I just got Lisa's pictures and description of our trip today. So I'm posting a more detailed story over our trip written by Lisa, edited by me. =) The writings in kursiv is my editing. =)
Tokyo Day 1 : Previous day arrival: Arrived by plane in Haneda Tokyo and took a bus to Ikebukuro. Walked to our homestay, CouchSurfers. The following morning we meandered towards Sunshinen City and looked at shops and the Orient Museum. The aquarium was closed. Wandered to Shinjuku looking for waseda university then kept wandering. walked all day, nearly 19 km.
Tokyo Day 2: We began our morning by taking the train from Ikebukuro to Ueno, then walking down Asakusa Doori to rent bikes. We searched for a couple of hours and finally found the rental...but they were out. Wandered down the small park by the canel. Saw the new tokyo sky tree, super tall building. Wandered down a few shops, namely the temple with the big lantern. More walking in just the Asakusa area. Ate gyuudon back in ikebukuro.
Tokyo Day 3: Up at freaking 7 to catch the 755 train to Ueno, back to Asakusa to rent bikes. Biked through to Shinjuku and stopped for an hour at the Imperial Gardens- Shinjuku Gyoen. There were some sakura and ume (plum tree) in bloom. Then we biked to Harujuka to see the lolita sunday crowd. Missed them but spent half an hour looking for bike parking, then wandered crowded Takeshita Street. Ate yummy Raspberry Cheesecake crepe (I, Vibeke had another taste, can't recall.lol) and shopped at some lolita and goth/punk clothing shops. Kiddy Land gone. (Lisa had visited a Kiddy Land here earlier) Then returned to Shinjuku, forsaked the Kitty Cafe for returning to Asakusa. Returned bikes then ate dinner at jonathans again. Back home. Last night with Couchsurfers.
Tokyo Day 4: slowly woke up and made our way to Ueno zoo, which was closed. Apparently, their pandas had died and just days after our stay, new ones were arriving. So we wandered a long street of shops, shoe-shopping and all. (I bought a supernice necklase at one of the stands! :D) Then we left for Odaiba. Made it to Shinbashi Eki, then took the new public transit to Odaiba. Met Asuka, Bibi's friend. We got food then wandered the beach. Did some shopping around and such. Then Bibi and I went back to Ueno to shop. Found a nice crepe/kebab shop owned by a turkish group. Really nice.
Along way home, bought a tea pot from a local shop. Talked half an hour with the elderly gentleman who owned the shop and his wife. Went to the Chinese resturant under the CS's place which was yummy. Chilled a little with the CS then left for the Shinjuku station for the night bus. A nice man helped lead us around to the exits looking for said bus terminal. Finally found it after some confusion. We would never have found it by ourselves in time...ever. (We were superstressed and soo affraid to miss the bus! Luckly we arrived on time!)
Osaka Day 5: After a sleepless, painful night of crammed night bus, we arrived a little after 9 at Osaka Eki. Wandered to Hankyu Central gate and stashed our things in a locker. Wandered to Ogimachi Park then past Osaka castle area to a bunch of shops. Found a street with over 20 doll shops. (There is a special festival in Japan, so people buy these dolls to have in their home, it's super expencive!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri) Finally found a market street of goodies. Took an early train from Umeda to Kawanishi Noseguchi then to Koufuudai. Spent the evening relaxing and enjoying a nice dinner. Love the Aisu family. Decided on USJ tomorrow, Kyoto on Thursday, Castla on Friday, then MC on Saturday and later...
Osaka Day 6: Woke up for breakfast and drove to Kawanishi noseguchi to catch the train to Universial Studios. Arrived before opening. Started with the hollywood dream coaster ride, then the Space fantasy, our favorite. We rode/watched Terminator 2, Spider Man, Back to the Future, JP, Rock and Roll Monster show, and something else. It was fun. Really tested out the Japanese on rides. Bibi got nice and wet on Jurastic Park Ride. ^_^ Ashita (tomorrow) wa Kyoto. asatte (the day after tomorrow)wa Osaka jyou to kaimono (shopping) , Saturday is MC, Sunday is Mino Park, and Monday could be more shopping and Sky building. We're thinking about skipping Hiroshima in favor of a night bus from Osaka to Fukuoka for the price of about 5,600 yen (for the nicer bus).
Osaka Day 7: Woke up and made our way easily to Kyoto at Kawaramachi eki. Then straight down was Yasaka jinja and a few other temples. We wandered. I saw four maiko/geisha briefly. Goal. We made it to Kiyomizu dera and enjoyed crepes and the shops while walking up to the temple. It now costs to enter and we were too cheap so we wandered back down. Bibi was sampling everything, (haha, yummy!) everywhere, mainly Yuushi? Cinnamon mochi with flavored fillings. I wanted to buy the Sakura but next year I hope. It was a lazy walk around day before we went home. Long train ride.
Osaka Day 8: Up later and wandering out to Osaka downtown. Making a loop- Osakajyo koen (Osaka castle park) , Shinsekai, then up through a lovely area to Americamura. (mura = village)
Did not make the loop. Instead got a day pass and went straight to Tennoji. Stopped at the zoo right after finding Shinsekai. Lovely zoo. Got to see Kowala and Kiwi! Then we found food at a local, small okonomiyaki shop for lunch. Then we began migrating to Nanba. Found lots of shopping there at Sennichi. Then up to search for amerikamura. Finally found it and then returned home late.
Osaka Day 9: On a spur, we decided to go to Nara since we moved MaryClare to Sun. We wandered to Todaiji area, marveling at the park like area and deer. Even fed some. Todaiji is like I remember, big and wide. Lots of mobbing shika. To the side, an undiscovered before Hokke-do and nigatsu-do. Nice view. Then migrated down to kusaga-taisha, the jinjya (shrine) I've visited twice before for deer fortunes. ^_^ Then my camera died. We went slowly back to the station, glancing at Kofukaji and hitting a pan-ya (bakery) with the most yummy cinnamon rolls yet.
Osaka Day 10: Took an easy morning and met up with Mary-Clare, jeremy, and John. We started with lunch and chatting at a Chinese resturant, then went to wander Osaka Castle Park. Then departed.
Osaka Day 11: Last day in Osaka. Hoped to meet Mary-Clare too. Didn't. Woke up to homemade miso and a rice dish for breakfast. We packed and wandered around Osaka, mostly snacking. Later we found Umeda Sky Bldg and checked in for the bus.
Fukuoka Day 12: After a rather nice bus ride, we arrived in Fukuoka, Hakata Station. Rainy. We found the hostel and checked in early. Met a guy who just came from Okinawa. Then we wandered around to Tochoji, to see the giant wooden Buddha Statue, then around to Canal City. Went to a international building of sorts with a nifty design and wandered the culture gallery there before heading back to Canal City for Okonomiyaki. THe best yet. Returned to Khaosan Hostel.
Fukuoka Day 13: Last day in Fukuoka. Got to borrow two bikes from the hostel to bike around town. Biked to the Ruins of Fukuoka Castle first then on to Robosquare and Fukuoka Town. Wandered around towards a shopping center and ended up getting food and headed home. Got a couple books from Book Off to study with and returned to the hostel. (We also went up Fukuoka tower, beautiful view! xD)
Okinawa Day 14: Arrived in Okinawa without trouble. Lost the nephew's ninja stars in security. My bad. Found CamCam House easily...interesting place. Has little cubbie style beds with curtains. Not too bad, 6 or so nights for only 6300 yen. Cheap. Wandered the tourist booth and collected info on places to check out. Wandered also to Heiwa Doori, lots of shopping. Sweet potato Kit kats. Looking at Zamami and Tokashiki Islands, two day trip; Southern Okinawa, the Aquarium and fruits Land; the Shuri Castle; maybe do some scuba or sea kayaking. Weather permitting...
Okinawa day 15: Started up after such a lovely night of someone screaming in Japanese after a nightmare...(It was like 4-5 in the morning!)walked along Kokusai road towards Shuri Castle Park. entered the castle and toured the area. Very pretty. Checked out Shrine Ruins of Enkoku and wandered through Naha. All lots of interesting places. Made our way to the Shiki?something Cemetary and Royal Garden. Found a Rockpaved road to climb up first. Then found a park and a playful cat before finding the giant cemetary. Very big and old. Then we found the Gardens and toured that. Took an hour to get back to Kokusai st. Had dinner. Then dessert at YogurtLand.
Okinawa Day 16: Started up late this morning and wandered toward Naha's only beach. Small and pretty ugly. The view of the sea is blocked by highway bridges. Plus swimming doesn't open until April. Found Tomari Wharf and the ferry dock. Then we stopped back at the hostel for a break. Hot day. Then we found the tourist info center and booked a car for Monday. Also laid out the rest of the week's plan. Tomorrow, biking to Southern Okinawa. Monday, the rainy day, is Northern Okinawa by car for the Aquarium. Tuesday is tokashiki island. Wednesday is Whale watching and shopping at Kokusai st.
Okinawa Day 17: Up and out to the rental cycle place. Got to rent sports bikes. Took us two hours to bike to Okinawa world. Spent a few hours there. Went through the Gyu--sendo caves, the Ryukyu kingdom, had Okinawa soba with spareribs, then went to the Habu Museum. (Snake museum) Took us three plus hours to bike home along Rout 331 through itoman. Long day. beautiful weather.
Okinawa Day 18: Pouring rain this morning as we left the hostel to pick up the rental car. Easily enough navigated out of the city to the expressway. No toll really. Made it to Churaumi Aquarium in abuot two hours. Lovely aquarium. Also had dolphins and manatees. Went from rain to very windy. Ate at A&W (Some kind of American restaurant) before driving back towards Naha.
Okinawa Day 19: Up and ran to catch the ferry to Tokashiki island. (At least 3 girls puked on the way over, lol) A man just returning to the island gave us a lift for free to Aharen Beach. We explored the beach and found a large cliffy rock place that we climbed all over. On the other side of one rock was a sweet cave that led up to the top of the rock, which we followed to the observatory. Then we went into town to find food and found lunch at a very local place. Bought ice cream and sat on the beach for a bit. Went to the man to see about sea kayaking but he recommended not with the wind. So we began hiking back to Tokashiki, stopping at Tokashiku beach. Unexciting but nice climbing rocks and beach. Hiked back to Tokashiki, found more snacks at a conbini (convenience store)and ate those. Made whale watching reservations. Sat around for an hour before the ferry arrived. Returned home.
Okinawa Day 20: Up in perfect time to ride the shuttle bus to the port. The trip to the whale watching spot took about an hour. We saw a humpback mother and her baby I think. It was hit and miss. Not to mention there were 8 or so other boats tailing her. Took 25 minutes to get back. (A cute couple slept through the whole boat trip. Haha! They looked very sad when they realized they had missed it all. :P ) Went shopping for souvies then back to send a parcel home. Ate out at the gyudon place again and came home to pack.
Okinawa to Sapporo Day 21:
Lisa hasn't written anything more.. hmm, what did we do then? haha.. We probably left to go back to Sapporo that day. I remember my father sendt me a message the day before about a eartquake and tsunami warning and if everything was fine with me. But the big event didn't happen before the day after I came back to Sapporo. (I came back at the 10th of March, it happened on the 11th)
The trip was superfun! And I'm so happy I traveled with Lisa! She is my perfect traveling companion. ;)
Thanks!
Lisa hasn't written anything more.. hmm, what did we do then? haha.. We probably left to go back to Sapporo that day. I remember my father sendt me a message the day before about a eartquake and tsunami warning and if everything was fine with me. But the big event didn't happen before the day after I came back to Sapporo. (I came back at the 10th of March, it happened on the 11th)
The trip was superfun! And I'm so happy I traveled with Lisa! She is my perfect traveling companion. ;)
Thanks!
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