How I Spent Spring 2017 in JAPAN

I'm back at my favorite country! Spent three weeks in Japan visiting multiple cities:

Yokohama, Tokyo, Suwa, Matsumoto

Highlights of my trip:
-Coldplay concert in Tokyo Dome City
-family time at Matsumoto Castle
-Ramen Museum and Red Brick Building in Yokohama
-Ichiran Ramen, Yakitori Alley, and more pigout sessions in Tokyo w/ friends
-exploring Yokohama w/ my Japan-based friend, Cheny
-pre-birthday celebration in Disneyland
-sakura aka cherry blossoms everywhere!!!

It's one of my most relaxing and rewarding trips in Japan. I love travelling alone and visiting family and friends. It's really therapeutic! 

Anyway, here's a short video of my trip:

Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Nagoya in 4 Days!

Well the title actually sounds crazy. How were we able to visit 5 cities in 4 days and spend only less than Php 20,000? Here's how...

From Nagano, I took a night bus to Osaka. My friends were already there in the Airbnb apartment that we booked (I think that cost us around Php 1000/pax/night), so I went straight from the Umeda Bus Station to our apartment somewhere like a few stations away from Umeda. Had I contacted my Osaka-based aunt earlier, we could've stayed at her place and saved from spending on accommodation. Anyway, although a bit sleepless, we headed straight to the Universal Studios Japan. It was my second time there, but first time to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had so much fun this time with friends 'cause it felt different the last time I was there with family.

Harry Potter!!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

feeling like a kid again with Elmo

the light parade

The next day, we went to Nara via train. We bought a discounted 2-day unlimited Kintetsu (line) pass for our Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Osaka route. At the first day of its usage, we went to the Nara Deer Park and played with the shikas (shika = deer in Japanese), checked out the Todai-ji (temple) then headed back to Osaka for shopping at Shinshai Bashi.

autumn :)

Todai-ji

of course, food!! 

Shinshai Bashi

sushi dinner

 On the third day, we went to Kyoto and visited the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Fushimi Inari Taisha (temple). We tried our best to make it to the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple) but we got there at 6pm just after it closed. It's really not possible to explore Kyoto in 1 day. I promise to be back and do the temple hopping and geisha hunting. There are really a lot more tourist spots I want to visit there. We headed back to Osaka and just spent the night packing our stuff because we're about to go home the next day.

in the train 

Kyoto Tower 

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

souvenirs handcrafted by an old man

groufie!!!

tonkotsu ramen for late lunch

Fushimi Inari Taisha

it took me so long to get a shot without a photobomber (haha)

our cute apartment c/o AirBnb

On our last day in Japan, we woke up late. We failed to explore Osaka's tourist spots such as the Osaka Castle and the Rinku Outlet Stores (oh shopping...), but there will always be a next time. Anyway, I rushed my way to the Osaka station to meet up with my Osaka-based aunt and she brought me to Kobe, yeah the home of the famous Kobe beef. But besides, Kobe, what I was more eager to have was the Matsusaka Beef but we didn't have time to get ourselves to Matsusaka. Luckily, I was able to have a taste of this beef in Manila at Smith Butcher and Grill. Sorry, that's quite off-topic haha. Anyway, we've gone to the Kobe Harbour Park. We've gone window shopping, we've viewed the Kobe Tower, and we had sumptuous lunch buffet at The Canary Warf. Everything was sponsored by my generous aunt. 

Kobe Tower

my aunt and her son

we're the first customers

this was only my first round and I had a second one haha

I am a certified matcha addict

shinkansen

off to Nagoya Airport from Osaka for our trip back to Manila

From Kobe, we headed back to Osaka to meet up with my friends and we all took the bullet train (shinkansen) to Nagoya International Airport. Too bad we didn't have time to explore Nagoya for a bit. The entire trip was tiring but truly fun and exciting. I've been to Japan 4 times already but there were still a lot of places for me to explore and activities to try. I would never really get tired of coming back to this country. On my next trip, I plan to explore Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto further plus include the historic city of Hiroshima. And on a winter trip, I must visit Sapporo in Hokkaido. I heard beer and food are extra yummy there! Oh, can't wait!

Nagano Quick Shopping and Food Trip

On my trip to Japan last November 2015, I was lucky enough to squeeze in a 4-day trip to Nagano, where my relatives live. It is actually where I usually stay whenever I'm in Japan. But since I was only there for 4 days, I wasn't able to do much. In fact, I opted to stay home and prepare FIlipino dishes for my family because I knew they really missed them. But as a reward, I got treated like a real guest.

From Shinjuku, Tokyo, I had to take a 2.5-hour bus ride to Suwa Interchange in Nagano, where my family picked me up. They immediately brought me to my favorite kaiten sushi place, Sushiro for lunch. Of course, I had the grandest time eating all of the sushi I could.

The next day, we drove to Karuizawa to go outlet shopping at Prince Shopping Plaza, where the biggest brands of apparel are available at really cheap rates. I got to score a Levi's dress that only cost Php 500 (if converted into Php) and a Nike FlyKnit at only Y10,000 or around Php 3,700 (because exchange rate at that time was really low).

Before shopping, we had soba for lunch. It's located 30 mins away from the outlet shops. There, I was able to see how soba noodles were being made and I was able to taste the best soba I've had in my life. For dinner, we had "yakiniku" near our home in Suwa City. In Japan, the things I love to do are: shopping, taking photos, and of course, EATING! They have the best food in the world (at least for me).

the craft of soba making :) #soba #sobanoodles #lunch #foodporn #japanesefood #Japan2015 #NaganoDay2 #citygirltravels #citygirldiaries

A video posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Nov 7, 2015 at 7:20pm PST

The next day, my cousin and I visited one of my favorite and most authentic ramen places in our city. I had miso ramen and I was truly satisfied.

I spent my last day in Nagano at home, cooking Filipino food for the family and packing for my trip to Osaka. I didn't spend anything while at Nagano, thanks to my family! Can't wait to be back! :)

My Last-minute Japan Trip

As a reward for finishing graduate school, my aunt granted my wish to spend winter in Japan (where she's residing with her family). It's my 3rd 3-month trip to Japan but it's my first time during winter 'cause I usually go during spring. It was a last minute trip because there have been some delays in our (me and my grandmother) visa application. Our visa was released late in the afternoon of November 26, so we were able to pick it up from the agency on the morning of the 27th. That day we confirmed and paid for our ticket, which has been pre-booked on the 28th. We only had the afternoon and night of the 27th to pack our stuff because our flight was at 5am the next day. Each roundtrip ticket (Manila-Narita-Manila) cost Php 24,000 (taxes included) via Delta Airlines. The trip was too sudden that I didn't have the time to say bye to my friends.

luggage :)

super early flight

with the granny

Anyway, I was satisfied with Delta. The ground crew and the cabin crew were very nice and efficient. Thanks to the pilot, we had a smooth flight (especially the landing and the take off). We travelled for 4 hours. However, there was a long queue at the immigration gates so it took us an hour before getting out of Narita Airport. My uncle came to get us. It's a 4 to 5-hr drive from Narita to Suwa, Nagano (my aunt's apartment) so we had lunch brunch first at the nearest service area. Since the weather's too cold (less than 10 degrees Celsius), I got a ramen.

the view before landing at Narita

udon

spicy ramen

My grandmother only stayed 'til December 14. She usually travels with me to Japan and stays for 3 months but this time, she just stayed for 2 weeks since she preferred spending Christmas in the Philippines, plus she'll be coming back here with my cousin on March (spring) for 3 months again. But during the two weeks she's here, we've been going to different places, dining and shopping. We often go to onsen (hot spring) too to relax.

aunt's bedroom

cousin's bedroom

i love buying veggies for the healthy meals I make

it's a dream come true! haha always wanted to try this :))

One place we're visiting often is Matsumoto City (Nagano). We love shopping at Don Quijote, a place with literally everything under the sun. It has lots of cute stuff too, plus some branded items such as bags and jewelries. Hard Off, a recycle shop there is a must visit too. Some of the second hand items there actually look new. And of course, we've visited a lot of Daiso (100 yen) shops too.

Edion Mall (electronics)

kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi)

Starbucks tumbler Nagano

ear muffs :)

no Green tea flavor :(

road trip :)

ramen and gyoza love

shoe lockers at the resto

Japanese food overload...and it didn't cost nor taste cheap.

vendo!

one of the best ramen places

used stuffed toys that actually looked new

lovin' these neon kitchenware from Daiso

So I spent Christmas with my aunt, uncle, cousin, and my aunt's bestfriend. (I call my aunt Tita Mama because she's like my second mom). Christmas is just like a usual day in Japan ('cause they're not Christians); however, they acknowledge the Christmas-New Year holidays  that's why they have Christmas-New Year Sale too. On Christmas Even, we exchanged gifts, had Noche Buena, and Skyped with our families in the Philippines. It wasn't a white Christmas because it didn't snow that night/day, but I'm glad to have experienced winter Christmas.

the winter halo before Christmas

our mini Christmas tree and Coach presents :)

Christmas cake

fruits

Noche Buena plus Skype w/ the fam in the Phils

with my cousin in our Santa Claus costumes

Christmas hoodie! haha

More of my Japan trip in my upcoming posts.

xoxo,

city girl :)