Latest Fashion Trend In Japan

While everyone associates pearls with Japanese ladies - this year the  teardrop beads are commonly seen amongst the younger generation and the trendiest for the lot in shinjuku.  Every Japanese that I’ve come across are always so well-dressed and absolutely well maintained and they may not have gone for facials every month or a manicure and pedicure but they look immaculate.  Every strain of hair is in their proper places.

So whenever I go on vacation to Japan - the first thing I look out for are their accessories and fashion - and bring some home with me - and show off as well.  Not many people around here can find the same quality of accessories or clothing - so I’m grateful that I get to travel to Japan for work and vacation all the time.

Old Meets New In Japan

I’ve always loved the new part of Japan but loved the old ones as well.  The old buildings in Japan fascinates me immensely - my mom used to say that I should have been an architect but I can’t even draw a straight line - so not good being an architect - but I do have an eye for nice and unique things and Japan’s architectural like Spain unique by itself - but yet different.

You will never see this in the West - there isn’t anyone who does work like this anymore around.  I’ve always called these old Japan builders an artist.

The detailed on the roof is amazing.

A magnificent looking temple in Osaka.

And here is the somewhat new but not modern like in Tokyo yet.

Another beautiful looking piece of artwork in Osaka.

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Located at 154 Noboribetu Onsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0592, Japan - this is an Onsen actually - a hot spring Onsen to be exact.  It has an indoor and outdoor onsen.

The outdoor hot spring were called, sulfur, salt and iron hot spring.

Rooms were nice and spacious but please keep in mind that the staff don’t speak too well in English although they do try to accommodate.

New Hankyu Hotel Osaka

New Hankyu Hotel Osaka is located at 1-1-35 Shibata, Kita-ku Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-8310 Japan - and most people I’m sure chose this hotel not because the rooms are pretty small but because it’s a hotel that is near a bus station that takes you directly back to the airport.   The New Hankyu Hotel is a no frill hotel but it is only a stone throw from shopping areas.

I guess if you are on a transit - it’s not such a big deal - but with no internet in the room or the public areas and you have to pay for watching local tv  - now that is bad.  Take note that some of the rooms had such bad cigarette smell - and even if you do request for a non-smoking room - it might still turn out to smell like one.  Not entirely the hotel’s fault, for some guests can be quite stubborn.  I wouldn’t mind staying there again - if I was in for a transit as the price was suitable for us at that time but if i had my kid with me - I wouldn’t stay in this hotel.

Spooky Tours In Tokyo

Remember the movie - The Grudge?  yup that one !  if you are into that kinda movie - then you have to go for the spooky tours in Tokyo - or was it called the haunted tours?   Entrance is at 3000 Yen and you have to take off your shoes before going in and seriously if you are timid - don’t even think about going for that tour.  You get to listen to all kinds of tales and visit graveyards and temples - and the guide was pretty knowledgeable and the tour was a easy paced.  Great to visit with your teenagers and it gives you a variety of insight on all kinds of scarey tales.  Lilly Fields is the person to contact for this tour.

Hotel Ryumeikan In Japan, Tokyo

We stayed at the Ryumeikan Hotel for only 2 days - and when we first booked it - we didn’t really think that it was a boutique hotel - looking at its picture - but we were quite wrong.  The entrance of the hotel was quite plain as you can see here - but the inside was pretty decent and some rooms I were told later that they even had those clawfoot tubs that I loved.

Unfortunately, my room didn’t have the clawfoot tub but it was still a very nice tub - if I may say so myself.  Not the conventional tub and I prefer the oval shaped tub a lot better.  I liked the open concept window where I can enjoy the night light of tokyo while i enjoy a soak after a long day of shopping or working.

For the smaller room - they don’t have such a big washing area but still a very nice one - and I wouldn’t mind having a smaller wash area as long as I have one of those clawfoot tubs.

Love the room - they gave us a king size bed - but I didn’t quite like the carpeting as you can see in this picture.  But definitely loved the desk though - one can work comfortably here.

This is the upper lobby lounge of the hotel - you can have a drink here and meet up with your guests or just relax for the evening.  It is also the place where you can check in - and if you have luggage - you need to lug it up yourself.  The hotel is only 5 mins away from the train station and I loved it - very convenient to go anywhere downtown. The rates were good - so if you are in Tokyo - and want to stay comfortably - you may want to check out this hotel.

Ocean Hell, Umi Jigoku, Beppu

Beppu famous for its onsen - it’s a must to visit when you are in Japan - and one of the must visit attraction in Beppu is hells!  yes!  not literally but this volcanic lake is so hot - you an boil an egg in it I hear.  There are 9 hells altogether in Beppu but I find the Ocean hell really beautiful but for 2000 yen - you can visit all 9 Hells.  Of course, there is more to do in Beppu than the hot springs - you can visit the zoo, eat food cook with the steaming hot spring water, enjoy the scenery in Oita Prefecture, eat som Onsen Tamago - go on a cable car ride and many more but that would be another story for another day.

Getting Married In Japan

So I have a lot of American girlfriends who are married or getting married to Japanese men - now why is that so I teased them ?  but yes ! it’s not uncommon these days - so many Canadians and American women go to Japan for exchange programs and many goes there for teaching and other kind of work.  So when my closest friend’s daughter wrote and told me she is getting married to a Japanese man - I wasn’t really surprised.

So what is the procedure for an American to get married in Japan - I was asked.  Well, besides first getting your partner rings there are some things you have to be made aware of if you want to get married in Japan and be legally recognized so I was told.   In Japan - they called it the civil registration - and you can do it in a Japanese municipal government office.  But of course, you can have the traditional Japanese celebration and the modern Japanese - they do it in church too - but the only legal way to get married is in the government office.

Best & Cheapest Hotel In Japan

While the Best Western is not such a popular hotel in Canada or USA - because it’s pretty old and a basic motel here - the Best Western Shinjuku Astina Hotel in Japan - is a totally different story.  We were quite hesitant to book this hotel because of its name but we were pleasantly surprised by how modern, clean and comfortable the hotel is.  So if you want a cheap, good and clean hotel that provides breakfast - choose this hotel - you can’t get a better deal than this in Japan.

The lobby of the Best Western Shinjuku Astina looks as good as any 4 star hotel in Canada - and I’m very impressed by the staff as well.

They even have toileteries in their bathroom - so you must be convinced now that this is a pretty cool hotel to stay in for your vacation.

The bathroom even looked better than the Westin in Canada.

The rooms that we’ve gotten were very spacious and we will be back to this hotel the next time we are in Japan - definitely value for money in Japan.

Cosplay In Japan

Cosplay in Japan is a huge thing - from kids to adults - and if you think that Japan is a conservative country - you will change your mind once you’ve seen this.  They gather around Tokyo - from harajuku to Jingu Bridge - that connects to a shrine in Meiji.  But having said that - you can also see come cosplay in Akihibara.

There are many cosplay cafe in Akihabara - fans of cosplay goes there to see cosplay waitress serve them.  They are also known as Maid cafes.  But be careful which Maid Cafes you go into - because some of the waitresses are quite skimpy dressed.

These cosplay folks love the attention - and if you have a camera - they will post for you.  I’ve heard that some don’t like pictures taken - but I’ve never come across them.

Cosplay is not cheap at all - as you can see here - the Japanese takes them seriously and wear everything to detailed.

Very colorful cosplay costume here.

Kids may be a little freak out by the costumes but we loved it.