Kawaguchiko, A Piece of Heaven

We're really thankful for overnight highway bus service in Japan since we can just sleep in our way and save one night hotel expense. The cost is also much much cheaper than shinkansen. We choose Fujikyu Overnight Bus since it has route from Osaka, passing Kyoto, to Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji. The bus condition is nice and there's blanket for each person. The driver is also nice and always full of smile even after those long hours of driving in the middle of the night.

Our journey in Japan finally reach Kawaguchiko, one of Fuji Five Lakes that is famous for the lake and Mount Fuji scenery. It's located in Yamanashi perfecture and around 2 hours driving from Tokyo. Kawaguchiko Station is the smallest and the cutest station I've ever seen. We bought 2 days unlimited pass for the area. Even though we only used it for 1 day, it still worth the cost since we visit several places along the way. The 2 days bus pass is actually for visitor so they can go to Lake Kawaguchiko one day and Lake Saiko area for the other day. But since we have limited time (not even all day), we only went around lake Kawaguchiko.

Kawaguchiko is one kind of place where you really wish time should just stop even for just a while. Fresh air, clear blue sky, gorgeous nature scenery, and the peaceful atmosphere are perfect for people who want to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. It's a famous spot to view Mount Fuji. But you might want to check the weather forecast before going here if you want to see it, otherwise the clouds would obstruct the view.

The bus usually arrived every 10-15 minutes in Kawaguchiko. Since there were lots of tourists, the driver also use English Language when they were speaking. Sometimes foreign visitor didn't understand how to ask to stop in the bus and make the driver a bit troubled. I wish to say "Ganbarimasu" to them. There's a retro kind of bus in this service, but we weren't lucky enough to get into one of them.

KachiKachi Ropeway and the Usagi Shrine
Around 10 minutes by bus from the station, we arrived at KachiKachi Ropeway and a boat pier where you can ride the boat around the lake with some fees. Inside KachiKachi Station there's a story about a clever usagi (rabbit) who bullied... I mean... taught some lessons to the naughty tanuki (raccoon). At least that what we had guessed from the pictures and statues.

We go up with the ropeway across the sea of trees and landed in observation deck at Mount Tenjo where we can have an amazing panoramic view of Mount Fuji. There is a small shrine for the rabbit. People can try to throw small clay plate across the rope if they have some wish. If they succeed means there's a good chance the wish will be granted, or so they said. There's also a heart-shaped bell. I can guess the legend might be something love-related if we ring the bell.

Beware of the tanuki...

People can also use hiking trail in KachiKachi Area if they don't want to use the ropeway. Some use the ropeway 1 time only, and go down walking on the trail. Around summer seems to be the right time for Hydrangea to bloom and makes a wonderful scenery in this area. But even though there's no flower blooming when we're there, the autumn foliage is also beautiful. I think it will be more amazing around November.

Near the bus stop, there's cookie shop that sell Fujiyama-shaped cookies in various flavors. And if you go to the boat pier, you can ride the boat around the lake with some fees.

Kukuna Hotel
No we didn't stay here. But we did stop at this area and strolling for a while in the side walk until the next bus came. This is also another great spot for Fuji viewing.

Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center
The last stop for Kawaguchiko tour bus. Most people refer this place as the best Mount Fuji scenery in Kawaguchiko since they can get a good scenery of Mount Fuji with Lavenders all over the ground. But it's late October, so they were already withered. The best time to for the Lavender field seems to be around summer.

The Natural Living Center is also a souvenir shop sells blueberry and lavender products as their speciality. If we take a walk to the back side, we can find some autumn flowers and weird bushes I've never seen before (well, I just don't know what kind of plat is that) that looks like red-orange colored ball of fur from faraway. Aside from Mount Fuji scenery, the surrounding mountains is also astonishing.

Momiji Corridor
At Itchiku Kubota Art Museum Bus Stop, we take a walk to the back and found an alley with momiji (maple) trees in the roadside. Although we're not sure if it's the right momiji corridor or not. ^^; The red coloration was just started, so there's still lots of greens.

There's some preparation for the upcoming momiji festival at November. Weather forecast said it would be raining at the first day of the festival, which is why I choose to go to Kawaguchiko earlier for it's better sky. Though I'm also curious with the festival...

We walked to the lake area and found some shrine facing Mount Fuji. This place is also amazing for Fuji viewing.

Hoto Fudo

Across Kawaguchiko Station there's a restaurant called Hoto Fudo. Most people go there to eat 'Hoto', Kawaguchiko local dish. It's like ramen but with very thick noodle, vegetables, mushrooms, rich and creamy yellow broth (maybe they put egg yolk in the broth), served in very big pot. It's very delicious and the portion was big that I need to give some to my brother to finished them. But Japanese people seems to have no trouble to eat one big pot for a person. o_o;

I have a hypothesis the name of Hoto Fudo came from a hungry foreigner ate the dish from local people and said "Hot Food!". That's why now it's called Hoto Fudo. :) *get bricked*

In Hoto Fudo, we also try anmitsu. It's slices fruits with a little shaved ice, read bean paste, and some jellies, with sweet honey sauce.

From Kawaguchiko Station, we bought ticket for highway bus and went to Tokyo, our final city before we left Japan... I'm actually curious in using trains from Kawaguchiko but it seems take more time and the cost will be double than highway bus.

Kyoto, The Lovely Ancient Capital

It cost around 500-600 Yen and half hour from Osaka to Kyoto Station. As a city that famous for their traditional Japanese culture, Kyoto Station was like the most modern train and bus station I've ever seen. Buses are the main transportation in this place, since there's only 2 lines for subway (the simple north-south line and east-west line). I don't know if there's a standard speaking tone for bus driver, but somehow every time they speak on the microphone, in their monotone voice, I feel like hearing someone screaming about how boring is their daily job... ==;

By the way, if you visit Kyoto, I suggest to buy Kyoto Unlimited pass, whether for bus only, or for both bus and subway. We bought 1 day pass for bus only and 1 day pass for bus and subway. At our first day in Kyoto we only use bus, and the second day we use bus and subway. Bus is actually enough as the main transportation in this city. But subway is faster for cutting the route as sometimes bus don't arrive as punctual as train.

This city is less crowded than Osaka. The sky and clouds were very beautiful in this city. Here, a lot of people wear kimono. I don't know if it there was special occasion in late October or if they're always using it when they go to certain places. But compared with Tokyo or Osaka, I feel as if Kimono is a daily clothing in Kyoto. (Or maybe it is?) Late October also seems to be the time for study tour. There are lots of students in group visiting shrines, temples, and other tourist spots.

Prices for food are quite expensive in Kyoto. But our best food experiences also happened here. I could never forget the heavenly anago sushi I had tasted in Kyoto, the soy flavour ice cream, and the delicious macha. I miss them already...

Fushimi Inari Shrine
Our adventure in Kyoto started with Fushimi Inari Temple. From our inn we need to get back to Kyoto Station and took bus 南5. Stop at Fushimi Inari Bus stop, then just follow where the crowd go. xD;

Fushimi Inari is really famous for it's hundreds (or maybe thousands...?) red torii gates lined all over it's trail. The shrine worship Inari, God of rice. Foxes are the God's familiar, which is why there's also lots of fox statues all over the place.

I didn't notice all the torii gates trail are actually a hiking trail for Mount Inari until I reach the highest shrine. Talk about the point of no return... +_+; The trail isn't really difficult, but exhausting as we walked those stone stairs up and down and up again.

The good point is, there are less people the higher you go so you might have a better chance for photograph with only you and red gates scenery. But if you didn't plan to hike until reach the top or if you want to visit Fushimi Inari and the red torii in casual way, I suggest you just stop and go back down when you reach intersection with food stalls and nice Kyoto city viewing spot.

The food stalls sell some snacks and drinks like soy flavour ice cream, amazake, hiyashiame, macha, inarisushi, also main course like udon and soba. The soy flavour ice cream is a must try, it's the most delicious ice cream I've ever had since I was born.

Buy the ice cream here~

The road around Fushimi Inari to the bus stop also full of food stalls, restaurants, and souvenir shops. My brother was really curious with the grilled bird in that place (we don't know what kind of bird, though) but it's sold out so he ate the cold grilled duck instead. I think the cold was intentional since it's really a delicious dish.

Kiyomizu Dera Temple
From Kyoto Station we took Bus 206 and stopped at Gojozaka. Then we walk to Kiyomizu Dera through it's shopping alley. There might be closer bus stop to this temple, though. The admission is 300 Yen per person.

Thanks to my obliviousness with the hiking path at Fushimi Inari, it's already evening when we reach Kiyomizudera Temple. Lucky for us we're still able to get in just before they're closed for anymore visitor. But it's dark already to have a better look for the temple surrounding. It's a pity since I guess the scenery in the day is really beautiful.

We also manage drank one of the three small waterfall that called Otowa Waterfall. I don't know which waterfall for which kind of wish. Whatever it is, I just hope for the best in our lives.

Tenryuji Temple

Tenryuji Temple

Tenryuji Temple is located in Arashiyama area. Since our inn was around Gojozaka and I think it's pretty far by bus, we use subway to the East as far as the subway train could bring us, then we took a bus from there. We're supposed to stop at Tenryuji-mae, but the scenery of the river was so pretty and we decided to get out from the bus one stop before Tenryuji-mae. It's said there's monkey forest across the river.

The admission for this temple garden is 500 Yen. At first we thought it's pretty expensive for pretty garden. But the first scenery we get left us jaw-dropped as it is the most beautiful pond garden I've ever seen. It feels different when you look at it with your own eyes even though you've seen the photograph before. And I can see the great effort and great aesthetic sense to take care such garden, so it's like 'shut up and take my money' moment. The garden is also bigger than what I initially thought it would be.

Tenryuji Temple

Arashiyama Bamboo Groove
Tenryuji temple garden has two place for entrance-exit area. We took the entrance near the pond and exit on the other one. This exit leads to Arashiyama Bamboo Groove, a walking path (sometimes car use this road too) with green bamboos everywhere in the left and right. It felt beautifully surreal, but the scenery is real enough for lots of tourist to walk around the path. ^^

From Arashiyama, we walked our way to Tenryujimae Bus Stop and took bus 11. Then we transfer to Bus 59 at Yamagoe Nakacho terminal. Bus 59 stop at Ryoanji Temple and Kinkakuji Temple, our next destinations~

Ryoanji Temple
Ryoanji Temple is famous for it's rock garden. It's perhaps kinda hard to be captured well in photograph. But the moment you go in and see the rock garden, there's a flush of spacious and peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to just relax for a while and enjoy the zen moment. Admission for the rock garden is 500 Yen per person. There's also a big beautiful pond with ducks playing in the water, decorated with trees around it.

Kinkakuji Temple
The famous and glorious golden pavilion makes it one of the mandatory places to be visited in Kyoto area. Admission to enter the place is 400 Yen per person. The sparkling golden color of the pavilion reflected in the pond and makes a wonderful scenery for the eyes. Kinkakuji Temple was pretty crowded when we were there. Everyone wants to take a picture with the scenery.

Ginkakuji Temple
Before we go to Ginkakuji Temple, just in Ginkakuji-mae station there's a restaurant with delicious dashi smell and we're quite hungry so we ate some gyudon and tempura soba there. The food are delicious, that if I can go back to Kyoto, I think I will eat there again. Xd

Ginkakuji reminds me of Kiyomizudera in the term of there's small shopping alley before the temple. The pavilion might not as grand as Kinkakuji, and it doesn't even silver colored. But it has big beautiful park area with several ponds combined with rock gardens in the front area. There's also moss garden when we walked further inside and a higher trail to see the pavilion from upper terrain. The atmosphere is nice and serene but still exciting to walk around.

In Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji Temple, at the exit of the garden, there are tea house for sit down to drink macha and sweets while enjoying the scenery. It cost another 500 Yen per person. They're delicious! Although it's kinda small portion for the price... I wonder if macha is actually expensive... ^^;

Nijo-jo Castle
To get to Nijo-jo Castle, we use subway and exit from Nijo-jo Mae Station. Unfortunately we didn't fast enough to get to this place since it's already closed at 4pm. So we just strolling and took pictures around the gate and moat.

Gion
People said your visit in Kyoto isn't complete if you didn't visit Gion. But I really had no idea about this area and we didn't know if we are in the right place to look around or not. We walked into some alley that looks more like traditional Japan, and the food around there are absolutely expensive... ^^;

Most of them are shabu-shabu, yakiniku, and kaiseki dinner. I wanted to eat sushi, but I couldn't find any around this area. So we go the the road with more modern buildings and finally found some sushi restaurants. I guess the price is always pretty high around this area, but here is the place where I tasted the best anago sushi I've mentioned before. :d

Gion bus stop not really far from Kyomizu Dera temple. There's famous Yasaka Shrine in this area, but we didn't go inside since it's already dark. Gion is crowded with tourist from all over the world who might want to catch a glimpse of Geisha and Maiko. But sadly we didn't see any of them when we're there. I wonder if we're strolling in the wrong place. :S

As much as we want to stay another night in Kyoto, our time is limited. So after all the Kyoto adventures, we go back to Kyoto Station and searched for the hachijoguchi exit, then wait for our overnight bus. It's really cold that night and we might look like a hobo while we're anxiously waiting.

Finally around 11pm, the Fujikyu bus arrived and took us for the ride. We slept one night in the bus, waiting for the morning when we arrived safely at Kawaguchiko Station. For now, bye bye Kyoto~ Until we meet again~

My Vibrant Experience in Osaka

Osaka is my first city in Japan, so there are lots of first time happened here. First time hi-tech toilet, first time sleeping in the airport, first time using "sumimasen", first time feeling the coldness of autumn, first time drinking sake, first time vending machine, first time using public bathroom with hot spring, and many more... :3

We arrived at Kansai Airport around 11pm. Most shops were already closed and the only shop that still open are 7-11 and Lawson. So we ate some minimart bentos and slept there until morning, then took trains to our inn and put our luggage first before we went around the city.

By the way, if you want to go to Osaka, I do recommend to buy Osaka Amazing pass. With the pass, you can use any local subways freely and it's enough to take you almost everywhere in the city. The pass also included free admission for many tourist place such as Osaka Castle, museums, hot spring baths, temples, discount at some places, and you don't even need to queue to buy ticket anymore with the pass. ^^

We bought our pass in Kansai Airport at Tourist Information Center Travel Desk. For more information, you can check this website : http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/index.html

Osaka is a lively merchant city with man in work suit bustling wherever we go. Even in places such as museum or waterfalls we always find man dressed in suit. It makes us wonder why were they wearing suit in leisure places? Not to mention that it was Sunday. o__O; Are most people in Osaka work as salaryman? Or is it the only kind of clothes they have? We also saw many students in their uniform even though it's Sunday, wondering if they went to school, or attending some event perhaps. But these might be my early judgement. What the hell did I know about Osaka aside from takoyaki and okonomiyaki? There might be somewhere else with salary man as the majority population. :p

Even though they're busy, people here are warm and nice. When I go to bar for drinking sake, a salaryman even offer to have small chat with me and pouring the sake for me. I want to pour some drink for him too, but he drink beer. oo; While I was using bad Japanese, he's using bad English, so it's pretty much chaotic conversation. xD; He knows about Indonesia and he said he went to Bali twice. He also teach me to say "Gochisosama~"

Anyway... Here's our sightseeing experience in Osaka. ^^

Osaka Castle
To reach this castle, we got out from Morinomiya Station so we could walk through the public garden until we find the castle. I thought it will be a short walk in the garden, but it actually pretty long and quite exhausting. Still, the garden and the surrounding area do makes us wonder are we really inside the big city, since the atmosphere was so calm and we didn't hear the usually noisy traffic from the road. People walking around the park, sometimes with their children, sometimes with their pets. I do wonder how does people traveling around with their pet in Japan if somehow they don't have their own car.

Osaka Castle is a magnificent castle that already built since Sengoku Period, and a mandatory sightseeing place in Osaka. The admission is free and you can just head straight to the entrance if you buy the pass I mentioned before. The inside is a bit different than I thought since it's renovated and now became a historical museum that tells mostly about Sengoku era. There's elevator to bring people to the top level. It's recommended to just take the elevator and walking down after that.

Around Osaka Castle, there's some food stall for visitor to take a rest and have some snacks. They also sell kaki fruit (persimmon). I buy it since I was curious how does it taste. The texture is like a mix of papaya and peach, reminds me of Dieng's carica.

Osaka Museum of History
In the map, it's located around southwest from Osaka Castle. So we walk a bit a luckily find the place. At first glance, it looks like some office tower. We can also reach the place from exit #9 of Tanimachi Yonchome Station. The admission is free too, with the pass.

As the name implies, it tells history about Osaka city since ancient time until 19th century. They also exhibit relics from Naniwa period. Lots of exhibitions are building or city miniatures to give a better depiction about Osaka from time to time.

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living Edo Period
Free admission with the pass. We got here from exit #3 Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome station and then go to the top floor of the building. You can rent Edo period kimono with some extra fee. Here, we can take a look at real size replica about how Edo looked like in the past. There's also interactive exhibitions about the city miniatures and their stories.

Shitennoji Temple
Calm and serene temple. Perhaps it's the only temple I had visited in Osaka. And again, the entrance is free with the pass. We got here from Shitennojimaeyuhigaoka station exit #4. It's not crowded when we arrived there, so it felt very spacious and peaceful.

The main attraction might be the pagoda in the center of temple complex. But we didn't dare to pry much since there were some people who prayed inside and we didn't want to disturb them.

Dottonbori - Namba
Just go to Namba station and walk around to the river. This area is a shopping district with lots lots of restaurants in striking, somewhat gaudy, and yet interesting shop signs. I mean... so many octopus or crabs, and some of them are even moving around... There are also lots of takoyaki stall around here.

This area somehow a mandatory too for foreign tourist and people like to take pictures of Glico man. I don't really understand why, even though we also do the same. We actually want to see Hozenji Yokocho Alley in this area, but we failed to find it.

From Namba, you can walk a bit to the north and you will arrive at Shinsaibashi. It's also a shopping district, but more high-end.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Biggest Marine Aquarium I've ever saw. xD
The admission fee is 2300 Yen per person. With the pass, it will be discounted 100Yen... Well, it's still a discount... To get here, we need to go to Osakako Station and take exit #1 then walk a bit. The weather is really cold when we're there.

It's hard to get decent picture inside since the lighting wasn't really bright and the animals are moving around so quickly. I don't want to use camera flashlight since it will only distract the animals and reflected in the glass. I love how they use several floor to make a really really big aquarium and we can see how are the animals in the ground and what they do inside water.

The lighting and background music is also wonderful. I think Japanese people go here with their family, maybe for dating spot too, or just sit alone and relax for a while. There are various species from Japanese forest inhabitants, tropical fishes, jellyfishes, deep sea inhabitants, big fishes like shark or whales, to Arctic (or Antarctic...? I dunno) Walrus with the cutest smiling face. :3

Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
From Kaiyukan Aquarium, we walk through the mall and in the end of it there's Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel. Another great spot for dating. It's also free with Osaka Amazing Pass. Monday evening and the cold weather made no queue for us to get into the ride. Since it's already dark, what we saw from up there is the beautiful night scenery of Osaka.

Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu
My first natural hot spring~ Even though I'm not sure if it's really natural or really an onsen. It's free thanks to Osaka Amazing Pass. But you need several 100 Yen coins to use locker facilities. The money will be returned after you open the locker again. I was a bit awkward getting naked in public though, but it felt nice to get into warm big bath especially after all those walking. The 43 degree celcius made me feel a bit dizzy and red like a steamed shrimp. Be careful with that one. ^^;

It's said the fastest way to go there is by exit #5 from Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome station. But since we used exit #3 because we went to Museum of Housing and Living Edo Period first, we just walk north from the museum until we found big road with overpass, then headed East. It's a quite tall building compared to the surrounding with big "Pachinko" sign. The bath is located on the top floor.

Natural Hot Spring and Spa Suminoe
I think it's actually more expensive than Naniwa no Yu, but it's also free thanks to the pass (but still need several 100 Yen coins for locker). It's more spacious, better decorated, and less crowded. So I felt very relax there. It's only around 5 minutes walk to the West from Suminokoen Station exit. The area around there seems to be for water sports center.

Minoh Waterfall

I'm not sure if Minoh is still in Osaka or different region. We can't use subway to go there (hence we couldn't use the pass). It's only around 30 minutes train ride from Osaka. When you arrive at Minoh Station, you can ask for map at the locket to make sure you didn't go to the wrong direction.

Minoh is really a nice place for leisure walking and viewing autumn foliage. The trail is easy, many senior citizens are strolling around this place. Some using the trail for jogging. And even in this place we still find men dressed in suits...

We walk really slow compared to them though. The lovely trees and river scenery, and the refreshing air made us want to just enjoy the trail slowly. Sometimes saying "Ohayo~" to everyone around and made people awkward. Even though it's not really that cold, our breath is misty and it's fun. ^^ After all the walk and finally reached the waterfall, just sit down and relax, and maybe take a picture~ It's best to go here in the morning since it's less crowded and the air is very nice.

Minoh also famous for Momiji Tempura, although I don't think it's really use tempura batter. It tasted like sweet chips with leaf inside.

Momofuku Ando Cup Noodle Museum, Ikeda
Ikeda is not really that far from Minoh so we went there because we curious with the cup noodle Museum. It's only 5-10 minutes walk from the station. The admission is free (really free for everyone), but if you want to make your own cup noodle experience you need to pay 300 Yen. The museum isn't really big. It tells us about how Nissin founder struggled and finally invented cup noodle technology. In Indonesia, we call them PopMie~

That's pretty much all places we visited in Osaka. Our objectives in this city included search quest for takoyaki and okonomiyaki. While we found delicious okonomiyaki restaurant with English menu near Shitenouji Temple, we failed to eat decent takoyaki... Indonesian Okirobox's Takoyaki is still better than what we ate in Namba. Maybe we just bought it in the wrong place... ==;

Our next destination will be Kyoto~

Finally, Japan!

Due to lots of stuffs, it's nearly a month for me to touch this blog again after I came back from Japan. Yes, I went to Japan last October! It's like a dream come true for me... \(*O*)/

I went with my brother and travel in Asian backpacker style, hopping from town to town, stay at some cheap inn (although we don't like to be cheap on food). Some bad experience happened, a lots of good experience gained, in the end we really enjoy our Japan travel that we really really wish to go back again.

We like Japanese stuffs since we're small because of mangas, games, and animes. There was time when we want to go to Japan for the sake of manga, game, and anime only. But as we grow older, me and my brother are more into food, scenery, and culture. Although the modern entertainments are still the important part of our visit. xD

I think it's around mid-autumn when we arrived there. Trees are just started to get their autumn colors. It's not all vibrant red and yellow, we still get lots of greens. Nevertheless the scenery was still very beautiful. ^^ The weather was pretty cold for inhabitants of tropical equatorial country like us. It's okay when it's sunny, but pretty harsh for us when it's windy or raining.

We visited Osaka, Minoh, Ikeda, Kyoto, Fuji-Kawaguchiko, and Tokyo. The route is pretty maintream for lots of tourists. I'll tell more about each town in the next post later. :d

For now here's some things I really love from this country :

Hi-Tech Toilets
If only I could buy one of it and put it on my house... There are many buttons for many needs, warm seat, controlled pressure and temperature, button for sound in public restroom (only female understand this), and they're always flushed really really well.

Sake
The most delicious alcoholic drink I've ever had in my entire life so far... It's hard to find them in Indonesia. I wonder where can I buy Sake in Jakarta... :S

Vending Machines
From hot coffee, cold drink, ice cream, even canned soup. The hot stuff was really help us as a warmer even just for a while. Vending machines are practically everywhere. In Tokyo, some of them even have some kind of face recognition technology.

Coin Locker
It's a savior when you need to put some stuffs temporarily and get it back later. The size also quite big to put our luggage.

Public Transportation & Pedestrian Walk
Professional highway buses, on-time train, yes yes, I may look tacky because good public transportation is rare in Indonesia. We can go almost anywhere we want by train, subway, bus, and our own feet. On the other hand, it's the only choices for me since car or taxi is really really expensive in Japan and I can't ride bicycle... The pedestrian walks are also excellent. People can walk nicely even if they're using high heels.


I can drink tap water!
We can't drink tap water in Indonesia, so it's really nice.

Japanese Gardens
Somehow Japanese traditional gardens always have some kind of aesthetic sense that makes people feel calm and happy. They're well design, taken care in excellent way, and elegantly beautiful...

Food Food Food~
I'm not saying every food in this country is delicious, but majority of them are great! I love sushi, sashimi, soba, ramen, udon, donburi, and many many more~ :3

Hot Springs
It feels really nice when you dip your body inside hot spring, especially in cold weather.
~(=,=)~

Mini Mart
Like vending machines, mini marts are also almost everywhere. We have lots of mini marts too in Indonesia, but what I love about Japanese mini mart is the bento and wide food selections. I ate 150 yen pudding from Lawson and it's just as good as expensive pudding in Indonesia. :d
Oh, and the cashier will never say "Do you have smaller nominal money? We don't have the change."


I miss them already....