Deluxe Tour Japan Winter 2016 (Part Two: TOKYO, Day One)

(*This blog was written a few weeks after the trip, but I changed the post date for organizational reasons)

December 22nd, Day One, TOKYO

I left my apartment around 5:00 a.m. and walked to Nagoya station to catch the bus to Tokyo. I highly recommend traveling by highway bus! They are becoming more and more comfortable now, and they are considerably cheaper than traveling by Shinkansen or most trains. The company I often use is WillerExpress.

From Nagoya to Tokyo it is about a six hour bus ride, with pit stops about every two hours at a service station (which for the record are also very nice!) My bus was an hour late arriving to Tokyo because we spent nearly 45 minutes LITERALLY just outside Tokyo stuck in traffic. This of course wouldn't happen with trains, however it was understandable.

From the bus station in Shinjuku I took the JR Line and Monorail out to Haneda Airport, arriving about an hour before my brothers were scheduled to arrive. When they arrived they were of course tired after the long 13 hour flight, but I was so happy to see them. It felt unreal seeing them in Japan.

Now that they were in Japan my job as their tour guide began! Haha. Rather than taking the limousine bus directly to Odaiba, as was initially planned, I found that we could also go by Monorail, and then by train, for slightly cheaper. The trains were also more frequent than the bus, so we headed out right away.

While on the monorail my brothers had their first glimpse of Japan - well, of Tokyo. We changed from the Monorail to the train at Tennozu Isle. It wasn't long before we reached our first destination, disembarking at Tokyo Teleport.  The weather was threatening rain, but for a December day it was relatively warm. We walked from the station past Palette Town (Pokemon anyone?) towards Diver City. Standing magnificently over the small hill was the sight we were waiting to see...

Yes. The life-size Gundam statue. As fans of Gundam, this was a must-see. And since we had arrived there around 5pm we had time to visit Gundam Front, located on the 7th floor of Diver City. Gundam Front is a part museum, part goods shop. Not only can you see new art and information about the current Gundam series, but you can also watch special animations in the theater. The movies are 3D and presented in a planetarium-like room, so you can really immerse yourself in it! Aside from the theater there is an open lobby with large models and costumes that you can take pictures with, plus a small factory where you can build your own model and goods shop. My brother said it made up for their long flight, so we were off to a good start!!

We left Gundam Front in good spirits and I decided to take my brothers to Yoshinoya for some beef and rice bowls. When I first visited Japan in 2011, I have a clear memory of going to Yoshinoya for my first meal. It's very simple compared to its competitor Sukiya, but it was still delicious. We ordered one bowl each (regular beef and rice, beef with green onion and egg, and karubi (which is short rib meat often found at yakiniku, BBQ, places) and shared them. Once they got over the raw egg idea they realized that it was the best flavor~ ^^

Now it was getting late and it was time to head to our hotel. We left Diver City and said good-bye to the Gundam. From there we walked towards Aqua City to catch a view of Fuji TV Building and the Rainbow Bridge.

Then the plan was to take the bus from Odaiba to Nishikasai, where our hotel was located. This is where it is important to DOUBLE CHECK the bus number. Two buses where set to depart from our bus stop, and the one that I mistook took us in the opposite direction towards Kanagawa! Oh no! Not the first day! But I quickly... not quick enough, but soon realized we were heading in the wrong direction, got off the bus, took another bus to Oi Machi and took a train from there to Tokyo Station, then caught the subway to Nishikasai. I promised to be very careful after that little side trip.

Our accomodations for the night were at the Best Western Hotel in Nishikasai. We had a 3-bed room on the 4th floor. It was one of the nicest places I have ever stayed at. I booked the room via Booking.com and got it for nearly half price at 5500 yen per person.

 And so day one came to a peaceful end. Sleep well, my brothers, tomorrow is a busy day.

<<PART ONE: PLANNING                             PART THREE: TOKYO, DAY TWO>>

Deluxe Tour Japan Winter 2016 (Part One: The Planning)

(*This blog post was written a month after the trip, but I changed the post date for organizational reasons)

December 2016

I have been living in Japan for just over 3 years now. This is the first time that anyone, family or friend, has come to visit me. I was finally able to convince my two brothers to come to Japan for the winter holiday.

We decided on the trip in September, so that is when I began my initial planning. It's their first time in Japan, in a foreign country even. What can I show them that is special about Japan? What do they WANT to see? We all know there are plenty of sights to see, and with both brothers in the opinion of "I'm up for anything" I decided that we would do the regular tour of the Japan, only we would see EVERYTHING, and I mean everything within two weeks.

Crazy, right? That should be nothing new haha.

So, first thing is first: the flight. It was a little more difficult to find a good, cheap flight because their time of travel was Christmas/New Year season. It was also their first SUPER long international flight, so I didn't want to burden them with layovers as much. In the end, they chose a DELTA Flight for about $1700, round trip from Detroit to Tokyo (Haneda) and one layover in Minneapolis. Not bad at all.

Second was the itinerary. Of course, I wanted them to get the most out of their trip, which meant traveling efficiently, BUT we were also on a budget. In most cases, I would recommend the Japan Rail Pass to anyone coming to visit Japan for at least a week. I recommended the same plan to my brothers, but in the end we chose not to get it. Why? It was really because they were coming to see me (and Japan), but essentially we would be together for the entire duration of the trip. I was their guide also; they couldn't get around as easily without me. That's fine and all, but since I am in Japan on a working VISA I am not eligible for the JR Pass. And unlike them, I did want to budget myself for the trip, which meant I didn't want to pay the cost for the bullet train. (This made some things a little difficult, but looking back I don't regret it).

The trip dates were set for December 22nd to January 2nd. Below is a copy of the itinerary as it was just before they came (there were some minor changes later, which I will mention in the daily recaps).

JAPAN TRIP ITINERARY       December 22nd ~ January 2nd
Dec. 21	Detroit	Check-in at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) *NEED: passport (ticket will be received at check-in, visa upon arrival)	5 a.m.~ *2-3 hours prior
		Departure	7:14 a.m.
Dec. 22	Tokyo	*Bus from Nagoya to Tokyo, Shinjuku > Haneda \610 50m	6:15~12 p.m.
		Arrival at Haneda Airport (HND)	2:10 p.m.
		Limousine Bus to HOTEL GPLEDAIBA, Odaiba  43min \520	3:30 p.m.*
		GUNDAM FRONT TOKYO (Diver City 7F) http://gundamfront-tokyo.com/jp/ Full Entrance \1200	4:30 p.m.
		Diver City (Gundam Café 2F, etc.)
		Fuji TV Building, Rainbow Bridge Odaiba
		Bus / Train to Hotel, 1hr \380	8:45 p.m.~
		Check-in (by 12 a.m.) at Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai 134-0088, Tokyo, Edogawa Ward, Edogawa-ku, Nishi Kasai 6-17-9 03-3675-8900     \16,500	~10 p.m.
Dec. 23	Tokyo	Check-out (by 10 a.m.) TOKYO METRO DAY PASS \600	8~8:30 a.m.
		Tokyo Station  Nishi Kasai > Tokyo (Tozai Line) \200 24min luggage storage (\600)  JR East Travel Service Center or locker*	9:00
		Bunkyo Civic Center Observation Deck Tokyo > Korakuen (Marunouchi Line) \170 13m
		Pokemon Center MEGA Ikebukuro Korakuen St. > Ikebukuro (Marunouchi Line) \170 12m
		MEIJI SHRINE (5 a.m.~6 p.m.) – HARAJUKU Crepes Ikebukuro > Meiji jingu mae (Fukutoshin Line) \200
		TOKYO TOWER (9 a.m.~11 p.m.) \900 Meiji jingu mae > Naka-meguro > Kamiyacho (Fukutoshin/Hibiya) \200
		AKIHABARA Homemade Curry (Bread), Anime everything Kamiyacho >Akihabara (Hibiya Line) \200 30m
		Claim luggage at Tokyo Station (30 min walk from Akihabara)**
		Train to Kamata (JR Keihintohoku Line, 34 min, \220~310)	6 p.m.~
		Check-in at Guest House Kamata (4-10 p.m.) 144-0031, Tokyo, Ota Ward, Ota-ku Higashi Kamata 2-6-7 070-3548-1408    \9,000 Food – Hamazushi 11m walk	7 ~ 8 p.m.
Dec. 24	Yokohama	Check-out 8-10 a.m.	9 a.m.*
		Train to Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum (Kamata Keihintohoku Line > Sakuragicho, 52 min \310)
		Cup Noodle Museum 10 a.m.~ My CUPNOODLES Factory \300 Chicken Ramen Factory \500	10 a.m. ~ 12 p.m.
		Red Brick Warehouse to Chinatown (24min walk)	12 p.m. ~
		Train to Shinjuku (Motomachi-Chukagai Minatomirai Line >> 1 hour 5min, \650)	4 p.m.
		Bus: Shinjuku Bus Terminal 4F to Nagoya \5,200	17:50
		Arrival in Nagoya	23:20
Dec. 25	Okazaki	Make MOCHI at the Yamamoto Family’s house, Okazaki \620 (2) (Lunch = Oden, Dinner = Handmade Sushi)	8 a.m. ~ 8 p.m.
Dec. 26	Osaka	Bus to USJ (3hr 20m \2,700)	6:30 a.m.
		UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN	9:50 a.m. ~ 9 p.m.
		Universal Citywalk Takoyaki
		Train to Umeda Station, walk to Umeda Sky East Sakurajima > Umeda \180 20m
		Bus to Hiroshima (Overnight, \5,510)	24:00
Dec. 27	Hiroshima	Arrival in Hiroshima	5:30 a.m.
		Atomic Bomb Dome – Museum – Peace Park – Hiroshima castle, etc. ALL DAY SIGHTSEEING BUS PASS
		Hiroshima okonomiyaki
		Bus to Kyoto (Overnight, \5,010)	24:20
Dec. 28	Kyoto	Arrival in Kyoto	6:45 a.m.
		Yasaka Shrine / Gion – Kiyomizu dera – Fushimi Inari
		Bus to Nagoya: 2 hour 30min, \2,550 *tickets can be reserved one-month in advance	Every 30 min from Kyoto St.
Dec. 29	Nagoya+	Sakae, Oasis 21, Osu Kannon, Illuminations, Nagoya Castle, Naan Curry
Dec. 30	Nagoya+	Nagoya Aquarium, Yakiniku, Nabana no Sato?
Dec. 31	Nagoya+	FREE DAY!!! Udon, Taiyaki
		Hatsumode in Gamagori	Midnight
Jan. 1	Shizuoka	Drive to Shizuoka from Gamagori (with Taka)
		Toyokawa Inari Shrine
		Check-in at Face to Face Guesthouse 418-0056, Fujinomiya, Nishimachi 22-18 81-090-2680-9707      \10,000 (4 people)
Jan. 2	Tokyo / Detroit	Mt. Fuji morning	SUNRISE
		Train to Haneda Airport	9:30 a.m.
		Check-in at Haneda Airport	1:30 p.m.~
		Departure from Haneda Airport (HND)	4:25 p.m.
		Arrival at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)	6:14 p.m.

As you can see, the first few days were very very detailed, and that first week itself was very busy. It was my first time ever planning such a trip, so I didn't want to miss a detail, or find myself unprepared. Most of our traveling between cities would be done by bus, a cheaper method, though it does take more time. We would visit the most popular places on the main island of Honshu, and try to get in some personal time too.

Our main points of travel were:

Tokyo > Yokohama > Okazaki > Osaka > Hiroshima > Kyoto > Nagoya > Gamagori > Mt. Fuji

In the next post I will talk about our travels in Tokyo.

PART TWO: TOKYO, DAY ONE>>

2015 Update

Hello there!

It's been several months now since my study abroad has ended, but I thought I would give you a brief update.  I am still living, and currently working, in Japan at a cram school.  The job is great, the students are fantastic, and I'm living well. That said, since nearly all of my adventure buddies have moved on, there haven't been any interesting happenings.

I am still dancing, and I love doing it even more.  With my current schedule, I can only practice once a week with the area's dancers. However, since my job is mostly in the evenings, I've been trying to have productive mornings with workouts.

Overall, nothing too interesting to report, haha.

Honestly, I've met a lot of new people, and there have been a couple interesting incidents, in my opinion.  I can't make any promises, but IF things go as planned, I may be able to share those stories with you :)

Until next time, take care~

*Blog Updates*

Hello, all!

Recently, I have been told that it is hard to navigate through all the journal entries. This is because they appear on the blog from the most recent to older posts.

In order to make reading through the entries a little easier I have created an index page (which can be found above: "Out of the Bubble") that lists all the entries chronologically. In the future, I also plan to add at least a "Next" Button at the end of each entry to further improve navigation.

Thank you for your comments and patience. If there is anything else you would like to see on this blog, feel free to ask!

Take care.

STUDY ABROAD: WEEK 49 (Final)

AUGUST 3

This is is… the final stretch of the journey. I headed back to Nagoya this morning to join the others for lunch of our favorite Naan Curry, and also to grab round six of luggage. This time I had two full bags, my orange bag, and a large black luggage from Jason. He didn’t need it to go home, because he had sent most of his things home in boxes. Thankfully, I was able to make the trip with Takahiro’s help. Just one more trip and it should be done. To think, if I had asked a friend with a car to help, it may have only been one trip…

AUGUST 4

With the bulk of my property now at my new apartment, it was time to properly unpack and give some sense of order to the piles that spot my living room floor. It took my all day, but for having no furniture, it doesn’t look too bad. Still no fridge, washing machine, futon, shelf or anything, but I plan to buy those after I come back from America. Four more days! Crazy! I wish the others didn’t have to go home, but at least I know I will be back. I am looking forward to seeing my family, some friends, and to eating all of the things that I haven’t had the chance to eat in this past year. But, even so, I don’t want to go. If there was a way to bring all those things to me, then it would be a perfect world.

AUGUST 5

I went back to Nagoya, once again. This time it was primarily to help the other students with their final room checks. We stored their luggages in my room and went to eat at Naan Curry for the last time together. After that, it was already the evening so we hung out for a while before they decided to sleep. They were all heading to the airport early, so the group split and I gave up my floor and bed to them. In the meantime, I went to dance in the Naka District for what I knew would be the last chance I could do so for some time.

Later, when I returned, I found myself locked out of my room until I had to call on the intercom from the first floor. This was our last night together, sleeping with my newfound family, before saying farewell.

AUGUST 6

In the end, I didn’t go to the airport with everyone. I woke up, hugged them all good-bye and walked them to the station, but that was all I could have done. Even if I had gone, I couldn’t have stayed until the last person left because I had one last day of training today. Maybe it was best no to over-dramatize our farewell. I will see them again, maybe in Japan, maybe in Hawaii, or France. This is just the end to another chapter.

AUGUST 7

Yesterday I took the last round of luggage down to Okazaki, so this morning I returned to an empty room for my final check. There was no problem, as expected. I paid for the water and electric bill, turned in my keys and ID, and suddenly I was homeless in Nagoya. Homeless, but not friendless. There was still half a dozen of the Chinese and Taiwanese students remaining for the next 6 months. We ate lunch together at SUSHI-RO, and then there nothing else to do but return to Okazaki and start my own preparations to return home.

AUGUST 8

In a few hours, I’ll be on a plane back to the States. It’s all over, the study abroad, my adventure in Nagoya. When I come back, it will the beginning of a new life, a whole new adventure to look forward to. The best way for me to show appreciation for this experience is not to look back with want, but to march on with hope and purpose. Hope that I can see my international family again, and soon, and with all the intention of making that happen. I have been training for a few months now, and I can look towards my job with confidence. I’m not simply teaching English to stay in Japan, but I want to teach. I want to share my experiences with others, and encourage them the same way that my teachers and professors have encouraged me. I have something to give now, a purpose.

Until next time...