I was having no time to plan where I would go and when. Everything I did was freshly decided.
But at least, I can visit most of Japan's highlight and have lots of activities that other travelers wouldn't have.
My most spending after transportation, foods, and accommodation is for the theme park.
I went to 4 (youth) amusement places! There are Nikko Edo Mura, Fuji-Q Highland, Universal Studio Osaka,
and Tokyo Disneyland. I have stayed overnight at internet café, as I joked to my friends before traveling,
to save my budget. It's really cheap, like 1,000 Yen for 7 hrs, and not so bad if stay just a night (cause it’s no shower there).
Karaoke room and internet café are usually in the same building. I can go check in anytime before
the price rate will be changed at 7 o’clock in the morning.
Starlight Parade at Universal Studio Osaka, 3 April 2009 7.30pm
Japanese people can speak english badly. People who can say few words will try greatly to help me
but people who cannot, will try to chase me away. I'll say "you're so rude, dude", they shall not understand :P
I met one highschool boy that can speak some simple words. I asked him about pub or restuarant
with live music around there. He tried hardly to help me find out but did not understand my question,
then he called his english teacher at school! Amazing boy! But his english teacher did not understand me neither Haha.
It's like English teacher in Thailand that can read/ write an easy passage but never use in the real world.
There are some manner of japanese I will never understand, such they seem like to stand in long line
(up to 3 hrs wherever), no talking on phone in train (but talk to each other so noisy), pachinko addicted,
obvious psychosis, blah blah blah.. However, there still have good thing that impressed me,
such their quick speed everything (especially walking and in work, I love its action! Even the kids and seniors,
they are all walking in same speed as me).
I plan to make some photo album and other remembrance so soon, before I forget the details.
Everything did not pass so smoothly. My flight to Narita Airport was canceled deal to a plane crashed, an accident in Japan.
That’s not too bad, cause I get a business seat by Thai Airways instead. It’s compensated my stand
for 2 hours and a half at Suvarnabhumi check-in counter (from 5am to 7.30 =_=).
During my trip, I stupidly got lost so many times cause of misunderstanding.., booby Ran!
Taking the train is convenience for me. I usually take Shinkansen train when travel across the prefecture.
It takes shorter time and no more charge using my JR Pass. So it's truly really useful! But mine is just 14-days pass,
so I have to finish traveling around and get back to Tokyo within the 14th day.
I wrote a short list of my visit and activity as following.
A japanese doll that I made (right hand side) |
Tea Ceremony with Virada at Ritsumeikan APU. |
My Backpacking to Japan
Wednesday 25th March - Thursday 9th April 2009
(Total 16 days 15 nights)
|
1st week
Wed
fly to Japan
rent a cell phone
exchange for JR Pass
find place to sleep (no reservation)
then get a hotel in Shinjuku,
Tokyo Business Hotel
Thu
take the train to Nikko/Utsunomiya
find place to stay (like my daily routine while travelling -_-")
take a walk around
Fri
Rinnoji Temple and Shrine
Edo Wonderland Nikko
take the train to Akihabara-Tokyo
meet p Khwan, stay at her dorm
Sat
Ueno park, see cherry blossom with
p'On (CP31, p Khwan's rommate.)
National Museum
East Imperial Palace Park
Shopping at Harajuku (Takeshita)
Akihabara
Yorakucho (Ginza)
Sun
Tokyo Dome City (it's just opposite
to p Khwan and p On's dormitory)
Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa)
Shopping at Ikebukuro
Shibuya
Roppongi
Ran at Senso-ji Temple
|
2nd Week
Mon
take train to Kawaguchiko
(a town near Mt. Fuji)
sightsee and walk around
Tue
Lake Kawaguchi and temple nearby
Mt. Kachi Kachi, ride a ropeway
Fuji Q Highland
take the train to Gifu-Hashima
(a hotel I found last night)
Wed
take the train to Nagoya
Nagoya Castle
Electricity Museum Nagoya
take the train to Kyoto
find a place to sleep ZZzzz..
there's piano in hostel, so I played!
many guests listen more than
half an hour.
I get talks and compliments :D
Thu
Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
Nijo Castle
Activity: Japanese doll making at
Kyoto Handicraft Center
Gion area
take the train to Nara
find a guest house then -*-
Fri
Todaiji Temple and Nara Park
then the take train to Osaka
find a hotel
Universal Studio Osaka ..
I love it! >_< stay till closed
Sat
get up at 5am
take the train across the island to Kyushu - Beppu (Oita)
meet Maew (Taw/ Virada), my friend who stydies there
Activity: Chadou (Tea ceremony)
Umijigoku Hot Springs
(jugoku = hell , it's red!)
Beef Buffet
Game center
Karaoke& internet cafe, sleep there
Sun
Beppu annual parade
take the train to Nagasaki
(take so long time, no Shinkansen, just the express train)
|
3rd Week
Mon
Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki A-Bomb Hypocenter
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
Urakami Cathedral
take the train to Kobe
ride a city loop bus, nice guide in bus
take the train to Gifu-Hashima
(satisfied hotel so stay again)
Tue - The 14th day
Himeji Castle
get a private guide (volunteer guide, free of charge, she's really nice)
Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan), one of the biggest aquarium in the world
take the train back to Tokyo
meet p Oon, Nay's friend who I've never met, stay with her =P
Wed
Tokyo Disneyland
(stal all day till it closed)
shopping at Akihabara
stay at internet cafe, Shibuya-Tokyo
Thu
shopping at Arcakit (Kinchicho),
the biggest Daiso (100Yen shop) in Japan
get my stuffs at p Khwan's dorm
take the express train to Narita Airport
return the cell phone
buy souvenir especially Tokyo Banana :)
fly back to Bangkok
Ran at Himeji Castle
|
I took over 1,000 photos during the trip, some selections are shown below, some are in gallery page
and display on the right hand side.
For anyone who needs advise to backpack to Japan, I'm welcome to speak with :)
|
first night in Shinjuku, I was
wearing a yukata
(Japanese traditional dress).
|
People dressed in traditional costumes at train station. |
|
It's still snowing in Nikko, Utsunomiya.
|
Theme park with the most awesome ride in the world,
Fuji-Q Highland.
|
|
My performance at Utano Youth Hostel, Kyoto.
|
People in 1 hour 40 minutes waiting line each ride,
so crowded and going to be much more.
|
|
Ran and deer at Nara Park.
|
Sakura in Kobe City.
|
The day before last day I was in Japan, some cherry blossom was falling down. It made different feeling when taking pictures.
I feel lucky that face this flower since it bloomed till it’s gone, faced different kind of weather – from raining in the first day,
then snowing, cold, sunlight, cloudy, and warm in the last day.
This trip I was traveling alone. My budget that I set to 5k THB per day was succeed! I spent a total of 80k in 16 days
including air fare, all transportation, and living expenses. Really really really cheap for Japan!!
I have had 5 meals per day, full of foods, shopping, and souvenirs.
Good experience with money managing and backpacking in a country I can’t speak their language.
Thanks everything~!
