Many have asked me what I do with @cheesiepetits during my free time. Ideally I would love to bring them travel as much as possible to see the world and gain different experience, but since Junya started his new school now we are mostly limited to home activities and a walk at the park nearby.

If you have a printer at home, there are a few simple hacks you can use to let your child have lots of fun right at your own home, and at the same time help your child learn and explore their creativity, without having to buy a bunch of expensive toys or rely on screen time addiction.

I’d like to introduce a few printer activities that I do with  #cheesiepetit myself today.

1. Creating Memories Together

Junya loves the printer. He will ask me every day if he can help me print something. Often we sit down together and print out photos from our past family holidays, and recall some of the fond memories we have together. Often he remembers even more than I do, especially all the little details!! (“Mama you remember?? We pumped the yabbies and one yabbies is so big and we feed it to the pelican!”)

With HP Deskjet Ink Advantage it is extremely easy, as you can print the photos even from your Instagram feed, using HP Smart app.

You can create a Memory Wall together, or paste it into a sketchbook for a photo album.

2. Printing Flash Cards

Junya’s new school doesn’t have Chinese syllabus, but as a half Malaysian I’d prefer him to learn Chinese too.

I got the idea from a Chinese tuition teacher, to print out little flash cards in pinyin and Chinese characters, and then you can get your child to match it with its corresponding visual.

It will be quite a fun way for home-learning a second language that’s not taught in school. I’m considering printing Hiragana and Katagana too ^^

3. HP Little Makers Challenge

Here’s where things get interesting! How about having some educational fun with your children while you stand a chance to win a HP Printer worth RM500?

Little Makers is the latest platform and contest for children to experience immersive learning with the HP Printer DeskJet Ink Advantage 3700.

From now until April, a new challenge will be released every two weeks and you and print out the challenge, complete it with your child (you can be as creative as you want!!), and then upload it on social media to stand a chance to win the prizes.

You can download the challenge onto your smartphone from the website, and print it out using HP Smart App!

It’s amazing how simple it is! All done via WiFi!

We did the second challenge – Behind The Shadows.

We printed out the materials, Junya and Sakura has fun coloring, sticking and cutting out the shapes.

Lastly, we glued the shapes on wooden sticks and start our very Shadow Showtime!

There will be new challenges released in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

To recap, here are the steps to enter:

For more infomation and to kickstart your first challenge, head over to:

www.hp.com/my/littlemakers

Happy getting creative!

Thanks for reading my previous blog post on

1. JR West Rail Passes
2.  Sanyo-San’in Area Pass

Today I’d like to introduce the second JR West Rail Pass:

Kansai WIDE Area Pass

It is a 5-day pass and is significant a lot more affordable, and it covers a wider area than the regular Kansai Area Pass, as it includes also Okayama, Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture), Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture), Amanohashidate (Kyoto), Shirahama Kishi & Kii-Katsuura (Wakayama Prefecture)!

This is the area it covers.

Here’s a sample itinerary:

Fly in: Kansai International Airport

Day 1: Wakayama
Day 2: Kagawa 
Day 3: Shiga, Kyoto 
Day 4: Hyogo, Kyoto 
Day 5: Osaka

Fly out: Kansai International Airport

Day 0: OSAKA

Fly in to Kansai International Airport!

Once you have arrived at the airport, you will spot the JR Office right in front of the JR Station entrance. You can exchange/purchase your JR WEST Rail Pass here!

#(insertyourname)ConquersWestJapan, start!!!

Depending whether your flight is night time or morning, you can choose to stay a night in Osaka or head straight to the first destination.

DAY 1: WAKAYAMA

I can’t believe Wakayama was my 45th prefecture. Mostly because I was told by many people that there isn’t much to see or do compared to other cities in Kansai (think Kyoto, Kobe, Nara…).

Let me say it out loud: I LOVE WAKAYAMA!!!

Tama Densha(たま電車)

It’s worth going to Wakayama even just for this – I arrived at Wakayama Station, getting ready for my long-awaited cat train – Tamaden.

Tamaden is run by Wakayama Electric Railway, but guess what? Your JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass is valid for this ride!

It’s a legit cat train, with a legit feline as the super train master!! If you haven’t heard of this famous super cat train master, do google the story of it, it’s super worth a ride!

Kishi Station 貴志駅

You will arrive at Kishi Station and if you are lucky, you get to meet the Ekicho (train master), Nitama, a sleepy feline who mostly yawns her afternoon away. You can check her working schedule here! to make sure you will go back happily having met the world-famous cat.

On the way back, you may be able to catch another themed train from the 4 variation (Tamaden, Toy Train, Ume, Ichigo, you can ride ALL of them with your JR West Kansai WIDE Area pass).

This is the Omocha Densha – Toy Train! You will head back to Wakayama station, and board Kuroshio Train to the famous namesake fish market.

You can read my blog post on these themed trains here!

Kuroshio Fish Market (黒潮市場）

The station to get off at is Kainan Station!（海南駅）

It’s a little bit of a distance from the station to the fish market (about 5 minutes’ drive), so your best bet here is to catch a short ride by cab. It won’t be more than 1000 yen!

This gentleman was my taxi driver! He was so intrigued by me being able to speak Japanese and he said he wants to learn English too but his brain is too rusty for anything new haha. Such a cute man! Requested for a photo together and he happily agreed!^^

Here we are!!

The ambiance is kind of similar to Karato Fish Market in my previous post in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, just slightly smaller. Check out the tuna show (usually comes in a long queue) and try some of the freshest maguro you can get!

Sushi by the seaside! Please order the gigantic crabstick with mayo it was SO GOOD!

And then we will go to Europe from Wakayama!!!

A quiet, quaint little town called Porto Europa right opposite Kuroshio Market. Get some nice photos taken here before you head back. It is supposed to be a theme park, do explore some of the attractions there. ^^

Nakano BC Sake Brewery

Your Wakayama tour will not be complete without Umeshu (plum wine), as Wakayama Prefecture contributes more than 90% of plum supply in Japan! All your favorite umeboshi and plum wine are most likely made of Wakayama plums. ^^

Nakano BC holds workshops for foreign visitors so if you are interested in making your own Umeshu, please check them out! You can apply for a tour/workshop with this link. And it’s foreign language-friendly! 😀 I made my own, brought it back home here and I’m waiting to taste it 6 months later ^^

Also they have a kickass gorgeous Japanese Garden!

Can you believe it?? It’s INSIDE the compound of the factory, absolutely amazing. Watch out for emo swans!

Day 1 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Wakayama

The Granvia hotel chain is really your best bet to put up for the night in Kansai as they are mostly connected to the major train stations with lots of dining options and utmost convenience for lifestyle needs.

The hotel staff showed me around and I was very impressed with their Washiki room with tatami!

Also, it may be a seasonal menu but check out their Lobster Burger!!! *drools*

This set meal cost only 2,800 yen, you get a whole lobster patty served with lobster soup and side salad. Itadakimasu. ^^

DAY 2: KAGAWA

For day 2, for those of you who have been to Okayama before, you may want to do a day trip to Kagawa Prefecture. It’s a slightly long journey so make sure you start early!

Here’s the recommended route:

Wakayama -> Shin-Osaka（1hour by Limited express train’Kuroshio’）

Shin-Osaka -> Okayama (45mins by Shinkansen Nozomi or Mizuho. Isn’t that crazy?? Only 45 minutes! I LOVE my Nozomi!! Only JR West Passes allows you to ride on these two speed babies!)

Okayama -> Takamatsu (1hour by Marine liner)

You can refer to my previous post on day trip itinerary. 🙂

Day 2 accommodation: Hotel Vischio Amagasaki

Today let’s end our day at Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.

Hotel Vischio Amagasaki is connected to Agamasaki Station, which again is under JR West Group and as usual, is super convenient.

My room! Even the bed for single room is bigger than usual, and there’s ample space for luggage opening! Very love!

The best thing about this hotel is that it’s also connected directly to a shopping mall! 😀

This is where I bought all my cheap outfits! So crazy cheap!!

DAY 3: SHIGA

If you are in Kansai during winter time, it would be a pity to miss out some snow fun. So head to Biwako Valley in Shiga prefecture for ski, snowboarding or just see, touch and smell some snow.

You can spend either a whole day or half a day in Biwako Valley, and on the way back to hotel in Amagasaki you will pass by Kyoto, so you can also stop by Kyoto Railway Museum mentioned in my previous blog post.

Day 3 accommodation: Hotel Vischio Amagasaki

See the covered walkway? No worries even when it rains!

Yes, I totally bought my top for 1,000 yen the night before at the shopping mall😆!

DAY 4: HYOGO/KYOTO

Himeji 

Let’s head to Amanohashidate today! On the way please make a stop at Himeji Station for a small surprise.

Here!

If you have time, do visit Himeji Castle (voted the most beautiful castle in the whole Japan – and Japan has thousands of castles!!!). If you don’t, you can take a peek of it from the Himeji Station platform while you wait for your transit! Need to zoom your eyes to see though haha. But it’s really a perfect spot for an unblocked view of the beautiful white castle.

Happening (?!)

Well, I pray that this won’t be part of your itinerary, but it totally did to mine and let me digress a little to talk about the small incident that happened during my journey.

After I departed Himeji to my next destination on Hamakaze No.3, me being the usual scatterbrain, I realized that I left my pocket wifi in my previous train, still charging at the port near the ground. With my luggage and all that, I guess I have missed out checking all my belongings properly before alighting.

You know what was my first thought?

“Ah crap.”

Haha that was my first thought. Second thought?

“Oh well, looks like I’ll have to do roaming for now.”

I contacted the JR West Hamakaze train master and told him about what happened. Honestly I wasn’t even panicking because I was so confident that I could have it back, just maybe not immediately because the previous train has already left for another direction. I was just slightly annoyed at myself that I have to pay extra for roaming because of my careless mistake. The only problem was how to pick it up as I would be moving to different locations in the following days. Worst scenario, I was thinking to have it sent to Kansai Airport so I could return it back at the counter.

I have forgotten so many things in Japan, including wallet, pocket wifi (a few times already!!!), scarves, hats, etc etc etc. Once I left my pocket wifi (also still charging) in a cafe and I only realized when I was doing my nail in a nail salon nearby.

I thought, “oh well, I’ll go back to pick it up later.” (I can’t move anyway in the middle of having my fingers held hostage by the LED light machine and nails freshly painted with gel polish).

Haha. Overly optimistic me. I did. And the pocket wifi was sitting right where it was.

Very helpful train master. So after a few phone calls with JR West, I was told that my pocket wifi was found.

And you know what? They have arranged it for me to pick it up at Shin-Osaka Station, which was on my itinerary the next day.

WHAT IS THIS CRAZY AMAZING SERVICE???

The next day, I arrived at the Lost & Found counter in Shin-Osaka station, filled in a couple of forms, and my pocket wifi was tucked nicely into a clear plastic bag.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL?????

It was fully charged (92%).

I don’t get it. I totally expected that I have to roam another day because the battery would have run out by now. But…?! The kind people who picked it up and safe-kept it must have switched it off or even charged it for me so that I can use it immediately once it is returned to me. What is this level of omoiyari?!?

Very touched ok.

I love you Japan. I love you JR West.

Moral of the story is:

1. Don’t panic if something unexpected happens. You are in Japan, there’s nothing that can’t be solved with some good patience, smiles and gratitude. Incidents can be frustrating, but if you think about it from another angle, it may be a blessing in disguise. For me, this slightly inconvenient incident had only deepened my love for Japan, even moreeeeeeeee.

2. Charging ports in Shinkansen is awesome. But please, please bring your device with you when you leave the train.😅

Kyoto Tango Railway

Ok back to where I left off.

So! Amanohashidate! To get there, you will transit at Toyooka.

Look for Kyoto Tango Railway! Even though it is run by a different railway company, you are still able to ride it with your JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass! How awesome is that! 😀

Classic, slightly retro interior. Don’t miss out the scenic landscape along the journey! I love this train ride!

And we are here at Amanohashidate! It’s also dubbed “Kyoto by the Sea”, as when you imagine Kyoto you don’t always picture it with the ocean, so here’s a rather unique attraction of Kyoto which is also one of the Best 3 Scenic Views in the whole Japan!

Amanohashidate

There you go! One of the 3 Best Scenic Views in Japan, along with Itsukushima in Hiroshima and Matsushima in Miyagi.

Day 4 accommodation: Marintopia Hoshino Oto

Private in-room onsen (not one but TWO!), a stunning view of the sea of Japan, luxurious crab feast for dinner… This villa-style ryokan deserves a separate post. Please wait for it. Haha.

This lodging is English-friendly, do make your reservation via their website or email them directly. 🙂

White Ichigo Picking

Fancy some white ichigo? You can pick and savour it at its freshest if it’s in season! Please let the Hoshi No Oto staff know that you would like to visit the farm, they will be happy to assist.

DAY 5: OSAKA

For some reason Malaysians and Singaporeans seem to love shopping in Osaka the most! So here’s the last day dedicate to a whole day of shopping in Osaka.

Water Clock, Osaka Station

Do you believe that water can tell time?

Yes! Have you checked out the “fountain clock” at JR Osaka Station South Gate Building? Osaka is a super huge station (bigger than KL Sentral!), but it is not just big, but extremely spacious too. Even with the crazy crowd it still feels comfortable.

Osaka’s “Water Clock” was chosen as one of the 12 most beautiful clocks in the world by CNN!

I love it so much. It’s so calming and healing and I can just stare at it on and on. (Don’t forget the time to catch the next train, if any!)

Other than time, it also displays messages and artworks with a technology called Space Printing, using water droplets.

Snowflakes made of water. (Snowflakes are made of water, right?🤔)

“Osaka”.

Prayer Room, Osaka Station

I knew about this because I had been here before many years before! For Muslim travelers who are looking for a prayer room, here’s one right at Osaka Station, South Gate building!

Ekidonki

Look no further, everyone’s favorite Donki is right at Osaka Station too!

Souvenirs

Fill your luggage with everything you, your family and friends love before leaving Japan! This is a souvenir store in the station and I found lots of Hello Kitty Shinkansen goods! 😀

Grocery Shopping

If you are like me. If not, kindly ignore this part. Haha.

Before I head home, I will get my supply of daikon, negi, plain toast, ichigo, mikan, apples, cabbages, broccoli, and if possible the entire supermarket and pack into my luggage so that I can bring a part of Japan back with me.

Ending this post with gorgeous daikon. With leaves.

End of trip:

Fly out from Kansai International Airport

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! Actually I have 4000 photos sitting in my phone waiting to be shared. I’ll be on other work trips but when I have time, I would like to introduce each of these sightseeing spots in details. Stay tuned. ^^

Where to purchase JR WEST Rail Pass?

Purchasing Abroad:

You can purchase an exchange order with travel agencies or travel portal such as Klook, and then exchange the exchange order for an actual pass at a JR West desginated station.

You can make a booking directly from JR West website 27 days in advance. And then make payment at JR West station when you arrive in Japan.

Purchasing in Japan

If you couldn’t make up your mind and you want to get it last minute after arriving in Japan, you can purchase it directly from any major station within the JR West Rail Pass station too!

Enjoy West Japan! ^^

You know what? Nevermind.

The kids are fine. They are happy. Tearing down the house as usual. Building spaceship stations and airports with sofa cushions and Champon in our bedroom. Stealing all the CNY snacks without asking me. Switching on Anpanman to watch by themselves (they know the remote control better than me now, Junya even taught me how to fastforward the programs). They also have not been sick (touch wood) since the change of new school for Junya.

They are happy and fine.

So, this month, this monthlyversary blog post, is about ME.

I have talked about my children without missing a single month for 56 months in a row, I guess it is ok to think about myself a little… just for this month? 🙂

So this post.

It is about me finding out who I want to be, finding small happiness in little things, and seeking healing powers.

I went back to Japan. Or rather, Japan beckoned me back home. Twice in January for work. I’m back again now, for work. Again by the end of the month.

I can’t get enough of it. Or Japan can’t get enough of me. Either one. Or better, both. We just can’t get enough of each other. I think I have found my true love.

Japan saved me, over and over again. Japan saved my soul. In the darkest days, Japan called out to me who was hiding in a tunnel and whispered gently, it’s okay, you have me. You can always come back. You will feel better.

I did.

I’m going to dedicate my entire body and soul to it. One day I’m going to die in this land, my body is going to return to the earth and fertilize its rich soil and help grow delicious daikon. I think that’s the meaning of my life. To turn into a delicious daikon, for Japan.

(If this cult is getting too overbearing, you may leave any time. It’s ok. Although I doubt you will. ^^)

I have said it before, in my blog post 7 years ago. That I realized the one biggest reason why I love Japan is that… it makes me a person I like.

I can be the person I like when I am in Japan.

I am emotionally stronger, I have better patience, I have unlimited gratitude. 我慢も強くなり、感謝もできるようになります。I wonder why I cannot feel the exact same anywhere else. I am still learning and trying to be the person who can always stay positive, strong, and thankful no matter where I am. But Japan makes it easy for me. No, Japan makes it natural for me.

These two trips, I feel like I am shining. Kira Kira. Like the sparkles on the back of trending iPhone cases. People noticed me, they showed a special fondness for me, they tell me I’m kawaii, amazing, kind.

I was shocked. Am I amazing? Am I kind? (Kawaii I know I am la. HAHAHHA joking. Just joking.)

Maybe I am!

It was a startling revelation. That I am amazing and kind. Haha. And a little bit kawaii, just maybe.

Am I really? I don’t care. I decided that I am. And I want to be that person. The more I work hard towards becoming that person, the more people notice me and tell me I am her.

It’s crazy. Japan is my positivity drug. I’m seeing everything in Sakura-tinted contact lenses.

I owe my next daikon life to Japan.

Groceries

Speaking of daikon, I re-stock my Japanese vegetables to bring home at a very local grocery stores near the taiko dojo I went to, waaaay out of town. I thought instead of buying it from chain supermarket, it would be better to support the local ojiichan and obaachan running their own stores in the suburb Tokyo.

This is how cheap groceries are in Japan – a pack of beansprout for ¥19. That’s like SGD0.24.

Beautiful hakusai and radish for a fraction of the price you see in Shibuya/Roppongi.

That pack of Ichigo I bought was merely ¥289, and Eringi mushroom for ¥68. How crazy cheap is Japan getting??

Healing powers.

Thank you, mother nature.

Taiko.

So I picked up wadaiko (Japanese drum) since December. After I tried hitting a taiko awkwardly for the first time in my life during my trip to Kojima, I wrote that my new resolution was to learn taiko. I really did. The ryokan staff would be so proud of me.

The first time I was charmed by Taiko was my trip to Uchiko. After seeing the junior highschool students perform, I was determine to get Sakura into a taiko club. Then after that I watched “Isle of Dogs” by Wes Anderson, which BGM is mostly made of taiko drumming (by Kaoru Watanabe, I took his online lessons too), so ever enchanting and haunting. Then I thought to myself, why can’t *I* learn it! Yes I’m not young anymore, but it’s never too late to learn something new. 活到老学到老。

And I was extremely lucky because a dear friend in the traditional Japanese martial art scene happened to know a super taiko master whom she introduced to me without any hesitation. I owe part of my daikon life to her too.

And then I am hooked ever since.

Taiko is so… de-stressing.

Spiritually soothing, soul-healing… I once had a 3-hour practice and it felt like 30 minutes. My arms almost fell off but I received so much healing power from it. The resounding percussion of each strike on the drum, has a special effect in calming my mind. I can let go of the hurt in me, and embrace nature’s healing. Time really does fly when you are doing something you love. Time is forgotten.

Taiko in ancient times is used in warfare to motivate troops and intimidate enemies, and it is also used in folk traditions to dispel bad spirits and demons.

Maybe that’s why I always feel awaken, confident and powerful after each taiko session. With also fuller biceps lol.

I never thought that I would ever pick up a new hobby other than… well, touring Japan – because I have no patience for nifty crafts, hate any sort of sports and am musically retarded (I used to play violin and could even read the score but 100% give back to teacher liao). But it must have been fate that I chanced upon taiko. Forever I’m grateful. People who made these beautiful drums. People who dedicate their whole life protecting traditional Japanese cultures and keeping them alive.

Anyway, I am as addicted to Japan as I was yearssss ago (since the start of this blog), if not more. But it’s also a little dangerous. It made me want to be alone again. I have way too many dreams and missions to settle for the life of a full time mother.

I want to complete my final 2 prefectures. Then I want to travel to the northern-most of Hokkaido, and then to each of all the small islands in Okinawa. I want to participate in various Omatsuri and perform taiko. And then I want to go to Tohoku and do volunteer work for a little while. And then I want to go see how daikon is grown and then back to Tokyo to eat the most expensive sushi in the world. (Anyway, the most expensive is sushi is probably not in Japan. Maybe Singapore lol. The most expensive course I’ve come across is only JPY50,000 in Ginza. I’ll amend – most delicious sushi in the world.)

I want to do all these before I die (and turn into daikon). I want to keep shining so bright you guys are gonna need freaking solar eclipse glasses.

These days I don’t leave Japan feeling heavy hearted anymore. Because I know it will summon me back.

Before I flew back home from Narita this time, a very pretty ground staff told me that the flight is full, so they will have to send me to business class.

😲😲😲😲😲

Japan, really??? Are you sure it’s ok to love me so much?

Thank you, JAL, you are totally, absolutely worth the extra money I didn’t save taking LCC.

So this post is not about how much I love Japan, but how much Japan loves me. That it has to surprise me even the very last minute before I leave its precious land.

If you give your pure, honest love to Japan, it can love you back thousand times as fiercely.

End of sermon of the day.

And as per routine at the end of each session, here you are passed the offering bag – contribute a little back to this community by buying an air ticket, (and ¥19 bean sprouts) perhaps? 🙂 Keep this cult furiously alive. Have faith in what you believe. 🙂

Anyway, Junya turns 56 months today and Sakura is 33 months old. 🙂

I hope you have a better idea on JR West Rail Passes after reading my previous blog post. ^^

So now, sample itinerary time! 

The first pass I’ll be introducing is Sanyo-San’in Area Pass. This pass is valid for 7 days, here’s a sample itinerary that brings you across 6 prefectures in 7D7N (or 7D6N) with minimum change of hotels so that you won’t have to haul your luggage everywhere with you! You will be staying 2 nights in Hiroshima, 3 nights in Okayama and 1 or 2 night(s) in Osaka. ^^

What I did to maximize the prefectures to cover  (if you are as crazy as me to want to join my #47PrefectureMission) was to fly in to Fukuoka and exit from Osaka.

Here’s a sample itinerary for your reference:

Fly in: Fukuoka Airport

Day 1: Yamaguchi
Day 2: Hiroshima
Day 3: Hiroshima
Day 4: Okayama (Kurashiki)
Day 5: Kagawa (Takamatsu)
Day 6: Shiga
Day 7: Kyoto

Fly out: Kansai International Airport

DAY 0: FUKUOKA

I flew in to Hakata via Fukuoka Airport. Hakata Station is just a 5-min train ride from the airport so it’s extremely convenient. Air Asia will be flying directly to Fukuoka starting 28 Feb 2019 from Kuala Lumpur so it may be a good option to consider for this itinerary! (I was insistent to stay loyal with JAL to accumulate all my mileage points so I actually transited in Haneda, spent a short afternoon in Tokyo before catching the domestic flight to Fukuoka in the evening! Actually that’s not a bad option too ^^)

Exchange JR West Rail Pass

You may exchange your JR West Pass at the JR Ticket Center in Hakata Station. Don’t forget to bring along your exchange order (which you can purchase prior to your trip to Japan!) and passport for identification!

The start of my #CheesieConquersWestJapan journey, yay!

Hello Kitty Shinkansen Cafe

Did you know? There’s not only a Hello Kitty Shinkansen, but also a Hello Kitty Shinkansen cafe!

It’s located inside the shinkansen station, so you will have to use your pass to enter the station first. What an adorable, super kawaii meal to start your day with!

DAY 1: YAMAGUCHI

From Hakata Station, I took shinkansen Kodama 854 bound for Shin-Shimonoseki, it takes about 25 minutes. Yamaguchi is my 43rd prefecture!

Maru Maru No Hanashi

I kept my luggage in the locker at Shin-Shimonoseki, and waited for the themed train – Maru Maru No Hanashi (◯◯のはなし). Like I mentioned in my previous post, the train was supposed to come at 9:59am. It came at 9:59am.

The view is really stunning when it’s crossing the sea from Kyushu over to the main island of Japan. Get your camera ready! Love how spacious and exclusive the interior is too.

Kawatana Onsen

After about an hour’s ride on Maru Maru no Hanashi, I have arrived at Kawatana Onsen to hunt for their famous Kawara Soba for lunch! It was totally worth the ride just to visit the Kawara Soba restaurant “Takase”, absolutely delicious. Do check them out!

Karato Fish Market

After lunch, it is post-lunch time! Haha, it was totally a gourmet day. I took the local train from Kawatana Onsen to Shimonoseki, and then a short cab ride to Karato Ichiba (fish market) to enjoy all the fresh sushi …

by the seaside! 😀

Kaikyokan Aquarium(海響館)

If you have some spare time (I did!), visit the aquarium just a short walk from the fish market.

If you travel with kids they are gonna love it!!! Sooooo many adorable penguins!

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

After that, I returned to Shin-Shimonoseki, retrieved my luggage from the coin locker and took Kodama 756 bound for Hiroshima.

Day 1 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima.

Hotel Granvia is a chain-hotel run by JR West group, and you can be assured that it will be at the best, most convenient location as they are mostly connected with the main station!

How crazy is this OMG???? They have a miniature Itsukushima Shrine in the hotel lobby!!😱

There are lots of shopping in the area, check in to your hotel and spend your evening eating Okonomiyaki and grilled oysters (there are a few famous restaurant located within the train station itself!).

DAY 2: HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima has too many great places to visit! On day 2, you can choose to either do a city tour, or visit Miyajima Island, or even both if you like!

Shishi Iwa Observatory in Miyajima Island. This was a trip back in 2017!

You can view this link for all my blog posts on Hiroshima.

Day 2 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima.

Return to Hotel Granvia and spend another night.

Please pop by their main bar – May Flower just for… ikemen. Haha. I think I was slightly tipsy, I mean, how often do you get served delicious cocktails by not one, but TWO ikemen bartender? When I posted videos of these gentlemen on IG Story, I got loooooooots of DM, some even asked if they have Instagram account so they can stalk them lolol. One also said they look like beautiful vampires HAHA.

The next morning I had a great breakfast spread too. I don’t know why but even if you don’t like greens, do try the salad in Japan. Japan has extra delicious salad haha.

DAY 3: OKUNOSHIMA

It’s worth spending at least 2 days in Hiroshima. This time around I visited the super adorable Rabbit Island – Okunoshima!

Hello Kitty Shinkansen

Before that, we gotta take the Hello Kitty Shinkansen!

It is an elusive Kodama 730 and it runs only once a day – From Hakata to Shin-Osaka and then back from Shin-Osaka to Hakata. So be sure to take note of its schedule so that you can plan your itinerary accordingly! For more details, you can read my blog post on Hello Kitty Shinkansen here.

A transit at Mihara Station, I have arrived at Tadanoumi Station, and from here you will take a short walk to the “Gateway to Rabbit Island”, a small shop where you can purchase the ferry ticket and some bunny snacks. Take the ferry to Okunoshima – the Rabbit Island!

Rabbit Island

And have lots of fun with your furry pals.

Aohata Jam Deck

If you are already in the area, I’d recommend you to also visit Aohata Jam Deck, one of Japan’s top jam maker. Take the ferry back, and this factory is near the “Gateway to Rabbit Island” store. The factory itself is super chic, pop by for some Instagenic photos and buy some of the best jams for souvenirs!

Return back to Mihara Station, and take Kodama 748 bound for Okayama.

Hotel Granvia Okayama

Day 3 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Okayama

The stay of the night! It is the best hotel in Okayama – directly connected to the train station, lots of shopping around the area, and top-notch facilities!

First of all, they have options for really spacious rooms so if you are tired of Japan’s confined spaces, you can be sure that you will have a relaxing time unwinding your night here.

And… heated pool omg???

Are you loving the itinerary so far? Not only it brings you to visit Instagenic, off-the-beaten path attractions, you also get to have your dose of city convenience by the end of the day in case you miss shopping!

DAY 4: OKAYAMA

I have written FIVE posts on Okayama yet I’m not even done with it yet.

You can pick an itinerary from one of these blog posts on Okayama – Kurashiki, Kojima, Yubara Onsen, Okayama City (which I have yet to blog about haha).

If I must pick one, I’d recommend you to visit Kurashiki city in Okayama as I really enjoyed the scenic walk and there are lots of cultural experiences to explore in the area!

Day 4 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Okayama

Return to the very gorgeous Hotel Granvia Okayama from your day trip.

Please do enjoy dinner here at one of their restaurants! This is the super unique “Hidden Sushi” box, the original creation from Hotel Granvia Okayama!

Such a special meal! Do try it out. ^^

DAY 5: KAGAWA

I mentioned earlier in my blog posts on Kojima that I was sooooo close to conquering Kagawa Prefecture when I was on the cruise touring around Seto Ohashi Bridge.

Marine Liner

Kagawa prefecture is in Shikoku Region, but it’s accessible via Marine Liner from Okayama Station, and it’s less than an hour away!!! The view from the train ride is also super scenic as you will be crossing the Seto Grand Bridge over to Shikoku 🙂

Takamatsu

My 44th prefecture conquered – Kagawa!! Takamatsu is Kagawa’s capital city.

Ritsurin Garden

Just like Korakuen of Okayama, Ritsurin Garden is Takamatsu’s main attraction. It’s not very well-known outside of Kagawa prefecture, but it was one of the most beautiful Japanese garden I’ve been!! I have been to Korakuen of Okayama and Kenrokuen of Ishikawa, and I think Ritsurin Garden is just as spectacular! Please do take the  20-min boat ride cruise so that you can get to enjoy some of the hidden views of the garden, I recommend it!

Udon-Making by Nakano Udon School

If you follow my IG, you will see me dancing to PPAP while making my own udon for lunch lol. I can’t wait to blog about all these! The udon-making experience was 1500 yen INCLUSIVE of lunch (the one you make lol). Is that not too cheap???? I kept telling the shop manager it is too cheap and they should raise the price so quickly go there before they do lol.

Wasanbon-Making by Mamehana

To make your time in Kagawa extra sweet, let’s go to Mamehana for some fine sugar! This Japanese sweet makign experience is super fun and easy, I think it’s very suitable for even young kids too!

Omg all these Japanese cultural experience is really way too cheap. You pay just 1000 yen and you get to enjoy them on the spot served along with hot tea, and also bring back ALL the sweets that you make! Super recommended!

Takamatsu Port

Before you leave Kagawa, enjoy a stunning sunset at Takamatsu Port. You can catch a ferry to Naoshima from here! I really wished I had the time T__T (That’s why I always say, one lifetime is not enough for Japan!!!). Naoshima is where the famous pumpkin sculpture of Yayoi Kusama is located, it’s also an island of art, people who can appreciate contemporary art and architecture in resonance with the pristine nature of Seto Inland Sea.

You can visit Naoshima with JR West’s Setouchi Area Pass to access Naoshima from Takamatsu Port!

Day 5 accommodation: Hotel Granvia Okayama

Since Kagawa is just an hour’s train ride away on Marine Liner, you can return to Hotel Granvia Okayama right away after a tiring day when you alight from the train with minimum walking. I loooove the ultimate comfort and convenience of this hotel so much!

See what I did there? Lol. To show you how close Don Quijote (Donki) is from the hotel! Get allll your shopping done here!

DAY 6: SHIGA

Biwako Valley

Please make sure you start early on this day as it’s a long journey today! To access Biwako Valley from Okayama, you will get down at Shiga Station.

Do take note, the prefecture is called Shiga (滋賀), and Shiga (志賀) is a small town in Shiga prefecture. The Japanese kanji is different but romaji is the same. Don’t get mixed up!

Biwako Valley is your best bet for some winter snow fun in Kansai area. You can ski and snowboard here too!

Don’t forget to go up to the Biwako Terrace for an amazing view of Biwa Lake among sparkly white snow. 🙂

Hotel Vischio Osaka

Day 6 accommodation: Hotel Vischio Osaka

If you finish your snow activity early, depart Biwako and head to Osaka to settle down for the day. Hotel Vischio Osaka is a few minute’s walk from Osaka Station, rest assured that you can find lots of good food and shopping on this day too!

Day 7: KYOTO

No Kansai trip will be complete without Kyoto, so do visit this historical city of Japan! I’m sure you already know all the famous attractions such as Gion, Fushimi Inari Shrine, etc.

Kyoto Railway Museum

If you do have some time to spare, I strongly recommend a visit to Kyoto Railway Museum especially if you are traveling with kids! Junya loves his trains and shinkansen so I thought of coming here to buy some souvenirs for him. I planned to spend only about an hour here but I ended up spending waaaaaay longer!

Look I’m not a railway mania, I don’t even remember all the Shinkansen’s names, but I had so much fun time here!! How often do you get to kiss a real shinkansen? 😀 Hopefully I can do a separate blog post on this soon!

By the way! You have to take a 15-20 min walk to the museum from Kyoto Station, but starting march this year, there will be a new JR Station opening right outside the museum so that you can directly access it!! 😀 The station is called Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station. (梅小路京都西駅).

There’s also an Aquarium near by Kyoto Railway Museum, do check it out if you have time. After that, enjoy a pleasant walk back to Kyoto Station.

Did you know that Isetan Kyoto is a special collaboration with JR West? Get some unique shopping done here right at Kyoto Station!

End of Trip/One More Night

If your flight is at night, you may depart from Kyoto and head straight to Kansai International Airport.

Did you know? Right outside Kyoto Station, Central Gate, there’s Crosta Kyoto, a baggage service center that allows you to temporarily store your luggage, send them to airport or your hotel! You can check out their services to make your travel more convenient and comfortable :). So if your flight is night time, do consider storing your luggage here so that you can retrieve it at the end of your trip and head straight to the airport.

If your flight is in the morning, I suggest you to stay another night at the same hotel!

Day 7 accommodation: Hotel Vischio Osaka

Since Kyoto is really just a short train ride from Osaka, you can leave your luggage in the hotel and stay another night here before flying home! It’s quite an affordable boutique hotel that looks like a mini studio apartment, feels like home. 🙂

Don’t forget to try out their breakfast featuring a lot of local Osaka specialty such as Kushiage, Takoyaki, Osaka-style pizza and more!

The buffet counter even has Kansaiben (Kansai Dialect) written on it lol. Classic Osaka humor! ^^

DAY 8:

Fly out from Kansai International Airport

Since the JR WEST Sanyo-San’in Area Pass is only valid for 7 days, on the 8th day you will have to buy a separate ticket to go to the airport.

BUT!!

Did you know that buying a new JR WEST Rail Pass is more affordable than paying for even one way of regular train fare??

Regular fare from Osaka/Shin-Osaka station -JPY2,330

Regular fare from Kyoto Station to Kansai Airport – JPY2,850

1Day Kansai Area Pass – JPY2,200.

I love JR WEST Rail Passes. <3😍😍😍

That’s all for JR WEST Rail Pass Sanyo-San’in Area Pass. In my next blog post, I will be sharing another pass that covers other areas – Kansai WIDE Area Pass.

Stay tuned!

Where to purchase JR WEST Rail Pass?

Purchasing Abroad:

You can purchase an exchange order with travel agencies or travel portal such as Klook, and then exchange the exchange order for an actual pass at a JR West desginated station.

You can make a booking directly from JR West website 27 days in advance. And then make payment at JR West station when you arrive in Japan.

Purchasing in Japan

If you couldn’t make up your mind and you want to get it last minute after arriving in Japan, you can purchase it directly from any major station within the JR West Rail Pass station too!

Enjoy West Japan! ^^

I’m so excited for this post! It was written the very next morning after I came back from my 7-day #CheesieConquersWestJapan trip.

Before I even start the post, I want to thank JR West for giving me this wonderful opportunity to travel through 10 different prefectures in 7 days, conquering 3 new prefectures, meeting many amazing people (and a couple of miracle encounters along the way), laughing a lot, and most importantly, feeling the love of Japan, more than ever.

I had such fun time planning the itinerary with JR West team (well, they planned most of it! I just told them the new places I wished to visit and they made it all come true), because I was really thrilled to be able to set foot on a few more prefectures I had yet to visit. When the itinerary was finally ready, I took a glance at the time schedule, couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and at the same time I felt my heart soften, deeply impressed.

Why?

On the itinerary, there’s a timetable stating the exact time of each train I will board, and the time it will arrive/depart, to the very minute.

Example:

9:05 Depart Hakata Station
9:31 Arrive at Shinshimonoseki Station – store luggage at the coin locker
9:59 Board Maru Maru No Hanashi Train from Shinsimonoseki Station

#OnlyInJapan, that you can follow a time schedule as exact and precise as this. I move about with local trains and shinkansen (and some buses and ferries) countless of times during my entire 7-day trip, not a single time have I missed any rides because… it’s Japan. You can be sure that when it says it will come at 9:59, it WILL. This is just one of the many beauty of Japan which I am way too eager to have it shared and known to the whole world.

I have been on quite a number of FAM trips to Japan, most of the time we (bloggers and media) get chauffeured in a private bus or car in exchange for time and schedule efficiency, but the downside of it is that it would be hard for me to explain how I actually get to a particular place. So I have always wanted to do a trip with me traveling using only public transport, just like a regular tourist. And this was it – the perfect opportunity for me to share my real experience using JR West Rail Pass conquering most of West Japan.

So today, I’ll be introducing two of the JR West Rail Passes  so that you guys can have a better idea what they actually are.

I know, I know. I get asked so often!!!

“Which pass should I use??”

First of all, there are a total of 6 JR Railways and they are all different companies: JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu. Today I will be introducing passes from JR West in particular.

And JR West Rail Passes in total, cover the whole of Kansai and Chugoku, with extension to even parts of Kyushu, Shikoku and Chubu (if you are not familiar with Japan’s regional geography, read this blog post. ^^)

Here are all the passes available on JR West:

The ones with the Hello Kitty mark are passes that allow you to ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen! More on that later!

Other than the above passes, there are also more!!

• Setouchi Area Pass
• Hokuriku Arch Pass
• Sanyo-San’in Northen Kyushu Pass
• Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
• Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Tourist Pass

Are you ready? Let’s start!

Here’s the first pass I’d like to introduce:

Sanyo-San’in Area Pass

Quick explanation: Chugoku Region is separated into two areas – Sanyo (山陽) and San’in(山陰).

Sanyo is made of southern prefectures facing the Seto Inland Sea – Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi.

San’in consists of northen prefectures facing the sea of Japan – Tottori and Shimane.

It is the pass that covers the widest area and also priced the highest at ¥19,000  for adults and ¥9,500 for children aged 6-11. Kids below 6 years old can ride for free for all the passes 😀 😀 :D. It’s time to bring your kids to travel in Japan before they turn 6! Hahaha. Junya has about 1 year plus for free rides. ^^

The complete map of areas it covers. You can ride Hello Kitty Shinkansen with this pass!

You can basically travel from Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture) all the way to Osaka, the distance is more than 600km.

Did you know that a one-way regular ticket from Hakata to Osaka cost ¥14,480? (If you ride in Green Car it cost even more -about ¥20,000!) It’s so so worth it and I’m so thankful that I am able to use JR West Pass now before I relocate to Japan one day in the future! (Citizens and residents of Japan cannot enjoy this benefit unfortunately, so use your tourist advantage to the max now!)

If you have a whole week to spend, and conquering as many prefectures as possible is your priority, this would be a great pass for you to start your own #47PrefectureMission! Pro tip: Fly in to Fukuoka Airport (there are direct flights to Fukuoka from Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia starting 28 Feb!), and travel all the way up to Osaka (and catch the Hello Kitty Shinkansen along the way!) and fly out from Kansai International Airport. I’ll be sharing my itinerary in upcoming posts.

The second pass I’d like to introduce is

Kansai WIDE Area Pass

It is a 5-day pass and is significant a lot more affordable, priced at ¥9,000 for adults and ¥4,500 for children aged 6-11. (Below 6 is free! ^^)

It covers a wider area than the regular Kansai Area Pass, as it includes also Okayama, Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture), Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture), Amanohashidate (Kyoto), Shirahama, Kishi & Kii-Katsuura (Wakayama Prefecture)!

This is the area it covers. You can also ride Hello Kitty Shinkansen with this pass!

If you are only in West Japan for 5 days or less and have to fly in and out Kansai International Airport, this may be a good, affordable option to maximize sight-seeing concentrated in the Kansai region. It’s possible to conquer 5-6 prefectures with this pass during the duration!

Benefits of JR West Rail Pass

So! I thought you’d like to know some perks of using JR West Passes compared to other train passes.

1. Unlimited Shinkansen ride

Yes, everyone knows you can use this pass and ride the trains over and over again, but sometimes it comes with a catch or two. Last year, I was dying to visit Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture AND travel to Nyuto Onsen in Akita just to check these two prefectures off my list (what was I thinking?! The two places are more than 1000km apart!!!!!), so I bought a JR Whole Japan Rail Pass since these two prefectures are basically at almost two extreme ends of Japan’s main island.

But did you know? That JR Whole Japan Pass does not include rides on NOZOMI and MIZUHO, two of the speediest shinkansen in Japan??? Well, I didn’t. In the end I had to use the local trains mostly and the entire journey took me one whole day. T__T.

So! My point is! All JR WEST Rail Passes (with the exception of Kansai Area Pass) allow you to get unlimited rides on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, including NOZOMI and MIZUHO!! Very very important! It will make your journey so much smoother and faster 🙂

2. Unlimited Limited Express & local train ride

Here’s one thing even an experienced Japan-traveler like me get very confused – the different types of express trains in Japan. Some of them are “Limited Express” (Tokkyu), which you will need to purchase a separate Limited Express ticket to ride the trains. The train masters are checking quite regularly these days because I think many tourists ride them without knowing – I don’t blame them, it is indeed quite confusing. So if you are riding on a regular ticket, please make sure that you purchase the Limited Express ticket as well.

So! My point is!! With just ONE JR West Rail Pass in your hand, you get to ride all varieties of limited express and local trains, including rapid and special rapid. I know, I know. (There’s even semi-express and others omg.) Just ignore it for now. Just rest assured that with this pass, you are able to be on most of the trains to your destinations 🙂 If you feel that it’s too daunting and you are unsure, you can check the website for more info.

3. Unlimited ride on seasonal and themed trains

JR has many interesting seasonal and character-themed trains, such as of course, the Hello Kitty Shinkansen (I LOVE IT!!!!), the scenic Maru Maru No Hanashi that runs along the coast of sea of Japan, and the very nostalgic SL Yamaguchi, etc. Sometimes you get on one without even knowing, what a nice surprise! You don’t have to pay anything extra for it. You can read my blog post on Hello Kitty Shinkansen here.

3. Unlimited rides on other railway companies

This is where things get interesting! Sometimes you will see a train that’s not run by JR West. But JR West has many special collaborations so certain passes allow you to even ride on other railway companys’ trains! For example on Kansai WIDE Area Pass you get to ride the super adorable Tama Densha run by Wakayama Electric Railway, to meet the famous super train master cat. You can read my blog post about Tama Densha here.

4. Unlimited rides on buses and ferries

You also get to ride some JR buses and ferries with this pass – such as the JR West Miyajima Ferry if you are planning to visit Itsukushima Shrine. ^^

5. Discounts and benefits

This pass also lets you enjoy lots of discounts and benefits such as restaurant discounts, shopping coupons, entrance ticket discounts and more. Did you know that you can get 10% off car rental fee, and even rent a bicycle for free with the special “Ekirin Kun” service?? In the above picture, I used my JR West Rail Pass for 10% off Kyoto Railway Museum admission ticket!

There are simply too many benefits to list down so you can refer to this page for more info!

In my next blog posts, I will be sharing two sample itineraries using these two JR West Rail Passes, so that you can enjoy what I did in West Japan!

Stay tuned!

For more information on JR West Rail Passes, visit their website:

JR WEST Rail Pass

Happy conquering West Japan!

This is the second blog post of Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi. I have blogged about a full blog post earlier about the super advantages of opting for a chartered taxi tour in Tokyo.

You can read the blog post HERE.

On my second last day of Tokyo trip this December, I have gone on yet another half-day mini tour in Tokyo with Tokyo Sightseeing taxi again, and this time I went for a modified version of Model Course 6: Japan Culture, Art and Artisanship. You can view all the model courses on this website!

I have been to Tokyo countless of time, mostly for yummy eats, trendy fashion shopping, and all the fancy new places and theme parks. Recently I have taken an interest into exploring the more traditional side of Japan. I am starting to appreciate Japanese Gardens, traditional craft and I’ve even started picking up Wadaiko.

You don’t need to go to Kyoto for a taste of culturally rich Japan. Asakusa is the historical capital of Tokyo and it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in all things traditionally Japan.

Here’s my itinerary!

Sightseeing course Course: Japan Culture, Art and Artisanship.

10:00 Meet driver
10:30 Shunka-En Bonsai Museum
12:00 Asakusa Sensoji Temple
12:30 Lunch: Tsukiji Sushi Sen Asakusa Kaminarimon
13:30 Asakusa Jidaiya
15:00: End of tour

My private chauffeur/guide of the day is a different gentlemen from another taxi company. He drives a swanky 7-seater and he welcomed me with warm greetings in perfect English, a sign with my name on it, and his little contact card written in English.

My personal chauffeur+guide on that day, Mitani Yukihito san. He told me to call him Yuki. ^^

During sightseeing tour, some guests prefer to be on their own especially during shopping and meal time while the driver standby and wait at an appropriate parking area, so it is important that you exchange contact with your driver so that you can communicate with each others smoothly.

This is perfect!

It was a little drive to our first destination, and before we reached the spot I have already heard so much travel tips from him. He’s a ultra friendly and chatty gentlemen, I felt really really at ease with him as if catching up with an old friend I’ve known for a long time!

Let’s go!!

Shunka-En Bonsai Museum

To be honest I’ve never taken an interest in bonsai until 2017 when I visited Tobu World Square and witness everything super miniature including cherry blossom trees!

The museum is located in Edogawa district, slightly far out from Tokyo city center, and a little tricky to access by public transport since you will have to get on a train and bus before walking there. So a chartered taxi ride would be perfect!

To understand this expression of Japanese culture and nature deeper, we have arrived an Shunka-En Bonsai Museum, a bonsai garden and museum founded by Bonsai Master Kunio Kobayashi. The entrance fee is 800 yen inclusive of a guided tour.

The bonsai garden features a wide variety of bonsai including really famous ones, we were told that some of these miniatures are worth hundreds of thousand dollars!

An overview of the garden.

There’s also a koi pond. If the weather wasn’t exceptionally chilly, I would have spent more time here just relax in this serene atmosphere.

Can you tell what this is?

It’s mini persimmon!! I really didn’t know that even fruit trees and be miniature! (Come to think of it, isn’t there mini apples?) Now I find bonsai really interesting and would really like to learn more about it. There are really still so much culture I have yet to explore and discover in Japan.

Miniature maple tree.

In the building (museum), you will find many “Tokonoma”, a space where Bonsai are displayed for artistic appreciation. Bonsai enthusiasts can spend a long time just staring at the art of bonsai and immerse themselves in traditional Japanese living.

This is a display at the reception area.

And this, my friend, is the most valuable bonsai in the entire premise. Take a guess how much it costs?

This bonsai apparently is worth 1 million US dollars!!

My favorite is this piece displayed along the corridor, long, skinny branches with tiny little red fruits.

Look at the details, isn’t this the cutest thing!!

You can also sign up for Bonsai Experience for a fee if you wish to learn more about this beautiful living art.

Asakusa Sensoji Temple

Asakusa is probably one of the most famous tourist spots in Tokyo, and while it is easily accessible by trains, you will still have to beat the tourist crowd. With an experienced driver and guide, he can show you just the perfect route to navigate Asakusa area to best experience Edo culture.

We parked our taxi in a nearby parking lot, and Yuki came with me to give me a guided tour at Sensoji!

It’s also perfect for first time travellers in Tokyo as your guide can teach you the proper way to pray at the temple and give you a little historical background of the temples and shrines.

You will never be a clueless tourist newbie anymore!!

Photo taken by Yuki!

Yuki is also super attentive T__T. While I was trying to cover myself with the “divine smoke” as it is said to bring good luck, blessings and healing effects, Yuki brought me an incense to burn at the incense burner!

Just after a couple of hours I feel like he’s my super knowledgeable travel buddy. I asked him why he speaks such good English, he told me that he has traveled for decades all around the world when he was younger, but returned to Japan and have been an experienced driver for over 20 years! The years just doesn’t add up as he looks too young to have that much experience haha.

Yuki explaining the story behind a statue in Sensoji. I think Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi is probably also perfect for solo travellers. I enjoy traveling alone especially in Japan, but sometimes it is just so much fun to have someone to talk too and share your excitements with!

A little bit of shopping in Asakusa.

Lunch – Tsukiji Sushi Sen

And then I took a small lunch break and enjoy super affordable sushi near Kaminarimon. This whole set – 10 pieces of sushi PLUS maki PLUS miso soup PLUS chawan mushi, was only 1,500 yen!!

Asakusa Jidaiya

The next activity in line was rickshaw ride.

I’m sure you have seen one of these when you visit Asakusa or other historical areas in Japan. I’ve always wanted to try it because all the oniisan are super ikemen and macho HAHAHA.

Also, did you know that the word “Rickshaw” actually comes from the Japanese word 人力車 – Jinrikisha (literally human-strength car”!) and that rickshaw is invented in Japan?

Ikemen oniisan covering double blanket for me and my companion Mika. Yasashii!!! ^^

Jinrikisha is also legit vehicle!! He was running on car lanes!

There are several courses you can pick depending on your interest. I picked the cultural old town route with lots of historic stores, performing theatres and the first ever arcade in Japan!! Your runner will be able to guide you through the 30-minute course in English.

Wow check out this fancy Asakusa Donki!

He also takes photos for us in front of Hanayashiki, the oldest amusement park in the whole Japan since 1853!!! The roller coaster ride is also said to be very thrilly just because of how old it is haha.

By the way this is Mika, in case you are wondering, she was the one who helped me take all the behind-the-scene photos!

Jidaiya has the longest history of running rickshaws in Asakusa! They also offer many other authentic traditional Japanese experience such as calligraphy, tea ceremony and of course kimono experience. Check out their website for more!

End of tour

Rickshaw was my last activity of the day and I contacted my driver to pick me up at the end of the tour. He was waiting at a nearby car park and guess what?

It was such a chilly day, in fact it was probably the coldest day I’ve experienced in Tokyo, and Yuki got me a hot cup of matcha from Asakusa T______T.

And that’s not all!! He even gave me a little postcard as souvenir. Such a gentlemen. Yuki is really one of the best drivers I’ve ever met! It makes my journey even more unforgettable.

It was time and Yuki dropped me back to my destination.

This course is a 5-7 hours course that ranges around 25,000 yen t0 35,000 yen. If you split the cost with 5 other friends, you are only paying about 4~5000 yen each person! To me that’s super worth it.