Tag: travelling

High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In HONG KONG

¡Hola! I know I’ve been quiet the past few weeks – I’ve been very busy with work & personal life. There’s so much going on around me & I barely have time to write & catch-up. I still owe you everything about my Sapporo trip last February but that’s coming really soon. For now, I will share to you some details about recent trip to Hong Kong.

Touchdown Hong Kong International Airport!

Last March, my high school friends & I went to Hong Kong for the weekend. You heard it right, just for 48 hours! We left Manila Friday afternoon & went back Sunday night. Yes, it was that quick but we managed to visit many places. I’ve been to Hong Kong in 2013 with my office friends so I made sure that I went to new places this time.

Plane Ticket

Last September 2017, Citibank Philippines offered promotional Cebu Pacific Air fares to Hong Kong. Flights from Manila cost as low as ₱1,299 (not including booking fee) per person. Cheap, eh? My high school friends & I took advantage of this promotion; we booked tickets for 10 people. Yes, cheap fares were overflowing that time.

My return ticket to Hong Kong; bought it for only ₱3,710.60

We got our round-trip ticket for ₱3,710.60 (including airport taxes & booking fee) each. A normal return ticket to Hong Kong will cost you around ₱5,000 – ₱8,000; we still got it for an affordable price!

Curios how I get access to or how do I get informed of these promotional fares? You might want to like my Facebook Page for alerts & updates on upcoming & current seat sales. I also wrote how I manage to book super tickets to various local & international destinations. Check the post here.

ACCOMMODATION

Looking for a decent & affordable place to stay in Hong Kong is quite hard. It got harder because we were a group of 10 people. Hotel & services apartment rates in Hong Kong are very expensive. A room in a decent hotel can cost around ₱5,000 per night for 2 people. There are a lot of guesthouses & inns but most of they aren’t that cozy.

Our small & basic double room at Shinny Inn, Hong Kong

My friends & I got lucky for booking our stay (via Booking.com) with Shinny Inn. It is a small inn in the 8th Floor of Alhambra Building along Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. We booked really early so we got the double room at HK$ 360 per night – that’s HK$ 180 per person / night. What a bargain! We booked 5 rooms in the property.

Had Tsingtao again after so long! Bought this while having dinner in a restaurant near Shinny Inn

The air-conditioned rooms were small (this is normal in Hong Kong) & basic. Each room has a private shower & ensuite, a small table & a cable television. Space is limited but it was alright. We were out most of the time anyway; we only need a place to sleep & prepare. Jeki (the owner) provided each room a free local sim card with a few credits & mobile internet. Our stay comes with free coffee & tea in the morning.

View from Shinny Inn’s balcony

They also allowed us to leave our bags after check out. Overall, I recommend staying at Shinny Inn. The place is affordable for such an expensive destination. The rooms are small & basic – again you just need a place to sleep!

48 Hours In Hong Kong? Challenge Accepted! Places Visited –>

As mentioned above, I’ve been to Hong Kong in 2013 so I decided to skip some places to visited like Hong Kong Disneyland & Ocean Park Hong Kong. Majority of the group went to Hong Kong Disneyland during our second day; but my friend, Echo, & I decided to go our own way.

Central Hong Kong

Central is Hong Kong’s business & retail district. You can find everything here – affordable & luxury brand stores, restaurants, businesses, etc. I’ve been to this area way back in 2013; but I missed visiting the famous Graham St mural. The mural shows rows of townhouses & apartment buildings beside each other, depicting the current Hong Kong situation.

Graham St mural 

Echo & I also tried the mid-levels escalator in Jubilee St. This 800-meter escalator is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the word. We went there for the experience – it only works one way per few minutes plus you will see people at every end waiting for the escalator to go the other way.

Tried the mid-levels escalator in Jubilee St

Access: Central MTR Station

Peak Tram & Sky Terrace 428

Converted our Klook vouchers into tickets!

I’ve been to the Peak Tram & Sky Terrace 428 in 2013 but Echo asked if I can go there again & go with him. I had no choice but to say yes. We got our Peak Tram Fast-Track Combo Tickets from Klook for US$8.9 or around ₱460. The ticket included an express entry to The Peak Tram & a ticket to Sky Terrace to 428. Ticket redemption was easy & the express entry to the tram saved us a lot of time (instead of lining up in the regular queue).

Inside the Peak Tram on the way to Victoria Peak

Dropped by the Trick Eye Museum before heading up to Sky Terrace 428

The tram ride to Victoria Peak took us a little over 7 minutes. We skipped the Madame Tussaud’s & the Art of Chocolate Museum & we headed to the free Trick Eye Museum. We took some photos & then we finally went up to Sky Terrace 428. The weather was cloudy, windy & cold. We were not able to see the skyline in its glory. We stayed for a few hours but the weather didn’t improve. We had no choice but to leave.

The best view of skyline from Sky Terrace 428 – it was cloudy that day!

Access: Central MTR Station | Klook Ticket Redemption Area – Exit K

Hong Kong’s Monster Building

Quarry Bay’s Monster Building became popular on Instagram. Since then, Hong Kong visitors make their way to Quarry Bay area to see the building for themselves, also to get nice photos for their Instagram accounts.

Hong Kong’s Monster Building from the ground

This area is composed of 5 buildings, namely Montane Mansion, Oceanic Mansion, Yik Cheong Building, Yik Fat Building & Fook Cheong Building, which form a gigantic E-shaped complex. Echo & I went to this complex to see the buildings in person & to take photos. There’s another famous & colorful complex named Choi Hung Estate but we didn’t have enough time to go & visit.

Another one!

Access: Quarry Bay MTR Station – Exit A + Walk along King’s Road to Tai Koo

Nan Lian Garden

Nan Lian Garden is a serene classical Chinese garden in Diamond Hill, Hong Kong. Surrounded by skyscrapers, this garden features several walking paths, ponds, wooden & stone structures, trees & a wooden pavilion. The garden’s design followed the designs during Tang Dynasty.

A good friend of ours recommended this place to us. I’d like to echo her. This garden is truly a must-see when in Hong Kong.

Access: Diamond Hill MTR Station – Exit C2

Kowloon Public Pier

View of Central skyline from Hong Kong Convention Center grounds

Given the Avenue of Stars is closed for renovation until early next year, Echo & I looked for a place to relax while enjoying the view of the Central Hong Kong Skyline. We sat down in one of the benches in Kowloon Public Pier & enjoyed the view on a cold windy late afternoon. The skyline wasn’t at its best due to the not-so-favorable weather.

Central skyline from Kowloon Public Pier

Access: Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station – Exit E + Walk towards Hong Kong Space Museum

Hong Kong Clock Tower

The Hong Kong Clock Tower is an iconic landmark in Hong Kong. Located at the back of Kowloon Public Pier & beside the Hong Kong Convention Centre, this iconic tower is the only remnant of the former Kowloon Station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway built in 1915.

Access: Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station – Exit E + Walk towards Hong Kong Space Museum

Mong Kok

Busy Mong Kok on a Saturday night!

Mong Kok is Hong Kong’s busiest & most crowded shopping district. One can find everything here – from original pairs of shoes to class A one. This is the best place to go shopping for tourists. The famous Ladies Market is also in this area. Make sure you know how to haggle when visiting this place.

Had Cafe de Coral’s roast duck meal for dinner. Yum!

Echo & I met the rest of the group here for dinner & some shopping. We also walked around the Ladies’ Market & got some nice finds.

Mong Kok’s Ladies Market!

Access: Mong Kok MTR Station

St Teresa’s Church – Kowloon Tong

The whole group attended the 8:30 am English Sunday Mass at St Teresa’s Church in Kowloon Tong. This church is along Prince Edward Rd West, about 15 minute walk from Prince Edward Station. You will pass by the Hong Kong Flower Market when you walk to the church from the MTR station.

Access: Prince Edward Station – Exit B2 + Walk straight towards Prince Edward Rd West

NGONG PING

Gate to the Tian Tan Buddha & Po Lin Monastery Complex

The group decided to visit Ngong Ping before flying back to Manila in the evening. Weeks before our trip, we bought the Ngong Ping 360 Standard Cabin tickets from Klook. Each person paid US$21.3 (around ₱1,100) for a round-trip cable car ticket. Upon arrival in the ticket station, we exchanged our Klook vouchers to physical tickets, then boarded cable car to Ngong Ping. The cable car to Ngong Ping was 25-minutes long.

Lantau Island’s famous Tian Tan Buddha

Upon arrival in Ngong Ping, we hiked 268 steps up to see the bronze Tian Tan Buddha up close. This status is commonly known as Lantau Island’s Big Buddha. Access to outside of the Buddha is free of charge. After going down from the Buddha, we went to Po Lin Monastery. Located opposite of the Buddha grounds, this Buddhist monastery houses different Buddha statues & Buddhist scriptures.

Outside Po Lin Monastery in Ngong Ping

Access: Tung Chung Station – Exit B + 5 minutes walk to Ngong Ping 360

CITYGATE OUTLETS

Our last stop before heading to the airport is CityGate Outlets. This retail center is the largest outlet mall in Hong Kong. The mall has a lot of international brands, with almost all shops offering discounted items. We did some shopping here before going back to the inn to get our things.

Access: Tung Chung Station – Exit B

To more 48-hour (or more) trips with these people!

And that’s 48 hours in Hong Kong! Our schedule was a bit tight (not for the other group who spent a day in Disneyland) but was all good. We managed to visit a lot of new places given the limited time. My highlight of the trip was definitely the visit to Nan Lian Garden. I can easily spend a day there! I look forward to going there again.

View from the Ngong Ping 360 cable car on our way back to Tung Chung Station

Have you been to Hong Kong in the past? What places did I miss? I plan to go back there winter of next year to try the hiking trails in the different islands. Suggestions are welcome! Got any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comment section below.  You can also send you questions or thoughts via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thank you for your time & have a nice day!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: Packing 101 – How I Fit Everything In One Carry-on Backpack

It’s Tuesday & it’s time for another Tuesday Tip article! People read blogs to get tips & first hand information from people who have been to places or who have done something which the reader intends to visit or to do in the future. I’ve shared a few set of tips in this website & oh man, these tips are one of the widely read sections in this platform.

I’ve shared some how to’s like how to book low fare tickets (with part 2), how to book your travel accommodation, how to easily pass through Philippine immigration & how to apply for a Japan tourist visa. I’ve also published some lists like top destinations to visit in Seoul during Autumn & top 10 things to do & not to do when in Japan. Quite a list already, eh?

Today I will share to how I pack my stuff in a carry-on bag. This topic actually came from 2 different readers. Both of them are curious how I manage to fit everything in one carry-on bag when I go on trips. For your information, I always bring my 32-liter The North Face Big Shot II backpack (I don’t intend to promote The North Face here) when I go for trips of up to 7 days. Guess what? I’ve only used a travel suitcase in 6 out of the 38 trips I took since I started in 2012. Believe it or not, I went on a 7-day Japan autumn (almost winter) trip around Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama with only my backpack. Awesome, right?

Interested how I manage to fit everything in one backpack? Let me tell you how I do it.

Invest In A Good Backpack

It all starts with a light, good & comfortable-to-carry backpack. As mentioned above, I got myself The North Face’ Big Shot II 32-liter backpack way back in 2012. This backpack has everything I need in a carry-on bag. It also doesn’t look bulky even if it’s already full. It once weighed 12 kgs when we flew back to Manila from Saigon in 2013; but the people from the airline check in counters didn’t notice it. I am still using this same backpack for my trips.

I will not endorse a brand or a specific backpack. There are a lot of affordable & durable brands in the market – choose what you think fits you & your packing style.

Plan Clothes To Wear

This is the hardest part when packing. Before flying out, I always have a general idea of my itinerary – where I’ll go for the first day, what I’ll do on the second day & so on. I use this ‘rough itinerary’ to plan the clothes I will wear. The clothes I bring will depend if I will be spending most of the time outdoor or will I just be inside different buildings. I also read beforehand if some destinations / buildings have dress codes or not.

I always make sure that the clothes I bring can paired to the others up if there are slight changes in the daily itineraries. I also bring one or two extra shirts / long sleeves & one extra pair of pants & shorts. No need for three or more; I always end up not using them.

I always have this mindset that no one will care about the clothes you wear during your trip. You are going there to enjoy the view & to earn new experiences & not to flaunt your outfit.

Bring Light Clothes

I always bring light clothes when I travel. When I am off to a tropical destination, I always bring shorts & thin shirts with me. Most of the time, I am outdoors or in the beach so there’s no need for some fancy / trendy clothing. What is always important is I am comfortable with the clothes I wear.

When I am flying to a cold place like South Korea or Japan in autumn or winter, I always bring with me thin long sleeves & light pants. I don’t easily get cold so 2 or 3 layers are fine. I also bring undershirts & some thermal wear when needed.

Ball Up Socks, Hankies & Undergarments + Roll Clothes

One tip to save space in your backpack is to ball up socks, handkerchiefs & undergarments so that you can insert them anywhere in the bag, particularly in some small holes & spaces. These socks, hankies & undergarments are fine placed anywhere in the bag due to its small sizes.

Another tip which might work for some people (but not for me) is to roll clothes. Again, one can save a lot of space when you roll your clothes & stack them up without leaving any space in between. I don’t roll my clothes because I don’t see the need for it. My folded clothes always fit inside my backpack.

Carry A Multipurpose Light Towel

I always bring a light multipurpose towel when I go on trips. This towel serves as a bath towel, a body towel, a sun-shade & a beach towel. These light towels dry up fast & are lighter than the usual cotton towel. They are also easy to keep & not bulky at all. There a are few affordable light towels in the market now, make sure to get one for you.

Bringing a light towel also saves me a few bucks when staying in hostels. Some hostels charge a small amount of money for towel rentals. Even if the amount is very small, it’s still extra cash or amount for other things like food or activity.

Bring A Handy Toiletry Bag

I always bring a small toiletry bag for my bath & body needs. It sachet of shampoo & conditioner, a small toothpaste, a toothbrush, a small soap, a small bottle of moisturizer, deodorant & my perfume. Yes, everything in small quantities except for my 100 ml perfume.

Take note that airlines only allow bottles / containers up to 100 ml in size; maximum of 10 bottles / containers per person. These should all be placed in a ziplock or a resealable plastic container. You don’t need to bring those big containers or moisturizer, shampoo & perfume – you only need something to use for a few days.

Wear Shoes & Coats During Departure

Another tip for reducing your carry-on weight is to wear / use some clothing on the day of departure. When I went to Japan last November with just a backpack, I used one of the two coats I brought on the day of my flight. I also wore that sole pair of shoes during the flight. It saved me tonnes of space in my bag because the coat & shoes pretty much take up a big chunk of my bag.

Bring A Body Bag

I always bring with me a small body bag when I go on trips. This serves as storage for my valuables like ticket, passport, cellular phone, boarding pass, pen & wallet. This is also the bag I use when I go out everyday.  Make sure that the body bag you use is anti-theft & RFID-safe. Better safe than sorry.

Again, I will not endorse any specific brand of body bag. There are a lot of good brands in the market – make sure to choose what best suits you.

These 7 tips always result to a 7 kg (or most of the time less) carry-on backpack. Do you still have questions about how I pack? You can put them in the comments below. If you’re shy, please send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thank you for reading & until the next Tuesday tip!

Outside Popular Japan Cities: Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama On A Budget – 7 Days For Less Than ₱35,000

Last November 2017, I went on a week-long journey to explore 2 not-so-popular places in Japan – Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama. I arrived & spent the first day in Tokyo, then stayed in Fujikawaguchiko for 48 hours then onwards to Takayama before flying home from Nagoya.

Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko

If you’ve followed my blog for a while now, you’ll notice that I’ve shared to my readers how much I roughly spent for my past Japan in trips. In October 2015, my friends & I went on a 9-day trip across Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka for less than ₱40,000 all in. In 2016, I went on a solo journey across 7 cities (Nagoya, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe & Fukuoka) for 13 days & spent less than ₱50,000 including flights. Both trips are pretty affordable than the usual Japan trip.

The beautiful & well-preserved wooden houses of Takayama Old Street

Have you ever wondered how much I spent in my Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama trip last November? Fret not, I am here to answer your question. Yes, I only spent less than ₱35,000 for 7 whole days in Japan. This could be cheaper (to probably around ₱25,000 – ₱30,000) if I booked the right flight to Japan & if I didn’t go on a luxurious dinner with friends in Tokyo. Just like the earlier posts, I will divide the post below to different sections – ticket, accommodation, bus tickets, etc.

November 2017 Exchange Rate: 1 Japanese Yen = 0.47 Philippine Pesos
Ticket

I mentioned above that I had to change my flight to Japan. As mentioned in my Fujikawaguchiko blog, I initially planned to go to Sapporo for this trip. Plans changed when I luckily booked another Cebu Pacific Air piso fare ticket to Tokyo for February. My first ticket cost me ₱2,175.86 with Kansai Airport in Osaka as the arrival airport.

Months before the trip, I decided to take the Tokyo-Fujikawaguchiko-Takayama-Nagoya route. It was cheaper & faster to book a new ticket to Tokyo than to take my original flight & take another flight to Tokyo. I booked my one-way Tokyo ticket & used Traveloka‘s 10% off promotion. The one way ticket to Tokyo cost ₱3,509.10.

My return tickets cost me ₱5,684.96 – still cheap for a return ticket to Japan.

Tourist Visa

The Embassy of Japan here in the Philippines gave me a 5-year multiple entry visa when I applied in 2016 so I didn’t apply for a new one for this trip. If you want to know how I got my 5-year visa, I made a 4-step guide a few months ago. You can check the guide here.

Accommodations

Accommodations for this trip were well-planned except for the one night stay in Tokyo. I took advantage of Traveloka‘s promotions. I only paid ₱970.45 for a 2-night stay in K’s House Mount Fuji, that’s after the ₱1,206 discount from Traveloka. On the other hand, I paid ₱2,713.13 for my 3-night stay in K’s House Takayama Oasis – that was after a 20% discount from Traveloka. I mentioned in one of my previous blogs that a decent hostel in Japan will cost you a little over ₱1,000 a night.

My K’s House Mount Fuji Hostel reservation with ₱1,206 Traveloka discount

I booked by Tokyo accommodation last-minute, thus I paid ₱828.66 from the usual ₱600-₱700 per night rate of Oak Hostel Zen. It’s still cheaper compared to other Tokyo hostels. You basically get the same amenities & service. I paid ₱4,512.24 for all 6 nights in Japan. Big thanks to Traveloka‘s promotions, I saved a lot!

My K’s House Takayama Oasis Hostel reservation with ₱800 Traveloka discount

Bus Tickets

I travel on budget & I don’t have the money to pay for a JR Pass so I always take the highway buses. For me, the highway bus is the most affordable mode of transportation between cities & towns around Japan. The buses leave & arrive in every stop on time / on schedule. These buses have comfortable seats; some even have toilet & free Wi-Fi on board & power outlets per seat.

The empty bus to Takayama

I took 3 highway bus routes in this trip. First, I took the Fujikyuko Bus from Tokyo Station to Kawaguchiko Station in Fujikawaguchiko Station. The 1 hour & 45 minute trip cost me ¥1,800 (₱829.73). From Kawaguchiko, I took the afternoon Nohi Bus to Takayama. The 4-hour trip along the Hida mountains cost me ¥5,000 (₱2,304.81). From Takayama, I took the Highway bus to Nagoya, the city where I flew out of Japan. The 2 hours & 30 minutes bus trip cost me ¥2,980 or ₱1,366.14. I booked these bus tickets before flying to Japan. Some bus routes have cheaper fares when you book  (via Willer Express website) weeks / months before the trip. There are also bus companies (like Nohi Bus) that offer fixed bus fares per route.

Took this bus from Nagoya – this bus schedule was operated by Nohi Bus

The 3 bus rides of over 8 hours in total only cost me ₱4,500.68. This amount won’t even let you buy a ticket for the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto!

Internet Sim Card

Exploring Japan without access to Google & Google Maps is difficult. Since I was alone, I got an internet sim card from Klook. This sim card comes with unlimited 4G internet for 8 days but with no credits. I didn’t have issues with the network anywhere I go – mobile internet was faster than the internet provided by the other establishments like restaurants & buses.

This sim card was quite expensive – ₱1,484.82 but it was cheaper than getting a pocket Wi-Fi. I also got the sim card to avoid carrying the pocket Wi-Fi device in my bag every single day.

Tokyo Dinner With Friends

I took advantage of my Tokyo stopover to meet my HTC friends who were living in & visiting Japan. I met with Laura & Leon in Omotesando Hills. We walked around the area then to Shibuya. We had a glass of craft beer in Craftheads then went to Nogigochi for dinner. We had yakitori for dinner & sake for drinks.

This dinner was quite expensive. I spent around ¥5,000 (or ₱2,350) for dinner & drinks. I don’t mind spending too much when I’m with friends.

Mount Fuji 4th Station

I met a Dutch guy in the hostel & we decided to visit Mount Fuji 4th Station to see what’s up there. We bought the round-trip tickets in Kawaguchiko Station. The return ticket costs ¥2,100 (or ₱987). It took us around 45 minutes by bus to reach the 4th station & another 45 minutes to go down. This destination offered a nice view of Mount Fuji’s crater & the Japanese Alps.

Hida Beef Lunch

One of the highlights of this trip was the hida beef lunch set I had in Ajikura Tengoku in Takayama. The whole beef lunch set (with dessert & tea) cost me ¥4,000 (₱1,880). This was the most expensive lunch I had in Japan for this trip. The experience & the meal was worth the expensive price.

Shirakawa-go Day Tour

Ticket to Shirakawa-go – purchased at the Takayama Bus Terminal ticket office

Another highlight of this Japan trip was the visit to Shirakawa-go. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is located 60 kilometers away from Takayama. It takes about an hour by bus to reach this village full of gassho-style houses.

Walking around the wooden houses & seeing the people’s daily lives in Shirakawa-go gave a unique experience. I explored the village for about 3 hours & I think it was just right. I spent ¥4,420 (₱2,077.4) for the round-trip bus tickets to Shirakawa-go.

Daily Allowance

 Breakfast food & drink bought in the supermarket!

One of the ways to travel in budget is to set a daily allowance. This allowance should cover food, transportation, entrance fees & beers. I set a daily budget of ¥3,000 in my 2015 trip & ¥3,500 in my 2016 trip. These trips were both subway-heavy so I had to put in a higher budget. For my Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama trip, I set a daily budget of ¥2,500 per day. This included breakfast & dinner (while I was in Kawaguchiko) food I bought in the supermarket & minimal daily expenses + all transportation costs I had.

Summary of Expenses

Everything’s in. Let’s have a look how much I actually spent for the trip.

There you go! I spent a total of ₱33,322.10 for 7 days in Japan (Tokyo, Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama) including airfare, accommodations, a flight change & extraordinary expenses. As mentioned earlier, the total expenses can still be reduced to around ₱25,000 – ₱30,000 if only I planned everything well. I don’t regret the last-minute changes I made in my itinerary.

That’s it for today. Are you planning to go see Mount Fuji up close or visit Takayama’s preserved old town? Well you should! If you have any questions about the details provided above, feel free to comment below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Watch out for the next post! I’ll take you to Sapporo, Japan! Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

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.