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.

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.

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.

1000 Yen @ Mac’s Japan

So summer just ended in Japan as well last week but in Japan - they had a set menu for 3 for 1000 Yen and 1000 Yen is like 10 bucks here and this campaign lasted the entire summer.  For 1000 Yen - 3 person can expect a Big Mac, a teriyaki burger, a cheeseburger, 3 fries and 3 drinks - not bad for $10 in Japan if you asked me - wished I had known about this earlier - so that I could tell my readers.