Road Trip - Temples In Nara City

Nara Prefecture is where the capital of Japan once was - located less than an hour away from Osaka and Kyoto - one can take a road trip to view historical temples of Japan.  So off we went after buying our auto insurance and renting a car -  you see we were renting it from a co-worker and in Japan - you have to get individual insurance. I don’t know if you know this - but one can check on international auto insurance when you are on vacation - but when you rent from a car rental - I think they take care of all insurance for you.

There were many old statues as you can see in the pictures that follow - but one thing i missed about visiting temples from Japan and in Hong Kong is - when in Hong Kong - you can opt to have a vegetarian meal at the temples there.  Here in Japan - they don’t offer this kind of service.

Nevertheless, it was a pretty good trip - a lot to see and a lot to take in - and if only they have all the description in English too - that would be perfect.

Outside of one temple - outta the 7 we visited - i like the Kofukuji Temple best.

Famous Miso Katsu In Nagoya

Miso Katsu is very famous in Nagoya - therefore if you are there - you have to try it out.  While most restaurant would just pour tons of miso sauce onto your Katsu - you can definitely ask for them to have the sauce on the side.  They even have Miso cutlet on a stick - pretty yummy and a must try according to everyone - even the pamplet at the tour desk recommends it.  For those who are not aware of what a Katsu is - it’s pork deep fried in bread crumbs - really tender inside and crispy on the outside - sinful?  yes - very!  but what the heck - you don’t go to Japan everyday right.

Nagoya Pokemon Center

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I had almost forgotten about the Nagoya’s Pokemon Center because there is another one in Tokyo - that looks a lot nicer than this one.  But if you are in the Nagoya’s vicinity - and a Pokemon crazy fan - you can check it out.  If I remembered correctly it’s located in the Oasis.   Do check out the internet/manga cafe while you are there - pretty interesting - hopefully they are still there though.

Fashion Stores

While some people must shop in Harajuku - i found some interesting fashion stores away from Harajuku in Yoyogi area.  Relatively cheaper and it’s a great place for watering holes and cafes.  It’s a charming little area - where you can find locally owned store instead of big chained stores in the city.

The Japanese are very creative and everything has to be really pretty - even the front shutter of its back door to a restaurant.

Yokohama Festival

Yokohama Festival was last month and I’ve only been there once - many years ago.  They celebrated their 151 years since opening its port in July 2010. Going to Yokohma from Tokyo wasn’t really too difficult if you car didn’t break down like ours did - hahha!! but luckily we had a local with us - a co-worker and he had gotten roadside assistance - so we were quickly on our way.  Yamashita Park is located in Yamashita-cho, Yokohama and is close to Yokohama Chinatown.

Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan about 3.6 million people in this place - full of history and very clean too - but Japan in most part is clean. This archway leads to a park -  and the first picture is Yokohama Chinatown - there are 7 or 8 chinese restaurants that you can choose from to eat.  Don’t forget to visit the famous Ferris Wheel and the Cosmo Clock while you are there - it’s just next to the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand Hotel - you can’t missed it.

Food in Chinatown.

check out some of the activities i found on u tube on the festival.

StarBucks Japan With LCD TV

One would think with Japan being so high tech and having one of the largest electronic stores there - an LCD TV inside Starbucks Japan wouldn’t be a bad idea right?  I had written a comment on one of their comment card many years ago - but i see they didn’t take me seriously at all.  But look out for their flavor of the month for this summer - dark mocha & orange Frappie.  Yums!  And if you are wondering about prices for some starbucks caffeine - check below.

One Short Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥290

One Tall Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥340

One Grande Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥390

Coffee Jelly Frappuccino  (Tall ¥480, Grande ¥530)

One thing about Starbucks anywhere in the world - the employees are all so chic and hip.  Don’t you agree with me?

LaQua

it is free to enter the La Qua at Tokyo Dome city - but you have to pay for the rides and the attractions. Opens from 11am - 9pm daily- the LaQua has many good food places to eat and the largest natural hot spring spa in Tokyo.   You have to check out their specialty stores and many games and rides to go on.  Move aside Disney Land - move aside Sanrio Land - this place is great for both adults and kids.

Tokyo Dome

Never heard of? don’t blame you - neither did i till i lived in Japan for 6 months for work.  Tokyo Dome seats 55,000 people max and home of the Yomiuri Giants.  The NBA, NFL games and other pro wrestling games are held here.  But what one should be interested in is the amusement park LaQua - that will be for another post.  But to get to Tokyo Dome - take the JR line and get off at Suidobashi station.

People’s Bar aka Izakaya

My girlfriends in Tokyo calls it a People’s bar but this well known Izakaya is featured on tv - the internet and all sorts of tourist books and books too find good food in Japan.  I haven’t been in Japan for too long - yet I know this place.  But like all non- Japanese i would have preferred some contemporary coffee tables and don’t let my co-workers hear it because they loved the authentic Izakaya so much - nothing could deter them from coming here every evening.

The one that we so often go to is the one near the Shinjuku line at the Morishita Station - it`s very near to our office and anyone taking the subway - is only 2 mins away.  3 storey high as you can see in this picture - there isn`t very much seating in the entire house.

One of the very famous food we like to order are these skewers - chicken -  Yaki -ton - it goes so well with beer - or any cold drinks - we just can`t stop eating.  But it`s not only the Yaki ton that is good - Yamariki has a huge menu but like any izakaya - you could expect the freshest here.  I heard that because the owner had worked in some good french restaurants before - therefore - one can find some pretty good eats that are not Japanese here.

You see why I say i prefer the contemporary coffee tables?  Yes ! not as cozy eh as one would expect - when these Japanese spends hours after work here.  They also have a loud intercom - that they use to communicate between floors - it gets annoying after an hour.

This dish is called Nikomi - i heard it was cooked with some special sauce aged for 40 yrs - and they also have bbq pick intestines - i didn’t try it but a co - worker who did loved it.   Overall, if you are looking for a authentic japanese dining experience - a Izakaya - or a People’s Bar is the place to be and the Yamariki is well known - try that out yourself.

Yokohama Cosmo World Night Ride

If you are in Yokohoma which is 45mins by train from Tokyo - one have to try out their Super Ride at Yokohama Cosmo World.  We went there in the night because we figured the lights are  a lot cooler and it’s not as hot in the night as well.   If you are also wondering how Japanese get their thrills - I’m guessing it is these rides that keeps them happy.  But if you want a quick trim, lose some calories or get that heart pumping - try the Cosmo ride - if the ride doesn’t do it - the screaming would at least give your lungs a good workout.  When we were queuing for our turn - everywhere we turned were Japanese and  not as much Westerners as I had predicted.

Cosmo World is located near the harbor and the ferris wheel is once upon a time the largest in the world.  You are gonna be blinded by the thousand lights in different patterns - pretty overwhelming if you asked me.   The diving roller-coaster is not as scarey as it sounds - it passes thru’ an underground thru’ a pond and then back to the surface - it’s just an illusion that there is water coming straight at you.  There are several other rides you can choose to go on - like the new addition of a family ride i heard.  There is no entry fee to Cosmo World but you pay from 100 yen - 700 yen depending on what you care to do when you are there.   I know you will have fun - check out the cool arcade there too and have some popcorn cooked in a arcade machine right in front of you.