When you soon will leave one place and don't know whether you're able to go back again or not, you'll tend to cherish every last moments you have, just to make sure you have the best impression of that place. So in the future, you will feel content every time you recollect those memories.
And that's the reason why I went for a graduation trip last September. Don't get it wrong, I love Hokkaido. The nature is indeed amazing. No doubt about it. However, since domestication of the Northern land by mainland Japanese (shoving the native Ainu) was relatively new, traces of ancient Japanese culture barely decorate the landscape of Hokkaido. "At least you have to visit Kyoto", my daily supervisor said, "If you want to see the famous Japanese culture". Okay then, Kyoto became one of the must-visited city in my trip. After searching and considering things, finally I decided to take this route: Sapporo-Tokyo-Kyoto-Nara-Osaka-Hiroshima-Osaka-Sapporo, all in 11 days of trip.
Day 1
On September 5th, instead of direct flight to Tokyo, I took morning flight from Sapporo to Ibaraki and went to Tokyo by bus (buses from the airport are provided and it's free for passenger!). Why? Simple, it's cheaper *grin*. If you book early (and lucky), you can get as low as ¥5800! (Mine was ¥9800 though but it still saved some money). Although it definitely took longer time (1.5 hours flight plus 2.5 hours on bus), I would arrived in Tokyo at around the same time because direct flight to Haneda Airport Tokyo was about 1.5 hours after the flight to Ibaraki.
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| Skymark Airlines, famous for its low price |
After a bit lost at Tokyo Station, I went ahead to the lodge near Inaricho Station on subway Ginza line, called Oak Hostel. It was my first time being a so-called backpacker and with limited budget, staying at a hostel or guest house seems to be a reasonable. Although there were also single rooms, lower price dormitory rooms was the best budget-friendly choice. Just pray to get cooperative roommates, at least they don't snore at night *laugh*. My two Swedish roommates were nice, thankfully *smile*.
Overall the hostel was very nice. The room was quite big and air-conditioned, with a clean bathroom inside. They provided cable TV per room (which impressed me. you have cable TV in hotel room, but hostel?). There was also a small yet full equipped common kitchen, a coin washing machine, a common dining table and a relax sofa. Four computers with internet were free. What else can you expect? Oh yes, the most important thing, it's cheap! For dormitory rooms, I paid about ¥2900 per night. With all the facilities, it's worth the money.
Because the hostel was not far from Asakusa area, using rented bike (though it was free for guest, ¥10.000 deposit was needed) I went to Kappabashi Dougu Street on my way to Kaminarimon. There you can find kitchenware shops along the street, also shops selling food samples for restaurant displays. You know, the one that looks like real (even seems more delicious than the actual food *laugh*). Japanese technique in making those fake food is amazing. They even can make 'floating' fork or chopstick as if the tools are being used to roll noodles, or bottle in 'laying' position with its liquid being poured to a cup or glass.
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| Food samples as souvenirs |
When I arrived at Kaminarimon, it was already pass 6 pm. Most of the stores were already closed. I managed to buy little gifts for my friends (and me *grin*), but mainly I took pictures of the shrine and the gate. Last year I went to Kaminarimon at noon and the place was packed with people, mostly tourist, of course. This time I could quietly took photos of the big red lantern with less people passing by.
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| Shops long the road to the temple |
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| Kaminarimon and Senso-ji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) |
My first day in Tokyo ended as I went back to the lodge after grabbing something to eat for dinner, just a simple one from a nearby konbini (convenience store). Plan for day 2 was a trip Nikko, a city with world heritage shrine, near Tokyo. Got to rest then. See you!
Moral
I met an old man at the airport, seems to be the officer there, who ask me where my destination was. Because it was still couple of minutes until the bus arrive, I waited inside the building, instead of sitting outside (it was HOT fyi *laugh*). After a while, he came inside, looked for me, and when he saw me, he told me that the bus had arrived. Thanks to him, I didn't miss the bus. Such a dedicated public officer.
I met an old man at the airport, seems to be the officer there, who ask me where my destination was. Because it was still couple of minutes until the bus arrive, I waited inside the building, instead of sitting outside (it was HOT fyi *laugh*). After a while, he came inside, looked for me, and when he saw me, he told me that the bus had arrived. Thanks to him, I didn't miss the bus. Such a dedicated public officer.
Source:
Food samples (image)
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