Japan 2012: Osaka 4D/3N Itinerary - Day 8

Date of Travel: 8-11 April 2012

Thank goodness for cherry blossoms. Otherwise, we wouldn't know what to do in Osaka. Today's mission was to find a way to transport the bicycle home. It did not come with a box, so I can't check it in. And I also cannot just wheel the bike to the airport. So we set out looking for a bicycle bag. Yodobashi Umeda offered quite a good selection of bike accessories, and we picked up a pretty cheap bag for the bike. We also needed a spanner to detach the bike pedals. You see, bringing a bike home isn't that easy after all.

Japan 2012: Osaka 4D/3N Itinerary - Day 7

Date of Travel: 8-11 April 2012

Osaka city, taken from Temmabashi

Sorry to say this, but we did not like Osaka very much. First impressions are always the strongest, and we had quite an eye-opener first day. Plus coming from places like Kyoto and Nara, Osaka was lacking in food and culture as well. So this is what happened to us.

Day 7 - Bike Hunt

Coming from Nara's JR Station, we were heading to our hotel Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka. Based on the maps and Hyperdia, the easiest way would be to go from JR Nara to Shinimamiya, then switch to the Nankai line to Namba station, which is where our hotel was located. We got to Shinimamiya station quite easily. Because we were carrying heavy luggage, we tried to locate the elevator to the exit. This turned out to be the wrong side of the station to exit. The elevator transported us back in time to the 1950s of Japan that we watched on TV. It was shockingly dirty, ill-maintained and a true eye-opener of what the city actually is like. As I got out of the station, I was disoriented and landed up at the Osaka subway, which was visible from the train exit. If I thought it couldn't get any worse, I was wrong. Beggars sleeping on the streets. Cigarette butts everywhere. People wandering aimlessly, and looked at us funny. Quickly turning around and going back towards the right direction, we traveled 2 stops to Namba, and were once again transported to the 21st century. What a first impression! Sorry no photos of this incident, I was too unnerved.

Japan2012: Nara 3D/2N Itinerary - Day 5,6,7

Date of travel: 6-8 April 2012

Wait, where are you going??!!

Everyone knows that Nara = Deers (no, not literally). What's there to do in Nara? Visit the deers. What's there to buy? Souvenirs shaped like deer. What's there to eat? Pancakes shaped like deers. Aside from deers, what else is there? Spending 2 nights here was more than enough to discover what Nara has to offer.

AirAsia Isn't Perfect

Sometimes, it's hard to be proud of AirAsia when they make mistakes like these. Plus it was on their front page too. Guess it shows that they are only human after all. Gambateh!

Japan2012: Kyoto 5D/4N Itinerary - Day 5

Date of travel: 2-6 April 2012

Cycling along the Kagawa river

This is our final day in Kyoto, and the weather wasn't too kind either. We exchange our coupons at Kyoto Hana Hostel and rented 2 bikes for the day for free. We rode all the way back to Sanjo Kawaramuchi area from the night before, and managed to find an official bicycle parking for ¥100 for the first 3 hours. One place we always wanted to visit was The Loft. Having been to The Loft in Bangkok, we loved to browse all the cutesy stuff they have in there. Turns out Kyoto's The Loft was just as cute.

Japan2012: Kyoto 5D/4N Itinerary - Day 4

Date of travel: 2-6 April 2012

Umekoji Craft Market - First Thursday of each month

Today was our lucky day. After Sukiya beef bowl (yes again!!), we decided to visit the Gold temple Kinkakuji. On the bus ride there, we passed a craft market which we totally forgot we wanted to visit. This is also known as the Umekoji Park Craft Market, that opens only on the first Thursday of each month. About 6 rows of 20 stalls selling items from handicraft, wooden toys, clothes, to plants and cakes. I bought 3 bars of handmade soap and a donkey house for Monica.

Japan2012: Kyoto 5D/4N Itinerary - Day 3

Date of travel: 2-6 April 2012

Entrance to Nishin Honganji Temple

 To start the day, we decided to try out the closest temple to our hotel, which is Nishin Honganji. The moment we entered, we saw about 1000 women on the grounds, all dressed in suits and heels. Turns out that it was some orientation for the Kyoto Women's University. The temple is known for its gardens, but the temple itself was nothing to shout about. Would have skipped this on hindsight.

The main temple inside, very huge