Winter in Japan - Tips

Traveling tips winter in Japan.

1. Decide your places to visit - to plan your transportation ; train passes.

 As for us we took 4 types of passes, 

a) Yokoso pass - which include Train from Kansai to Namba Station plus one day subway pass - 1500 yen.

b) Kansai Thru Pass - Include most of the train and subway line exclude for JR Line. We used this pass to travel from Osaka to Kobe, Kyoto-Arashiyama, Uji & Nara for 3days - 5300 yen.

c) Osaka Subway pass for a day - 800 yen.

d) Airport pass - from one way subway to Namba Station then to Kansai airport - 1000yen.

2. Coin pouch / mini sling bag!  

You'll be needed this. You'll get a lot of coin in return etc 500yen equal to almost rm20. It's a lot! So coins are valuable. You may need a bag to put your train pass as well, trust me I put it pocket and had almost lost it twice. Mini sling bag is good cause easy reachable when you required your card. And you can just put your coin inside it as well. Spend your coins, if you get confuse with the value when paying at counter, just take some and show it to the cashier, they'll help you up #hahaa

.mini sling bag helps a lots.

Currency exchanger here in Malaysia don't except coin as well. So spend it all while you can.

3. Backup phone

 During winter get an extra handphone other than iphone. Somehow our iphones kept on switched off and drain off battery in sudden cause it's too cold. It happen to my other friends as well. Luckily I have OPPO as a standby handphone and it works perfectly. #hidupOPPO #nosponsorshipfromOPPO

4. Hyperdia and Japan railway apps
Use Hyperdia for train reference, but make sure you'll download Japan railway apps as well in your phone in case you lose your internet connection - our broadband run out of battery, we figure out our train route manually by referring the apps. 

5. Getting on the correct train

   If you wasn't sure if you are not the right train, look at the time of arrival on hyperdia for example 15:39 and look at the screen, even though the train arrive early but the time display on the screen will be the expected arrival same as in hyperdia. You are on the right track.

If you are not sure which station you are as well, refer the number of the station!

For example Namba (Nankai) Station are NK01 on Nankai Line (blue) or Nankai Koya Lie (Green), depends on which line of train are you in. The number references are easier to refer and remember.

5. Use comfy shoes. 

They will be a lots of walking and transfer of train which involve a lots of up and down of staircases as well. Keep fit :) 

6. Book your accommodation for the whole trip in advance.

No walk in - Japan immigration is quite strict about this. They are paying more attention on this where sometimes you'll required to show them proof of reservation and payment for all your accommodation. Print it out.

7. Buying train ticket 

If you somehow need to buy ticket from machine, dang, you'll need hyperdia to figure out the fare to your destination. The system require you to key in the total fare to your location and not your location, and the display of station names are in Japanese - can your read it? hehee.. So use hyperdia to total up your train fare to your destination. If you wanna buy pass, use machine stated 'pass' on it, in the above picture maybe the pink one.

Have fun on your trip :))

Winter in Japan - Part 5

Day 5.

Last day before heading back to Kuching on the next day.

Everyone who knows me well know that how much I love Korea. Keep on visiting Korea every single year, this May is my fourth time there. So here in Japan we wouldn't miss the chance to visit Japan little Korea town #kiasusungguh

Korea town is located not far from Tsuruhasi station, exit 5 turn right walk ahead at the intersection main road cross to the other side (zebra line). The korean shops are scattered in the building but to this main korea town you have to walk further in this building and out of it. We just used google maps to help us.

 The reason why I'm here!

 and this too! I used not to like it but after a while I end up loving it. Banana uyu, if only they have strawberry as well.

Last spot was Umeda Sky Tower.

It wasn't that special but the view from 173m up high is breathtaking as well.

 #there'salwayshopeoutthere

The elevator to the observatory deck. best design ever.

 The observatory deck.

 Going down now #backtoreality

Here is Umeda Sky Tower view, those to V shape are the elevators to the observatory decks. I got to say amazing construction and well plan. 

  

Staircases to heaven? or maybe not just to the observatory deck of Umeda Sky Buiding.

Winter in Japan - Part 4

Day 4.

We actually planned to visit Fushimi Inari and off to Nara but we decided to stop by at Uji *something tells us that Uji is worth it to try*

Uji (宇治) is a small city situated between Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan's most famous historical and cultural centers. Uji city is also one of the main tea growing areas in Japan. Green tea and matcha (powdered green tea) produced here in Uji city are famous for their quality not only in Japan also all over the world.

at first we thought we gonna just have a very brief visit of Uji, but we instantly felt in love with Uji. It's so beautiful. 

"And now you may ask, what is so special about a walk along the Uji River? If you take a more detoured walk towards Byodo-in, passing the Municipal Tourist Center, you will be greeted by mesmerizing red bridges that lead to various temples and shrines along your walk. The view is one that you will not one to miss - reflections on the water of these bridges, of the lush greenery that reminds you of the countryside-feeling that Uji has, and of the Cormorant fishing boats that Uji is also known for. You may even stop by the Municipal Tourist Center to cool off and read a bit about Uji's history while sampling some of their complimentary green tea."

 http://en.japantravel.com/kyoto/amagase-dam/18272

 

 13tiers of Pagoda at No shima island.

Uji river captures my heart the most.

#The road not taken.

"And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth"

Uji-jinja Shrine

 

 It's city of green tea, so definitely getting some of green tea home.

 

It was a shame that we didn't walked up to Amagase dam. We were already actually but had a second thought because we were not sure how far it's gonna be so we gave up cause we needed to go to Nara after that. We actually cancel Fushimi Inari as well, cause we love Uji so much that we were not realised that we spend so much time just walking around that city.

Both of my legs hurt badly but it was worth it. I still long for Uji. It definitely capture my heart the most here in Japan. This city is underrated but it's better in other words less crowded more peaceful walking around.

Love for Uji the most.

Off to Nara, we took JR line to Nara because we get tired of transferring train line and the price we had to pay is pay 560 yen extra cause JR line is not included in Kansai thru pass and we walked almost or more than 20 minutes to reach Nara Park from JR Nara station. 

Kintetsu Nara station is nearest to any tourist spot in Nara.

  

We managed to stop by at the market for a little shopping though.

Not so friendly deers, I get scared of them easily.

I just love Uji so much that I don't have much to say about Nara, hihii.