Japan Trip 2008 - Day 8

19th Oct Sun (Shin Osaka-Kyoto-Keihan line-Eizan line-Kurama-Kyoto-Osaka-Shin Osaka)
ard 820am went out for onsen(hot spring).woo~ my 1st tm outdoor. took shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Kyoto.den change JR Nara Line to Tofukuji 东福寺 den transfer to Keihan Subway Line to Demachiyanagi Station 出町柳 (¥260).


Den again, chg to Eizan Subway Line,all e way to Kurama Station (¥410). which is last stop.will tk ard 1hr journey.e Eizan line train v different from others cos v different from other trains,as it gt seats tat faced to e side window.tats v gd lo.like tat everyone can get to see beautiful scenery.supposed to hv autumn leaves along e tracks but none.tink too early-muz ard early nov den able to see more at e lower sea level places.haa.


reached Kurama Station. Those who r going to Kurama Onsen can tk their free shuttle bus provided to their Onsen.so is v convenient. it’s time to enjoy my onsen ¥1100~! refreshed after tat.dun feel like wearing shoes at all.


took shuttle bus back station.had Cold Zaru Soba ¥750 for lunch at Kotengu 心天狗. Nt bad.ha.. left Unagi in my food list nw.


shop ard near the station den tk train back to Shijo Ohashi (North) 四条大桥(北) Keihan Subway Line. walked along Nishiki Food Market there.lots of fish.ha.tink if i stay there,might buy some to cook.hee.bought some grilled stuff.fried tofu tat look like takoyaki,sweet potato + pumpkin + carrot,veg.nt bad-ard ¥350.bought takoyaki again.nt tat nice.


decided to go back Osaka liao, dun wan waste time here. Took bus back to Kyoto Station. Before gng back Osaka, had our dinner (Soba & Don ¥600) at Mengushi, one shop inside JR station. we customers have to stand and eat, mking me feeling rush in eating sia..


Took JR train back to Osaka and was our last shopping time at there le. We walked to where we went for first time. jux tat it's nite tm..well,in Japan, sunset happens ard 5pm one.so their 6pm is like our 8pm.and already can see many ppl on street liao.like no ppl working like tat.


bought one cup noodles for our supper.quite nice wor.can buy hm.big portion and only ¥100. haa.last 2 days of tour liao.really fast.gona work soon.

Japan Trip 2008 - Day 7

18th Oct Sat (Shin Osaka-Kyoto-Pure Water Shrine-Kyoto-Saga Arashiyama)
Took Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Kyoto. Kyoto station is another look. Nicer than Osaka’s and Tokyo’s one. And try to find where’s tourist centre..haiz..lost..actually is at the main entrance there (where u can see Kyoto Tower). Get Kyoto bus guide and map from them. Bought sausage bread for brkfast.


Tk Bus 206 to Pure Water Kiyomizu Temple 清水寺. Standard bus fare ¥220. Went there as is more popular and more things to see. Alight at Gojozaka 五条坂. Have to walk uphill sia.


tired. The temple was crowded, maybe is Sat. and many gers wearing their kimono. Bought admission fee for ¥300. The temple was supported without wires, only wood.



Went for prayer for ¥100.well, din turn out gd for me.


had our small meal at Takinoya for Hot Tofu at a cost of ¥700. Nt bad.


Shopping along the street outside the temple. Can tk note of those cute stuffs tat can be bought at a rate (3 for ¥1050).


Took Bus 206 back to Kyoto Station. Next, we will be gng to Sagano Scenic Railway 嵯峨野観光鉄道 at Saga Arashiyama Station on Sagano Line. We hv to go to their small station Saga Torokko Station that catered only for this Railway route and buy their tickets for ¥600. Saga Torokko Station is jux beside Saga Arashiyama Station.



There’s a bamboo grove walk near this station also, planned to go after this 25 mins railway, but too late when we back to station. Cos quite ulu at nite when walking to there. We will be sitting Romantic Train from Torokko Arashiyama to Torokko Kameoka and hv to stand as no more space. Actually throughout the journey, the ride was kinda rush and fast. Cant really tk photos. Den halfway, gt ppl come n disturb.kinda disappointed.


FYI, Romantic Train is one of the activities. Another one will be Hozu River Boat Tour a one-way, two hour boat ride from Torokko Kameoka to Torokko Arashiyama for ¥3900. Finally reached Torokko Kameoka station and is near sunset le..walked along e path as we hv to go JR Umahori Station back to Kyoto.woo~ took pics of flowers with sunset. Reminded me of Cameron Highland Rose Farm.nice~.


another side of the station is plantation with sunset.its been a long tm no see sunset.


wanted go for bamboo grove.but too late and quite inside e neighbourhood. Took train to Kyoto and den took Subway to Karasuma Shijo 四条. Over there is like orchard. But nth much.juz walk along those bright lights area.haa..kyoto more on preserved food.


Bought one Puma shoes at ABC Mart.nth liao. Went 松屋 eat katsu don wif egg again. Juz miss tat egg..shiok.


walk awhile.Took Subway to Tofukuji 东福寺 so that able to chg to JR train. Took Nara line back to Kyoto. Den from Kyoto book Shinkansen to Shin Osaka.finally nt eating meal outside hotel for supper.

Japan Trip 2008 - Day 6

17th Oct Fri (Toyama-Tateyama Alpine Route-Matsumoto-Nagoya-Osaka)
Today will be Tateyama Alpine Route Day..4 tics to be prepared.


Leaving at 7am.had quick brkfast in hotel n rush train for 725am train from Dentetsu Toyama station (nt JR) to Tateyama 立山station ard 1hr (ticket is part of the route package).at the station, we have to chg the ticket to get the cable car ticket from Tateyama Eki to Ogizawa. From Tateyama,we took cable car to Bijodaira 美女平. 7mins.For this stop, everyone will jux squeeze in cable car,so bit hard to tk photos.


At Bijodaira, there’s 2 stops for us to go, is either go for Stopover (before reach Murodo) or directly go to Murodo. We of cos go for stopover, else the tic will be wasted.


When reached at the stopover at Midagahara at ard 945am (Jap time), started to wear my thick jacket, cold~ haa..on the way, was abit able to take pics. And the maple leaves r nt really red.weather was great wif few clouds.hee.and mountains looks great with sun shone on em.went further down,took lots of paromana view.ha.saved me alot of time also.


hee.took 1035am bus from Midagahara to Murodo liao,


tkg Tateyama Travel Trolley Bus at ard 1110am to Daikanbon (where u can see whole scenery from top).


From Daikanbon, we will be tkg Tateyama Ropeway down to Kurobedaira.

While waiting for ropeway, we ate some food samples,nice wor.milk almond.real gd.bought some hm too.this stop nth to se.haa.den but was able to feel strong wind n from inside can see beautiful view of outside liao.took some pics first.and who noes outside even nicer,as in wider angle to tk pics.go to the Observatory area. Able to see autumn leaves of colour mixture of green,red,yellow,orange,brown.jux great! With cable car as foreground.woo.haa.





Time up for Tateyama Ropeway down from Daikanbon to Kurobedaira. Here we can see another view of autumn leaves again..bigger and wider angle..nicee..went to the top for better view..




time to take Kurobe Cable Car to Kurobeko at 1220pm where we have to walk along the Kurobe Dam.


too bad nt able to see water at the Dam leh.as seen at those tourism photos.sian.but autumn leaves r gd enuf.Many obasan,ojisan went to all these.nvr see young ppl wor. Only those travellers.this place can be visited for autumn.As for other season,nt really sure.haa.


From Kurobe Dam, took Trolley Bus to Ogizawa (Last stop of the route) Today our timing was planned very gd.thanks to em.cos if missed one time,might hv to wait for a certain period.bit waste tm plus many ppl.might tk up time n place.at last stop,was v nice too but sometimes sun too strong also cant see anything.but nt bad liao.hee.heng ah.




ate Masu no Sushi there.nt bad-tasted like smoked salmon?abit. cost ¥750.


quite late le.ltr v long journey hm.1hr bus ride from Ogizawa to Matsumoto and Matsumoto to Kyoto 2hrs.den rush for Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin Osaka.hate rushing.haa.but unlimited n fast.no choice.


and again hv to eat e same place (outside hotel) for 3times.haa.nt bad la,n cheap.no choice.came back too late-all closed.ordered Katsu Don.ha.and saw the chef pour one scoop of egg onto e fried breaded Katsu.damn nice leh.shiok!Ha.


jialat.been eating supper since day 1.cos lunch always nt a proper meal.tink wun gain any weight.haa.supper also digested by zz n walking from morn to lunch or evening.

Japan Trip 2008 - Day 5

16th Oct Thurs (Shin Osaka-Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Toyama)
Leave ard 8plus.weather gd again-hee.but bit cold outside.checked out as gng to Toyama tonite.had our brkfast outside hotel again. Ordered udon with bit of tempura.


took train to Osaka Station and chg train to Nara.hv to tk Yamatoji Line, express train to Nara.


Actually quite easy to go Nara Park from Nara Station.turn left den cross at e first traffic light,and wil reach one main road all e way to e end,which is Nara park.cos is also well decorated.like putting false maple leaves along e road.alternatively, u can also tk their bus from Bus Terminal No 1 that will go to Todaiji Temple. Of cos will recommend to walk, so tat can see more things. Ard 15 mins walk, finally reach but yet to see any deer.finally saw some resting under trees and esp at e stall where sells deer food-those deer will come smell u to see if gt their food hidden anot?ha.


walked to Kofuku-ji Temple, gt 3 temples.den headed towards Todaiji Temple. popular one and saw many students.all primary sch one.paid ¥500 for admission fee.v sunny and realised that concert will be holding there.but in front of e big buddha?weird.i feel those kids r v fortunate.can go far for excursion n even gt photographer to tk grp photos for em.is nt one class,is like all pri levels.too many le.took pics of e big buddha,etc.took pics,deers.even saw one deer shitting shit like grape shape while walking.haa.er xin.Nara is their roaming place.so even gt cleaner help to sweep their shit! Shld tk tat pic.cos gt one deer jux resting at e direction where e cleaner was sweeping to.is like sweeping their shit back to em.ha.will the cleaner accidentally sweep to their face den hit em?haa.muz be v funny scene.took the temple from outside with reflection.and beside us r kindergarten kids tkg grp pics.forgot to mention.everyone of em gt caps one.pri sch has white caps,kindergarten has many colours.took pics of em.real cute and next grp will queue up for their class photo.when aiming em,suddenly saw one sweet ger showin her V hand on my cam LCD.ha.of cos choose her as my model.haa.


went to e last stop of Nara, Kasuga Grand Shrine. actually nt sure wat's those.Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.but nm.jux walked n even saw one scene of baby deer drinking milk.took video of tat.hee.


time to go.leg sole very pain.haiz.walked too much liao.took JR train from Nara to Kyoto and chg Shinkansen to Toyama.3hrs ride.zz almost all e way.shiok.


stayed at Toyoko-Inn Location is juz opp the JR station. rm is very big.and even for single bedrm.and we ladies can get cosmetic set and gifts for all. Eg, socks of diff designs, foldable bag, landyale, keychain, free internet n printing, coffee maker too.nt bad.oh ya. Actually Toyama is nt as boring as i tot.gt shopping mall jux beside station.so stil nt bad.


For dinner, we went Hachiban Ramen, outside the station. Ordered ramen wif jiao zi for ¥808.saw Toyama's speciality: Masu no Sushi. is abt e same as normal sushi,jux tat is pressed to form round shape n wrapped wif bamboo leaves.intended to buy one for lunch tml.