Category: Japan
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Snapshot Chubu
A couple of years ago, I have given up on going to Japan. Back then, it seemed like an impossible dream. Then I won round trip place tickets to Osaka. I took that as a sign that I am indeed meant to fulfill one of my travel dreams. After that first trip to Japan, I…
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Project Japan
A lot of you got scared when I posted my Japan travel expenses. It’s understandable — that’s a lot of money to spend for two weeks in one country. Japan is worth it. It’s very very expensive, yes, but it’s also a really really beautiful country to explore. To those who I haven’t scared off…
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Maximizing your Japan Rail Pass
When I published my Japan travel expenses, most of you balked at the price of my train ticket: Php 23,000 or ¥45,100. I also had the same reaction when Ivan told me about the pass, but upon reading up on it and calculating the amount of money I’ll save vis-a-vis buying the tickets separately, I…
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Travel Expenses: Japan
Japan is expensive. They do not exaggerate when they say that. It really is. But that’s not to say it’s not a good place to travel in. Japan is incredibly tourist friendly despite the language barrier, and a lot of tourist attractions have free admission (well, mostly temples, shrines and palace grounds). Now that more…
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Snapshot Japan: KIX once more
Snapshot Japan: KIX once more, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. I am officially stamped out of Japan. As I exited the Kansai airport train station, I glanced down at my JR Pass. Tomorrow’s the last day of its validity. "I still have one day," I thought. I can still hop on another train or…
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Snapshot Japan: Takayama and Shirakawa-go
Snapshot Japan: Takayama and Shirakawa-go, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. I learned about these places from Ivan, who visited in 2011. I knew as soon as I saw his pictures that it should be added to my Japan itinerary. Fast forward to 2012, after a long time in transit (16 hours, 5 trains), I…
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Snapshot Japan: Snowy Sapporo
Snapshot Japan: Snowy Sapporo, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. I left Tokyo early yesterday morning to embark on what became a 12-hour journey to Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Just as I was getting used to the cool climes of the Kanto region, I braced myself for even colder weather. While the southern half…
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Snapshot Japan: Nekobukuro
Snapshot Japan: Nekobukuro, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. Everyone has their must-do list in any place they visit. Those who have seen the movie would probably want to head to the Hachiko statue in Shibuya, while those into Japanese Fashion might head to Harakuju. My list only has one item: visit a cat cafe.…
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Snapshot Japan: Oh Tokyo!
Snapshot Japan: Oh Tokyo!, a photo by nina_theevilone on Flickr. We arrive in Tokyo today via the shinkansen (bullet train). Getting off at Tokyo Station, I immediately get a feel of just how fast everybody (and I guess everything) move in this city. It’s rather overwhelming if you’re a first time visitor, and I am…