Last April, I went to Japan for the first time. I was inspired by this youtuber named John Daub with his channel called onlyinjapan which can be viewed here. Visa acquisition was quick. It took me about two days to get my visa. I suggest you get a visa first before you book tickets to Japan if you're a FIlipino. For the full details about Japan visa application, you may refer to thepoortraveler's blog post here as I won't be getting into full detail about that. All I can say is, Japan is easier to go to now as they've relaxed the visa requirements for Filipinos.
Before I went to this trip, I also bought something very useful. This would be the 5-Day JR Kansai-Hiroshima pass. Because of this pass, I saved money on train fares. I also got to ride the bullet train 4 times! For more information about this pass, click here.
In this Part I post, I'll be talking about when I went to Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima. I'll be making a Part II post soon as I will be going to Tokyo later this year. Hopefully, I get to take a lot of photos too. I went alone without any tour guide or whatsoever. Everyone I've met in Japan were friendly and they're so nice to the point that they would assist me in the best way that they can despite me being a total stranger and a foreigner. There's nothing much to worry about except for the language barrier. Luckily, I bought an 8-day unlimited DoComo data sim from Klook and Google Translate came in handy. I also learned a few phrases from watching anime such as sumimasen, wakarimashita and origato-goizamasu. I also recommend that you use Google Maps as it is very useful in getting around Japan's vast train networks. It won't just give you the routes from point A to point B, but the ETA's and fare costs as well.
The train station, the first thing you'll see as you step out of the airport.
An ICOCA card, Osaka's IC card. This is their equivalent of Tokyo's SUICA card, which is also useable there.
My first meal in Kansai, Tonkotsu and spaghetti set from Family Mart. It was better than expected! I was fooled by that yellow sachet though. I thought it was mustard, but it was wasabi.
I arrived at Kansai (KIX) airport at around 10:30 PM. It took ten minutes to get past immigration and to claim my luggage. During the flight from Manila to Osaka, I had a nice brief chat with the couple sitting next to me on the plane. Apparently, it was their second time and they told me about some cheap stores like Don Quixote and that I should have a beer with them if ever I came bumping into them on Dotonburi. Unfortunately, I didn't come across them again. After getting out of immigration, I proceeed to the Klook booth to get my pre-ordered sim card and train pass. Then, I proceeded to the train ticketing station to buy an ICOCA card. It's Osaka's version of the SUICA card. By the way, you can also use it in Tokyo. I was in a rush to get to my hotel. It's a nice little hotel in Hommachi with its own onsen. It's approximately 1 hour by train from Kansai airport and the trains close at midnight. Fortunately, I got there before midnight. I bought microwaved tonkatsu for dinner at a Family Mart convenience store near the hotel. I thought I'd be disappointed with it, but it was really good! Then I thought, you'd survive for 400 yen on one meal in family mart. Of course, I didn't come all the way here just to eat Family Mart dinners. I came here on a mission for food! After all, Dotonburi in Osaka is the streetfood capital of Japan!
Day 1 - Osaka Castle Park
I woke up in the morning with this place in mind first is Osaka Castle. I thought it was kinda nearby but it's not that near. Luckily, I got there fast thanks to Google Maps. I was then walking towards the castle when I saw this train which would take you faster for 300 yen. I figured that all passengers aboard were either children or the elderly. I still have a lot of stamina so I decided to walk on. I had a lot to see, a lot of pictures to take. I even saw a sakura tree with the blossoms drying out. At least I got to see some sakura blossoms after all!
I had to remember this spot so that I could go back to the train station later.
It's a long stairway up. Let's go!
This is one of the castle's turrets. I think the others were demolished after the Meiji restoration. This was one of those structures that reminds them of the shogunate after all.
After all that walking, I finally got to the castle's center itself. I got inside for a little 400 yen. There's a museum with a lot of dioramas and artefacts inside. There are also tour guides who speak english. Inside, I learned about the lives of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
As I went up the entrance after presenting my museum ticket, I saw this huge canon. I think the Japanese during the Tokugawa's time learned how to use firearms from the Dutch.
This would be castle courtyard. While walking here, I could imagine being a samurai with two katanas on my belt. Luckily, I was the only one here. I guess no one wanted to pay 600 yen just to see more artifacts and go to the gunpowder storage area.
I still have more pictures and there were more things to see such as the souvenir shops and the bazaar inside the new building which was built for tourists. I'll have to stop here about Osaka Castle. Want to see more? Go visit the place. I definitely recommend it.
Day 2 - Fushimi Inari Shrine - Kyoto
Have you ever seen that movie Memoirs of a Geisha? I guess this place with more than 10,000 torii gates was made famous due to that scene on the film when the young Sayuri was running all over the path. I tell you, don't run! It's very tiring. I managed to go to the top and made a return trip. It made my feet hurt so much but it was worth it.
A fox deity or a Kitsune stands guard to the temple entrance.
This site being pretty much famous, is unexpectedly crowded from people from Japan and all across the world.
This is where it all starts! Get your feet ready. Lots of people are here taking selfies too. The further you get, the lesser people taking pictures.
These gates were mostly donated by businessmen, so that they'd be blessed with success. Some are even from Korean companies.
Day 3 - Hiroshima
[To be continued...]
Day 4 - Going Around Osaka Part I - Dotonburi
[To be continued...]
Day 5 - Going Around Osaka Part II - Nipponbashi Denden Town
[To be continued...]
Day 6 - Going Around Osaka Part III - Shopping!
[To be continued...]
Day 7 - Universal Studios Japan
[To be continued...]
Day 8 - Going Home
[To be continued...]