Japan Travelogue (Part II)

Seeing cherry blossoms in Japan was always a childhood dream of mine, and my friend and I decided to go ahead and do it this year! We booked our flight tickets nearly 6 months in advance in order to get the flight tickets at a lower price.

Since I have been to Osaka a few times, we decided to go to Tokyo this time (and it was actually my first time in Tokyo!!) and spend most of the time in the city with a few day trips in between so that we could have a mix of the bustling city as well as the quiet outskirts.

Unfortunately, Spring came early this year and the cherry blossoms blossomed a few weeks earlier, but nevertheless, we managed to catch the last few sights of the cherry blossoms (immense luck).

新宿御苑 Shinjuku Gyoen

Afraid that we missed the cherry blossoms, we did some research and found out that Shinjuku Gyoen, which is large park and garden in the Shinjuku area, has cherry blossom trees that were famous to bloom later than the usual ones!

It was hard to imagine such a large and pretty park existed right smack in the middle of the city, as it was not what I imagined Tokyo to be. Spring truly is the best season to visit this park as the weather was perfect for a nice stroll, and there were so many blooming flowers and plants, not only cherry blossoms.

川越 Kawagoe

We decided to take a day trip slightly out of main Tokyo to Kawagoe. It was merely a 30min ride (using the express train) from Ikebukuro station and is perfect for a day trip! This place originally got my interest because it was known to be "Little Edo" and resembled Kyoto as the streets were lined with clay walled buildings that retained the vibes and memories of the past.

Time here surely did seem to pass by slower as you took your time exploring the shophouses selling eccentric and intricate knick knacks, handmade snacks, as well as various traditional landmarks that held great history.

文京区 Bunkyo

We dropped by Bunkyo because it was famous for it's azalea flowers! Despite it only being the first few days of bloom and it was not at it's peak yet, the flowers were still beautiful. It reminded me of a mini Fushimi Inari Taisha and it was a great place for a morning stroll, breathing in the fresh air and admiring the flowers.

箱根町 Hakone

Hakone has been on my go to list ever since photos of the Hakone Shrine appeared on social media platforms. Most people suggested spending 2 days in Hakone to fully enjoy the attractions and sights it has to offer but due a tight schedule, we decided to make it a day trip.

Being prepared for Hakone is very important so as to make sure that you make full use of your Hakone pass - therefore we listed a few attractions that we must go to, such as the Open Air Museum and the Hakone Shrine. To fully experience Hakone, it is a must to follow the course/route suggesed, so that you would be able to take the various different types of transport (which in my opinion, are all attractions of their own!). This will include the Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway and the Hakone Sightseeing Boat. If you're lucky, you will be able to see Mount Fuji while taking the ropeway!

Overall, we had a great time in Hakone. Yes, it's bustling with tourists and there are long queues for the transportation and attractions but you'll get an experience that you won't be able to get elsewhere. Also, probably because we did not go with a tour group and merely mapped out our route on our own, we took the lesser known routes and took our time between each attraction. Even just standing at the dock and admiring the sea and views is a great experience in itself.

原宿 Harajuku

A trip to Tokyo is not completed if you don't visit the famous Harajuku street - it was an eye opener, It may seem like any other ordinary street but it truly encompasses the essence of Japan street wear and fashion and is a must go for shopping lovers! Here, you can also embrace your internal child by buying various knick knacks (Disney store anyone?), the famous street food (crepes, cotton candy, ice cream) as well as the Purikura stores (instant sticker photo booths!).

浅草 Asakusa

We didn't want to end our trip without experience wearing the Japanese kimono. Asakusa is super famous among tourists because of the Sensoji Temple, which is Tokyo's oldest temple. Many people flog there to learn their fortune by drawing an Omikuji paper!

If you get a bad fortune (like me), not to worry because the tradition is to tie it on the iron rods there and the 'bad fortune' will remain there and not stay with you.

Anyhow, Sensoji temple is truly beautiful in so many ways - and I could tell you in words but it would be much easier to show it through photos.