Here are some of the highlights of my trip for each place I visited and the ppl I need to thank for making my trip enjoyable!
Hiroshima:
Went to Iwakuni for the first time with my host family! It's a nice, serene town with magnificent mountains. Looks like a scene from a postcard if you ask me. Thanks to my host family for bringing me to eat my favourite okonomiyaki and momiji manju! I bought Blokus for the children and they absolutely loved it! =)
Osaka:
Stayed at Mine's place! Enjoyed a warm reception by his whole family and he brought me around Osaka with Keiichi, who came to Singapore with Mine in September this year. On top of that, Mine and his family and Keiichi gave me lotsa of souvenirs that I had to ask him to help me to mail some back to Singapore for me. :P Thanks for everything!
Places I went to included Osaka Aquarium, Shimsaibashi, OPU (Mine's university), Universal Studios Japan! Yeah~
Kyoto:
First time to Kyoto! During one of the days in Osaka, Mine and Keiichi brought me to Kyoto as well! Went to the famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple) and Kiyomizu Temple. A pity it was dark when we reached Kiyomizu that I couldn't take any pictures of it! It was a long trek up a slope to the temple as well though... Will go back to Kyoto next time!
Nagoya:
First time to Nagoya! Went there to meet up with Hiroko, a friend I got to know during my Hiroshima Homestay Programme on my 1st trip to Japan. It's been 2 years since we last met and she's working in Nagoya for about a month or so. I travelled to the Italian Village near the harbour and met her for dinner together! Wanted to eat the famous Nagoya Miso-katsu and got my chance! Look at the pics and you will know why. It's so marvellicious~ Only regret was that I forgot to pass to her the present I got for her and I got to mail it to her now. >_<
Tokyo:
This was my 3rd time back to Tokyo although I had stayed in different places in the past (Ikebukuro and Shinjuku). This time I stayed in this hostel in Asakusa~ The hostel's pretty nice and clean with friendly staff and fellow hostel mates as well. *Two thumbs up*
Went to Ginza before heading down to Sanno Park Tower to visit my fellow colleagues in Deutsche Bank~ Much awaited for me as it was my first time to another branch office! Thanks to Ohsaki-san, Kyoko and Terumi for bringing me out to a nice izakaya for a absolutely gastronomic feast and a round of drinks later at a nice Okinawa bar!
Other highlights would include my usual trip to Akihabara and on Terumi's recommendation, I ventured into a maid cafe for a look. It felt weird at first when the "maids" there address you as "Master" and they kneel down when they take your order. Too bad no pictures were allowed... Bought 4 electronic dictionaries for 3 of my Japanese class classmates and myself at a deal too! Akiba's the place! =)
Something also happened in Tokyo as well. I was buying my train ticket at Asakusa Station when a pretty Korean girl asked me for help. Apparently she and her mom wanted to get from Asakusa to another station but wasn't sure how to get there. Since my station was along the way, i offered them to show them the way. Soon after we hit it off pretty ok and exchanged emails as well. I've sent her an email when I was back and hope she replies soon~ ;)
Yokohama:
First time there as well and it was a real treat to abuse, i mean, use effectively my Japan Rail Pass for a 15 minute ride from Tokyo to Yokohama. My main purpose in Yokohama? The Raumen Museum (the spelling error was meant to be) As some of you might know, I'm nuts about ramen! It's like going to the Holy Grail of Ramen~
1st floor's souvenir shops and some history exhibits of ramen but when you go down to the basement.. It's an replica of Japan in the 1930s with traditional shophouses, although the shops are modern. The 8 best ramen restaurants have been gathered here by the museum and are plying their ware. You can buy a mini bowl of ramen at abt 550 yen so that you can try other ramen restaurants without blowing up your tummy. I tried 3 bowls in all, from Kumamoto, Hakata and Sapporo and I gotta admit that the Kumamoto's one was the best among the lot! Pity I couldn't try the other 5 cos I was too full! Will definitely go back again for another round!
That's just about all for my Japan trip and the link to my album's below. Take a look and let me know your comments, k? =) (Note: Flickr can only display 200 pics max and I have 383 photos.. -_- while try to find another online album.. meanwhile stay tuned!)
by janzer81
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