Archive | 9:30 pm

Japan 2024, Part 3

15 Oct

The past few days, our excursions have been very leisurely paced. We stop to see what we want to see within the original itinerary and eat what we want. If we stop at an attraction that mesmerizes us, we stay longer. Our tour group is only the four of us with a dedicated MPV and driver, hence this flexible schedule.

The journey to see Mt Fuji was arduous as traffic was heavy. Holidaymakers were leaving for their escapade for the long weekend because Monday was a public holiday.

Mt Fuji was very picturesque and worthy of many pictures from different angles. But could it be the distance, seeing it from afar, that I don’t feel moved? It was rather odd.

Hi! Mt Fuji is behind us!

Nonetheless, it was enjoyable as we had lovely weather, and it was not too crowded at the places we covered – Oshino Hakkai and Arakurayama Şengen Park.

Lovely colors

We stayed at a whimsical accommodation called the Bunny Villa, where everything in the villa was bunny-themed. Even the plates had bunnies! I would have loved to stay longer, but we had only one night.

Of bunnies and Miffy at the Bunny Villa

The next day, we checked off more places of interest before returning to the city.

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Japan 2024, Part 2

15 Oct

Our first night in Tokyo was in the Asakusabashi district. The neighborhood was quiet with narrow streets, and it reminded me of the streets of Hanoi when we were there earlier in the year, but much cleaner. There’s not a spec of rubbish on the roads here.

We ventured out in search of food and stumbled upon a ramen shop. Ravenous after such a long day, we each ordered a bowl, unaware of the serving size. When the bowls of ramen came out, they left us speechless. 

The picture doesn’t quite show the sheer size of this

How do we manage all that ramen, four bowls at a go? Typically, we’d order two to three portions during meals for sharing. But we didn’t think that sharing bowls of ramen was doable with us sitting at the counter. Oh well. I could only eat half of my choice, as it was too much. I couldn’t even slurp loudly like the lady seated next to me at the long counter!

Comatosed from the gastronomic feast, we decided to call it a night after such a long day of traveling. Furthermore, we have a packed itinerary the next day.

Our hotel had a compact but practical room layout and was comfortable. We stayed only a night because the next day, we checked out and headed towards Mt Fuji.

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