A land of serene wonder
Back from a really enjoyable, refereshing time in Japan. it is an enthralling experience, with so much deep rooted culture, unique sightseeing (mostly natural attractions) and experiences you just cannot get elsewhere.
Nature there seems so peaceful - no predators or animals that might potentially harm people. they are somehow more beautiful too. As a result, the people have long had a strong connection and harmony with nature, and the animals in turn have become generally more trusting of humans and each other.
Things there are extremely expensive, though. Every meal we usually spend 600 to 1000 yen (about $10 - $15) per head on a simple proper meal, consisting of a bowl of ramen, udon, soba, meat rice or bento, plus a soup and sometimes a few extra sides. though on many occasions, our meals shot above the 1000 mark for sth a little more. my parents got so sick of having the same food all the time, but i enjoy it and dont mind still having more.
Nothing in japan is cheaper than in singapore. 99% of the stuff there is more expensive, comparatively with something similar you can get here. i dont really buy the idea of higher quality in everything. ironically, even the stuff imported from japan is cheaper here than in japan itself!
Transport is a killer expense. While a train ride in singapore would cost between 70 cents to $2, the train tickets in japan railway are priced from a about 250 yen ($4), to over a thousand per head for travelling between towns. going from Osaka to Arima cost over 2000 after many transfers. But the most ridiculously overpriced was the 1.5 hour trip from Kimiidera to Shirahama - costing about 3000 yen per person! for the 4 of us, back and forth, it adds up to 24000 yen... which means $320, just on train ride alone!
Itinerary for the japan trip
Day 1 and 2 - Kimiidera, Wakayama
remote town, nothing much there. explored the place, up some hill, and had Mos burger 3 times since there was nothing better to eat, other than the canteen style restaurant a 10mins walk from the hotel, where we had my birthday dinner. nothing very glamorous to spend my birthday in a place like that, but its still a unique experience.
Second day, took a day trip to Shirahama, which incurred a bomb in train ticket expenses. i felt it was not worth it at first, but my dad was surprisingly willing to part with that sum for the few hours of visiting this famous coastal area. There, we saw great cliffs overlooking the sea at Sandapeki, pancake rock formations, the arched rock island, and the most crowded beach ever. Though the attractions are not uniquely japanese, it is nonetheless fantastic scenery and sightseeing. worth the cost? ill still say its subjective.
in the morning, took a short trip to the temple at the foot of the mountain, a stone's throw from the hotel. overlooks the cityline of Kimiidera. had to pay 200 yen per head.
Day 3 - Nara
My personally favourite part of the trip. we stayed in the most cramped hotel ever, but it was near the train station and also to the park. However, we still had to walk for over 2 hours to get around the park. in that park, wild Nara deer roam the shady groves, and sometimes cross paths with humans to mingle with us. They are so surprisingly tame - would bow for food (some were trained to do that), eat from your hand, and doesnt react when you touch it... or even beat it! they never harm people, other than some male deer poking you with their antlers to get your attention. happened once to me, because i had food in hand.
We happened to be in Nara just at a good timing for the midsummer festival, so that night the park was specially opened, the lanterns were lighted with written wishes on them, and huge crowds gathered in the dark open field to witness the annual lighting up of the Daimonji, bonfires on the distant mountain forming the 大 word. there was also special stuff going on in the temple, but not of interest to me.
we didnt get enough of the deer park, and went again to a different part in the morning. but our schedules were made much less flexible by the standard check-out at 10am and check-in at 3pm.
Day 4 - Kyoto
Arrived in Kyoto shortly after noontime, still few hours short of the 3pm checkin time. we had to leave our luggages with the hotel safekeeping and went out to the huge mall to look around and have lunch - italian restaurant food which was cheaper than jap food. Seeing the map of the surrounding area, it was just saturated with attractions, we were lost at what to see. they were mainly shrines, temples and ancient imperial buildings in the ancient capital. but since we were lacking of time, we decided on one of the main highlights
the Kiyomizu temple, a massive wooden structure built on a platform rising above the forests on the mountain slopes. it involved quite a long climb uphill, and at the temple it offers view of the vast forest, and the city of kyoto in the background. the sun was beginning to set when we were there, creating a spectacular display of sun rays emitting from between the clouds and onto the city. we could also help ourselves to cold, fully natural, potable spring water.
At night, we excitedly awaited the lighting up of more bonfires on the mountains. This time, there were 5 of them each of a different character or symbol in different locations. at 8pm when the fire was supposed to start, there was nothing to be seen. 15 minutes later, 2 spots of fire far in the distance appeared. we were disappointed, thinking it was a flop. then the policeman brought us to another spot on the bridge we were on, and voila, the 2 spots turned into a whole character - we were viewing it from the wrong angle all along!!
we were still too far to see it properly, and recommended going to a nearer bridge. but by the time we walked there and dug through the crowd, the bonfires were no more. ultimate disappointment. even the short fireworks we missed.
the next morning, we took a ride out of the town border with the remaining time we had to the Arashimaya bamboo gardens to visit the dense bamboo groves, which tower high above from the sides of the path and create a canopy of shade within the whole garden. on the other side of the groves, we found a place which costs 1000 yen to enter to a good observation point. and then we also found an uphill path nearby. reckoning that it was an alternate path to avoid the entrance fee, we hiked up the steep dirt road. it emerged up on a high hill, overlooking a scenery of mountains, valleys and a river in the valley. awesome kodak spot. but due to the rough climbing, my slippers decided it could take the strain no more, and the strap broke off right when we reached the top of that hill. talk about good timing. needless to say, it took a great deal of trouble making my way down and back to the city. most of the time i went barefooted. reaching back, i got tape and safety pins to fix it, and it was fine again.
one day is definitely not enough for Kyoto.
Day 5,6 and 7 - Osaka
Arrived in Osaka from kyoto only in the late afternoon, since Arashimaya took up quite a lot of time. first day was just for rest and recouperation from the packed sightseeing schedule so far. but it wasnt totally wasted away, as we took to the Dotonburi shopping district at night to see the nightlife scene.
second day, we went to the aquarium near the sea, a short train ride away. entrance fee was 2000 yen each, quite a famous place. and yes, it was worth the cost and trip, cause the sea creatures on display were indeed very interesting, rarely seen, and spectacular. some of my favourites were the dolphins, porcupine fish, arowanas, many kinds of jellyfish, manta rays, whale sharks, and the japanese deep sea crabs. quite a number of the creatures were super huge, capable of feeding a family of at least 30, if it were to be cooked. like the giant tuna. the whale shark could feed a few hundred, easily.
an incident that happened earlier, i mistook an adapter card for a memory card, and used it for my camera. the memory became full after just a few pictures to my horror, and i found out too late. fortunately the shop there sells memory cards at 2800 yen each.
the rest of the day was relaxing in the hotel again, and in the evening we went to Dotonburi, again. this time shopping had some results; we emerged from Uniqlo with bags of apparel.
Third day, we went to the historical landmark; the Osaka castle. it wasnt as spectacular as it sounds, but still had great architecture. other than the building itself, the walls and moat also added much to the attraction's scenic factor. we declined to pay 600 yen to enter the castle, so we just took shots from outside, for free. good enough.
At night, we went, yet again, to Dotonburi. this time we wasted a lot of time trying to find the fish market that my dad somehow wanted to see so badly. but by night, 90% of the stalls have closed. common sense says nobody buys fish at night.
Day 8 - Arima Onsen
having enough of Osaka, we checked out punctually and made our way to Arima via an expensive train ride. Arima is a very different scene - the place is mostly inclined and sloped terrain with mountains in the background, making for a great landscape and scenery. buildings there are all low-rise, except for the Arima grand hotel, which is located at the foot of a steep hill. we got around my walking or bus; it wasnt a very big place. the hotel was like a resort; the only one among those we stayed. it also had free Onsen facility for guest use. i wanted to use it at night, but i found it too hot, and decided to back out.
That evening, we went to the Mt Rokko ropeway station to take the ropeway (like cable car) up to the base on the top of Rokko mountain. it was really expensive, but the only other way was by car, a long drive up the steep sloping path. the ropeway ride took us over vast thick forest covering the mountains and breathtaking heights. at the top of Mt Rokko, it really feels much cooler. the whole cityscape could be seen way in the distance, a far way down below. however, just when we got there, a wretched fog covered the city and mountains, greatly spoiling the scenery. the fog dispersed at night time, and we could see the city lighted up. we used the telescopes there as camera stands, and also paid 100 yen to look at the moon for 50 seconds. the craters could be seen. we took countless shots of the view; what was claimed to be a 'million dollar view'. and we had a good rest that night.
the next morning was spent visiting the arima grand hotel just to check it out, and the canal-turned-water-playground. then we got dressed in the traditional robes provided, and had a family photoshoot in the tea room.
Day 9 and 10 - Kobe
nothing much to see in this city area; but the hotel was nice, and there were 2 convenience stores just outside, selling all kinds of goodies and ice cream and good prices - a perfect place to be for the last destination, where we can buy our goodies to bring back.
For dinner, since we were in Kobe, dad decided to look for a restaurant to try the famous kobe beef. we found one nearby, and went for it. but what we didnt expect is that it was a fine dining gourmet restaurant - which only means crazy prices. We ordered one kobe beef set meal, 1 exotic beef set meal, and 2 ordinary beef set meals, to be shared among us. we had a private space and a grill in front of our table, where the chefs prepared the food in front of us. the chefs were highly skilled, and also trained for entertainment of customers. while cooking he would do everything with style, and a few tricks like throwing the pepper shaker into his hat. all the ingredients were of finest quality, and cooked with special care and attention. everything tasted fantastic; far better than what you could normally get outside. as for the kobe beef, it is indeed legendary as it is known. Meat so fine and tender, it is firm but soft, and almost melts in the mouth with a fragrance and taste that fills the whole palate. it had a good deal of marbling fat, which is probably what makes it so good, but undeniably it is better than ordinary beef, and when cooked under the highly trained chefs, produced amazing result.
The bill was a killer, amounting to over 30,000 yen -- 500 singapore dollars! but it was a really enjoyable experience, something new, high in novelty, and in my opinion, worth the cost for the experience.
On the last day of the trip, we went to see the Himeiji castle in the morning. it took a 1000yen/pax train ride to get there, and only to discover that it was under renovation! scaffolds and cranes were on the castle, making it pointless to take photos of it. again, we declined to pay 600 yen to enter the renovating castle. we just spent less than an hour in the surrounding area before heading back. what a wasted expensive trip.
At night, we walked along the streets, past a shopping mall, into china town, and made our way to the port of kobe. at the harbour, the place was dim, with pretty colourful lights from the restaurants and night spots on the other end. it was a really romantic scene, and many couples could be seen there. a big ferris wheel with changing rainbow lights stood on the other side, and i watched it for a long while. our last dinner in japan was at a simple restaurant - i had gyuniku udon. followed by ice cream dessert from the store.
we had to pack everything up by that night, to catch an early bus the next morning to the airport, for our 11am flight. And that concludes the end of a wonderful, seemingly long experience in japan. ahh, now its just back to singapore again.
Nature there seems so peaceful - no predators or animals that might potentially harm people. they are somehow more beautiful too. As a result, the people have long had a strong connection and harmony with nature, and the animals in turn have become generally more trusting of humans and each other.
Things there are extremely expensive, though. Every meal we usually spend 600 to 1000 yen (about $10 - $15) per head on a simple proper meal, consisting of a bowl of ramen, udon, soba, meat rice or bento, plus a soup and sometimes a few extra sides. though on many occasions, our meals shot above the 1000 mark for sth a little more. my parents got so sick of having the same food all the time, but i enjoy it and dont mind still having more.
Nothing in japan is cheaper than in singapore. 99% of the stuff there is more expensive, comparatively with something similar you can get here. i dont really buy the idea of higher quality in everything. ironically, even the stuff imported from japan is cheaper here than in japan itself!
Transport is a killer expense. While a train ride in singapore would cost between 70 cents to $2, the train tickets in japan railway are priced from a about 250 yen ($4), to over a thousand per head for travelling between towns. going from Osaka to Arima cost over 2000 after many transfers. But the most ridiculously overpriced was the 1.5 hour trip from Kimiidera to Shirahama - costing about 3000 yen per person! for the 4 of us, back and forth, it adds up to 24000 yen... which means $320, just on train ride alone!
Itinerary for the japan trip
Day 1 and 2 - Kimiidera, Wakayama
remote town, nothing much there. explored the place, up some hill, and had Mos burger 3 times since there was nothing better to eat, other than the canteen style restaurant a 10mins walk from the hotel, where we had my birthday dinner. nothing very glamorous to spend my birthday in a place like that, but its still a unique experience.
Second day, took a day trip to Shirahama, which incurred a bomb in train ticket expenses. i felt it was not worth it at first, but my dad was surprisingly willing to part with that sum for the few hours of visiting this famous coastal area. There, we saw great cliffs overlooking the sea at Sandapeki, pancake rock formations, the arched rock island, and the most crowded beach ever. Though the attractions are not uniquely japanese, it is nonetheless fantastic scenery and sightseeing. worth the cost? ill still say its subjective.
in the morning, took a short trip to the temple at the foot of the mountain, a stone's throw from the hotel. overlooks the cityline of Kimiidera. had to pay 200 yen per head.
Day 3 - Nara
My personally favourite part of the trip. we stayed in the most cramped hotel ever, but it was near the train station and also to the park. However, we still had to walk for over 2 hours to get around the park. in that park, wild Nara deer roam the shady groves, and sometimes cross paths with humans to mingle with us. They are so surprisingly tame - would bow for food (some were trained to do that), eat from your hand, and doesnt react when you touch it... or even beat it! they never harm people, other than some male deer poking you with their antlers to get your attention. happened once to me, because i had food in hand.
We happened to be in Nara just at a good timing for the midsummer festival, so that night the park was specially opened, the lanterns were lighted with written wishes on them, and huge crowds gathered in the dark open field to witness the annual lighting up of the Daimonji, bonfires on the distant mountain forming the 大 word. there was also special stuff going on in the temple, but not of interest to me.
we didnt get enough of the deer park, and went again to a different part in the morning. but our schedules were made much less flexible by the standard check-out at 10am and check-in at 3pm.
Day 4 - Kyoto
Arrived in Kyoto shortly after noontime, still few hours short of the 3pm checkin time. we had to leave our luggages with the hotel safekeeping and went out to the huge mall to look around and have lunch - italian restaurant food which was cheaper than jap food. Seeing the map of the surrounding area, it was just saturated with attractions, we were lost at what to see. they were mainly shrines, temples and ancient imperial buildings in the ancient capital. but since we were lacking of time, we decided on one of the main highlights
the Kiyomizu temple, a massive wooden structure built on a platform rising above the forests on the mountain slopes. it involved quite a long climb uphill, and at the temple it offers view of the vast forest, and the city of kyoto in the background. the sun was beginning to set when we were there, creating a spectacular display of sun rays emitting from between the clouds and onto the city. we could also help ourselves to cold, fully natural, potable spring water.
At night, we excitedly awaited the lighting up of more bonfires on the mountains. This time, there were 5 of them each of a different character or symbol in different locations. at 8pm when the fire was supposed to start, there was nothing to be seen. 15 minutes later, 2 spots of fire far in the distance appeared. we were disappointed, thinking it was a flop. then the policeman brought us to another spot on the bridge we were on, and voila, the 2 spots turned into a whole character - we were viewing it from the wrong angle all along!!
we were still too far to see it properly, and recommended going to a nearer bridge. but by the time we walked there and dug through the crowd, the bonfires were no more. ultimate disappointment. even the short fireworks we missed.
the next morning, we took a ride out of the town border with the remaining time we had to the Arashimaya bamboo gardens to visit the dense bamboo groves, which tower high above from the sides of the path and create a canopy of shade within the whole garden. on the other side of the groves, we found a place which costs 1000 yen to enter to a good observation point. and then we also found an uphill path nearby. reckoning that it was an alternate path to avoid the entrance fee, we hiked up the steep dirt road. it emerged up on a high hill, overlooking a scenery of mountains, valleys and a river in the valley. awesome kodak spot. but due to the rough climbing, my slippers decided it could take the strain no more, and the strap broke off right when we reached the top of that hill. talk about good timing. needless to say, it took a great deal of trouble making my way down and back to the city. most of the time i went barefooted. reaching back, i got tape and safety pins to fix it, and it was fine again.
one day is definitely not enough for Kyoto.
Day 5,6 and 7 - Osaka
Arrived in Osaka from kyoto only in the late afternoon, since Arashimaya took up quite a lot of time. first day was just for rest and recouperation from the packed sightseeing schedule so far. but it wasnt totally wasted away, as we took to the Dotonburi shopping district at night to see the nightlife scene.
second day, we went to the aquarium near the sea, a short train ride away. entrance fee was 2000 yen each, quite a famous place. and yes, it was worth the cost and trip, cause the sea creatures on display were indeed very interesting, rarely seen, and spectacular. some of my favourites were the dolphins, porcupine fish, arowanas, many kinds of jellyfish, manta rays, whale sharks, and the japanese deep sea crabs. quite a number of the creatures were super huge, capable of feeding a family of at least 30, if it were to be cooked. like the giant tuna. the whale shark could feed a few hundred, easily.
an incident that happened earlier, i mistook an adapter card for a memory card, and used it for my camera. the memory became full after just a few pictures to my horror, and i found out too late. fortunately the shop there sells memory cards at 2800 yen each.
the rest of the day was relaxing in the hotel again, and in the evening we went to Dotonburi, again. this time shopping had some results; we emerged from Uniqlo with bags of apparel.
Third day, we went to the historical landmark; the Osaka castle. it wasnt as spectacular as it sounds, but still had great architecture. other than the building itself, the walls and moat also added much to the attraction's scenic factor. we declined to pay 600 yen to enter the castle, so we just took shots from outside, for free. good enough.
At night, we went, yet again, to Dotonburi. this time we wasted a lot of time trying to find the fish market that my dad somehow wanted to see so badly. but by night, 90% of the stalls have closed. common sense says nobody buys fish at night.
Day 8 - Arima Onsen
having enough of Osaka, we checked out punctually and made our way to Arima via an expensive train ride. Arima is a very different scene - the place is mostly inclined and sloped terrain with mountains in the background, making for a great landscape and scenery. buildings there are all low-rise, except for the Arima grand hotel, which is located at the foot of a steep hill. we got around my walking or bus; it wasnt a very big place. the hotel was like a resort; the only one among those we stayed. it also had free Onsen facility for guest use. i wanted to use it at night, but i found it too hot, and decided to back out.
That evening, we went to the Mt Rokko ropeway station to take the ropeway (like cable car) up to the base on the top of Rokko mountain. it was really expensive, but the only other way was by car, a long drive up the steep sloping path. the ropeway ride took us over vast thick forest covering the mountains and breathtaking heights. at the top of Mt Rokko, it really feels much cooler. the whole cityscape could be seen way in the distance, a far way down below. however, just when we got there, a wretched fog covered the city and mountains, greatly spoiling the scenery. the fog dispersed at night time, and we could see the city lighted up. we used the telescopes there as camera stands, and also paid 100 yen to look at the moon for 50 seconds. the craters could be seen. we took countless shots of the view; what was claimed to be a 'million dollar view'. and we had a good rest that night.
the next morning was spent visiting the arima grand hotel just to check it out, and the canal-turned-water-playground. then we got dressed in the traditional robes provided, and had a family photoshoot in the tea room.
Day 9 and 10 - Kobe
nothing much to see in this city area; but the hotel was nice, and there were 2 convenience stores just outside, selling all kinds of goodies and ice cream and good prices - a perfect place to be for the last destination, where we can buy our goodies to bring back.
For dinner, since we were in Kobe, dad decided to look for a restaurant to try the famous kobe beef. we found one nearby, and went for it. but what we didnt expect is that it was a fine dining gourmet restaurant - which only means crazy prices. We ordered one kobe beef set meal, 1 exotic beef set meal, and 2 ordinary beef set meals, to be shared among us. we had a private space and a grill in front of our table, where the chefs prepared the food in front of us. the chefs were highly skilled, and also trained for entertainment of customers. while cooking he would do everything with style, and a few tricks like throwing the pepper shaker into his hat. all the ingredients were of finest quality, and cooked with special care and attention. everything tasted fantastic; far better than what you could normally get outside. as for the kobe beef, it is indeed legendary as it is known. Meat so fine and tender, it is firm but soft, and almost melts in the mouth with a fragrance and taste that fills the whole palate. it had a good deal of marbling fat, which is probably what makes it so good, but undeniably it is better than ordinary beef, and when cooked under the highly trained chefs, produced amazing result.
The bill was a killer, amounting to over 30,000 yen -- 500 singapore dollars! but it was a really enjoyable experience, something new, high in novelty, and in my opinion, worth the cost for the experience.
On the last day of the trip, we went to see the Himeiji castle in the morning. it took a 1000yen/pax train ride to get there, and only to discover that it was under renovation! scaffolds and cranes were on the castle, making it pointless to take photos of it. again, we declined to pay 600 yen to enter the renovating castle. we just spent less than an hour in the surrounding area before heading back. what a wasted expensive trip.
At night, we walked along the streets, past a shopping mall, into china town, and made our way to the port of kobe. at the harbour, the place was dim, with pretty colourful lights from the restaurants and night spots on the other end. it was a really romantic scene, and many couples could be seen there. a big ferris wheel with changing rainbow lights stood on the other side, and i watched it for a long while. our last dinner in japan was at a simple restaurant - i had gyuniku udon. followed by ice cream dessert from the store.
we had to pack everything up by that night, to catch an early bus the next morning to the airport, for our 11am flight. And that concludes the end of a wonderful, seemingly long experience in japan. ahh, now its just back to singapore again.
posted by 50U1 @ 10:32 PM
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