Loves
Anime+Chocolates
Eating+Sleeping+Playing
Kelly.Poon+Han.Ji.Hye+Younha
So I ended my Japan trip. Frankly speaking, there isn't much to be afraid about if you're well-prepared. Unless you fear being alone.
Tokyo, the modern capital, and Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. The people in Nara were decidedly more hospitable than those in Tokyo. The quick pace of life in Tokyo seemed less forgiving towards those who were looking for their way on the streets.
Throughout the trip, I didn't ask for directions because.. it's fun to find your own way around. It's easier to lose your way in Tokyo than in Nara. The buildings in Tokyo are so tall that it's hard to see their names. And using convenience stores as landmarks is a really bad idea - they're everywhere in Tokyo.
My spoken Japanese probably didn't improve much, but I got to practise a bit of Keigo over there. Understood more than half of what was announced and written, most of which were in Keigo. The service staff used Keigo too. Yes, Keigo is that important so please learn it well.
Main modes of transport were the Japan Railways and by walking. Figured out how the trains work. Walked till my feet ached. But walking allows you to see many more things, no?
Events attended: Setsubun Mantoro Lantern Festival, Japan Media Arts Festival.
Things kena-ed: Earthquake, M.
Air Tickets: SGD 1468
Japan Rail Pass: SGD 484
Travel Insurance: SGD 29
Hotels: JPY 38010
Food/Drinks: JPY 7189
Admission Fees: JPY 1500
Additional Transport Fares: JPY 800
Purchases/Others: JPY 8881
Total: SGD 2933.822
「またね、日本。」
The staff at Hotel New Tohoku were warm and friendly people.
Japanese speak the language much faster than what you are taught in schools.
Do buy the Japan Rail Pass before you head for Japan if you're intending to visit more than one prefecture.
Travelling alone is a rewarding experience. It really is.
"Do spend your time looking at the attractions instead of busying yourself with taking pictures."
The Japan Media Arts Festival!
Caught the screening of Tokyo Marble Chocolate. Quite a good romantic story I must say. By Production I.G!
The Grand Prize winner for the Animation Division, The House of Small Cubes, was a captivating dialogue-less short. People who were about to walk past eventually gathered in front of the screen to watch it.
There were no outstanding long animation works for 2008. But the list of recommended works included Code Geass R2 and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.
The Sky Crawlers was a recommended work!
Inuyasha was a recommended work, while Piano no Mori was the Grand Prize winner for the Manga Division.
FONTPARK 2.0 looked fun! Play it here!
The stream of announcements on trains and at train stations is endless.
「おはよう、シカさん！」
The Chinese restaurant, Tokokuro, at Hotel Halftime serves very good breakfast.
The staff at Hotel Halftime and Tokokuro speak good English.
The Nara Park is a deer park. The deers are everywhere.
All Nara Park deers are tame. Some are polite. They bowed to me and I bowed back.
You may be approached by Japanese old ladies if you're travelling alone.
Don't worry about getting lost in the Nara Park area. If you look lost even for a moment, someone will come up to give directions.
Love the Nara Park deers!
Pictures of the Todaiji (Buddhist) Temple:
Pictures of the Kasuga Taisha (Shinto) Shrine/Setsubun Mantoro Lantern Festival:
「なんや？！」
Still learning how to use the Japanese toilet bowl.
Potato salad seems to appear in every bento bought from a convenience store.
The Hikari Shinkansen is really fast. Can't imagine what a ride on the Nozomi Shinkansen would be like.
Kansai dialect!
Nara is totally unlike Tokyo. The pace is so leisurely that the train driver can leave his cabin at each station where the train has to wait for the scheduled time.
CoCo Ichibanya Curry House Curry Rice is yummy!
"初生之犊不怕虎。"
I'm wondering only now why I'm not afraid of travelling alone.
The view from the North Observatory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is exhilarating. Saw Mount Fuji!
Just follow the signboards to get to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building from JR Shinjuku Station. It's like my brother's racing game.
The Suginami Animation Museum is worth visiting although the buses there and back have a flat charge. There's an animation library and admission is free!
A lot of effort is invested into each anime episode.
The Ghibli Museum was definitely worth my 1000 Yen. I caught Mizugumo Monmon, an exclusive short film to the museum, saw sketches and paintings from the initial stages of Studio Ghibli productions, and 3D characters from My Neighbour Totoro coming alive. If you're intending to go, do visit on a weekday.
The walking times stated on Japan tourism websites are with respect to Japanese people.
I hear Keigo everywhere!