[samtcy] Consolidated 2 Japan trips (Kansai + One Piece exhibition + Tokyo + Nagano)

[samtcy]

82) Toy (Omoden) train.

DSC_0807_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

83) Gachapon machines onboard the train

DSC_0848_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

84)

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85) Toy trains on display cabinets onboard the train

DSC_0862_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

86)

DSC_0870_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

 

[samtcy]

After spending the day trying to catch all 3 themed trains at Wakayama, I headed for Kyoto where I will be spending 3 nights.

87) The exterior of the guesthouse where I stayed at.

DSC_0896_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

88) The 1st floor common area of the Guesthouse

DSC_0893_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

89) My single room. (3500yen a night for single room, shared bathroom)

DSC_0888_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

90) Dinner + Runningman

DSC_0902_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

 

[samtcy]

Trip 1 (Sep 2012) Day 5: One Piece Grand Arena Tour 2012 at Sabae Fukui

91) After a 1hr odd train ride from Kyoto, I arrived at Sabae...which is the nearest station to the exhibition area. This exhibition is not the same as the one that's going on now at Osaka, it's a different one. This one which I went will go to different cities and only spends a few days at a particular city. Event website: ƒƒ“ƒs[ƒX ƒOƒ‰ƒ“ƒhƒAƒŠ[ƒiƒcƒA[

DSC_0002_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

92) Sabae station

DSC_0003_2 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

93) After a short 5mins cab ride, I finally arrived at the exhibition hall

DSC_0011_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

94) Luffy, drawn by One Piece's creator Oda sensei specially for this exhibition

DSC_0022_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

95) The iconic Luffy and Shanks scene

DSC_0029_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

 

[samtcy]

96)

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97)

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100)

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[samtcy]

101) Cosplayers

DSC_0083_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

102)

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105)

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[samtcy]

106)

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[samtcy]

111)

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112)

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113)

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114)

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115) tikam tikam (1000yen per bag)

DSC_0212_5 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

 

[duffydufs]

wow ms sam, whenever i see your threads covering japan, it really makes me wanna go....just need to save more money.hehe.

anyway thanks for the inspiration and sharing

 

[samtcy]

wow ms sam, whenever i see your threads covering japan, it really makes me wanna go....just need to save more money.hehe.

anyway thanks for the inspiration and sharing

Heh. thanks for the comments.

Anyway, going to Japan doesn't need to cost alot. Like I mentioned on my 1st post, this particular Sep 2012 trip, I managed to get cheap airfare and cheap accommodations so my airfare + 9 nights of accommodations costs me around S$700+ (private single room, but shared toilets). I spent about S$1900+ for my Sep's solo trip, which includes airfare + accommodations + transport + 4day JR Kansai Area Wide Rail Pass + food + shopping. It could have been cheaper, if not for my tendency to splurge a little on food.

To save more, watch out for good airfare deals. Usually airfares to Japan costs around S$1000+ for ANA and JAL, but promo rates are usually S$700 to S$800+. My more recent Dec trip I flew with Cathay and it was about S$700+. AirAsia sometimes have promo (which is why my Sep's airfare is so cheap) so my airfare was only S$386, inclusive taxes but before top up for the check in luggage. After topping up, it's about S$400+.

 

[duffydufs]

yes ms sam, im waiting for the promotion.if fortunate enough, i might go during autumn.
again thank you and a prosperous new year to you and your family.

 

[KYFoong]

Sam, as always I enjoy your pictures. Good for you that you made the trip. Nice! I was reminded of the train ride with my family from Osaka to Okayama and then the country side is so beautiful..... beauty in simplicity! Keep posting.

 

[limwhow]

After spending the day trying to catch all 3 themed trains at Wakayama, I headed for Kyoto where I will be spending 3 nights.

8

89) My single room. (3500yen a night for single room, shared bathroom)

Wow.. 3500 yen a night!
That's really good price.
How many person can be accommodated in such one room?

 

[samtcy]

yes ms sam, im waiting for the promotion.if fortunate enough, i might go during autumn.
again thank you and a prosperous new year to you and your family.

Autumn is a lovely time to go Kyoto, esp visit Kiyomizudera. However the accommodations at Kyoto tends to get fully booked or more expensive during autumn season as well. So if you are on a budget, you can consider staying at Osaka (where accommodation is usually less pricey than Kyoto during autumn) and then make the train journey to Kyoto (takes about 30 to 45mins by local train line) instead.

Or alternatively if you don't mind having shared bathrooms, there are many affordable guesthouses machiya buildings (old restored Kyoto traditional buildings) for you to stay at. I got mine for 3500yen per night for a single room, but shared bathroom.
I have compiled a list of Kyoto cheaper guesthouse accommodations on my blog (http://goawaysam.blogspot.sg/2008/10/japan-on-budget.html)

Prosperous New year to you and your family as well.

 

[samtcy]

Sam, as always I enjoy your pictures. Good for you that you made the trip. Nice! I was reminded of the train ride with my family from Osaka to Okayama and then the country side is so beautiful..... beauty in simplicity! Keep posting.

Thank you.
I agree that the countryside views are lovely.

Wow.. 3500 yen a night!
That's really good price.
How many person can be accommodated in such one room?

It's a "single room". Meaning for just 1 person.
If for 2, you have to get a "double" or "twin" room.
You can find rooms for 2 pax for about 6000yen per room per night at quite a number of guesthouse/ryokan/machiya, if you don't mind not having your own private ensuite bathroom. If you want private bathroom, then probably would be easier to find such a room if you upped your budget to about 8000yen per room per night.

Most of the rooms in the old traditional buildings don't come with bathroom in your room, but personally, I find that it's a nice experience staying in such an accommodation since it's different feel from the other usual hotel rooms.

 

[samtcy]

Trip 1 (Sep 2012) Day 6 Kyoto (typhoon day)
Since there's typhoon on this day, I spent most of the day just shopping within the Yodobashi store opposite of Kyoto station (therefore didn't bothered using my DSLR to take pics...only using my mobile phone or compact cam for photo taking).

Was originally planning to go Hikone (not to be confused with Hakone) but after checking the weather forecast website, I found that the typhoon will proceed towards Hikone area after Kyoto, so I foresee a possible train suspension in that area. Thankfully, I was right in doing so. Because later in the day, I found out that all trains to Hikone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kansai Airport were all being suspended due to the typhoon. If I had went to Hikone in the morning as planned, I'd have stranded there until train services were restored later that night.

116) Jump shop (which sells products from many popular anime shows like One Piece, Naruto, Bleach...etc) inside Yodobashi building.
Since my fav is One Piece, and maybe Naruto, so most of the pics I took were of these 2 animes.

P1070383 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

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120) Some Naruto stuffs

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[samtcy]

121)

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122) Slam Dunk!!!

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123) Tees from various animes

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124)

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125) Bleach

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[samtcy]

126)

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129) Luffy and Naruto sharing the same boat. Haha...

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[samtcy]

131)

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[samtcy]

136) After the Jump shop, I headed for Yodobashi electronics store looking for SD and CF card holders

P1070446 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

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138)

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139) This is my Tempura lunch.

DSC_0397 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

140) Chef cooking Tempura

P1070466 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

 

[samtcy]

141) iPhone 5 Phone casings. It wasn't too long after iPhone 5 was released...and they are already selling loads of iPhone 5 casings at Yodobashi.

P1070470 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

142) Some of the many One Piece casings....drool...

P1070471 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

143) Cute portable phone chargers

P1070473 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

144) Pretty luggages sold at Yodobashi as well...

P1070476 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr

145) Loads of luggages.

P1070477 by Samantha.Tan, on Flickr