Konichiwa Nihonjin!
After a span of at least 5 years since my last visit to Japan, I re-visited Osaka - Kobe - Kyoto, this round, with my friends.
September 10, 2015 Osaka
AM - me and my BFF landed at Kansai International Airport and took the approximately 1 hour journey JR line train ride to Tennoji Station. From there, we took the subway line to Temmabashi Station to check in to our small li'l Muji inspired room - We booked through airbnb (thanks to my BFF Bobo who did most of the research :D). This Muji room was literally a one single bedroom with a tiny built in toilet so it's perfect for one person but me and BFF are small in sizes *ahem so yeah, we could still do with it.
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| Our cosy lil Muji Room at Temmabashi Station, Osaka |
PM - our host (a very handsome Jap gentleman *thank God) told us a few of the attractions nearby.. no, I think just one - the Osaka Castle, which was just a mere 10 minutes walk away. And so we walked. The weather was pretty warm then.
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| That's Osaka Castle behind me |
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| I thought this overwhelming huge door was worth shooting |
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| Sun setting at Osaka Castle |
At night, we settled ourselves at Dotonbori, one of the must visit places in Osaka :)
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| Self service vending machine. Ka-ching! Our order is served ;D |
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We ordered this via the self-service vending machine. But of course, we were served by live humans :P
Fast and yummy! |
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| Apparently, a picture with the Dotonbori man is a must |
September 11, 2015 Osaka - Kobe
AM - We spent the day hanging around Osaka eating and shopping
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| And the shopping starts |
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| Me and BFF at Osaka |
Dessert treat at Quil fait bon patisserie, spoilt for choices!
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| Osaka station |
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| Osaka |
PM - And we headed to Kobe for dinner and for the magnificent night view at Rokko Mountain
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| But 1st, tsukemen for dinner |
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| Loving this tsukemen! Dip and dunk, dip and dunk |
To eat Tsukemen - dip and dunk the noodle in the thick hot soup. Slurp the noodle all the way up. For ladies out there, need not worry about manners! Slurrrrpppp away. No kiddin' :>> That's what our Jap friends told us. Slurping the noodle from one end to one end shows you are truly enjoying and savouring the noodle. It wouldn't represent you as having sloppy table manners. After finishing the noodle, you may ask the restauranteur to reboil your remaining thick soup into a diluted version for you to savour (otherwise it'll be a wee bit too salty to drink the soup on its own).
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| 'the 100 million dollar view" at Kobe ;) It was freezing cold! |
Our 2 lovely Japanese friends hosted us and offered us a stay in Kobe for the night :))
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| That's Mitsuru, DJ-ing some of this oldies for us |
September 12, 2015 Kobe - Osaka
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| Morning view from Mitsuru's apartment |
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| Sushi for breakfast |
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| Very fresh sushi - can't really get this in Malaysia |
After our Sushi-filled breakfast, we toured around Kobe town and stopped at Saturdays for coffee.
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| Loving this iced latte at Saturdays, Kobe |
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| Is it just me or does the barrista look hot? |
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| Wefie: Nana, Nobu, Mitsuru and Bobo ^^ |
After our satisfying coffee break, it's time to say goodbye to Kobe and head back to Osaka.
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| Checking in to our next airbnb apartment in Osaka |
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| but 1st, let us have coffee |
September 13, 2015 Osaka - Kyoto
It's time to meet our other 2 Malaysian buddies - Jasmine and Yuin who travelled on different dates.
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| Dinner 1st |
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| A must visit at Kyoto - Potoncho |
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| Quaint, cosy looking eateries are splattered around Potoncho |
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| Geisha spotted in Potoncho |
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| Having our beer by lake at Potoncho |
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| taking the subway back to our apartment. Our feet were in dire of a good massage |
Back in Kyoto, the airbnb apartment that me and BFF were staying was a bit of a distance from the Subway Station hence bicycles were provided for us. For those who are travelling to Japan and wish to be more adventurous staying in airbnb apartments rather than mainstream hotels, knowing how to ride a bicycle is a plus point :)
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| our mode of transportation from our apartment to the subway station:) Pit stop at Fresco to get some drinks and food |
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| Our cosy beds at the airbnb apartment we rented at Nishi Oji station |
September 13-16, 2015
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| konichiwa kyoto! |
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| Loving this fully-geared bicycle - built in basket, lock and stand. You can practically park the bicycle anywhere ^^ |
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| Someone who had not ridden a bicycle for years was testing her ride |
A must visit to Arashiyama where we were coolly sheltered under green stalks of bamboo in the bamboo forest.
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| Arashiyama |
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| Me striking a pose at the bamboo forest |
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| A group pic of us! lol |
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| Our lunch at Arashiyama |
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| Strong Jap men offering to give us rides around Arashiyama for a fee |
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| Eye candies - tall and strong |
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| Awesome view at Arashiyama |
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| The sight-seeing train |
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| Me and BFF |
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| We bought a cute Jap doll keychain for each other. Mine is Pure Beauty; Bobo's is Believe lol |
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| Me enjoying the beautiful view in Arashiyama |
BFF said we are not in Kyoto if we did not wear kimono and so we did. For around 5000 yen/person
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| Getting kimono suited |
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| The package includes a hairdo. FYI, the hairstylist (in the pic) is a "hamsap" man! Beware of his wandering hands (shame on him taking advantage of his customers!) |
The following beautiful shots were taken by our dear Jasmine =)
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| Nana and Bobo |
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| At Arashiyama |
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| Photobombed by Yuin lol! |
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| Never have I thought I would strut along the streets fully suited in a kimono |
Our next stop is the must visit Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine.
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| Attempting a remake of one of the scenes from the Memoirs of Geisha |
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| Waiting for the bus like any normal day. Perfectly normal to wear a kimono like any normal day. yep |
Next stop to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
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| Another "enjoying the view" shot |
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| Vanilla + green tea soft ice-cream for sale at every alternate stores here |
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| Me enjoying my ride around Kyoto (actually just to and fro from the Subway station to our apartment) |
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| But 1st coffee |
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| crossing the tunnel to reach the Subway station |
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| Food we ate at Kyoto |
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| Food we ate at Kyoto |
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| Night view at Kyoto |
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| Night view at Osaka |
Dear Japan, till we meet again. Hokkaido or Niseko perhaps? xoxo, Nana
