Week 63: January 9 – 13, 2023
Day 434: January 9, 2023
Monday – Coming of Age Day x Kyoto
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| It's a beautiful day here in Kumatori, Osaka |
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| Thank you Mr. Toshi for driving us to Hineno Station |
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| Riding the train going to Kyoto City |
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| We saw the Meiji Naruhodo Factory Osaka |
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| Waiting for the bus that will bring us to the Horikawa Gojo bus stop |
As for me and my family, Mr. Toshi drove us to Hineno Station. From there we boarded the train bound for Osaka Station and then transferred to the train going to Kyoto Station. Our trip didn’t end there though, we bought the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass before boarding Bus #9 to the Horikawa Gojo bus stop.
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| Our accommodation for our multi-day Kyoto exploration - Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
From there, we crossed the street going to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium which is our home for 4-days. Since we were too early for the check-in time, we just left our luggage for safekeeping and then headed out again to tour the city.
We went to the following places in Kyoto City:
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| Shinpuku-ji Dainichi-do |
📌 Shinpuku-ji Dainichi-do
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| We bought special juice from Sugi Bee Garden Outlet. Good sales talk. 😂 |
📌 Sugi Bee Garden Outlet
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| Maccha House |
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| I tried the Uji Maccha Teramisu |
📌 Maccha House
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| Back to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium to call it a night |
When I got back to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium, I went to the 9th Floor to take a dip in its onsen. It was a perfect way to relax and refresh. Before calling it a day, I made an itinerary for tomorrow’s trip to Shiga Prefecture.
Day 435: January 10, 2023
Tuesday – Shiga
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| It's a beautiful morning here in Kyoto City |
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| The beautiful hallway of Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
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| The breakfast here is delicious |
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| Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin |
📌 Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin
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| It features Gyarados and a shiny Gyarados |
📌 Nagisa Park
While we were exploring Nagisa Park, it suddenly drizzled. We had to cut our Otsu City trip short and headed to Ishiba Station to catch the train to Zeze Station.
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| The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Cultural Museum is currently closed |
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| Waiting for the train at Ishiba Station |
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| The train ride is an hour long so we had the opportunity to take a nap |
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| Arrived at Hikone Station |
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| Hikone Station |
From there, we transferred trains again going to Ishiyama Station. We then hopped on the next train going to our last destination for the day which is Hikone Station.
These are the places that we visited in Hikone City:
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| Gacha2 City inside AL Plaza Hikone |
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| AL Plaza Hikone |
📌 AL Plaza Hikone
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| Hikone Tourist Information Center |
📌 Hikone Tourist Information Center
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| Umaya |
📌 Umaya
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| Walking back to Hikone Station via the sidewalk along Prefectural Road 517 |
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| Statue of Ii Naomasa |
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| Hikone Station |
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| Photo with Hikonyan |
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| Check out this meat vending machine |
After exploring the castle, we decided to head back home. We rode the train from Hikone Station to Kyoto Station before hopping on the bus going to Horikawa Gojo. From there, Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium was only a few blocks away.
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| All we need to do is to cross the street to head back to our hotel |
We were tired and cold from our adventure today so the only thing that we were able to do was take a hot shower before calling it a day.
Day 436: January 11, 2023
Wednesday – Kyoto x Nara
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| Breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
Like yesterday, we started our day by eating breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium. According to the weather forecast, the weather today would be better than yesterday so we decided to push on with our Kyoto x Nara itinerary today.
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| A picture with Oujichama |
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| Uji City Tourist Information Center |
From our hotel, we crossed the overpass going to the Horikawa Gojo bus stop. Upon reaching the bus stop, we boarded the bus going to Kyoto Station. We then transferred to the train bound for Uji Station in the historic city of Uji in Kyoto Prefecture.
These are the places that we visited in Uji City:
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| Uji Byodoin Omotesando |
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| The torii before entering the Uji Byodoin Omotesando |
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| Numerous shops are lined up in Uji Byodoin Omotesando |
📌 Uji Byodoin Omotesando
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| Uji Bridge / Ujibashi |
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| We got to admire the Uji Bridge from Yume Ukihashi Square |
📌 Uji Bridge / Ujibashi
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| Statue of Murasaki Shikubu |
📌 Statue of Murasaki Shikubu
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| Byodoin Museum Hoshokan |
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| Visitors can only take photos in this part of the museum |
📌 Byodoin Museum Hoshokan
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| Starbucks Uji Byodoin Omotesando |
📌 Starbucks Uji Byodoin Omotesando
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| Uji Station |
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| Off to Nara City! |
We then walked back to Uji Station and boarded a train bound for Nara Station in Nara City.
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| Nara Station |
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| Arrived at Nara Station |
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| It's time to explore Nara City |
The train ride from Uji Station to Nara Station was just less than 30 minutes. Regardless, we took the opportunity to rest and relax.
These are the places that we visited in Nara City:
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| Nara Tourist Information Center |
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| Inside Nara Tourist Information Center |
📌 Nara Tourist Information Center
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| You can buy "shika-senbei" or deer crackers from the vendors around the park |
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| Todaiji Chumon |
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| This postal box outside the Nara Station has a unique design |
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| I had to fill up the Lost Property Receipt to claim Ella's water bottle. |
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| Ella reunited with her water bottle |
It was already late afternoon when we finished exploring the city. We rode the bus from Nara Park going to Nara Station. From there, we rode the train back to Uji Station to pick up Ella's forgotten water bottle before riding the train to Kyoto Station. Then, we took a bus to the Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium.
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| Here's what I ordered |
Before going back to the hotel we went to Yoshinoya for dinner.
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| Movie night: "Feng Sui 2" |
That night, before calling it a day, we watched the 2014 Filipino horror film "Feng Shui 2". It was our first time watching it and it did give us a scare or two but since we were watching it using YouTube, there were a lot of ads that sometimes ruined the momentum of the film. Regardless, we enjoyed it.
Day 437: January 12, 2023
Thursday – Last Day in Kyoto
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| It's our last breakfast before checking out of Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
This is it, it’s our last day in Kyoto. Before checking out, we had our complimentary breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium. Like in the past few days, from our hotel, we crossed the overpass going to the Horikawa Gojo bus stop. Upon reaching the bus stop, we boarded the bus going to Kyoto Station.
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| We used the coin lockers in Kyoto Station so that we could leave our stuff to explore Kyoto City one last time before heading back to Osaka. |
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| Japan's train station locker system is safe and very convenient |
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| We explored Kyoto Station a bit before heading out to the bus terminal outside |
However, this time, we went to the baggage coin locker area inside Kyoto Station to leave our backpacks and hand-carry bags for safekeeping so that we could explore the city without the hassle of bringing our bags along with us for our last day of exploration of the city.
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| Boarding the bus bound for Arashiyama |
From there, we headed back to the bus terminal and availed of the 1-day Kyoto City Bus Pass. We boarded the bus bound for Arashiyama (嵐山) to explore the city one more time before leaving.
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| Check out the view from the Arashiyama Bus Stop |
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| Ninja mode! |
Once we arrived at the Arashiyama bus stop, we wasted no time exploring the area. These are the places that we visited:
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| Tenryuji |
📌 Tenryuji
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| Nonomiya Shrine Torii Gate |
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| Nonomiya Shrine |
📌 Nonomiya Shrine
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| Katsura River |
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| Some traditional boats are parked along the river. You may ride it if you avail of the Hozugawa River Cruise |
📌 Katsura River
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| Togetsukyo Bridge |
📌 Togetsukyo Bridge
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| Arashiyama Park Nakanoshima Area |
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| We saw one of Kyoto's Pokemon manhole covers in the park |
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| It features the legendary bird Ho-Oh |
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| You have to explore the park to see it |
📌 Arashiyama Park Nakanoshima Area
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| Kazurano |
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| Bought some souvenirs for our friends in Hokkaido |
Before ending our visit to Arashiyama, we bought souvenirs at Kazurano (souvenir shop). However, it’s not the end of our trip yet. We boarded Bus #11 at the Arashiyama bus stop heading to Sanjo Keihan Mae bus stop.
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| Honke Funahashiya |
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| The store has a huge selection of nuts worth trying |
After having our coffee fix, we bought some nuts from Honke Funahashiya right next to the coffee shop.
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| Yaji-san and Kita-san Statue |
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| Takase River |
We then proceeded down to the Kamogawa seeing the statues of Yaji-san and Kita-san along the way. Afterward, we explored the areas of Ishiyacho and Daikokucho Districts before boarding Bus #17 to Kyoto Station.
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| Aeon Mall Kyoto |
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| We bought food for our Japanese family at the KFC inside AEON Mall Kyoto |
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| We also bought donuts at the Mister Donut branch near Kyoto Station |
Before leaving Kyoto, we bought food at KFC in Aeon Mall Kyoto and also donuts at Mister Donut to bring back home to our Japanese family in Kumatori (熊取町) in Osaka Prefecture.
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| Ms. Sawa picked us up at Hineno Station |
To get back to the Kameyama Residence in Osaka, we rode the train from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station and then transferred to a train going to Hineno Station. From there, Ms. Sawa picked us up and drove us home. That night, we finalized packing our remaining baggage. Afterward, we bonded with our Japanese family as tomorrow is our flight back to Hokkaido.
Day 438: January 13, 2023
Friday – Flight back to Sapporo
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| It's a beautiful morning here in Kumatori |
Today is our last day here in Osaka Prefecture. After breakfast, Mr. Toshi and his family drove us to Kansai International Airport for our flight back to Hokkaido.
We boarded flight MM107 at 11:15 and arrived at New Chitose Airport at 1:10 in the afternoon. As expected, we were welcomed with the vast whiteness of the snow-covered land of Hokkaido.
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| Snow, snow, and lots of snow welcomed us back to Hokkaido |
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| New Chitose International Airport |
After getting our luggage, we didn’t leave the airport just yet. My daughter wanted to see the Pokemon Store New Chitose Airport first which I obliged (as I wanted to revisit it too).
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| Waiting for our train going to our hotel |
From there, we headed to Chitose Airport Station and boarded the train to Sapporo Station. We then transferred to the Namboku Line and then rode the subway going to Susukino Station where our hotel for the night is located.
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| Susukino's famed Nikka Whiskey Sign |
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| Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino |
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| Our home for the night - Room #613 |
We walked several blocks going to Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino to check-in. We were given Room #613. The first thing we did was lie down and take a nap.
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| First stop - 2nd Street Tanukikoji Branch |
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| There were plenty of clothes here but we weren't able to find one that we like |
After resting we headed out and walked to Second Street in Tanukikoji Shopping Street to see what it has to offer. It was dinner time when we finished window shopping so we decided to look for a place to eat dinner.
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| Katsuya |
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| Tonkatsu for dinner. Itadakimasu! |
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| Passed by Susukino District again |
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| Susukino District at night |
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| Heading back to Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino to wrap up the day |
We decided to dine at Katsuya and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of their tonkatsu. As we headed back to our hotel, we took in the vibrant nightlights of the Susukino District. I was eager to explore more, but we were exhausted, so we returned to Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino to call it a night.
Overall, this week has been a mix of emotions, with the reality of Winter Break coming to an end slowly sinking in. Nonetheless, we are grateful for the beautiful new memories we've made. We're excited to see what the last two days of winter break have in store. Until next time!
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 63
Japan Diaries 4: Day 434
Japan Diaries 4: Day 435
Japan Diaries 4: Day 436
Japan Diaries 4: Day 437
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