Hilton Tokyo

Hilton Tokyo is definitely a great hotel to stay when you are on vacation - we stayed for a few days when I first arrived in Japan and it definitely was expensive - but worth it. Located near Shinjuku - so it’s a great location if you are on vacation and doing a lot of shopping.

I loved that the bed was huge - and if you look at the windows - you would know that you are in Japan - I really loved the way the window folds - to block the sun.  Compared to the Hyatt Hotel - the Hilton seems to have bigger rooms.

Like all hotels in Japan - the bathroom is a wee bit small - but still very nice.

A view from our room.

From the Hilton Tokyo - the subway is about a 10 minutes walk - a good stroll for us - that’s for sure but some folks like to use the complimentary shuttle provided by the hotel.  The hotel staff were all very nice and very professional and speaks well in English - so you don’t have to worry if you need any help within the hotel.

Dango

I do not recommend the dango if you have caps or fillings in your teeth - because they can be so chewy and hard at times - your caps or fillings may come off while trying to chew it.   Dango is made of flour and it can be sweet or savory - so you can choose which type you want to pick and try.  Dango comes in different colors too - and they are like candies to the kids - till they try it.

Gyokusendo Cave @ Okinawa World

The Gyokusendo Cave is a limestone cave - it’s huge - and takes about 2 hrs to walk around and admire everything in the cave.  Located inside the theme park Okinawa World  - main attraction in fact - it is definitely a must - do when you are in Okinawa.

A very pretty sight.

Limestone all over and it’s pretty warm inside.

Little Train Ride In Kyoto

While many think that Kyoto is a very quiet and idle place to be - I loved Kyoto because of the nature and many good food.  One interesting thing you have to do - is take the little train - at Kameoka thru’ the Hozu River and enjoy the scenery there.  While some people take the tain from Arashiyama - we took the train from Kameoka - for 600 Yen.  The ride was short about 25 minutes only - but still a very pleasant train ride.

This is a paddy field at the train station.  We then went for a boat ride at the Hozu River for 2 hours.  It was interesting and we enjoyed it tremendously.

The boat ride was about 3500 yen if I am not wrong - but for a 2 hrs ride - i think it was worth it.  Enjoy the wild life in Kyoto here - it’s quite refreshing.

Gift For Japanese Host Family

A friend from Canada is going to Japan to teach English - for a year - she will be staying with a host family in Japan during that time.  So she wanted to know what to bring as gift to the host family for allowing her to stay with them rent free.  I’m thinking that this is part of the program in Japan - for bringing foreign teachers to teach for a year - so any gifts would be great and Japanese are usually grateful for your kind thoughts - they don’t really worry about the cost of the gift.  But since there are a few guys in the family - I suggested some padron cigar that she can get at a very reasonable price - and I know some Japanese loved their cigars.   Well, most men love cigars - and I do love the smell of it - I find them less offensive - as compared to cigarette.  So if you are sending gifts to a host family - try the padron cigars.

Super Hitachi

I love riding on the train when I was living in Japan - one of the train - that I loved riding on is the Super Hitachi - which runs a long the Ueno station to Mito station.  Usually the Super Hitachi takes about 70 mins and you can buy your lunch or snacks in the train station itself. While we are at Mito - don’t you forget to visit one of the best gardens in Japan - the Kairakuen.   If you are on vacation - buy the bus pass.

A little kiosk like this reminds me of Hong Kong - where you can buy your food and drinks here.

These are the comfy seat for the train ride - not bad eh.

Prada In Japan

Prada at Omotesando is a very unique building as you can see but I’m sure you wouldn’t expect anything less in Japan  - plus this is Prada you are talking about.  Look at the bubbles on the building - you cannot mistaken it as any other brand right?

I didn’t go in the day I took the pictures because I wasn’t dressed appropriately.  I just didn’t feel right - as the Japanese thinks that you don’t respect them or their establishment if you walked in with your bermuda.

A Walk Thru’ The Golden Pavilion

Living in Japan for 6 months reminds me of my walk at the Golden Pavilion Temple - also known as the Kinkaku-ji.  So how do one get to the Golden Pavilion Temple?  The temple is located in Kyoto - and I was there for a few months at least - so i became very familiar with the place.  Open from 9am to 5pm - I take my afternoon walks here with my apple nano and to rest my eyes after a few hours of looking on the computer or talking with engineers.   At that time - I had to get my Apple Nano from Canada - because I couldn’t understand the ones in Japan - so before going to Japan - I saw them in Canada - and had bought them immediately.  Little did I know that my apple nano was going to be my constant companion during my stay in Japan.

The admission fee for the KinKau-ji was 400 yen then - I don’t know if it had change now.  But as you can see - it was a great place to spend the afternoon to relax before heading back to work.

The Golden Pavilion - said to be covered with gold leaf on two storey - this was used as a retirement villa for a shogun.  The surrounding is quite extravagant as you can see here - almost breathtaking the first time I came here for my walk.  I avoid talking to anyone - when I’m out for a walk - so by using my apple nano - it was perfect.  If you are visiting Kyoto - take a walk at my favorite place.

Hakone Train & Adventures

Hakone is part of a national park and one can take this train up to Mt Fuji - but like most tourists - you won’t get to see Mt Fuji clearly unless you are really lucky because Mt Fuji is known for being a shy mountain.  Many like to take the train because they can get to view the scenery around them - and this is the best time of the year to be taking this train up to Mt Fuji because of the fall foliage.  Of course, people visit Hakone also for its hot spring or onsen.

Some omiyage shops in Hakone

Awesome scenery !

Shopping In Downtown Shinjuku

If you hear anyone tell you that shopping at downtown Shinjuku is a blast - they are not wrong - there is just so much to pick from - you don’t know where to begin and don’t know where to stop.  I used to be so addicted to shopping in Shinjuku - that I had to put my credit card on freeze for a week to stop my addition.  I would look for those discount ray bans and handbags and the most funkiest looking dresses or shoes.   If you walk in the downtown Japan, you will see that you are surrounded by the most fashionable kids and you just envy them for being able to wear what they do.

How I wished I was young and rich - that way I can buy anything and wear just about anything instead of being confined to work clothes since we spend a lot of time in the office.  But on can’t resist those discounted ray bans for they were so popular once upon a time.  If I can go back to Japan - I would spend a few days just shopping at downtown Shinjuku.