Japan April 2010

" If you love LIFE, LIFE will love you always "

" Age is a matter of feelings, not years "

" In LIFE, there is always, always & always something to be thankful for " 

" My 14 days free & easy visit with my wife & in-laws to Japan (Shizuoka, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Yokohama & Tokyo) - My 2nd Spring experience in Japan, a great Sakura splendor plus cherry blossoms viewings & parties with Japanese & overseas Wish Club members (2 - 15/4/2010). Wonderful overseas friends, breathing fresh air during the Sakura season in Japan, home-stays, Disneyland -another wonderful outcome in my travel "

In March 2008, my Japanese Hospitality Club/Couch Surfing member, Mr Mochan (who also runs his own Wish Club in Japan) visited Kuala Lumpur and invited our overseas members for a 1o day bus trip to Shimizu in Shizouka (Mr Mochan's home town), Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Tokyo. For this trip, three Malaysian members responded and together we made our first wonderful trip to Japan. As for the background on this trip and my 14 days (26/4-9/5/2008) in Japan, I had posted a number of photos and did a write up in my travel blog: www.km-travel.blogspot.com so please feel free to surf this website.

In Jan 2010, Mochan visited Kuala Lumpur again and while I was in the midst of planning my Europe trip, Mochan had related to me that his Wish Club is planning a 14 day Sakura bus trip to Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hyogo, Hiroshima & Gifu in early April 2010 - this sounded exciting as my wife had placed Japan as a top priority for a holiday trip so a quick decision had to be made as booking air tickets during the Sakura season could be a challenging one.

However, we were fortunate and managed to purchase 4 JAL promotion fare tickets (RM1,250) allowing a maximum travel of up to 14 days. My sister-in-law (a retiree teacher) and her husband accompanied us for this visit. After submitting our passports, travel itinerary, copies of fixed deposits etc, our visas were approved on the following afternoon.

Total expenses incurred in Japan (14 days) : RM4,500

Hostels (9 nights) - Y23,900 (RM884)
JAL air ticket - RM1,250 + Travel insurance RM66 = RM1,316
Entrance fees :Disneyland - Y5,100 ( senior citizen) + Nijo Castle(Y1,000) + Sanjusangen-Do (Y400) + Golden Pavilion (Y400) + Miyajima (Y300) = Y7,200 (RM266)
Cost sharing on bus ride - 10 day x Y2,000 = Y20,000 (RM740)
Metro / train tickets - Y10,000 (RM370)
Food & groceries - Y12,000 (RM444)
Souvenirs/100Yen Shops - Y11,000 (RM370)
Exchange rate: Y100 = RM3.70

My travel days during the Sakura season in Japan (2-15/4/2010) :

It's spring time in Japan ! Sakura (cherry blossom) was in full bloom in Tokyo & Osaka ! Really awesome !

It's party time in Japan ! Cherry blossom parties in Osaka & Toyko with Wish Club members from local and overseas ! Happy, Cheerful and lively !

Travel Highlights

1) Osaka (Osaka Castle)

2) Kyoto (Fushiminari Temple, Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Nijo Castle)

3) Hyogo (Amanohashidate, Kasamatsu Park; Kinosaki Town )

4) Himeiji City  Himeiji Castle)

5) Hiroshima (Miyajima Island & Itsukushima Shrine )

6) Shizouka (Lake Tenaki & Shiraito Falls )

7) Yokohama Port & China Town

8) Tokyo

a) Tokyo Tower

b) Shinjuku - Kabukicho 

c) Asakusa - Sensoji Temple

d) Imperial Palace East Garden

e) Shibuya

f) Meiji Jingu

g) Yoyogi Park

h) Ueno Park

i) Metropolitan Building (a panoramic view of Tokyo from the 45th Floor)

 

j) Tsukiji Fish Market

k) Disneyland

l) Ginza

m) Odaiba & Tokyo Bay

The Secrets of Life - Food energizes the body but dreams energize the soul "