Japan Autumn 2018

[anyhowsaysay]

@Anyhowsaysay: how early did you reserve at the Sugalabo? Thinking of paying them a visit.

4-5 months in advance...

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

Crowded during weekends

Koyo was pretty late in Tohoku last year. Even during first week of Nov, Yamadera was still relatively green. The first time i went to Yamadera was during the same period and it was freezing back then (Easier to climb when it is colder)

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

Going down.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

Famous in Yamadera. Konnyaku Dango with mustard

Waiting for the next train back. For rural area like Yamadera, train frequency could be as long as 1 hour

To sendai then shinkansen back to Tokyo

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

After resting, took train to nearby Yokohama for Dinner at Ribatei Yakitori place.
https://tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1401/A140104/14001650/

There is no menu. Omakase style. The Chef will keep serving until you ask him to stop then he will calculate the price.

Typical cost for dinner at Ribatei is around 10k Yen

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 3 - 4th November 2018

Speed is much quicker than another of my favourite Yakitori place Toriki. This time it was 1.5 hours since i did not eat as much. But it could be maybe 2 hours for my next time.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

Day 4, Woke up super early for another day trip to Tohoku. Time was 5:30 at this photo so i guess i woke up 4am..

Chicken Karaage Ekiben with Curry rice. Transfer to Local train at Ichinoseki to Hiraizumi.

My second time in Hiraizumi. I still vividly remembered my first time here i met pretty heavy rain and eat soba. This time the weather was much better

Koyo peaking in Hiraizumi. Not much tourist here.

Hiraizumi was one of the important city during the Heian period and even rivalled Kyoto back then. However, it lost it prominence after that and never recovered. It is known for two famous temples which i visited

People doing archaeological survey (Hiraizumi is a very old city but it lost many buildings...)

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

First stop, Motsuji which is known for the few remaining pure land gardens in Japan.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

In this temple, got many of this white marker which indicate the location of the different buildings which was gone.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

Next, Chusonji which is the most famous attraction in Hiraizumi. From the etnrance got quite a steep walk up.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

Chinese tour group is here

Within Chusonji, the must see is this Konjikido Hall which have a golden pavilion inside (No Photography)

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

Shrine within the complex

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 4 - 5th November 2018

Next, I went to Takadachi Gikeido. I never been here before, but it is not so nice...

This place is the memorial to the brother of the founder of Kamakura Shogunate.

Nothing to see

Wanted to eat ****o Soba but the shop i shortlisted was closed...

Ichinoseki station

 

[hamikua]

Nice threads TS, really offer another perspective of Japan (the non-touristy version)

btw do you know how will the weather in mid-June be like? I heard summer in Japan is pretty hot. If it is like Singapore weather...

 

[N4E.SI]

For me, I never been to many countries before and i also don't have interest in going to other countries.

The reason why I am always go to Japan is because i truly like going to Japan. It is something i always look forward to, like my 2nd home.

Ditto on the taking the stress out of travelling. Basically I am too familiar with almost every area so even alone i could take a nap on the train, without fear of missing stops, getting lost etc etc.

Japan itself is also massive country so every now and then i can find some place new within Japan to go. Something new to try, to eat etc.

u are my inspiration! moi going to Tokyo for a 5-day holiday in May

one thing about Jap is navigation/direction is damm hard. the last time I went Jap literally lost a few times

how do u find ur way around?

like I have a few sushi restaurants in mind, but their address is like ??

Sushi Tokami
8-2-10 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo

Kozasazushi (小笹寿し)
8-6-18 Ginza Chuo Tokyo

all their address never indicate building (like shopping centre) or which exit to take from the subway. how to find sia

should I jus take a cab even thou I heard teksi in Jap very $$

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Nice threads TS, really offer another perspective of Japan (the non-touristy version)

btw do you know how will the weather in mid-June be like? I heard summer in Japan is pretty hot. If it is like Singapore weather...

Typically from Mid April onwards until Oct, the weather us a but warm.
The peak warmth is around Aug. June to July is the rainy season in Japan so expect quite a bit of rain especially late June around 50% chance.

The temperature itself is slightly less than 30

 

[anyhowsaysay]

u are my inspiration! moi going to Tokyo for a 5-day holiday in May

one thing about Jap is navigation/direction is damm hard. the last time I went Jap literally lost a few times

how do u find ur way around?

like I have a few sushi restaurants in mind, but their address is like ??

Sushi Tokami
8-2-10 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo

Kozasazushi (小笹寿し)
8-6-18 Ginza Chuo Tokyo

all their address never indicate building (like shopping centre) or which exit to take from the subway. how to find sia

should I jus take a cab even thou I heard teksi in Jap very $$

I am going to Japan in few weeks time.
What i always do is i pan my schedule for everyday. Where to go etc and i made itinerary with link to google maps. So i just refer and click the link and then it will give me direction to the different sites i need to go. It is quite comprehensive and need me quite a few months to create such, could range to 60 pages and more for 2 weeks holiday to even 100 pages and more for longer 1 month vacation.

For Tokami, this kind of higher end place, you need to make reservation with them
https://goo.gl/maps/CNYXDGDsPDYneywM7
Tokami location. Shop is B1

Kozasazushi, I never been there before. But looks high end so you require reservation as well
https://goo.gl/maps/eXNzitZ2TddAYuLM8
Shop is 1st floor

Taxi is expensive, and sometimes the drivers themselves also clueless on the location.

 

[supratentorium]

Hi AHSS,

I thought you were in Japan for spring and hanami, no? Going in another few weeks?
Have you thought of maybe catching one of the fireworks festivals in summer?