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Showing posts from January, 2019

Cycling Around Mount Fuji

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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 our ryokan Kozan
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Tokyo Asakusa: Breaking tiles and Baking Taiyaki (Dec 2018)

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If you have already experienced walking through Kaminarimon with the crowd to Sensoji and do not wish to do that again, you can head to the top of the tourist information center for an aerial view of the crowd and a great view of Tokyo Sky Tree nearby. There is a free open area and a cafe. We saw an episode on NHK world that featured some interesting activities in Asakusa that we wanted very much to try so we hunted down these two which are within walking distance from Asakusa subway station and each other. You need to make a reservation for the taiyaki experience at the website and you need to pay for each person that enters. Initially I signed up only for one so that the other person can take photos and videos but they didn't allow that. The tile-breaking is just a walk-in, no reservations required. I'll let the photos and videos speak for themselves. Here are the websites we referred to: https://guraku-taiyaki.jimdo.com/ https://www.fun-japan.jp/my/articles/4703
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Ishikawa: Kanazawa, Hakui, Wajima (Dec 2018)

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Kanazawa Despite arriving after dark, the majestic Tsuzumimon didn’t fail to impress. Gloriously illuminated, it was the perfect backdrop for a photograph.  We checked into Dormy Inn hotel which is a short 3 min walk from JR Kanazawa station and has a public bath with hot spring water from Kaga Onsen on level 14. The hotel is 3 star and rooms are not fantastic but for its proximity to the station and public bath, it was decent.  Can consider Via Inn Kanazawa hotel which is connected to the station or ANA hotel. The next day, we took a JR bus (covered by JR Pass) to WARGO kimono rental shop at Korinbo which is walking distance to Korakuen and the 21st Century Contemporary Art Museum. The lady at the shop taught me how to use the toilet while wearing a kimono. A very important skill indeed! As I wanted to take photos at Higashi-Chaya district in kimono and it’s tough to take buses in a kimono (at least for me... how do you even raise your leg to get on the bus??), we took a short taxi
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Nakasendo: From Magome to Tsumago (Dec 2018)

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We started our journey from Nakatsugawa, a 48-min train ride from Nagoya (covered by JR Pass), followed by a 25-min bus ride (¥560 not covered by JR Pass).  Outside Nakatsugawa Tour Information Center We stayed at Magome for one night and started our walk from Magome to Tsumago the next day. Here’s a video of our walk: We had hand-made soba in a family-run restaurant. It was nice to have a hot bowl of noodles in the cold weather. On the way back to our minshuku, we stopped by for a cup of tea at one of the tea houses. Our accommodation was Magome Chaya, a minshuku owned by a Japanese man and his Filipino wife. The lady who served us is the wife’s sister. There is option to include dinner and breakfast. We suggest you take it as there isn’t much nearby. Not even convenience stores. They have a common kitchen that you can use if you have your own ingredients though. Our 6-tatami mat room. The heater is not very effective so it was really cold. After the day trippers leave, you can enjo
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