Tag: helsinki

Loving Yufuin

Loving Yufuin

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I know that many people were disappointed because it is not easy to get tickets to the popular Yufuin No Mori train. It happened to me too. Although I know that the tickets will be available a month in advance, I was a bit confused because it is a leap year! And since this train ride was the highlight of this Yufuin trip, we decided to stay only one night in Yufuin instead of the initial plan of two nights because tickets were already sold out on the day that we were supposed to go. So yet, another change of plan. I have to mention now that it is always a good idea to book accommodation that has free cancellation.

So what makes this Yufuin No Mori train special? Well, the Yufuin No Mori train has been in operation for 35 years. It’s a beautiful emerald train and its interior is really pretty. It was like going back in time… The train also has its own merchandise and a special 35th anniversary stamp. Don’t miss out on those!

Our ryokan was a few minutes walk from the station and surprisingly, the Cherry Blossom road was just across from it. It was absolutely gorgeous. The day was so sunny with clear blue skies. It was amazing! You can check the reel here as I was sat under the Cherry Blossom.

The ryokan was pretty too and I’m still wondering what made the beddings of the futon so soft… We were also able to enjoy the private Onsen.

Check out the reel of the day here where we explored the Yufuin Floral Village, the cute owls and Kinrin Lake. We also visited the Yufuin Station Showa Museum which was a lot of fun!

Tomorrow will be exciting as we travel to Kurokawa Onsen…

Itoshima

Itoshima

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Itoshima was not in the initial plan. This day was supposed to be a visit to Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. But again, the Cherry Blossom was not in full bloom yet so we decided to take the bus for an hour ride to Itoshima to see the Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones framed by white Torii gates. It was said that the sunset will be gorgeous here. But it was a cloudy day. There were people taking photos with the Couple Stones but it was not crowded at all. There was no queue and it was quite peaceful. It was actually nice to spend a day by the beach on this cloudy day.

We returned to Hakata Station then decided to try another restaurant at Kitte Hakata. The 9th and 10th floors have a lot of food to choose from. Check out some of the choices here. And if you want to have a cheaper option, try the B1 floor.

Here is a reel to sum up our few days in Fukuoka. Tomorrow, off to Yufuin!

So happy in Fukuoka, Japan

So happy in Fukuoka, Japan

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We arrived early at Hakata International Port in Fukuoka and we were the first ones to get out of the ferry because we had the Deluxe room. We rented a pocket wifi at the arrival area then took the bus to Hakata Station to leave our luggage at the hotel very close to the station. Then we took the subway to Tenjin to enjoy lunch under the Cherry Blossom while visiting the parks. One difficulty I had was to choose a bento. We were just in one small supermarket but the choices were endless…

It was my first Sakura this year and I can’t believe that one of my dreams just came true – to see the Cherry Blossom in Japan! I was also happy to see Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin while walking in Ohori Park! The Spring weather was so lovely but most of the trees were not in full bloom yet. So I decided to cancel our return to Busan in 6 days to stay longer in Fukuoka after our trips from Yufuin and Kurokawa Onsen. I really wanted to experience the full Sakura in Japan.

The next day, we enjoyed breakfast at an old fashioned cafe. Then we went to Hakata Bus station to take the bus to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. I like taking the bus as I enjoy looking out of the window. But when we were queuing at the Bus Station, we were informed that there was a road incident that will take the bus longer to travel. So we took the subway and train instead. There were lots of people in Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. But we found a quiet spot a bit outside of the shrine and enjoyed the Cherry Blossom in full bloom. It was so beautiful and my heart was full! You can watch the reel here. Please don’t forget to click the links too to see how it was.

The next day was yet another change of plan…

Back in Seoul

Back in Seoul

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After exactly a year, I was back in Seoul! I just can’t resist the thought of not seeing the Cherry Blossom season in this part of the world. So after an 11 hours and 45 minutes flight from Helsinki, we arrived in Seoul and this time we stayed in Hongdae. The initial plan was to stay near the Namsam Park and immediately climb the N Seoul Tower once we were settled at our hotel. But a few days before our flight, I learned that the Cherry blossom was not there yet. So I cancelled our hotel near the Namsam Park and decided to explore Hongdae instead. They said Hongdae is for the young and for watching Baskers perform. Unfortunately, we didn’t come across any Baskers during our one night stay in Hongdae. However, it is true that this is a place for the young as there were many young people walking in the street. There were many nice cafes though and I really like the Hot Yujacha Tea that was recommended by the staff of one of the cafes we visited. Because we were already in Hongdae, I also visited the flagship stores of both Kakao Friends and Line Friends. And one of the best things was to enjoy Banana Milk again! You can find the reel of the day here.

Here is a coffee moment in Hongdae before we took the train to Busan. When we were in Busan a year ago, I really wanted to take the ferry to Fukuoka, Japan. But we didn’t have enough time as it was our first visit to Busan. But this time, we did it. We took the overnight ferry from Busan to Fukuoka and it was an adventure of a lifetime! Please click on the links to catch a glimpse of how it was.

The next morning, we woke up in Fukuoka, Japan!

Last night in Tokyo

Last night in Tokyo

by elainevitikainen ♥ 1 Comment

We returned from Nikko to Tokyo for our last night in Japan. Our 14 days holiday in Japan went quite quickly. I guess it’s true what they say that time runs fast when you are having fun! The last evening was spent hunting for a new suitcase. I came to Japan with less than 8 kilos hand carry luggage and had now ran out of space because of the many snacks and stationeries. We decided to go to Shibuya, just like we did during our last night in Tokyo in 2018. I also wanted to get one of the most important Eki stamps from Shibuya station. This one has the paw print of Hachikō! Check out the reel of the day here.

The next morning, my husband went to the airport at 9 AM as he was flying to Helsinki through Bangkok. I stayed a few more hours just passing time walking in Asakusa before it was time to leave for Haneda airport. At the airport, I saw the most beautiful sunset. I cannot believe my eyes. The sun was setting by Mt Fuji. And no, I was not on the rooftop observation deck. I was coming out of the food court after dinner. I felt blessed! Check out the last reel here.

Some take aways from this holiday:

  • Good walking shoes are important. We were walking more than 10 kilometres each day. So imagine wearing bad shoes!
  • Registering online at Visit Japan Web for the QR codes for immigration and customs made entering Japan so much faster.
  • Having a Welcome Pasmo or any other IC cards was really useful when using public transport (although, not in Okinawa) and also paying for convenience store purchases.
  • It’s good to have cash as many places only take cash, like street food vendors and small local restaurants.
  • Having a pocket wifi all the time was very good because we really need to be connected to check on routes and locations. I highly recommend it and we only paid around 55 EUR for the entire 14 days.
  • Buy flight tickets early as prices tend to spike up.
  • Book accommodation that has free cancellation because there might be changes along the way.

I love how Japan is a great mixture of the old and the new. I love how Japan just has lots of amazing food. Even the convenience stores sell good snacks. I love how Japan has a very efficient and clean public transport. I love that Japan is very clean with clean toilets everywhere. I love that tap water is drinkable. I love that restaurant meals include drinking water. I’m not a fan of buying bottled water. I love their top range customer service. I love that there is no tipping as we are not use to that in Europe. I love that I can enjoy simple stuff like collecting Eki stamps, watching out for pretty manholes and playing Gachapons. I felt safe in Japan. There was no single moment when I felt that I was in a dangerous situation.

I can truly say that it was an amazing holiday. And if I can make another wish, I wish to visit Japan again! Bye for now, Japan. Until next time!

You can watch a flip through of my travel journal here!

All photos from my Japan posts are by Ari Vitikainen at https://www.arivitikainen.com

Copyright © 2024 Ari Vitikainen, All rights reserved.

Tokyo – Nikko – Tokyo

Tokyo – Nikko – Tokyo

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We returned to Tokyo and spent 2 nights in Asakusa. The first evening, we went shopping at Uniqlo flagship store in Ginza which has 12 floors. You can check out the reel here. The next afternoon was spent in Yanaka Ginza which is a very different Ginza. I love Yanaka Ginza with its traditional 173 meters shopping street from the 1950s. This street is lined with small locally owned shops, cafes and food stalls which explores the nostalgic side of Tokyo. It was so fun! You can check out the reel of the day here. We also visited the Tokyo Skytree in the morning and crossed the beautiful Sumida river from Asakusa.

Then it was time to visit Nikko. Nikko is a small city in Tochigi Prefecture north of Tokyo. We got on the new SPACIA X, a new-model limited express train linking Tokyo’s Asakusa district with the Nikko/Kinugawa area. The SPACIA X trains started running on the 12th of July 2023. Mind you that purchasing the tickets was not easy as the seats were sold out within 5 minutes from the start of the selling time. It’s so new that passengers were excitedly posing with the train for photos.

People are saying that a day trip to Nikko from Tokyo is sufficient enough. But if I have to do it again, I will stay longer in Nikko. We had a nice accommodation near the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, with an onsen that we can use privately. It was also in Nikko that I have tasted the best vegetarian meal ever called the Shojin Yyori (monk’s diet) which consists of rice, vegetable tempura, stewed yuba, yuba sashimi and a soup. Yuba are soy sheets and is a Nikko specialty. It was so delicious! Check out the reel for the day here.

We spent a night in Nikko and will definitely return to Nikko someday. Then we returned to Tokyo for our last night in Japan…

Takayama

Takayama

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Now, it’s time to travel to the heart of the Japanese Alps – Takayama, a city located in Gifu Prefecture. It was a 5 hours bus ride from Shinjuku Expressway bus terminal to Takayama Nohi Bus Centre with several breaks along the way. The bus was so clean and comfortable. We also had a lot of snacks from the convenience store. Since we planned to do side trips to Kamikōchi and Shirakawa-go, we booked our accommodation very close to the bus centre. It was a good choice as the hotel room was so spacious (there was even a washing machine and dryer in the room) and walkable to see Takayama’s beautifully preserved old town. The old town has lots to offer in terms of street food (Hida Beef is a must try!) and sake tasting. You can check out the reel here.

The next day, we took an hour bus ride to Kamikōchi, a mountainous highland valley in the western region of Nagano Prefecture. At this point, I was glad I brought my quilted jacket and gloves (which I prepared for going back to Helsinki) as there was a drop in the temperature. Coming to Japan in October, I thought I will see Autumn colours but it was said that Autumn in Japan this year will be 10 days late than normal. So I was not expecting to see those beautiful trees full of vibrant colours, painting the mountains and forests. However, this day was a lovely autumn day. I was surrounded by foliage of gold, brilliant oranges, reds and yellows with Mount Hotaka in the background. To be honest, it was the most beautiful Autumn I have ever seen! You can check out the reel here.

The next morning, we visited Shirakawa-go which is located in the north-western part of Gifu Prefecture, in the approximate centre of Japan. It’s a village with Gassho-style houses and a World Cultural Heritage site. It is very pretty! It was here where I saw a persimmon tree for the first time with its beautiful fruits adorning the tree. It was also here where I tried the Hida Gyuman Honp bun. So yummy!

By midday, we returned to Takayama and enjoyed the street food again. We spent the rest of the day at Takayama Showa-kan museum which was lots of fun! You can check out the reel for the day here.

We spent 3 nights in Takayama and it was worth every minute. Next stop is Tokyo…

Fujiyoshida

Fujiyoshida

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We flew back to Tokyo from Naha, Okinawa and this time we stayed in Shinjuku. It was fun to walk around Shinjuku and to see familiar places from 2018. It was also a must to see Godzilla on top of Hotel Gracery and the giant 3D calico cat billboard. It was so cute! But other than that, Shinjuku is not really my favourite… You can check the reel here.

However, the next day was so much fun. We took the 11:45 bus from Shinjuku Expressway bus terminal to Fujisan station. The amount of snacks from the convenience store was also a plus for an almost 2 hours drive. When we arrived at the Fujisan station, it was necessary to check out the Tourist Information centre across the street for the Eki Stamp. But also, they gave us postcards and information on how to get to Chureito Pagoda on foot. It was easy but the 398 stair steps climb might be a challenge for many. While I was going down, people who were climbing up asked me if the climb was worth it. It’s a definite yes! We were blessed to see Mt Fuji capped with snow. It was capped for the first time this season a few days ago, on the 5th of October.


We returned to Shinjuku on the 20:04 bus and had a wonderful dinner at Yoshida restaurant before heading back. Yoshida restaurant was so homely. The set meal was so delicious. I had a grilled fish set and it cost around 6 EUR. I also got some Gashapons at the station which were exclusive to Mt. Fuji. You can see the unboxing here.

So for those who are wondering if you can see Mt Fuji on a day trip, yes you can. And you don’t need to join a tour or rent a car or to wake up super early. However, you need to walk. But check the weather first before going and time your travel well so that you can avoid the traffic jam. Hope this helps! Check out the reel for this day here.

The next post is about Takayama with side trips to Kamikōchi and Shirakawa-go…

Okinawa

Okinawa

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For a year now, I had this question in my mind. The question was, if I can go anywhere without any limitations, where will I go? The answer was actually easy. I would like to go to Mochi Island, the island I built on Animal Crossing! But then this year I realised that the closest I can get to Mochi Island is actually to visit Okinawa…

I would say that Okinawa was the main reason I wanted to visit Japan again. Although it took us another 2.5 hours flight to the south of Japan, there was no regret at all. Okinawa is so pretty with such a relaxing atmosphere. I also enjoyed the food and some which surprisingly brought me back to my childhood especially the stir fried bitter melon with eggs that was served during breakfast at the hotel and was also available at the convenience stores. The convenience stores also sell Spam Onigiri which I had to try obviously!

The first day in Naha was about getting Eki stamps at the Tourist Information counter at the airport then a stroll at Kokusai Street. We also got to try the monorail train from the airport to our accommodation which was really fun. You can watch the reel here. On the second day, we walked to Naminoue Beach. I can’t believe how empty the beach was. The water was also so pretty and just by looking at the sea really relaxes the mind. On the way back, we even met the Yakult lady. I was so happy! Check out the unexpected meeting here. However, we didn’t get enough of the beach so we took a bus to Araha Beach to catch a view of the sunset. The 1 hour ride was so worth it. It was so beautiful! You can watch the reel here.

The next day, we went to Senagajima Umikaji Terrace to watch airplanes landing at Naha airport. It was such an unbelievable sight as airplanes and more airplanes kept on landing. The Umikaji Terrace also has more than 40 restaurants, cafés and shops so it was a fun place to spend the afternoon. It was a very hot day though and the island vibes was very much alive. I just love Okinawa! Then on the way back, we visited Fukushūen Garden. Fukushūen Garden is a traditional Chinese garden in Naha. It is a very beautiful garden. I especially enjoyed watching many beautiful koi fish swimming in the pond and crossing several bridges which were very similar to the bridges on Mochi Island. And the waterfalls too reminded me of Mochi island! What we missed was to try the Buku buku tea as the tea house that we were planning to go closed at 5 pm that day. However, we were able to find a local ramen shop which served delicious ramen with daifuku for dessert. You can watch the reel here.

We stayed in Naha for 3 nights then flew back to Tokyo. The next post is about Shinjuku and Fujiyoshida…

Back in Japan

Back in Japan

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I was so excited! I was back in Japan after 5 years and for the third time. I didn’t expect this to happen, especially that we already travelled to South Korea this year. But life is full of surprises and going back to Asia for the second time this year for another holiday was such a blessing.

It all started when my husband and I were having the afternoon tea to celebrate our 28th anniversary in June. After the dream talks of visiting Japan, we decided to make it a reality so I purchased air tickets and was immediately in a full planning mood. My husband was flying after a work trip in Bangkok and it was exciting to see how everything will come together. We stayed in 7 different places and dragged our luggages from Tokyo to Okinawa, from Tokyo (with a side trip to Fujiyoshida) to Takayama (with side trips to Kamikochi and Shirakawago), from Tokyo to Nikko and back to Tokyo. Many changes happened during planning – hotel changes and destination changes. But these were all part and parcel of planning for a holiday of a lifetime. One thing that I’m most thankful for this trip was remaining healthy, even though my husband just came back from a large conference in Bangkok with more than 400 attendees. The downside was really missing our kids because they were with us when we visited in 2018 and they really love Japanese food.

I arrived at Narita terminal 2 from Helsinki at 13:05 (actually some 30 minutes earlier than scheduled) and zoomed past immigration and customs, probably in less than 10 minutes. This was because I already registered online at Visit Japan Web and had the QR codes for immigration and customs. I also just had a hand carry luggage. The first thing I did after I exited the customs was to pick up the pocket wifi that I pre rented online. I really recommend this especially that my husband had a MacBook and iPad during this travel. Being able to access the internet from multiple devices was a plus and also we had internet connection while traveling. We paid 8,840 JPY (around 55 EUR) for the rental for 14 days.

At 13:30, my husband’s flight arrived from Bangkok. I was waiting for him at the same arrival area where I came in. It was a happy reunion after a week and so our holiday started. The first thing we did was to take the free shuttle bus to terminal 1 where I got a Welcome Eki stamp from the Tourist Information centre. Then we went to the Traveler’s Factory on the 4th floor to get myself a Traveler’s Notebook journal which is exclusively available at Narita airport. We also withdrew some Yen from the ATM and bought Welcome Pasmo cards which we used for transportation and convenience store purchases. We stayed for a night in Asakusa and flew out of Haneda airport to Okinawa the next day. Please watch the Day 1 reel here. The next post is about Okinawa…