What do you get when you imagine Sanrio characters as cute ikemen boys and then have a themed cafe/restaurant that centred around these cute Sanrio boys?! I know I know, it’s hard to imagine… Luckily, the Japanese had done all the imagining for you, so all you need to do is to just stare at all the cuteness and swoon… Note: I love Sanrio. When I visited Puroland, that was one of those “dreams do come …
23 articles Tag travel
{Japan} Cute Sanrio Boys themed restaurant at The Guest Cafe & Diner in Ikebukuro, Tokyo
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Experience the magic of Harry Potter at Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford, UK
I just came back from a trip to the UK to visit my sister and my little niece (celebrated her first birthday yo!) in early November. So this one’s a break from the usual Japan-related posts, but instead today I’ll focus on something magical: Harry Potter. I love love love Harry Potter and have quoted various lines from the books/movies randomly in this blog, because WISDOM! Seriously though, both my sister and I are huge …
{Japan} Hidden gem (Part 2): Yanaka’s old town feels with cemetery & cats
Living in Tokyo allows me to explore areas that tourists may not have the time to leisurely do so, like Sugamo or Koenji. Hopefully this will in turn entice you to take a different route when you’re travelling around Tokyo to see things that are off-the-beaten-path. This time, I visited a neighbourhood that’s easily walkable from Ueno, however still tucked away enough from all the hustle bustle of the busy city: Yanaka. How can I describe Yanaka? …
{Japan} Hidden gem (Part 1): Sugamo’s Michelin star ramen & red granny underwears
I’m starting a new series called the “Hidden gem” which will take you through a number of lesser known suburbs in Tokyo that’s worth visiting once you’re done with visiting the popular areas of Tokyo. First off, Sugamo. It’s located on the Yamanote Line just a few stops north of Ikebukuro, so it’s really to get to if you just want to check it out for a few hours. Our visit was mainly for Tsuta the only ramen restaurant …
{Japan Winter} Osaka (Part 1): Back in time at Osaka Museum of Housing and Living & Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai
We visited Osaka mainly for the food, shopping, and bright lights that it promised (i.e. Dotombori / Namba area). However, we also squeezed in a couple of fun day trips with the Osaka 2 Day Pass. This pass allows travel within certain areas as well as free entrance to many museums and attractions, alongside discounted prices for other things. Is it worth the price? If you’re into sightseeing, then yes, definitely! Visit as many things …
{Japan Winter} Nara (Part 2): Oh deer! Wandering around Nara park & Kasuga Taisha Shrine
It’s hard to talk about Nara without talking about the deers. Apart from the temples and shrines, Nara’s deers are probably one of the main reasons why people visit Japan. It definitely was one of our main reasons, apart from experiencing the Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri… Most of the deers can be found roaming freely around Nara Park (奈良公園). They are gorgeous for close-ups, so make sure you bring your good camera out! ;) They are also …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 5): Festival of lights at Arashiyama Hanatouro
Did you know that twice a year, Kyoto lights up with super gorgeous illuminations? It’s called Hanatouro and it’s spectacular. Hanatouro is held in March at Higashiyama area and in December at Arashiyama. I’m privileged enough to have been to both now (humble brag, mm hmm), so do read up on the Higashiyama Hanatouro if you want. After our walk along the quieter side of Arashiyama, we began our journey of enlightenment (well, you know, searching for …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 4): Down the winding road of Saga-Arashiyama
When most people talk about visiting Kyoto, they will usually mention checking out the Golden Pavilion, the Kiyomizu-dera, or the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama. But did you know that there are more to see in Arashiyama and Sagano area? We decided to take the off-the-beaten path route this time around by taking a taxi from Saga-Arashiyama Sta. to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple… The idea was to slowly walk down to the more touristy side of town. And …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 3): Admiring the charms of Higashiyama
One of the wonders of Kyoto is that you can just walk along the streets and find yourself back in time… Old houses, temples, shop-filled streets. Everything is so charming. That’s exactly what we experienced when we walked along the streets of Higashiyama, on our way back to Gion area after visiting the picturesque Kiyomizu-dera. Why Higashiyama? The Higashiyama District along the lower slopes of Kyoto’s eastern mountains is one of the city’s best preserved …
{Japan Winter} Kyoto (Part 2): Taking in the view around Kiyomizu-dera
Most people who have been to Kyoto will say that they love how beautifully unique it is. It’s a city filled with traditions and temples, featuring some of the most popular sights in Japan such as the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion or the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari. Another famous temple in Kyoto is the Kiyomizu-dera, and I’ll be your guide today… Apart from the temple itself, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera. …