Japan – Page 5 – The Wknd Travel

Hostel of the Day: BACKPACKERS HOTEL TOYO – Osaka’s Most Affordable & High-Quality Accommodation

In April 2023, I flew to Japan for the first time since the pandemic. I spent the first night in Fukuoka at Fukuoka Hana Hostel. The following day, I flew to Osaka with Peach Aviation and based there for the rest of the trip. I initially planned on taking the bus from Fukuoka, but I ended up flying because of an affordable flight.

I spent my first night in Osaka in the city’s most affordable, quality, and high-rated accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I have seen this accommodation a lot of times when I planned my previous Osaka trips, but I only stayed here for the first time on this trip. Join me as I share with you why you should consider booking today’s hostel of the day feature, Backpackers Hotel Toyo, on your next trip to Osaka, Japan.

In case you missed it, I have been to Osaka several times in the past. Here’s the list of blogs related to Osaka: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019) and Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog (2023).

Backpackers Hotel Toyo

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is a hotel or hostel for budget-minded travelers. The property offers affordable, accessible, and comfortable accommodation options in the expensive city of Osaka and the country of Japan. The hostel is nestled in a multistory building in the quiet area of Nishinari Ward.

It has been operating for years, and it has maintained its good-quality accommodation. Backpackers Hotel Toyo is rated highly on booking websites such as Agoda (8.3/10), Booking.com (8.2/10), Hostelworld (8.7/10), and Traveloka (8.9/10). These ratings are as of early January 2024, based on over 7,400 reviews across all 4 sites.

Location & Access

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is located at 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002. It may be a bit of a walk from the bustling Namba and Shinsaibashi areas, but it is close to Shinsekai, another popular area in Osaka. It is 2 minutes by foot to Exit 2 of Dobutsuen Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line, 3 minutes by foot to the East Exit of Shin-Imamiya Station of the JR Loop Line, and 5-10 minutes by foot to Shinsekai. It is approximately 40 minutes from both Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM).

The property is in a relatively quiet neighborhood but is practically near everything. It is 5-6 minutes away by subway to Dōtonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi; 20 minutes away to Universal Studios Japan; 30 minutes away to Nara Station; and about 45 minutes to an hour away from Kyoto Station.

The hostel is also near convenience stores, restaurants, and izayakas. Its location is perfect; it is an easy 10 out of 10.

Room Options

Despite being a budget accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo only offers private Japanese tatami mat rooms with shared toilets and showers. They have four room types: a Japanese-style single room without air conditioning, a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning, a Japanese-style twin room, and a Western-style twin room.

The non-air-conditioned rooms come with a fan during the summer season. The single rooms came with a small monitor, clothes hanger, and curtained windows. The twin rooms also come with a small refrigerator. All guests have access to communal shower rooms and toilets. Room prices per night vary per booking platform.

Here are the hostel’s rates (back in April 2023) if you book with them directly: Single room without air conditioning (¥1,700 per night), Single room with air conditioning (¥2,100 per night), and Twin room (¥5,000 per night).

I booked my stay with Agoda and only paid ₱823.91 for a night in a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning. I got assigned to Room 212, which was near the far end of the second floor. The room came with a tatami bed, comfortable sheets, and a pillow. It also had a small monitor, hangers, and a small dust bin.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Free Wi-Fi Access – Hotel Toyo provides wi-fi access to all its guests.

Communal Lounge Areas – The property has two communal lounge areas on the ground floor, one near the reception and one near the kitchen and dining area.

Outdoor Terrace – The hostel has an outdoor terrace on the rooftop floor. It is a designated smoking area and clothes drying area.

Desktop Computer Access – Guests can freely use the desktop computers for whatever use they need them for.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The hostel has a shared kitchen and dining area complete with kitchenware and utensils.

Shared Shower Rooms & Toilets – There are shared toilets per floor. Shared shower rooms are on the first floor. The shower rooms have complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap.

Complimentary Water Refill – The property provides complimentary water refills to those who need to fill up their water bottles and tumblers.

Complimentary Morning Coffee & Tea – Hotel Toyo provides complimentary coffee and tea from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Complimentary Public Bath in Neighboring Hotel – Guests also have complimentary access to a public bath in a neighboring hotel. Please ask the receptionist if you want to check this out.

Vending Machines – There are two vending machines found near the reception booth. These vending machines have beers, coffee, soft drinks, and water.

Video Games, Consoles, & Boardgames – There are video games, consoles, and boardgames in the first-floor common area that guests can borrow and play with.

Ping-Pong Room – Guests can also play ping-pong in the ping-pong room on the 6^th floor.

Laundry & Ironing Facilities – The laundry and ironing facilities on the first floor can be used for an additional charge. Please approach the receptionist if you want to wash or iron your clothes.

Luggage Storage – The hostel can keep your luggage before check-in or up to 10:00 p.m. after check-out. After 10:00 p.m., the luggage storage fee costs ¥300 per night, unless you have an upcoming booking within the next 2 weeks.

Long Reception Hours – Hotel Toyo’s reception is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Guests arriving beyond 11:00 p.m. need to contact the property before check-in for instructions on what to do.

Bicycle Rental – The property offers bicycle rentals for those who want to rent one during their stay.

Hostel Shop & Merchandise – Hotel Toyo has a small shop that sells trip essentials like razors and adapters. They also sell hostel merchandise such as shirts, tote bags, and even postcards.

Multilingual Staff – The hostel staff can speak in Japanese, English, and Chinese languages.

Secured Hostel Areas – The property is equipped with a 24/7 surveillance system. There are security cameras in the common areas and in the hostel communal areas.

Hostel Experience

I had a quick but valuable stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I only stayed there for one night, but I already know why this property is highly rated by its guests.

Backpackers Hotel Toyo leads the game with its affordable and valuable price point. For less than ₱850 per night, the guest can enjoy a private room with a traditional tatami bed and air conditioning. This low nightly private room rate is rare in a first-world country like Japan.

The property does a good job of keeping their communal showers and toilets clean and well-maintained. They also provide bath amenities like liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The hostel may not serve any food, but it boasts complimentary morning tea and coffee and free water refills for all its guests.

The hostel vibe is fun and social. Guests easily mingle with other co-guests. They can easily find mates to join and go around the city with. Lastly, I find it nice that the hostel showcases and sells their merchandise to their guests. The hostel takes pride in their accommodation and offers souvenirs for those who want to remember the fun experience they had on the property.

During my stay, I noticed some areas in which the hostel could further improve. First, the place is already starting to show its age. Everything still works fine, but you can see that the place has been there for a long time and might need some renovation in the medium term.

Second, the hostel might need to monitor the cleanliness of the communal areas more. The living, kitchen, and dining areas were not so clean during my stay. There were leftover plastics in the living room and other misplaced stuff in the kitchen and wash areas. There is a big chance that these were left by other guests, but I believe the hostel can implement stricter measures to prevent this from happening.

Lastly, the property does not have lifts. Travelers who bring large suitcases or big luggage need to carry them up to the upper floors if they are assigned on the upper rooms. I know this can be out of the property’s control, but I am putting it here for future guests to see if this will be a factor for them or not.

Overall, it was a lovely stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I will surely be back at this property for its price, location, and vibe. I hope you can consider staying in this affordable, valuable, and high-rated Osaka accommodation.

For any questions or booking-related inquiries, feel free to reach out to Backpackers Hotel Toyo on these platforms:

Backpackers Hotel Toyo
Address: 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002
Phone Number: +81 6 6649 6348
Email Address: info@hotel-toyo.jp
Website: www.hotel-toyo.jp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hoteltoyo
Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackers_hoteltoyo

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

Early this year, I flew to Japan for a week for the first time since the pandemic and since I flew to Fukuoka in 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do. I went there to enjoy being in the country again after not visiting it for over 3 years.

In case you missed it, I already shared a few details about this trip. I talked about my domestic flight experience with Peach Aviation here: Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight. I also shared some photos of Osaka and Nara here: Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog.

One of the new places I explored during this trip is Kyoto’s green tea heaven, Uji. Allow me to share with you what I did and where I went on this half-day trip to Uji. I will also share photos and details of my side trip to Kyoto on the same day.

I have been to Kyoto a few times in the past. I went there last October 2015 during my first trip to Japan. I re-visited the city again in 2016 during my 13-day expedition around Nagoya, Kansai and Hiroshima. In 2019, I spent a day in Kyoto from Osaka with my sisters and explored the city highlights.

Uji

Uji is a small city nestled between Kyoto and Nara. The city became a beneficiary of developments during the Heian Period when Byōdō-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine were constructed.

Today, the city is famous for its quality green tea products. It is one of Japan’s most important green tea production and distribution areas; it is also the place-to-be for green tea and matcha lovers.

Transportation & Access

Going around Uji is easy and tourist-friendly. The best way to get around the important sights is by foot. The city center is so small to the point where you can walk around the center in one morning or one afternoon. The city’s tourist information center suggests a typical walking route to see and explore the city’s attractions in one loop.

The city is connected to the rest of Japan through two stations: JR Uji Station in the Nara Line (south of the Uji River) and Keihan Uji Station in the Keihan Uji Line (north of the Uji River). JR Pass holders are advised to get off at the JR Uji Station, while IC card holders can take the Uji local train line. Both stations are connected to other major train lines in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Places Visited in Uji

I took the local trains from Osaka and got off at Keihan Uji Station. I dropped by the tourist information center and asked for the recommended walking loop, and I was given a map with the best possible route. I went to the following places:

UJIGAMI SHRINE

Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the north side of the Uji River. It is believed to be one of Japan’s longest-standing shrines and is linked to the Byōdō-in Temple. The shrine was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

UJI SHRINE

Uji Shrine is another Shinto shrine found lower than the Ujigami Shrine, also on the north side of the Uji River.

UJI RIVER

The Uji River is a beautiful river that flows through the city. River cruises and traditional fishing activities happen on this river during peak seasons.

ASAGIRIBASHI BRIDGE

Asagiribashi Bridge is a walking bridge that connects the northern part of the city to Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park.

KYOTO PREFECTURAL UJI PARK

Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park with scenic views of the city and a 13^th-century stone pagoda. The park is on two islands – Tachibana Island and Tō-no-shima Island.

UJI CITY MUNICIPAL TEA HOUSE TAIHOAN

After crossing the river and walking around the park, I walked to the municipal tea ceremony house (taihoan) to witness a traditional tea ceremony. I had a wonderful experience watching the tea ceremony. The ceremony has a ¥1,000 fee, and it includes mochi and a high-quality Uji green tea. Photos and videos were not allowed during the ceremony.

BYŌDŌ-IN TEMPLE

Byōdō-in Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the Heian Period. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is also the temple found at the back of the 10-yen coin. Entry to the temple grounds costs ¥600 per person.

AGATA SHRINE

Around 100 meters from Byōdō-in’s exit is Agata Shrine. It is a Shinto guardian shrine of Byōdō-in.

MATSUSAKAYA KAHACHI

I randomly came across this local tea shop named Matsusakaya Kahachi. I was invited by the two old gentlemen to go inside their shop and was taught how to make a hot sencha green tea drink from dried tea leaves.

They offered me three small cups of sencha tea. They do not speak English but tried their best to converse with me using their hands and gestures.

I liked their sencha tea product and bought both sencha tea leaves and matcha green tea powder from this shop. I had a beautiful and heartwarming experience with these two old gentlemen. I want to visit them again in the future and buy lots of green tea leaves and matcha powder from their shop.

PS. I asked for their permission to post their photo on my website.

UJI BYODOIN OMOTESANDO

Uji Byodoin Omotesando is the city’s green tea and matcha heaven. This 300-meter street is full of wooden houses and merchant shops selling green tea leaves, matcha powder, and everything green tea or matcha.

I came across this unique restaurant that serves ramen with matcha noodles. I tried it for lunch and paired it with their signature Uji matcha gyoza. It was weird at first, but okay for the experience.

TSUEN TEA HOUSE MAIN BRANCH

On the way back to Keihan Uji Station, I dropped by Tsuen Tea House’s main branch and tried their sakura matcha soft serve ice cream. I had one of the best and most flavorful soft-serve ice creams in this store!

The soft-serve iced cream costs ¥380. Customers can choose between matcha only, sakura only, or sakura matcha (mixed) flavors.

SURUGAYA KEIHAN UJI STATION

I also dropped by a local confectionary shop named Surugaya and tried their ¥100 green tea mochi sticks.

Kyoto Side Trip

After spending 4-5 hours around Uji, I took the local from Keihan Uji Station to Gion-Shijō Station in Kyoto. I spent the remaining 3 hours walking around Gion, and I visited Nishiki Market, Ponto-chō, Ninenzaka, and the Instagram-famous Hōkan-ji Temple. Here are some photos of these famous Kyoto spots.

NISHIKI MARKET

PONTO-CHŌ

NINENZAKA

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

After my quick trip to Kyoto, I took the train back to Osaka, dropped by the supermarket to get some food, walked back to my hostel, had dinner, and called it a day.

This sums up my long but fun day around Uji and Kyoto. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blog. I hope you stay tuned for more Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023]

Last April, I went on a quick trip to Japan for the first time since Fukuoka in October 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do since I revisited the same places I had been to a few years ago: Osaka and Nara.

I booked my ticket in November 2022 when Cebu Pacific Air offered a ₱1 base fare sale during 11.11. I flew in via Fukuoka, and then I took a domestic flight to Osaka afterwards. I stayed in Osaka for 6 nights and decided to just go around the city and the nearby cities for the rest of the trip.

In case you missed it, I have been to Osaka and Nara several times in the past. Here’s the list of blogs related to these 2 cities: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Going Solo in Japan Series: NARA & KOBE (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019) and Japan Highlights 2019: NARA – A Morning Visit To The Deer Park (2019).

This post will be different since I will not talk about where you should go or what you should do in these cities. I will only share random photos of the places I have been on this trip. Spoiler alert! I still saw some cherry blossoms in Nara. Enjoy!

Osaka

Dōtonbori

Hozenji Yokocho

Kuromon Ichiba

Shinsekai

Nara

Todai-ji Namdaimon

Tōdai-ji Chumon

Nara Deer Park

Kōfuku-ji Chukondo & Kofuku-ji

It felt surreal visiting Dōtonbori again after a few years. It also felt amazing to see the world-famous cherry blossoms for the first time in x years of going to Japan.

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. I hope you stay tuned for Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tuesday Tip: 4 TRUSTED HOSTEL GROUPS To Check When Looking For AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION in JAPAN

We can’t deny the fact that Japan accommodation prices are very high compared to those of our neighboring countries. From someone who’s been to a number of countries, I can vouch that it actually has one of the most expensive per night rates (both in hotels & hostels) in Asia.

I’ve been flying to Japan every year since 2015 & believe it or not, I’ve never stayed in a hotel. I always go for the cheaper & comfortable option of staying in hostels. I have the tendency to be very picky on which hostel to choose & what time of room or dormitory configuration to book but so far, I’ve never made a bad decision. All rooms & bed types I got in the past are decent, secured, comfortable, some are a little bit over the usual price but totally worth every yen.

In the last 5 years of flying to & travelling around Japan, I discovered 4 trusted hostel groups that offer affordable & over-the-top services to its guests. Note that I’ve stayed in at least one property of these hostel groups in the past. If you’ve been following my Hostel Of The Day posts in the past, you’ll see some of featured hostels coming from these hostel groups. These hostels are located in places or cities where most foreigners go or visit.

The aim of these hostel groups is to provide the best quality of hospitality in the most affordable price or rate. I can assure you that all hostels under these hostel groups provide the best comfort they can at such low prices. Allow me to share with you which hostel groups you should check for your next Japan trip.

Have you read the article I posted about the pattern in getting the best travel accommodation deals online? If not, better check out this post.

Oak Hotel Group

Oak Hotel Group is a hostel group owned & managed by Oakhouse Co Ltd. The group started in 1992 as living spaces for foreigners in Japan. It has transformed into share houses for both foreigners & locals. A few years after, the hostel is operating in 6 locations in Tokyo & 1 in Nara. The hostel group’s concept is ‘enjoyable living.’ True enough, all their properties are equipped with facilities that provide comfortable & enjoyable experience.

Here are the current Oak Hotel properties: Oak Hostel Sakura in Oshiage, Oak Hotel Edo in Morishita, Oak Hostel Fuji in Asakusa, Oak Hostel Zen in Ueno, Oak Hostel Cabin in Tokyo, Oak Hotel Ikebukuro in Ikebukuro & Oak Hostel Nara in Nara.

Check out these photos of Oak Hostel Zen’s common lounge, wash, kitchen & dining areas. Neat!

My favorite Tokyo hostel is under this hostel group – Oak Hostel Zen. In fact, I already stayed in this property for 3 times (2015, 2017 & 2018) & I am planning to go back in the future. Check out the hostel of the day feature of Oak Hostel Zen.

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group

J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels Group is a combination of 2 smaller hostel groups – J-Hoppers & Hana Hostels. J-Hoppers started in 2002 in Kyoto, Japan in a small building near Kyoto Station. Different branches have been added since then. The owner’s vision in creating this hostel group is to give foreigners a ‘home’ during their ‘Japan-hopping’ trips.

This hostel group also operates J-Stay, a shared-house business for those who want to stay in Kyoto for a longer time, J-Hop Tour, a bus-tour that runs from Osaka or Kyoto to Shirkawa-go & Hida Takayama & hana SAKE bar, a sake bar located on the ground floor of the Osaka property.

The hostel group currently has 12 properties across different locations: J-Hoppers Kyoto, J-Hoppers Hida Takayama, J-Hoppers Lake Biwa, J-Hoppers Kumano Yunomine, J-Hoppers Osaka, J-Hoppers Osaka Universal, J-Hoppers Hiroshima, Kyoto Hana Hostel, Osaka Hana Hostel, Hiroshima Hana Hostel, Fukuoka Hana Hostel & Gion Ryokan Q-Beh.

This is how a bed in a Hana Hostel dormitory bed looks like. It’s spacious, clean & comfortable. 🙂

One of my recent hostel of the day features is that of Fukuoka Hana Hostel where I came back for the second time. I stayed in the same property (& same room) last November 2016 when I went hopping around different cities. I also stayed in Osaka Hana Hostel & Hiroshima Hana Hostel in November 2016.

K’s House Quality Hostels

K’s House Quality Hostels is a multi-awarded hostel chain that started business in 2003 in Kyoto. As per the company’s website, their group’s concept is to provide ‘inexpensive, convenient & comfortable accommodation for travelers.’ They aim to be true to this concept by providing all guests with quality service, spacious communal areas & comfortable bedding be it in private or dormitory rooms. The group currently operates 12 properties & plans to expand to more locations in the coming years.

The hostel group also operates an affordable Mount Fuji One Day Tour & another accommodation branch, K’s Villa which offers affordable vacation rentals in various locations.

The operating hostels of K’s House are the following: K’s House Kyoto, K’s House Tokyo, K’s House Tokyo Oasis, K’s House Hiroshima, K’s House Mt Fuji, K’s House Fuji View, K’s House Hakone, K’s House Ito Onsen, K’s House Takayama, K’s House Takayama Oasis, K’s House Kanazawa & K’s House Hakuba Alps.

K’s House Kyoto’s spacious common area. This area is the best place to meet people traveling Japan.

K’s House Mt Fuji’s 8-bed dormitory room. Stayed in this dormitory room last November 2017.

I’ve always been a fan of K’s House. I stayed in K’s House Kyoto in 2015 when I flew to Japan with my high school friends. I went back to K’s House Kyoto following year with another friend from work. In 2017, I stayed in K’s House Mt Fuji & K’s House Takayama Oasis when I visited Kawaguchiko & Hida Takayama for a few days.

Khaosan Hostel Group

The last of my 4 trusted hostel groups is Japan is Khaosan Hostel Group. The group is owned by Manryo Co Ltd which started business in January 2004. The owners of the group have transformed old buildings, love hotels & restaurants into shared accommodation & now have 9 operating properties in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. The company’s goal is to create a community of travelers having a great time together regardless of nationality, background & companions.

Khaosan Group currently operates & maintains the following 9 properties: Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Samurai, Khaosan World Ryogoku Hostel, Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory, Khaosan Tokyo Origami, Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki in Tokyo, Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse in Kyoto & Khaosan World Tennoji Hostel & Khaosan World Namba Hostel in Osaka.

The family deluxe room with tatami-style beds we got at Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel.

I stayed in one of their love hotel turned accommodation in Asakusa – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel – last February with my family. We enjoyed our stay in a Japanese (tatami) style spacious room. My high school friends also had nice reviews about their stay at the Namba property last November 2018.

The hostels may be operating under different hostel groups but bear in mind that their goals are one & the same – to provide comfortable, affordable & quality accommodation when travelling around Japan. I’ve stayed in at least one property of each hostel group & I recommend all of them to you my readers. It will now depend on your room choice, price difference & preferences on which hostel group or property you’ll book your next stay. Good luck in making those decisions.

Look how super spacious & clean this dormitory room. Took this when I stayed with Oak Hostel Zen

Have you stayed in one of the properties mentioned above? How was your stay? Are you planning to go back in one of those accommodations? Are there other Japanese hostel groups that I need to know & try in the future? Feel free to mention those properties or groups in the comments below. You can also send the details to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: MATSUMOTO & FUKUOKA Stopovers

Now, I’ve shared much detail about my recent Japan trip – from spending 36 hours in Tokyo, exploring Nagano in 48 hours to going around Kyoto for a day, riding thrill rides at Universal Studios Japan & playing with the sacred deer of Nara Deer Park. I’ve also talked about the hostels I’ve stayed with – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel, Dot Hostel Nagano, New World Inn Osaka & Fukuoka Hana Hostel.

It was a beautiful, clear & sunny day in Fukuoka during my 22-hour stopover last February 2019.

There’s one more part I’d like to share with you to complete the details of this Japan 2019 trip. In between the places & hostels I mentioned above are 2 cities where I stopped for a few hours – Matsumoto & Fukuoka. Allow me to share with you the details of my stopovers in these cities.

Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a mountain city in central Japan; it is the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture. This very small & simple city is known for its beautiful castle & the view of the Japan Alps. I had about 3 hours of stopover in between trips from Nagano to Osaka.

I took about an hour trip from Nagano to Matsumoto via the local JR line. We passed by the snowy mountains & smaller towns of central Japan. Upon arrival at the station, I was welcomed by the beautiful view of the alps. I had a 3-hour stopover so I decided to walk around the city.

Matsumoto Castle

The city’s landmark is the country-famous Matsumoto Castle. Know locally as Matsumotojo, this is one of country’s original & most beautiful castles. It is a castle that is built on a flat ground rather than a hill or a mountain. This castle dates back to the ancient 1600’s & still has the majority of the original structure. Entrance to the castle grounds is free while a fee of ¥600 needs to be paid if guests want to go inside the castle buildings. I didn’t have enough time to inside the buildings; I explored the nearby streets instead.

One of the streets near the castle is Nakamachi Street. This street is full of ancient & preserved wooden houses that have been converted into commercial spaces & souvenir shops. There wasn’t much going on when I walked along the street.

Matsumoto Station

The city’s main hub is Matsumoto Station. Everyone that travels to the city by land drops by this station. This station is also an inevitable place to see when visiting the city because of its modern & clean facilities.

Japan Alps

One of the most beautiful views that welcomed me in Matsumoto is the view of the Japan Alps. I’ve seen the same alps in 2017 from Mount Fuji’s 4th Station but seeing them a bit closer was different. These alps run along the mountains of Central Japan, mostly in Nagano Prefecture. Most of the areas in Matsumoto provide a nice sight of the alps.

After walking around Matsumoto for a few hours, I headed to the Alpico Bus Terminal in front of Matsumoto Station & took the afternoon bus to Osaka where I met with my sisters.

Fukuoka

The second stopover I made & the last city I visited on my recent Japan trip is Fukuoka. As mentioned in my previous posts, I had to go to Fukuoka because it was from this city where I got my cheap flight back to Manila. Believe it or not, my Fukuoka to Manila ticket cost me less than ₱700 not including check in baggage. Cheap right? I got this on way ticket from one of GetGo‘s points sale last August 2018.

I’ve been to Fukuoka in 2016 so I decided to just walk around the city in this 22-hour stopover. I booked a night stay in Fukuoka Hana Hostel (again) & explored the nearby area by foot right before my flight. I went around the following areas.

Kawabata Shopping Arcade

My hostel was located along Kawabata Shopping Arcade. I took this chance to check on the local shops, restaurants & cafes in the arcade. The area is tourist-friendly though I find it catering more to the local crowd than the tourists. I still had a nice stroll anyway.

Tenjin

Tenjin is Fukuoka’s downtown area. Located about 15 minutes walk from my hostel, this area is full of shops, fancy restaurants & night clubs & bars. It is also where you will find most of the locals & tourists; also the place to see a lot of Hakata ramen places.

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata is Fukuoka’s largest & most unique shopping complex. This 5-storey commercial complex has about 200 shops & restaurants & 2 hotels with canals running through the building.

One of the unique areas you’ll see in this shopping mall is the Ramen Stadium in the fifth floor. It is an area of 8 restaurants serving different flavors of ramen from various Japan cities & areas.

Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine is the Shinto shrine a few meters away from my hostel in Hakata. The famous local festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa is being held in this shrine every July. I was there on a weekend so there were a lot of people in the shrine.

I only decided to walk around the area near my hostel because I was a bit tired. It was the last of 9 days in Japan & I’ve been out & about for the past days. That laid back last day was the one I wished for before flying back to Manila the same night.

So there you go.. This post sums up my stopovers in Matsumoto & Fukuoka & my February 2019 Japan trip in general. Thank you for taking time in reading my posts & sharing them in the online world. I appreciate all the comments, emails & messages I receive. They keep me going!

Do you have any question about Matsumoto, Fukuoka or the whole trip in general? Feel free to post them in the comments below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Can you do me a favor? I hope you can help me promote my social media pages to your friends & families – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The end of a trip series means a start of another series. That’s right – watch out for my upcoming posts about my recently-concluded Melbourne trip with my N9 friends.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.