Japan holds the No. 2 spot in the list of countries with the fastest broadband connection, according to the 2010 report by US-based network provider Akamai Technologies. [physorg, thomas crampton]
And man, is it fast! My recent (one-of-my-procrastination-activities) internet speed test showed the following results:
I am about to leave Japan in about a month, and honestly, I feel terribly sad.
Five months ago, all I wanted to do was to call home as much as I could, talk to friends (and even mere acquaintances) in Facebook, twitter, gtalk, YM! (lahat na!), and daydream of the things that I plan to do when I go back to the Philippines. I went to Tsukuba to meet with Filipino friends as much as I could just to be able to experience the good ol’ Pinoy tsismisan. The mere mention of sisig, crispy tenga (in Sefali, KNL, UP Diliman), sinigang na baboy and UP Diliman’s Beachouse barbecue could literally bring me tears. I was THAT lonely and homesick. But now that I’m leaving soon, all I can think about is the multitude of things that I have yet to experience, and the things that I want to relive and never forget about Japan, especially Tokyo. I will definitely miss it, and if given a chance to visit it again, I will definitely do so in a heartbeat.
So as a parting tribute to the wonderful (almost-a-) year that was, I will be posting the top five things that I will miss most about Japan. One article per week – just in time for my arrival in the Philippines. Some things from the list may be huge and important, while others may seem mundane and insignificant. But every bit of it endeared Japan to me. 🙂
(I know that I am very behind with my blog posting and I still have a LOT of trips to chronicle. I will still find time to do this, don’t worry. :))
Golden Week Day 1: OSAKA
Nearest station: Umeda
Admission to deck: Y 700
Website: http://www.kuchu-teien.com/english/
The last stop for my Osaka day trip was the Umeda Sky Tower. I am not really fond of skylines nor of really high places, so I was not really excited to visit this famous landmark. But since my friends have been raving about how scary and thrilling the visit was, I had to try it.
Keep reading…
Golden Week Day 1: OSAKA
Nearest station: Tanimachi-4-chome
Admission to main castle tower: Y 600
Situated at the heart of the city, Osakajo is perhaps the main landmark of Osaka. It is said to have been integral to the unification of Japan in the 16th century during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
facade of the main tower
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It has been exactly a year since I visited this beautiful place in Palawan (see previous post), and until now, I still consider it as my most favorite place in the world. ❤
Golden Week Day 1: OSAKA
Nearest station: Osakako (Osaka Port)
Admission: Y 2000
Official website: http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/
Osaka Aquarium
Golden Week Day 1: OSAKA
Nearest station: Shitennoji-mae-Yuhigaoka station
admission: Y 300 (main Garan only), Y 700 (combo ticket)
Built in 593 AD, Shitenno-ji is the oldest Imperial temple in Japan. Shitenno refers to the four Buddhist Heavenly Kings. The temple is said to be built as Prince Shotoku’s thanksgiving for helping him defeat the Mononobe clan. The temple grounds have actually been reconstructed several times. In spite of this, the different structures in the temple complex still reflect the original Buddhist architectural style of its time.
entrance to the temple grounds
little Buddha statues at the entrance
Japan is not really big on non-working holidays (unlike in the Philippines), so I figured that since the Golden Week is the longest holiday in the year, I might as well spend it exploring places far from Tokyo. So for my 4-day holiday, I decided to visit Osaka, Nara and Kyoto.
Since I was a gaijin-on-a-budget, I opted to take the overnight bus to and from Kansai. There are a variety of private and JR buses that offer good deals, but I usually take Willer Express because of their English reservation service and accessibility. Their boarding station in Tokyo is conveniently situated near JR Shinjuku station, and payment can be done in convenience stores. In other cities, they would set up make-shift check-in counters in places that are also really easy to find. (Their website also provides very detailed maps directing you to the location of their boarding stations.)
(photos taken in February 2009)
I MISS THE BEACH.
The clear blue waters that glisten with the sunlight. Smooth powdery sand that can literally hurt your eyes with its perfect whiteness. Colorful fishes unabashedly pecking at your feet, letting you know how unwelcome you are in their turf (haha). Seeing a gorgeous sunset while riding a boat from some small island that you and your friends have called your own for a day. Barbecue and ice-cold Coke. Damn.
location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearest station: Shinjuku-gyoenmae; Sendagaya
Don’t get me wrong, I love travelling alone. I get to enjoy every detail of it – the scents, the sounds,the sights, the tastes. I get to stay a while longer in places that I really love, and just pass by the areas that I’m not so keen on seeing. I get to focus on taking lots of pictures of a single sight, without minding if someone is getting bored, waiting for me to take the perfect shot. But the thing is, when you have a perfectly serene and beautiful scene in front of you, you can’t help but feel sad and nostalgic. It makes you think of the people back home that you miss, and makes you wish you can share this perfect sight with them.
It would have been a remarkable moment.
The Shinjuku-gyoen National Garden had that effect (on me). Though one of the most famous and largest parks in Tokyo, it is a very serene area, perfect for a quiet afternoon solitude or an intimate conversation with a loved one. An unmistakeable contrast from its neighbour, the Yoyogi -koen.
Shinjuku-gyoen is one of the largest green area in Tokyo, perfect for just lounging around
travelling light 