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Showing posts with label joanne cassielf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joanne cassielf. Show all posts

Japan 2016 : Osaka-Jo and Osaka Aquarium (first impression )

4/13/2017 | Labels: , , , , , , ,

Osaka-Jo




Osaka-Jo or Osaka Castle is a must visit for locals or tourists.
(entrance fee: 600 yen)
This Castle is not only a popular symbol of Osaka but she is a witness of a never ending war before. She was destroyed, burnt down, struck by a lighting but she miraculously survived. Osaka Castle had a major repair on 1997.  The interior design of the castle tower is already modern and they installed an elevator for easy access. You can find a lot of historical items inside the museum.



If you are curious about the life of the Samurai, want to see their weapons and clothes then this is a must visit for you. A lot of Samurai information can be found inside, by the end of the tour you will learn a lot.

Best time to visit Osaka Castle is during the Spring season when Sakura trees blooms. You can have a hanami there and picnic at the park . There are few food shops, souvenir shop and some benches outside the castle. Autumn is also a great season to visit if you like to se red and yellow trees.
This place is great for photoshoots.

Osaka-Jo hall is near the place, so for concert goers you can visit Osaka Castle while waiting for the concert.





Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan


Illumination



(entrance fee: 2300 yen)
It is one of the largest and spectacular aquariums in Japan.
From the station to the aquarium is a little bit far but there will be signage that will lead you the way.
It is really big but what is surprised me was that the fishes/most of the marine animals there are huge. Inside is like a maze, you will start at the 8th floor and slowly spiral down to the ground floor while observing the aquarium.




I am not sure about this but for me Singapore's S.E.A Aquarium has a lot more marine animals.  But Kaiyukan is really big . You can purchase souvenirs inside.
It is possible to go to these 2 places in 1 day and you can go shopping later in Dotonbori or shinsaibashi. 😍

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Posted by Joanne wildheart
Location: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Japan 2015 - Tokyo: Skytree, Asakusa, Harajuku #JAFUNtasticDuo #CEBTravels #Tokyo

9/29/2016 | Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Tokyo Skytree
-
Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー Tōkyō Sukaitsurī) is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida,Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010 and reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, making it the tallest towerin the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa (829.8 m/2,722 ft).       - Wikipedia  


Too bad when we went here it was pouring rain and the scenery is foggy. This is my 2nd time to visit Skytree (the first one was during our Jenesys 2.0 program)
but this is the 1st time I've seen it up close.

Tokyo Skytree is also famous for it's lights illumination in the evening.
One of the patterns is Iki (chic-skyblue) and the 2nd one is Miyabi (elegance-purple) 


Inside skytree you can buy tickets  for the aquarium there. There are lots of shops, cafes and restaurants there. They even have a "tourist guide area" just in case you are lost.
Elevators and escalators are available in the area. 



 The station is easy to find.
From Skytree station to Asakusa station it will take only 9-13 minutes.

Asakusa: Sensoji Temple


-is one of the most popular Buddhist Temple in Japan.
There are lots of locals and tourists who visit here everyday. 


Interior designs inside the Sensoji temple. 


Omikuji - fortune telling strips.
This is popular in Japan for those who likes to know their fortune.  You just need to pay a fee, shake this box until you get a stick which has a number on it then find your fortune in the drawers that match your number. The number on the stick is written in kanji, if you can't read Kanji then just find the matching characters from the stick on the drawer.
Omikuji here in Sensoji has an English translation. It is said that if you have a bad luck you need to tie it on a branch and leave it there, and if you have a good luck then you bring it with you.


You can buy Omamori/ Lucky charms here.
Each temple or shrine in Japan has a small shop that sells omamori. 
Omamori is like an amulet of protection and a talisman of luck. There are different types of omamori.
Omamori for health, study, wedding, business and more.
It is said that you should never look what's inside or else the the luck and blessings will be released. Also after a year when it is "expired" or after you achieved your goal, you need to go back to the shirne/temple where you bought it from and the priest will dispose it on a fire.


took this pic during 2014 "Jenesys 2.0"
                                   Nakamise Dori- a shopping street leading to the temple.
You can buy souvenirs there and some Japanese snacks
there are also interesting items there:
(It was rainy when we went there during 2015, I can't take any pictures)




Harajuku- Fashion District

Harajuku is a well known district for Cosplay, Lolita, Oshare kei,Vkei , etc.
It's like a street for people who wants to dress up.
You can find the best costumes and fashion here. Lots of extra ordinary stuffs also.
Lots of boots !! 

lots of Vkei fashion inside this store

wigs ! This is a 2nd floor store 

Best crepes ! 


One of the biggest Daiso in Japan.
Daiso is a well known 100 yen shop.


~end~






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Posted by Joanne wildheart
Location: Tokyo, Japan

Japan 2015 - Akihabara: Otaku must visit place #JAFUNtasticDuo #CEBTravels #Tokyo #Akihabara

9/28/2016 | Labels: , , , , , , ,

Akihabara


Akihabara – is a well known place for Anime Otaku and cosplayers around the world.
you can almost find every Anime merchandise, Gundam collectibles and Cosplay stuffs here. 
 
There are lots of shops here, and in every building there could be 2-3 shops there. 
Sample, in one building: top floor could be a café, middle floor could be a cosplay shop and underground could be a place for gundams. I was really shocked with this type of arrangement, you really need to get to go inside and explore every store to be able to find shops there. Shops that are big and well known are quite pricey, that is why I suggest to explore each building if you can. There are shops that sell 50% off and have big discounts compare to others. Most shops in Japan don’t accept credit cards but no worries there is a foreign money exchange in the center of Akihabara. 



If you are not familiar with the place and google maps are a little bit difficult, you can ask for a map in some shops in Akihabara. With limited English, sellers are willing to help you and some of them are really friendly. I was shocked when one of the sellers from a gundam shop handed me a map of Akihabara and told me where are we can find affordable Anime merchandise. Also when we went to a cosplay shop and we couldn’t find what I was looking for, the staff there suggested me where to find thee other cosplay shops in akihabara and which floors are they located. They are not stingy, I mean they are suggesting their competitor‘s shop. 


Lots of Cosplay Costumes !

My favorite shop, all stuffs here are affordable and I can find some rare collectibles as well.

Ball-jointed Doll-

Pikachu :)

During our visit, Touken Ranbu was the most popular.







Akihabara is really easy to find, once you got out of JR Akihabara station you will find it easily.



You can find AKB48 shop at the top floor of Akihabara's Don Quixote-
This shop gives huge discount for tourists, just bring your passport.


end :)



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Posted by Joanne wildheart
Location: Akihabara, Taito, Tokyo 110-0006, Japan

Japan 2015 - Animate Cafe: Umaru Chan themed cafe #JAFUNtasticDuo #CEBTravels #Tokyo #Animate

9/27/2016 | Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Animate Cafe


Animate Cafe -  is a collaboration themed cafe.
The concept of the cafe will depend on the popular Anime and Game of the month.
This type of cafe kept changing their themes unlike other themed cafe in Japan.

We are lucky that the month's theme is Himouto Umaru chan which I really love.
 
Since we decided to have an early lunch, the place has few customers only.
The inside are decorated with Umaru-chan's merchandise.
The foods and drinks available in the menu are named after the Himouto Umaru-chan's characters and even the food designs are also inspired from it.
It was surprisingly affordable . No time limit also, you can stay there until they closed.
There are parts of the cafe that you are  not allowed to take photos.

The cafe offers games that will allow the customers to interact with each other.
For those who won the games they will received some merchandise.
It was really fun to experience that type of cafe.
We received some freebies because when we went there it was Umaru-chan's birthday. 
 

Animate shop :
Animate is actually a big shop full of Anime merchandise, manga  and Cosplay stuffs.
For cosplayers this is a one stop shop for your needs in cosplay, you can find make-ups, wigs,
costumes, shoes, accessories and etc. 


There are testers available :)

Sizes are kinda limited though ~but the quality is really good.



You can find Animate easily since the shop is really big. Animate cafe is located inside at the top floor of the shop. 



end :)












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Posted by Joanne wildheart
Location: Akihabara, Taito, Tokyo 110-0006, Japan
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