I admit that it was “Memoirs of a Geisha” (both the book and the film adaptation) that drew me to Kyoto, especially the scenes of Gion (previously blogged here) and of Sayuri running through the orange torii gates of this Shinto shrine. The area is also adorned with statues of foxes carrying keys to the […]
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No trip to Kyoto would be complete without dropping by the former Imperial Palace, where it was the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868.We walked through the Imperial Park first, a huge park and a long walk on the loose pebble paths (it wasn’t a pleasant walk for me as it was quite painful. […]
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As much as Tokyo brings the excitement of the big (very, very big) city life, Kyoto shows its more cultural and traditional side of Japan.The difference in architecture is enough to speak volumes. Our first destination was Gion, more popularly known as the district of geisha (or geiko, in Kyoto dialect).We were also fortunate to […]
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UPDATE!Ahh it’s the same cat café that Katy Perry and Karl Pilkington (from ‘An Idiot Abroad’) visited! Besides sakura blossoms, cat cafés are probably one of the top must-sees in Japan. Visitors pay an hourly fee (usually includes a free drink) and just spend their time with the cats. My friend Sheila and I were […]
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We visited Hakone for a full day to catch glimpses of the stunning views of Mt. Fuji, but Mother Nature was not on our side then as all we could see were clouds. The 2-day pass (¥5000) includes a return JR ticket to/from Shinjuku Station, bus rides around Hakone, a cruise on Lake Ashi and […]
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Oh, I have just returned from my trip to Japan and I have to say that it is THE BEST vacation I’ve ever had.Travelling around Japan is rather cheap and I’ve spent less than RM100 a day on food and public transportation (Singapore is a lot more expensive!)Japanese hospitality is also so wonderful that I […]
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