Mhy Stories: 2015

Thursday, November 19, 2015 November 19, 2015

How to get a Japan Tourist Visa in the Philippines : Simple Tips andGuide for First Time Applicants

If you are in the Philippines and thinking of a getaway in the Land of the Rising Sun but somehow feeling reluctant because this requires a visa, then here’s a good news for you. These days, applying for a tourist visa, with no guarantor or reference in Japan, is easy (or should I say, a lot easier than I thought). If you are first time applicants, you might want to know these things in order to make your visa applications successful.

Okay, first things first. In filing your application, please remember that:

1. Application for tourist visa for Japan is done THROUGH ACCREDITED AGENCIES. (for full list of accredited agencies, please click here)

2. If you are outside Manila, you can send your documents via courier, yes, ONLY through COURIER. You can send your documents to the agencies of your choice which in turn will file the application on your behalf.

3. Visa applications DO NOT require personal appearance or interview at the Embassy of Japan in Manila

4. If your documents are in order, the fastest visa approval only takes a week or less than a week. In my case, the agency submitted my application on September 3 and the approval date was on the same date. I received my passport from my agency with stamped visa on it via courier in four days, including Saturday and Sunday!

5. Visa processing fee is P1,680 plus P600 for handling fee (if you are outside Manila). You can ask your agencies about their preferred courier, or in most cases, they directly give the names of their preferred companies through which you can send your documents and your payments. By the way, payment and documents are sent separately.

6. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines is usually giving 3 months of stay for tourists in Japan. So if you’re planning to book a flight, make sure that your intended stay in Japan shall be covered by the effectivityof the visa.

This is what I did: I grabbed a 2-way flight promo at Cebu Pacific but did not file my visa application right away as my scheduled flight would be in October. I waited until September to apply for my visa. In some instances though, it’s always safe to get a visa first then after release of your visa, plan out and schedule your trip accordingly.

Now that you know these things, here are the documents that you need to prepare:

DOCUMENTS/REQUIREMENTS:

1. The duly accomplished VISA APPLICATION FORM TO ENTER JAPAN which is downloadable at Japan Embassy website (please click here) . Take note that you can find in the website guide on how to properly fill out the same (click here).

2. PASSPORT at least 6 months valid

3. OLD PASSPORT/S, if any

TIP: This works well if you have previously been issued a tourist visa for Japan. But if you have no previous travels or visa to show, this is not necessary. The agency told me about this.

4. COLORED PHOTO (2pcs)

Photo studios know the standard photo size for Japan visas. Just state that it's for Japan and they will give you what you need.

5.NSO copy of birth certificate (one year valid)

TIP: Please avoid committing my mistake: I submitted an old NSO Copy of my birth certificate ASSUMING that an NSO copy would always be valid. Little did I know that the barcodes reflected in the NSO copy of birth certificate indicate the time of its issuance. I’ve had doubts before about the validity of my copy but I didn’t ask. I just learned about this when the agency called up informing me that I have to submit a recently issued NSO copy of my birth certificate. In short, I assumed! So the lesson: When in doubt about the requirements you are submitting, don't assume. It's always better to ask and clarify with your agency.

6. BANK CERTIFICATE

The big question here is: how much savings do I have to have in the bank in order for me to get approved? THE MORE (savings), THE BETTER (the chance of getting approved). This was the answer I got when I raised this question. So I cannot give a definite amount of the savings that you must have to get a visa but I think this would help: You just have to show the embassy that you have enough savings to sustain the entire duration of your stay in Japan.

I’ve come across some sites and blog articles saying that there were applications which have been approved with bank savings ranging from P50,000 –P90,000 for a week travel to Japan. From here you can take a clue on how much savings you should have in the bank 😊 to guarantee your visa approval for your intended travel.

Please remember: only bank certificate NOT bank statement that you have to submit.

7. DAILY ITINERARY which you yourself have to personally prepare. The itinerary shall include addresse/s of your hotel/s during your visit to Japan. This requires research and readings. I personally made a research and asked some friends who have been to Kyoto and Osaka and a good friend in Singapore provided me a good jumpstart preparing my itinerary.

Note: This does not necessarily require actual hotel bookings but only to show the embassy that you DO have a travel plan. In my case, I have put names of the guesthouse of my choice at the time of my application. But when I finalized everything about my trip, I got final hotel bookings different from the ones reflected in the itinerary that I submitted to the embassy.

8. CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT FROM YOUR CURRENT COMPANY
9. LATEST INCOME TAX RETURN
10. ANY REAL PROPERTY DOCUMENTS
11. VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS (CR & OR)
12. AIRLINE BOOKING
13. COMPANY ID
14. APPROVED LEAVE OF ABSENCE

I submitted all requirements except for items under Nos. 10 & 11. In addition, I forwarded a PERMIT TO TRAVEL issued by my current employer stating that I am cleared of any property of financial accountability and further guaranteeing my return after my approved leave of absence,

So there. It is as simple as that. And last but not the least, remember to keep your documents neat and presentable. So what are you waiting for? Apply now and plan your much desired Japan trip. Go guys :-) !

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 November 11, 2015

Kansai Region: Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama and Himeji

For first time visits in Japan, I guess the itineraries would always include museums, castles and temples. Unless you are interested in other things or are in business travel or in case your travel falls in springtime where cherry blossoms are the main photo background, your Japan visit in autumn or summer will most likely include castle and temple hopping. Or unless you've been to famous castles in Europe, you might as well skip castles and temple visits in the Land of the Rising Sun. At the guesthouse where I stayed in Osaka, I had a roommate from France who opted to catch a football game the day after spending the night at the Osaka Observation Deck. I also met a fellow Pinay solo traveler who was not interested in castle and temple hopping. Her itineraries in Japan included watching a cooking show and visiting the ramen museum instead. She has spent many months in Edinburgh, Scotland and has seen the grand castles there, o well, what can I say? We talked about the possibility of catching up at the Ramen Museum before the two of us set out for Kyoto the next day for separate itineraries. Sadly though we were not able to reconcile our schedules that Sunday. If our paths will cross again someday in our future travels, hope by then we will be able to catch up :-)!

As I mentioned in my earlier blog posts, Japan has a lot of things in store for tourists. In Osaka, there is Dotonburi, the Osaka Castle, ramen museum, the observation deck, Osaka Aquarium, the Umeda Sky Building or the Floating Garden and the Shitennoji Temple, to name a few! Believe me, I had a hard time finalizing my itinerary. In Kyoto, you can find many world heritage sites such as the Golden Pavilion, the Silver Temple, the Nijo Castle, the Kyoto Imperial Palace which by the way I didn't have an opportunity to check out and visit, and many other tourist spots that it felt like my 3-day stay had not been enough. Aside from sightseeing in Osaka and Kyoto, I managed a hop at Himeji Castle and likewise got to enjoy a Shinkansen ride going to Okayama where I saw several trams roaming 'round the beautiful streets of the city.Thanks to my JR Knsai Wide Pass it gave me huge savings on my bullet train rides! Notwithstanding my aching feet and my misadventures which mostly included getting off track in most of my lakads, I can say that the whole travel experience was one real lot of fun. My misadventures provided me opportunities to see the inside alleys and streets where a normal tourist would not pass by. Besides that, they made me also get a feel of the neighborhood in Japan and helped me prove to myself that Japanese people are indeed very helpful. They are like angels in disguise who will go out of their way and break language barriers just to help tourists like me find and locate destinations! I really admire them :-)

Okay, this is the fourth and last part of my travel diaries to Japan, aside from the two more which I'm hoping to post, one is, how to get a Japan tourist visa when you're in the Philippines, and the other one, maybe, just maybe, a brief post on how to enjoy Japan when you're on a tight budget. Hope I will be able to make a brief post about the latter.

Here, please read on. It can help you decide which places you may want to visit in the Kansai Region of Japan ☺️

O S A K A

From the City of Nara I headed to Osaka, again using my JR Kansai Wide Pass. Antoine, the owner of the guesthouse where I stayed in Osaka was supposed to fetch me at Shin Osaka Station but since I couldn't make it on time, I dropped him a message canceling our meet up - something that I regretted later that day because I really had a difficult time figuring out the way.

1. DOTONBURI

This is not originally included in my list yet by reason that I reached the guesthouse very late, I thought that it was good to hang out in the area which they say is nice to be visited during nighttime. On my walk that evening, I passed through several bridges, I think there were three or four bridges along Dotonburi, if my memory serves me right. The first bridge from Osaka Station is the least busy among them all as I saw only a few people passing by and sitting on the benches. The crisp air, the cold weather, the silence at this particular portion of Dotonburi make it a romantic setting for lovely evening walks (the only sound I heard was the sound of the flowing water and of the engine from the motorboat cruising the Dotonburi river) . I pulled my camera but when I tried to snap some selfie photos, the river didn't look romantic at all, haha. So I gave up doing selfie shoots so as not to ruin the scenery. But of course I wouldn't let the night pass by without getting a photo of me by the river. When given the opportunity, I asked somebody to take a picture of me,however not by the romantic river, but at a different spot. You would notice in the below photo that some lights have gone out; it was already very late and some shops began to close.

This is the romantic portion of the Dotonburi, at least on my own assessment ehe.

The closer I get to the center of the Dotonburi the busier the streets seemed to become. When I reached the Ebisu Bridge, where the famous icon Glico Man billboard is, there I began to realize that indeed Dotonburi is the bustling and beating heart of Osaka nightlife not only because of the colorful neon signs and billboards of the restaurants and mall shops lined up along the entire stretch of Dotonburi, but because of the large crowd in almost every corner. I was overwhelmed by such number of people! Where they were from and where they all were going...I don't know :-)

As described in one website : Dōtonbori is often considered the mecca of the city's penchant for cheap, good food, and as such is often highlighted in guidebooks as a "must see" destination for visitors to the city. Examples of Osaka regional cuisine that one may find in abundance around Dōtonbori include okonomiyaki(pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon, as well as local variations of sushi, ramen, and other Japanese cuisine.

So if you want to enjoy a fun-filled night in Osaka and ready to shop until you drop and jostle through the crowd and satisfy your gastronomic yearnings, then visit Dotonburi!

2. OSAKA CASTLE

I stayed three days in Osaka; but the funny thing was, I didn't get to visit Osaka Castle within that span of time. So what did I do when I was in Osaka aside from hanging out in Dotonburi? Well, I enjoyed the comfort of the bed at the guesthouse and went to Himeji and Okayama! I just dropped by the Osaka Castle on the last day of my stay in Japan. From Kyoto, I went for a train ride going to Osakojokoen Station at the JR West Osaka Loop Line. I walked from the station with all my fully loaded backpack and shoulder bag and one paper bag containing some pasalubong for friends and my family back home. Man, I was really tired that I almost backed out. I almost went straight to the airport! But thinking I might regret if I didn't check this particular tourist spot in Osaka, I headed on, anyway it was my last day in Japan. I walked around the huge grounds of the castle until I reached the main castle! While walking, I have fully decided not to anymore use backpack on my future travels out of the country. I will use a trolley, instead. I made this promise to myself!

I've read some reviews about the castle which is said to have undergone major renovation and reconstruction. There is no entrance fee being collected here unless you go to the tower and enjoy a good view of Osaka City for a 600-hundred yen. I didn't go. Going up sounded too much for me that time. I was too tired.

Does it show that I was too tired walking and walking and walking?

I hadn't really gone much in Osaka, but in case you go and visit the place, make sure you try out the foods and see for yourself why Osaka, Japan's second largest city and the capital of western Japan, made it as Japan's food capital and favorite destination for both local and international food lovers!

K Y O T O

Someone told me that Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan. I checked the Internet to verify this information and I've found out the following information:

" In the modern age, Kyoto lost its rights as the political capital, to Edo (modern day Tokyo). In the first year of the Meiji period (1868), Kyoto regained its status as capital but the political situation of Japan called for Tokyo to be the country's center once again."

Further in my readings, I came across the brief history of Kyoto at gojapango.com stating that Kyoto suffered extensive destruction in the Ōnin War of 1467-1477, and did not really recover until the mid-16th century. I also found out that the city was considered to be one of the sites of atomic bombings at the end of World War II, along with Hiroshima and Nagasakai, yet the United States decided to remove Kyoto from the list of targets due to the "beauty of the city". As a result, Kyoto is the only large Japanese city that still has an abundance of prewar buildings.

After reading the article, I came to understand the beauty and charm that is so inherent in Kyoto nowadays. At present, 17 spots within the city have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. Out of these 17, I was able to visit only 4 (oh no! Only 4! Got a lot of catching up to do ehe) and here is my list along with photos I personally took :-)

1. NIJO CASTLE

A portion of the Nijo castle was under renovation when I got there. So I don't think I've seen all its grand. Nonetheless the lush greenery and the beautiful gardens made me appreciate the site. There is this elevated portion where one can have an overlooking view of the castle and the surrounding landscape.

2. KINKAKUJI (THE GOLDEN PAVILION)

The moment I saw the Golden Pavilion, I knew the place would be a personal favorite along with Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Kiyomizudera Temple. I was having a hard time getting some photos as there was no stand or anything in the area where I could mount my camera. Glad someone came to my rescue and voluntarily offered to take photos of me. The place is breathtaking just like the view I see only on posters, but now I'm seeing it for real, it's right here before my eyes!

3. GINKAKUJI (SILVER TEMPLE)

The Ginkakuji got inspiration from the Golden Pavilion or the Kinkakuji. This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Personally, I like the Golden Pavilion better than the Ginkakuji the way I prefer gold to silver haha. Kidding aside, this place is worth a visit. The sand garden, the moss garden, the temple, the lush greenery - are all a sight to behold!

The unique dry sand garden

3. KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE

This is another must see in Kyoto and another personal favorite. From Ginkakuji or the Silver Temple I took Bus No. 100 to Kiyomizu Dera. I walked through Higashiyama District which is bustling with crowds and shops selling souvenir items and special delicacies of Kyoto. I loved the entire stretch of Higashiyama it is so Japanese! If there is one thing I regret about this place was that I didn't buy mochi pasalubong here. I thought the delicacies being sold here would be available anywhere in Kyoto, but I was wrong (sigh) :-(

The Kiyomizu Dera Temple

O by the way, a friend recommended to go sightseeing here late in the afternoon. But I arrived there around 10:00 o'clock in the morning and the sun was up that time. I guess my friend was correct. Late afternoon visits will give you an opportunity to get a better view of the temple and the overlooking view of Kyoto! So if ever you wish to visit here, better go late in the afternoon.

5. FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA

Before going to Kyoto, I made it a point to visit this place which was one of the filming locations of the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. Fushimi Inari Shrine is accessible by JR Train (so again thank you to my JR Kansai Pass). I got off Inari Station and from there I saw the shrine. As I walked toward the place, my heart was beating fast haha that I wanted to hurry up and get there right away! I wanted to see the spot where that child from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha came running delightfully, with all her newly-found vibrant, youthful hopes and dreams of becoming a geisha one day then...somehow meet again the man who has shown him kindness.

The place was jam-packed though. I saw quite a number of tourists (I think five or six buses loaded with visitors came that time!) and I was like, oh no, how can I ever get a good shot with all these people around me? I so desired to capture melodramatic photos as a tribute to the film Haha so "what now happens with my plan?" I was asking that to myself. I tried to stay behind in my hopes that the flow of people will subside a bit. Alas, from the looks of it, people kept coming and going so I had no choice but get photos as much as I could through the crowd! At certain points, I managed to ask people to snap photos of me ☺️

Here at Inari, I did some hiking ! This is unexpected but I was happy To have done it. It takes 2-3 hours to hike the summit and back. But it's up to the visitors if they want to hike and continue way up. Well, I did :-). The site is very impressive with all those endless vermilion torii gates installed up to Mt. Inari Summit. I loved the place. Though it's not part of the world heritage list like the four (4) sites listed above, it's my personal favorite and highly recommended along with other two spots, the Golden Pavilion and the Kiyomizu Dera Temple!

O I forgot to add, from items 1-5, you have to pay corresponding entrance fees except for Fushimi Inari :-). Aside from the spots listed here, the temples and spots I visited include Todaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Kennin-ji Temple and Gion District. My guesthouse is just a stone throw away from downtown Kyoto and the Gion District.

O K A Y A M A

When you go to Okayama don't forget to visit two of the famous spots in the city: the Okayama Castle and the Korakuen Garden which ranks as 3rd most beautiful garden in Japan. From Osaka, I took the Shinkansen ride to Okayama (for the nth time, thank you JR Kansai Wide Pass for the huge savings on unlimited train rides to many places as far as the City of Okayama)!

The photo below was taken at the exit/entrance gate of the Korakuen Garden where you can have a glimpse of the Okayama Castle.

H I M E J I C A S T L E

This site must be on your list if you go to the Kansai Region of Japan because it is the most celebrated and best preserved castle in all of Japan! O by the way the photo below is not mine.

So there! Hope in your Japan visit you'll get to check out the same places and even those not listed here :-)

Monday, November 9, 2015 November 09, 2015

Enjoying Nara, Japan

Of all places, why Nara? What and where is Nara anyway? How did it happen to be in my Japan itinerary? How did I come to know about this place in Japan?
Nara is the capital of Japan's Nara Prefecture located in the Kansai Region. It is located almost an hour train ride from Kyoto and Osaka. The city houses some of Japan's oldest temples and artwork dating to the 8th century, when it was Japan's capital. I came to know about this place through a friend, who has gone here for a side trip from Kyoto and Osaka. She mentioned to me that you can find a lot of deer here. And just because deer are not commonly seen here in the Philippines and in my hope to find Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, the one with a very shiny nose, I've decided to put it in my list of places to visit :-) haha!
From Kansai Airport I boarded a JR Train going to Nara using my Kansai Wide Pass. I changed train at Tennoji, got confused where to board next but the signage directed me to go to Platform 17 for the train going to Nara. After an hour travel, I reached Nara station. I went to the Tourist Information Counter where I was given a map and some directions on how to get to Todaiji and Nara Park. I was about to take a bus going there but changed my mind at the very last minute. I instead asked for some directions on how to get there by walking. It's a 20 minute walk, I was told, but I didn't mind. I read that walking from the station to Todaiji Temple is good as you may stumble upon interesting spots along the way. I went walking and found the whole area really so Japanese!
The streets of Nara are quiet and peaceful. I saw a lot of pine trees which made me remember Baguio City. Nara is quiet, that you can can actually get that suburban feel. It was also here when I saw customers queuing outside a food house while waiting for their turn. (I myself experienced that when I went to a famous ramen house in Kyoto. The crew asked me to wait for 20 minutes outside!)
I was seeing other tourists who, just like me, seemed not minding this 20-minute walk. But I could not keep up with them because I was too busy photograph-ing myself along the street ehehe. It was like I was doing a walk to remember, that I forgot I was carrying a heavy back pack and a shoulder bag:-) The street (Šorry I forgot its name) resembles a quiet Japanese setting. The establishments just lined-up there shyly; but with pride 😄. I saw some Japanese teens who are wearing their school uniform; some were riding their bicycles; at another point I saw a group of cute school children out in the street while being guided by their teacher; I also stumble upon a group who were singing or probably uttering some chants (at least that's what it appeared to me) while walking down the street.

Along the main road, I spotted a pathway leading to something that looks like a small temple, uhm, I wasn’t really sure, because I could not read the Japanese inscriptions and I was only seeing from a distance. I painstakingly tried to take a photograph of myself along the pathway, but only to no avail. Suddenly I saw a man approaching me, volunteering to take a photograph of me at the place, and I gladly accepted his offer. After taking photos, he told me that the place I was seeing at the end of the pathway is an emperor’s tomb. I asked if I could come closer to take a look. He replied that I could check until the gated portion of the shrine.

After doing some photo shoot at the area, I continued walking. Then I heard a voice coming from behind me. I turned my head and saw a man, whom I presumed to be in his late fifties or early sixties asking me if I know where I was heading to. I politely told him, "No (sir), actually no" (what I exactly meant: I was trying to find my way around). From there he ushered me until we reached Kōfuku-ji Temple (興福寺 Kōfuku-ji). O by the way, the man even volunteered to take a photograph of me by the pond just across Kōfuku-ji Temple and the Five Story Pagoda. So many good-hearted people in Japan, indeed!

Kofukuji Temple is an impressive reminder of the former greatness of Nara, which was the capital of Japan from the year 710 to 784. Kofukuji consists of numerous significant buildings and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara." Its five-story pagoda is the second-tallest in Japan, and is commonly recognized as a symbol of Nara (photo and label from online source:Japan travel)

I really didn't take so much time at Kōfuku-ji Temple. I was having a difficulty photographing myself haha. So I went on, with Isuien Garden on my mind. I saw a number of deer roaming around, and took some photos of them.

ISUIEN GARDEN

Isuien Garden turned too difficult for me to locate that time. I spent a great deal checking on maps, looking and asking for directions, until I was able to locate it! Isuien is a privately maintained traditional Japanese style garden in Nara; it is modest and quiet, with a pond and lush greenery accented by the borrowed landscape from Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji Temple and the Kasugayama Hill. This is exactly what I came here for! Yet it's a sad thing that I could not have a good capture of this borrowed landscape...oh, maybe I was taking the photo at a wrong angle. Sad!

The leaves of trees at Isuien began to change colors

There you can see the hills and a portion of the Todaiji Temple

I was ushered by a guide inside the garden. She tried to explain to me the meaning of several sections of the garden such as the small pond by the entrance; the tea house and the borrowed landscape at the main pond). The tea house, by the way, has a very low and small door, which according to the guide became a symbol and reminder of humility for people back then (and even today). Oh what a life's lesson we should always remember! 😊

Here's one thing: The entrance fee to Isuien is a lot more expensive compared to entrance fees to famous castles and temples in Kyoto including Korakuen Garden, which is Japan’s 3^rd most beautiful garden situated in Okayama. Nonetheless, Isuien is still worth a visit if you want to appreciate its beauty first hand. O by the way, I forgot to mention that the entrance fee is inclusive of a ticket to the Neiraku Museum located just at the front area of Isuien. It houses a collection of antique artifacts and works of art. I didn't check inside the museum, though. O boy, I was too tired!

YOSHIKIEN GARDEN

This garden is situated right beside Isuien Garden. Unlike the latter, there is no entrance fees being collected from foreign tourists.

Inside the garden you will be greeted by the lush scenery. It is smaller than Isuien, yet I think the greenery is equally refreshing despite that it does not have the 'borrowed landscape' that Isuien Garden got to enjoy from neighboring sites.

TODAIJI TEMPLE

Behold this is the largest temple in the whole city of Nara which houses the Great Buddha statue. After a much tiring walk, at last I reached this place! There were lots of tourists and deer around (much more than those I saw earlier)! And alas! This was where my misadventure happened (well, aside from being lost three or four times in locating Isuien). When I was about to enter the enormous gates, my iPad battery has gone drained! Too tired and disappointed for this misadventure, I went back to Isuien where I deposited my things in a locker for a refundable hundred yen fee. Please, oh please when you go for sightseeing like this, make sure that you have your gadgets (camera) in full battery or that your power bank is compatible with your gadget! And please, don't go around while carrying all your things and luggage! Check in first at the hotel or look for spots (like Isuien and I think many other tourist spots) which rent out lockers and there you deposit your things and then go! Move around freely 😀!

At first I planned to get my digicam (o yes, i was bringing an extra camera) and head back to Todaiji. But my tired body started to give in that I lost heart to go back to the temple. I went on to find my guesthouse. I think I circumnavigated the whole Nara that time that I was yearning so much to get some rest!

WHERE TO STAY IN NARA?

Many sites like booking.com offer a great number of hostels, hotels, guest houses to choose from for those who are staying in Japan for sightseeing. If you intend to spend days or nights in Nara, I personally recommend Nara guesthouse 3F which I got for 3,000 yen per night inclusive of breakfast consisting of fresh fruits, bread toast, scrambled egg, fried ham, yogurt and a choice of coffee, tea or real fruit juice! Buuurrrppp!! The guest house is new; the rooms, the shower rooms, toilet, kitchen, living room are squeaky clean :-) You can check out their site here http://guest-house3f.com/en/

The only downside: quite difficult to locate because it is situated side by side with other establishments in the area. Thanks to a Japanese guy who helped me out in locating the guesthouse. Believe me, he couldn't speak English at all but did all his best to help me! In my behalf, he went and asked people around. Japanese people are really helpful!

Here is a guy who wholeheartedly helped me find my guesthouse in Nara! Thanks to him!

After spending a night at the airport (click here for the whole story http://mhymusings.blogspot.com/2015/10/kansai-airport-kix-my-first-ever-gyudon.html), the guesthouse has provided me a good rest that night. ZZZZzzzzzZZZZ

Sunday, October 25, 2015 October 25, 2015

Lost in Japan: My Adventures and Misadventures as a First Time SoloTraveler

I never imagined going out of the country alone. While I've had experiences in the past that I went solo travel, they were just within my home country. So the first time this trip to Japan was conceived, I was planning it out with a former colleague in Singapore who happened to visit Japan several times. However, due to unexpected circumstances, our plan to travel together in February this year did not materialize. But such changes didn't stop me from pursuing this much desired trip to one of my dream destinations that's why when I saw a flight promo by Cebu Pacific, I didn't think twice. I had hoped though to travel either with my parents or my older sibling, yet for some reasons, they could not simply come along. So in the end, I was the only one who got to book this flight.

O well, I must say I am not really that familiar with Japan. All I know is that I want to make a visit to this side of the world in springtime, during the full season of Cherry blossoms or the Sakura flowers. For reasons that I mainly attribute to the magical charm and spell that flowers never fail to cast over me ehe, I developed certain level of fondness and fascination towards these flower species that never grow in tropical countries like the Philippines. Ironically, my first ever visit to Japan was not in spring; it was in early autumn instead.

I've taken these photos at the gate of Himeji Castle. The color of the leaves signaled that it is spring time, indeed.

With the help of a friend and some research, I was able to come up with my itinerary and I realized that there are indeed a lot of to-dos and attractions for tourists in the Land of the Rising Sun ranging from sight-seeing, eating out and many others. To make me better appreciate the richness of the culture and history of the land, I settled going for sightseeing of temples and shrines and castles which traced back its roots in 15th century during which people began to build fortresses (such as castles) for defense purposes and mainly to serve as region's administrative or military headquarters or symbol of authority back then. I, of course, integrated visit to some gardens, to satisfy the flower-lover side of me and my fascination for lush greenery. So there, I came to finalize my 7-day itinerary in Japan to shrines, temples and castles and gardens.

Oh Nara! You are quiet yet so beautiful!

The Kyoto Tower at nighttime. I didn't recognize right away that I made it here because of my worries of getting lost. haha

The view near Shin Osaka Station

At the Osaka City Station

These travel diaries are divided into several parts starting from my arrival and spending the night at Kansai Airport to my day visit to the quaint city of Nara to my journeys to Osaka and Kyoto. Believe me, for a first time solo traveler who barely have an idea of what real life in Japan is and how actually the place is, notwithstanding the fact that I cannot speak and understand Japanese which is the primary language in this side of the world, it felt a lot like I was out in a jungle, but my adventures (and my misadventures) in this completely strange place now form part of the best travel memories I've ever had so far :-)