Tokyo DisneySea

Location: Maihama Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture Japan
How to get there: Take the JR Keiyo Line or Musashino Line to Maihama Station

One of the must visit place while in Tokyo. We actually purchased the DisneySea and Disneyland ticket, which is cheaper. In order to visit DisneySea, one need to make a proper preparation before visiting this amazing Disney park. I came here early in the morning to queue before the gate, to get the front line before the main gate is opened for visitor. Imagine it was middle of December during winter.... it is freezing cold... but there are lot of people like us coming early in the morning just to avoid those long queue.

To save time and enjoy more ride on the park, one may opt for FASTPASS. However, we are lucky enough. While we were enjoying our ride, my brother-in-law actually helped us to get the ticket for other ride. So whenever we finish our ride, we were able to get to continue to other ride. With this, we were able to enjoy most of the ride in the park within a day. So remember to plan your journey plan in the park in order to maximise your time there and the ride.

There are many theme parks within DisneySea:

American Waterfront

Mediterranean Harbor

Mysterious Land

Mermaid Lagoon

Arabian Coast

Lost River Delta

Port Discovery

Eacy of the park has their own design which represent the theme, and it is well built.

Besides the nicely built park, of course Disney's character is the attraction within itself. Some of the character meant for photo taking session. However, it was a long queue. Others you may see while they having 'walk' in the park. Lot of people, include us rushing to take photograph with the characters. It really like bringing us back to our childhood, those cartoon characters relive again those old days of ours.

Another attraction is the show available. One need to check the schedule and do make sure never miss the outstanding performance from DisneySea. We particularly like "The Legend of Mythica". It is performed at Mediterranean Harbor which took about half an hour. We just sat there looking at the extravaganza performance which includes firework at the end of the show. Most of the popular Disney cartoon character came out for the show.

At night, there was another show as well at Mediterranean Harbor. Though it was very cold at night, everyone still waiting for the show as it is the best way to end the day trip at DisneySea. At the end of the show, there is firework again, which is nicer as night is approaching.

Once checked from website, we found out and understand more about DisneySea. Here are some of the fast facts:

The fastest theme park in the world to reach the milestone of 10 million guests. Reached the milestone at just 307 days after its grand opening.

One of the most visited Disney Parks in the world.

Most expensive theme park with cost estimated to be around US$4 billion.

To maximise your visit to DisneySea, one can get more information from its official website http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tds/index_e.html.

Tokyo Tower @ 東京タワー

Location: Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo
How to get there: The closest subway stations to Tokyo Tower are Onarimon Station on the Mita Subway Line and Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Subway Line. You can also walk there from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line in about 15 minutes.

We came here on the ad-hoc basis, while on the way back from Mt Fuji. While we still have time before returning the rental car, we just came here to have the night view of Tokyo Tower. We parked the car quite far actually, and it was a good view from far away to the tower.

Surprisingly, Tokyo Tower is higher by 13 metres than Paris' Eiffel Tower at 332.5 metres (1,091 ft). The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower. The tower was built in 1958 as a symbol for Japan's rebirth as a major economic power. The main income are tourism as well as antenna leasing.

There are 2 observatory, where the Main Observatory is located at 150 metres while the Special Observatory is located at 250 metres. We decided to go to the Main Observatory to have an eagle view of Tokyo. One need to purchase the ticket in order to goes up.

While in Main Observatory level, there is a transparent glass floor. We can step on it (if you dare) and see directly to the street. However, not able to get a nice photo as all photos taken there is shaky.

Besides that, there are other attraction on the ground floor which we didn't visit. There is an aquarium, wax museum and separate entrance fees is required.

More information is available through http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/index.html.

Yeti Ski Resort @ Mt Fuji

Location: Mt Fuji, Fujiyama

We didn't plan to come to the Ski Resort. The initial plan was to go to Mt Fuji and taking pictures over there. However, weather was not that good. We hardly able to view the moutain. At that moment, my brother-in-law suggest to go to Ski Resort. Since I've not been to the skiing before, definitely I'm not going to miss this chance.

One need to pay for entrance fee for the ski resort. It is either you choose skiing or snow boarding. Since we only coming for a short period, we decided to opt for snow boarding. We only renting a board and sharing among all of us.

There were few other small kids playing the snow board as well, together with their families. I am envy of them, which they no need to think much of the 'real' world outside there. Everything is taken care by their parents.

Inside the ski resort, there is a fire for the patron to hang around it. Since it is so cold, it really nice sitting besides the fire and warm up oneself.

For more information, one can get more information from the following website:
http://www.yeti-resort.com/e/index.html.

Koshu Hoto Kosaku @ Mt Fuji

Location: Mt Fuji, Fujiyama

The restaurant is located nearby Mt Fuji, while we were on our way to the Yeti Ski Resort. After we did the photo taking at the lake near the foothill, we proceed to have the lunch over here. This restaurant serves Koshu's delicacy, "Hoto".

Once we enter the restaurant, it is those typical Japanese restaurant where we sitting on the floor. There are many customers there. Maybe at the same time, there are lot of people going to Mt Fuji. Due to the cold weather, it would be good to have a hot meal.



The size is very big for us. It consists of noodles, vegetables, pumpkin, potato, taro, cabbage, green onion, carrot etc. If look at the pumpkin, you will see the pumpkin size is quite big. For myself, I only can manage the noodles or pumpkin, either one.

In the restaurant, there are lot of this "bottles" hanging on the ceiling. However, we are not sure whether it is representing something or just for decoration purposes.

One may find more information from the following website:
http://www.kosaku.co.jp/ or http://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/foreign/english/eat/003.html.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple @ 清水寺

Location: 1-294 Kiyomizu Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075-551-1234
How to get there: 10-minute walk from City Bus Stop Gojozaka (from Keihan Shichijo Station and JR Kyoto Station) / 10-minute walk from City Bus Stop Kiyomizu-michi (from Keihan Shijo Station/Hankyu Kawaramachi Station) / 25-minute walk from Keihan Gojo Station / 10-minute walk from City Bus Stop Higashiyama-gojo

We reached here rather late, as I would say. It was about 4pm and the day start getting dark, due to the winter season. After visiting all the temples around Kyoto city, this is the last temple that we were visiting for the day.

There are many stalls on the way leading up to the temple. We did stop by and have a look on the uniqueness of the souvenirs.

The deva gate is waiting her visitors everyday. It is a very nice place to take photo, however we were running out of time as it is quite dark at that moment. We still need to rush our journey to the top of the hill where the main hall of the temple is located.

From main hall, there is a veranda supported by a tall pillar where everyone can have an impressive view of the city, especially at night. Further down, one may get a nice place to have a shot of the temple together with the city view. It would better during the sunset. From the research done, the best time to have a great view is during the cherry blossoms period (late March to early April). You may refer to the forecast at http://gojapan.about.com/od/cherryblossom/a/sakuraforecast.htm

Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, during a restoration ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. Not one nail is used in the whole temple. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

It was originally affiliated with the old and influential Hossō sect dating from Nara times. However, in 1965 it severed that affiliation, and its present custodians call themselves members of the "Kitahossō" sect.

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars, which juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the Kyoto city. The expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" (「清水の舞台から飛び降りる」) is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive jumping from the stage, one's wish would be granted.

This appears plausible: the lush vegetation below the platform might cushion the fall of a lucky pilgrim, though the practice is now prohibited. 234 jumps were recorded in Edo period and of those, 85.4 percent survived. The fall is indeed only 13 metres, which remains impressive for a wooden construction.

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water fall into a pond. One can catch and drink the waters, which is believed to have therapeutic properties. Drinking the water of the three streams is said to confer wisdom, health, and longevity. However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two; if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.

For more information of the temple, you may visit their official website: http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/.

Temple of the Silver Pavilion @ Ginkaku @ 銀閣寺

Location: 2 Ginkakuji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Tel: 075-771-5725
How to get there:

From Kyoto Station: Take Kyoto City Bus 100 bound for Ginkaku-ji Mae then walk toward east for 5 minutes, or
Take Kyoto City Bus 5 bound for Iwakura and get off at "Ginkaku-ji Michi" bus stop then walk east for 10 minutes.

From Shijo Kawaramachi: Take Kyoto City Bus 32 bound for Ginkaku-ji Mae then walk toward east for 5 minutes.

We came here after the visit to Temple of Golden Pavilion. It is another popular tourist spot in Kyoto, as this temple also listed by UNESCO as World Heritage site in 1994. Basically, today is our visit to all the famous temple in Kyoto area.

Once we entered the temple, we found out that there are lot of sands around the temple. These sand is properly maintained, and we feels very privilege to visit another UNESCO listed site.

The roof of the temple is made of Japanese cypress. It is about 30cm long, with 3cm showing at the bottom end, exposed to the weather and fix with a bamboo nail. It does show how a small thing would have a great impact towards the architecture of the temple.

The 8th Muromachi Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490) started construction of a villa, Higashiyama-dono at the foot of Mt. Higashiyama in the year 1482. He moved in Higashiyama-dono next year. Togu-do building was completed in 1486. Ginkaku was completed in 1490 just after Yoshimasa passed away. The villa was changed into a temple, Jisho-in, in accordance with his will. In 1491, The name of the temple was changed to Jisho-ji.

Sometime between 1550 and 1561, all the buildings but Togu-do and Ginkaku were burned down by fires of war. The temple was dilapidated for some time.

From 1615 to 1644, large-scale repair and reconstruction was made by Miyagi Toyomori and his grandson Toyotsugu. Sometime between 1735 and 1799, Ginsadan and Kogetsudai were installed.

In the year 1931, the ruins of Karesansui garden of the temple was excavated. In 2007, a scientific research confirmed that silver leaves have never been applied to Ginkaku. In 2008, the city of Kyoto advised the temple to lacquer the second story of Ginkaku in original black to preserve it, but they declined because they believed weathered walls would fit the culture of Wabi and Sabi.

When we came here, once we entered to the temple, we found out that the temple is under maintenance and only be fully 'available' after March 2010. Still, we are able to find the marvelous part of the temple. Thoug a bit disappointed, but still we able to find some important information regarding the temple.

For more information, one may find the information from this website, which is Japanese wording, official website for the temple: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/ginkakuji/index.html.