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.

Pool Party For Christmas

While I missed the pool and bbq parties back home where the children can play around the pool safely because of having swimming pool fencing. We can do this here I mean the pool fencing  - but since it is Winter, no one will be having a pool party here.   But I do remember having pool parties in Japan in friend’s home with a pool and hot tub. As I watch their holiday photos on Facebook, I have to say that I’m quite tempted to visit them next Christmas too - to enjoy the sun and the pool. I think I really missed the outdoor pool a lot and the sun tanning one can do when I lived and traveled around Asia. Sure we have our pools here - but we can only use it during the summer and summer isn’t that hot either but yes, we do have the fencing too put around the pool because the kids are always playing outside and we have to make sure that they don’t go in there when they are alone without an adult. Plus, we have younger kids who comes and visit with their siblings and we all know how engrossed kids get when they are playing and they forget their younger ones - so now that we have the fence put up - we don’t have to worry about one falling into the pool when we are not watching. But I could definitely use some pool party right about now.

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.

Disney Hotels

For those who’ve been to any disney hotels you know that you would love the ones in Japan too - I’ve compared the ones in Japan to the ones in USA - and they are definitely from the same brand of hotels.  From the restaurants to the service - to the room decor and furnishing plus not forgetting the cute mickey mouse toileteries.

My kid loved the toileteries so much, she asked if we could buy some home - which we did - but we didn’t need to buy them - the housekeeping department was so nice - they gave her some to take home.  The hotels service was good - and the restaurants were definitely catered for children.

Look at the Mickey mouse pancake and you will see how thrilled a kid can get in the morning for breakfast - and even for a fussy eater like mine - she woke up the next day - and dressed up in a hurry to have her mickey mouse pancake again.  We always have a good time in any Disney hotels - be it in USA or in Japan or anywhere around the world.  I’m glad we stayed within the Disney grounds every time we are in Disney for a vacation.

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.

End Of Obon In Kyoto

I was in Japan, Kyoto to be exact in August one year and learned of a festival that was celebrated in Kyoto with intense.  This festival I heard was all about the ancestors of the Japanese people who they claimed will be visiting them during this Bon festival. At the end of the festival/celebration - up high in the mountains - 4 mountains if i am not wrong - they have these Japanese words placed and a bonfire lighted to show the word - big and a few other words that I cannot remember now.  Street lights are turned off - so that people can see the bonfire from the streets.  It’s a massive turn out if you are in Kyoto - so sometime in August if you are in Kyoto - this is one festival you shouldn’t missed.