こんにちは， Japan!

 When ever I hear the word JAPAN, what comes to my mind are anime, hello kitty, “kawaii” stuffs, cosplay, etc. and it is one of the MOST expensive place to travel, that’s why I really never imagined myself that I will be able to step on this lovely place.

It was last January that I went here with my parents for the first time. Luckily, I have met some Japanese friend during my study in Taiwan and they are all very accommodating and generous enough to tour us around Kansai area. We stayed there for 5 days and I am very grateful that with all their help, we were able to see and travel around Kansai area.

Tip: If you will be travelling around Kansai Area ( Osaka, Nara, Kyot, Kobe, etc.) I suggest that you buy the Kansai Thru Pass that is available for 2-days or 3-days pass. This card can be used on nonconsecutive days. It may rather cost more than just buying ticket every time you ride the train, but I think this is more convenient. Which weighs more, will it be the convenience or the price, it is for you to decide.

Accommodation

We stayed in Hotel Naniwa which is located near Nipponbashi station. The location of the hotel is nearby Dotonburi and Shinsaibashi which has a wide variety of food stalls and is a shopping haven. Apart from the location, the staff can also speak good English and very accommodating as well. The room is a triple bed that has a private bathroom with complete basic necessities needed. TIP: Before booking a place to stay, unless using a public bath (they call it Ryokan)  won’t be an issue for you, then always see and check if the hotel or place that you intended to stay has a private bathroom. Some hotel may be cheaper but they don’t have private bathroom, but they have public bath house instead.

Day 1 – Nara  and Osaka

We went to Nara via their Kintetsu Nara Line which is 30-45 minutes away from Osaka area. First stop, Nara Park to see their well-known silka deer which can be seen all over the place walking freely. You can buy biscuit to feed them. They look so cute and nice, but they would tend to ask for more biscuit or any food that they can see. It was really a great experience!

Nara Park and Nara Deer

Todaiji Temple (東大寺)

Kofukuji Temple (興福寺)

Kasuga Grand Shrine (春日大社)

Shinseikai District (新世界)

Tsutenkaku Tower (通天閣)

Osaka Castle (大坂城)

Dotonburi (道頓堀)

Day 2: Universal Studio Japan （ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン）

 

Day 3: Kyoto (京都)

Kyoto Tower

Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺)

This is my favorite temple that I had visited in Kyoto. The view is really great, and I can see lots of cherry blossom tree surrounding the temple. I can only imagine how lovely the view will be during cherry blossom season. My friend let us experience going into alley-like place inside a temple that is very very dark that you really need to hold on to the bead-like handle to guide you towards the exit. At first, I really felt scared, but as I continue to walk through the dark alley, I felt getting braver and trusting the bead-like handle that would lead me through the light. It was a very spiritual experience for me. 

This is a place to wish for if you want to have someone special in you life. I got to experience wherein you need to walk with your eyes closed from one end to the other end. They say if you were able to walk through it without being get bumped on or opening your eyes while walking, your wish will be granted. :)

 

Sannen-zaka & Ninen-zaka Preserved Lanes

I also love walking through this lane full of well-preserved traditional Japanese houses. It makes me feels like I was able to travel through time just by simple admiring and appreciating it's beauty.

Gion District

Kinkakuji Temple (金閣寺)

In this temple, I got to experience getting a very first written oracle. You just need to pay 100 yen and tadaa~ you will get you oracle. 

Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)

Day 4: Kobe （神戶）

Motomachi (元町)

Kobe Port Tower (神戸ポートタワ) & 
Harborland (神戸ハーバーランド )

I really felt that our 5-day stay really flies by quickly. But this trip is really one of the memorable trip that I had. I was able to experience, witness and discover new things. I really admire how discipline Japanese people are when it comes to time, cleanliness and even to simple traffic rules. I also observed how polite and nice they are; English is really not well spoken in Japan, but whenever I asked for directions, they never fail to try to accommodate and help us. I even remembered that there was a lady that we asked for directions early in the morning on how to reach our hotel, she used her phone to search and though she just spoke Japanese, she still tries her very best to help us and I can really feel her sincerity. We were already walking for quite a while and we got surprised when we saw her again behind us telling us on which corner we should turn left. That was really something that I can’t forget.

Though it had been a week since I got back, I still have some hang over feeling and because of that, I am more determined to go back and hoping to witness Japan’s cherry blossom season or autumn season next year, I hope. :)