Tag: Japan

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

by elainevitikainen ♥ 1 Comment

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…

The magnificent Mt Fuji

The magnificent Mt Fuji

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After taking a very expensive Shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Mishima, it took a bit over an hour to reach Fujikawaguchiko on a Thomas’ Land bus. It was a lovely surprise to get on a Thomas’ Land bus. It was the cutest bus I’ve ever been!

850_3331Arriving in Fujikawaguchi, Mt Fuji’s presence can be easily felt. It is very domineering that there is no way to miss it. It is behind the bus station and it shows itself at the restaurant while eating a bowl of soba.

Then a further 25 minutes ride on another bus led to Lake Kawaguchiko where Mt. Fuji reveals itself in all its majesty.

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36518196_10156990265472137_1575591314970378240_nAnd by the Lake Kawaguchiko, I also saw the prettiest manhole ever!

Mt Fuji can also be seen from the guesthouse’s window while having breakfast and dinner. Even when taking a shower!

All photos by Ari Vitikainen @ arivitikainenphotography.com

Beautiful Kyoto

Beautiful Kyoto

by elainevitikainen ♥ 1 Comment

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Imagine to be in a place so green with very beautiful trees surrounding you. Then comes the rain, a wonderful relief from the summer heat. You are sat under a shade, feeling calm as you wait for the rain to pass by.

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Then you walk by a beautiful garden. So pretty, so breathtaking. It represents peace and tranquility.

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Then imagine walking pass traditional houses lined up on the narrow road. You walk in silence as not to disturb anyone. You are amazed at how clean these roads are. How quiet, how peaceful.

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This is Kyoto. Beautiful Kyoto.

I love Japan

I love Japan

by elainevitikainen ♥ 3 Comments

It’s really hard not to fall in love with Japan. There are just too many reasons! And the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai never failed to inspire. So you can imagine how happy I was to see the original The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The original The Great Wave off Kanagawa was published in the late Edo period sometime between 1829 and 1833 as the first print in Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. It is Hokusai’s most famous work and one of the most recognisable works of Japanese art in the world.

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And I did this pretend thing where I was watching aged Hokusai at work with his daughter, Katsushika Oi. Amazing! It felt so real this diorama.

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Then there’s the International Manga Museum in Kyoto. I’m seeing this form of art in a different way now after I learnt a lot about it. It was very inspiring that I ended with art supplies. But let’s see how I will manage to find time to try my new pens, especially now that I got my own Hanko in Kanji characters!

Then there’s the Japanese food. I love Japanese food because it’s just so good! And I was even amazed how ordering a meal can happen by dropping coins into a machine.

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Japanese people are also very respectful, helpful and kind. The busyness of Tokyo gives a sense of serenity because people are not loud, no loud music, no talking on the phones… Just peace and being considerate of each other at all times. Japan is also unbelievable clean. Kudos to Japanese people!

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