Osaka - Tokyo (24th October 2008 - 30th October 2008)

On the 24th Oct evening, after driving my colleague home and telling her that I’m going to see her in a few hours time in Changi Airport T1… I finally arrived in T1

Boarded the JAL flight in midnight. It was my first time taking a non-SQ flight. Not used to the entertainment system.. I think I watched some movie but I am sleepier than awake most of the time… Did caught the sunrise though
Then it is welcome to Kansai Airport (Osaka)
First stop, Nara deer park, where there are lots of deers, and some can be real cheeky sniffing your butt… or come rushing after the food in your hand
And Todai-ji temple

Looks similar to the ticket right =p

Autumn is coming and you can start seeing the teeny autumn reddish colour peeking already.. I believed this would be a lovely sight during autumn
Especially with the maple turning autumn red
Then some of the group went to Universal studio… where you can see the Japanese willing to dress up as witches, princesses, angelKAWAII!

While the rest of us headed to Kobe - Chinatown (Nankinmachi) for lunch

And Kobe - Harbourland for shopping. And Japan takes Halloween seriously… lots of Halloween theme
Caught sight of the Oriental hotel which I once saw in my colleague’s photo. Remembered that I find it an odd shape looking hotel
There is an amusement area in Harbourland too… with a big Ferris wheel
Because of my brother’s gf, I am constantly taking picture of Rilakuma (other than my favourite Disney Ariel and Twin Star – Kiki and Lala). Anyway this was the first Rilakuma I see in Japan, hmm in brown and white. I ended up buying the brown one for her. (Found out later the white one is Rila's gf... luckily I got the brown one)
After shopping we went back Universal Studio to pick the group.. while waiting, we shopped in Hard Rock Café and I caught sight of this beautiful display of collar pins
Oh the lights are coming up in Universal studio

Then is more shopping in Shin sai bashi suji. I quite like this place too because there is really a large variety of cheap beauty products. Unfortunately we were not given a lot of time and I did not explored the whole street… If I’m back in Osaka, this is one street I am definitely revisiting.

Then dinner and rest in a round hotel called Osaka Daiichi Hotel (06 6341 4411)

On the 2nd day, we woke up real early to visit the Osaka castle. Though I have seen it in my parent’s photos, but when you are there, you can sense this lovely imposing historical monument


More beautiful monuments ahead – Kyoto Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji). Out of the 3 levels, one is made of real gold. Guess which one? (You have to seek the developer for the answer.)


Then Kyoto – Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) where there are a few temples, one for studies, one for love. It is said that if you walk from one end to the other of this love stone with your eyes closed, thinking only of that dream guy/girl, and if you managed to touch the stone at the other end, it means you are connected aka FATE. I wonder who will be willingly to try it.. partly as there was a crowd that day and I feel if I bumped into someone, then how?

But while FBing someone’s photo (who visited there one day after me I think), I saw that she really tried it. Though I don’t know her as she happened to be part of the tour group which my friend belonged (talking about that, my friend went roughly the same trail as me and yet she only tell me when she’s back… sigh sometimes I really don’t know her haha.. oh well, don’t begrudge. Most importantly, she is happy can already)

On the Kiyomizu dera's main hall (hondo)'s foot, flows out the water of an underground spring. The water of this small waterfall - Otowa waterfall (Otowa no taki 音羽の滝) is drinkable and, according to a local belief, has some curative properties, what explains the temple's name itself. In fact the waterfall is divided in three thin trickles. A local belief affirms that to drink water from the right fall makes people intelligent, drink water from the middle fall makes people handsome and to drink water from the left one ensures a long life!
(Source: http://japan.chez-alice.fr/Kyoto/Japan/Kiyomizu.htm)

Take a pick, which stream do you want?


More shopping when walking along the steep and busy lanes of the atmospheric Higashiyama district on the way back to the bus.

In between all these beautiful historical monuments, we caught a Kimono show with several elegant looking models


Then we took a leisurely ride on the Shinkansen (bullet train),


Alighting one stop later to Nagoya underground shopping area

Where we were left to roam about (find our dinner and more shopping) before retiring in Royal Park Inn, Nagoya (052 581 4411)


At my friend’s advice, decided to take a photo of the brolly stand which has lock as she said you can’t find it in SG. However when I showed my dad, he said he ever saw in SG.. hmm…


Well although one can find drink machine and sandwich machine plentiful in SG (NUS has a few already).. but a food machine like this.. impressive still

Next stop, a Japanese tea ceremony in Shizuoka Green Tea Plantation, after which we were given a sweet dessert to eat before tasting the bitter green tea served in such a big cup. Somehow I think we were all mistaken about those Japanese tea set. And I wonder are Japanese really believe in 先甜后苦?

Oh our way to lunch, we caught our first glimpse of Mt Fuji… beautiful with the cloud beside it
Cuttlefish money, anyone? Haha. Oh I also bought a McDuck money in Disney Sea later on… Admit it, I’m money –minded.


After lunch, time for a leisure cruise in Lake Ashi

Before heading to a sulphurous Owakudani Valley to eat the egg cooked in such boiling water. It is said that 1 egg can lengthen your life by 7 years, but please don’t be greedy and eat more than 2 eggs.


Time to retire, this time in a resort looking hotel – Fit Resort Club Hotel (0555 72 1881) where the room I had has a jacuzzi.. cool!

Woke up bright and early for an onsen (last night jacuzzi, morning onsen.. not bad right haha) and to catch sight of the pretty autumn maple leaves lying about. This hotel is really lovely (else I doubt it can be a resort already).

While having breakfast in the hotel, we caught sight of the cape of Mt Fuji. So excited as it is not easy to catch sight of the cape, considering my parents and my colleague both did not get to see it. My colleague caught the snow view though.Yeah finally at 5th station of Japan’s most sacred mountain.

Do u see the moon?
Mt Fuji just in front of me… awesome
Bye bye Mt Fuji…and Hello to this Amusement Park that tour guide was describing though I cannot remember what she said. Did I mentioned my tour guide is one very wacky humorous lady.

Anyone want some hot canned red bean soup? Interesting concept!
Finally in Asakusa Kannon Temple. It was a year ago when I visited it. Some differences can be spotted, especially with the Shichi-Go-San (七五三, seven-five-three) festival for the children around the corner.

Then more flea shopping in Ueno where I bought my scallop and wasabi biscuit.. yummy! Then lunch in Ueno. One had to first buy your ticket via this machine before collecting your food.  Another machine idea..

More shopping at 100 yen shop (Mum did comment I shopped more this time compared to my previous Japan trip)Before resting our tired legs in Shinjuku Washington Hotel (03 3343 3111)

It’s the second last day, and we are spending the whole day either in Disney land


Or Disney Sea (my preferred choice because where else to find my Ariel haha)


Lovely photos in picture. Took a group picture here too but haha not gonna show you guys.

After catching a boat ride, a train ride, some performances.. I finally reached Mermaid lagoon.


I think it is Tokyo Disney 25th anniversary, remembering seeing it in my parents photos then too. I used to have a USA 25th anniversary collar pin too.. wonder where is it now.

After a day’s play, we settled in Narital Excel Hotel Tokyu (0476 33 0109). You can find Halloween theme in this hotel too…


Last day, some last minute shopping in Aeon Mall .


Happy Halloween


And Bye Bye Japan =D

I realised I never mentioned much on food, partly as I’m not a food person. But I’m glad I finally tried Sake (in the return flight)


And Crepe in Aeon mall.

I think I quite like the last hour sitting in Rainbow Hut (that’s the crepe café name), eating my crepe, writing my diary and people watching. It kind of help me collate up my entire trip memories. Somehow I wish to replicate such atmosphere back home, instead of being caught in the busy and rush state that most people are in (you will know if you realise how long I took to write this blog).  And as usual, I just can't get bored with Japan I suppose.