Japan Trip Day #11 Osaka : Umeda & Dotonbori

Japan Trip

Day #11 02/06/14 Monday

My eleventh day on Japan trip! I didn't have much time left in Osaka. The next day, I should leave Osaka for Seoul, and I had planned days in Osaka would be my chill relax time.

I woke up late because there were no sounds in the corridor at all. People are not allowed to use the alarm on the phone. So that they provide alarm in some kind of radio and I had to wear earphones to hear my alarm. I didn't like that so I decided to wake up late instead :p. 

The corridor was always dark and silent, creating a private and formal ambience. There were only the humming sounds from air conditioner. I felt lonely. It was my first accommodation with private room. Sometimes it was nice, but sometimes I felt lonely. :(

Luckily Manuel and Dominic (friends I met at JAM Hostel Kyoto) messaged me that they would arrive in Osaka that night! So we arranged a meeting for dinner in Dotonbori.

Japan Trip Day #9 Nara

Japan Trip

Day #9 31/05/14 Saturday

I and Hide went to Nara Park / Nara Koen ( Koen is Park in Japanese). The park is famous for its hundreds of deer, and that became Nara's icon, it is believed as a messengers of the gods in Shinto. The unique thing was everybody can play with the deers freely, mostly play run and feed, because the deer will continuously ask for some foods you bring. 

This is how to get to Nara Park :

Look at those friendly eyes ♥ .

 

How to get to Nara Park (www.japan-guide.com)

I thought that the deers will have long and big antlers,in fact they didn't. The kind of deer looked similar with the deers in Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Garden). I was not that surprised about the animal, but the fact that I could touch them freely was a nice thing!

Japan Trip Day #8 Kyoto & Nara

Japan Trip

Day #8 30/05/14 Friday

This day was my last day in Kyoto, and it was a super happy and lucky day!! 

First of all, I managed to find and did the maiko henshin (maiko cosplay) at Yumekoubou studio in Gion (http://www.yumekoubou.info/english/). I saw the other Yumekobou studio on the way to Kiyomizudera temple before, and it was full booked for the next 3 days. So, I was really glad that I could do the cosplay that day without reservation. 

All the experience was priceless! The staffs were so helpful and very nice. The studio was neat and complete. Beside becoming pretty with the costume, it gave me a new knowledge about the techniques of wearing full set kimono and the accessories of maiko. 

I took the walking plan in which I could take a walk outside the studio with the costume. During the walk, one crew helped me to take pictures as many as I want with my own camera. We took a walk to a photogenic old district near the studio. There were some people wearing the costumes. Looked like I was a fake maiko with the biggest eyes and tan skin! hahahaha.

A full set of Maiko costume ;) . 

Ready for strolling around Gion with the costume.

Japan Trip Day #7 Kyoto : Arashiyama, Gion

Japan Trip

Day #7 29/05/14 Thursday

One of Kyoto's must visit place is Bamboo Grove Arashiyama. It's one of the most photogenic object, along with red torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. But for me -like every place on earth- no picture can describe the astonishing feeling standing in the middle of bamboo grove. The greenest green in harmony with the brown soil and the whisper sounds of the leaves. I felt divine. Definitely one of must visits in Kyoto!

Kyoto's must visit place: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Japan Trip Day #4 Tokyo : Tsukiji - Ueno

Japan Trip

Day #4 26/05/14 Monday

What is the first thing on your mind, if someone ask you about Japanese food? I bet most people will answer : Sushi ! 

I thought, eating sushi is a must when I was in Japan. So, I googled some places, and found the must visit place called 'Tsukiji Fish Market'. It said that there are a lot of sushi restaurants, using the super fresh ingredients, and definitely is a must try.

I was informed, there are 2 famous sushi places named 'Dai' and 'Daiwa' , and the queue  for both were crazy! Most people went to Tsukiji Fish Market really early, seriously like 4 or 5 AM @_@. They take a taxi, because the earliest train is 5.30AM. Usually people watch the Tuna auction first, and then go to the sushi place. 

Me? It's a big NO for me waking up that early.

Okay, I'm not a morning person, and I chose to prepare myself for the queueing thing. I left Kuramae station at 7AM, stopped at Tsukijishijo station (Oedo Line E18). The fish market is right next to the station exit. The fish market is closer with Tsukijishijo station than Tsukiji station (Hibiya Line H10).

Before entering Tsukiji Fish Market.

Map of Tsukiji Fish Market.

It was the cleanest fish market I've ever visited!