MANALI + TERRY | Newlyweds Backpack Round The World » Japan

Shanghai | China :: Two Days, Two Bunks, One Big Ferry. Find Out What Life Was Like Aboard The Shanghai Ferry From Osaka

Terry — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:17:08 +0000

Have you ever wondered what a two day ferry voyage across the East China Sea is like? Hopefully we can provide you a little glimpse of what may be in store for you, should you choose this travel option. We chose the “Second Class A” fare, which is budget friendly yet still comfortable. You do have to share a room with two other travelers, so cross your fingers. We also were able to secure a student discount. Luckily saving those student IDs finally came in handy for something besides discounted movie tickets!

Website: http://www.shanghai-ferry.co.jp/english/

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Osaka | Japan :: Crossing The Formidable East China Sea From Osaka To Shanghai
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Shanghai | China: Authentic Street Food Shanghai Style
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Osaka | Japan :: Crossing The Formidable East China Sea From Osaka To Shanghai

Terry — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:57:06 +0000

We are determined not to shy away from any means of transportation during our trip, as the lust of unseen places is fuel enough to drive us forward. Okay, its a nice thought, but for now we are still holding true, and only two weeks since departure.

In our latest leg of transport we found ourselves aboard a ferry, departing from Osaka and bound for Shanghai. This was in part to avoid outrageous airfares departing Japan. Talk about a captivated audience. Those airline marketers in Japan live on easy street.

This was our route from Osaka, Japan to Shanghai, China. How glorious! Our means know no bounds!

Website: http://www.shanghai-ferry.co.jp/english/index.html

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Shanghai | China: Authentic Street Food Shanghai Style
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Shanghai | China :: Two Days, Two Bunks, One Big Ferry. Find Out What Life Was Like Aboard The Shanghai Ferry From Osaka
22 September 2009 8:17 AM | 10583 Comments2009-09-22+15%3A17%3A08Terry
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Tokyo | Japan :: Cramped And Lengthy, Overnight Bus Trip To Osaka Leaves Us Battered But Breathing

Terry — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:13:37 +0000

After deciding not to get the JR Rail Pass, which is the premier choice for inter city travel within the country, we booked seats on an overnight bus from Tokyo to Osaka. We found all information pretty readily available through your basic google searches. We landed on Willer Travel or Willer Express, operating the bus for our route among many others throughout the country.

Our trip came out to 5,200 Yen per person, or for simplicities sake, about $52 USD. The trip was 8 hours and we stopped twice for about 30 minutes each time, for restroom and coffee breaks.

Upon our arrival in Osaka and the 8 hours sitting upright in cramped quarters behind us, we were ready for a change of scenery and a decently comfortable horizontal position in which to situate ourselves. You can see from the brief “behind the scenes” video we really had a blast on that beloved bus.

Overall the bus was kind of a pain in the ass. We will try to avoid any long (4+ hours) travel where we have to sit in one upright seat in the future. I know that sounds like typical airfare accord, but this bus or coach as the attractively describe it, was far worse. Sitting in the back of a truck with chickens might lend a horrid stench, but at least you can stretch out your legs. Don’t forget, people in Japan are small, and they design small too. Word to the wise for my big boned or big anything brethren.

Website: http://willerexpress.com/bus/pc/3/top/

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Osaka | Japan :: Crossing The Formidable East China Sea From Osaka To Shanghai
22 September 2009 12:57 AM | 9923 Comments2009-09-22+07%3A57%3A06Terry
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Tokyo | Japan :: Touring The City

Manali — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:08:13 +0000

During our busy week in Japan, we managed to cover a lot of the main touristy ‘things to do’ with the help of google and TokyoTopia podcaster, Honor Dargan, who gave us some off the beaten path suggestions. What did people do back in the day without the internet?!

After twittering with the general public, we decided against the JR rail pass, which saved us about $300 each. Instead, we picked up a 2 day metro pass for Y980 each (about $10) at the airport which worked just as well or even better since we had no major side trips outside of Tokyo planned. There are 3 main companies that run metro lines throughout Tokyo – the Toei, Tokyo Metro and Japan Rail. You can get just about anywhere within Tokyo with either of these, so we planned out our routes using the Tokyo Metro with our unlimited passes.

Confusing Tokyo Metro Lines!

In addition to the fish market (previous post, I’m still dreaming about the sushi we ate), some of our favorite things included the following:

Hachiko Crossing | Located in Shibuya Ward, the famous ‘scramble crossing’ was crazy with hundreds of people crossing with each traffic stop onto one of 5 streets that intersect. The crossing is named after Hachikō, a dog who waited on his late master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935, eventually becoming a national celebrity for his loyalty. A statue of Hachikō was built adjacent to the station, and the surrounding Hachikō Square is now the most popular meeting point in the area.

Harajuku | Great people watching! We saw some very fashion forward and imaginative outfits in this area – never knew that orange stripes, pink polka dots and bright blue checks would go so well in one outfit!

Young trendsetters standing out from the crowd

Sumo Wrestling | We were one week early! Sumo tournaments are held 4 times a year (this year Sept 13th) with week long matches, eventually crowning the huge, scantily clad Yokozumas – a sight not to be missed! Tickets for all day matches start at Y2000 and you can also visit the sumo museum that gives you an insight of the life of a sumo wrestler and their daily activities in the ‘stables’! Stories go that the wrestlers are overfed, massaged and given plenty of beer to maintain or gain weight – not too shabby!

Akihabara Electric town | Here you can find any sort of gadget that will probably come out in the States about 2 years from now! We saw and tried out the coolest phones, computers and saw the most interesting 24 hour Manga (comic, Japanese anime) cafes!

Japanese Animation and comic collections are a huge fad amongst the youth of Tokyo

Shinjuku, Ginza and Rappongi Hills | Western-feel shopping districts that have every designer clothing store imaginable from Gap to Prada to even a North Face ski store. Many of the stores were super expensive, yet almost each Tokyoite had at least one full shopping bag!

Mount Fuji and Hakonae 5 Lakes Area | We had planned to the Mount Fuji area during the week, so we trekked to the Fuji Kyuko Bus office to book our tickets only to find out that all seats on every bus back were sold out! Since we didn’t want to spend the night out in the mountains and it was a foggy rainy day, we opted out of the excursion. However, if you have the chance, we heard that the hour and half ride is well worth it to the five lakes area, with a spectacular view from the cable cars followed by a soak in the natural onsens (hot springs).

We had a busy week and definitely saw a lot of interesting and unique things that make Japan such a wonderful, clean and orderly city! We will be back!

Note: We will upload our 50 best Tokyo pics once we leave China – we’re having issues with certain sites being blocked and are having a hard time uploading! Stay tuned!

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Tokyo | Japan :: Tokyo Trance
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Tokyo | Japan :: Khaosan Ninja Hostel Review

Terry — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:09:15 +0000

Likely to be one of the finer hostels we will stay during our tour of the world, Khaosan Ninja did not disappoint. It was our first hostel experience, and we were fortunate to be exposed to such a well run, clean and comfortable operation. They were reasonably priced at around 2800Y ($28) a night per person. The rooms and common areas were cleaned several times each day, and cleaned well, not just a simple dust over. The kitchen was also quite nice, and provided all necessary amenities including a fridge and microwave. Another important note was that the free wireless internet extended to each room, and was quite fast.

Thank you Khaosan!

Website: http://www.khaosan-tokyo.com/en/ninja/

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Tokyo | Japan :: Tokyo Trance
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Tokyo | Japan :: Tokyo Trance

Terry — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:20:47 +0000

People stand at street corners, not a car or truck in sight, only audible in the distance, yet reverent to the backlit red sign stalling their steps and intent to cross.

A moment of traffic at Hachiko crossing preceding a mass crossing.

Vehicular traffic is overtaken by a mass mobilization of pedestrians.

Such observations are boundless, as we discovered in Tokyo. A friend we met at Hachiko crossing, Takeshi, approached us taking a break from promotional duties, passing out flyers for a nearby bar. We found he was an enthusiast of English, in the linguistic sense, and desired a conversation. Takeshi probably noted most astutely about his own people, when he characterized Japanese as “shy”. We’re not sure if this applies in all of Japan, but in Tokyo, you get the feeling and sense that you are a ghost, far removed from the culture that surrounds you in both your own understanding and by the culture itself. Eye contact is a rarity, and although we were greeted enthusiastically in the shops and markets, little attention was paid to us otherwise. When initiated however, we received only polite and kind response.

Fruit in Japan is a luxury, and necessarily expensive. This little gift box of deliciousness goes for around $80 USD. Yikes!

Some of the more appetizing options we found in the food malls, for lack of a better term.

Tough to know exactly what is on these sticks, but scrumptous nonetheless no? Something you might pick up on the way home for the old lady to cook up.

The city itself was a myriad of what seemed like unending tenements and office buildings glittered by small shops and eateries. Tokyo and its skyline cannot be observed from the perch of an outlying hill top, like a mountain rising out of the surrounding plains. The borders to Tokyo’s skyline are ambiguous. Each precinct of the city we found ourselves was as likely to be some imitation of Michigan Avenue or Broadway as the next. Everything was stupendous, illuminated and covered in the latest advert…quintessential Tokyo in our minds.

Lounging at the most scenic angle of the Imperial Palace. No one called ahead to say we were coming so it was closed that day, as most throughout the year, New Years and the Emporer's birthday an apparent exception. Jeesh!

The oldest Temple in Tokyo, preceded by a long avenue of street side quick eats and trinket shops. Hard to imagine the age of this structure. I've probably been to too many amusement parks, and hence have tainted my perspective.

Rules are obeyed religiously, and seem to be supported by a strong sense of respect for themselves and each other. Cell phones are not to be used in public, hence the ferocity of texting and hand held video games. Eating is never on the run. One cannot get a take home box for an unfinished meal. Purchases from any street side food vendor are strictly consumed within the immediate 3 meter vicinity. Cleanliness is paramount, and the facades of buildings are even cleaned and wiped down from the days dust.

Everyone from the chauffeured businessman to the McDonald’s cashier is well groomed, skinny and attired in a formal button down. The fashion and sense of style served up around Tokyo were incredible, with no discrimination to gender or age group. The clothing folks in Tokyo adorned is alone enough reason to visit, and as someone incredibly conservative when it comes to things of this nature, we were entranced.

As all the intricacies of Tokyo are revealed, the inevitable question comes into focus…wondering how this or that became. Necessity we suppose, as most all things are begotten, but how interesting.

I have generalized about the Asian population in the past, not fully understanding the distinctions among Chinese, Japanese and so on. This will certainly not continue, and further education is anticipated.

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Tokyo | Japan :: Tsukiji Fish Market Highlights

Terry — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:43:19 +0000

Video highlights of our excursion to the exciting and busy Tsukiji Fish Market, THE Tokyo fish market mentioned around the world.

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Manali goes journalistic with a first hand account of Tsukiji Fish Market. Don’t miss this one!
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Tokyo | Japan :: Tsukiji Fish Market

Terry — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:21:51 +0000

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Tokyo | Japan :: Touch Down In Tokyo

Terry — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:45:38 +0000

We arrived into Narita International, the air hub of Tokyo, with little affair and even managed to get to our intended downtown location, Bakurocho, quickly and easily. However, it took us about an hour wandering confused through the streets to find our hostel, the Khaosan Ninja. It happened to be only a short distance from our search path, over on a parallel street, but NO ONE speaks english, and no one can read an address apparently. We finally got some help by a hotel hostess, kind enough to print us a map. It turned out we went out the wrong subway exit, chalk that up to bad directions from the hostel, and we finally found the Khaosan Ninja, our lay down place for the next three nights, to joyous laughter and much releif, as we had precious little time to check in before the 9:00PM reception closing. We have fed ourselves, a small bit of McDonald’s discovered down the street, and came back to shower, and writing before we head for a deep sleep. Our quarters are comparable to plywood enclosed bunkbed boxes, with retractable doors to exit and enter. Manali is right above me.

First impressions of Tokyo…quiet, polite, crowded yet clean. It is sort of odd, because walking down the street, you hear only the faint hum of cars and scooters passing by…no horns, no sirens, no music blasting through windows. There seems to be a rigidity to life that everyone follows, but it is yet the first night of our adventure and we are eager to set out, explore and learn more tomorrow. Until then friends!

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