Thank you for the 365 days that we've shared together. It was really a memorable one. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there were numerous blessings and travel that came into my life. But the biggest one is that I finally reunited with my wife and daughter after months of separation.
Let's look back and see what milestones we've crossed and achieved this year.
1. This year, there were 94 published articles (34 more than last year 😄😄).
2. I have reached 3.1 million views (That's 500K new views this year). 3. My wife and daughter safely arrived in Hokkaido thus completing #TeamNicerio once again.
4. I finished my Master of Business Administration degree from San Pedro College of Business Administration.
5. My family and I bought a Suzuki Swift car we named Ruru.
6. My family and I got to travel around Hokkaido Prefecture. We visited 74 of the prefecture's 179 cities, towns, and villages.
7. I visited 4 new prefectures in Japan this year; Mie, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Ehime.
Speaking of travels, here are the highlights of my travels for each month last year:
Japan is undeniably a collector's paradise. As a matter of fact, there are a plethora of different things to collect here that are catered to every collector's unique taste and preference. Anime fans have their usual toys, mangas, and memorabilia. Pokemon fans have numerous Pokemon Centers that sell an assortment of Pokemon merchandise. Kitkat collectors have more than 300 flavors of Kitkat to try out. Pilgrims have the temple stamps called goshuin which I wrote about last time. These are but some of the numerous possible things to collect in Japan . A Guide to Collecting Eki Stamps However, since I'm promoting budget travel, my article today talks about something that you can collect for FREE . Yup, you read that right. All you need to have is a clean notebook or tickler and an ever-watchful eye. A Guide to Collecting Eki Stamps Eki stamps , also called train station stamps, are rubber ink stamps that are typically found in most train stations in Japan. These stamps f
Located in Barangay San Pedro in Sto. Tomas in the province of Batangas, the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio is a pilgrimage site dedicated and inspired by Saint Padre Pio. National Shrine of St. Padre Pio National Shrine of St. Padre Pio History The shrine initially started out as a bamboo and nipa chapel back in 2003. Then on November 7, 2005, a 1.6-hectare agricultural land was donated to the Archdiocese of Lipa by a generous couple. A year later, another generous individual donated 200 square meters of land to provide the right of way to the site. This land would be the site of the new chapel and later on the Shrine of St. Padre Pio . The salakot like roof as seen from the bell tower Devotees hanging handkerchiefs dipped in the Well of Hope or Bukal ng Pag-asa St. Padre Pio welcomes the pilgrims to the shrine Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry - National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio St. Padre Pio belltower St. Padre Pio painting A relic inside the Reli
Utashinai Roadside Station , formally called Roadside Station Utashinai Tyrol ( 道の駅 うたしないチロルの湯 ) is one of the 128 roadside stations spread around Hokkaido. It is located at 72-2 Nakamura, Utashinai City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Utashinai Roadside Station Utashinai Roadside Station details Discover Hokkaido’s charm by stopping over at Utashinai Roadside Station , located along Route 114. This station is the perfect base for exploring Central, Northern, and Eastern Hokkaido, and houses a variety of tourism resources and facilities. Utashinai Roadside Station - Utashinai City, Hokkaido Prefecture One of the standout features of Utashinai Roadside Station is its accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Equipped with a covered parking lot that can be used even when it snows in winter, and a road-heating pavement, visitors can enjoy the station’s facilities with peace of mind. The Utashinai Roadside Station signage also shows the day's temperature The map of Utashinai
10 Things to Do in Utashinai City Utashinai ( 歌志内市 ) is a city in the Sorachi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . It is the smallest city in the country in terms of population. The city got its name when the railway was established in the region. It derived its name from the sound of the river coursing through the vicinity, referred to as " Otashinai ". For those planning to visit the town of Utashinai to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Utashinai City : Utashinai manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the manhole covers of Utashinai . So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. The first one is common around town. The colored manhole cover can be found along Route 691. Utashinai Pokemon manhole cover 2. Check out the newly installed Utashinai Pokemon manhole cover at Utashinai Roadside Station. It features both Vulpix and its Alolan counterpart together with Joltik. Former Sorachi Coal Mine Club (旧空知炭鉱倶楽部) 3. Visit the Former Sorachi Coal Mine Clu
Ashibetsu Roadside Station ( 道の駅 スタープラザ芦別 ) is one of the 128 roadside stations of Hokkaido Prefecture. It is located along Route 38 and 452 in Kita 4-jo Higashi 1-1-1 in Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Ashibetsu Roadside Station Ashibetsu Roadside Station details Ashibetsu Roadside Station is formally called Roadside Station "Star Plaza Ashibetsu" . It was one of the first roadside stations in Hokkaido. It was registered on April 22, 1993, and was given Registration Number 2. This station serves as a tourist information center and a hub for travelers to explore what the town has to offer. Ashibetsu Roadside Station - Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture The Tourist Information Center inside Ashibetsu Roadside Station is a must-visit spot for travelers. Here, they will find information about the town's famous products sold on the first floor. From the Yokoichi cheese, butter, and Ashibetsu melon, to the lily root, and zenzai, visitors can purchase a variety
10 Things to Do in Ashibetsu City Ashibetsu ( 芦別市 ) is a city in the Sorachi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . It is theorized that the city got its name from the Ainu word “ as pet , " meaning “ the river that flows in a shrub ”. Aside from that, other historians also believed that it came from the Ainu word “ hasi pet ” which means “ the standing river ”. In both theories, the name refers to the Ashibetsu River, which flows through the city. For those planning to visit the city of Ashibetsu to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Ashibetsu : Ashibetsu City manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the manhole covers of Ashibetsu . So far, I have seen four unique manhole covers which are common in the central part of the city. There are colored versions of these which are installed along Route 452. There is also a special Anne of Canadian World manhole cover found only in the Canadian World Park. Hokkaido Dai Kannon 2. Take a photo of the Hokkaido Dai Kannon
Akabira Tokugawa Castle ( 赤平徳川城 ) is a replica castle located along National Route 38 at 174 Horookacho, Akabira City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Akabira Tokugawa Castle Akabira Tokugawa Castle details Akabira Tokugawa Castle may not be a real historical site, but its story is just as fascinating. Built in 1991 by Matsuzawa Yoroi Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of festival dolls, Akabira Tokugawa Castle has served as a showroom and manufacturing factory. It boasts four floors of unique and interesting attractions, including a souvenir and doll-making demonstration area on the first floor, an impressive doll display and sales area on the second and third floors, a Hina doll display and Japanese restaurant on the fourth floor, and an armored helmet exhibit on the fifth floor. The castle also has a sixth floor, which once served as an observatory tower. Akabira Tokugawa Castle - Akabira City, Hokkaido Prefecture Although the castle is currently closed to the public, it remains a symbol of
10 Things to Do in Biei Biei ( 美瑛町 ) is a small town in the Kamikawa Subprefecture of Hokkaido. It is famous for its beautiful nature, particularly the flower fields and the iconic trees. The town is one of "Japan's Most Beautiful Villages". Biei got its name from the Biei River that flows to it. The river got its name from the Ainu word piye which means oily or greasy. This is because the water has a murky appearance. For those planning to visit Biei to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things To Do in Biei : Biei manhole cover 1. Take a picture of Biei's unique manhole cover . So far, I have seen only one manhole cover design. It’s common and can be seen around town. Rent a bike and explore Biei 2. Rent a bike and explore Biei town proper and the nearby scenic spots. There are plenty of rental shops near Biei JR Station. You can also ask the rental shops for a “Biei-by-bike itinerary”. Biei Roadside Station 3. Head over to Biei Roadside Station formall
Nakajima Island ( 中島 ) is a tiny volcanic island in Hokkaido, Japan , located in the heart of Lake Toya. Its western side is under the jurisdiction of the town of Toyako while its eastern side is part of the town of Sobetsu. Nakajima Island Nakajima Island details Nakajima Island has a radius of roughly 3.6 kilometers and is densely forested. It was produced by volcanic activity around 7,000 years ago. Because of its magnificent environment and natural hot springs, the island is a popular tourist attraction. Nakajima Island - Toyako and Sobetsu On the island, various hiking routes lead to observation platforms with breathtaking views of Lake Toya and the neighboring mountains. Tourists may also explore the island's woodlands, where they can witness a variety of plant and wildlife species, such as deer and rabbits. Lake Toya Cruise Nakajima Island Pier The Nakajima Mizuminomori Museum is also located on the island. It is a natural history museum that houses several displays a
Tanbo Art ( 東鷹栖・田んぼアート ) is a rice paddy exhibit dubbed rice field art. It is located at Higashitakasu 7 Sen, Asahikawa City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Tanbo Art Asahikawa 2022 Tanbo Art 2022 details Tanbo Art was started by the youth group of JA Taisetsu. This unique form of art involves creating intricate designs on rice fields. The first rice paddy art was made way back in 2006. It featured the majestic Daisetsuzan. Tanbo Art - Asahikawa City, Hokkaido The process of creating Tanbo Art is as fascinating as the art itself. The artists use different colors of rice plants to create amazing patterns and images, from traditional Japanese scenes to abstract designs. The planting, nurturing, and harvesting of rice is carefully timed and planned to create the desired effect. Tanbo Art Observatory The rice up close Each year, new designs are created and visitors are encouraged to come and enjoy the beauty of the fields. Visitors can view the magnificent rice art from mid-July to mi
It seems like your 2022 was full of adventures. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope this year would be better than last year.
DeleteCongratulations on your achievements this year dude.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
Delete