Category: Japan

Hokkaido Winter Series: The Ultimate Japan Winter Experience Without Breaking The Bank (7 Days For Less than ₱45,000 all-in)

Hi, it’s me again. If you’ve followed my blog in the past, I’ve published posts about travelling to Japan on tight budget. In 2015, my friends & I went to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka for 9 days & spent only ₱40,000 (all in – including airfare) each. In 2016, I went on a solo journey across 7 cities over 13 days for less than ₱50,000. I went to Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama last November for less than ₱35,000 over 7 days (including a flight change). Since coming to Japan in 2015, I’ve considered it as my next favorite country to the Philippines.

With my travel buddy, Shane, in Sapporo Teine!

I post blogs like those to prove that travelling to an expensive country like Japan can also be affordable. 3 months ago, my friend Shane & I went to Hokkaido, Japan for 7 days & spent less ₱45,000 (all in – including flights). Pretty cheap, eh? Yes! This leads me to introducing the next series of blogs in this website – the Hokkaido Winter Series. We’ve also experienced a lot & had many ‘firsts’ in this Hokkaido trip. I can’t wait to share our trip with you.

Let it snow, let it snow, let is snow!

Japan winter season may be over this year but it’s never too late to look back how we made this trip very affordable. We started planning around June 2017 & we’re happy everything went smooth as planned. Let me share to you how we planned this trip & how it didn’t shock our bank accounts.

I was very happy that everything’s covered with snow!

February 2018 Exchange Rate: 1 Japanese Yen = 0.49 Philippine Pesos

Plane Tickets

There are no direct flights that connect Manila & Sapporo at the moment. The easiest & fastest way to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo is via Tokyo. Shane & I were lucky to buy a Cebu Pacific Air piso-fare return ticket to Tokyo for only ₱2,225.76 each. We added prepaid baggage for both flights – ₱690 each for 15 kgs & ₱970 each for 20 kgs. The round-trip ticket to Japan, including baggage, cost us ₱3,885.76 each. Our ticket was so cheap considering each flight takes 4 to 5 hours.

Our piso-fare ticket to Tokyo.. Thank you Cebu Pacific Air!

We bought another return ticket – this time from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. There are only 2 low-cost airlines flying between these two airports – Jetstar Japan & Vanilla Air. Shane & I went for Jetstar Japan – of course the cheaper option. The return domestic tickets cost us ₱6,151.89 each including 15 kgs baggage. Yes, domestic airline tickets in Japan are expensive. In fact, the 2 x 1 hour 45 minutes-flight to & from Sapporo was way expensive than our 2 x 4-hour flights to & from Tokyo.

Overall, the return tickets from Manila to Sapporo, with layovers in Tokyo, cost us ₱10,037.65 each. Getting all tickets for that amount is so affordable – definitely a bargain!

Our ticket from Tokyo to Sapporo. Domestic tickets in Japan are expensive!

Wondering how I get super cheap tickets like these? I actually wrote two posts about scoring the most affordable airline tickets. Check these posts (part 1 & part 2) out!

Also, the Philippine government requires all Filipino tourists going out of the country to pay ₱1,620 pesos for the travel tax. I don’t know what the tax is for & where they use it; but yeah, everyone’s required to pay before getting your boarding pass.

The Jetstar Airbus 320 sharklet plane we used to Sapporo

Hot news! Philippine Airlines revealed to Inquirer last month that they are looking to mount a direct flight from Manila to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo later this year. There are no details when the flight will start & what the flight times are but I hope this pushes through.

Tourist Visa

Filipinos need a tourist visa when visiting Japan. In 2016, the Japan Embassy in the Philippines granted me a 5-year multiple entry tourist visa until October 2021. Shane also had a 5-year multiple entry tourist visa. We didn’t apply for a tourist visa for this trip; we used our existing visa.

A clear winter morning in Sapporo

Interested to know how I got my 5-year multiple entry tourist visa to Japan? Check out these 4 easy tips on how you can get a Japan tourist visa. The article includes tips for easier application.

Accommodations

We stayed in 2 hostels for this trip. It was my friend Shane’s first time in a hostel so I made sure we stay in the nice ones. Our 5-night stay in The Stay Sapporo Hostel cost us ₱6,354.54 each, that includes a ₱500 off from Traveloka. The rate includes 5 nights in a 7-bed dormitory room with access to hostel’s common areas. I’ll talk more about the hostel when I post the more detail post or itinerary of this Sapporo trip.

Booked our Sapporo hostel via Traveloka

We stayed for a night in Tokyo before our flight back to Manila. We stayed in my favorite hostel in Tokyo, Oak Hostel Zen. We paid ₱644.09 each via Agoda for a night stay in an 8-bed mixed dormitory room. I don’t need to talk about Oak Hostel Zen because I already wrote reviews about this hostel in my past Tokyo trips. I’ve been to Tokyo 3 times & I’ve stayed with this hostel in all my trips.

Booked our Tokyo stay with Agoda

Shane & I paid ₱6,998.63 each for the 6 nights we spent in Japan. Accommodation in this country is very expensive so getting a bed for around ₱1,160+ average per night is already a good deal!

READ! I wrote about our experience in The Stay Sapporo. Check out this article.

Pocket Wi-Fi

One of Sapporo’s iconic building – the Old Hokkaido Government Building

As mentioned in my previous Japan blogs, a pocket Wi-Fi is a necessity when travelling around Japan. Not only does it help you upload photos in various social media platforms & communicate with your loved ones back home, it also helps you navigate your walks & direct which trains / lines to take. Shane & I got our device from Klook. The 7-day pocket Wi-Fi device rental cost us ₱1,887.36 – that’s 943.68 each.The device we got is a 4G LTE capable one & it has unlimited data allocation.

Ski Day Trip

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort

This Sapporo trip was our first winter trip & a winter trip will never be complete without skiing. Shane & I don’t know how to ski so we took Sapporo Teine‘s First Time Ski Experience Group Lesson. The whole day lesson cost us ¥14,000 (or ₱6,860) each. The rate includes ski equipment & outfit rental, instructors & gondola fees, a 1 hour 30 minute basic ski lesson in the morning & a 1 hour 30 minute downhill ski practice in the afternoon.

Photo with our ski instructors

The ski resort’s rate is expensive but their rate is actually the cheapest we saw in Sapporo. It was our first time to go skiing so we decided to invest for the experience. The ski experience was worth it. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

I wrote a separate article about our Ski Day Trip to Sapporo Teine Resort. Check out the article here.

Sapporo Beer Garden Lunch

Sapporo Beer Garden – my liver is happy!

Apart from our first winter & ski experience, Shane & I also had our first unlimited Genghis Khan lamb experience in one of the restaurants in Sapporo Beer Garden. This shredded mutton barbecue is a famous local dish in Hokkaido. The buffet includes unlimited vegetables, juices & of course, Sapporo beer.

Yes to unlimited lamb in Sapporo Beer Garden!

Another yes to unlimited Sapporo beer!

The meal cost ¥4,212 (or ₱2,114.97) each. It was an expensive meal but you don’t get to have unlimited mutton everyday, right?

Hokkaido King Crab

Hokkaido King Crab legs on display in Nijo Market

Hokkaido is known for its king crabs & fresh seafood. A visit to Japan’s northern most main island will never be complete without trying the king crab. On our 3rd day, Shane & I went to Nijo Market in Sapporo to have brunch. We came across a stall where the man offered us a free taste of the fresh king crab. A kilogram of the large king crab legs costs ¥13,000. We bought 800 grams for ¥10,000 (close to ₱5,000) & the man gave us ¥400 discount. Yes, king crabs are that expensive! We had the crab legs cooked & we went to a nearby restaurant to eat it.

800 grams of king crab legs for brunch.. So good!

Another expensive meal but it was so good! Shane & I were super full up to the point we didn’t eat the entire day. We rarely have king crabs here in the Philippines so it was worth the try!

We tried the Hokkaido king grab when we walked around Sapporo on our first days in the city. Find out where else we went & what we did around the city by checking this link.

Onsen Day

Outside Hoheikyo Onsen – a perfect winter day to be in an onsen

Japan’s Hokkaido is an onsen paradise; the island has many onsens or natural hot springs. In fact, there are a few onsens which are accessible from Sapporo. Shane & I went to Jozankei, the nearest onsen town in Sapporo. We specifically went to Hoheikyo Onsen, a natural hot spring which has an open air spring bath setting & a famous Indian restaurant.

The onsen day package was worth it!

The round-trip bus ride & onsen entrance fee cost us ¥1,800 each (around ₱880). This deal was a steal because the onsen fee itself (if not availed with package) was already ¥1,000 & the bus fare per way was ¥640.

ICYMI, I posted a separate blog about out onsen day. Check out this link to know more about our winter onsen experience.

Daily Expenses

I always set a daily budget for each day I am in Japan. This helps me plan out my expenses day by day. In previous Japan blogs, I’ve set daily budgets ranging from ¥2,500 to ¥3,500 per day. This amount covers all meals, transportation expenses & museum tickets or entrance fees if needed. Sapporo is a bit more expensive than the previous cities I’ve been to so I placed a daily budget of ¥3,500 per day. This trip had the same daily allowance with my 2016 Japan trip. The difference these 2 trips had was I travelled alone in 2016 (so more expenses) & I was with Shane in this Sapporo trip (we shared in some expenses like food, snacks, etc).

Otaru Canal at night

I was in Japan for 7 days to my total ‘daily expenses’ budget was ¥24,500 yen; that’s ₱12,005 in Philippine pesos.

Did you know? We took a half day trip to Otaru, one of Hokkaido’s famous port city. What else can you see & do there aside from visiting the Otaru Canal? Click here to know more.

Summary

That’s about it. Let’s have a look how much I spent for this entire trip.

All in all, I spent ₱43,911.93 for a 7-day winter trip in Hokkaido, Japan. Expensive? No. Cheap for a first timer? Y-E-S! This trip was for the books!

Early mornings in Sapporo be like..

Have you been to Hokkaido? Shane & I are planning to go back soon & we’re looking for more places to visit. Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments section below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Check out the individual posts featuring Sapporo, Otaru, Sapporo Teine & Hoheikyo Onsen! Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Outside Popular Japan Cities: TAKAYAMA – Gifu Prefecture’s Little Kyoto

Looking for a place to visit in Japan is not that difficult. You can opt to visit the usual popular cities like Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka or you can go to the rural or not-so famous ones. I’ve been to the popular ones back in 2015 & 2016 so I decided to visit the places outside the usual. After spending 24 hours in Tokyo & 48 hours in Fujikawaguchiko, I took a 6-hour bus down to Takayama, a city in the Hida mountainous region of Gifu Prefecture. This city is known as Gifu Prefecture’s Little Kyoto. 🇯🇵

A glimpse of Takayama Old Town – more photos below! 😍

I first heard of Takayama during my stay in Osaka Hana Hostel back in 2016. The hostel staff said if only I had more time, I should take the day / overnight tour offered by their counterpart J-Hoppers Hostel Osaka. I told her I will go back to visit the beautiful place. True enough, I went back to Japan after a year & spent a few days in Takayama.

The Old Town during sunset 😍

Fujikawaguchiko To Takayama

The easieast & more affordabe way to go to Takayama from Fujikawaguchiko is via bus. Nohi Bus, Takayama’s biggest bus company, has 2 daily trips between the 2 places. Bus trip takes a little over 4 hours per way. Bus ticket costs ¥5,000 one way & ¥9,000 round-trip. You can check out the trip schedules here.

Bus passengers to Takayama board through platform 3

I took the afternoon trip from Kawaguchiko Station to Takayama Bus Terminal. To my surprise, the trip only had 2 passengers – a Japanese woman working in Hirayu Onsen & myself. The trip still pushed through given the lack of passengers. The bus picked us up in Kawaguchiko Station at 3:31 in the afternoon. The bus has free Wi-Fi & toilet on board. Each guest has a plug beside the seat. Seats can be reclined; they were also super comfortable.

Empty bus to Takayama 😮

The bus went through long tunnels, uninhabited forests & snowy steep roads. Some parts had no network signal & data, some were completely dark with no other car / bus on the road. I got scared a bit but I felt relieved when I saw the Hirayu Onsen signage with houses, lights & some snow around. The roads between Hirayu Onsen & Takayama were far better – there were now houses & lights along the road. I arrived Takayama Bus Terminal few minutes past 8 in the evening & walked straight to my hostel.

Quality Hostel K’s House Takayama Oasis

Takayama is a small city with limited affordable accommodation choices. If you’re a person who’s into hotels & ryokans, you won’t have a problem looking for a place to stay here. However, budget travelers like me have few hostels or guesthouses to choose from.

K’s House Takayama Oasis 6-bed mixed dormitory room

I stayed in Quality Hostel K’s House Takayama Oasis. It is K’s House Group‘s 2nd hostel in Takayama – the first one is Quality Hostel K’s House Takayama. I chose the newer one due to its access – it’s 2 minutes away from JR Takayama Station & Takayama Bus Terminal. It’s also 4-5 minutes walk from the old town.

Inside each capsule-type bed

I stayed in a 6-bed dormitory room in 3rd floor. Each guest has his / her own capsule with curtains. Each bed has a plug, a spacious storage area & a reading light. Each guest also has a small locker for valuables. The toilets & shower areas are common. These facilities were clean & well-maintained.

Hostel’s communal kitchen & food storage area

The guests have access to common lounge & dining areas beside the reception. It’s also the best place to meet new people & interact with other guests. I meet a few people from Australia, France, Japan, Thailand & United States during my stay. Kitchen is also for everyone’s use. The hostel also provides free coffee & tea anytime of the day.

Communal lounge

The hostel staff were super nice & helpful. They gave recommendations on where to go, what to do & eat plus where to get the most authentic experience. Shoutout to Tatzu for all help & recommendations – I enjoyed all of them!

My typical breakfast in the hostel – bought food from the supermarket! 😋

As per the hostel’s website, a night stay in a superior dormitory costs ¥2,700. I stayed for 3 nights but I only paid around ¥5,500 yen; thanks to Traveloka‘s discount coupon. I enjoyed my stay in this hostel & in this city; I’m actually thinking of going back in November to bring some friends. Make sure to check out this hostel if you happen to visit Takayama.

Around Hida Takayama

Just like the Fujikawaguchiko leg, this happened to be another no-pressure / go-with-the-flow visit. I did a few searches on where to go, what to do & what to eat but I let the city surprise me. The best way to explore the city is by renting a bicycle or by foot. I opted for the later just because there were some occasional rains during my visit. Here are the list of places I went to & the local food I ate.

Takayama Old Town

Beautiful old town full of preserved wooden houses 😍

Takayama Old Town is a set of streets in Sanmachi Suji District which features old & preserved wooden houses that were built during the Edo period. Most of these houses were converted to merchant houses, shops, restaurants & even sake breweries. Most of the establishments here are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The best time to visit this area is in the morning right before 10 or around 4 in the afternoon until sunset.

Hida Beef Lunch

What’s for lunch? HIDA BEEF!! 😋

Hida beef is a 1st class beef that comes from a black-haired Japanese cattle breed raised in Gifu Prefecture. The hostel staff gave a list of 3 authentic Hida beef restaurants I should try. I couldn’t find the other two (haha) so I opted for Ajikura Tengoku. This Hida beef yakiniku restaurant is located a few meters from JR Takayama Station & the hostel.

It looks & tastes good! 😋

I ordered a Hida beef lunch set which cost around ¥4,000 (close to ₱2,000). It included 8 slices of Hida beef (I forgot how many grams), unlimited servings of rice & miso soup, a bowl of fresh salad, a cup of hot Japanese tea & mochi ice cream. The beef was so good; it was so tender & it melted in my mouth.

I know it’s expensive for a lunch meal but it was worth the try. I tried Kobe beef when I went to Kobe in 2016 & for me, Hida beef was a lot better. This will be one of the reasons why I will go back to Takayama.

Hida Kokubunji Temple

Hida Kokubunji Temple is a small ancient Hindu temple which features a 3-storey pagoda, a Hindu temple & a very old ginko tree. This temple & tree is said to be there for around 1,200+ years now.

Miyagawa Morning Market

Morning markets (asaichi) are a thing in Takayama. Traders start selling local farm products, fruits & crafts as early as 7:00 in the morning up until noon. I was lucky to visit the morning market near the Miyagawa River. I saw some interesting finds here, it’s also a nice place to buy souvenirs.

Miyagawa River

Miyagawa River can be found between the JR Takayama Station area & the Takayama Old Street area. This long but small river offers a relaxing view of Takayama. You can also see some animals (like ducks) randomly cruising along the river.

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine that was believed to be built during the 4th Century. This shrine is the center of the famous Takayama Autumn Festival which features beautiful festival floats.

Takayama Betsuin Temple

Takayama Betsuin Temple is one of the Buddhist temples found in Takayama. This temple is located a few meters from the main old street. Its distinct feature is its big temple gate.

Daioji

Just about 2 minutes walk from Betsuin Temple is another buddhist temple named Daioji. This temple is relatively small & quiet with very few (or close to no) visitors. Locals mostly flock this temple during celebrations.

Takayama Jinya

Takayama Jinya is Takayama’s Historical Government House. This used to be the seat of Hida government during the Edo period. This place is located about 5-7 minutes walk from the old street & about 10 minutes from the JR station. Entrance fee to the former government house costs ¥420.

Takayama Ramen Dinners

Takayama has a local unique ramen flavor. Their ramen is based on a rich soy sauce broth with chicken, pork & vegetable flavor. I went to 2 of the best ramen restaurants in Takayama. Or course I ordered Takayama for both. Ramen bowls cost ¥600 – ¥800 depending on size.

Tsuzumi-soba

Nakatsubo

There’s no signage outside for Nakatsubo. Take note of this door!

Both ramen restaurants have the respective owners prepare the ramen for their customers. They were also nice to all visitors & customers; they even had small chats with me. The experiences in both local ramen restaurants were authentic.

Other places to visit

Just like what happened in Fujikawaguchiko, I took my time in visiting some places I ended up missing a few ones. Some of them were just along the old street – no idea why I missed those! These places include The Hida Folk Village, Yoshijima Heritage House, Kusakabe Folk Arts Museum & the Takayama Castle Ruins. It would have been nice to see all of them but again I only had a few days in Takayama plus I also got tired of walking all day. That makes 2 reasons (1st is Hida beef) why I need to go back to Takayama in the future.

Sarubobo dolls – Takayama’s famous charm red dolls

Shirakawa-go Day Trip

Gassho-style houses everywhere around the vilage 😍

One of the famous day trips to take when in Takayama is a visit to Shirakawa-go. Located about 60 kilometers from Takayama, this unique village features beautiful gassho-style farmhouses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located between the moutains of Gifu Prefecture.

Shirakawa-go from the viewpoint

This village can be reached by taking an hour bus trip from Takayama. Nohi Bus operates a number of bus trips from Takayama to Shirakawa-go. A round-trip bus ticket cost ¥4,420. You can check out the updated schedule  & ticket prices here.

More gassho-style houses! 😍

The best way to explore Shirakawa-go is by foot. You can walk around the village, go inside some of these gassho-style houses & even stay there for a night. I also walked up for around 10 minutes to reach the village viewpoint. I did a 3-hour walk around the village& I pretty much saw everything.

The best time to visit Shirakawa-go is in autumn for the local festival & in winter (January / February) for the night illuminations. I was there during the start of winter & the village is still beautiful. This village is definitely a place one should not miss when visiting Takayama.

Note: Shirakawa-go has a live camera updated almost every minute. Check out how it looks like today by clicking this link.

Dropped by Sakae area to see Oasis 21 for the 2nd time

After spending a few days in Takayama, I took a 2.5 hour bus to Nagoya. I’ve been to Nagoya in 2016 so I just went to Don Quijote. I got some treats, had dinner & went straight to Chubu Centrair International Airport where I boarded my flight to Manila.

Inside Nagoya’s airport – not much people at night!

This pretty much sums up my week-long Japan visit last November. I had fun meeting friends in Tokyo, biking around Lake Kawaguchi, waking up early to see Mount Fuji in its glory, walking around the streets of Takayama & house-hopping in Shirakawa-go.

I hope you also enjoyed reading my adventure. A few weeks ago, my friend & I went to Sapporo for a week. We had the best winter experience to date. It was also a trip of many firsts! I look forward to sharing my Sapporo experience with you. Watch out!

Are you flying to Japan soon? Make sure to add Takayama & Shirakawa-go in your itinerary. These places were worth the long bus rides. Do you have any questions about these 2 places? Perhaps anything you want to know about my trip? Feel free to post your questions or thoughts below. If you’re shy, you can send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Outside Popular Japan Cities: FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO – Mount Fuji In Its Glory

In 2015 & 2016, I went to Japan for 3 weeks in total. I explored major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto (twice), Osaka (twice), Nagoya & Fukuoka. I also went to not-so-busy cities like Hiroshima, Nara & Kobe. Japan easily became one of the favorite countries I’ve been to. Since I got my 5-year multiple entry visa (Want to know how to apply for a tourist visa? Click here.) in 2016, I told myself I will try to go back to Japan at least once a year until my visa runs out.

Mount Fuji from the other side of Lake Kawaguchi

Keeping up to my sort-of promise, I went on a 7-day Japan trip last November 2017. Since I already went to some major cities, I decided to go to peaceful & laid back places outside the popular cities. I spent 2 full days in Fujikawaguchiko & 3 full days in Takayama. In this post, I will talk about my short stay in Fujikawaguchiko. I missed visiting Mount Fuji during my stay in Tokyo in 2015 so I made sure I stay in one of the towns near the five lakes.

Fujikawaguchiko is small peaceful resort town about 100 km (or 1 hour 45 minutes by land) away from Tokyo. This town surrounds one of the scenic Fuji Five Lakes at the base of Mount Fuji – Lake Kawaguchiko. This town also has a number of museums & hot spring resorts & onsens.

One of the many shots I took at 6:30 am

sole reason I went to this town is to see Mount Fuji in its full glory – which I did a number of times (wait for the photos!). I didn’t really go around the museums, resorts & onsens in town. I felt like seeing Fuji made this leg of the trip super worth it. Anyway, let us still go into the details of my Fujikawaguchiko visit.

Plane Ticket

Flying over Chiba Prefecture before landing in Narita International Airport

It all started with a super duper cheap round-trip ticket to Japan. Last March 2017, GetGo (Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program) had an anniversary promotion. Base fare for all domestic & international routes were priced at 10 GetGo points per way. Counting all airport fees & taxes, I got a Manila-Osaka-Nagoya-Manila ticket for ₱2,175.86. It’s like a ₱1 fare ticket, but with GetGo points. YES, THAT CHEAP. Imagine flying to & from Japan for that small amount. I immediately bought the ticket when I saw it. This was the same promotion I took advantage when I booked my return flight when I went to Komodo, Indonesia last October / November 2017.

I had plans of flying to Sapporo for this trip but everything changed when I was able to book another ₱1 fare ticket to Tokyo last June. I looked for other nice places to visit in Japan & found Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama. Fujikawaguchiko is near in Tokyo so I decided to book a new ticket to Japan. Believe me, the cost of taking an overnight bus or a flight to Tokyo is the same with the cost of buying a new one-way ticket. I took advantage of Traveloka‘s 10% off promotion. I got the Manila to Tokyo ticket via Cebu Pacific Air for only ₱3,509.10. By the way, I didn’t use my Manila-Osaka flight.

Adding both tickets, my air ticket for this trip cost me ₱5,684.96. It’s still super cheap compared to the regular tickets on other airlines ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return. These are the perks of a being a GetGo member & a Traveloka user.

Tokyo Stopover (Including Accommodation)

Back in Tokyo for a few hours before heading to Fujikawaguchiko

There is no airport in Fujikawaguchiko; the nearest airport is found in Tokyo. I took advantage of my Tokyo stopover to meet my HTC friends who were living in & visiting Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, I took the train to the city & to my hostel. I stayed in Oak Hostel Zen, an affordable & cozy hostel located in Taito neighborhood. It was my 2nd time staying in this hostel; I stayed here during my 2015 Tokyo visit. Guess what? I was assigned in the same room where I stayed 2 years ago. I settled down & took a nap.

It was the same dormitory room I stayed with last October 2015

Finally met Laura & Leon, two of the many great people I met in Elevate

A few hours later, I took the train to Harajuku / Shibuya & met with Laura, Leon (both previously from HTC) & Kristin (Leon’s colleague). It felt nice to finally meet them in person (after x years of being friends online) & to spend the night with them.

Inside Craftheads – a known small pub in Shibuya

Had yakitori for dinner – it was an expensive but super good dinner

We walked around Omotesando Hills then went to Craftheads, a nice pub in Shibuya area, to have some beer. We then went to the famous Shibuya intersection & finally settled for dinner in Nogigochi, a highly-rated yakitori restaurant. This restaurant served the best yakitoris I’ve had in my life so far. The ambiance was cool & the service was superb. The price of food may not be affordable but it’s all worth it. I look forward to having dinner again in this restaurant.

Ueno Park during autumn

My bus to Fujikawaguchiko is not until 12:20 on day 2 so I decided to take a morning stroll around Taito & Ueno Park. Autumn was at its peak during my visit. The leaves were all in yellow, orange & red color. The streets & park were really pleasing to the eyes.

En Route To Fujikawaguchiko

There are numerous ways of going to Fujikawaguchiko from Tokyo. The fastest (also the most expensive) way is via bullet train using a JR Pass. You can go by normal trains (with a few transfers) but it takes around 2 hours per way. The cheapest way is via bus. The land trip takes more or less 1 hour & 45 minutes from Tokyo Station. These buses use a 2-2 seat configuration, have free Wi-Fi (& toilet) on board. The seats are very comfortable. Tickets can be booked online via Willer Express (departing Tokyo Station ) & Highway Buses (departing Shinjuku Station). Tickets cost ¥1,800 per way. There are many trips per day so seat availability won’t be a problem.

This is how the bus seats to Kawaguchiko look like

As mentioned earlier, I took the 12:20 bus from Tokyo Station Tekko Building. The bus left on time, made a few stops along the way & finally made it to Kawaguchiko Station at 14:22. One thing I love about buses in Japan is they arrive in destinations on time, or most of the time ahead of schedule (regardless of road congestion & multiple stops).

Beautiful landscapes just above Tokyo

Accommodation

Fujikawaguchiko has very limited affordable accommodation options. The best choice according to online opinions & reviews is K’s House Mount Fuji. I loved my stay in K’s House Kyoto so I thought of trying their branch in Fujikawaguchiko.

I got the my dormitory bed for around ₱1,088 per night; around ₱2,076 for 2 nights. Traveloka had a special promotion when I booked my stay so I got a ₱1,206 discount. I ended up paying only ₱970 for a 2-night stay in K’s House Mount Fuji.

Inside my dormitory room in K’s House Mount Fuji

The hostel is approximately 800 meters by foot from Kawaguchiko Station – quite far by foot but too near if you take a taxi. Since I am on budget & I don’t mind walking in cold weather, I walked from the station up to the hostel. The hostel people were accommodating & helpful, just like the ones in K’s House Kyoto. The hostel has a spacious reception area, a large food preparation & storage area & a cozy dining & lounge area. This common areas are the best places to meet other travelers & exchange stories. I met a set of nice & fun people from The Netherlands, Australia, Germany & Thailand.

The spacious dining & lounge area of K’s House Mount Fuji

I stayed in a 9-bed dormitory in the 2nd floor. The room had 4 bunk beds & 1 single bed. The room was clean & spacious. Beds were comfortable. The bunk beds didn’t have curtains; each guest was given a locker for their things & valuables. Communal shower & toilet areas are located on each floor. Unlike their Kyoto counterpart, this hostel doesn’t have a cafe / restaurant. Almost all guests go out, buy food & cook / eat them at the hostel. There are convenience stores & a supermarket nearby. It is also a few minutes walk from Lake Kawaguchi.

Big kitchen & food storage area – most guests prepare their meals here

I made the right choice in staying in this hostel. Location & price-wise, this hostel is the best in Fujikawaguchiko. This hostel deserves a 12 out of 10!

Around Fujikawaguchiko

The most convenient & economical way to go around Fujikawaguchiko is via the tourist buses. These buses go around the town with stops at almost every tourist destination. Bus passes are available for those who want to go around for a day or two.

View upon ariving Kawaguchiko Station

Another way of going around the town is by walking. The town is really small. You can basically go around the area in just a day. This is perfect for those who have the luxury of time. My recommended way of getting around the place is via bicycle. K’s House Mount Fuji offers bicycle rental for ¥150 per hour or ¥1,000 per day. Just make sure to reserve your bicycles as early as possible.

Kawaguchiko Station

Kawaguchiko Station is the main entry & exit point for people who want to visit Fujikawaguchiko. All trains & buses make a stop in this station. The station also offers a very nice view of Mount Fuji.

Yagizaki Park

Yagizaki Park is the place where the herbs & flowers are cultivated. It was autumn when I visited the place so there was not much to see in the park.

Lake Kawaguchiko

View of Mount Fuji from the not-so-visited part of the lake

Lake Kawaguciko is the second main attraction (next to Mount Fuji) when visiting Fujikawaguchiko. This lake is the most accessible & the nearest to Tokyo among the five lakes. The lake offers outstanding views of Mount Fuji.

Autumn views around Lake Kawaguchi

Mount Fuji 4th Station

View of the Japanese Alps from Mount Fuji 4th Station

My Dutch mate & I took the bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Fuji 4th Station. The highest base, Fuji 5th Station, was closed for the public during our visit. We saw the crater of Mount Fuji from the 4th station. We saw some remains of the snowfall the night before plus amazing views of the Japanese Alps. A round-trip bus ticket from Kawaguchiko Station costs ¥2,100. Kindly refer to this link for the bus schedule.

We were 2,020 m above sea level! | Sorry no photo of Mount Fuji’s crater – it was full of clouds when we were there.

Oishi Park

Oishi Park is the public park located in the northern park of Lake Kawaguciko. This park offers beautiful views of Mount Fuji with the Lake Kawaguchiko. The park is usually flooded with tourists so make sure to go there early.

Biking Around Fujikawaguchiko

Cycled around Lake Kawaguchi with the guys I met in the hostel

The best way to explore this laid-back town is by renting a bicycle. Our hostel offered the best rates for bicycle rental (¥1,000 yen for 8 hours or ¥150 yen per hour). We decided to rent out bikes for our last day. It took us 3.5 hours to go around Lake Kawaguchiko & enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.

Other Places To Visit

There are other nice places to visit in Fujikawaguchiko. Those who are fond of theme parks can spend a day in Fuji Q Highland – an amusement park located at the base of Mount Fuji. Those who love to ride cable cars / rope ways can spend an hour or two in Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway. The topmost area offers a panoramic view of the town & Mount Fuji. The photo of Mount Fuji with a pagoda on the side was taken from the Arakurayama Sengen Shrine. This shrine is a few kilometers away from Kawaguchiko Station but a must-visit you want to take photos of Fuji with the pagoda & crimson leaves.

One can also visit Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Shrine, a shrine located near Fujisan Station. If you are up for some adventure, you can go for a walk in Aokigahara Forest. This forest is located at the foot of Fuji & is famous because of the number of suicides committed in the area. If you’re keen on exploring a traditional village, you must take a trip to Saiko Iyashi No Sato Nemba. The town also has different local museums & tea shops which you can walk into. Make sure to go to at least one onsen in town & have some relaxing time before ending a long day outside.

I missed some good ones, eh? Nah, I’m good. As mentioned above, my only reason of visiting this town is to see Mount Fuji in its full glory (which I did!). I had no regrets of just relaxing in this leg of the trip.

Want to know when is the best time to see Mount Fuji?

View of Mount Fuji from the Lake Kawaguchi bridge – taken 6:00 am

Mount Fuji is quite hard to spot on a normal day. It is usually covered with clouds when most tours / people are visiting. I had an observation during my 48-hour stay in Fujikawaguchiko. Mount Fuji shows up without clouds in the early morning during sunrise & in the afternoon during sunset. Mount Fuji is usually clear during these times. I recommend that you stay in the town for at least one night but if your itinerary doesn’t permit, you can go there with the first bus / train trip or the late afternoon trips.

I made the right decision of staying 48 hours in Fujikawaguchiko. I saw Mount Fuji in its full glory. Japan’s most famous & beautiful landscape is something that needs to be added in everyone’s itinerary. The next part of the trip was spent in Takayama, a small & relatively unknown city in the middle of the Hida Mountains in Gifu Prefecture. Watch out for my next post!

Have you been to Fujikawaguchiko? Were you able to see Mount Fuji without the clouds? Are you planning to visit the town in your next trip? Let me know in the comments if you have questions. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Let’s connect! Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

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

Going Solo in Japan Series: NARA & KOBE

A week ago, I posted a blog about my stay in Kyoto & Osaka. I mentioned in my post that I went to Nara & Kobe for 2 separate day trips. These 2 cities, plus Himeji, are usually visited by tourists taking day tours from Osaka.

I was with my friend, Rona when I went to Nara while I was all by myself when I walked around Kobe. Let me discuss below how both day trips went.

With Rona on the way to Nara

NARA

The last time I went to Osaka, I didn’t have enough time to visit Nara. I felt bad I haven’t interacted with the roaming deer in Nara Park. I promised to myself that when I go back to Osaka, Nara will be number 1 in my list. And so it happened…

1, 2, 3, say Nara! 📷

Disclaimer: We did not spend the entire day in Nara. We had to go back to Osaka because Rona needs to get her bags for Tokyo plus we already have tickets for the Umeda Sky Building Floating Observatory.

How we went to Nara

Using our IC cards, Rona & I took the Midōsuji Line from Shinsaibashi Station (nearest station to our hostel) to Tennoji Station. From the red subway line, we transferred to the JR Yamatoji Line to Nara. This line to Nara starts in JR Tennoji Station so you can choose your seats inside the train.

One random walkway somewhere in Nara Park 😍 🍂

Journey takes around an hour & you pay ¥790 per way (¥230 from Shinsaibashi Station to Tennoji Station & ¥560 from Tennoji Station to JR Nara Station). An alternative route to Nara would be through the Kintetsu Nara Line from Osaka Namba Station. IC cards can also be used in this train line.

What to see in Nara

Upon arrival at Nara Station, Rona & I immediately went to the tourist information center to get maps & coffee. The walking adventure begins…

Tip: The best way to explore Nara is by foot. Yes, most sites are walkable from the main train stations.

Sanjo-Dori Street

Sanjo-Dori Street is the long, busy street that you take going to the temples & the deer park (if you are coming from JR Nara Station). It is full of restaurants, cafes, hotels & local souvenir shops. You will find almost everything you need on this street. The street has a very wide sidewalk which makes it very safe for everyone to walk.

Jokyoji Temple

Jokyoji Temple – too bad it was closed when we passed by

Jokyoji Temple – we saw this small Buddhist Temple while on our way to Kōfuku-ji. The temple had beautiful flower displays near its gate. Too bad it was closed when we dropped by.

Kōfuku-ji

Kōfuku-ji is one of the ‘Big 3’ must see temples of Nara. It was once part of the powerful 7 Great Temples in Nara. There are a number of buildings & structures around the temple grounds, but the notable ones are the following: the 5-level pagoda (one of the tallest pagodas in Japan), the National Treasure Museum & the Eastern & Central Golden Halls.

Kōfuku-ji’s Eastern Golden Hall & the 5-level pagoda 

Note: The Central Golden Hall is undergoing a major renovation. It is expected to be completed sometime in 2018.

Tōdai-ji

Tōdai-ji is Nara’s iconic & most famous Buddhist temple. The temple is also part of the 7 Great Temples of Nara. Its main hall houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue.

Entrance to Tōdai-ji Temple via the Nandaimon Gate

You know you are already inside the Tōdai-ji Temple grounds when you pass by the large wooden gate structure called Nandaimon Gate. Don’t forget to make friends with the tame deer roaming around the temple grounds.

Nara Park

Nara Park is the end point of the Sanjo-Dori Street if you are coming from the JR Nara Station. This park is home of the hundreds of freely roaming deer. This animal is considered sacred in Shinto religion.

The deer sittin’ like a boss 🦌

One funny thing you’ll notice is each deer knows how to bow. That also means they’re asking for food (you can buy deer crackers for ¥150 in the nearby shops). The interaction with the deer was the highlight of that day. I was also impressed that these deer know how to pose for a photo.

The autumn colors of Nara Park 😍 🍂

Aside from the deer, the park also offered beautiful autumn views. I wonder how it looks like during spring; could also be lovely. There were other halls & places to visit around the park like the Kasuga-Taisha & the Nara National Museum, but we had to rush back to Osaka. We also missed visiting Hōryū-ji (the temple to complete Nara’s Big 3 Temples) in Ikaruga. This gives me a reason to go back in the future & explore more.

What a view from Nara Park! 😍 🍂

KOBE

It was my last day in Osaka. At 9:30 pm on that same day, I will board a night bus to my last destination in Japan, Fukuoka. It was around 7:30 in the morning, I was contemplating on whether I should just stay & walk around Osaka for the last time or I go for another day trip to either Kobe or Himeji.

I didn’t want to waste another day lying in my bed or walking around Shinsaibashi, Dōtonbori & Osaka (this happened the day before – I was really lazy that day!) so I decided to go for a day trip. Himeji was a bit far from Kobe so I went for the latter.

How I went to Kobe

Random beautiful park in Kobe 🍂

Since I only have an IC card (and not the JR Pass), the only station I can arrive in Kobe is Kobe-sannomiya Station. JR Pass holders usually get off at Shin-Kōbe station. The 2 stations are about 2 kilometers away from each other. Later I found out, getting off at Kobe-sannomiya Station was actually a better idea because everything was near the area.

From Shinsaibashi Station, I took the Midōsuji Line to Umeda Station (¥230) then transferred to Hankyu-Kobe Line to Hankyu Kobe-sannomiya Station (¥320). You can also board the Hanshin Line to Hansin Kobe-sannomiya Station for the same price of ¥320. Journey from Umeda to Kobe is roughly 40 minutes.

What to see & do in Kobe

I went to Kobe with no itinerary or anything. I only have my phone & pocket Wi-Fi with me. I also had the mindset that I need to be back in Osaka by 4:00 pm to prepare for my night bus to Fukuoka. What I did was just to walk from one street to another & visit the places along the way. Luckily, I came across the following places:

Ikuta Jinja

Ikuta Jinja’s main shrine

Ikuta Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in the middle of the very busy Sannomiya area. This shrine is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan. The shrine has torii gates in all entrance & exit points & even has a small garden at the back of the main temple.

View from the outside of the shrine grounds

I just accidentally saw this shrine in Google Maps while I was looking for a place to go from the train station. Beautiful shrine!

Kobe Motomachi Centre Gai Shopping Street

In my previous posts about Nagoya & Osaka, I said something about Japanese cities having a shopping street / arcade. If Nagoya has Osu Shopping Street & Osaka has Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, Kobe has its own – it’s called Kobe Motomachi Center Gai Shopping Street.

Inside Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street~

You will find all sorts of goods in this place – from clothing, to shoes, bags & even food. I found the cheapest dark chocolate & strawberry Kit Kats in one of the tax free shops here.

Meriken Park

Meriken Park is Kobe’s most famous waterfront park. It is the home of the Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum & the Earthquake Memorial Park. It also features a big public open space where events & special functions are held. On an ordinary day, visitors & locals normally walk or run around the park.

Meriken Park from the other side of the port

Note: There were significant improvement works being done with the Meriken Park when I visited last November. These works are in preparation for Port of Kobe’s 150th Anniversary this year.

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

In 1995, Kobe was devastated by the Hanshin Awaji Great Earthquake. It made significant damages to both public & private infrastructure & even to houses of the locals. The pier was also severely damaged.

The government has decided to preserve a part of the pier’s damage to remind the people (both locals & visitors) of the damages caused by the strong earthquake.

Note: This earthquake memorial park is different from the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum. The museum is near the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art.

Kobe Port Tower

Kobe Port Tower

Located within Meriken Park, the Kobe Port Tower is considered as one of Kobe’s iconic landmarks. This 108-meter uniquely shaped structure is made of red-painted steel structure. Just like any tower, it has an observation deck which I didn’t go into. It also has souvenir shops & restaurants / cafes in some of the levels.

Kobe Beef

Kobe Beef is the most famous regional specialty food in Japan. The branding came from where the cattle are bred & raised – in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The Wagyu beef is known for its tenderness & unique flavor.

The oh-so-good Kobe Beef for lunch!~ 😋

Kobe beef is expensive. Yes, expensive. I had second thoughts of not trying it because of the price. A few minutes after, I decided to make the most out of my visit & have Kobe beef for late lunch. Who cares about the price, eh? Kidding.

The chef prepared preparing our food~

I went to Steak Land & ordered their Kobegyu Steak Lunch Set. I forgot how many ounces of Kobe beef were in the meal, but the set also included salad, miso soup, a cup of rice, grilled vegetables & a glass of juice (can be changed to coffee or tea). The chef cooked the beef in the hibachi table in front of me. I tell you, the beef was so good it melts in your mouth. It was so tender & the flavor was something I haven’t tasted in my life.

Steak Land’s Kobegyu Lunch Set 😋

I paid around ¥3,000 (₱1,300++) for whole Kobegyu Steak Lunch Set. I believe the price was reasonable. Honestly, I don’t mind spending that amount for such a good meal. This was definitely the highlight of my Kobe day trip. It’s definitely something one should try when visiting the city.

This pretty much sums up my quick day trip to Kobe. There were still a lot of nice places to visit but I had to go back to Osaka to prepare for my night bus to Fukuoka.

To be fair, I actually had really memorable times in Nara & Kobe. The day trips were definitely worth-taking. Going around these 2 cities, even just in the centers, gave me basically the idea of how beautiful these places are. I wish I had more time, but I won’t mind going back to explore more.

Before going to Nara & Kobe, I went to Nagoya, Hiroshima, Kyoto & Osaka. Make sure to check out the individual posts linked above. The final installment of this blog series will be about my last 3 days in Fukuoka. Watch out for it!

This lovely deer knows how to pose for a photo 🦌 😍

Did you know that I only spent less than ₱50,000 for this 13-day trip in 7 Japan cities? Click here to know more. If you are planning to apply for a Japan tourist visa soon, I also posted a blog about the 4 easy steps in applying for it.

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Feel free to comment below or send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re & HTC One M8.

Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA

KYOTO

After spending 3 days in Nagoya & 2 days in Hiroshima, it’s time to move to the next city – Kyoto. I already visited Kyoto with my high school friends in 2015 but the city is so beautiful I didn’t mind going back.

I took a 7-hour Willer Express night bus ride from Hiroshima to Kyoto. I arrived Kyoto around 6:45 am the following day & I immediately walked to the hostel to leave my things & freshen up.

It was also in Kyoto where I met my good friend & colleague Rona who has been going around Osaka while I was in Hiroshima. We decided to meet & go around in Kyoto & Osaka for 3 days before she heads up to Tokyo & meet another set of friends.

With my Kyoto-Osaka buddy & good friend Rona

Accommodation

I loved my previous stay in Backpacker K’s House Kyoto I decided to stay there again for this trip. Rona & I decided to stay in a mixed dormitory room to cut down expenses & also to meet & talk to other travelers. Each night stay in a 6-bed dormitory room costs ¥2,900. Not bad, right?

The hostel’s 2nd floor common bathroom

I really like this hostel. The staff were so nice they allowed me to use the shower & toilet even before check in; they also allowed me to use the common lounge area while waiting for Rona. They also kept our luggage while we walked around the city (check-in time was 3:00 pm).

Backpacker K’s House Kyoto Communal Lounge & Dining Area

Also, this time we had some spare time to meet & hang out with the other hostel guests in the on site bar. We even met a group of Filipino guys who are now based in Brisbane, Australia. What a small world!

Places We Visited

Just like the 2015 Japan trip, we only spent 1.5 days in Kyoto. Given the limited time, Rona & I only chose the places to visit. We went to the following places:

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – what a beautiful view! 😍

A trip to Kyoto will never be complete without a visit to the bamboo forest. Just like last year’s itinerary, this beautiful place came first. We wanted to make it different by taking the Sagano Scenic Railway trip but all the seats were sold out. Oh well, another reason to go back to Kyoto. (No entrance fee)

Access: From JR Kyoto Station, take the JR Sagano line to JR Saga Arashiyama Station & walk for 10-minutes to the bamboo forest. You can also visit the nearby Tenryū-ji, a Zen temple located beside the bamboo forest.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Kyoto’s most beautiful temple 😍

As mentioned in my past Kyoto blog, this Golden Pavilion Temple is the most famous & the most beautiful temple in Kyoto. The autumn colors of the leaves added beauty to the temple surroundings. (Entrance fee: ¥400 per person)

Access: From the bamboo forest, walk to the Randen station of the Keifuku Randen Tram Line. Take the local tram to Kitano Hakubaicho station & walk up for 10 to 15 minutes to Kinkaku-ji. If you still have more time, you can get off Omuri-Ninnaji Station & check out the temples (Ninna-ji, Myōshin-ji & Ryōan-ji) on the way to Kinkaku-ji. Note that you need to board different buses in between these temples; make sure to avail the 1-day bus pass for this.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The 3 storey pagoda before upon entering the Kiyomizu-dera Temple grounds

After going back to JR Kyoto Station, we hopped on to Bus 206 to go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This Japanese Buddhist temple is located in the hills east of Kyoto. Famous for its autumn & spring sightings, the temple grounds provide beautiful sunset & city view. This temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Tip: The temple grounds tend to get busy during sunset. Make sure to go there early if you want to secure a good spot while watching the sunset.

Gion

After waiting for the sunset in Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Rona & I decided to walk 15 minutes down to Gion area. Our main purpose here was to hunt for geishas. We went back to same street & geisha house we went to in 2015 & luckily we saw a handful of them. Mission accomplished!

Nearest train station: Gion-Shijō Station of the Keihan Main Line

Fushimi Inari Taisha

The iconic torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha

The following morning, Rona & I went to Fushimi Inari Taisha. This shrine is famous for its torii gates up to the top of Mount Inari. Again, we did not bother going up to the top of the mountain due to limited time. (No entrance fee)

One of the small shrines in Fushimi Inari Taisha

Nearest train station: Inari Station of the JR Nara Line

Tōfuku-ji Temple

Located 10 minutes by foot from Fushimi Inari Taisha is Tōfuku-ji Temple. This Buddhist Zen temple is famous for its spring & autumn colors. This temple is also dubbed as one of the great five Zen temples of Kyoto.

One of the smaller halls in Tokufu-ji Temple (forgot the name, sorry!)

Nearest train station: Tōfukuji Station of the JR Nara Line | From Fushimi Inari Taisha, turn right & walk for about 10 minutes to reach Tōfuku-ji Temple.

Tip: Make sure to check out the garden near the Tsutenkyo Bridge. It’s at its best during autumn. (Entrance fee: ¥400)

OSAKA

After our brief stay in Kyoto, Rona & I took the 29-minute train ride to Osaka. Yes, it’s my 2nd time in Osaka. Since I’ve been to this city before, I decided to just walk around & relax a bit. I needed to take my time because the past few days were really tiring.

With Rona in Mikkabozu Kamoshi, a known local ramen joint in Osaka

Accommodation

Due to Majo’s last minute decision to join the 2015 Japan trip, my friends & I ran out of accommodation choices. We stayed in an Airbnb flat somewhere in Namba area. For this trip, I decided to book early & stay in what was supposed to be our 2015 Osaka accommodation – the Osaka Hana Hostel. Yes, it is also part of the Hana Hostel / J-Hoppers Hostel Group. [Update – Osaka Hana Hostel has ceased operations.]

The hostel is located in the Chūō Ward, a few minutes walk from the Shinsabashi shopping street. The nearest subway exit is Exit 7 of Shinsaibashi Station. I spent 3 nights here & decided to stay in a 6-bed male dormitory room.

Slept in this bed for 3 nights in Osaka Hana Hostel

Just like any other Hana Hostel branch, each bed includes its own reading light, pillow & sheets, curtains, curtains (for privacy), universal plug & a storage box beside the bed. Toilets & bathrooms are shared by guests per floor. I paid ¥3,100 per night (¥9,300 for 3 nights) because it was peak season. It’s still affordable in an expensive city like Osaka.

The hostel people were one of the nicest people I met on my trip (shout out to Kazzy!). They helped us in all of our questions; they even recommended good places to visit & eat. The hostel has a spacious kitchen, lounge & dining facilities on the 2nd floor & 5th floor – a good place to meet & hang out with other guests.

Osaka Hana Hostel’s 2nd floor communal dining, kitchen & lounge area

Osaka Hana Hostel is definitely a good accommodation choice in Osaka. It has the most affordable rates per bed or room, the most convenient location, the nicest staff & the best facilities you can have in a hostel.

Tip: The hostel staff will give you a coupon for the sake bar in the first floor. Make sure to try the different flavors of sake + alcoholic drinks. Good stuff.

Places to Visit / Things to Do

Since I’ve been to Osaka the past year, I sort-of took advantage of my 4 days there. Aside from taking day trips to Nara & Kobe, I just stayed in the Chūō area.

Dōtonbori

Always a busy night in Dōtonbori

Dōtonbori is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Osaka. It is the home of the famous Glico Man signage & the Dōtonbori canal. It is also the home of famous takoyaki shops, ramen places (like Ichiran!) & Don Quixote.

Dōtonbori canal at night.

Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street

Shinsaibashi is Osaka’s largest shopping district. Home to different specialty stores & brands, tourists flock this area almost every day. The perfect time to walk around the shopping street is during lunch time where there are less people. Make sure to go to check out the big GU store in the middle of the shopping arcade.

Hozenji Yokocho Alley

Located behind the Hozenji Yokocho Temple is an alley of local bars, izakaya & restaurants. I walked along the alley to just see what’s in there. Looks like the bars, izakaya & restaurants offer authentic Japanese meal experience. I would love to go back & try some restaurants there. The alleys gets a bit busy during night time, so make sure to go there around 6:00 in the evening.

Tip: All these places are located a few minutes walk from Midōsuji Line’s Shinsaibashi Station Exits 5 & 6.

Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden

View of Osaka from the 39th floor of the Floating Garden Observatory

The floating garden observatory is located in the 39th, 40th & the rooftop floor of the Umeda Sky Building. The observatory is the ‘bridge’ that connects the 2 sky buildings. It offers a 360-degree view of Osaka.

The best time to go is during night time where you can see the beautiful city lights of Osaka. Note that it can also be really crowded during night time; but that is only before the elevator access. Entrance to the observatory costs ¥1,000 per person. You can stay as long as you want to.

Tip: We got our tickets from the hostel at a discounted price of ¥900. Ask your hostel / hotel; they might have discounted tickets too. Also, the Willer Express Bus Terminal is located in the 1st floor of the east tower.

Access: Get off at Osaka Station & walk for about 7 to 10 minutes to the Umeda Sky Building grounds.

Ichiran

The. Hype. Is. Real. The. Hype. Is. Real.

Ichiran is definitely a must try when are in Japan. The ramen chain originated in Fukuoka, the birth place of tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen. Ichiran ramen is probably the best ramen I’ve ever tried – rich & creamy pork bone broth, perfectly cooked noodles, tender pork slices & red pepper sauce all in one bowl. It was really good I ordered another serving (yes, you can do that) of noodles. I went to their Dōtonbori branch twice – one for dinner with Rona & the other one for brunch.

Ichiran is the place to be! 😋

Tip: Plan out what time you’ll visit this ramen chain. People usually line up outside & wait for their turn. If you’re staying nearby, then you won’t have any problem because they are open 24/7.

Pablo

Pablo signage you’ll see outside the Shinsaibashi shopping street store

Pablo is known for the freshly baked cheese tarts. People line up in their Shinsaibashi branch just to buy boxes & pieces of these heavenly cheese tarts. I believe it is also something worth trying when in Osaka.

Oh Pablo cheese tart, why so good?

The Pablo branch here in Manila has mixed reviews; if you want to know the real taste of the cheese tarts, make sure to head to their Japan stores. I’ve also tried another famous cheese tart store in Japan named Bake (tried it in Fukuoka because the Osaka branch is far from where I stayed). I believe Bake’s has better crust, but Pablo’s filling is a stand out. Both cheese tart shops are worth the try.

Pasalubong shopping in Don Quixote & Daiso

Pasalubong shopping is always part of the itinerary when a Filipino is out of the country. The perfect places to buy goodies & treats in Osaka are Don Quixote & Daiso – located both in Dōtonbori / Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. Both stores have everything you need – from chocolates, to noodles, clothes, accessories & even house stuff.

Some of the Kitkat chocolates you’ll get in Don Quixote 😋

Don Quixote offers tax-free shopping for purchases more than ¥5,000 provided you have your foreign passport with you. Daiso on the other hand is famous for their ¥100 (+ tax = ¥108) goodies. Your ¥10,000 will have a long way to go in both shops. Make sure to head over these stores before going home to the Philippines, okay?

The Kyoto & Osaka leg of this trip had almost the same itinerary as that of last year’s with some additional sightings like the Kiyomizu-dera & Tōfuku-ji Temple in Kyoto & the Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden in Osaka. It was mentioned above that I did 2 separate day trips from Osaka – one day in Nara & another day in Kobe. Those 2 cities will actually be the topic of the next part of the Going Solo in Japan Series. Stay tuned!

The beautiful autumn colors of trees in Tokufu-ji Temple 😍

Make sure to also check how I conquered the <₱50,000 challenge in going around 7 Japan cities for 13 days. Click here to know more. If you are planning to apply for a Japan tourist visa soon, I also posted a blog about the 4 easy steps in applying for it.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also send me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 & have a nice day! 😃

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re & HTC One M8.