Fushimi Inari
Shinto shrines in Kyoto remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>Fushimi Inari
Shinto shrines in Kyoto remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
We visited Nanzen-ji where is famous for tofu cuisine in Kyoto. We had Tofu full course meal for lunch beofre visiting the temple itself.
Huge gate in Nazen-ji
Zen garden
Nanzen-ji is the highest class of Zen temple in Japan. There were not many tourists in this temple, but I would highly recommend to visit the Tofu restaurant "Jyun Sei" in front of the temple and temple itself!! It's a quiet and really beautiful place where you can relax from the bottom of your heart.
Get some smoke for your body and be healthier! 
We found an interesting transportation outside of Nanzen-ji. It's called "Jinriki-sha" (Rickshaw). In historical tourist places like Kyoto, Jinriki0-sha is a common attraction/transportation in Japan.
Tonight we are staying at Ryokan, the traditional Japanese inn with Japanese style rooms and meals. Each room has Tatami (straw matt) flooring and Yukata (robe), and Futon (bedding - different from Futon in North America!). The meal is authentic Japanese course meal, and it has plenty of seasonal veggies, fish, and other material.
Ryokan
Room
More Kyoto!!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
In Gion district, you may see a Geisha if you are lucky. They are not always walking around out, so the chance of seeing them is really rare. Young Geisha is called Maiko/Geiko. Actually, what we call Geisha is usually not Geisha. They are Maiko/Geiko. There are several houses where Maiko/Geiko lives and trains for being professional Geisha. Often we misunderstand that Geisha is a prostitute, and Gion is a red-light district. However, Gion was never a red-light district, and Geisha/Maiko/Geiko are not prostitutes. Their existance in this day is very important for Japanese history and culture. They are truly Japan's treasures!
Gion has such a tiny street. Recommend walking in this area, no taxi!
I got 2 kinds of souvenirs today near Gion district. One is a beautiful "Kyo-sensu" (Kyoto-fan). This was about 10,000yen ($95CAD). You'll find reasonable ones to really expensive high-end ones at fan shops in Kyoto. The 2nd suvenior is "Yatsuhashi", popular sweets in Kyoto. I tried one piece before purchasing it, and it tastes really nice! It's like rice cake and sweet red bean inside it. It was 1,000yen ($9.50CAD) per package.
Kyo-sensu
Yatsuhashi
Geisha!? remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
This is where you'll see after getting off the Shinkansen at Kyoto. This station has been newly renovatd, so everything is very clean. I thought Kyoto is not an ancient city anymore when I saw this latest building at the station, however, soon I found out I was wrong. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto is still keeping the ancient temples, houses, custom, culture, and food. Plus, people are very friendly and polite. These elements make Kyoto very unique and special.
Kiyomizudera
We visited Kiyomizudera, one of the must-visit spots in Kyoto (300yen - $2.85CAD for the entrance). Kiyomizudera is a Unesco World Heritage listed site, and it dates back to 798, however, the present buildings were constructed in 1633. This temple is located on the top of a hill in Kyoto, so the view from kiyomizudera is amazingly beautful especially when the time of sunset.
Kiyomizudera
After Kiyomizudera, we visited another must-visit temple, Kinkakuji (4)(400yen - $3.80CAD (4-1) for the entrance). "Kin" means "Gold" in Japanese....yes, the temple is a GOLDEN TEMPLE (4-2)!!!
Kinkakuji
Kyoto - the oldest city in Japan remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Shibuya is one of famous shopping distridcts in Tokyo. There are many of huge department stores everywhere in the area! Also, there are many of small clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, and so on. You will find anything you want for sure!!! Shibuya is a place for young people. Most of peole there were teennagers, and I saw many foreiners too. If you like buying fasionable clothing, I would highly recommend you to go there, but you may get tired because there are soooo many people walking!!!
Ginza
On the other hand, Ginza (2), also well known as one of famous shopping districts (2-1)in Tokyo, is for adult people (2-2). There are expensive departments in this area. You'll find Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucchi, and many of these brands easily! If you want some luxuary shopping, go to Ginza. There are also lots of pricy restaurants.
Another place of our recommendation for shopping in Tokyo is "Omote-sando". Marry-Ann will LOVE this place for 120% sure!!!!!!
Shibuya & Ginza - want some crazy shopping? remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>2. Japan National Tourist Organization
http://www.japantravelinfo.com/top/index.php
3. Japan-guide.com
http://www.japan-guide.com/
4. JR Pass
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html
5. Tokyo Disney Resort
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/index_e.html
Useful Websites (URL) remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>Again!! Shinkansen!
On the way to the Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka
There is a direct flight from Kansai International Airport to Vancouver International Airport.
I took great pictures of the national airlines of Japan.
ANA (Air Nippon Airways) and JAL (Japan Airlines)!!
Departure Japan remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Fortunately, we were not in trouble anywhere because there are usually two kinds of toilets provided, Western and Japanese. No worries!!
A big surprise in washroom remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>Good to know…..NO TIPS in Japan!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Mt. Fuji!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
The symbol of peace
Next, we entered in the Peace Memorial Museum which graphically displays the atomic bomb's horrible effects on the city and its inhabitants. This museum made us depressed. You should be ready for facing the facts.
Between the museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome stands the Memorial Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims. It contains a list of all the people who were killed by the explosion or died due to the bombing's long-term effects such as cancer caused by radiation. The entrance fee is just 50 yen.(50 cents)
Atomic Bomb Dome remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>First, we visited Miyajima by train (JR - Japan Rail Line) and ferry. It took almost 1 hour from the center of the city.
Starting with JR 
Then ferry 
Miyajima, literally “Shrine Island", has been celebrated as a sacred island and one of Japan's three most scenic views. It is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, which, together with its large wooden torii (gate), stands in the ocean during high tide. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Itsukushima Shirine 
We saw deers moving around the island freely. Their horns are cut off somehow, and it looks so pitiful!! I guess that it’s because they might get violent to tourists.
Also, there are lots of stores which sell Japanese toys and foods.
Here is Hello Kitty with Yuko!!
Miyajima in Hiroshima - Yuko's home city!!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Universal Studios Japan!!!!!!!!!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Minami ("South") is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous shopping and entertainment district, and is located around Namba Station. The other major city center is Kita ("North") which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.
Umeda, centered around Umeda Sta., has a number of modern underground arcades which are always teaming with visitors and shoppers. The three of the city's largest department stores are located there, as well as several shopping malls.
Namba offers something for everyone and includes such attractions as the fashionable Amerikamura (American Village), the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, Nipponbashi Den Den Town for electronics and manga, and the colorful Dotonbori entertainment district.
Dotonbori
Glico man
Americamura
Bonus: KFC in Japan!
Shopping in Osaka is awesome!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>The first one was called “Takoyaki”.
Takoyaki is a popular snack food in Japan. This food was originated from Osaka. We walked through the streets in Osaka and we saw some restaurants of Takoyaki there. Basically, this is a kind of dumpling made of diced octopus, some vegetables, water with flower, and eggs. The special sauce on the top tastes great. Yummy!!
What we ate next in Osaka was called “Okonomiyaki”
This was also originated from Osaka area. This is a Japanese dish consisting of a pan-fried batter cake and various ingredients, such as sliced pork, cabbages and noodles. Okonomi means "what you like" or "what you want” and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked". Generally, I guess you can put whatever you want.
one more thing!! Japanese vending machines....everywhere
Takoyaki = Octopus Balls?! and Okonomiyaki remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Osaka Castle!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Also, we saw many cute french-maid costumed Japanese girls in this area. They are called "Maid". Most of the Maid girls are working at coffee shops. They are same as server, but they treat customers as masters of them.
If you go to Akihabara, you should look at this website. This website has a lot of Akihabara info.
http://www.akiba.or.jp/english/index.html
Akihabara!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>1. formal Sushi restaurant
According to him, at this place you order something whenever you want. You sit at the sushi counter, like face to chefs. You can just tell chefs what you want to eat. He makes it quickly and serves it to you.
2. “Kaiten Sushi” restaurant
This kind of restaurant serves small plates each with a couple of bite-sized pieces of sushi on a rotating conveyor belts. This is more familiar with families and young people. And good thing to know…it is cheaper that the formal sushi restaurant. It costs only 100yen and up per plate. Everything is turning around and around.
Plus Japanese drink = Sake
This Japanese alcoholic beverage is made from rice. You can drink as cold one or hot one. At the restaurant, there were a lot of kinds of Sake and we just tried one of them. It was really bitter and too strong. To be honest, I hate it.
Sushi & Sake Night!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
After lunch, we visited a beautiful Chinese temple in China Town, and continued walking around the area.
Tonight we are staying at a unique style of accommodation. It’s called “Capsule Hotel” in Japan, and I’ve never seen this kind of hotel in other countries. Each capsule has a mattress, sheets, pillow, TV, and A/C, but it’s SO TINY!! You can also take a shower and use shared washroom. Even you can order food, and someone will bring you food anytime you want. It’s like staying at youth hostel, but it has totally different atmosphere. Actually I was surprised that staying in a capsule is really comfortable than I expected when I saw it first time. It costs [i]3,500yen ($33.25CAD) [/b] per capsule per night.
Yokohama China Town remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
When we got off the train at DisneySea Station, we did transfer to Disney Resort Line to the gate.
When we went to the gate, it said “Where Adventure and Imagination Set Sail”. We had exciting feeling again!!! We saw many shows and met Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse!!
They have lots of attractions, too. We had a really good time in Tokyo DisneySea!!!!!
If you have any chance to go Japan, you should spend a day at DisneySea!!!!
If you need more Tokyo DisneySea info, please go to this website:
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/index_e.html
Tokyo DisneySea remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
We went to souvenir shop and we found very cool Japanese tea cup!! so we bought it.
Also, you can buy key rings, cookies, and toys.
Tokyo Tower - Shingo's home city!!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>at YYC airport 
we could see downtown clearly!! 
lucky...nice pic 
We arrived Narita Airport (NRT) in Japan this afternoon. We took Air Canada from Calgary via Vancouver. It was about 12 hour flight, so we were very tired. When we arrived Narita Airport, we saw a big Japanese picture and it said “Yokoso Japan”. It means "Welcome to Japan". We were so excited about this trip in Japan. We will stay in Japan less that 3 month (90 Days), so we don’t need to get any tourist visa. If you want to study or work in Japan, you need to apply for visa. Of course, you need a valid Canadian Passport!!
We only had Canadian dollars, so we went to currency exchange office. In Japan, they use Japanese Yen. It’s about 100yen = 95cents today. Also, they speak Japanese. Not so many people in Japan speak English.
Then, we took a limousine bus from airport to Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. It was 3,000 yen ($28.50CAD) per person one way, and the bus was so comfortable! We took off the bus just in front of the hotel. We visited the aquarium in the hotel! So cool!!
Arrive in Japan!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>
Today we went sightseeing in Yokohama, the international city. Yokohama is Japan’s largest incorportate city and second most populaous urban area after Tokyo, and also known as one of the major ports in Japan. It took only 25 minutes by Tokyu Toyoko line - local train to get to Yokohama from the middle of Tokyo. Japan’s public transportations is awesome! It costs only 250yen (About$2.40CAD)for this ride, and the train comes every 4 minuts. Yokoahama is such a big city yet it’s quieter, cleaner, and friendlier than Tokyo.
We arrived at Minatomirai, Port Future, which is the newest and largest urban area in the heart of Yokohama. First place we visited was the Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest skyscraper. The entrance fee was 1,000yen ($9.50CAD) per adult. The view from the top floor was amazingly beautiful! We could enjoy 360-degree view of the city, and even we could see Mt. Fuji.
After we left the Landmark Tower, we walked around and shopped in the Queen’s Square which is connected to the Landmark Tower. There are many shops, restaurants, hotel, and even a train station in the basement. We had lnch after shopping and continued walking to the Yokohama Cosmoworld, amusement park. We had a Ferris Wheel ride there. The Ferris Wheel is HUGE! It is one of the biggest Ferris wheel in the world. It’s worth 700yen ($6.65CAD)for the ride.
Wearing Yukata 
We visited another sightseeing spot which located in 10 minutes walking distance from the Cosmoworld called Yokohama Akarenga Soko, Red Brick Warehouse. It is a historical building and currently used as a complex that includes a shopping mall, banquest hall, and event venues.
We had a dessart at a café there. We orderd Japanese style sundae with rice cake, red bean, and green tea sauce. It was really yummy!!
Japanese drum game 
Where Asami grew up....kidding! 
Yokohama - where Asami is from!!! remains copyright of the author teamjapan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.
Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs
]]>