Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

257 Senjojikishita, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Inabayama Castle was built on the slopes of Mount Kinka during the Kamakura Period between 1201 to 1204. It was in 1567 that Oda Nobunaga took over the stronghold and renamed it Gifu Castle. It now serves as a museum that offers not only a glimpse into the feudal era, but also breathtaking panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.

257 Senjojikishita, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Rising to a height of 329 m, Mount Kinka stands proudly along a section of Nagara River in the heart of Gifu City. Formerly known as Mount Inaba, which was the name of the original castle perched on top of it, it's the most famous mountain in the city. Visitors can take a ropeway to the summit, a convenient alternative for those not keen on hiking all the way up.

397-2 Minatomachi, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan After spending two nights in Nagoya, I continued my journey northward into Gifu Prefecture. Instead of heading straight into the heart of Gifu City, I chose to spend a night along the tranquil banks of Nagara River. As is my ritual whenever I visit the country, I stayed at an accommodation offering a traditional inn experience. Hotel Park was my choice.

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Time flies, doesn't it? It's hard to believe that a quarter of 2025 has already passed. My backlog is piling up, but anyway, let's continue with our exploration of Nagoya. In this second part, do expect more night shots as I wandered through the city's illuminated streets after sundown. Let's start with Sakae, a vibrant downtown district located approximately 2 km east of Nagoya Station.

Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is the fourth largest city in Japan. Both before and after World War II, the city has been known as one of the leading industrial and manufacturing hubs in the country. Earning the nickname "Houston and Montreal of the Orient", the city is home to global giants like Toyota.

1-1 Honmaru, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm Standing as a symbol of Japan's rich history and cultural heritage, Nagoya Castle holds the distinction of being the first castle in the country to be designated a National Treasure. Originally built in 1612 under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the castle played a crucial role during the feudal era.

21-20 Tsubaki-cho, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Bringing me a smile indeed, Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi (3*) lives up to its name with its prime location not far from the entrance to the bullet train platform of Nagoya station. For the price point, I'm not sure if there are any other hotels around offering free-flowing freshly grilled unagi (Japanese freshwater eel) for breakfast.

NRT-NGO (1h 20m) Boeing 737-800 ETD:  6.30pm  (GMT + 9) ETA: 7.50pm (GMT + 9) I've been to Japan a few times, but actually I rarely fly with Japanese carriers. After enduring the long queue at immigration, I finally got my passport stamped. With that done, it was time to locate the transfer counter for the next flight, which marked my virgin experience of touching down at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya.

SIN-NRT (7h 10m) Boeing 767-300 ETD:  8.10am  (GMT + 8) ETA: 4.20pm (GMT + 9) In the quest to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan, I embarked on yet another journey to this fascinating country to explore a few destinations in Aichi, Gifu and Mie Prefectures. My adventure began with Japan Airlines JL712 that brought me to Narita International Airport before I caught a domestic flight to Nagoya.

IST-SIN (10h 25m) Boeing 787-9 ETD:  5.55pm  (GMT + 3) ETA: 8.30am (GMT + 8) We've finally reached the last post to wrap up this series on my very first round-the-world experience. Starting from Singapore, crossing the vast Pacific Ocean to the Americas to the Americas, and returning via the Atlantic Ocean and beyond, it was an amazing trip. Turkish Airlines TK208 flew me back to Singapore from Istanbul, Turkey.

BOG-PTY (1h 55m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD:  3.55pm (GMT - 5) ETA: 5.50pm (GMT - 5) Turkish Airlines TK800 is a multi-leg route from Istanbul, Turkey to Bogota, Colombia, and then continuing onward to Panama City before heading back to its point of origin. I had the opportunity to experience the latter two legs, marking the longest time I've ever spent inside a Business Class cabin.