Aichi-ken Travel Blogs | Travelogues | Travel Journals

This story started in late March or early April.  I don't remember how it started but I asked him to come to Japan as I always say to other TBs. Half joking, half serious because I know many people are not really take it seriously so I just say everyone to come to Japan when they say they want to come.  So I said the same thing to JC because he wasn't sure where he wanted to go. He didn't say he WANTS to come that time lol!!He told me he might come to japan a several weeks later. I ...

It was nice to meet up with Sky (cscsky) here in Inuyama. After visiting Meiji-mura on the morning, we went to Inuyama Castle on the afternoon. I thought Sky might have been tired from the long walk in Meiji-mura, but she always smiled and enjoyed looking around the old towns of Inuyama. Inuyama Castle, a national treasure built in the 14th century  on the north side of Inuyama. We took off our shoes to enter and went up the steep stairs and saw suits of arm...

My friend is moving to Canada for a year so I decided to have fun with her. We went to Higashiyama Zoo. I haven't gone there for over 15 years. I actually don't remember when I went there the last time lolWe both had 'donichi eco kippu' (see my tips to nagoya review) so we had 100yen off to enter the zoo. Ok,, it costs only 500yen. It's so cheap but we had discount so it was 400yen. haha! I knew they have sakura so I wanted to have fun both zoo and seeing sakuras. Animals were so cute but SO ...

I had a pretty rough night, I apparently have a bad cavity and it's acting up. I can't sleep, it's horrible. Anywho, didn't get much sleep but I had to get up so we could head to the Sanage Hot Springs. Satomi, Jun, Harunu and I drove about 30 minutes to these great springs. The drive was so beautiful, very lush green forest with bamboo and trees on both sides of this small winding rode up into the mountains. It wasn't a very hot day today, for once, but it was still very humid. The whole Ho...

In Japan there is a special way of counting years in addition to the Western calendar style. The Meiji era, or Meiji period began in 1868 and it ended in 1912. During this time, Japan started its modernization after centuries of isolation.  In 1965, two men decided to preserve histrical buildings of the Meiji era and the Taisho(1912-1926) era, so they formed a foundation.  Thanks to their effort, those histrical buildings built in various big cities like Tokyo, O...

I haven't gone to Canada and US for 2,3 years. For some reason, I was nervous to go there this time. Day 1 - rain (Nagoya)I got up around 9:30am on the 18th of April. I packed most of my stuff last night and pretty much ready to go.  I checked some emails, messages from TBs, etc before I leave.My flight was 4pm so I had to be there 2 hours before. I asked my dad to drop me off at the bus station near my house a few nights before. He had to go somewhere around 2pm so I decided to take a b...

We went to see Peonies at Tokugawaen, a Japanese garden in the center of Nagoya. Tokugawaen means Tokugawa family's garden. The Tokugawa family of Owari had ruled this area for over 250 years using Nagoya Castle as its main base. Tokugawa Yoshichika, who was the 19th load of Owari Province (now Aichi prefecture) donated this garden to Nagoya city in 1931. He was the descendant of the first load of Owari, Tokugawa Yoshinao, the 9th son of the first Tokugawa shougun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.&...

The weather was fine, an ideal day for hiking. We walked to Jakkoin temple neaby. The temple is famous for its autumn colors.

Hatsumode, visiting a shrine or a temple at the New Year, is one of Japanese custom. I felt I could  make a good start of this year.

After eleven hours and twenty Sudoku puzzles later, we finally landed at Nagoya's Chubu International Airport. This airport was newly built when Nagoya hosted the World Expo in '05. Walking out of the airplane, I immediately noticed the humidity in the air. Here we are...! We were going to take a train into Downtown Nagoya. Outside of baggage claim, there are a number of airport volunteers (looked like local ladies) waiting around, and they would answer questions and direct travelers ...

I went to Toyohashi again. I used Meitetsu train from Nagoya to Toyohashi. But I could go there by JR trains including kodama, a local bullet train. From Toyohashi station you can use several public transpotation like the street car line, the Atsumi line and bus lines by the destination where you're going. There was a display of Ogre festival at the main ticket gate of Toyohashi station and hina dolls for the Hina dolls festival on March 3 were displaye...

The sun was starting to come out, for the first time since we arrived, so I took the opportunity to explore the New Otani Hotel Garden some more, to get more pictures and video.  We only gave the garden a cursory examination the other day, as my traveling companions are not shutterbugs like I am.   I also wanted to try out my new camera tripod, purchased for this trip  ( I've missed out on great night pictures on previous visits in London, Hong Kong, and Par...

So after class was over, We were able to drink again. and BOY!!!!!!!!!! I might have over-done it. It was STILL alot of fun. Didn't get out of Yokosuka, but still had a blast with my friends around town before they went back to Sasebo. I, on the other hand, got to stay up there because I had another class that started on monday.

I planned to go to Seoul a few months before but I wasn't sure about it.  A month before we left to Seoul, I asked my sister if she wants to come with me. She has been there once but she was with Korean friend and didn't remember where she went and wanted to visit again. So of course she said 'yes'. Now, we need to find everything. I was checking plane fare before so I knew how much would it be but when we actually booked a flight, it was already full and the price went up! I thin...

These are just some of my favorite photos from the first leg of my world tour. Starting off with Japan, then Taiwan, Korea & China. This blog chronicles my travels over the first part of my adventure. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do. :D