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.

Favorite Food In Japan

Okonomiyaki is my favorite in Kyoto.

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 !

Tokyo Subway

Unfortunately, I haven’t been on the Tokyo subway on my own - I always travel with someone who have been in Japan for a long time.  The subway in Tokyo is like a huge maze - looking at the maps in the train station can be very mind boggling and intimidating if you ask me.  Even if you approach anyone - they hardly speak in English.  I have never seen a cramp train before - maybe I was lucky - but it can be very crowded at the Tokyo subway - at all times of the day.  But given that there are so many people living in Tokyo alone - it’s not hard to understand that the subway is open till late at night.  But if you are ever in Tokyo - you have to take the subway at least once and experience it yourself.

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.

Nijo Castle Kyoto

Like all foreigners who have been in Japan for several months - we tend to go visit our nearby neighbors and Kyoto is one of my favorite place to go to - if there was a long weekend.  I’ve been to Nijo Castle in Kyoto once with some friends and it was pretty quiet and tranquil.

We had taken a bus to Nijo Castle and like most foreigners we thought we were being smart by getting the bus pass - that takes us to several touristy places in Kyoto - but alas, apparently, we are not the only one with smart thinking haha!  Yes ! it was packed but that’s alright - we had fun waiting for the next bus and we met some really nice people going to Nijo Castle as well.

Nijo Castle had very impressive architecture as you can see here at the entrance and it was built to protect the Imperial Palace.

We were not allowed to take pictures inside the grounds but the outside garden was not a problem - like most castles in Japan - this one was quite similar.  Admission to Nijo Castle is about 600 Yen - about $5 Canadian I think and if you want an English guide you have to pay extra.  Nijo Castle is said to be build by a Shogun and they lived inside the castle to protect the imperial palace.

Japanese Wives Club

When I was living in Japan for 6 months - I’ve had the privileged to meet some wonderful wives of my engineers stationed in Japan - and they taught me many things about shopping in Japan.  A lot of people thinks that shopping in Japan is expensive but they are just like us in the West - and only buy quality things and things that are on sale - and using wet seal coupons as well - to get the best deals.  One very important lesson I learned from these Japanese wives is that they never buy things that are not of good quality and of a good deal.  Even when it comes to groceries and marketing - they buy the freshest but the cheapest and make the best dish for their husbands when they come home from work.  So yes!  the Japanese wives club had ladies ranging from the age of 25 - right up to 45 of age.  And for every thing they buy for themselves and for their family - they take care in getting the right things for them.