closed.
Shinjuku is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo, but the name commonly refers to just the large entertainment, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station.
It’s raining again..
Gashapon is popular in Japan. It’s basically the vending machine dispersing the capsule toys. I’m thinking to get some but I fail to find the items I like.
Now, we’re off to Harajuku, and before we find the Japan Crepe (gluten-free), we decide to give Meiji Shrine a visit.
Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.
I have a great time walking here. The air is so fresh, and I feel really good.
I receive a bag charm from Davide, which is like a ‘Health Charm’ to keep so I can be healthy all year, and I have gotten him the ‘Job Charm’ so he can get the job of his dream. I also buy some charms for my friends who come in mind at that time.
There are also people getting married there. I see there’s a praying box, which you throw the money, clap your hands twice, and bow to pray. This has reminded me so much about Toukiden: Kiwami where you have to pray and give Haku in the Command Center. (Sorry for my stupidity, I thought those were made in the game, I didn’t know it’s meant to be like that in real life).
After that, we go to Harajuku. It’s packed. Because it’s Sunday! This place has a lot of unique designer shops. It reminds a bit about the Camden Town in London but this is like 50 times better.
Harajuku is the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.
After some walking, I feel hungry. We both feel hungry and we decide to hunt down for this Japan Crepe place.
This takes quite some time, just right at the moment we decide to give up, we see the moving sign.. and we have found it!
This is so yummy. I also have the Matcha Bubble Tea, it’s too sweet. But the gluten-free crepes are really good!
Shibuya is quite close to Harajuku, so we go to Shibuya.
Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s most colorful and busy districts, packed with shopping, dining and nightclubs serving swarms of visitors that come to the district everyday.
It is very crowded, but it is colorful. I’m only there for like an hour or so. I have bought like a shirt from Uniqlo (lol) just because I like it and the price is half cheaper comparing to the one in London.
This is like a whole day walking, considering I woke up like 3:30am in the morning, I finally feel a little tired.
Davide is laughing at me. He’s a little unhappy because I went to Tokyo Imperial Palace without him..
So, during the night.. we go to Roppongi.
Roppongi is a district in Tokyo that is well known as the city’s most popular nightlife district among foreigners, offering a large number of foreigner friendly bars, restaurants and night clubs.
It is another shopping place but this time I can see a lot of Western restaurants.
Obviously, we are not hungry yet. We go to the shops to buy some souvenirs for our friends.
I have fun looking at these..
Then, we notice Tokyo Tower is just nearby, so we decide to walk there.
…
What a mistake, it’s actually a long walk!
When I reach there, I have no regrets because it’s just so beautiful!
Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, and the world’s tallest self-supporting steel tower.
I’m looking for toilets around there. Then, Davide points me to go inside Tokyo Tower and have a look. It’s actually very nice (again, souvenirs time!) - I expect things are meant to be more expensive inside, but it’s not.
..even the food. (Yep, sushi again) and we both had 4! The chef and the staff are very nice! They take a good care on us (especially Davide) with his gluten-free diet.
This is such a long Day 2, and now I’m really tired. I go back to sleep, like a real good sleep!
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Good morning! This is Day 3. I activate my JR Pass, which means I’m going to save money by travelling to a further distance. In the morning, I take the train to Kyoto from Tokyo station.
I can see Mt. Fuji on the way from Tokyo to Kyoto, but because it’s covered by clouds, I fail to take a good pic.
After arriving to Kyoto station, I see a lot of Matcha Cakes, everywhere, it’s like a paradise. I go to the hotel, which is near to the station, leaving the luggage and continue the trip. I’m a little surprised because people in Kyoto seem to speak better English than the ones we met in Tokyo?
Kyoto is beautiful. We take the bus on this day because the places we want to visit are not included in the JR line. We purchase the bus ticket (one way 260 yen, all day 500 yen, of course we have bought the all-day ticket).
Here we are, at Ginkakuji.
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama).
It’s actually very beautiful, more beautiful than we can see in the picture. Most of the attractions we want in Kyoto need to be paid, but they’re in between 300-600 yen, which is ok.
After enjoying some fresh air and a nice view, we go to Higashiyama District which is a district you need to walk to get to Kiyomizudera Temple.
The Higashiyama District along the lower slopes of Kyoto’s eastern mountains is one of the city’s best preserved historic districts. It is a great place to experience traditional old Kyoto, especially between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine, where the narrow lanes, wooden buildings and traditional merchant shops invoke a feeling of the old capital city.
I have a great time and enjoy every moment here. I go to some of the shops and they have a collaboration items. For example, Attack on Titan characters + Kyoto attractions. Davide has bought some for himself, and I have a green tea ice-cream.
I have bought my colleagues some Matcha Cakes too.
..and here we are, Kiyomizudera!
Kiyomizudera is one of Japan’s most popular temples. It stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers visitors a nice view over the city from its famous wooden terrace. The busy approach to the temple is lined by dozens of shops and restaurants that have been catering to pilgrims and tourists for centuries.
A beautiful view of Kiyomizudera.
Here I’m praying for a good health and a good journey.
There are also a lot of girls wearing kimonos praying in order to find their true loves.
Overall, today is a very nice opening of the Kyoto trip. It’s just so beautiful!
We aren’t doing much during night time on this day because the rain is very strong. So, we decide to stay in and just relax.
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Good morning (again!) - This is an exciting day because we’re visiting Toei Uzumasa Eigamura.
The Toei Uzumasa Eigamura is a film set and theme park in one. Essentially a small town from the Edo Period, the park features a collection of various traditional buildings which are occasionally used as a backdrop for filming historical movies and television dramas.
I decide to bring Davide here because I want to have some nice photos when we’re in Kyoto. So, we rent the costumes, it costs me 4,500 yen - which is ok for me because it’s only £25.
I dress as Shinsengumi back in the Edo period. There are a lot of shops in this park, they’re unique. Davide has bought his katana umbrella, and I just have a great time watching the show (also dressing up too).
It’s the story about Hattori Hanzō. I don’t understand what they’re talking because it’s in Japanese but the act is very good with full of nice actions.
After that, we go to take Sagano Scenic Railway from Arashiyama. This is a very cold day. I have this strange package they gave it me in my hands just to keep me warm (which it isn’t)..
It is indeed beautiful, but it’s too cold. And okay, now let’s head back to Arashiyama.
Arashiyama is a pleasant, touristy district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. The area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185), when nobles would enjoy its natural setting. Arashiyama is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons.
Here we are, at Arashiyama, before before we walk into the Bamboo Groves. This is the walking paths that cut through the bamboo groves make for a nice walk or bicycle ride. The groves are particularly attractive when there is a light wind and the tall bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth.
Tons and tons of temples too.
There are just too many beautiful things in Kyoto that I realize I need at least 5 days to visit most of them…
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This is the coldest day for my trip, absolutely freezing. I decide to go to Osaka, because I want to visit Osaka Castle (mainly because I have played Samurai Warriors 4′s final stage of Legend of the Sanada for over 20 times, which tells me that I must visit Osaka Castle).
The construction of Osaka Castle started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the largest castle at the time.
Here we are at Osaka Castle. I go inside the castle, read some history about it and decide to try one of these head wears. They look awful on me..
I do some souvenirs shopping (again), then decide to head to Shitennoji.
Shitennoji is one of Japan’s oldest temples and the first ever to be built by the state. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple’s buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th century design.
This is a nice visits. There are few buildings inside. We go in and realize how big it is inside, with the Buddhas and all. In one of the pagoda, we actually have to take off our shoes and to use the tiny stairs to walk upstairs, it’s absolutely freezing.
After that, I reach Shinsekai.
Shinsekai is Osaka’s “new world,” a district that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district’s center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai.
It’s not much to tell here, just with a lot of shops. But where Davide wants to go is the Den Den Town (Nipponbashi) which is like an Otaku paradise, full of anime, manga and collectibles.
I think he has made a right decision to go there because he’s got a good deal of price there.
It’s night time now. We just walk around Dotonbori (around Namba station). God, it’s freaking huge until I feel want to have an extra day in Osaka! Osaka is famous of Okonomiyaki, which you have to have it when you’re there.
I don’t feel good on this day. But I do have Okonomiyaki on the following day.
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Here we are back to Kyoto. Today’s journey will be all covered by JR Pass so we don’t need to worry to spend any transportation money (oh, and for Osaka, those were all covered if you have the JR Pass).
We go to Nijojo! It’s very beautiful inside, unfortunately we aren’t allowed to take pictures. We get to see how big and how massive the construction is, inside the Nijojo.
Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle’s palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep.
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!
After that, we go and visit the Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji (the first day we went is the silver one).
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later.
In my opinion, since I visited the Silver Pavilion on the first day, this one doesn’t give me much of the excitement, just it’s gold. After reading the history, I have realized Kinkakuji was actually built after Ginkakuji through the inspiration.
I have a very nice ice-cream here. Matcha and Black Sesame!
Carrying on.. We go to Fushimi Inari. Cyu-cyu?
Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.
I have to admit that I have had a great time walking to the top of the mountain. It really requires some work. But I never forget to give myself a reward..
MORE ICE-CREAM.. This one is soybean and vanilla. I also have this blow-fish thing with matcha and strawberry pocky and cream and all…
Now.. stop with the food and carry on.
We are in Gion (the Geisha District!)
Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko(Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
This is just mainly sight-seeing because we couldn’t afford to get a geisha show (they cost higher than we expected).
I do have a great time with Okuni though..
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I’m feeling a little sad because I did have a great time in Kyoto and Osaka. I don’t miss Tokyo at all (strangely).
In the morning, we take the train back to Tokyo from Osaka, and we have a great view of Mt. Fuji on our way.
Mount Fuji (Fujisan) is with 3776 meters Japan’s highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people throughout the centuries.
Back to Tokyo, first thing we go to visit is Sensoji Temple near Asakusa station.
Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo’s most colorful and popular temples.
Now you see me with a lighter outfit.. because it’s started to get warmer.
After that, we go to Ueno Park by walking (just because we have nothing else to do!)
SAKURA!!
There are a lot of things to see at Ueno. Since this is going to be the last (or second last) day for me, I decide to give myself more treats.
I have finally found the capsule machine I want. I want the front 2 cats because they’re cute. I also don’t mind to have the last 2. But look what I have got…
… *speechless*
I’ve played a lot of machines but I just didn’t manage to get what I want..
Now, back to Ueno. I have visited Bentendo and Toshogu Shrine (which is the picture above).
Toshogu Shrine was built in 1616 and is one of numerous shrines across the country that are dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate. The Ueno Toshogu Shrine used to be incorporated into Kaneiji Temple until 1868.
It’s just a lot of things to see here. So far, I love everything. (I still do!)
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Day 8 is the most relaxing one. I just have to my friend, Eshpal and he’s bringing us to Pokemon Centre (near Ikebukuro) then just go around Tokyo Tower, and all.
But in the morning, we decide to go to Sengakuji Temple. Just because we love the film 47 Ronin, we want to go and visit the graveyard.
We count, there are 46 of them and realized one of them survived.
After that, we just have fun.
Ikebukuro!
Pokemon Centre!
..more ice-creams!
and cakes! (don’t judge by its look, it’s yummy!)
..more and more foods!!
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The next morning, we just take the train to the airport and fly back.
Seeing the Japanese styled decoration in the airport has inspired me to go back and visit more.
Hopefully more places. Perhaps Hokkaido, Kyushu, Hiroshima, etc.. and I still have to experience onsen (the hot spring).. like the one below!