Japan – Page 8 – The Wknd Travel

Hostel Of The Day: KHAOSAN WORLD ASAKUSA RYOKAN & HOSTEL – Clean & Affordable Traditional Japanese Accommodation In The Heart Of Tokyo

UPDATE: Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel has ceased operations. I am keeping this Hostel of the Day feature to give tribute to such excellent accommodation.

Hello & welcome to the newest Hostel Of The Day feature. Last time, I shared with you some information about Dot Hostel Nagano, the hostel I stayed with in Nagano. I also narrated my 36-hour adventure around Tokyo with my siblings & relatives. My stay in Tokyo was relatively short but I made the most out of it.

In my previous trips to Tokyo, I’ve always stayed with Oak Hostel Zen – my favorite hostel in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Oak Hostel Zen was already booked out on our dates. I only had 1 night in the city plus I was travelling with a toddler; I had a hard time looking for the best possible accommodation. Bigger room space (bigger than Tokyo standards) & cost were our top 2 factors in looking for the place to stay. I’m happy I came across today’s hostel feature – Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel. Yes, this hostel provides bigger room space at an affordable price. Apparently, this hostel is the biggest Khaosan hostel in Japan.

Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is part of the Khaosan Group – a chain of affordable accommodation operating around 3 major cities in Japan. I will talk about this hostel group in a future post. In the meantime, allow me to share with you some information about the former love hotel turned hostel plus let you know how our stay went.

Note: I was with my toddler cousin during this trip. Don’t expect the usual cheap accommodation. We looked for the best affordable accommodation available during our dates.

Location & Access

Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is located in the heart of Asakusa in Tokyo. Asakusa is one of the busiest areas in the city – it is where Senso-ji, the famous red temple, & Kaminarimon are located. The hostel is within a very vibrant neighborhood. There are a number of convenience stores, restaurants, bars & cafes nearby. Asakusa’s Don Quijote is less than 5 minutes walk away. Khaosan World’s location is very central – a perfect place to stay in Tokyo.

The hostel is accessible to all modes of public transportation. The nearest station is Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express Line. The hostel staff advised me that this train line doesn’t pass by the usual sightseeing places in Tokyo. The nearest station that takes you to most places to visit in Tokyo is Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Subway Line. It takes about 8-10 minutes by foot to reach this station from the hostel doors. The JR line & airport link are about 20 minutes walk & you pass by Senso-ji to & from this station.

Ryokans, Double & Dormitory Rooms

Khaosan World Asakusa offers various rooms to choose from. Those who are travelling on a budget can opt to stay in the female or mixed dormitory rooms. Couples travelling can get a double room while families & groups can book Japanese-style rooms perfect for 3 to 6 people. Some rooms have private toilets while the others have access to shared toilets. Bed configuration & rates vary from one room to the other. Feel free to check the hostel’s website for the complete list of rooms & its inclusions.

Our group got the Deluxe Japanese-style Quadruple Room good for 4 people. It is a 30 sq m room which has 4 futon beds. The room includes a separate toilet & shower rooms, a preparation area, an entry foyer, a small storage area with closet & a small dining area. The room is complete with air conditioning / heater, water heater & toiletries. Towels are available for rent in the reception area. The hostel also provided a free phone with mobile internet to use whilst in Tokyo. The hostel adds a small touch by providing free & simple breakfast to all 4 guests. We booked our stay via Booking.com & got our room for ¥16,200 per night. That’s ¥4,050 per person per night; around ₱2,000 per person per night.

It may be a bit expensive but this room fits our requirements mentioned above. Also, experience a Japanese-style accommodation with futon beds at this rate is already a good choice

PerKS OF BEING A KHAOSAN WORLD GUEST

Japan hostels in general provide its guests with a long list of perks to enjoy. I don’t know if it’s a norm in their country; but maybe because of the high rates the visitors pay, they provide as much facilities, amenities & perks to all guests. Check out these perks which guests can enjoy in Khaosan World Asakusa.

Free Wi-Fi – Guests have access to free wireless internet connection. This connection is available throughout the building. Usernames & passwords can be obtained from the receptionist.

Free Breakfast – The hostel provides a simple breakfast of toast, butter & jam plus drinks to all its guests. Breakfast time is from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.

Free Coffee, Regular Tea & Japanese Tea – Guests can make their own coffee or tea 24 hours a day. The hostel provides free coffee & tea for everyone.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – Guests are allowed to cook their own food in the shared kitchen. Refrigerator & cooking materials are provided. Don’t forget to wash all the equipment you used. Everyone is also welcome to use the dining area for meals. It’s the perfect place to meet people who are also travelling in Tokyo.

In-house Vending Machines – If you don’t have time to prepare your food or you feel lazy about cooking, the in-house vending machines are perfect for you. These machines are located in the kitchen & dining area.

Communal Lounge & Games Area – Guests have access to a spacious communal lounge & games area on the ground floor. This is another place where you can meet other guests.

Kids Play Room – Khaosan World Asakusa is a kid-friendly accommodation. They have a separate room for kid guests who want to play.

Long Reception Hours – Reception is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 am of the following day. There is always a person in the reception booth. Check-in time is from 3:00 pm to 2:00 am while check-out is until 11:00 am.

Friendly English Speaking Staff – The hostel people are very friendly & accommodating. They even give recommendations on where to go or what to do. They also speak very good English. You won’t have any problems talking to them.

Shared Toilet & Shower Areas – Guests staying in dormitory rooms have access to well-maintained toilets & shower areas. These areas are available per floor & are cleaned every single day.

Free Luggage Storage – The hostel provides free luggage storage to guests on the day of check-in from 6 am to 3pm & check-out up to 10:00 pm.

Lift Access – The hostel building provides lift access to all floors. No need to carry luggage up to the topmost floor; just use the lift.

Laundry Facilities – The hostel has laundry facilities open to all guests. The washing machine can be used for only ¥200. The use of dryer costs ¥100 for every 20 minutes. Don’t worry folks, they provide detergent for free.

Smoking Room – The hostel provides a smoking room for those who want to puff a cigarette whilst in the building. The smoking room is located on the 1st floor & is open to all guests who smoke.

My Experience

Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel is not your typical cheap hostel but also not the 5-star type of hotel accommodation. It lies somewhere in between those 2 where guests get to enjoy a long list of perks for an affordable fee. My stay in this accommodation was very pleasant. It was my first time staying in a traditional Japanese tatami room & I’ll definitely say it won’t be the last.

While it may be a bit of a walk from the airport express, the property is still very accessible to everything. Most of the needs of the guests are provided or can be found in the hostel. If not, there’s always a place nearby to get or buy it. The staff were very friendly & always there to help. I have nothing but praises to this hostel.

This ryokan & hostel is budget, family & kid-friendly. It is one the best accommodations to stay when travelling with a toddler or kids in general.

Do you have any questions about Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel? Interested to know if they have rooms on your preferred dates of trip? Feel free to contact them on the details below.

Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel
Address: 3-15-1 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan 111-0035
Phone Number: +81 3 3843 0153
Email Address: world@khaosan-tokyo.com
Website: world.khaosan-tokyo.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/khaosanworldasakusa
Instagram: www.instagram.com/khaosan_world_asakusa

Have you been to Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel? How was your stay? I am constantly looking for new hostels to try. If you know some, feel free to post them in the comments below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you’re shy enough to comment. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Japan Highlights 2019: TOKYO – 36 Hours In The Land Of The Rising Sun’s Most Famous Metropolis

Last week, I shared with you details of Dot Nagano Hostel – the hostel I stayed with in Nagano. It was antique & unique, small but affordable; it’s the best place to stay in a beautiful city like Nagano.

My 2019 Japan trip started in Tokyo before I went to Nagano. My initial plan was to explore Nagano, Kanazawa, Toyama & Kumamoto for 9 days until my sisters & relatives joined the trip. I had to revise my itinerary to join them most of the time & also to guide them in their first trip to Japan. I joined them for 36 hours in Tokyo before going on my own in Nagano. I met with my sisters in Osaka a few days after.

Saw these empty barrels of sake outside Meiji Jingu Shrine. Felt so good to be back in Tokyo, Japan!

In this post, I will specifically talk about in 36-hour stay in the world’s most populous metropolis, Tokyo. Please note that this is not my 1st time (actually my 4th) in the city. Also, we’re travelling with a 1-year old kid. Our itinerary was relaxed & kid-friendly.

Flight To Tokyo

Will you believe me if I say that I booked my ticket to Tokyo for only ₱850 one way? Yes, it’s true. I booked this flight August 2018, right before all the fuel surcharges & other charges imposed on airfares. I took advantage of GetGo‘s, Cebu Pacific Air‘s lifestyle rewards program, 8,000 points off promotion that time.

I only paid 3,900 GetGo points & ₱850 for this flight to Tokyo. The flight left Manila at 6:15 am & arrived Tokyo ay 11:30 am local time. Flight time took about 4 hours & paying such cheap fare was definitely worth it. I wrote a previous post on how you can score cheap flights like this; check out this link (& this link too) for more information.

Places Visited Within 36 Hours

36 hours may be too short for a trip to Tokyo; but hey, I got the most out of it. Most of the places we went to were the same places I’ve been to in my past Tokyo visits. It’s their 1st time, so they need to see the highlights. Check out these places we went to:

Asakusa

One of Tokyo’s visited areas is Asakusa. This area is known for the Senso-ji Temple, the city’s world famous & oldest red Buddhist temple. We passed by the temple on our way to the hostel. We also walked around the busy streets & even went to one of the biggest Don Quijote stores in Tokyo.

Nearest train station: Asakusa Station (Tobu Railway, Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway Lines)

Roppongi

The main reason we went to Roppongi was to attend the 6:00 pm anticipated Sunday mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center – Roppongi Catholic Church. We also explored the area, walked around different shopping malls & even saw Tokyo Tower from afar.

Nearest train station: Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway Lines)

Meiji Jingu

Meiji Jingu is Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrine & is dedicated to Emperor Jingu. We went there on a Sunday, so the place was flooded both by locals & visitors. I’ve been to this place in 2015 & again, I witnessed a part of a Japanese wedding.

Nearest train stations: Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) & Meiji-jingu-mae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda & Fukutoshin Subway Lines)

Takeshita Street

Harajuku’s Takeshita Street is one of the city’s busiest places. It is a short street full of shops, cafes, restaurants & anything fancy. I reckon it is the best place to buy pasalubong. Look for the stall that sells Kitkats for less than ¥200 & chocolates for less than ¥90 per small box. I forgot the name of the place but it’s the one with chocolates displayed along the streets.

Nearest train station: Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line)

Omotesando Hills

Right at the other end of Takeshita Street is Omotesando Hills. This area is Tokyo’s special area for shopaholics. Omotesando Hills is a large shopping complex where you can find all local & international luxury & branded stores. It is also a place where you’ll see many boutique & specialty stores.

Nearest train station: Omotesando Station (Toko Metro Chiyoda, Ginza & Hanzomon Lines)

Shibuya

Sushi for lunch!
Scallops Sushi

Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s most famous places to visit. It became famous for the intersection & its busy commercial district. It’s also a good place to go shopping & have good food. We had our late lunch in a sushi (train) restaurant. We went around different stores & buildings afterwards. We also dropped by the famous Hachiko statue.

Nearest train stations: Shibuya Station (JR Yamanote, JR Saikyo & Shonan-Shinjuku Lines, Keio Inokashira Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon & Fukutoshin Lines)

And that’s a wrap! That’s already 36 hours around Tokyo, Japan. I may not have been to new places but I had a great time visiting these places again – but this time with my family. I left for Nagano afterwards while they went to Tokyo DisneySea Resort, Akihabara & Shinjuku days after.

It’s still in my plan to go back to Tokyo for a few days & go to newer places. I heard there’s quite a list of new & exciting places to go to. The last time I went there to explore was in 2015 & it’s been years. I don’t know when will that be but hopefully soon.

Have you been to Tokyo recently? Any fancy, new or interesting places to go to? Share your suggestions & itineraries below. Feel free to also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you’re shy enough to comment. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for my post about the beautiful Nagano. Ciao!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel of the Day: DOT HOSTEL NAGANO – Wooden House Turned High-Rated Affordable Hostel

Welcome to newest & also the first Hostel of the Day feature for 2019! Today, I’ll be taking you to Nagano, Japan. Last month, I went on a 9-day trip around Japan & visited Nagano for 3 days & 2 nights. Nagano is a small city & is the center of the Nagano Prefecture in Chubu Region. The city only has few accommodation options at the moment & even has lesser budget hostels available.

I stayed in a hostel named Dot Hostel Nagano. It is a budget-friendly hostel that opened a few years ago. The place used to be a traditional wooden house, was renovated & then converted into a hostel or shared tourist accommodation. I was lucky enough to score a bed in this hostel as most of the places to stay are booked out. Allow me to share with you some details about the hostel & how my stay went.

Location & Access

Dot Hostel Nagano is located less than 5 minutes walk from Nagano’s most important & famous temple – Zenkoji Temple. It’s about 5 to 10 minutes walk from Zenkoji Station of the Nagaden Railway. There are also multiple bus stops near the hostel. Nagano Station, the city’s main station is 1.8 kilometers away but still can be accessed by foot. The nearest convenience store is 5 to 10 minutes away by foot while the nearest supermarket is by the shopping street about 15 minutes walk from the hostel doors.

There isn’t much to do & to go to in Nagano so having an accommodation near the city’s main temple is just perfect. The hostel’s location was also perfect for early morning & late night walks around the temple grounds.

Room Configuration & Rates

Dot Hostel Nagano is a small hostel; they can only accommodate up to 15 guests. The hostel has 1 x 6-bed mixed dormitory room (¥2,600 a bed per night), 1 x 6-bed female dormitory room (¥2,600 a bed per night), a double tatami room (¥6,000 per night) & a single room (¥3,800 per night). All guests have access to the hostel’s common facilities.

I got myself a bed in the 6-bed mixed dormitory room. I paid a little over ¥4,300 for 2 nights from the initial rate of ¥4,800 (¥2,400 per night). Thanks to Traveloka‘s weekly promotion! The dormitory beds feature Japanese style bedding (with duvet covers), privacy curtains, a universal plug & personal reading lights. All rooms have air conditioning & fans. They were of no use during my stay because it was winter. The rooms do not have lockers but are spacious enough to put in your stuff. Just make sure to secure your bags them with padlocks.

Guest Perks

Dot Hostel Nagano may not be a large-scale hostel yet it still provides the usual facilities & amenities. Check out these perks every guest can enjoy.

Free WiFi

All hostel guests have access to free WiFi. Username & password are given to the guests upon check in. The hostel WiFi was fast just like any other internet connection in Japan.

Free Breakfast

The hostel offers free breakfast of toast & jam to all its guests. The food is available as early as 6:30 am until 9:30 am. Coffee & tea are also available & offered for free. These drinks are available 24/7.

Common Toilet & Shower

All guests have access to a communal but separate toilet & shower on the ground floor. Both small areas are clean & well-maintained.

Communal Kitchen & Food Storage Area

Just like any other hostel in Japan, Dot Hostel Nagano also has a communal kitchen open for all. The kitchen has microwave ovens & an oven toaster which can be used to reheat cooked food. Guests can also cook their own meals in the kitchen provided with complete cooking materials. There is also a big fridge where guests’ food can be stored.

Sample meal I bought in the supermarket. I stored these items in the fridge & ate ’em the next day.

Common Dining & Lounge Area

The hostel has a small dining & lounge area right in front of the hostel reception. It is where the guests kill time, eat & interact with other guests. I had 2 great nights in this common area; I met people from all over the world & even shared interesting stories & experiences. The vibe is very social even if it’s only a small hostel.

Free Luggage Storage

The hostel offers free luggage storage to all its guests on the day of check in & check out. Reception opens at 8:30 in the morning & closes around 10:00 in the evening. The luggage storage area is the small space just by the reception.

Exceptional Guest Services

The staff provides exceptional services. They are nice & helpful. They even give out recommendations on where to go, what to do & where to eat. They also speak very good English.

Sake Bar

The hostel reception is also a sake bar. Dot Hostel Nagano offers some local sake variants & other alcoholic drinks. If I remember it right, the price of one order of sake is ¥400. I didn’t have the chance to try it though, maybe when I come back in the future.

Bicycle Rental

Guests can rent bicycles from the hostel. Feel free to check with reception for rates; don’t forget to ask if they have an ongoing promotion on rental fees.

Laundry Services

Guests who need to wash their clothes can take advantage of the laundry machine near the shower room. I forgot if the laundry charge is per use or if the guest pay for the soap. You can always check with the staff if you plan to avail this service.

Verdict

Overall, I had a great stay in Dot Hostel Nagano. I didn’t expect to have this kind of hostel in such a small & relatively unpopular city of Nagano. The hostel may be small in size & capacity but its facilities & amenities are at par with the large hostels I’ve stayed with in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. Location is very central, pretty much close to everywhere. The facility is well-maintained; the staff are super nice & accommodating. You may not have a lot of choices of hotels or hostels to stay in Nagano but make sure to put this on top of your list. Book early. They tend to get booked out in most days.

Do you want to have any questions about the hostel? Do you want to book an upcoming stay in Dot Hostel Nagano? Feel free to contact them on the details below.

Dot Hostel Nagano
Address: 379 Higashinomon, Nagano, 380-0852, Japan
Phone Number: +81 26 219 6769
Email Address: dothostel.nagano@gmail.com
Website: www.dothostel-nagano.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/dothostel.nagano
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dot_hostel_nagano

Have you been to Nagano before? Where did you stay? Watch out for my post about my 3-day stay in the city. Believe it or not, I saw some snow monkeys! For the meantime, feel free to post your questions, comments & thoughts in the visitor section below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you’re shy enough to comment. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Ciao!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

2018 Run-Through: Reuniting & Travelling With Friends

Hey, you! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday with your families & friends. 2019 is just a few hours away. Another year will soon pass. Before we go into 2019, join me as I look back on how another year of travels went by.

2016 was all about going solo & exploring places by myself. 2017 was about exploring both known & relatively unknown places. 2018’s theme is about reuniting & travelling with friends. After months & years of travelling alone, I reunited & travelled with friends in all of my trips this year.

Let me share with you where my friends & I went to this year. It was a fun & memorable year exploring with friends!

sapporo🇯🇵

Last February, Shane & I went to Sapporo for a week. We flew in to Tokyo & took another domestic flight to Sapporo. We explored Sapporo city on our 2nd day – walked around historic buildings & structures plus tried the famous Genghis Khan meat for late lunch. We tried the world-famous Hokkaido king crab in Nijo Market on our 3rd day, then went to explore the port city of Otaru in the afternoon.

Shane & I went skiing on our 4th day. We took a beginner’s ski course in the morning & skied on a downhill slope in the afternoon. It was tiring but a fun experience. We enjoyed it & we plan to do it again on our next winter trip. We chose to relax on our 5th day & tried a traditional Japanese onsen on a snowy day. At first, it was weird walking around naked but hey, everyone’s naked so there’s nothing to worry. We flew to Tokyo on our 6th day & do some last minute pasalubong shopping before flying back to Manila on our last day.

Believe it or not, we only spent less than ₱45,000 each including airfare & hostel accommodations. It was a trip of many firsts (my first legit winter trip) & also an affordable one. Check out the Sapporo blog list below.

Blog List:
Hokkaido Winter Series: The Ultimate Japan Winter Experience Without Breaking The Bank (7 Days For Less Than ₱45,000 all-in)
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO – A Winter Paradise City
Hokkaido Winter Series: OTARU – An Afternoon In The Nearby Historical Harbor City
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO TEINE RESORT & HOHEIKYO ONSEN – Recommended Day Trips From Sapporo City
Hostel Of The Day: THE STAY SAPPORO – Budget Sapporo Accommodation With Top-Notch Amenities
Hostel Of The Day: OAK HOSTEL ZEN – My Favorite Tokyo Hostel
Tuesday Tip: 7 SAPPORO Eats You Shouldn’t Miss

Hong Kong🇭🇰

My high school friends & I went on a weekend trip to Hong Kong last March. We left for Hong Kong on a Friday late afternoon & arrived back in Manila Sunday night. It was a quick 48-hour trip but we managed to visit a number of interesting places. Jericho & I explored went to Victoria Peak, Quarry Bay Monster Building, Nan Lian Garden & Kowloon Pier while our friends went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We met them in Mong Kok for dinner & went shopping together.

The following day, the whole group went to mass at St Teresa’s Church in Kowloon Tong in the morning. We all went to Ngong Ping via the cable car in the afternoon & went last-minute shopping at Citygate Outlets. We headed back to our accommodation to pick up our bags & went straight to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In HONG KONG

Nacpan Beach🇵🇭

Maanne, a friend who is now based in Vancouver, went home for a few weeks & asked us to join her visit Nacpan Beach in El Nido. I’ve been to El Nido & Nacpan Beach a number of times. It was Maanne’s 1st time in Nacpan. We spent a whole day at the beach area. The weather didn’t cooperate so we found ourselves having a good time (having lunch + free drinks / shots) at Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. Our stay in El Nido & Nacpan was mostly spent in our hostels, Mad Monkey & Outpost Beach Hostel due to rainy weather.

Blog List:
Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL NACPAN BEACH – Beach & Party In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: OUTPOST BEACH HOSTEL – Social El Nido Hostel By The Beach

Port Barton 🇵🇭

After spending 2 days & 2 nights in El Nido, we headed down south to the small coastal village of Port Barton. I’ve been to this place in 2017 & had the best times so I decided to bring my friends to this paradise. We spent another 48 hours here, went island hopping, relaxed on the village beach & had great times with old & new friends.

Blog: PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

Siargao 🇵🇭

My colleague & friend, Shiela, & I went to Siargao for 4 full days last July. We booked our tickets a few months back before I left for the airport for my Sapporo trip. Another friend in the name of Geof (from Siquijor 2017 trip) was also on the island with friends. We met up on our 1st day for dinner & decided to go together for crazy party nights & inland tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Rock Pool tour together & met a new set of friends. This marked the birth of the Siargao Squad. Half of the group left the island on our 3rd day while we took the Sohoton Cove & Tri Island Tour.

Shiela & I also had crazy nights with our roommates at Bravo Beach Resort & our ex-colleague Vanessa. This trip was all about exploring the island in the morning & drinking / partying at night – typical Siargao getaway. I look forward to flying back to Siargao to do the same time.

Blog List:
4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights
~~Hostel~~ Resort Of The Day: BRAVO BEACH RESORT SIARGAO – Reasonably Priced Shared Luxury Accommodation in Paradise Island

Sydney 🇦🇺

Last August, I flew to Sydney with my N9 buddies, Shane (from Sapporo trip) & Leng. It was my first trip outside Asia (finally lol). We took the free walking tours & explored Sydney by foot. The weather was not too hot & not too cold (well for me) so it was perfect for walking. My friends & I also went to see Bondi Beach & Coogee Beach, 2 of the many suburban beaches of Sydney.

We took a wine-tasting day trip to the mountains of Hunter Valley. We went to 3 wineries, tried different kinds of wine & had lunch at a fancy country club. We drowned ourselves with free wine that same day. We took another day trip to Blue Mountains National Park in Katoomba. The place is about 2 hours by train from Sydney. We walked around the peaceful rainforest of Jamison Valley plus enjoyed the thrilling rides of Scenic World. It was a perfect day out with the nature. Check the N9 in Staya Series blog list below.

Blog List:
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours
N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute
N9 in Straya Series: HUNTER VALLEY Day Tour – Australian Wine Tasting At Its Finest
N9 in Straya Series: SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS – Nature & Adventure In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

Brisbane 🇦🇺

I left my friends in Sydney & flew to Brisbane to spend a weekend with my relatives & cousins. My uncle, aunt & cousins took me around the city. We went to the koala sanctuary, had lunch at Mount Coot-tha overlooking Brisbane CBD, walked around South Bank, rode the Brisbane Wheel & drove around the central business district. They also took me to Gold Coast to see the famous beach, to go up Gold Coast’s highest view deck & to have lunch in a revolving restaurant.

Blog: N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD

Bohol 🇵🇭

My high school friends & I went on a quick weekend getaway to Bohol last September. We flew in Saturday morning, went straight to the countryside tour. We saw both the chocolate hills & the tarsiers on our first few hours on the island. We decided to skip the Loboc River Cruise & went to Bohol Bee Farm to have lunch. We passed by a few more places before heading to our booked accommodation near Alona Beach. On our 2nd day, we chased dolphins, swam with the turtles & snorkelled in Balicasag Island. We flew back to Manila the morning of the 3rd day. The trip was just right for a small island like Bohol.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Penang 🇲🇾

Both planned trips in November got cancelled so I booked a last-minute trip to Malaysia. My initial plan was to spend 3 days in Penang & another 3 days in Kuala Lumpur but I had to cut short my trip for another last-minute invite. This 36-hour Penang stopover was the only ‘trip’ of the year when I was alone.

I flew in to Penang via Kuala Lumpur on the 1st day, explored Kok Lek Si & Georgetown (plus the murals) on the 2nd day & left for Singapore on the 3rd day. I stayed in a very cool shop-turned-guesthouse property called The Frame Guesthouse. I haven’t posted about my Penang trip, but watch out for the article soon.

Blog List:
Penang Blog – To Follow
(~~Hostel~~) Guesthouse Of The Day: THE FRAME GUESTHOUSE PENANG – Beautifully Restored Heritage Property In The Heart Of Georgetown

Singapore 🇸🇬

As mentioned above, I had to cut my Malaysia trip for another trip in Singapore. I flew into Singapore a day before the event. I headed my hostel near Haji Ln & Arab St & met up with my friend Lord who is now based there. We first had late lunch in a Japanese restaurant at Bugis Junction Mall then headed to ATLAS Singapore to have afternoon drinks.

I sneaked in a quick trip to Marina Bay Sands & Gardens By The Bay before heading over to Zouk Singapore for the pre-sailing party of Its The Ship 2018. Check out how I managed to spend by 24 hours in Singapore. It was a quick one, but hey, I’ve been to a lot of places in such a short span of time.

Blog List:
SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City
Tuesday Tip: SINGAPORE Tipid Hits – 9 Ways to Explore On A Budget

Its The Ship 2018 🇸🇬🇹🇭

Its The Ship 2018 was the main reason why I had to cut short my Penang / Kuala Lumpur planned trip & why I flew to Singapore on the 3rd day. Lord, my friend based in Singapore, invited me to join him in this party cruise. Thank you, Lord! Double meaning, I know. LOL.

This yearly 4 days / 3 nights cruise trip to Phuket (from Singapore) & back is Asia’s largest festival at sea. This year, the cruise turned into a massive party boat with international DJs over 3 stages. The cruise also had scheduled fun activities with the artists, plus an international buffet (which runs almost 24/7). This was my 1st cruise experience & will definitely be not the last.

I haven’t posted anything yet about my Its The Ship 2018 experience. Make sure to wait for that post next month.

Blog: To Follow

Cancelled Trips 🇨🇳🇲🇳🇯🇵

I know I have a long list of trips that pushed through this year, but I also had 2 international trips that didn’t push through. First is the 10-day trip to Beijing, China & Mongolia. My friend & I booked tickets to Beijing for less than ₱1,800 each & planned to go to Ulanbaatar by land. Unfortunately, we had to forego of this trip due to visa restraints. Apparently, the Chinese consulate does not grant double entry visas to first time applicants. We need this type of visa because we planned to go back to Beijing to catch our flight back to Manila.

Another cancelled trip was another set of flights to Japan. I was supposed to fly to Tokyo & Nagoya with my high school friends (from Hong Kong & Bohol trips) but I had to cancel. I had to attend an important family event that falls in the middle of that supposed to be 11-day trip. These China, Mongolia & Japan trips might have been cancelled, but I know I’ll visit these places soon. I’m still thankful most of my planned trips pushed through.

This pretty much sums up my year full of travels with friends. It was a year of many firsts – first winter trip, first out-of-Asia trip, first cruise experience & the list goes on. It was a year full of unforgettable experiences & memorable laughs. I may not have a clear plan on what’s in store for 2019 but I am positive it will be another year full of travels. Thank you very much for joining me. Happy new year & cheers to more fun travels in 2019!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: 7 SAPPORO Eats You Shouldn’t Miss

It’s December & it’s winter time. It only means one thing – it’s one of the best times to visit Sapporo, Japan. Random snowfalls, extremely cold temperature, longer nights & powdery snow sums up winter in this area of Japan. The Hokkaido snow season is one of the most visited season of the region. The Sapporo Snow Festival, which happens to be the biggest festival in the city, also happens every winter – normally in the 1st or 2nd week of February.

Early this year, my friend & I flew to Sapporo for 6 days to experience what it’s like in Hokkaido during winter. We went to different places & tried a lot of activities. We first walked around Sapporo for our 1st few days, then we went to the nearby port city of Otaru. We also went to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort to try skiing & Hoheikyo Onsen to try a Japanese onsen during winter. It was a trip of many firsts; it was a trip for the books. Believe it or not, Shane & I only spent less than ₱45,000 all in – including return flights from Manila & hostel accommodations. We definitely had a winter trip of a lifetime!

Aside from experiencing winter in Sapporo, we also went there for the food. Our goal was to try as many unique eats as we can. Shane, who is a certified foodie, & I kind of splurged on food during our trip. Let me share with you these 7 eats we had which you should not miss when in Sapporo.

Soup Curry

Dinner at Rojiura Curry Samurai – our first meal in Sapporo!

Soup curry is a famous dish in Sapporo. A soup curry is a curry with more soup. Quite weird, eh? Yeah. The dish is basically a curry flavored soup with little meat & different kinds of vegetables. There are a number of soup curry chains in Sapporo. The hostel staff recommended that we try Rojiura Curry Samurai. Shane & I went there for our 1st dinner in Sapporo.

I ordered vegetable soup curry & a cup of rice. The soup was tasty, thick & slightly sweet. The vegetables were fresh. It was the perfect meal for a very cold night. An order of soup curry with a bowl of rice costs a little over ¥1,000.

Jingisukan

Jingisukan is Hokkaido’s famous grilled mutton dish. This dish is basically lamb meat grilled on Mongolian helmet-shaped skillet. The lamb fat is placed in the center of the skillet pan, then slides to all the sides where the vegetables are being cooked. The meat will then be grilled / cooked once the pan is hot.

Lamb meat being grilled in a helmet-shaped skillet. Yum!

Meal comes with unlimited draft Sapporo beer only served in this restaurant.

Shane & I went to the famous Sapporo Beer Garden to have unlimited lamb barbecue & drinks. Drink selection includes a draft Sapporo Beer only served in this restaurant. Buffet cost us ¥4,212 each including taxes. For more information about the buffet & restaurant, head over to Sapporo Beer Garden’s website. It was a bit more expensive than a normal lunch meal, but it was worth the try! Everyone should try this when visiting Sapporo.

King Crab & Fresh Seafood

Look at the variety of fresh seafood available at Nijo Market.

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, is famous for its king crab & fresh seafood. 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. We then bought 800 grams of Hokkaido king crab (for sharing) for ¥10,000 & had it cooked in the nearby restaurant. Yes, it was that expensive. A kilogram of Hokkaido king crab costs ¥13,000.. We also ordered chirashi sushi bowls & a bottle of soft drink to complete the meal.

Shane & I bought 800 grams of king crab legs & had it cooked in a nearby restaurant! YUUUUUM~

Shane’s meal with the king crab legs. Fresh seafood at its best in Nijo Market!

It was another ‘worth-it’ but expensive meal. The price of king crab in Sapporo is way cheaper than the price in local Japanese restaurants. This meal was one of the highlights of the trip. The crab meat was very fresh & tasty.

Miso Ramen

A visit to Japan is never complete without having ramen for at least one meal. Each area / region usually have its own ramen flavor. If Fukuoka & Kyushu are famous for their tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen, Hokkaido (especially Northern Hokkaido) is famous for miso ramen. The broth is based on miso paste / seasoning & then served with either pork, chicken, seafood & other add-ons.

Entry to Sapporo Ramen Republic. You’ll definitely have a hard time choosing where to eat.

There are a number of miso ramen shops around Sapporo & Hokkaido. Shane & I went to Sapporo Ramen Republic on the 10th floor of ESTA Complex. Sapporo Ramen Republic has 8 of the top ramen restaurants in Hokkaido. We chose to dine at Misono & tried their miso ramen with pork & grated ginger. The miso broth was different from the other ones I’ve tried, but still very rich in taste. That bowl of ramen cost us ¥700 – ¥800 per bowl. A local advised us there’s another ramen alley somewhere in Susukino – I’ll check that out in my next visit.

Indian Curry & Naan

One of the recommended to-do’s in Hoheikyo Onsen, aside from relaxing in the natural hot spring, is to have a meal in the on-site Indian restaurant. This restaurant is famous for their genuine Indian curry & homemade naan. Shane & I had our late lunch here & ordered their famous curry (forgot if it was pork, lamb or chicken) & naan paired with cold tea & a strawberry yogurt drink. The food was authentic, good & one-of-a-kind. Glad we stopped by the restaurant before leaving the onsen. I am very sorry I forgot how much paid for the meal.

Check out the on-site restaurant’s page for more information.

Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Soft-serve lavender ice cream on a cold winter day? No problem!

Another must-try in Sapporo is the soft-serve ice cream. Shane & I tried the ice cream even if it was below 0 & snowing. Flavors & prices vary from one shop to the other. We saw 2 unique flavors only offered in Hokkaido – Lavender & Yubari Melon. Shane went for the mixed chocolate & lavender flavor while I got the lavender only variant. Each cone cost ¥320. I’ll try the Yubari melon flavored ice cream next time!

Check out the available ice cream flavors in this random Otaru shop. Which one will you choose?

Cheese Tarts

Hokkaido is also known for its distinct, rich & tasty dairy products. These dairy products gave birth to the raved baked cheese tarts. The snack first became famous in Sapporo & then became known around Japan & now all over the world. Famous cheese tart shops include Kinotoya, BAKE, Hokkaido, & Pablo. These shops have branched out of Japan & are now present in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia & many more.

Shane & I bought cheese tarts from the Sapporo-born shop called Kinotoya in JR Sapporo Station. The tart shell was buttery & tasty while the cheese mousse (filling) was sweet & salty at the same time. A piece of cheese tart costs around ¥200. What I loved about this shop is there was no queue / line to buy the tart unlike other cheese tart shops in Tokyo & Sapporo. Make sure to drop by any cheese tart shop when in Sapporo. It’s the perfect snack to pair with your hot coffee or green tea.

BONUS – Royce’ Chocolates

Do you know that Sapporo-born Royce’ chocolates can be bought everywhere in the city? Yes. Royce’ chocolates are found in local stores & tourist shops around Sapporo. This phenomenon is not present in other Japan cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, etc.) where Royce’ chocolates are only sold in major airports. Prices are almost the same, if not cheaper, in Sapporo. Don’t forget to hoard Royce’ chocolates before leaving Sapporo. There’s also a big chance you’ll find limited edition flavors like the Sakuraberry variant I got last time.

This long list pretty much sums up the major eats we had in Sapporo last February. Have you tried some of them? Planning to fly to Sapporo in the future? Don’t forget to put these 7 treats in your list. You’ll surely enjoy them! Do you still have other Sapporo treats in mind? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send your thoughts & comments via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thanks for joining me in today’s Tuesday Tip! See you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.