Japan 2013: Pandamonium at Ueno Zoo

After our hearty lunch, we went out for a walk as we made our way to the zoo.  Ueno Zoo (or Ueno Zoological Gardens) was founded in 1882 and is the oldest zoo in Japan. Unlike most of the zoos I've been to, Ueno Zoo is located within a park where families and friends can hold picnics under cherry blossom trees. It's a perfect hanami spot during spring. Too bad, there were only a few fully bloomed trees left when we got there. Nevertheless, people were still enjoying the spring breeze under the shade of trees.

Ueno Zoo

Since it was a beautiful spring weekend, a lot of people also thought it was a good idea to visit the zoo. After all, tickets only cost 600 円 per adult. And because the Yagis treated us for lunch, we couldn't possibly let them pay for the zoo entrance so we treated them this time. After all, they will be accompanying us, not the other way around. Oh and as if our party of seven ain't big enough, we'll be meeting up with Shelou and her beau, Mikey, too. So today, the Japanese-speaking bunch outnumbers the non-Japanese speakers. Fun!

Uhh where's the panda?

Located near the entrance are the stars of the zoo - the Giant Pandas! Duh. There was already a long line leading to its shelter so we queued along. After all, seeing the pandas is what we came here for!

Japan 2013: Up in the Air at Tokyo Skytree

After taking the rest of the day off yesterday, our real Tokyo adventure begins now. We woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on Tokyo. But first, we have to meet up with Ariel who's arriving from Osaka today. Nee-chan and I were still getting ready when Ariel arrived at our hotel with his cousin, Shelou (who's studying/working in Tokyo), so Karly picked him up at the lobby. We didn't book a room for Ariel thinking he could just stay in Daddy and Karly's room. Everything was going well until they decided to talk loudly in the hallway. Hay, Pinoy nga naman. :| To make the long story short, we weren't able to sneak in Ariel but at least he was able to leave his luggage in our room.

Today's itinerary consists of a trip to Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Skytree which is Japan's newest attraction. We're no strangers to visiting the world's tallest and most famous towers so we thought it's best if we buy tickets to Tokyo Skytree first thing in the morning since queues can get crazy. After getting tickets, we could visit Ueno Zoo then just go back in the afternoon for the viewing. But our plans quickly changed after buying our tickets. Since the line for the tickets goes straight to the elevators leading to the tower, we might as well go to the observation deck already.

Tokyo Skytree

Towering at 634m, Tokyo Skytree replaced Tokyo Tower (333m) as the tallest structure in Japan. It is currently the tallest tower in the world beating Canton Tower (600m), and is also the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.8m). Pretty neat, eh?

Tokyo by day.

We bought tickets to the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck (350m) which cost ¥2,000 each. For an additional ¥1,000, you can also visit the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Galleria (450m) which we passed up.

A comparison of the tallest structures in the world.

The observation deck was pretty packed but we still got a good view of the Tokyo skyline. It's amazing how many tall buildings there are in Tokyo. It took me back to my anime addiction days where almost every anime featured a trip to Tokyo Tower and I could only dream of seeing the Tokyo skyline in person. During our first Japan trip, we skipped Tokyo Tower and went up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck instead where gazing at the Tokyo skyline is free of charge. But now, I'm actually in Tokyo Skytree, the new Tokyo Tower if I may say. Good job, my otaku* self!

Walking through the glass floor.

What makes Tokyo Skytree unique from other tallest buildings in the world is their glass floor. Okay, before you freak out, the observation deck's floor is not entirely made of glass. There's just a section that allows you to experience looking directly through the Tokyo cityscape at 350m above the ground. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. Ariel couldn't do it but he did manage to smile for the camera without looking below. If you have a fear of heights, I think it's the perfect place to face that fear. I myself am terrified of heights but I do have faith in the Japanese's quality of workmanship and safety so I managed to walk across the glass floor without my knees buckling in fear.

Bye bye, Tokyo Skytree!

What I love about visiting new touristy attractions is the fascination in the faces of local tourists.
 It makes me feel less of a foreigner. We even saw a group of locals taking pictures while holding up a framed photo of a friend/family member/colleague. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Very Eiga Sai** material.

After going through the observation deck multiple times, we headed to The Skytree Shop for omiyage-hoarding. Just like the deck, the place was packed as well but if you're a fairly quick shopper, you'll have no trouble getting out of there in no time. That is if you're no impulsive buyer. #oops

Next on our itinerary is Ueno Zoo but first, we met up with Nee-chan's Japanese friend, Kenta, for lunch. Kenta used to be an exchange student in UP Diliman who loves isaw. Would you believe he used to eat 20 sticks of isaw in a day?? He loves isaw so much, he even thought of bringing it in Japan and setting up his own isaw stand. Haha Now he's back in Japan and is married to his lovely wife, Junko. The tofu restaurant we we're supposed to visit was fully-booked so we opted for another Japanese restaurant nearby. Kenta and Junko both speak fluent English so conversation was easy. Now that I think about it, it seems more Japanese are becoming comfortable in speaking English compared to our last visit. Lunch was wonderful and we even got to see their lovely traditional wedding photos in Kyoto. Aww~ ♥

Since it was a weekend, Kenta and Junko gladly joined us in our trip to the zoo. They rarely go out on weekends so it was a perfect way to spend a beautiful spring day. Junko was talking to us as we wrapped up lunch and it was only when we were walking away from the restaurant that we realized we haven't paid for lunch yet! It turns out, Kenta settled the bill without our knowledge. Aww talk about having gracious hosts! We kept teasing him that's the reason why he works until 11:00 PM every day. Yes, define workaholic! But if you get OT pay, I think you would want to earn that extra cash. After thanking them multiple times, we promised to buy them unlimited isaw when they visit the Philippines. Sounds pretty fair, right?


* Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly (but not limited to) anime and manga.

** Eiga Sai is a an annual Japanese film festival held by The Japan Foundation, Manila as part of the month-long activities of the Philippines-Japan Friendship celebration.

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), Sera, Ariel, Kenta, and Junko
Travel date: April 13, 2013 [Day 4]
Photo credits: Karl

Japan 2013: Ohayou, Tokyo!

We were so exhausted from our Kyoto adventure, we were already in Shinjuku by the time we opened our eyes. I can't believe we didn't even get a chance to eat our McDonald's dinner! Remember I've said time and time again how the Japanese are punctual with everything? Well, we arrived at our stop at exactly 6:20 AM. I have no words for their punctuality. I wish us Filipinos could be like them in valuing time, even if just a little bit. I would be so happy when that happens.

Ohayou, Tokyo!

At 6:20 AM, our eyes had a difficult time adjusting to the sun's rays. And our legs were still feeling weak from all the sleeping but we still have to walk and look for our hotel. Funny how we had a hard time locating our hotel's street when we were just standing across the street sign. Haha Anlalayo kasi ng tingin e!

I love how we got a cheap hotel in Shinjuku that's right across two station exits. See, booking hotels early really pays off! Since check-in isn't until 2:00 PM, we asked the receptionist if we could just leave our luggage while we look around the city. They obliged and tagged all our stuff with our hotel room number. And since we haven't had any dinner nor breakfast, we asked if we could eat our McDonald's meals in the hotel's lobby where breakfast is being served. They agreed and we even took advantage of their free wifi. Lucky!

Shinjuku Gyoen

We were running low on yen so we asked the receptionist where the nearest money changers are. They were kind enough to print out a map for us with all the money changers encircled. Ugh I love the quality of Japanese customer service! So good~!

Japan 2013: Kyoto Revisited

Tired as we all are, we still managed to get out of our comfy beds and got ready to leave for Kyoto. I love how checking-out was as easy as checking-in. Talk about hassle-free! We even asked for a couple more laundry bags to keep our Sesame Street plushies safe. Hihi

Bye-bye Hotel Universal Port!

I'm honestly going to miss being pampered in our cozy hotel room. Of course, we couldn't leave without taking pictures at the hotel's amusing outdoor decorations. Yes, even with luggage in tow.

Mug shots at the USJ seal of approval.

Hole in a wall. Literally.

We then sprinted as we crossed the street to get to Universal City station. Today was extremely cold, even the Japanese were complaining!

KYOU, SAMUI!!!!*

After struggling to fit our luggage into 2 huge coin lockers, we're finally ready to leave Osaka. At least for now. Today, we're going back to Kyoto! We've been there before but you just don't run out of things to do in Japan, you know.

Hooray, it's my favorite train again!

I got giddy after seeing the HP train again. It ain't no Hogwarts Express but that will have to do for now. So yay, I finally had my picture taken with Ron. Oh the perks of being a tourist! Haha

All aboard the double decker train.

Just when I thought I've seen the most amazing train ever, here comes our ride to Kyoto - a double decker train!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! Sorry for being from a third world country but this is all so fascinating to me. I couldn't stop gushing about it, I was actually relieved nobody could understand me except for my family. Haha Wait, what is it with me and my new found love with trains. Am I turning into a geek??

Hello, Kyoto!

Unlike in Singapore and South Korea where I can easily find my way through their subway, I am absolutely clueless when it comes to Japan's railway system. Sure, I can read Hiragana and Katakana but there's no way I'm going to survive in their crazy big railway system! Karly, Daddy and I literally followed Nee-chan around like little ducklings.

At Fushimiinari-taisha Shrine.

It's no secret how much I love Japan but Kyoto has got to be my favorite city in the country. In contrast to the fast-paced and modern Tokyo, being in Kyoto takes you back in time to traditional Japan. It's oozing with culture and I love basking myself in it. Just seeing people in traditional clothing brings a smile to my face. And being in the midst of traditional infrastructures brings a calmness in me. Call me a geek for loving cultural tours but I do. I feel closer to the people of the nation I'm visiting by revisiting their past and learning about what made them what they are today.

Before the hike.

I absolutely had no idea what to expect in Fushimiinari-taisha Shrine since Nee-chan created our itinerary. All I know is they shot a scene for Memoirs of a Geisha here. But upon seeing the main torii**, I was immediately in awe. I was literally seeing vermillion everywhere! Who knew we were going to spend the next couple hours hiking up a mountain? In a dress. Haha Had I known, I would've worn the proper attire!

Channeling our inner Chiyo (from Memoirs of a Geisha).

So let me give you a bit of a background here. Fushimiinari-taisha is an Inari shrine. According to Wiki, Inari is the kami (god) of foxes, of fertility, rice, tea and Sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success, and one of the principal kami of Shinto. Basically, Inari represents success in any possible way you can think of. Typically, an Inari shrine has a lot of torii which are donated as gratitude by successful individuals or businesses.

So the bigger the torii, the more expensive its construction is. The smallest and cheapest torii costs 175,000 円 (roughly Php 76,423.90). Not cheap at all, eh? The biggest and most expensive costs as much as 1,302,000 円 (roughly Php 568,593.82). Whew pretty steep, right? Well, I guess if you have that much money to spare then you definitely have something pretty major to be thankful for.

Break please!!!

Fushimiinari-taisha alone has thousands of torii. Walking through them was definitely a spectacular experience. I was already satisfied with what I've already seen so far but Karly and Daddy were still up for a challenge. We agreed to walk for a few more minutes until we reach the main shrine or until we get tired. But after walking and walking, we still couldn't find it until we reached a resting spot. I immediately bought some water since I'm already tired from all the hiking. Nee-chan was asking for directions when Daddy saw a sign leading to the Top of the Mountain. Gaaahh!! I was already thinking of just staying behind but they all wanted to go see the Top of the Mountain since we're already there. Huhuhu I reluctantly agreed and took out my onigiri*** from our backpack to motivate me.

WE SURVIVED!

After what seemed like hours, we finally reached the Top of the Mountain!!! And I finally ate my onigiri as a reward. I didn't care who saw me, I just need to regain my energy for the walk back. Haha After resting up a bit, we were off for a long walk. Again. At least, it's downhill this time so it was easier.

Omamori**** in all shapes and sizes.

Along the torii-lined trail are several sweets shops and souvenir shops. Wishes lined up the walls near the shops and omamori can be found in all shapes and sizes. And there's one for any situation you can think of. I love looking through their descriptions as Engrish can almost always be funny. Here are my favorites:

• Migawarimamori - When you met a bad happen, this will save you.
• Enmusubimamori - This will hope that you will make have a boyfriend or girlfriend or marry.

Seems legit, eh? I wanted to buy the second one for a friend but decided not to and just leave it to fate. Chos!

These men got skillz!

As we made our way back, we were lucky enough to see workers in action. One was repairing a torii while another was painting the inscriptions onto a new one. Pretty cool!

More photo ops!

To make the long walk back interesting, we occasionally stopped for photo ops and for quick breaks as well.

Daddy proud of what he achieved.

So how far did we have to walk/hike to get to the Top of the Mountain? Let Daddy show you! The map says 233m but I have no idea which distance that covers because what we walked through definitely felt more than that. Whew!

Taiyaki!

On our way to the exit, we passed by a taiyaki stand and I just had to buy some. Hey, we deserve some reward after all that cardio! Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped pastry with sweet filling. We ordered one custard and one red bean taiyaki. They were both warm and tasty - perfect for a cool spring day. South Korea also has a similar snack, bungeoppang, which is equally yummy but unlike in Japan, I think it only comes in red bean paste with or without ice cream. The Japanese obviously likes variety so they offer taiyaki in different flavors. After all, they're the ones who introduced the snack to South Korea.

Goodbye, Fushimiinari-taisha!

We went to Kawaramachi next to check out the shops and to find a place to eat. Nee-chan was so hungry, she wanted to eat at the first restaurant we saw which was First Kitchen but the three of us declined. We were so tired from our activity, we wanted to have rice (again) for lunch. Daddy and Karly dropped by a 100 yen shop to buy gloves (yes, it was that cold) but they ended up buying more than they wanted to. Nee-chan and I got impatient so we went ahead but not without hoarding some Kitkat green tea at the nearby store. When Daddy and Karly finally caught up with us, we still haven't decided where to eat until we reached the end of the street. Tempers were already rising when we spotted a restaurant right across the street. The sign was in Japanese but I had a good feeling they serve rice there so we crossed the street and found ourselves in Matsuya - one of the three largest gyudon-ya chains along with Yoshinoya and Sukiya. HALLELUJAH! It was a cafeteria-style restaurant where you select and pay for your food via an interactive menu. We ordered three bowls of gyumeshi (gyudon meal that comes with miso soup) for as low as 350 円 each. After punching in your orders, the cook will prepare your meals for you as the server sits you at a table and offers you complimentary tea and hot towels. Ahh~ this is the life! When our bowls arrived, we wolfed it down without hesitation. I think I burned my tongue a little from eating way too fast. It was definitely the best gyudon I ever had in my entire life! Yes, maybe even better than authentic Yoshinoya. *tears*

Sakura overload!

Next stop: Philosopher's Path (哲学の道). We got a bit stranded on our way there because of the rain. We didn't have an umbrella and it was pouring pretty hard so we waited for the rain to stop. When the rain turned to a mere drizzle, we decided to go ahead. Now Philosopher's Path is a popular spot during spring. People go there for hanami or sakura-watching as the entire street and nearby stream is lined up beautifully with sakura trees in full bloom. But since it rained a lot the weekend before we arrived, only a few sakura trees were still in bloom. Nevertheless, they were breathtaking. How I wish we were able to see the sakura-filled street and stream. :(

Kimono everywhere!

We then went to Higashiyama to look for our favorite Japanese treat - yatsuhashi! We couldn't remember where we bought the strawberry-flavored yatsuhashi with chocolate filling so we spent quite a lot of time walking along the streets of Kyoto. We even went back to Kiyomizudera to check but came back empty handed. Since it was already starting to get dark, we just settled for the shops along the street where we found Nishio, a cute little shop selling chocolate-flavored yatsuhashi. They've been around for years and their samples were good. I also love the complimentary hot tea to fight off the cool night breeze. After hoarding a bunch, we went to the station to catch the train back to Universal City.

We were running a little late when we got back in Osaka. Since we have a night bus to Tokyo to catch, we made a game plan. We sent Daddy and Karly out to buy some McDonald's dinner while Nee-chan and I looked for the Willer Express Terminal at Hotel Kintetsu. After successfully locating it (after several failed attempts), we finally found one of the bus operator's crew and confirmed our reservation. Daddy and Karly made it to the terminal even before the bus arrived. We didn't have time to eat though when the bus set out for departure. It's an 8-hour ride to Tokyo so it's going to be a long night. Eating is prohibited in vehicles in Japan so we planned on eating during one of the stops. However, we slept all throughout the trip as we were all beat from our Kyoto adventure. By the time we woke up, we were already in Tokyo which means it's time for another adventure!


* Kyou, samui (今日、さむい) - a casual way of saying, "It's cold today!"
** A torii (鳥居, lit. bird abode, /ˈtɔəri.iː/) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred.
*** Onigiri (おにぎり) are triangular rice balls wrapped in nori (seaweed) which may or may not contain a filling. **** Omamaori (御守 or お守り) are Japanese good luck charms usually sold at shrines.

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), and Sera
Travel date: April 11, 2013 [Day 2]
Photo credits: Karl

Japan 2013: Celebrating 12 years of happiness...

Hooray for today!

...at Universal Studios Japan that is as they celebrate their 12th anniversary. Despite our comfy beds, we were still able to wake up early. By 7:00 AM, Nee-chan was already at the hotel's USJ counter in the lobby inquiring about ticket prices. She came back and told us they had an additional charge (which I thought was weird because they're one of the official hotels of USJ) so we decided to just purchase tickets at the gates. Since the park's ticket counters open at 8:00 AM (instead of 7:00 AM), we decided to grab some breakfast at - you guessed it - McDonald's! I ordered in English while the cashier replied in Japanese but it was all good. They managed to get our orders right except some meals weren't upgraded to sets. :(

Buying tickets

After breakfast, Nee-chan and Karly rushed back to the hotel to put on more layers (because it's so freakin' cold!) and to deal with some business. *ehem* Daddy and I decided to just wait at the park for them when we saw a line already forming at the entrance! Ibang level talaga 'tong mga Hapon. They are punctual with everything! So I just went with the flow and lined up with them. I kept on wishing Nee-chan would hurry up in case someone speaks to me. Haha

Japan 2013: ひさしぶりですね!*

I've been to a couple of beautiful places here and abroad but I must say, Japan will always be on top of my favorite places list. I've always been fascinated with the country (and its culture, of course) ever since I was a kid so I made it a point for it to be my first international trip destination back in 2009. Ever since then, I've always wanted to come back. If only I could afford to visit every year, I definitely would. Oh and if they didn't have crazy strict working ethics, I'd probably move there. It's simply my happy place.

Obligatory plane photo. Nope, we didn't agree on wearing stripes.

So this year, we finally decided to go back in celebration of Nee-chan's graduation. The dates for our trip were supposed to be the blooming peak of the sakura trees but it rained the weekend before our trip so the pink blossoms weren't as abundant as before. :( Sucks but sakura or no sakura, the visit was still worth it.

At KIX station

Our flight got a bit delayed so we left Manila around 4:00 PM and arrived in Kansai International Airport (KIX) past 9:00 PM. Our check-in time at the hotel was 10:00 PM and it's an hour away from KIX by train (which is still the fastest and cheapest way to go around Japan) so we obviously couldn't make it on time.

Look, it's a Harry Potter train!

Now Japan is famous for its crazy railway system. If it wasn't for Nee-chan, I'd totally be lost even though I can read Hiragana/Katakana. Good thing, she still knows her way around. I, on the other hand, already got a little disoriented on my first train ride back in Japan. Aside from Japan, I've been to Singapore and South Korea which also have organized public transportation systems. I've been to SG and SK twice and on each visit, I've always used one rechargeable smart card for every form of transportation. It's simply convenient and really worth your money as you get discounted fares. You just tap and go! However, Japan's railway system is so big, they have one card for each railway company. So if you'll be using multiple lines during your trip, you're better off buying one-way tickets.

Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo*: Under the Sea

As if 2 consecutive days of being in the water weren't enough, our 3rd day started with what else but snorkeling at Moalboal! Walang kasawaan lang?? At first, we were hesitant to wake up early for today's activity because let's face it, snorkeling in the rich Philippine seas is a pretty common activity during beach getaways. But after learning that we might get a chance to see dolphins, we immediately agreed to stick to the itinerary which was to start the activity at 6:00 AM. Ang dali lang kausap e! :)) If you've tried dolphin-watching before, you'll know that the best time to do it is early morning when the sun's rays aren't as harsh and the waters are cool. Learned that from our boatman in Panglao!

I have no idea how I do it but I magically turn into an early riser during trips. I was already awake before an alarm blared off at 4:30 AM. Crazy and brutal! Erin was the first one to react so I assumed it was her alarm and I immediately reprimanded her for being too loud at an ungodly hour. I don't think she heard me though because she went right back to sleep. Ty was the second one to get up so he was obviously my next suspect. FYI, I only found out who the real culprit was when we were already on our way to the airport. Haha It's Bry btw.

Ready for more swimming!

After changing into our swimwear (for the nth time!) and a rushed breakfast, we're ready to go snorkeling! So we went to the beach and met up with our boatman (Kuya Michael) which kind of surprised me because he was all alone. Usually when we go island hopping, there would be 2-3 boatmen accompanying us but not in Moalboal, I guess. Or maybe Kuya has superpowers so he can manage everything on his own.

The cool sea breeze felt good on our sunburnt faces, I couldn't help but close my eyes from time to time. Only when Kuya spoke up (for the first time, I think?) did I come to my senses. Did someone say dolphins?? Okay, I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic!

It wasn't my first time to see dolphins but nevertheless, they always amaze me. Each time is just like the first time. Wow parang kanta lang! Anyway, my idea of dolphin-watching was to watch them from a distance. But this time, not only was Kuya a good spotter, he also chased after the dolphins so we can see them closer! Sugoi naaaa~!

Kuya, follow those dolphins! Daliiiiiii~!

We were literally (at least, Mabel and I were) clapping our hands with glee and giving the dolphins a standing ovation. Kuya even had to remind us to maintain our boat's balance! Haha But then an even more amazing thing happened - the dolphins came closer until they were swimming alongside our boat! Parang movieeee!! Sure, it was awesome but I got a little worried for their safety too. I kept telling Kuya to slow down a bit or to steer clear of the dolphins but he assured us that the dolphins know what they're doing. They are naturally playful creatures which explains why they were racing with our boat. But once they get tired, they'll fall back. At least that's what Kuya said.