Japan Day 12: Kawagoe

Previously:
Japan Day 11: Owakudani And Yunessun, Hakone


Kawagoe is a small town in the northwest of Tokyo.  What so special about this town is that because this town is reminisced us with an old town feeling from the Edo Period and allow us to imagine the streets from past centuries as their government retains the buildings and ambience of the past.  In its main street is lined with its old clay-walled warehouses and merchant homes (called kurazukuri), Candy Alley and Kitain Temple. 


Kawagoe is located only about 30 minutes away from Tokyo by train, therefore made them suitable for a day trip destination.


Colourful sakura blossom

The most beautiful one so far that I've seen

Kurazukuri

Toki-no-kane (Time Bell Tower)

Candy Alley (Photo copied from Japan-guide)

Old town style coffee shop

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Last Day In Japan: Santa Monica Crepes And Grilled Beef Tounge



Japan Day 11: Owakudani And Yunessun, Hakone

Previously:
Japan Day 10: Fujiya Hotel, Hakone

Today we got on the bus from Hotel-mae, which is located next to our hotel, to Owakudani that took around 20 minutes (580yen).  To try their famous black egg.  Apparently if you have one egg, your life span will extend for a year.  I think I really need 10 of them. 

It was a very windy and foggy morning

500yen for 5pcs

Lunch buffet at Owakudani 1,600yen for 1 hour

In the late afternoon, we headed to Hakone Kowakien Yunessun.  It is more like our thing, especially for my little one.  And I don't know why, even until now, this hot spa place that got everyone whinge that it always busy and crowded.  Today is our lucky day perhaps, it is like we privately owned the bathing place, hardly have no one here.  We can try each single hot spa without sharing with anyone and outdoor pool is zero people.  There are coffee bath, sake, green tea, red wine, collagen and so on.  However, we didn't even play in outdoor pool, the air was too cold although the water temperature was warm.  We stayed until the place nearly close at 7 pm.  What a great great time we had.





Coffee bath - this is my favourite, smells good

Sake bath

Red wine bath

Bozappyi hot water

Fresh yummy dinner

Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

Yubinbango250-0407

Ashigarashimo-gun,

Kanagawa Prefecture Hakone-machi Ninotaira

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Japan Day 12: Kawagoe



Japan Day 10: Fujiya Hotel, Hakone

Previously:
Japan Day 9: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

From Naha, we flew back to Tokyo, then with NEX to Shinagawa and continue to Odawara.  From there we changed to Tozan Railway, an all stops local train, to a small town called Miyanoshita.  By then, we arrived at the station around 8 pm and the concierge of Fujiya hotel is kindly picking us up from the station.  A pretty long journey from down side to this spa town and changing with a few type of transportations as well.

Tozan Railway

Catching this train is actually an exciting experience itself.  We at first counting how many stops needed before our stop.  As outside were pretty dark and we couldn't see much.  I think it was about 5 stops before Miyanoshita and we were pretty sure that the next one would be our stop.  When we got off the train, station was really dark and no sign could be seen.  The train driver was quickly called and run toward us and asked us where are we going.  We just said "Miyanoshita" and he explained to us that this wasn't a station, it is just a changing platform and Miyanoshita is the next 2 stops.  We surprised but also felt lucky that the driver saw us getting off the train.  We just realize that the train is going up the mountain and is pretty hard and longer time-consuming to make curvy railway.  Therefore, the rail is like zigzag with two heads train, once the train arrive in one end, the train driver have to run and drive the train from another head.  When we inside the carriage feeling like moving front and backward a couple of times.  Great job to who ever invented this and feeling thankful to the extra hard work of train driver.   

Miyanoshita station at night

Good morning Hakone, view from our window

I am ready to go for hot spa, mommy



The room is massively huge compared to any other hotel in Japan that I've ever been.  Their service was a five-star quality service, very friendly and she showed and explained to us all the facilities in the hotel.  Although this hotel is an old historical hotel but the building and the rooms are well maintained.  It actually makes them look even more charming and the touch of Japanese-style garden and outdoor chapel (Happiness Hill) made the beauty comes to life.  It is like tourist destination itself just inside the resort.  

Japanese garden

Happiness Hill

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Japan Day 11: Owakudani And Yunessun, Hakone



Japan Day 9: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Previously:
Japan Day 8: Mihama American Village And Shuri Castle, Okinawa

Churaumi Aquarium is homed to one of the largest tank in the world (Kuroshio Tank) and contains of wide variety of species, including the three giant whale sharks and manta rays.  I could just stand there for hours watching those big fishes swim by and whenever the three of them pop up at the same time on the glass window, it was amazing.

You can actually make your own way to aquarium by bus that takes about 2 hours journey.  However, in more convenient way, we chose a day trip tour that include aquarium entrance fee, Pineapple Park (my apologies, I forgot to attach pictures from this park) and Ryukyu Glass Village.  Hassel free and we just need to make our own way to the bus terminal.  The tour costs 4,800yen.  Depart 8 in the morning and back just before 5pm. 

Having fun with those star fish and sea cucumber

Pork belly taco

Stew pork belly with rice and tomato salsa

Eating while watching those giant whales.  What more can we ask!

At the Ryukyu Glass Village

One of the restaurant serving local delicacies just opposite the Makishi Market



Fresh de-skinned fugu fish at Makishi Public Market

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Japan Day 10: Fujiya Hotel, Hakone