First of all, sorry for letting my posts get so behind! I think about blogging all the time, but time doesn't allow me to get around to it. I realise I haven't made a post since around the time of my birthday, about three months ago. To tell the truth, I am still having major troubles with image hosting sites, and I don't like to post unless I have at least one photo. However, life still goes on and more exciting events happen that I want to write about. So I suppose I will add in photos later if possible.
So getting to the exciting stuff!! (I hope...)
On December 24th 2012, my Mum, Colin and Alex came to Japan for a wonderful holiday! I met them at Nagoya airport, and we stayed in Kani for a few days.
On the 26th we headed for Tokyo. Unfortunately we weren't to experience, or even see the craziness of the city; time limits and all that.
However, the reason we went to Tokyo was for Disneyland! I really love characters like Hello Kitty, but Ive never been huge on Disney. I loved the movies, but I suppose the characters were more captivating when I was younger. However Disneyland changed all that instantly, and all the merchandise was irresistible I wanted everything!
So we took a shinkansen from Nagoya to Tokyo, and on to Maihama Station. We stayed at the Hilton (wasn't it?). It's the first time I've stayed at a hotel that has staff to take your bags to your room with you...so fancy! Hehe.
We stayed in the Japanese style room, which was quite spacious and nice. I wonder what the western rooms looked like though. Even the hallways were themed (here's where I wish I could upload a photo...) The had a Disney store so I wanted it all before we even got to the theme park
All in all I liked the hotel, but I think more food options would have been better. There was an expensive buffet restaurant which was pretty yummy, but it also didn't really have anything I felt like eating.
So the next day we were off to Disneyland, and it was so exciting! The rides were quite fun; our first was Pirates of the Caribbean. Although the line was a little long, it really only took about fifteen or twenty minutes to get on the boat.
However, after that, more people had entered the park and the waiting times got ridiculous. It took us perhaps two hours to get onto a roller coaster type ride; it made me want to give up rides altogether because I didn't want to wait anymore!! But hey, it's Disneyland.
I really had so much fun, but I didn't get to see everything. I really recommend going for two days. And we didn't even go to Disneysea! By five o'clock we were really exhausted and cold (being winter and all). I wanted to see more, considering it closes around ten, but it was just too much. My feet were killing me.
It got dark, and so came my favourite part of the day; buying merchandise! I got quite a lot of nice things, like a Stitch hat, pretty earrings, Mickey Mouse rice crackers...I was pretty happy, but could easily have spent a fortune.
The next day we were back at Tokyo station to catch another shinkansen to Kyoto.
The hotel in Kyoto was better than I had expected, not that I thought it would be terrible. But in my experience, hotel rooms in Japan are quite small. I do tend to go for cheap business hotels though. Small, but nice and clean with big tvs.
Anyway, these rooms were quite spacious and comfortable. Alex and I shared a room, with Mum and Colin across the hall. Both of our rooms had different furniture which was nice.
In Kyoto, we were able to see Kiyomizu temple, which has been my favourite since I went there when I was 16. Not to mention it's insanely famous. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single Japanese person who hasn't heard of it.
Alex and Colin lined up to drink the special water, where you can make a wish. They bought a nice cup, made me wish I had gotten one too! So Mum and I were able to try it, even though we didn't line up :) Walking through the shops, I was able to buy more cute tabi socks; they'e unexpectedly comfortable. I have a funny toe too so it feels nice :)
We all got some ice-cream, Mum and I got green tea flavour; delicious!
After the temple we headed to Gion, an area famous for it's geiko and maiko. I also went here my first time in Japan and saw the maiko dancing. And once again, I could have bought everything. Tourist areas generally have crappy souvenirs, but I found Kyoto to have many desirable items of nice quality...and price. Too expensive!!
That night, like usual, we had trouble finding food because of Alex and his limited menu. But we found an all you can eat Chinese buffet in the hotel complex. We had a few drinks beforehand, which for me ended up being a silly idea. Upon being seated, the waitress proceeded to tell us they had an all you can eat crab special as well, for a little extra. Being a little tipsy, I agreed without thinking, despite very few of us liking crab. Well, only Colin likes crab. But after eating two legs he started feeling his allergies kicking in. So I was left to eat a whole plate of crab legs. Me being me, I don't like leaving leftover. So I ate it all. Needless to say, I didn't really have much room for any of the buffet food.
The next day was unfortunately raining, and sightseeing in the rain in Kyoto is really not very fun. Lots of walking, with next to no cover. My plans to see Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari were ruined, so we stayed in the hotel, and explored the nearby department store. But taking a break was also okay.
The next day we headed back to Kani. I was able to take everyone to my favourite yakitori restaurant, and I think they enjoyed it :)
And then, on the 2nd of January 2013, everyone left! It was a little sad, but I knew that I would see them again in a couple of months...when I leave Japan...
So getting to the exciting stuff!! (I hope...)
On December 24th 2012, my Mum, Colin and Alex came to Japan for a wonderful holiday! I met them at Nagoya airport, and we stayed in Kani for a few days.
On the 26th we headed for Tokyo. Unfortunately we weren't to experience, or even see the craziness of the city; time limits and all that.
However, the reason we went to Tokyo was for Disneyland! I really love characters like Hello Kitty, but Ive never been huge on Disney. I loved the movies, but I suppose the characters were more captivating when I was younger. However Disneyland changed all that instantly, and all the merchandise was irresistible I wanted everything!
So we took a shinkansen from Nagoya to Tokyo, and on to Maihama Station. We stayed at the Hilton (wasn't it?). It's the first time I've stayed at a hotel that has staff to take your bags to your room with you...so fancy! Hehe.
We stayed in the Japanese style room, which was quite spacious and nice. I wonder what the western rooms looked like though. Even the hallways were themed (here's where I wish I could upload a photo...) The had a Disney store so I wanted it all before we even got to the theme park
All in all I liked the hotel, but I think more food options would have been better. There was an expensive buffet restaurant which was pretty yummy, but it also didn't really have anything I felt like eating.
So the next day we were off to Disneyland, and it was so exciting! The rides were quite fun; our first was Pirates of the Caribbean. Although the line was a little long, it really only took about fifteen or twenty minutes to get on the boat.
However, after that, more people had entered the park and the waiting times got ridiculous. It took us perhaps two hours to get onto a roller coaster type ride; it made me want to give up rides altogether because I didn't want to wait anymore!! But hey, it's Disneyland.
I really had so much fun, but I didn't get to see everything. I really recommend going for two days. And we didn't even go to Disneysea! By five o'clock we were really exhausted and cold (being winter and all). I wanted to see more, considering it closes around ten, but it was just too much. My feet were killing me.
It got dark, and so came my favourite part of the day; buying merchandise! I got quite a lot of nice things, like a Stitch hat, pretty earrings, Mickey Mouse rice crackers...I was pretty happy, but could easily have spent a fortune.
The next day we were back at Tokyo station to catch another shinkansen to Kyoto.
The hotel in Kyoto was better than I had expected, not that I thought it would be terrible. But in my experience, hotel rooms in Japan are quite small. I do tend to go for cheap business hotels though. Small, but nice and clean with big tvs.
Anyway, these rooms were quite spacious and comfortable. Alex and I shared a room, with Mum and Colin across the hall. Both of our rooms had different furniture which was nice.
In Kyoto, we were able to see Kiyomizu temple, which has been my favourite since I went there when I was 16. Not to mention it's insanely famous. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single Japanese person who hasn't heard of it.
Alex and Colin lined up to drink the special water, where you can make a wish. They bought a nice cup, made me wish I had gotten one too! So Mum and I were able to try it, even though we didn't line up :) Walking through the shops, I was able to buy more cute tabi socks; they'e unexpectedly comfortable. I have a funny toe too so it feels nice :)
We all got some ice-cream, Mum and I got green tea flavour; delicious!
After the temple we headed to Gion, an area famous for it's geiko and maiko. I also went here my first time in Japan and saw the maiko dancing. And once again, I could have bought everything. Tourist areas generally have crappy souvenirs, but I found Kyoto to have many desirable items of nice quality...and price. Too expensive!!
That night, like usual, we had trouble finding food because of Alex and his limited menu. But we found an all you can eat Chinese buffet in the hotel complex. We had a few drinks beforehand, which for me ended up being a silly idea. Upon being seated, the waitress proceeded to tell us they had an all you can eat crab special as well, for a little extra. Being a little tipsy, I agreed without thinking, despite very few of us liking crab. Well, only Colin likes crab. But after eating two legs he started feeling his allergies kicking in. So I was left to eat a whole plate of crab legs. Me being me, I don't like leaving leftover. So I ate it all. Needless to say, I didn't really have much room for any of the buffet food.
The next day was unfortunately raining, and sightseeing in the rain in Kyoto is really not very fun. Lots of walking, with next to no cover. My plans to see Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari were ruined, so we stayed in the hotel, and explored the nearby department store. But taking a break was also okay.
The next day we headed back to Kani. I was able to take everyone to my favourite yakitori restaurant, and I think they enjoyed it :)
And then, on the 2nd of January 2013, everyone left! It was a little sad, but I knew that I would see them again in a couple of months...when I leave Japan...
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