Posts

JPN: Yuasa Downtown

Image
Yuasa, Wakayama, Japan Located to the south of Wakayama City, Yuasa is a small, but thriving port town. Since I was in the prefecture, I made it a point to go to this birthplace of shoyu (Japanese soy sauce). In the past, Yuasa was a resting place for pilgrims travelling the oldest pilgrimage route in Japan known as Kumano Kodo.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Wakayama Downtown

Image
Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan Wakayama City is the capital and the largest of the nine cities of the prefecture bearing the same name. On average, it takes just about an hour by train from Osaka, and an hour and a half from Kyoto. The area occupied by the city was the centre of the ancient Kii Province (紀伊国), from which the Japanese bookshop chain Kinokuniya (紀伊国屋) derives its name.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Toyoko Inn JR Wakayama-eki Higashi-guchi

Image
2-1-7 Kuroda, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan A chain of Japanese business hotels founded in 1986, Toyoko Inn (3*) has been expanding rapidly since the 1990s. At the point of writing, the franchise boasts an extensive network with over 300 branches, including overseas ones in the Philippines, South Korea, France and Germany. My family and I stayed for two nights at the branch near Wakayama station.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Nara Park

Image
Nara, Japan A public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, Nara Park is a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness and enchanting wildlife. Established in 1880, the expansive park that sprawls over 500 hectares is renowned for its friendly inhabitants: over 1,200 free-roaming sika deer that's native to much of East Asia.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Mikasa Ryokan

Image
728-10 Kawakami-cho, Nara City, Nara, Japan Perched on the slopes of Mount Wakakusa, Mikasa Ryokan (3*) is a haven of tranquility, making it a choice of accommodation that I was truly grateful for booking. It was a restful one-night retreat, thanks to the peaceful ambience and picturesque surroundings. The hotel provides a free shuttle service from its small office near Kintetsu Nara station.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Henn-na Hotel Nara

Image
46-1 Takama-cho, Nara City, Nara, Japan I first found out about Henn-na Hotel (4*) through my friend's social media posts detailing her stay at the Huis Ten Bosch branch in Nagasaki Prefecture. Intrigued by the world's first robot-staffed chain of hotels registered under the Guinness World Record, I decided to check out the Nara branch that's located near Kintetsu Nara station.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Omihachiman District @ Shiga Prefecture

Image
Omihachiman, Japan One of my personal aspirations in life is to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan. For that, I brought along my family on a day trip to Shiga, a landlocked prefecture encircling Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. The quaint Omihachiman district was our destination, which is easily reachable by train from Kyoto.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Osaka Downtown

Image
Osaka City, Osaka, Japan First of all, Happy New Year! Formerly known as Naniwa, Osaka stands as Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It's served by two airports: Kansai International Airport  (KIX) and Osaka International Airport that's also referred to as Itami Airport (ITM). This short post features two areas renowned for their pulsating nightlife and culinary delights.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Arashiyama District @ Kyoto Prefecture

Image
Kyoto, Japan Nestled in the western outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama (lit. Storm Mountain) is also the name of the mountain that serves as a backdrop to the district. Primarily known for its enchanting bamboo grove, the area has historically been a haven for aristocrats to seek solace, delighting in the vibrant hues of autumn leaves and going boating along its scenic waterways.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Gion District @ Kyoto Prefecture

Image
Kyoto, Japan Known as Kyoto's most famous geisha (lit. arts person) district, Gion holds a profound historical legacy tracing back to the Sengoku period that spanned from the 15th to the 16th century. The district originated as one designed to cater to the visitors to Yasaka Shrine, a focal point of the Shinto faith in the region.
Post a Comment
Read more

JPN: Kyoto Downtown

Image
Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan known as Heian-kyo, holds an enduring allure for visitors with its seamless blend of ancient traditions and modernity. As mentioned earlier, I don't have a lot of photos to share this time round, but I'll split the story into three posts. The first one here shall cover a few attractions near the downtown area.
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular Posts

NZL: Mount Eden & Mount Saint John

Image
[Mount Eden Summit] 250 Mount Eden Road, Auckland, New Zealand Daily: 7.00am - 7.00pm (winter) or 8.30pm (summer) Besides One Tree Hill, Auckland has several other volcanic cones worth exploring. Between Mount Eden and Mount Saint John, the former with a peak elevation of 196 m and an impressive crater is the more famous of the two. Mount Saint John, by comparison, stands at 126 m and offers a quieter experience.
Read more

NZL: Auckland Downtown

Image
Auckland, New Zealand Known as Tamaki Makaurau in the Maori language, Auckland isn't only New Zealand's largest city, but also its principal commercial and economic centre. Commonly referred to as the City of Sails, it's situated between two main harbours and is punctuated by numerous volcanic cones, giving it a distinctive landscape where urban life meets natural beauty.
Read more

TWN: EVA Air BR272 (Economy)

Image
MNL-TPE (2h 15m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD: 12.40pm (GMT + 8)  ETA:  2.55pm (GMT + 8) After we got bored with the new, but uninspiring Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport , it was finally time for my BFF and I to fly to our last holiday destination for our mid-year trip: Taipei, Taiwan. That was my virgin experience with EVA Air.
Read more