Exploring Deoksugung (덕수궁) Neighborhood

Posted in Destinations, History, K-Pop and K-Drama, Palaces, Seoul, South KoreaLeave a comment

  Many visitors think that it’s good enough to just visit Gyeongbokgung (‘gung’ means palace), the largest of the five Joseon royal palaces in Seoul. While the palaces may seem similar, they each have their own charm and history. I particularly like Deoksugung for its unique mix of western and traditional Korean architecture, a coexistence… Continue reading Exploring Deoksugung (덕수궁) Neighborhood

Driving in Japan : Where to Find All Your Mapcodes and How to Use Them

Posted in Car rental, Destinations, Itineraries, Japan, Tips, Transport, Trip Planning4 Comments

When driving in Japan, the most convenient way to search for a destination in the navigation system of your Japanese rented car is to use mapcode. Using telephone number is easy too except that scenic locations like lakes and mountains don’t have any. It also takes more effort to search for the telephone numbers of… Continue reading Driving in Japan : Where to Find All Your Mapcodes and How to Use Them

Early Summer Itinerary for Hokkaido

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  Last year, I went to Hokkaido to escape the heat of Japan’s early summer. The weather was cool in Hokkaido, like that of Japan’s mainland in spring. I caught the last remaining snow on Daisetsuzan, saw vast fields of rapeseed (canola) flowers, tulips and pink moss phlox (shibazakura), hunted down scenic spots, explored a… Continue reading Early Summer Itinerary for Hokkaido

Forest of Warmth (Nukumori Forest), A Fantasy Village for Ghibli Fans

Posted in Architecture, Attractions, Destinations, Family, Honshu, Japan, Shizuoka, Theme parksLeave a comment

I chanced upon this charming little Ghibli-like village in Hamamatsu while I was looking for an interesting stopover between Kyoto and Hakone during my September 2017 Japan Trip. Nukumori no Mori (which means Forest of Warmth) is a small village of shops and cafes/restaurants housed in cute buildings, cottages, and huts designed and built by… Continue reading Forest of Warmth (Nukumori Forest), A Fantasy Village for Ghibli Fans

Real-Life Satsuki and Mei’s House from My Neighbor Totoro

Posted in Attractions, Destinations, Honshu, Japan, Parks and Gardens, Theme parksLeave a comment

Many Studio Ghibli fans are excited about the new Ghibli Park which will open in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (愛・地球博記念公園) come 2022. But do you know that there is already a real-life version of the house from My Neighbor Totoro, belonging to the lead characters Satsuki and Mei, that you can visit in the… Continue reading Real-Life Satsuki and Mei’s House from My Neighbor Totoro

My First Day in a Campervan – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 2)

Posted in Accommodation, Activities, Architecture, Attractions, Campervan, Destinations, Flowers, Food, Honshu, Hot springs, Hotels, Japan, Nature, Tokyo, TransportLeave a comment

After talking for months about traveling by campervan, I finally got the chance to do it during my recent Japan trip. And what an adventure it was! On the first day, I took photos with sunflowers that towered over me, entered the world of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, ate 100-yen conveyor belt sushi hoping to… Continue reading My First Day in a Campervan – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 2)

What Else To Do In Tokyo – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 1)

Posted in Activities, Destinations, Honshu, Japan, TokyoLeave a comment

What else to do in Tokyo? On my recent trip to Japan in September 2017, I had to decide on what to do on my only scheduled day in Tokyo (Day 1). After going through my wish list and repeatedly changing my plans, I finally settled on an anime-themed outing and go-karting. Here’s a long… Continue reading What Else To Do In Tokyo – Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 1)

A Great Start to Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 0)

Posted in Accommodation, Airlines and Airports, Food, Honshu, Hotels, Japan, Tips, Tokyo, TransportLeave a comment

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Having been to Tokyo twice before, I thought of skipping the city on my September 2017 Western Japan trip. But in the end, I included it in my itinerary because I was arriving at Haneda Airport (羽田空港 HND) at night. It is much nearer to Central Tokyo than the other Tokyo airport, Narita Airport… Continue reading A Great Start to Japan September 2017 Trip (Day 0)

The Day I Became An Apprentice Geisha

Posted in Activities, Arts and Culture, Attractions, Destinations, Experiences, History, Honshu, Japan, KyotoLeave a comment

Many come to Kyoto hoping to encounter a Geisha or Maiko (an apprentice Geisha). Instead of just wishing to catch a glimpse of one, why not become one yourself! Read on to find out how I became a Maiko on my recent trip to Japan.   KKday – My Travel Resource //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Thanks to KKday,… Continue reading The Day I Became An Apprentice Geisha

Spring in Okinawa

Posted in Destinations, Itineraries, Japan, Okinawa, Trip PlanningLeave a comment

Spring begins early in Okinawa, where you can enjoy various flower festivals from January to May. This year, I made a trip to the island to catch Japan’s earliest cherry blossoms, cosmos and sunflowers. I also revisited a few of my favorite places and discovered some hidden gems!   Day 1 (25 Jan) Cape Zanpa… Continue reading Spring in Okinawa