Travel to Japan...I wish (part 1)

Well, Japan is my dream . I always dreaming about to go to Japan someday, since I was a little girl.　

This post is about my dream, "If I go to Japan someday".

Here I will list some places that I want to visit and things I wanna do. Hope I don't get crazy when I really get to go to Japan.  *holding myself while writing*
First, as soon as I arrived, maybe it would helpful if I find a nice place to stay.


*tips: click the pictures to enlarge it!
 

Day 1
So, I read some article about hotel/inn/hostel or whatever you named it...and I found a nice yet low budget hostel. It's Backpacers Hostel K"s House Tokyo (location: 20-10, Kuramae 3-chome, Taitou-ku, Tokyo, Japan). So, why is it nice to stay here? Because as I said, it's cozy, clean and fit for a backpacker with low budget. According to Hostelworld, this hostel was opened in June 2006, and it's only 1 minute walk from Kuramae station (it's in Asakusa area if you don't know) on Subway Oedo line and moreover, also easy access from Narita International Airport.

The facilities from this hostel are including: air conditioner, hot water shower for 24 hours a day, internet access, swimming pool, lounge, tv room, laundry facilities, and courtyard with picnic table.O yeah, another great thing is, the staff can speak English, so I guess no need to worry if we can't speak Japanese. The budget we need is around  $38 for 1 person and $75 for 2 persons.

So, how to reach this hostel? With the help of Airport Transfer and Hyeperdia there are lots of way to get to this place. Well, I'll take the faster one. So first, from the Narita International Airport Terminal 2 we can take an escalator to JR Station (North gate if you from Exit A, and South gate if you from Exit B). Then take Keisei Main Line Rapid to Aoto. At Aoto Station, use Keisei Oshiage Line Local passing the Oshiage Station all the way to Kuramae Station. From there you can take a walk. The total budget for the transportation is ¥1,060. 

Wow! It take so loooong to write just about the hostel and how to reach the hostel. Anyway, it's the first day. Of course I don't want to waste my time (and money) just to curl at the hostel. The place nearby is Asakusa. We can reach there by Toei Asakusa Line for only ¥170 and it's only 1 minute. Whooosh! 

Well, who didn't know Asakusa? WHAT?! YOU DON'T KNOW?! Well, maybe you'll recognize the big red lantern on the gate. Don't give that "oooh, I see" look, buddy! 

Let me explain. Asakusa is well known with Sensoji, a Buddhist Temple. But, I'm sure people are mostly recognize the Kaminarimon, the two large entrance gates that leading to the Sensoji Temple, and yes, the gate is the symbol of Asakusa. Oh and yes, I really want to take a picture in front of the famous Kaminarimon!! And if I'm lucky enough, maybe I can enjoy the famous Sanja Matsuri, which held in late May, where the roads are closed from dawn 'till the late evening. Stretching from Kaminarimon all the way to the Sensoji temple, we can find Nakamise-dōri, a shopping street which sells souviners such as yukata, folding fans, and local snacks. And last but not least, I really want to meet the Geisha. Why? Because come to Japan and missed the chance to meet Geisha is...is like watching a movie without popcorn (WTH is dat?!) These are the picture of Nakamise-dōri and also a Geishas' parade in Sanja Matsuri. Pictures above are Kaminarimon and the Sanja Matsuri.

Well, I guess it will be a long and tiring day. I guess, after walk in Asakusa, I'll just back to the hostel and rest. 

Day 2 

So, as I loved to wake up in the morning, maybe it isn't a bad idea to great the morning and take a walk at a beautiful garden, Rikugien. It's one of of Tokyo's most beautiful Japanese style landscape garden. I really love beautiful landscape. So, in this beautiful garden, someday, I have to take many pictures of it!What's inside are a small pond, trees and hills. Maybe it sounds boring for some young people, but it doesn't mean that I'm old or something, anyway I love beautiful, quiet and heart warming place like this garden.

This garden constructed between 1695 and 1702, headed by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, with permission from the 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. This garden is a typical example garden from the Edo period. 

According to Tokyo Travel, this garden open at 09:00 am - 17:00 pm, and it's closed every december 29 to January 1. For the fee: ¥300 (junior high school and above), ¥150 (for people that above 65 years old), and for the students under junior high school (and junior high school students who living or studying in the Tokyo metropolitan area) may enter for free; this information I read at Wikipedia.

It opens at 09:00 am, and from Kuramae Station took about 20 minutes. So, from Kuramae Station, take the Toei Oedo Line to Kasuga Station; then walk to Korakuen Station. From there take the Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line all the way to Komagome Station. From the station, we can walk to the garden for about 7 minutes.  Here's the map of the park/garden:

these some picture of the garden: 

Naitei Daimon

Okay, maybe next I want to head to Ameyoko. So, how to get there? Well, back to the Komagome station and take JR Yamanote Line (Outer Loop), drop at Okachimachi. From there we can just walk down to Ueno-Okachimachi. The train spent about ¥150. So, Ameyoko's name is a short from Ameya Yokocho which means "candy store alley". Ameyoko is a famous shopping street in Tokyo. 


So, I would love to eat Ameyokoyaki, it's Ameyoko-style okonomiyaki. 

looks tempting. Gosh, my stomach grumbling! According to mustlovejapan.com, the price is $2.00. There's also Ningyou yaki. It's like Taiyaki (fish-shapped waffle with red bean filling). Ningyo-yaki are small snack cakes, made from cooking batter of flour, eggs and sugar in an iron mold. They are sold both with and without sweet bean paste (anko). Many come in the form of the seven gods of good luck (shichifukujin) or the great lantern at the Kaminarimon gate of Asakusa temple, but also in cute shape like cartoon character, animal, etc.

Rillakuma ningyou-yaki

ラスカル人形焼き

Next, how about some Ramen? There's famous ramen restaurant in Ameyoko. It's Ippudo Ramen. This restaurant stood from 1985, and started as a small shop with only 10 seats at the counter, and now Ippudo Ramen has location throughout Japan and even New York City! So, Ippudo Ramen is famous with its Tonkotsu Ramen.The menu are : Ippudo Shiromaru, Ippudo Akamaru, Ippudo Karakamen, Tokusei Ramen, Chashu ramen, Hakata tsuke-men, Hakata Chuuka Soba, Hakata hitokuchi gyoza, Ontama nose gohan, Mentaiko gohan ontama nose, Buta meshi ontama nose, and Cha-han.

Ippudo Shiromaru

Ippudo Akamaru

Tokusei Ramen

Hakata hitokuchi gyoza

Mentaiko Gohan

cha-han (chinese style fried rice)

Here the address: 
Taito-ku, Ueno 3-17-5
Tel. 03-5807-2772
11:00 – 3:00 (no holidays)

source : www.ippudo.com, http://foodsaketokyo.wordpress.com  


Day 3

I read some about a Geisha cafe. Sounds so interesting, right? So, Geisha Cafe is a photo studio where you can take a picture of yourself wearing traditional wigs, such as Samurai, Geisha or Maiko, and also wearing kimono. At here, they prepare everything for you. This Geisha Cafe run by Taiyo Katsura, who produces Japanese wig for the movie, TV and showcase.You need to make reservation first.

I have some info I'd like to share about the price. 
Photo Session with the wig and kimono:
Lady:
Geisha - 2 poses = ¥12,600
Ooku - 2 poses = ¥10,500
Wedding Shiromoku style (white wedding kimono) - 2 poses = ¥10,500
Wedding Irouchikake style (colorful wedding kimono) - poses = ¥10,500
Wedding with Shiromoku and Irouchikake - 3 poses = ¥15,750

Man:
Samurai - 2 poses = ¥10,500
Wedding - 2 poses = ¥5,750

Couple:
Geisha and Samurai - 4 poses = ¥23,100
Wedding - 4 poses = ¥21,500


Option:
Japanese Make Up = ¥4,200
Additional Pose = ¥1,050 for each 
Additional Photo = ¥1,050 for each

2-21-4, Morishita, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan

For reservation you can call 03-3846-7616. E-mail address: taiyokatsuraten@live.jp
Open from 10:00 ~ 18:00

so, the acces from Kuramae station (because the hotel still the same), take Toei Subway Oedo Line to Morishita (Tokyo), then take a walk from there for 3 minutes.  

Ooku

Shiromoku

irouchikake

samurai & geisha

source: www.taiyokatsura.jp

Day 4

Well, I decide to move on to Tokyo Disney Resort. So, it is a theme park and vacation resort. Took place in Urayasu, Chiba. This place contains of 3 main entertainment sections: Tokyo Disneylnad (ow, yeaaaaah! *drooling*), Tokyo DisneySea (the place where Alice Nine's Hiroto would date someday XD) and Ikspiari. So, first of let's drop to the hotel. I'd like to pick the Disney Hotels. There are 3 Disney Hotels; Disney's Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta, Tokyo Disney Land Hotel. 

For the Reservation:

Tokyo Disney Resort Reservations Center

0570-05-1118 or 045-683-3333 (for cell phones, IP phones or international calls)

For room reservations and restaurant Priority Seating: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For general information on reservations: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* Calls may be recorded to verify the contents of the Guest's request or to check the operator's handling of the call. 

  

So I'm always dreaming to go to Disney Ambassador Hotel. So, it's a twin room. It cost from ¥37,000 PerNight (Sunday and ordinary day: Monday~Thursday), from ¥44,000 PerNight (Friday), from ¥55,000 PerNight (Saturday). Oh, wow! O___o sure a "wonderful" price. There are triple room as well, also the standard one, the Donald Duck Room, Deluxe Room and Family Room; But I can't find the price list.  The facilities and services are parking lot, outdoor pool, drugstore, dry cleaning service, LAN connectivity with cable provided, airport limousine bus departure point for pick up/drop off service. 

Address :

2-11 Maihama, Urayasu-shi, Chiba. Japan

Access to get here; from JR Tokyo Station took about 15 mins. to JR Maihama Station, then 8 mins. on foot. They provide the pick-up service.      

Well, this one day maybe I'll just rest and enjoy the facilities at the hotel. XD O yeah, always breakfast at the hotel!!

Day 5

Tokyo Disneyland is my next in the list. To get here from the hotel, let's ride the Disney Resort Line. Take the 3 day-pass (I plan to stay for 3 days here). It's ¥1,100 for adult (over 12) and ¥550 for children (under 11).

the access

These are the ticket price list for the Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea:

I want to ride the Splash Mountain. It's a hollowed out log boat through the waters of the South. There's a 16-meter high waterfall, and you're heading straight for it! Get ready for one big splash! This boat ride takes you through the world of Disney's classic film, Song of the South, and guess what? Your 45-degree dive over the waterfall is also caught on film. It take about 10 minutes. Oh this ride need 90 cm height requirement.

next, let's move on to Star Tours. This attraction, based on the Star Wars movie series, is a thrilling outer space adventure with high-speed twists and turns.It takes 4.5 minutes. We aren't allowed to take flash photos inside the cabin. They have height requirement, 102 cm. The person who didn't meet the requirement may not ride this. 












NEXT! I wanna try to ride on the Western River Railroad and Mark Twain Riverboat. 

Next let's take the relaxing one. I'd love to visit The Disney Gallery. Here we can enjoy the original artwork from Disney artist. There's also a drawing class, but only in Japanese language. No problem! I'm dying to try it so muuuuuch!! The standard course price is ¥500 (per person) with duration approximately 30 min; while the advanced course price is ¥1,000 (per person) with duration approximately 50 min.

well, there's so many attraction I would love to go, but it's impossible for me to write it all here~ Skip all that, and let's just go back to rest.

Day 6

After the Tokyo Disney Land, we can't missed the Tokyo DisneySea. The price list the same with the previous post, on above; also the access to get here. So, without wasting times...let's dig in!!! I want to ride the Venetian Gondola!

The gondola will take us around the canals, pass under several beautiful bridges. The gondoliers will tell us many tales about the scenery. It's an elegant, romantic time aboard the gondola
Well, move to the next part. Have the urge to ride the Aquatopia! It's a three-person watercraft. Designed with whirlpools, spouting water, and rock formations. You'll spin around and twirl off in unpredictable directions. Sounds fun!

 Don't wanna missed the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

Well, the last attraction I'd love to visit is Ariel''s Greeting Grotto. I'm always an Ariel's fans since I was kid, so why not take a picture with "her"?! Hahahaha!  Say "cheese!", oh no...there's no cheese under the sea..so it would be "seaweed!"..?! Nah...

Before parting with the Tokyo DisneySea, I really want to watch the fireworks. 

Go back to rest!

Day 7

Let's ride the line to the IKSPIARI. It's the last day, in my planning, in Disney Resort. This place is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Just enjoying myself at the theater , eating and drink beer, since I already allowed to (since this year!!!). And last but not least, the Bon Voyage, to buy some souvenirs.


 

Day 8

Move to Yokohama. Planning to stay at New Otani Inn. So, from Tokyo Disneyland Station take the Disney Resort Line (I love the looks of the train, it's cute and look cozy) to the Resort Gateway, cost ¥250. From there just walk to the Maihama Station and take the JR Musashino Line to Shinkiba Station, cost ¥150. At Shinkiba Station take Rinkai Line to Oimachi Station, cost ¥380. And the last to take is JR Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line to Sakuragaicho, cost ¥380. Fiiiuh, what a tiring transfer. The total cost ¥1,160. So, from the station, just need 1 minute walk to the hotel.


I'll pick the twin room with the view of the ocean and the Ferris wheel; cost ¥9,500 PerNight. 
 
  


  






I'm planing to go to Yokohama Chinatown by JR Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line to Yokohama Station, and ride Tokyu Toyoko/Minatomirai Line Local to Motomachi-Chukagai. So, at the Chinatown, we can find a lot of Chinese Stores and Restaurants. The main attraction here is the delicacies, of course. The popular dish are manju, ramen noodles, and another Chinese dish. Various evenets and festivals are held in here, such as Chinese New Year around early February. My plan here is to take lunch at Heichinrou Yokohama-honten. The average price is around ¥3,800 for lunch.

source : r.gnavi.co.jp

continue to the next part

credits: japan guide, 庭園へ行こう, Picasa, google, www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp