Kanto region is most famous for its megalopolis, Tokyo. But if you plan it right, you can still see the highlights of Tokyo and explore out of Tokyo since Japan is so well connected with fast trains. I managed to go to Yokohama (half-an-hour-train away from Tokyo) and even watch the Kawazu Sakura at Kawazu (2-hours-train away from Tokyo) in just 3 days. It sounds crazy but it’s totally doable!
Kawazu-zakura is a sakura variety that blooms early and stays in bloom for a month. Its name originated from Kawazu, a town located on Izu Peninsula, approximately 160-minutes train away from Tokyo. Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival usually takes place annually from early February to early March.
Capsule Hotel is a unique type of hotel developed in Japan and I decided to give it a try for my last night staying in Tokyo. The capsule hotel I chose is Tokyo Nihonbashi Bay Hotel. It is conveniently located a 2-minute walk from B1 Exit of Nihombashi Subway Station and a 7-minute walk from JR Tokyo Station.
First Avenue Tokyo Station is a shopping strip attached to Tokyo Station via the Yaesu Underground Central Exit. It has three sections: Okashi Land, Ramen Street and Character Street. The most popular is Character Street featuring favourite characters like Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli, Ultraman, Doraemon, and etc.
Tokyo Station is the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo. To get the best view of Tokyo Station, head over to the rooftop of Kitte building. Kitte is the name of a redeveloped part of the old Tokyo Central Post Office building opposite of Tokyo station.
Located along the waterfront, Minato Mirai 21 is the new city center of Yokohama. The best time to visit is before the sun sets so that you get to see the modern cityscape of Yokohama during the day and the amazing night view of the city when it’s lit up in bright colourful lights.
A visit to Cup Noodles Museum is not to be missed if you visit Yokohama. For any instant noodle fan, the museum is a fun place to learn about the history of ramen. Best of all, you can try making your own cup noodle or your own chicken ramen by hand at the museum. There are two cup noodle museums in Japan, one in Osaka and another in Yokohama. I decided to visit the one in Yokohama, which is only half an hour train away from Tokyo.
Tokyo Solamachi is the large shopping complex at the base of the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in Japan. It has over 300 shops and restaurants. Even if you don’t go up to the Tokyo Skytree, it’s still worth to spare some time visiting Tokyo Solamachi.
Priced at only 950 yen, the Edomae Tendon (tempura rice) at Kanneko Hanasuke is perhaps the most affordable tendon in Tokyo. Cheap and delicious food is well worth a special trip and I decided to pay it a visit while I was in Tokyo this year.
Shinjuku has one of the busiest railway station in the world and it’s best known for its shopping and nightlife. Staying a night in Shinjuku is recommended especially if you want to explore the sleepless town of Kabukicho (Japan’s largest red light district).
Finally! I got to enter Ghibli Museum for real this year! It was closed during my last visit in 2010 due to renovation (read about it here). It certainly lived up to my expectation and imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum, especially the exclusive short film shown in its theater.
This is the second time I visited Tokyo, however, it was the first for my sister. So I wanted to bring her to see Asakusa Sensoji (the oldest temple in Tokyo) and do some shopping at Harajuku. I still managed to see something new revisiting Asakusa and Harajuku.
I spent a total of 6 days in Kansai region: half day in Wakayama, 2.5 days in Osaka, half day in Nara, half day in Kobe and 2 days in Kyoto. The pass that I used was 3 days Kansai Thru Pass which allows me to move from one city to another without hassle.
Hanamikoji Street in the Gion district is the best place for geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) or maiko (geiko apprentices) sighting. The street is filled with ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) and ochaya (teahouse) where geiko and maiko entertain their guests. I was lucky enough to catch sight of a geiko and maiko at Hanamikoji Street in the evening!
If the complicated train system in Kansai region is making you dizzy (see map above), guess what, you’re not alone. In this post, I will attempt to summarise the train services (approx. duration and fare) between Osaka and Kansai International Airport / other major cities (Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji) in the Kansai region.
Arashiyama is the second most important district for sightseeing in Kyoto. Although the journey to get there typically takes about 30 minutes from the center of Kyoto, it is well worth a day trip for its many attractions such as Tenryuji Temple, Bamboo Groves, Togetsukyo Bridge and many other temples and shrines.
Nishiki Market is nicknamed as “Kyoto’s pantry” and it is definitely the best place to find fresh ingredients and everything you need to make traditional Japanese cuisine: tsukemono (Japanese pickles), fresh tofu, Kyo-yasai (Kyoto vegetables), wagashi (Japanese sweets), fresh fish and other produce.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of the most famous temple in Kyoto. It is inscribed on the World Heritage List as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto. Nothing beats exploring Kiyomizu-dera Temple and its surrounding area such as Sanneizaka and Nineizaka walking trail on foot while wearing a kimono.
There is no other places quite like Fushimi Inari Taisha where you will find thousands of bright orange torii gates densely erected next to each other, forming a seemingly never-ending trail leading up to a mountain. If you have watched “Memoirs of a Geisha”, you would recognize it as one of the sites where the movie was filmed.
Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan, provides a perfect backdrop to take photographs while dressing up in kimono. It is one of the must-do things for ladies while visiting Kyoto. There are many kimono rental shops in Kyoto, especially around Gion or Kiyomizudera area, which are tourist hotspots. The shop I chose was Mission Gion, which is conveniently located in the Gion area.
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