Today I’m writing about one of the most popular destinations in the Kanto region for a therapeutic getaway from the bustle of the cities – Hakone.

Read my previous blog post on Kanagawa’s Miura Kaigan and Misaki Maguro Ticket!

Yokosuka (横須賀)

It is my first time to Yokosuka, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is most well-known for its history as a naval port. There are lots to see and do here such as Memorial Ship Mikasa, Yokosuka Military Port tour, Yokosuka Port Market and more.

Today we are going to Kannonzaki, a resort park with art museum, spa, hotel and stylish restaurants!

Kannonzaki Keikyu Hotel

Kanagawa is one of the prefectures I go back the most often other than Tokyo, because it simply has too many attractions full of local charms to offer.

Think famous hot spring and shrine in Hakone, stylish, romantic port city Yokohama, “Little Kyoto” Kamakura, summer beach vacation at Zushi, even my favorite service area Ebina (which I think has world best toilet system haha), are all in Kanagawa Prefecture. Kanagawa is my favorite!!! (Just don’t let other 46 prefectures know ok.) read more

Our last trip to Hakone before baby Sakura was born!

As usual we rented a car and went on a road trip with our typical itinerary: Ebina rest area for breakfast, Hakone to thank the tree god, and Gotenba for shopping and sushi. Haha super predictable!

First time trying the famous Ebina Melon Pan!

Melon Pan is basically the Japanese Roti Boy lol. There’s no melon in it! It’s just that the crust makes it look vaguely like a melon hence the name.

It’s so popular it even has its own Gotochi Kitty! read more

Our family came to Japan to complete two very important missions:

1. To bring Junya’s to visit his grandfather in Nagasaki for the first time.

2. To bring Junya to visit Hakone Shrine.

We would be back to Nagasaki during Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year), but first thing first, to visit Hakone and give our thanks.

Because Junya is literally a wish come true right in front of my eyes. Sorry i mean right inside my belly.

2012

Made a wish for a happy, safe family and a baby in the near future. read more

This is a bonus post from the #CheesieInKanagawa blog posts.

This Hello Kitty Cafe Restaurant is part of Yokohama’s experience, but it’s so awesome it deserves a separate blog post!

HKCR can be found in Motomachi, Yokohama.

I didn’t have a better and brighter photo because it was about 7pm when we visited the cafe. Before we came here, my local guide Iwate san told how it would be quite different from all the other Hello Kitty Cafes i’ve been to. I was so excited as this was the last stop before heading back to Haneda airport. And i am so so glad i made it there. read more

This post is on How to Get to Hakone! Did you know? (although i have already told you) Hakone is part of Kanagawa Prefecture, and is its best-known tourist destination.

#ButFirstLetMeTakeASelfie

Today’s coordinate. Accessories changed as it get a little colder, much colder, super freaking cold, etc.

This guide would be useful even for myself as i have never gone to Hakone by train before. The danna usually rents a car and he would drive up to the shrine, make our prayers and come back down. We stayed over in a ryokan once and lately i requested to go to Owakudani (the place with black egg!!), and it has never occurred me that there are so many other places to visit in Hakone. read more

After Misaki Maguro Day Trip in the morning, we took a train to Kamakura.

I have actually been to Kamakura two years ago in the summer, and also stopped by Zushi beach for Hanabi Taikai (Fireworks Festival). It’s really nice to come back again in a different season!

Kamakura is a traditional little town, many call it the Kyoto in Kanto area (Eastern Japan). So if you want to get a feel of olden Japan without traveling all the way to Kansai, you would love this lovely small city. read more

On the second day of my Kanagawa trip, we went to Miura and Kamakura.

This post is a guide to Misaki Maguro Kippu. It literally means, the Misaki Tuna Ticket. Huh? Now what’s that about? Whatever it is, sounds delicious. 😛

Let’s see.

But first let me take a selfie 😛

(In the purest sense of the words lolol)

Coordinate of the day.

A ticket denim jacket because it’s gonna be a windy day!

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Ok we can continue now.

Did you know? The train companies in Japan offer a lot of super value discount packages for day trips, and a lot of tourist may not know as they don’t usually advertise it in English. read more

To start off, let me give a brief introduction of my recent visit to Japan!

The tourism board of Kanagawa prefecture (神奈川県) has invited me over for a very short stay in Kanagawa so that i could tour around and explore the less discovered hidden gems and promote this part of Greater Tokyo Area. There are many famous cities that fall under the prefecture of Kanagawa, you may have heard and have even visited these cities, without knowing it is actually part of Kanagawa. read more

One of the last Japan photo posts!

N0-make Make and Cocker Spaniel hair.

Preggo Coordinate

I was 30w along!

Baby is ready to breathe and he looks like a proper baby now! How exciting! I remember he was moving and kicking a lot that few weeks, i could see it through the belly!

I sometimes really miss him being still inside me, tiny, mysterious and all that. I’m sure a lot of mommies get that too, but isn’t that weird? You have a real-life baby right in front of you whom you can snuggle and smooch and stare at allllllllllllll you want, any time all day long, yet you miss the feeling of having a tiny baby inside you, swimming and moving about!! Isn’t that insane?? read more

On our first anniversary, the danna took two days off so we could have a little retreat away from all the chaos in the city. Tokyo is crowded beyond belief during year end and a toilet visit in departmental store may take up to 20 minutes depending on the queue.

We took a 2 hour drive to Gotenba (御殿場 at Shizuoka), famous for its Gotenba Premium Outlet, where all the  overseas group tours like to include in their itinerary. Shopping is one thing, but our main business here is to eat sushi lol. read more