Cycling Around Mount Fuji

Image
Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at ou...
Post a Comment

Taiwan Sep 2014: Taipei Places We Visited

Ximen Ding 西门町

Taiwan has many Japanese influences and the name of this street is one example. Ximen 西门 means East Gate and Ding 町 in Japanese is read “machi” which means street. Though open in the day, this street lined with eateries and shopping comes alive at night. A popular hangout among youngsters, you can find various Japanese restaurants and fashion shops.

There is a shop selling dog apparel near the entrance of Ximen Ding and I got a kimono for melody :)


If you intend to get gadgets and camera equipment, Hankou street near exit 6 of Ximen station is a good place to go. I got my Hello Kitty camera bag from there.


Access: Take the MRT to Ximen station (from Taipei Main station: 1 stop blue line westward toward Yongning)

Shilin night market 士林夜市

A popular night bazaar with lots of shopping and local food, your visit to Taipei will not be complete without popping by this night market. You may want to stay away from stinky beancurd stalls if you can't stand the pungent smell.

Obscene cakes!








Access: Take the MRT to Jiantan station (from Taipei main station: 5 stops red line northward toward Tamsui) and follow the crowd.

Maokong Cable Car 猫空缆车
There was a hello kitty theme (6 Dec 2013 - 5 Dec 2014) when we went so we took the cable car to Maokong where Taipei 101 and a good view of Taipei can be seen. We took the crystal cabins which have glass bottoms. We tried a Tie Guanyin ice cream at a shop opposite the Maokong gondola station and love it!









Maokong Jian 猫空间 café is a good place to chill and take in the sights. To get there, go straight through the row of food stalls after getting off Maokong station and keep walking until you see the café sign which cannot be missed. There are also tea-houses serving tea-inspired dishes after Maokong Jian.




You may buy entrance tickets for Maokong station or just use your you you card if you already have one. Do get the you you card 悠游卡 as it can be topped up and used for travel as well as purchases at convenience stalls such as 7-eleven, Family Mart etc. You also get a 20% off travels using the you you card eg if the trip costs TWD30, you pay TWD24 with the you you card.

We got the hello kitty you you cards :)


There are 4 gondola stops. Try to go straight to Maokong and not stop in between because we saw people who got off at the intermediate stations not able to get back on the cable car to go back down during peak hours because the cars were all full.

Access: from Taipei Main station, take MRT 3 stops blue line eastward to Zhongxiao Fuxing then transfer to LRT brown line southward to terminal station Taipei Zoo and the ticket counter for Maokong is a short walk away.

http://english.gondola.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xItem=71306490&CtNode=70772&mp=122034

Yangming Shan 阳明山 and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall 中正纪念堂
We visited Taipei in March 2010 and were at Yangming Shan, Imperial Palace Museum and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. You may read more about it here.

http://usagi-melody.blogspot.sg/2010/03/taipei-day-2-yangmingshan-flower.html

http://usagi-melody.blogspot.sg/2010/03/taipei-day-5-imperial-palace-museum-and.html

http://usagi-melody.blogspot.sg/2010/03/taipei-day-6-chiang-kai-shek-memorial.html


Yong Kang Street
The food street in Taipei. You have to try the beef noodles here! It's amazing!

http://usagi-melody.blogspot.sg/2014/09/taiwan-sep-2014-food-and-souvenirs.html

http://www.ladyironchef.com/2013/08/taipei-yong-kang-street-guide/

Access: Take MRT to Dongmen station (from Taipei Main station: 2 stops red line eastward toward Xiangshan)

Here's a Taipei MRT map for reference.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adventurous Ibaraki: Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road Cycling Experience, Ume Matsuri and Mount Tsukuba

Image
The Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road is a cycling route from JR Iwase station to JR Tsuchiura station and continuing to Lake Kasumigaura loop. The stretch between JR Iwase station and JR Tsuchiura station is 40km and the loop around the lake is about 100km so the total return trip is 180km. Map of Ring Ring Road from JR Iwase station to JR Tsuchiura station We only did part of the straight route and part of the lake so we covered only about 50km. Here’s a video of our trip. IMPORTANT NOTE: We based in Tsukuba because we needed to meet a dear friend. Tsukuba is not the best starting point for this cycling route because we had to cycle 10km to intersect at a part of the Ring Ring Road since public transport connection between Tsukuba and Iwase or Tsuchiura is poor. We took a taxi from JR Tsuchiura station back to Tsukuba (¥3400). When we told the taxi-driver our destination, he smiled happily and said Arigatou!! 🤣🤣 A better plan will be as follows: Use Mito in Ibaraki as a base. Mit...
Read more

Cycling Around Mount Fuji

Image
Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at ou...
Read more

Tokyo Hanami

Image
花見 hanami literally means flower-viewing and it's a really big deal in Japan. When I saw it for the first time, I can totally understand why 桜の美しさが日本人の心を捕らえる (the beauty of sakura has captured the hearts of Japanese). No words can describe the beauty of an entire park in full bloom or 桜吹雪 sakura fubuki sakura petals raining on you. Here are some of my favourite Sakura-viewing spots in Tokyo =) 1. Chidorigafuchi Park 千鳥ケ淵 Chidorigafuchi Park near the Imperial Palace has got to be my number one hanami spot. The palace moat, lined with sakura trees, transforms into a dreamy pink stream when the petals fall onto the water surface. You can also rent and row your own boat along the moat to enjoy a different view of sakura. Definitely highly recommended! It's rather strenuous! Melody enjoying the view from the boat Nearest station:  10 min walk from Kudanshita station  You can couple the trip there with a visit to the Imperial Shrine of Yasukuni Shrine that commemorates those who pe...
Read more