Travel Thursday: Japan (Part 1)

As the world is well aware of, Japan was hit by a very devastating earthquake & tsunami last Friday (11.03.11). Watching the videos of the tsunami making its way through the town and engulfing anything in its path was unbelievable. You can't help but think about what were people doing when this was happening, what were they thinking about... The list goes on and on. My heart goes out to the people of Japan. 

Today's Travel Thursday features Japan. A country that I've had the pleasure of visiting twice. I love Japan. Everything about Japan is exciting. Its like going on an adventure when you're there. My family has a love-love relationship with Japan. My mum always wanted us to experience Japan so she sent my brother to visit Japan first. Then half a year later I went on my first trip during the summer of 2005 to Japan alone. I seriously went alone (as did my brother). But when I was there I met up with a few people (mostly people I've never met in my life). They were all nice enough provide a roof over my head and show me around.

I can still remember the excitement I went through when I was there. Before going to Japan I didn't have any expectations. I just wanted to go on just another holiday. But nooo.... Japan is not just another holiday. It was more than that. I visited 6 cities in 10 days while I was there - Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe & Hiroshima. Here's a little brief recap of my first trip to Japan. My second trip (Part 2) will be featured next week. 

Day 1

Meet Uncle Hiraoka! A friend of my parents. I've known him since I was three. Uncle Hiraoka & family was nice enough to be my host during my first 2 days in Tokyo.

Uncle Hiraoka's wife dressed me in a kimono to go to hanabi takai (firework festival). At first I thought I'd been an oddball in a kimono but I definitely was not.

Day 2

 The next day, Uncle Hiraoka's daughter & her boyfriend was my tour guide in the city of Tokyo. Our first stop was Tokyo Tower.

 Then we went to Asakusa. Later on we walked around the Ginza strip.

Day 3

That night I took the train to Yokohama to stay with Uncle Zamani & family. Since they had a 6 year old daughter, we went to Disney Sea. I heard that recently Disney Sea was flooded due to the earthquake. But I think it was only the carpark, not sure about the park itself.

 Mickey Mouse shaped ice cream! 

Day 4
The following day, Uncle Zamani's wife showed me around Yokohama and I did a little shopping of course!

That building is the Yokohama Landmark Building, the tallest building in Japan. You can see Mount Fuji from there on a clear day.

Somewhere near Mirato Mirai 

Day 5

After Yokohama, I took the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. I stayed with a friend. She was kind enough to let me stay with her for 4 days. She brought me to a few places of interest in Kyoto and one of them is the Kiyomizu-dera. I was hoping I'd get a glimpse of Geishas but I wasn't lucky enough.

Day 6

Since my friend had stuff to do, I took the shinkansen and went to Hiroshima all by myself. Was nervous at first because I couldn't speak Japanese but Hiroshima was an English-friendly city due to many tourists visiting this historical city. The Genbaku Dome (Atomic Dome) is one of the surviving building of the Hiroshima bombing.

Memorial for the victims of Hiroshima bombing. 

Before going back to Kyoto, I made a 3-4 hour stop at Kobe. Since I didn't have enough time, I just walked around the city.

Day 7

Then I went to Osaka for a day. My mum's friend's brother was studying there so he became my tour guide (my brother stayed with him for a few days when he visited Japan). Unfortunately I left my camera at my friend's room in Kyoto so I bought a disposable camera. Didn't take many pictures though.

Day 8

 On my last day in Kyoto my friend brought me to Arashiyama. Arashiyama is popular during the cherry blossom and fall season. There a number of places you can visit there and one of it is the Iwatayama Monkey Park. 

My two lovely tour guides

This bear is soooo huggable!

Day 9

My friend & I then went back to Tokyo to visit her friends (other Malaysians studying in Japan). We hanged out at Odaiba.

Of course I had to visit the Coca Cola Museum since mummy dearest was a very big fan!

They also sell Coca Cola stuff there. But now the museum/store is no longer there.

There were having a comic book convention at Odaiba. Dragon Ball is definitely one of my fave comic growing up.

Day 10

I stayed one more day at Yokohama with Uncle Zamani & his family. Spent my last day in Japan shopping. I know my post is pretty minimum but there's sooo many things to write about and I had to make it short and simple. 

Last but not least, the famous Japanese toilet! Haha.