Category: Japan

Tuesday Tip: 10 DOs & DON’Ts When In Japan

Spring is one of most visited seasons in Japan. All visitors go to almost all major cities to see the full bloom of the iconic sakura or cherry blossoms. A few weeks ago, the Japan Weather Association released the cherry blossoms blooming forecast for every major & known city all throughout Japan. You can check out the updated forecast here & here. Authorities said that the cherry blossom’s full bloom this year will be earlier than expected.

🌸🌸🌸 Autumn sakura in Tokyo last October 2015 🌸🌸🌸

I haven’t been to Japan in spring, particularly during the cherry blossom season. My friends who’ve been there said that the cherry blossoms are beautiful. One downside of going during spring is everything is expensive & crowded – accommodation rates are double the usual price, air tickets are costly due to high demand, guided tours are price-y & recreation areas are full of tourists. I am not discouraging you to visit Japan during the sakura season; in fact I also want to visit the country in this season hopefully before my 5-year visa (Want to know how to apply for a tourist visa? Click here) runs out.

🌸🌸🌸 Winter sakura in Ueno Park Tokyo last February 2018 🌸🌸🌸

Most of you know that I’ve been to Japan several times over the past years. I’ve been to many known cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Sapporo (blog to follow) & Fukuoka. I’ve also visited less touristic places like Nara, Kobe, Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama. In these visits, I’ve noticed that Japanese people observe respectful daily practices & social etiquette. As tourists, we must be fully aware of these practices & manners specially we are just visitors in their home country. I asked help from friends who’ve also been to Japan (thanks heaps Majo, Junelle, Jolly & Jeng) on what we tourists should do & not do when traveling in Japan. The practices & manners listed below are purely based on our personal experiences in our past trips.

Here’s what you should do & not do when in Japan:

Bow

Taking a bow is a common practice when meeting someone in Japan. People take a bow when meeting a new friend, thanking someone & saying goodbye to colleagues. It’s not common to shake hands when in Japan. Wait for the other party to offer his hand before shaking your hands with another person.

Shoes Off

K’s House Kyoto‘s reception area – guests leave their shoes in the lockers & use the hostel’s slippers

This is probably one of the most famous Japanese practice. When you see a house or a building with a foyer with rows of footwear shelves on the side, you’re expected to remove your footwear. Some hostels provide indoor slippers which you can use whilst inside the building.

Two Hands Practice

Japanese people always give & receive with 2 hands. They practically do this in all things may it be food, drink or gifts.

Slurp Away

This ramen is perfect for slurping! 🍜

It is a standard practice to slurp when eating noodles in Japan. It may be uncustomary when you do it here in the Philippines but it’s perfectly fine when in Japan. Just make sure not to spill your food. Slurp responsibly.

No Tips

Japanese people do not accept tips in restaurants, hostels & service areas. In case you leave a small amount of money (paper money or coins) in your table, expect a waiter or staff to chase you in the streets. He / she will give your money back.

Queue Up

Japanese people form a line when waiting for the next train. Station platforms usually have lines drawn to guide the queue directions. Make sure to follow the lines when in train stations.

People lining up for the next train to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo 🚉

Keep Right / Left in Escalators

Be mindful of the escalator etiquette when in Japan. Major cities like Tokyo & Sapporo keep left when alighting in escalators. They allow those in a hurry to move faster on the right. Osaka & nearby Kansai region cities keep right when in escalators. This might be confusing for first timers but the key here is to be mindful of local practices when in a certain city / town.

Subway Phone Etiquette

Japanese people are known as quiet & respectful people even in public places like train stations & subways. It is inappropriate to talk to someone on the phone when in trains & buses. People are also encouraged to put their phones & gadgets to silent mode.

Bonus tip: If you want to talk to your friend or colleague, make sure to do it not too loud.

Soluble Toilet Paper Is A Thing

Filipinos are used to throwing toilet papers into trash cans to avoid clogging. In Japan, it’s the other way around. While this may not be true to some areas, but most toilet papers you see in Japanese toilets are soluble. Yes, these toilet papers dissolve in water. Make sure to always read the instructions located near the toilets.

Typical toilet in Japan 🚽 Make sure to check if the toilet paper is soluble or not.

Sacred Sakura Trees

Japanese people regard the sakura tree as a sacred tree. This means that picking a cherry blossom flower or shaking the sakura tree is a disrespectful act. This is definitely one thing you should not do when in Japan. I believe looking at the sakura trees & flowers is enough for us to appreciate its beauty.

🌸🌸🌸 One of the few sakura trees in Ueno Park last February 2018 🌸🌸🌸

That ends the list for now. Pretty sure we missed a few ones but I look forward to writing a second set of Do’s & Don’ts when in Japan. 👍

Is there something you want to share? Have you observed something during your recent or past visit? Feel free to share them in the comments below. If you want to remain anonymous, 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.

Again, big thanks to my friends  Majo, Junelle, Jolly & Jeng for helping me come up with the list above. Until the next set of Tuesday tips! 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & 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.

2017 In Review: Discovering The Known & The Unknown

In less than 2 days, 2017 will come to a close. Another great & memorable year will soon come to an end. Before we welcome 2018, let us look back how this year went. I do not consider this a major travel year because I think every year is a major travel year for me.

My solo travel adventures, which started in 2016, continued this year. I went to most places all by myself & then met amazing people whom I shared good memories with. I also had the chance to reunite & travel with good old friends.

Selfie with Broken Beach in the background 📷

In 2016, I went to places which are known to most of you (perhaps except Koh Lipe). These places gave me unforgettable experiences & different insights. 2017 was a bit different. I’ve been to known places like Coron, Taipei & Ubud, but I’ve also visited unknown places (to many Filipinos) like Port Barton, Nusa Penida & Komodo. 2017 was a year of discovering the known & the unknown.

Let us rediscover the the known & unknown places I visited for 2017.

Port Barton

Port Barton’s village beach

My first solo trip for 2017 happened in March where I spent a weekend in Port Barton. It is a small undeveloped village in the northeast coast of Palawan. It is a more basic version of El Nido.

Enjoyed the tour to untouched islands & pristine beaches 😍

Everything in the village is limited – from accommodation choices, restaurants, electricity to mobile network access. These limitations didn’t hinder me from enjoying a weekend away from the busy city life. I went on an island tour which took me to untouched islands & pristine beaches. I had my first close encounter with a turtle in German Island. I also made good memories with people I met on the tour & in the hostel.

Close encounter with a turtle in German Island 🐢

Blog: PORT BARTON: Palawan’s Secret Paradise

Coron

I had my second Palawan weekend trip for 2017 in Coron. I decided to go there during the Labor Day weekend (to save work leave credits) & booked my round-trip tickets using my GetGo (Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program) points.

Met these amazing people in Coron

I walked around the town & hiked Mount Tapyas on my first day. I took the Ultimate Island Tour on my second day & the Island Escapade Tour on my third day. I flew back to Manila on the fourth day.

Coron’s crystal clear waters 😍

I prefer the escapade tour over the ultimate tour. I think Kayangan Lake, Siete Picados & Twin Lagoon were really beautiful; however, these places were super crowded. I enjoyed the relaxed & laid-back escapade tour to the jaw-dropping Malcapuya, Banana & Bulog Dos Islands.

Malcapuya Island – the highlight of this Coron trip 😍

Blog: CORON – Paradise Beyond Words

Taipei

Taipei was my first international trip for 2017. It was also my first time to use my renewed passport. I’ve been to this city in 2015 with my high school friends. This time, I went on another weekend trip with my work colleagues.

Taipei ’17 buddies – Rona & Shiela 😎

We went to the usual places like Taipei 101, Ximending, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Liberty Square, Shilin Night Market & 228 Peace Park. We also went up north to the countryside to visit Shifen & Jiufen.

Colorful vibe of Jiufen 😍

We loosened up a bit by joining TourMeAway‘s Pub Crawl Activity. It was a long fun drinking night with people from all over the world. Our pub crawl photo even made it to the activity’s Klook page. I also got my new HTC U11 during this trip – definitely worth the investment.

Got a new phone in Taipei -the HTC U11

Blog: TAIPEI Revisited: 3-Day Weekend in the Heart of Asia (Less than ₱15,000 all in!!!)

Siquijor

I went on a last-minute weekend Siquijor trip with friends last July. I flew to Dumaguete with a friend & boarded the next ferry to Siquijor. We then met another friend in Siquijor & started exploring the island.

 

Reunion with Geof & JE in Siquijor

We had lunch at Larena Triad Restaurant overlooking the island, went exploring at the Guiwahon Mangrove Park, (they) had fish spa in the century old balete tree, walked around the Lazi Convent & Church, jumped off (a number of times) the famous Cambugahay Falls & enjoyed some lazy (except me who tried the cliff diving) afternoon at Salagdoong Beach.

Cambugahay Falls – the highlight of my Siquijor trip 💦

We had a short Dumaguete side trip; we stayed there for a night before our flight back to Manila. Our friend, who is based there, took us on a late night city tour (?? haha) just to see how it looks like.

Blog: Last-Minute SIQUIJOR Weekend (For Less Than ₱7,000 Including Airfare)

Ubud

Explored Ubud with Mary Ann & Lyza

I spent half of my annual birthday month trip in Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. I’ve been to Ubud in 2014 but I didn’t have enough time to explore the place. I went back for 3 full days to explore different temples, hike up & down the rice terraces, eat the famous crispy duck, walk around the town, tried the luwak coffee in a coffee plantation & go to the waterfall.

World famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces 😍

I also attended a cooking class with Paon Bali. I learned to prepare local dishes & ended up eating them as well after. This Paon Bali Cooking Class was the highlight of my Ubud visit.

Local food we ate after the cooking class 😋

Blog: The Wonderful Indonesia Series: UBUD – From Temples To Rice Paddies

Nusa Penida

Instagram-famous Broken Beach 😍

The other half of my week-long birthday trip was spent in a relatively unknown off Bali called Nusa Penida. For 2 straight days, I hopped on a motorcycle & explored this untouched island.

Atuh Beach – a cove between 2 cliffs 😍

I went to ‘Instagram-famous’ places like Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach & Kelingking Secret Point. I also went to the hidden Crystal Bay for swimming & relaxation. On my 2nd & last day, I spent the whole day in Atuh Beach, another ‘Instagram-famous’ cove that is between 2 high cliffs.

Another Instagram-famous – Kelingking Secret Point 😍

I stayed in Kuta for a night before my early flight back to Manila. I’ve been to this place in 2015 but I still walked around the crowded beach & waited for the beautiful Kuta sunset.

Kuta sunset – what a beautiful view to end this week long birthday trip 🌅

Blog: The Wonderful Indonesia Series: NUSA PENIDA – Hidden Paradise Off Bali

Komodo

Kanawa Island 😍

Two months after spending a week in Indonesia, I decided to fly back & sneak out a short weekend trip to Labuan Bajo. This small village / town is the gateway for the more famous Komodo National Park (Komodo Island).

Worth the 30-minute hike up the mountain 😍

I took the shared overnight boat trip to the islands. The islands were hours away from each other by slow boat. On the first day, we went snorkeling on Kanawa Island, swam with the manta rays in Manta Point & hiked up Padar Island for some amazing views. We parked somewhere near Komodo Island & stayed there for the night. The boatmen prepared all our meals while on the boat. We slept under the stars & clear skies.

Ha, once in a lifetime photo with a Komodo dragon 🦎

The following day, we walked around in Komodo Island to spot Komodo dragons, went snorkeling & swimming in Pink Beach & spotted some wildlife on Rinca Island (more Komodo dragons lol). Our boatmen allowed us to snorkel & jump off the boat in a random snorkeling point right before going back to Labuan Bajo.

Met up for dinner with the people I was with in the overnight boat trip

Blog: To Follow

Tokyo & Kawaguchiko

Dinner in Tokyo with Laura & Leon (former HTC people) & Kristin

The week-long trip to Japan was my last trip for 2017. It was not my first time (I’ve been there in 2015 & in 2016) so I decided to explore the not-so-famous areas like Kawaguchiko. I flew to Tokyo in the morning, then I met Laura & Leon (people I met in HTC Elevate years ago) in late afternoon until evening.

Picture-perfect Mount Fuji 🗻😍

The following day, I took the bus to Kawaguchiko where I stayed for 2 full days. I met good friends in the hostel which I went around the place with. We went up to Mt. Fuji 4th Station, walked around Kawaguchiko town & we even went cycling around Lake Kawaguchiko. I saw Mt Fuji at its finest (a lot of times!!) during my short stay in this quiet town.

Cycled around Lake Kawaguchiko with these guys 🚴

Blog: To Follow

Takayama & Shirakawa-go

Takayama Old Town 🏠

After spending 2 days in Kawaguchiko, I took a 5-hour bus ride to Takayama. Takayama is a city that is located in the rural, mountainous Hida region in Gifu Prefecture. Just like any other Japanese rural centers, the city retains traditional character. This is shown in the preserved old town. I walked around the old town & the city for one whole day. I was able to visit various temples & museums along the way. I also tried the famous Hida beef in one of the restaurants near JR Takayama Station.

Hida beef for lunch 😋

I went on a half day side trip to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site located at the foot of Mt. Haku-san. Located about an hour away from Takayama, this old village is characterized by gassho-style farmhouses. I spent 3 hours walking around the village, hopping from one house to the other.

Shirakawa-go from the view point 😍

The visits to Takayama Old Town & Shirakawa-go were the highlights of my stay in Gifu Prefecture.

Gassho-style farmhouse in Shirakawa-go 😍

Blog: To Follow

The list above doesn’t account the number of times I went to my hometown in Albay for family functions & random weekends. I plan to continue going home (every few months) to my parents in 2018. There’s definitely no place like home.

Picturesque Mayon Volcano 🌋 There’s no place like home 😍

The trips above pretty much sum up my 2017. It was a year of discovering known places like Coron, Taipei & Ubud, to not-so-known places like Siquijor & Kawaguchiko & to relatively unknown places like Port Barton, Nusa Penida, Komodo & Takayama. It was another year full of memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. I already have a few trips planned for 2018 & I look forward to exploring more of what this beautiful world has to offer.

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

Going Solo in Japan Series: FUKUOKA

After spending 3 days in Nagoya, 2 days in Hiroshima, 5 days in Kyoto & Osaka (including 2 separate day tours in Nara & Kobe), I took a 9.5-hour overnight bus ride to Fukuoka Prefecture’s capital city, Fukuoka.

Fukuoka is Kyushu Island’s most famous & populated city. This port city is Japan’s gateway & also the closest hub to mainland Asia. Just like any other Japanese city, it is characterized by developed infrastructure, modern transportation system & helpful & accommodating people. The city is also famous for beautiful cherry blossom sightings every spring season.

Beautiful sunny day in Ōhori Park 😍

I didn’t know about Fukuoka until I was searching for an affordable flight back to Manila. The city is not as famous as Tokyo & Osaka in the Philippine tourism market, but it’s definitely starting to gain attention in the past months. I spent the last 3 days of my 13-day Japan journey here. I will give more details below of how my stay went.

Trivia: Fukuoka is the birth place of tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen. It is also where my favorite Ichiran Ramen originated.

Accommodation

Just like my previous hostels for this trip, I stayed in Hana Hostel Group‘s local branch, Fukuoka Hana Hostel. The hostel is centrally located within the Nakasu-Kawabata Shopping Arcade. It is a 2-3 minute walk to the famous Canal City, 5 minutes walk to Nakasu-Kawabata subway station & about 15 minutes walk to Tenjin’s shopping area. The airport is 4 stops away (about 10 minutes ride) from the nearest subway station. Fukuoka’s main train station, JR Hakata Station, is 1 train stop away or about 15 minutes walk.

I stayed in a 3-bed male dormitory room with private shower & en-suite. 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 (plus free Wi-Fi). I paid ¥2,800 per night (¥5,600 for 2 nights). It’s one of the cheapest rates I’ve seen during my stay. For those who do not want to stay in a dormitory room, they also have private rooms with affordable rates.

The staff were super nice & accommodating. They speak good English & they are always ready to help. The hostel stored my luggage before check in & after check out for free. It also has a spacious common area on the ground floor where you can meet other travelers. It also has a kitchen where guests can prepare their own food. I will definitely stay here again when I go back to Fukuoka.

Torii gates in Kushida Shrine grounds 😍

Tip: Fukuoka Hana Hostel accepts bookings up to 3 months before your desired stay. Make sure to book early as they as usually fully booked.

Going Around Fukuoka

Going around the city is easy. The subway system is not as confusing as that of Tokyo’s & Osaka’s. Fukuoka has only 3 subway lines – Kuko Line, Nanakuma Line & Hakozaki Line. Kuko Line is the main city line which starts in Fukuoka Airport Station, passes by Hakata, Nakasu-Kawabata, Tenjin, Ohorikoen, Nishijin up to Meinohama Station. Nanakuma Line starts in Tenjin-Minami Station & services up to Hashimoto Station while Hakozaki Station starts in Nakasu-Kawabata Station & ends in Kaizouka.

Saw this amazing view when I stepped out of Daizafu Station 😍

The city also has JR Lines connected to these subway stations making it possible to connect to nearby cities & towns. By the way, these subway & JR lines also accept IC cards. You can also go around the city by bus (one thing I didn’t try because I’m fond of subways).

Places to visit in Fukuoka

Fukuoka may not have a long list of places to visit but it definitely has some unique places to see. Let me tell you which places I went to in my short 3-day stay.

Ōhori Park

Ōhori Park’s famous pavilion in the middle of the lake

Locally known as Ōhori-kōen, Ōhori Park is Fukuoka’s most famous park located in the center of the city. It features a large pond with a walking path around it & in the middle. The park is an ideal place for strolling, jogging & relaxing. Entrance to the park is free.

You can also find Fukuoka Art Museum a meters walk from Ōhori Park. However, the museum is closed for renovation & won’t be open until March 2019. Later I found out that the Fukuoka Castle Ruins / Maizuru Park were only a few meters away from the park. Unfortunately, I missed out visiting this place.

Access: Ohorikoen Station

Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome

Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome from the outside

Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome is the home of the locally famous Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks baseball team. The stadium can accommodate close to 40,000 spectators & is the world’s largest geodesic dome. It is also one of the popular places where local & international artists hold their concerts.

Access: 15 minutes walk from Tojinmachi & Nishijin Stations

Momochihama Seaside Park

This is a 1 kilometer stretch of man-made beach in the Seaside Momochi Waterfront. It is located a few meters walk from Fukuoka Tower. The beach was empty when I went there because it was almost winter & it’s too cold for people to swim.

Empty Momochi Beach on a cold but sunny autumn (almost winter) day

Access: 15 minutes walk from Tojinmachi & Nishijin Stations

Fukuoka Tower

View of Fukuoka Tower from the Seaside Momochi Waterfront 🗼

Fukuoka Tower is the city’s tallest building, also Japan’s tallest seaside building. It stands 234 m high & is located by the Momochihama Beach. Entrance to the building’s observatory costs ¥800. They offer 20% discount to foreigners who will show their passports.

Access: 15 minutes walk from Tojinmachi & Nishijin Stations

Robosquare

Robosqaure is robot showroom located a few meters walk from Fukuoka Tower. It is a place where you can interact & play with robots. I met a few interesting robots acts like humans. I also met a very cute dog robot who knows how to react for every hand gesture you make. There is also a shop where you can purchase & take home these robots.

One of the many robots you can play with in Robosquare 🤖

The showroom is located in the 2nd floor of the TV Nishi Nippon Building. Admission is free. As someone from the Philippines, I really enjoyed interacting / playing with the robots. It’s a must visit for kids & kids-at-heart.

Access: 15 minutes walk from Tojinmachi & Nishijin Stations

Tenjin

Dubbed as Fukuoka’s downtown, Tenjin is the city’s shopping, dining & entertainment hub. This is the place to go to if you want to shop for new clothes, dine in fancy restaurants, drink in bars & party in clubs.

Bake Cheese Tart is a must-try! 😋

Aside from the upscale department stores & shopping malls, it also has an underground shopping area which connects 2 subway stations & various buildings. This place is called Tenjin Chikagai. I think this underground shopping strip is a must-see place in Fukuoka. This is also where I found Bake Cheese Tart, the famous cheese tart chain that originated in Hokkaido.

Access: Tenjin & Tenjin-Minami Stations

Canal City – Hakata

A not-so-busy street of Fukuoka on my way to Canal City

Canal City is a large shopping & entertainment complex in Hakata. Characterized by more than 200 shops & restaurants, the 5 storey structure has a canal running through the complex premises. It also has 2 hotels in it.

What I found interesting in this shopping complex is Ramen Stadium on its fifth floor. This place has more or less 8 ramen restaurants coming from different places in Japan. If you’re a person who’s into ramen, then you should visit Canal City, particularly the ramen stadium.

Access: 10 minutes walk from Nakasu-Kawabata Station & 15 minutes walk from Hakata Station

Yatai

Yatai is a small mobile food stall found in random streets in Japan. These stalls are set up late afternoon / early evening & are packed up usually after midnight. These mobile restaurants serve almost all kinds of food – from ramen, to hotpots & grilled skewers. They also serve sake & alcholic drinks.

Post-drink snack in a yatai with YS, a friend I met in the hostel 🍢

These stalls are scattered all over Fukuoka, but you can find most of them in Nakasu Area. I went to one of these stalls with YS, the friend I met in the hostel for almost midnight snack. The food we had was really good!

Tōchō-ji Temple

Beautiful colors outside Tōchō-ji Temple🍂

The Tōchō-ji Temple is one of the central attractions in Hakata, Fukuoka. It is the Buddhist temple that houses the great statue called Fukuoka Daibutsu. This 10 m sitting Buddha wooden statue was carved for a few years.

Cameras were not allowed inside the hall so I was not able to take a photo of it. The status was really huge; it’s definitely a must-see when in Hakata & Fukuoka.

Access: 2 minutes walk from Gion Station

Kushida Shrine

Fukuoka’s famous Kushida Shrine ⛩️

Kushida Shrine is a Shinto Shrine located in Hakata Ward. Every July, a big festival called Hakata Gion Yamakasa, is celebrated. All the events & activities held at the festival is centered on this shrine.

Access: 5 minutes walk from Nakasu-Kawabata & Gion Stations

Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine

Entrance to the main shrine ⛩️

Dazaifu Tenman-gū Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, an important figure during the Heian Period. The shrine was built over Michizane’s grave. There are other structures & places located in the area; that includes the Dazaifu Tenman-gū Museum, Kanko Historical Museum & the Kyushu National Museum.

Entrance to the shrine grounds is free; but the museums charge a few yens.

Crowded Dazaifu Tenman-gū main shrine ⛩️

Access: From Tenjin Station, take the Nishitetsu-Tenjin-Omuta Line train towards Nishitetsu-Yanagawa. Get off at Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi Station & transfer to the Nishitetsu-Dazaifu Line towards Dazaifu. From Dazaifu Station, head right. Follow the crowd & walk for 5-7 minutes to the shrine.

Aaannd this concludes the Going Solo in Japan Series. It’s definitely a trip for the books – solo travelling at its finest. If you haven’t read the previous blogs in this series, just check the following posts: Nagoya, Hiroshima, Kyoto & Osaka & Nara & Kobe. I also blogged about how I managed to overcome the ₱50,000 x 13 days & 7 cities challenge for this trip. Flying to Japan soon? I’ve also blogged about my previous trip to Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka & I made a 4-step guide on how to apply for your Japan tourist visa.

One last photo about Fukuoka! Empty Momochi beach 🏖️ 

Japan will always be one of my favorite countries. I have visited the country for 2 years in a row & I am looking forward to my third, fourth & upcoming visits. It’s a country I won’t get tired of coming back. 💗

Is there something you want to know more about Fukuoka or anything you want to ask about the places mentioned above? Is there topic / content you want to see in this blog in the future? 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.