tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33989622977964493392024-02-20T18:16:25.152+09:00The Pseudo-amnesiacAlyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-67600946227547207812020-05-09T10:00:00.000+09:002020-05-09T21:53:49.338+09:00Golden Week 2019 in Yamanashi🎏<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Edit: Went to this place and wrote this a year ago but never really published it for some reason. Now, I’m too lazy to edit stuff I’ve written so please do me a favor and keep in mind that this is me talking from a year ago hahahaha! Thank you!😆</i></b></div>
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It's not a secret that Japan recently changed its emperor and with it came a change in the era name from Heisei to Reiwa. Along with those changes was an extension of Golden Week, from a series of four national holidays in a week (that is usually extended to a week)... to ten days! Yay! Of course being the go-getter (more like the vacation-getter lol) that I am, I took advantage of it and went to one of my go-to prefectures near Tokyo... Yamanashi! It is probably my most-visited place outside Tokyo but what made it different from all my other visits was that this time, I was with the beau's family. *confetti* Also, in spite of my numerous Yamanashi visits, most of the places we went to were my firsts~ So let's start this travelog of some sort, shall we?</div>
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Right! We stayed for 3 days and 2 nights there. The beau and I rode the train/s from Tachikawa to Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi which set us back ¥3,000~ each. The beau's family went by bus from Shinjuku since they came from Narita Airport. <i>I would recommend buses if you have big luggages and if you have time. If you're traveling light and you want lesser travel time, then go for the train.</i><br />
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The beau and I arrived past 5PM at Kawaguchiko Station and of course, I had to get my ultimate soft cream fave- shingen mochi soft cream!!! It is sold in the cafe right inside Kawaguchiko Station. After the soft cream fix, the beau and I headed to the place we rented via Airbnb and waited for his family to arrive. It was raining so we really couldn't wait for anywhere else. The station has a waiting area with seats but then since it's Golden Week, lots of people were there. Good thing the place was just around 10min by foot. <i>You might wanna keep that in mind when you travel to and in Japan during holidays. It really gets packed, like packed packed heh~</i><br />
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So yup, that was Day 1 lol. Nothing much done except for settling in the Airbnb and planning for the places we'll go.</div>
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Day 2 began with a very beautiful view of Mt. Fuji from the window.<i> I think I've said it before, but take a snapshot or snapshotsss right away if you ever see it in full cos most of the time it hides behind large masses of clouds! </i>Anyway, our first stop was the <b>Fuji Shibasakura Festival</b> and for that, we got a ¥2,000 combo ticket inclusive of the entrance fee and roundtrip bus fare. During the shibasakura/moss phlox season, there's a small kiosk right outside Kawaguchiko Station.<br />
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After 30minutes or so, I was presented with this view! Yassss for Reiwa colors in moss phlox/shibasakura form!!! Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was shy that time so yup, no Mt. Fuji x shibasakura photo was taken.<br />
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It was a big place to roam around and there were other flowers except for the shibasakura. There were a few food and souvenir stores inside but not a single vending machine (which came off weird to me cos they are everywhere in Japan so there should be one, at least ). I found one outside the entrance while waiting for our bus back to Kawaguchiko Station. <i>So yeah, you might wanna consider bringing your own drink if you ever go.</i><br />
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Next stop was <b>Fujiyama Onsen</b> aka my fave onsen (cos I have been there multiple times and recommended it to multiple people lol). Please take note that tattoos are not allowed in this onsen. Taking photos inside the public bath house itself is prohibited but in other areas of the vicinity, it’s fine. There are massage chairs, rest areas, and a restaurant, too. Below was my yummy ebi fry dinner! It rained again so I guess it was a perfect way to end the day before heading back to our Airbnb.<br />
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Day 3 and also our last day in Yamanashi. We checked out of the Airbnb and was again greeted by Mt. Fuji. Since we still wanted to roam around, we put our bags in coin lockers. There are a couple of them in Kawaguchiko Station but it gets occupied easily. Good thing there were coin lockers in front of 7-11 near Kawaguchiko Station, too. This set us back ¥400 to ¥500 (bigger lockers for suitcases).</div>
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We then went to <b>Saiko Iyashino-Sato Nenba/Healing Village</b> and enjoyed every reconstructed traditional house as much as we can. Each of the 20 thatched roof houses has something unique (from kendama to glassworks and more) to offer so I recommend this for those who'll be visiting Yamanasahi for the first time. There's an entrance fee of ¥350 for adults/¥300 children and it's open all year round!<br />
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Last but not the least, we impulsively went to <b>Kawaguchiko Herb Garden</b> to kinda see what's in it for us. I ended up buying ice cream, edible flowers, and a lavender pillow. How random lol???<br />
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Just across the street is Kawaguchiko/ Lake Kawaguchi so I sat down (and wept... we can be friends if you get this reference lol). Kidding, I just sat down and savored the brief silence and the nice view. Ain't that a beautiful ending for a trip? ♡<br />
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Hope you had fun browsing! Any recos to where I should go for the next Golden Week? I know it's still too early to ask but the early bird catches the fat worm, am I right? *wink*<br />
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<b><i>Another edit: Right now I’m stuck at home being a responsible citizen and quarantining. No Golden Week for me this 2020 but I’d rather stay home than contract covid-19. I hope my fellow citizens are staying home as well (as much as possible) during this Golden Week. Please don’t risk your health and other people’s health in exchange for a few days of vacation/travel. Thank you very much and take care! We will get through this!</i>♡ <i>But yup, I still need recos on where to go next Golden Week (2021)! </i></b></div>
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xx,<br />Alyssa</h2>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0Yamanashi, Japan35.6635113 138.638887934.836914300000004 137.34799439999998 36.4901083 139.9297814tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-81726127563193117132020-02-08T22:10:00.000+09:002020-02-09T17:49:50.805+09:00A Day in Kagurazaka<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Tokyo has a myriad of pretty neighborhoods- there’s Shimokitazawa aka the hippie and vintage shop-clad neighborhood (which I frequent,) there’s Daikanyama aka the calm version of Shibuya that has its fair share of beautiful cafes and Japanese-owned shops, Yanaka Ginza aka the street of nostalgia cos it still has that old town “shitamachi” atmosphere and oh, an abundance of cats, literally and figuratively. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">And then there’s this neighborhood called Kagurazaka.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I first came across with it on a brochure I got from an information center somewhere in Ginza. I took the brochure home with the thought of visiting it if I ever have some time. Fast forward to a year later, last Saturday, I impulsively went with the beau cos our original plan of going to Shimokitazawa to meet a friend was cancelled. And so I thought of that Kagurazaka brochure hidden in the deepest and darkest pile of brochures of places in Japan and other countries I’ve visited throughout the yearsthat I keep in my house </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">(yes, I’m that person lol). I did</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">n’t find the brochure but yes, you guessed it right, I went.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Going was a good decision, I’d say. Scroll over the pictures from my visit and maybe, just maybe, you’d want to get lost in Kagurazaka one day, too. A good kind of lost, of course. *wink*</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_50bd_d8fc_353a_f70e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HIxnaXUz_dUPun4-Voz_KuQcgiqwc3MLnp3fNX5tVLWrgHlMXAiv2YP8Drg" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming out of Kagurazaka Station Exit B3 and heading left away from the main street, I saw this restaurant with a Kagurazaka name plate. From there, I can already see the first thing on my Kagurazaka list...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Akagi Shrine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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This shrine was designed by Kengo Akuma which is the primary reason I went heh~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Details</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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Ema plaques</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_77d6_6167_17d2_a460" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p4CMZZGBPm7JKLulviEQm9SAwjjIXxXPnIx2wVygzKm-f-l_yXnWYZf2uY4" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_540a_1c76_b7d0_4834" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ybtK6aauWO0wCpToZSplLLN0z0TPhtWsttm_xfS2RDS53m1WxAYXed5955A" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_6c8a_b75_548c_6337" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iao2UWHVnJlFj4rUC-4yZoaqGi7kL59IrUJnyez28RoAiIfVkR078uV6N2g" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_8725_9543_6a0_cd66" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wIKqSFTEQ0Q1hDDV6qRlK3Lt6Ca_gM3F4PCdoX249dCPhfmh-gA1XavUX94" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_7fec_a151_de90_b84f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mwZ7UXnVQkZqRF1vmBUgnndl3uSqLMaSlGAhyhwsaqZk7D8WePJeAgFJBRM" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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Coming out of the shrine from when we entered it, you can see a pretty restaurant on the left. If it was not too cold that day, I would have dine here al fresco~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_da48_4c9_3db7_1133" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/YpCXiZJCGtu4o5dMSwJ3yFIace6Nq4c7snpp_-HKVKdgM8kE5YrVuegWU2g" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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Main Street</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_4cd8_8ab7_d21_8344" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E9s2myigEUcYKIHsZ1Crp-MOKAGBTboFODxSHWpj8HUUb83B5TkK3FfOHN8" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Picture cos matchy matchy lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_f8d1_26_5ef8_b717" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QRdD7egaoag6CBd9f0weD41qzt_8oO2oxsk4bki1kPEgdzl12rRdvCOPJYE" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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I find random shop facades so aesthetic for some reason</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_4674_1344_8344_f2b4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TOjIL7M5UdmoNFeQg8IeTwGgO3qVbc0ZjvMq0UAm63LzRw0lNOUKl-PWOG4" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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Atelier Kohta</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_ead6_1c2_dd6b_7c8e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/l9K4QIHdx7NtX_lrAeP0VJ_iwYFAafDB5inV5JOdAkGkzrQFmLz6jWpk3MA" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_7ac8_386e_d33b_6837" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4DsH2Zm9i41_SzSINCLP3Q8l4_RtIaVkl3YISxxBux5Py_pKd_hGTcYE2jI" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_5961_d89c_b198_4de6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mZ8I-YhD5TZ5ccln7IIOBegq3yOUoHV-FWyMfiguLA80QsdTLO5O2L3Bha4" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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Even the vending machine matches the *feels* of the area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_ba85_f544_f36_d1ff" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--1I-zMpDn8bCLUl4mmgHDCHFrriyUGm4pYreveBj_qJmMrcSSs_XdVnouk" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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Found this pretty building while exploring the alleys of Kagurazaka.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_74c9_cb54_6da4_dcbf" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6EI5gS6IMTAB3pj6NcWPSFptToPF6SwzscG0ifjyfadOV2aRAXbctaIot8o" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_9c6_b7a_b104_5824" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3jkhe9LKpBOOoECcvj84qyR1zGP5YekgRNu8u9nN64ac7CshReWap9XmBY8" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_bf44_7c6c_b57b_66f9" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1H6b0dUHKMzmlssTObiM6vGrbhZ45VTu1d-ldzjEkBy6qWsWThykaReKpb8" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">A random house which reminds me so much of the windows I saw in Taiwan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_52e2_5da2_2109_932d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LaGGzC_rAJtPYem1OnU7kM8YRk5wMZso0gZJfBNNJbCHiwzR_lYRiffEN2I" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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Interesting window~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_690a_a93a_49c3_4e87" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/AUq8_LCXCnL3DVv2OsipxuBJWOUMBNaN2Ta0CUYSgtnUjiJIvpnXhT4TC6s" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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Kobo-chan statue dressed as a mouse~ </div><div style="text-align: center;">Kobo-chan is a cartoon character from a popular column in Yomiuri Shimbun, a national newspaper here in Japan.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_59cc_9ce6_d789_895" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/m3NghbtyIEykBDYSXoV1gZUb2d6eQKxFHF8WPYK8JhA1etiLqL7NlhMaV-M" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baikatei, a small yet famous desserts shop along the main street of Kagurazaka</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(68, 72, 74); color: rgb(68, 72, 74); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Liberation Sans", "Nimbus Sans L", Helvetica, Arial, serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.44999998807907104px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_dc88_18b4_142c_ed4d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LyM60KbSPDFEOnlvt-laF2Zlnhf-bROjHsGXU-k1urS2TIVi7B7i3Flng0g" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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There are lots of sweets inside it was so hard for me to choose what to buy when I visited lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_db77_9520_ed6c_ed14" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0heiWz_w_iISDNKIcPVusR9-h4pQYYvJYw8foOwpdn4ih2Gfau0bxdiEdB8" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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I settled with this pretty dessert made of beans and sweet potato.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_c92_ffa_82b1_9a99" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OiYsrcCMlr3Erv-XhteEkVBF19I9w5Dz7qnc6OSWb2mHykFMImkkFFuKh6Q" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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Throughout Kagurazaka Dori/ Main Street, there are maps like these. It’s quite helpful, I wish other touristy places in Japan have something like this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_a124_2671_2c78_c24d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/DzQorXn36XC7HcM8RIcFZfuSfSA1fOzv1uY3rg9GFK_nfOnTywT_l1pteV4" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Another food store</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_fbc6_37af_8c7e_a93d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/otRfdQDk1_j-0KPmiuv_ylFFznGwKcCUyYxKas30Xot1V2OT9asRsOx9rTQ" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Side street</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_a524_48aa_cff6_11d8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ugegBcbeb4-Wv71Gur9G8N6JW05wvmC7BLZx6uRRzyYHGhaynmxJHYX3SnI" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">At the end of the Main Street, you’ll see a まん shop and of course, the beau and I tried it. We got the kuro buta man (黒豚まん) and it was delicious!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_7450_57a7_5562_6a85" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KHRZBpFrl-Ba-v1AetO5B1lsrVK2Cvr1UdzJO_5SIgRFz301oZq-2PpXgu8" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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Ahhhh yummy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_8e34_a808_fce6_4c59" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2Af8CDLZzMo_aiK-AoU8dhwm6lGQCYy6icqa7NVS2efN-US5pgph5hmR4Og" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Above the まんshop is an interestingly-named hair salon </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_6a10_2bfa_3dbf_d62c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZDhYRQZRnMaeZHOGM3wQb9EN49qb1zFKc40HjXfWkv2g3_rPmrnj3Y5bhjQ" title="" tooltip="" width="426" style="width: 426px; height: auto;"></div>
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And that’s the end of the main street for you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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<img alt="" height="427" id="id_a29a_61a2_1cf2_6c94" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZjdUMHlZRhttAX6FfmdiBDRGRvyyV03vEKnYOxZ0E_jenOS87bKy55JmB1A" title="" tooltip="" width="640" style="width: 640px; height: auto;"></div>
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It’s busy in the afternoons but it’s not too crowded, which makes up for a great afternoon stroll with some food trip on the side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Other places to visit when in Kagurazaka:</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">-Canal Cafe</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Notes Kagurazaka</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Is Kagu</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Masanao Cosmetics</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Geisha Alley</div><div style="text-align: center;">-Bishamonten Zenkokuji</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>
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Hope you had fun scrolling over the photos cos I definitely had fun exploring the streets of Kagurazaka! It’s an old neighborhood but that’s definitely where the charm is! I wanna go back soon to explore more! Lemme know if you visited and what your favorite spots are, yes?</div>
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Alyssa</div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-8846187616517194502020-01-17T16:15:00.002+09:002020-02-09T12:31:21.712+09:00How I Spent the New Year (in Tokyo)<div class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 3px; text-align: center;">
<span class="s2" style="font-size: 17px;">I hail from the Philippines and new year celebrations there are full of fireworks, reunions, and lots of food and booze- always almost a blast (pun intended lol). Migrating to Japan, I was quite disappointed with how holidays are being celebrated cos of how quiet it can be, especially if you're not fond of new year countdown parties in hotels and clubs (cos that's mostly how it goes in my part of Tokyo, though it doesn't apply to all). But having stayed here for so long made me learn more of the country's new year traditions whether I intend to or not and I couldn't be more appreciative towards these things. Now, I appreciate the calmness and the quietness every 31st of December, so much, that going to loud countdown parties and blasting fireworks wouldn't ever compare. I still love fireworks and firework festivals (hanabi taikai), don't get me wrong. It's just that I'd rather be somewhere calm and quiet every new year. Or maybe it's just my age to blame, eh? </span><span class="s3" style="font-size: 17px;">笑笑</span></div>
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<span class="s2">To help you picture what I'm babbling nonstop above, here's what I did during the first few days of 2020~ </span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s4">✱</span><span class="s2"> Gotokuji Temple/ "Lucky Cat" Temple Visit </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✱</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span class="s2"><img alt="" height="426" id="id_80e1_c5e7_dba6_658" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/crYy8_OLwLxKL_l-mjeWahaEFFcd0mcNMVDNvYPtdirEYfEZzpRr5EonH0I" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />Right in front of Gotokuji Station, you'll see this manekineko/beckoning cat/good luck cat statue! This made me more excited of what was coming ahhhh~</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><span class="s2"><br /></span><img alt="" height="426" id="id_fc53_b0dc_18fa_6c1e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lA4GmkSdvHoq96RfH8c-4GGVvOx5_ejtx_tHnxu0CkT-dEoDo3USy6nWooY" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />The beau and I had to walk for a few minutes towards Yamashita Station (Tokyu Setagaya Line) because we opted to ride the tram to Miyanosaka Station, the station nearest our destination. You can also walk from Gotokuji if you like.</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><img alt="" height="426" id="id_5e15_1ffd_de2_dcf2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3Tc8RLjfnZph-YzSWZFP1l0ax5iRnEA8XDr-2miiTdcHJRbixKCqqlle0KU" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the neko tram ahhhh! Sadly, we weren't able to ride it but yeah, it's soooo kawaii!!!</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><img alt="" height="640" id="id_d07a_7c0f_69db_fe91" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uvr9kL2RNQJ8JB_QkQAamWymWvoYbTnUSAZgXAhfb52ZhrYHTG1q8xFGdu0" style="height: auto; width: 426px;" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />From Miyanosaka Station, we walked for a few minutes and reached Gotokuji Temple.</span></div>
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<span class="s2">This is the entrance. There were quite a number of people in the area as it was Hatsumode season (first temple/shrine visit of the year) when we came. </span></div>
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<span class="s2"><br /></span><img alt="" height="426" id="id_97bd_9a20_36c2_9f5a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GDqSCHtwcPbs2XSM33m8xQWz6j3N-hpGbNecMzUvCv9o6d2WEFc9-SAvb6M" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
First things first, we lined up, threw some coins, and prayed.</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_cff7_70c2_78fc_487f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iuepl0K3iCn1mDKQdBKAfeK_0ASpALBqECzDb_-wy5Y7OqCq79PUrYA0OTU" style="height: auto; width: 426px;" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
I do not practice Buddhism nor Shintoism but I like going to temples and shrines, respectively. I think there is no harm in giving respect to religions other than mine and I welcome all good and kind prayers, no matter where they come from. I welcome all the luck and good things these prayers and wishes bring with open arms~</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_2efb_1582_b7f3_b71a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EMKPKzdKmzZ1JLEYVl2Ht5U9e3-jcOl2Sdpy5cKSk93Dl-LuVB-xZmcCRtI" style="height: auto; width: 426px;" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /></div>
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If you look closely, there are cat structures (white ones) under each layer of this wooden pagoda.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_36e1_2c7e_4727_ef73" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tTUMXZ1D2_7KBLJQeXlyv8sUVx8DlE5tsIoCad-cvSxIKoDQyV3NQb4K1kk" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
We found wooden ema plaques that visitors can purchase and write their hopes and prayers on.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_7719_bc6f_cd53_78c0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EHvkBEnCLbu1FDdUDruU8Pni5fKHEfN6mKb74TmUFOf-Nbm3UPyXQC11MCs" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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The ema plaques can then be hung on the wall in the hope that the wishes written on them will come true.</div>
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<span class="s2"><img alt="" height="426" id="id_c418_fb34_ba97_988e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iMGI1xw54uLGp97CjNFemDgy_1iSLIj86NXSWxPwHIyOs1HQZ7FsOjlOEJw" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />Beside the ema wall, you'll see another entrance. And yup, this is THE entrance.</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><br /><img alt="" height="426" id="id_fe2f_44e2_93db_d1c9" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gFiAOHkxvopYTAJV06cpVWaaL3Cw-JBCuuZKWfHM1yypvTak4N6I5ckfJmA" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />Walking a little, these manekineko figurines will greet you. </span></div>
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<span class="s2"><br /></span><img alt="" height="426" id="id_ae7b_18f0_db7a_a92a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_AqO1N4tiaGjLNUxkTUbi2yqrjhBdSu4DetCumwjA_Pt4gnwXqqAEbymilE" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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And when you look to the left, these huuuuuuge collection of manekineko figurines will make you squeal in delight! This was what I came for ahhhhh~~~</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_3f38_8885_79d0_95c3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GpL8BOSt-mQFAE8h7ztoAGgoO0bC_HFRbEAjWTne8hwFNQrUFH9ciuRO29I" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
Of course I had to document this. I've been wanting to visit this temple for so long and I attempted many times already but it's just this time that I actually did. Setagaya is quite far from where I live so I really had to take that into consideration when I decided to visit.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_703d_43bf_9bdc_e907" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/o9lL1DTg6AUTpkBBvbBk1N0eWkfFMLS0YoscX0ABW6X-1NbpWTB6lnqJ77w" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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There are lots of manekineko figurines around Japan and you can see them easily anywhere but Gotokuji Temple is known for the right-pawed version of this good luck charm.</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_b044_e008_6be5_a542" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Jt0DDyc4DubRYnu9sMUr-pomHKre8Ai8bX3z5udAbjJx1i-VQ-NmYbHIMIA" style="height: auto; width: 426px;" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
Gotokuji Temple is said to have been filled with lucky cat figurines donated by worshippers who knew about the legend of Naotaka (from the Ii Clan) and the temple cat. </div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_5714_2f91_8eff_b085" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UlRb1HHMq1Jj4lNTATnHcolaUfxUmd_MWrSgxi94dQuPxn2BVgnpq8hFKrk" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
I have only read it from articles all over the www and according to the said articles, Naotaka survived a thunderstorm after a temple cat invited him in. As a sign of gratitude, Naotaka dedicated the temple to the Ii clan and when Naotaka passed away, the temple was named after his posthumous Buddhist name "Kyushoin-den Gotokuten ei-daikoji).</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_159c_e5b9_68f5_1b7f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/447BmqDJzs3CGXI1OLlkj4BRpeBZSf19vnhQn4_AidpLeqHTpod8mZy6pXw" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
It was such a quiet escape from the noisy city. It felt as if I was not in Tokyo even for a bit!</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_665d_6e3f_1d04_3738" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TBG39HAlxkGIfe3i6BjNY9pXkwjjkE8Fu87K7MVffbGbyqXqybJyLgDgfdU" style="height: auto; width: 426px;" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
Exiting the temple from where I entered it, I was amazed by the intertwined trees lol~</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_b440_1ace_ce00_5881" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mE7E_PczrjoonOgti4Cmodeu07drgV6z4wYLQqbxGKfzOhygpsR6RbzxaEI" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
Going back to Miyanosaka Station and found some interesting things~</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_7a08_e714_11ba_8fd7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/T8j9ELsF2VZ-642upgAJAefHnZBlKHZvRWxhn5uc-EX3cNRihIy7QE8Rsdk" style="height: auto; width: 435px;" title="" tooltip="" width="435" /></div>
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Love this brick wall! I just can't fathom why there's so little space after this pedestrian lane 😝 </div>
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<span class="s2"><span class="s2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="s4">✱</span><span class="s2"> Hatsumode at Tokyo Daijingu plus omamori-buying </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">✱</span></div>
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<span class="s2"></span><img alt="" height="426" id="id_e567_8117_b569_3a77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9wMipxm4V9rDhJtVWd1cDlbX83W2VpgjmZ2AcjbKKaeyprDooFdkrrUkGD4" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
So after a temple, we then decided to visit a shrine 30 minutes train ride away- Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, a few minutes walk from Iidabashi Station.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_5a9e_47e1_d927_2be8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/aLPTedE4jOuvX-V3ZbALLI_pqZuZtg4VF71GOH_VcloWUDbmFr3SKmEqFCo" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
We were shocked with the long queue! It was the longest line I've ever seen during hatsumode period! I was ready to give up and call it a day, good thing the beau pushed us to just go on with it cos we were already there.</div>
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<span class="s2"></span><img alt="" height="426" id="id_8a63_549b_a94_8230" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_l-fnVJfRrICpSmA7UHHCiOVKHXdNzTCQjm5ShaF2ndEhdsov8S5rmChxl8" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
After two hours of waiting, we were finally able to get in ~wew~</div>
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Tokyo Daijingu is connected to Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture a.k.a. the holiest shrine in Japan. No wonder the lines were looooong!</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_b986_7eb4_2d1d_bb84" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LSDB_pDDOgVULez4PKxdfeeQYXG3DRl5Vx8RKjd3yPTDPlMF0gWxhMJLlbE" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
This shrine is a place to pray for good marriage and good matches so many couples and girls come here- the exact reason I wanted to go here. I wanted to pray for Kenji and I's good marriage in the near future. Kenji and I lined up to say our prayers regarding our upcoming marriage and afterwards went on to get what I wanted to get...</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_3a1c_b554_9946_2e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tbim-XK9CGTd5_XZnLM9s9-UEBCqIfnOCYPabXd-qsMHNdGrxOem7q9Ra3g" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
...omamori! Ever since I started going to shrines, I always get omamori/lucky amulets. It's a must for me. I feel like if I work hard and also have luck with me on the side, I can be successful with what I put my mind into. Well, that's just me being superstitious but there's no harm in harnessing all the good luck I can get right? This time Kenji and I got each other work and enmusubi omamori. My mother said omamori works best if it's gifted to you so yeah...</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_aa04_a0b1_b77f_eb84" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/SUu55RAMC9qsnCYaGzH24k5qhamjJ3FesOSFnrWJoNsQRe_vxaW8Nf0pzX4" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
I stay away from omikuji/fortune paper in shrines because I'm scared of drawing out bad fortune. But this day I was feeling very lucky and confident haha so I drew one. Also, it's in English so I might as well get one. Usually omkuji is written in Japanese and it's hard to understand even if you use Google Translate lol.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_e830_a155_e928_2c89" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/j_c_ZBhNEW1jTxjLjCYLuWh3_fhGBvdjCV73hHwBiH1kRBTy9_HZ1rGFRbY" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
I got a Good Fortune slip yeyyyyyy! See, I was lucky! I kept it and tucked it away in my Hobonichi planner to remind me of the good things written inside. If you happen to get a bad fortune, the paper slip should be tied on the omikuji ropes available in the shrine to ward off the bad luck.</div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_b37a_2c0a_c973_f64e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WViFsWXlPQNANwVCQx45Us9sj6Q0f76YcPB3Rip1w6Z_IkGMiOKcwQCoN_M" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
Also, I found this interesting thing here and I'm quite unsure how it works so I didn't try it (but took photos of so I can translate/research on it). </div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_6125_4604_80c9_e2a0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rxeFN1WR-KMOXeZ4Z_t-jl2Qe4XBKJ2Uur8H8_QZwzgnUTE7zGAAvnVtALg" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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From my research, it's kind of like an ema plaque but in stick form. You buy two wooden sticks and on the stick with the white string, you write your name and leave in the shrine so that the gods can be reminded of your wish, whereas you keep the stick with the red string in order "to attract love towards yourself".</div>
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Ahhhh busy day filled with prayers, wishes, and luck! I hope everything works out! Oh yeah, before these shrine and temple visits, I stuffed myself with NYE dinner complete with Osechi Ryori a.k.a. traditional Japanese New Year food courtesy of my mama! 👌🏻<br />
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_3cd1_f26_f7cd_3552" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uwATSqoUyFilT4ikP5Sy4F5jhVZ8gCF269Zt9SxL4Gmr7I2tl_iC8LENGM4" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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Hope the above-mentioned activities brought justice to my point in the beginning of this post lol. I still miss the fun and noise of the New Year celebrations back in my home country from time to time and I really think if I'm still younger I'd probably pick it 100% but ya girl is turning into a <i>tita</i> (aunt in Filipino language) so you know the drill~<i> *wink*</i></div>
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<span class="s2">How was your New Year? Do you have things you did that are specifically done just in your country when you welcome the new year? I'd appreciate if you'd tell me in the comment box below~ </span></div>
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<span class="s2">Happy 2020, everyone! Hope you had a great start!</span></div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0Tokyo, Japan35.6761919 139.650310621.4479664 118.99601360000001 49.9044174 160.3046076tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-57966422653571111422019-12-03T17:26:00.001+09:002020-02-09T12:31:40.414+09:00Life, Lately: Autumnblings and November<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello and welcome back to my little space on the www! ♡ I have been quite active (I think) here recently and I felt so accomplished putting up two posts in a month! That's already a feat for me since I kinda struggle with scheduling (even though I have lots of planners lol). But yeah, thanks for sparing this virtual humble abode of mine some time, I really appreciate it. *hugs*</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_2ccb_c4dc_b329_187f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/20vKuB1IsMV08wGVxqg_VAxPj6O-ihG51KgQz9XlYQg5cNjdw0193eGA6Hs" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<i>Autumn colors, Mitsugi Park </i><br />
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So yup, November! One of my Instagram posts' caption reads, "my favorite color is November". And it truly is. I never thought I'd love autumn this much cos there's no autumn in my home country. I don't know why, probably the gorgeous reds, yellows, oranges, browns are to blame. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_2dfb_3f33_839a_91d8" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2WJ6tdp4aj-41u91uoH0YrquOZJUF1PefKrfuJrRGG7jM6SiGGul_kCZGa0" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<i>At Itchiku Kubota Museum, Yamanashi</i><br />
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Also, as weird as it may sound, I love the "gloominess" that the autumn season brings, if there's such thing. Who here feels the same way? Or is it just me? </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4334_3f85_9ec2_bea6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TnkOgRnZqR7dMi5764CM4mttGVuXVUk9wlLsOPvzpoYdtR8dDqJthc4fdQY" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<i>Somewhere in Omotesando</i></div>
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Gloominess aside, November this year was quite nice but too fast, at least for me. I had a lot planned though I wasn't able to really tick all of them off my list but that's okay. Sometimes we can't do the things that we wanna do due to a myriad of reasons and that's alright. I only went to two major places which I wrote about: Anata no Warehouse and Yamanashi, in contrast to a lot of places I wrote on my planner. In return, however, I felt ~rested~ unlike the previous months and I was able to take care of the Christmas postcards I was thinking of sending to friends. Sometimes we really need to stop and rest so we can recharge, come back stronger, and do *other* things that make us happy/good even if those weren't on the list. </div>
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<img alt="" id="id_b071_20e6_6d93_5306" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tg8G-Hvt5TNg2gwsCK1VyhoisijP8WeVqxd0NP1TZ8384HGyVtNe_FryQp0" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<i>Yamanashi trip: <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/11/yamanashi-2019-momijigari-x-kimono-days.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/11/yamanashi-2019-momijigari-x-kimono-days.html</a></i></div>
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<i><img alt="" id="id_ec42_4aab_9043_31f4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/keTy3aUYqUox46U7wDyKMwzFe7EoMhzyc01LCYzEZEDZJGkhSnrqR4ZdazA" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Anata no Warehouse visit: <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/11/hello-bye-anata-no-warehouse_17.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/11/hello-bye-anata-no-warehouse_17.html</a></i><br />
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November proved to be a month of great impulses, too. I know I'm an impulsive person to begin with but I was too impulsive this time that I even surprised myself. Like one minute I thought of watching Frozen II and the next minute I'm on my way to the cinema... or I was just chilling at home and the beau asked if I wanted to go to the Philippine Festival in Yoyogi and off I took a bath and went. I'm a planner person and I ditch my planner and do unplanned things? I mean, who is she? Lol. Guess people change, and it's just that mine was abrupt and the level was unexpected. But hey, I had fun so I think it's alright, right?</div>
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<i>Autumn afternoons in the city~</i></div>
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I feel like this blog post's coherence is meh. Like how my thoughts are scattered everywhere on the floor likespilt milk. But heyyyy, it's done and I'm excited for what lies ahead for me in December aka the last hurrah of 2019! I hope that it'll all be fun fun fun (and that I could write coherently by then) lol! Do you have any plans for the rest of December? Mind sharing them with me below?♡</div>
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'Til my next post! Keep warm, friends!♡</div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-3698533575678258222019-11-23T01:32:00.001+09:002019-11-23T21:26:56.906+09:00Yamanashi 2019: Momijigari x Kimono Days<p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Yup, you've read the title right. I was in Yamanashi again (even though I was just there last spring and I have been there more than a handful of times lol). This year's autumn foliage according to released forecasts are quite late, especially in Tokyo (where I'm from) so I decided to chase 'em... in Yamanashi!</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_f233_5dea_a061_8e3c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ch9JH1apGP9VhXDrZ7eI-Dm1zStibvcCtqdvV2dC_HDHMGXvHUp76WgdunM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-size: 17px;"><i>In front of Kawaguchiko Station, you’d see an old train and this red torii.</i></span></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Yamanashi is a famous choice for tourists and residents alike to go all year round because there are lots of things to do and see. One of which is to hunt for <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the beautiful red leaves/</span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">koyo</span><span class="s2"> (hence the term </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">momijigari</span><span class="s2">; </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">momiji</span><span class="s2">= red leaves, maple and </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">gari</span><span class="s2"> = hunt) and yellow ginkgo (or ichou in Japanese) of autumn. And that's what the beau and I did during our 2-day stay in Yamanashi this time! </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">*wink*</span></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Below is our detailed 2-day itinerary. Please feel free to use this as a reference if ever you plan on going to Yamanashi in autumn!</span></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><font size="5">Day 1</font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">From our home station, we caught a train to </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Takao Station</span><span class="s2"> where you can find a giant </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">Tengu</span><span class="s2"> statue. From there, we rode another train towards</span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;"> Otsuki Station</span><span class="s2"> and from there we rode the Fujikyu Line train to </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Kawaguchiko Station</span><span class="s2"> in Yamanashi. By train it took us about 2hrs</span><span class="s2">. </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9deb_6c17_c5a1_e770" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TusiUhS0pEtea_qvhnmULNyFfZ5LWdmghn5wm7kEjVjlRKRSkJY_f2R2jEk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s2">Think of Kawaguchiko Station as the center point as </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Retro Sightseeing</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">buses</span><span class="s2"> that let you roam around the Fuji-Kawaguchiko area (Red, Green, Blue lines) can be found there. </span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;">TIP: You can buy one- or two-day bus passes that will let you hop on and off the above-mentioned buses to make sightseeing easier. All you have to do is show the pass to the driver/s when you get off the bus. </span><span class="s2">I purchased that before during one of my first trips to the Fuji-Kawaguchiko area but I did not this time cos I knew I'm not going all out- I'm just going to a few pre-selected spots plus I have a functioning Suica card already so I figured the bus pass would not work in my advantage. </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_19a2_aeaf_56d0_11d7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/85jMTr0uwtZDZYyHAwcq_KcHh9ZmL9C-L0D9DbasV268XqKWP_AY_QBlcaU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Kawaguchiko Station with Mt. Fuji as background</i>~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_5598_c7f7_a614_dfc6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/13ILHlj1u9j2Dlu05y0opkIxWIGlGb9yibusFGi9FZ3WEkgdID363r4NbmE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Always on the hunt for beautiful manhole covers♡</i></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">We arrived at Kawaguchiko Station 10:30ish and we left our luggage at our guesthouse. This time we picked </span><span class="s7" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Orange Cabin</span><span class="s2"> since it's 2min from Kawaguchiko Station and the facilities were great! They even let us leave our luggage before and after check-in. You might want to consider this when you have a lot of belongings cos the coin lockers at and near Kawaguchiko Station usually fill up quickly. There are luggage lockers around operated by private establishments but they're pricier than usual depending on your luggage size.</span></li></ul><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">We were </span><span class="s8" style="text-decoration: line-through;">hungry</span><span class="s2"> famished lol so we decided to have an early lunch at one of the restaurants right across Kawaguchiko Station. You can easily see it cos it has a big sign that reads </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">"Japanese Restaurant with Mt. Fuji View"</span><span class="s2">. The grandmas working there are very kind!</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f1cf_9933_d8f3_3685" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dUI45NQsAaZzInPDF-5tT5lQxRUqJMJiboBC5-L0-B278KQ359RFFNUwWDs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6059_f253_4c6b_b9cb" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oBeClB8i6GQpTfMNn-uSB2SjVkvE6Bw-yDVMCFLrCSesYj2Xoz3YfeUx9g8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s2" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Brought my travel journal (from Travelers Notebook) with me~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s2" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s2" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Sooo after all these hullabaloos up there, we finally went to </span><span class="s4" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Destination#1: Itchiku Kubota Art Museum</span><span class="s2" style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">. This place houses master tie-dyer Itchiku Kubota's kimono collection (the ones that he did using the Itchiku Tsujigahana technique), an antique beads gallery, and a beautiful garden~ It's a lovely place to bask in art and nature at the same time!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_686e_7dfb_9306_ea7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UKraBv1Fmij-j1X8KzMb97KhGurcXyGWlol7D7kbGPT0oCAq0c4TqTxOr-4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>The amazing entrance. Felt like I was in Bali! lol</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_692e_b9dc_bfaf_732b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KsjNPl3sea5sxiHl6_tD0dDt5HhFLsYK6ftZt5bbZYEPZAKRjmGtNVsxZs8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f980_cc9b_f69_dfe1" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bDMZibFIkxGUk7YzWsEldeaj-Lv4Ay55fq1onx8dM43tUpMPf6m1G2WxqkU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_981f_1b47_52da_7afa" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7Bc8IRTYRg8ya6L7XqPqL-G2HsHr6wg7pSCVmCQy0pEKioW0ydIy6uzPIMg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c021_d972_1645_a9b4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/imzXFPQTFFIYkJzMgX6_u2h0M9FwfJdk8Y2AFmj4acQKx9XQNGul3K7UzK4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4730_c5ea_125b_3911" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AotiMaZsbw4UHytilzSrpxY1z-MKW75M1WPCDCwWdJGzkSCquaEUhFSlC1o" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 739px; height: auto;"><br><i>This is the main building housing Kubota's kimono collection. It's a pretty small collection but it's worth the visit! You can watch a documentary (in JP/EN) all about Kubota and how he made his works.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_c582_d500_3a62_f77c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Lmm7dqJgVwAXSxsnAIP4GStRHD4gU5diygJP9wI1tQ11BfjaWKR9KdUhYcc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i>While taking pictures and videos are prohibited at the main gallery, Itchiku-an, the tea house inside the main gallery where Kubota used to accept guests and drink tea with them, is a photo-friendly area.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><img id="id_19c9_ab1f_b09b_2751" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MLaqNRtcGht2PhIhPtiXqMD1TpoY2dIJaGeJdYxD9NGnvrnJ4vPcU85bjFc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></i><br><i>You can order tea and sweets here.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_a13a_b191_6fe8_374d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fKRA6ZE2eNL9tnrLHGLsUc-O8b0Z9vqPSibYeMJ0NvY8l6E-0iCfX1FBZxI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Momiji!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_78e4_faf6_a148_bc5f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6IokD3brSG0rdWSmcn1FX5A4pK5ZTblGkfQiRN1nhQPIZuMzCjf4O-PM_1A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_dcae_b28a_138d_ab17" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/dM5RoBXh7qGKkVkmqOPa8jen6chf_s13VlGF-e89do43WhUfKOpxJyhB5SU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ed6d_9c7f_828e_7379" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/izXgaQrRqLYH_n11l9fHxRVFStoLMYUPM1mZjPYOCknqf8C9I02aBdXh4I8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_47ab_9bb2_dc1b_78f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9zgGJnAboH8ceNRMiU36gSjLF7UxIQtaibPNilYXXkEvE_JaNDmzUy5WRxs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f377_701f_fd76_b813" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OjbuD9YNaEHnJpdKGb8_mHN8qWdrnrkzkBTh74FvC8vGYtomUnzqG4xamnI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><i><img id="id_9fe3_16e1_e068_6884" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/n6LkXc3Noj9oezspxWgXwEZJHzaUAGIFZ1i22Kxm4poT0EXsE_fav1Vt3Bk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>There's a cafe in the vicinity and once you order something, you'll be granted access to the antique beads collection~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_a96e_c93e_b110_a207" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fdgktKh4lP7MH0j_zYFBXzELLuiYXsLN4dmjQQqYJNTXfS6iRVmXeHtN704" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>You can order coffee, tea, tiramisu and these kimono dorayaki. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_6767_c183_a526_33de" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wT8U77VmrFYEDscvmxvGFWdR-FbW7cyYJnjkKfSOgWSbA3wAegS3oBt27HA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>You can opt to sit cozily inside or al fresco! We chose the latter and the view was just perfect!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_6eda_a226_43fc_dd00" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5egCeNyEKgiUeJSSjmkv0ME-5TxGmWHKtuVTavPYE3bodeNM0RFHc7nemhA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>I ordered the classic tiramisu and around the cup was a bracelet/elastic (?) with some beads. The cafe cashier said it's a gift and I can bring it home with me. Of course I did!♡</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_c25c_50fd_6af9_8fcd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AzZgmXRzPX8ZV2IStYnXLE4cYutrD_MjKp4VC5hlUOKbA22WVBSMzsVXJHY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Ya girl was already so happy during this point of the trip ha</i>~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_5262_62ff_7f6e_7477" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RiNnyutvr8tfdrS-GI-KmfUhx2qNx-wAMGbAVrorskkg-uaaeAcZvFWrXSE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><i><img id="id_e134_bf2a_5e52_a534" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9e2SBz_FwpGh-ORZmgvQjp7xphJngfQOxcR4o1vzFjwEi_wiUzm_TQSAiHI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Went to check out the antique beads collection before leaving~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_1d3a_f86f_edb_a98b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0XnJw0XhQipnzYXsTMzKyeabhCdnbnOedoWRuC4SpSXg2HaFgEnQzmclrQ4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Also, Mt. Fuji decided to not be shy and actually show up. We got lucky!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img id="id_362a_f536_5c79_51fa" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kBuMvy_OYGA4pWVJIXc8jiSikXccUavgmGcIiND7Ak9Rg5eC7AvJpR1UvxI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>This part of the museum reminded me of Barcelona's Park Güell!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Next in line was the famous </span><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Momiji Corridor</span><span class="s2">. I've been to this place a couple of times before but since it's autumn, might as well check it out again right? However, the maple leaves weren't red yet when we went <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>so we just passed by it quickly. There were food stalls next to it where I got Hiroshima-style yakisoba and karaage. We walked further along the street and checked out the </span><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Craft Market</span><span class="s2"> for some uhm crafts heh~ Headed back to our guesthouse at around 6PM cos it was soooo cold! </span></li></ul><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><img id="id_99c8_8995_54ed_1cb1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MicT0KVGdRPpIMKzJ2E4pChzTVKWu1kZZXpTsWwIGDGPBgodhCWaH1flJsE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Half and half~</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_14a3_503f_a0e8_603a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fSkYe2xlbUbykoZw0ddxr8LZudSt5iOG8gysBq-6g4ybGBWneE8tjCU1wfU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>*nyan nyan*</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_343e_dce9_3635_6923" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3noe7yCS-aJQCVUuziU6rfl2ufa2HkNgQPtig5KddLCKE25mBWUjQz0Sceg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_dd6b_91c1_a07a_372c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uSUYbLKb994EkIOwgO2rE6pCz5ziTBS_8_l-wgaqYjw_DvSpbv34x_NHBwM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1399_a627_c38a_688b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/X1TcJHfBah9rsIXkxfrIPCT_nyAJfz7sNZ47rNNklWf1MlUe6aNQ10dEYzA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Found a couple of maple/momiji stencils on the ground~</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><i><img id="id_494b_b703_75ef_edbf" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VicyDarv-H4hb_osct5PRbaNWOcRsDA4L4cT9kXValwyYGwz2xxAxFDH1wU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>We were starving and good thing there were a few food stalls near the Maple Corridor</i>~</p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_e520_8c3d_84d5_440c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/p5_yLms9t1i9W-Za2ZG9BUtb553JF9ojOF0eDhcO0x2tSNS_txyB69LzUT0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Hiroshima-style yakisoba</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_df42_5240_36fe_f942" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FLYaFD9WDwrYtdpkmGWLpcXZtqdz9ZN08CkP3awHEaVZ142_mz9okaqayv4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Random street food</i>~</p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_34b4_134b_182_a960" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/o8qSabp14UQnaOi_N7ot7pErOIR2CD7C7ffrpnnDXrIqr-4rSiBiiRBkQww" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_908d_e393_107_378f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/q5QIcz9kC_2Pmx2afEmwlO9Mf0AgC5YsmCrqa3bK9TW28C029pdP6qcxFkQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Old school heater. It was freezing cold~</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_c22a_43c2_930d_815f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zSg0znZG0Vnv5oqHvOmWFPG4nTIqNwCiauv6DrlC5s0s1vACrO3NTC0hx8Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Some snaps from the craft market~</i></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_be01_c5f9_573_ce42" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uS2NHARNogpRtZXCL8uc9u_c6apXSxIi8rjuDHU2UH4-0DJfHH3tH8-4ejg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><i><img id="id_5137_7451_38f0_cb39" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SaVwMgae64bp3E4gw1w19MwaZjQXsx_bofYgVvsRI3FhJlgZc_EKWxzasVU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Called it a day and left the Maple Corridor area for our home for the night, Orange Cabin~</i><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><font size="5">Day 2:</font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Second day started with a breakfast in the guesthouse's common kitchen/dining. We went to the nearby 7-11 the night before to buy breakfast food to save on our travel money. I loved that all the necessary eating utensils and kitchen equipment were provided in the guesthouse. There's also free coffee and free sake if you want lol~</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8b57_2f40_3911_e92c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RE3Yhpyjvk-fbSLCbfqVtZhHwCxTcXr_2cT6FjmDSNlfCi3hxsbe8b7Kjug" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Checked-out at 10:00 and then headed to </span><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Shimoyoshida Station</span><span class="s2">, a 30-min train ride from Kawaguchiko Station via Fujikyu Line. From there we walked for about 15min to go to </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Arakurayama Sengen Park and Arakurayama Sengen Shrine</span><span class="s2">, home of </span><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Chureito Pagoda</span><span class="s2"> where that famous Mt. Fuji x pagoda postcard was shot! Second time going there but I still found it breathtaking! Well, it will really take you breath away even before seeing the view as you need to walk up some 400 steps to reach the pagoda itself lol! </span><span class="s7" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">TIP: Pack light and wear comfortable shoes! Bring a bottle of water or beverage of choice since there are no restaurants nor vending machines on top. There are food stalls right after the big torii gate before climbing the stairs to the pagoda and that's it. </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_6f64_42a4_fc8d_4912" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ur-qdUCh7Mxy0v8qTlqWBTAEAz_LFqOTmNSK3AxtX6ufm9blaAFAB5Eef4s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f4db_f620_c528_a1a9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jm7mxxkpmxJuaCXmjx9s0h_DnxMABQRDXPdggk1wA9iCha63xZfuOwFwfI4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><i><img id="id_7f49_8ceb_2db6_3d3d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/dIdy90q4SOdqfVY1lRWsiNcJ6SzXLIC5AaEFlkgh-tQtkE5A6liL70qycWI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Spotted an Honesty store on our way to Arakurayama Sengen Park~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_57ba_d48d_23c2_371d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WZs4tMNuT4xVogsmYqAyDWKkK4FX9GsyId95BVFKkhiB_WRkQBfXziPveFk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Almost there...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><i><img id="id_4c9b_17e1_57e8_8fdb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UsRv5hLxY9Pp5_Erv_cmfpIwNPmO5oLTtPFRf4LpmMecPc4ZqwxNbpJwHZ8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Since we arrived later than we intended (cos I overslept lol), there were lots of tourists already.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>TIP: Go early so the skies are clear and the paths are clear of tourists, too~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_70b2_ab15_4b4b_ac5c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/McGcI669IPG3fWq5UcJhZXLPnXGHMsKQGKjQJwIeUnO1DvA2qBi11Oo-by8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_be88_73bd_7f3d_e9cc" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/n79KabHp-33KAwl5A37UhNN7SZUZJKQ1zmPIeJWv8J1cYMWMX3dxnpiW8Ho" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e69b_9449_e732_ef2d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZsxSWplqIHZoxotcu5IEkMRRpOzfqKLn0Dh_6kg1-c2YTAen842EGi_jiTc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Arakurayama Sengen Shrine</i>~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_3fd_764a_c59a_7108" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ReedeMlD34gAV1c5jQ6UQbfTOyz7R8CqBrmubOLSCDe_R1ayOB_3qwToCek" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>The houses looked like miniature doll houses!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_8f59_d95a_4299_b66a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kMtS-YaNZwyPWqJdtcw4VwG5hk4wMWc2Gv0E6SoJ9vCh7UtHqsIHg5PzgpA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Oh yup, you need to CLIMB</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_7a6a_95e1_1b1d_dba3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cmMMeW8_Rxw3UBHXiNOip3TnFUtHaC7giPV4_Ub_6lWPeLwUBxTz9TI6pvo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Chureito Pagoda!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_8f54_769e_4259_631c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LRhzjyMSzbiN2XTPc2Wq9e4DlK8-G0Vt9RcHNENf-753XXTdATQ7uCVnQt0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Thanks to a fellow tourist who offered to take our picture. We didn't have much photos of the two of us during this trip lol</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_fe7a_d1b0_863c_c290" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/z8fpq87WQFPsG3DSji0oqdQehKB2cMGxW_6-7AUhBVBFIqnYkYPmRIGjPTM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b331_267_31cd_51a4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IrpULxcAT2sGqASidfg_Z_jy00zP4ZMVRqyQB2W_JmWMrgTmxzwsoCMcaHo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>The postcard view!!!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_1d8e_5379_f72_c38e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CX1AGshz-3yoitO2I1RW7K820nhXfLUCX63rhzSVwA-Qesawa7Vnz0sefJ0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i><br></i></b></span></font></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">From Shimoyoshida Station, we went back to Kawaguchiko Station for a quick lunch and then headed to the </span><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mt. Fuji Activity Booking Center</span><span class="s2"> to rent kimono! I looove wearing kimono and taking strolls so I decided to book it before this trip. Kimono rental for 2hrs for women is ¥3500 and ¥3000 for men. Hair ornament set is ¥500 and simple hair styling is ¥1500. </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img id="id_7933_c608_94da_339e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/66foLfqKZU5Va6s4Uceh4NOYYheqwzdxdgAZazA6IwezzziyGdnrQEepO-w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Rode this Gaspard et Lisa train back to Kawaguchiko Station!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_feb9_bade_6596_11f2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5S0wAnZ4GEqYRSEJV3hcdLSQrWvPPUYg0D8sTpCE8zPb7C3AAssCUrz60oU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Since we were in our kimono and our walking strides were limited lol, we decided to take a taxi to the nearest sightseeing spot (with autumn leaves) that we could find. And that was </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Yagisaki Park</span><span class="s2">, just 10min by taxi/car from the station. We paid a little over ¥1000 and the taxi driver dropped us off right by the park entrance. Of course we took photos! We got too cold with just our kimonos, good thing the nearby Kawaguchiko Muse Museum/ Yuki Atae has a cafe that we can enter without paying for the museum fee. The cafe has glass walls enabling us to savor and clamor the perfect view as we fill our tummies with hot coffee and yummy cake: Lake Kawaguchiko and autumn leaves!</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_b510_79c5_e8b7_ccb5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/25DDcbhg9vIMeymPnpPHPIkGRR_bjw2XeBLMG89_7CL9Y3SX4JSss1Z8oYA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>First time in this park!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_3f4e_197c_8ba0_6ab1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/05TqafJUDN-_4FMSHPM2JXnAnupunMgoiRLHT2VM2F9AeeFbnMlX3CELCLY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img id="id_5925_74b0_71ed_cfcb" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nYhiNPp0ncB55ydVO-2UFBwKB9lwS8jK6pQOj68eCxCC8l9kpOswLUgwfeY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>One of the few decent photos I got of me wearing this lovely yellow kimono!♡</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_6ff1_c125_798_207c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/lxZrZOpGZzgFvFHBTlDvOlRCzOqj1_a8vuWqPlhyXfl9Yhc7DmBApemltow" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Lake Kawaguchiko, always enchanting~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_9c0b_bffb_9802_e614" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/A-DnNVK2YGPh4zPq3e0nqwwrMdS8L1laG-iKRjmlV5Yjz-DxB5A90CkAFjU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1abc_f656_9dca_6823" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/SkHzmEkG1i8C-e9fBXRIO2Sz_lO8Yx2dO6BBwEQ0NgqhNo66-tYEnZ-dBqs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9f62_b784_8615_cbe6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rPewheR1SxEJnWJnJUnQaxKWrZvZPgFO0IxBj7shRoCoVkx1HdG6q7qhJD8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><i>Ichou overload~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_5e17_75e6_bd5e_2c9f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0NixcKrXr6LbRAckjzpRLX4zV5_XRGfQ-Y6svF_kDTyqJVUo20YtmmVRjqI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We got so cold good thing there was a nearby museum and it has a cafe! They got cake sets and delicious ones at that!</i></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Going back to Kawaguchiko Station was quite difficult because we only had the Retro bus as the option. It was late due to a large number of tourists in the area and it was a Saturday. We were close to commissioning a taxi but when we tried calling, the line was busy so we had to wait for quite a long time, chilling, literally lol! </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_dde2_f967_d821_4722" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WiuOiZzsJivA2kK8GucUMmv6P4sqqj4EeLXOemJeOjPh2M7PrTkZouySjRg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><font color="#454545"><span style="caret-color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 10px;"></span><span class="s2">Upon arrival at Kawaguchiko Station, we headed back to the kimono rental place to return the kimonos and get our stuff. We had dinner at the restaurant we had breakfast at the other day and then went to </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold;">Fujiyama Cafe</span><span class="s2"> right inside Kawaguchiko Station for my favorite: Shingen Mochi soft serve before heading back to reality aka Tokyo~</span></li></ul><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Yamanashi was truly an autumn dream! Have you been to Yamanashi? Tell me your favorite spots in the comments below, yeah? ♡</span></p><p class="p3" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">xx, </span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Alyssa</span></p> Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-90422314898009051982019-11-17T17:55:00.001+09:002019-11-17T20:15:15.511+09:00Hello, Bye, Anata No Warehouse!👾<div style="text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Go around Tokyo (and throughout Japan) and for sure you'll see at least one arcade or game center like Taito and Club Sega to name a few. I guess Japanese people love their games and claw cranes (purikura, too) and it shows- whenever I pass by a game center, it's often crowded and noisy. Japanese people are into themes, too. Themed cafes sprout everywhere, even themed hotels (aka love hotels </span><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;">*wink*</span><span class="s1">). </span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">But themed arcade? Can't think of anything except for one: </span><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Anata No Warehouse</span><span class="s1"> near Kawasaki Station, an hour or so shy away from Tokyo but its spacious five-floored building with lots of games to engage at plus its </span><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;">Kowloon Walled City</span><span class="s1">-inspired interiors are worth the travel! I wanted to go waaaay before but I'm probably like most people who were hesitant to travel far for an arcade. Just look at the photos the beau and I took during our first and last visit! Yup, last because </span><span class="s4" style="text-decoration: underline;">it's closing down and today, 11/17/2019</span><span class="s1">, is your last chance to visit it! </span><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;">*tears*</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;"><img id="id_1e70_9d26_1a57_6175" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kI9d1mvNCtwSqyABNmfw1sXYrIQDG0aOeO4YCuilZeOJfiFwEb-Vwp4kSNY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Even the facade of the building is true to the theme inside it.</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-style: italic;"><br></span><img id="id_6e40_dbf6_dd86_5723" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lGHDHb43hSNH5ZgbPiRyT-yT5tCukm7MyDCk90I5wHaRV0ZFv0xjSKZWiaA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>Entrance. The door opens on its own and there were sound and wind effects. People before me kept on screaming cos of those lol!</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><br></i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_cb63_cab4_c794_4a29" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IaGqBaO0DkhT7YvJziAsnKpEgqy5DCUqWT8FbQavXMkk6qfbElRDL0nJzDE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_bdf6_31af_6ba2_ea5f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9pUnuRL5JZzja6Ar-DtbWwzDtTH0vfddoWcU88iuldvjOEqrafiTICLaH5Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fc69_ff23_2567_6621" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HzEWPwjvUSvl-i3mukHtcPsE7u7desH4ESFawF70fHSn3dBEFjm7qW2R-rM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>During our visit, there were lots of people participating in a mystery event of some sort. They were looking everywhere and answering pamphlets~ </i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><br></i><img id="id_f12c_6457_27fc_9d88" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/W3NOnVXtEHTz3ojgqrm8vz-Rh5xKKdUg6WdbX7dGq_0l30WveNs5LpOC07E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_33b_e42_77af_b943" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2r2MqYyFZgfFypKH0dnF1nGabDE4jOiuoQG3tDlffqQ2zLbsAF_bil_okxo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>Welcome to Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong! </i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_8d43_cae8_13a8_efaf" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/fUllNXziXjxgESB1uBcQ87oYjhrrliQ3HLfkKtAb7WGWB4enVwLDNfQSa8U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>I gasped when I saw this! It looked so real and being there felt like I was transported to a different place! Hands down to the people behind the design of this place!</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_da6d_1197_b8b6_2887" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hno2JN-XqtkOWDWg52_25C-ufI7c2ZMW86bKSqLH4osBIZpx8xUdGoYq7zY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5fd7_a29c_5f6a_8092" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9Rz7BcfrcavFx9KGeo2o0LojZZ1_zwiqvwivEtsQVOjFa9Xr1Nry_VX3t4Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>Even the vending machine is in character lol</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_79ae_3b5c_a734_66a6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aw7bsaewekv92IrdG3a5xoUJ3br8IkoaOyX4ZEIuieKhw1rTgWQd1rFbm1I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_10e4_cdf4_3599_3831" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_-bPfJm2aDtOe_2D3K3I4p8R1-859o3FKtSgZKlLy1_qo6qEsOEL__T7TiA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9650_81b8_1f2a_fd7a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8EBH2HUvJ50tvFmz5xv81S-5F84YOnquRh681E6kodhSaSgLrzFEkgaqr1M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_abd6_a1b8_9edf_1fe8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/L5G-PIGA6azOFiT075A-0St1WqTlHv5AFkb2y7w9kIpjWuMr3NTO52p0H-Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>Old school games omg~ I used to play a similar game on my Nintendo Famicom! 懐かしい〜</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_1a15_a46_10c3_c976" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NxKLhkfE13PhpQqKji1aKdFRIBMfh2txsKDMXwFp6v6gN_XgNQc3m1QwKhc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_949e_caca_500_e85a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WQnMSfmOXv51U0c4lJ3mjoqm1r1DHVS7I31iQt3t9qlPQAdJvkA7cgUdJjk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_91c4_a790_1299_79ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dIpJvapU5UmweOGdLL88FtNY9hFyat4SDn0cnkS24BG6iiolUZMUr60H55g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e5bd_ee72_972b_3406" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RJsXAsLQn9GbocEZR3SsUGyNueCDjHp-2d7bBSst9ahfgQXS5-1XD_YdvSs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e084_c471_1fea_8907" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/klv5447C3_74EFVl9uRjjGE_8eIcSh6YEFLUUzh5Mo4f1LiIGOZWMC7e8lI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>We went up the third floor and saw these up close! So detailed! Love everything!!!</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_c3db_f515_d88_f3c4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/t61FRT8Z_ICF-HgBRHOwebranHb36qO6AjKYD3fbVy1RHLyw_TPxu0OB5ic" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><img id="id_1350_5810_5d98_566c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/j3I0Xgq80-W9a1Z_hset01eqIEX6M72zSZLeDiDFrCu7RWt6OTlL5s0Xfqk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1ed1_86fb_3f49_e548" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vIfBG3oJP8_IN4tngej3HqCOSbgTVlMGDR9EDyuB3S6FBqQzE-KmjNFXxNo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i>On the 4th floor were more games and the 5th floor had table tennis and billiard tables, as well as dart boards. We didn't stay long because of the big crowd and it's getting late. But of course, before we bid our goodbye to this warehouse...</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><i><img id="id_624c_b2db_2bd_d651" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/judKnnhfcJIt_oc8jBDjHYYM1uJkEKsUCXdb7v_ZkBc7qYZnfJ1ncro4ASw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>I had to take a photo with this iconic area of Anata No Warehouse. If you search this place via Instagram tags, most of the pictures you'll see are the ones with this very thing. Contrary to my initial thought that this can be found at the entrance of the building, this is actually at the exit near the parking lot lol! The shape reminded me of a bagua/pa kua- something related to Taoist cosmology.</i></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br>I wish I went sooner! But I'm still glad I was able to see this place before it's gone! </p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Arigatou and sayonara, Anata No Warehouse! You were such an amazing entertainer for tired souls like me who just needed some fresh air to breathe and enjoy for even just a short time! For sure, your patrons will miss you and they'll relive their fondest memories in your abode!</p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Have you ever been to this place? If yes, what are your fondest memories here? I wanna know! Mind sharing below? ♡</p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">xx,</p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Alyssa</p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s1"></span></p></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-58830885546508950412019-11-01T01:41:00.001+09:002019-11-03T13:59:45.682+09:00Life, Lately: My October + Shibuya Halloween 2019<p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">I failed to write last month's Life, Lately. I was too stubborn to even lift a finger. Probably the gloomy weather was to blame but no, I was just really stubborn lol. But yeah, here I am once again~</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">First things first, I started going to Sophia University to study Japanese (Advanced Beginner level.) *confetti* I have long wanted to study Japanese cos I'm soooo bad at it and I think I really need to learn now if I want to advance my career and my *life* lol. I couldn't study before due to a lot of reasons: (1) I don't want to and I don't really need it for my job, (2) It is expensive, and (3) I cannot quit my full-time job + part-time job and most classes take up half/whole day. But I woke up one day with the urge of studying it for my own sake so I started looking for a class that works for my current work schedule and then saved up for the tuition fee. I figured, albeit late, that I really need to know and be able to use Japanese cos hellooooo, I'm here in Japan and I think I'm staying for good. I just have to sacrifice my </span><span class="s2">プレイ時間</span><span class="s1"> (play time aka travel/museum/relax/etc. time) to study but guess it will be worth it in the end. I hope. *fingers crossed* I'm on my fourth week as of writing and I'm enjoying it- I'm continuously challenged and I loooove our pretty building so much! So superficial lol but yup, the environment makes me want to go to school, if that makes sense heh~</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_27d1_1ca2_2796_3c56" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aQaSJsFOC08NLT30OeG-HrK3UDfz61NEj0FFvpS0yUMpdfDQ6oFoQXibxbo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">October also got me early Christmas presents in the form of visits of friends from the Philippines! I met three people, one of which was a classmate from high school, while the other two were orgmates from college. It always feels soooo great having visitors here cos I get to feel *Philippines* and talk in my native Filipino language! Such a breath of fresh air!</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_9d08_eefa_1596_4f20" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F_fW-oYkDXBjPm0MFm2TzzvtVzmp43w5JXMNVHIgvC9tABew12OxnFAQZGg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Also, I went to the Van Gogh Exhibit at Ueno Royal Museum with mama and Kenji. Not my first time going to a Van Gogh exhibit but like the previous ones, I'm left in awe. Van Gogh is really the man! No wonder him and his works are well-loved in Japan! The exhibit was small and it only took us less than two hours to check everything out so we decided to wander around Ameyoko. Fun timezzzzz, definitely!</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_f06c_b445_1f9a_f853" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_HfdZxEdrsJ0La9J80Jqfli6hEwMTV5-0kl05Sqff7PTCJr6GXb1ai-0Q3M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_53f7_715f_7ba0_d0ae" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RdxoITtEO327ocOZwawOvPm5d0a-WS7SjwC6p3Y1JlruQUKIhAOuhQJvJB8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Annual Halloween Event at work was busy but fun! This is the time of the year that I'm an extra proud momma of my kids/students for braving the stage and doing their best performing! We also did trick or treat and gave lots of sweets! The teachers brought home some too! Afterwards, some of my workmates and I went to Rakeru for some Alice in Wonderland-inspired omurice!</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_88da_1fc8_82cb_286e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/snRlY4wV0C50gTZxacJGuW2-JdwAfoS2tVapanHMI230g5i0jK9uOWRiTfE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Last but not the least, Shibuya Halloween!!!</span><span class="s3">👻🎃</span><span class="s1"> I go yearly cos I like dressing up a lot and Halloween is one of those times I won't be judged if I do lol! This year, I went twice! Yup twice! First with my stationery lover friends Kaila and Julie and we went as stationery, of course! I was a washi girl, Kaila was a Hobonichi journal, and Julie was a post girl! We took purikura (a must lol), took pictures on the street while we were still fresh, had heart-to-heart talks over Gongcha milk tea, ate dinner at TGI Fridays, walked from Harajuku to Shibuya, took pictures at our home aka LoFT Shibuya, and then mixed in the fun with people clad in costumes! Fuuuuuun night!</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_7117_66ee_ee59_b094" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iDIXOIcBMWeYqk3QMaO8ne_wNb19aOycKH6GVTYQpM1xRHs8Su2xWQbfZbA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_90_4276_890c_c5ba" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y9AfR0fmjz3IdaS-iHsBIflpGK-JOd3Qn3VmQF46x3sriswS5QTiGfjSVHQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Second was with Kenji, his workmate Alim, and Alim's friend. I went as Eevee (again), Kenji as Snorlax, and Alim as Sasuke! We went on the actual Halloween day and as expected, Shibuya was packed! It was fun though! One of the very rare days in a year that you can get away talking to strangers without being creepy lol! We took purikura of course, and looooots of pictures with everyone! Fuuuun!</span></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_6384_5dd2_bf11_c201" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gF1mIuFOYr71mghd38T-go2TFgPfFGuwsNakT66nkcLr4pFGCZrbXi1-8mk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Check out my Instagram (<a href="www.instagram.com/alyssashimode" id="id_d687_726e_1d89_2b13" target="_blank">@alyssashimode</a>) for more photos! </p><p class="p2" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Soooo, that was my October! How was yours? Hope you had a wonderful month! Let's enjoy November and please look forward to another update from me!♡</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">xx,</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Alyssa</span></p><p class="p1" style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p> Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-77942674705324338922019-10-07T18:41:00.001+09:002019-10-16T18:08:35.599+09:00Poopy Day at Unko Museum Yokohama!💩<div style="text-align: center;">There is no shortage of artsy and <i>instagrammable</i> places in Japan. I have been here for six years now and I feel like I have not even touched the tip of Japan's <i>kawaii</i> iceberg! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Recently, a new Unko Museum opened in Odaiba. Further research led me to the first one in Yokohama. Thinking the new one would be crowded cos, well, it's new- people have an affinity for all things novel, I decided to visit the older one, thinking people would flock to the newer one. Oh boy, I was so wrong. Though timed tickets can be purchased online via their website, there were still lots of people when I came one Saturday. That didn't stop me from enjoying and getting what I paid for, though. Just look at the photos from my visit below. *wink*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_dc4d_459_18b_a8a6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XGROE0QbM-evNto0piCk-P0K4DHFvVO4SrDlEdqof-eHNuJJMDfSR56r4E0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Ahhhh love love pastel!<br><img id="id_dbba_3923_2d5b_5942" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Xi0BZ8IAiSL5fzfRQKY_VJS3IZf32-ipiDRiLPhf7HMUcOj9PmNa2QTV3dg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a1e4_a3c8_2353_3c8b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FWTnESVhdhcXPLUkPfDzlvJu6Tj4ffZwI_VUSjG4FwPpEA0hGTWXZ5-qTnM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>I got this purple poop at the entrance- there are a handful of colorful toilets that you have to sit on and if you participate in the activity facilitated by a museum staff, you’d get one toy poop. I failed to document that one but yeah, see for yourself! *wink*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_856a_9fa5_d537_9ccb" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NWEpp_pS1ZEBrGX8HKym5msxqoRIy_S_XR4pz1uCEDHXtEoTe5kwM-nWRdc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Poop in different languages! I was happy to see the Filipino word for poop! Can you guess?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_e0d4_6b26_c1d9_1ba4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZJ0_2lsJFsOrokU_9zXA1nJVf9lVOe9gizGrHmOwMiRupdiTcdXeiV7Y4zs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>The couple that poops together stays together! Lol🙈</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_a670_b024_f39b_c1a4" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yvmHdKxLCW0-eFa6v_YBiS_LbP5yFtc8q1m5WNHjPu039_dUBA71VGZWIOQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Fancy some poop treats?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_2ea1_a840_c272_131c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/N5XbvZ_KgKw43Mnk-psTdZl_E7J1gBIHi76cnVjkqgrWi0gAYqpiGRnsCzI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_14f3_b28f_f6b6_9b90" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_z0As_gDMA_e2K2n-_O6HSUVztNgHx-yXkY9SBld1wlixR50lmmIslqiyAs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Floating poop everywhere lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_6da8_57c1_cb0c_d8ab" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bH0Bzmk7Pwp3KUQqVxmREzoMeBYDBvAqAnbJq7ANdObrdwxGeqIqNF2FEZU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>There’s a portion of the museum where you can draw poop. Markers are provided! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><font size="4"><img id="id_711a_1694_10b9_210c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7Hqn-vEc--37TQvULbV5_V8cO7AOhDVsHSdRF29Gj8CU0GP5fXRaoTiO86k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></font><br>Po(o)p art!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_5c0_c810_f09d_6ba2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kByGdJ2dO2T26a4t1rBL9hTop_cUtbCeoW0GAP9N_3WAE42c8PbF6hSXKME" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1135_5478_5fbc_333c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mCPo7He6oRoHJsqgThXlS5rkDp3XjXRJCFV_mKkohYUkL-DLnChhWWJphzE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Poop volcano! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_253d_dc38_c3b5_b02c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yMjkKRs67JBFJsQpjzOddnMBwUNS1HT9u9AC3RczjlD-_YgYcDshYT29FpQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>No poop, no life</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmm hahahaha</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_b901_a853_6f08_c22" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U4FqFecGdPzeoaWeZeRFUK1nIh5op8c_TGG_Enxswj4tyQGLSV2o_qNXBXQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Poop tissue, anyone?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_e25f_ec79_9e39_22c4" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/k1EwxgtOQMWZizFKDCicWJzdj_8-zV8Ad87qtmlU5rbe_M_RxAGfb8xhFBU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Like most museums in Japan, there is a museum shop where you can buy, well, poop-related things! I did not buy anything cos the items were a bit pricey but it is worth a visit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_32e3_24ae_d649_887e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N-CHULjHh6TkLV6Q4mNPy59JAsGKZxh3UqRokG3M_xt1X66Lmk9vta4oHu0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Unko Museum is located on the second floor of the ASOBUILD building and on the first floor is a pretty food court of some sort. Of course we took pictures!😅</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_2926_d72_9728_4a36" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LP7-vaQPVj3OyCZ_V-oh7ikWXcayhhXX_GT12LEHcCs-p_8YqAxQp-Jo15Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_eabf_908c_53ba_ccda" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Fr-yg6WLJrau6gDj3HCvFHg0DvjV-drbABLkRrHmBQfZbHvNLf1dLfQhqro" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_18aa_e946_9252_5df1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0_ci-yKabymTQEOlnojEnXNUQvqNx4ugBBNA9f9DVwkunnm8ZdXSolK6DpU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>We were also fortunate to find a Dumbo branch and went there cos... why not? Who says no to doughnuts, really? <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">😉</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><font size="4"><img id="id_c892_ea31_4e26_e203" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lKSPPGVZEp3iFrnSCLWb6VM005wH_T5NkxE4KnNiy-JKO5WReJxxqcLdrRI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></font><br><br><img id="id_7be6_91ab_cb72_a674" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kKLf77cAjnbZenQjtA3ydYyhx3gIqaK8_rznmck9G8BDw-FcglVK4tCQm-g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_34a5_4e87_160a_2856" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G4jnsKXL3RN7UMSWb-2DCM9AJqzaz4LWe2MvZh8abqneUG5chsfL2iwAjI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>The building’s facade is covered with an <i>ASOBUILD</i> graffiti and I took the opportunity to take a picture with my initials haha!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_5ccc_79c4_92f3_69c8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cZ4-hmAWpqq2wenPO68QOjFluOYBACJiMW-bTw4MxjxFwEdvpckDu9_Zbdk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Headed home just in time for this beautiful scene! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you had fun looking at the pictures as much as I had fun taking them! 💕</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You might want to check out Unko Museum if you have time. Details can be found below:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Unko Museum Yokohama</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>220-0011 Kanagawa, Yokohama, Nishi Ward, Tamashima, 2-14-19, ASOBUILD, 2F</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unkomuseum.com/yokohama/">https://unkomuseum.com/yokohama/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br>xx, </div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="blob:null/cefaa3d3-5216-4695-b660-b37355498965" width="140.33333333333334" height="140.33333333333334"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-56499203464169125192019-09-06T18:06:00.001+09:002019-09-12T11:07:58.041+09:00Sunflower Shangri-la in Tokyo<div style="text-align: center;">Sure, sunflowers aren't as sought-after and ephemeral as the cherry blossoms/sakura but they are as gorgeous... and they make me happy! I have been to sunflower fields before (both in Japan and in my home country, Philippines) but this is probably the first time that I've been to a huuuuuuge sunflower farm. My eyes feasted over the vast golden field, thanking the glaring sun for the first time (more than loathing it- I always do haha) because it made the sunflowers glisten more. It's a shangri-la in every sense- a utopia, at least when I was there. *wink*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the photos I managed to take in between happily-shrieking due to excitement and taking deep breaths because again, I was that excited lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9bf9_b84b_e7a8_457a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TkhPkKjiUXdaX_gY7e-VBaaP1Rq_wup3Q-xMqXNza9LeaHg9K7Wfdbs_jeg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2526_bfce_c33f_9562" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lAmQs8JTKgo_f-NUHPyAlskzLU-_GRoGpCjN2Jb5A3bW1SgYaF0D2HG5M_4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7550_c6c4_8562_b858" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UkfNzyB8tejm-gX3G9gaUF_4CnVl2VdnQY8P3i-NVHzeZnvLytQn4mjb5IE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cfaf_d29e_399a_317a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a_fatGxzhYl5-FvI8su6rayfYEUC2iai1BrKtAoKxPvH8a0mQ4BZfG2lZrY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f714_962e_90e3_6427" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/I2IDFDik2bNOSSfT1PjBdue0OdaZRpO8PuTfWxKlGCV1TsB1xIPO9Cn6YLA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_32d7_1dae_3907_854b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/c41Ja-Cc2pUN0uw_ySNEulMQTCNqk6jpwHaxiFh--aLHB2tAkzCmaLXQm2s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_bd3_193b_7998_54fb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/B7DQJUF_q_fjdl37eov34sm_USA2nVwCZDSok-P_gVRdGY1QdYb-qLhFVGk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_400e_aad7_1a3f_de14" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/t07JU6kL6YUEtKz3rLMMPenmfJXZTkHdxXiG1XrjpuyyDVCfNQD1ZSsZbGA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d907_f063_53a8_5a06" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DH8d8IA7b5IKKWRd3OrZ-wHt6A970GQkwyULcrKs9s5mpdIrYSDnZ_DSTs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d90f_3cb0_cb18_b472" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/G3dq-c7TCSfMptLVGgtC2lvKi6dvA_NmKYWz_Lremtq65wSsZnY64y4yFg8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7e22_bdc9_3e04_519f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5FxUtH34pEgYPUdp50dlqn4yS9U--Z3-HrrFY9DFyHpjwz99JE1nqwrtXRE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4aed_4b58_a344_ee35" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/sVj7ID__SkFvBY-1GVi224kbFqfjUpEgktn-hlfnniLB5X4cmpQ0BEdkUNg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wew! That was over a 100,000 sunflowers all in one place! They also offer sunflower-picking services where you pay for a thousand yen if I'm not mistaken and you can personally pick and cut the sunflowers in the field! There were also food stalls and shops near the entrance where you can eat kakigori and such, as well as buy sunflower-themed things like pouches, fans, and magnets!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This festival might have ended already as of writing but fret not cos it's an annual festival in the city of Kiyose! And what's better? Going to the field is free! Make sure to check out the deets below before coming next year! *wink*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kiyose Sunflower Festival</div><div style="text-align: center;"> (<span style="font-weight: 700; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">清瀬ひまわりフェスティバル)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Dates/Hours: August 17-24, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2019 (around this time of the year, varies), 9:00AM-4:00PM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Access: 10min by bus from Kiyose Station via Greentown Kiyodo bus stop, taxi from Kiyose Station around ¥800 one way</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Map: </span><a href="https://goo.gl/EP1Ann">https://goo.gl/EP1Ann</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Fee: Free</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Alyssa</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-79521680413709807582019-09-01T12:22:00.001+09:002019-09-22T15:10:56.618+09:00Life, Lately: August, Art, and Allies<div style="text-align: center;">Another month down into 2019 ahhhhh! How time flies! For the past months I feel like I'm stuck but this time around, I'm *happily* stuck lol. See the difference? Ha! Probably because this month, since I had more free time, I decided to make a conscious effort to not sulk, have a break on the things that I have no control of at the moment (but I will get back to head- and heart-strong) and instead feel happier- yes, you've read that right, I chose to be happy which meant surrounding myself with people I'm happy to be with, things that excite me, experiences that I know would lift my spirits up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">With that said, welcome to my August.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Summer in Nagoya with the beau.</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_369a_f075_296f_f004" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sknl77EcdcmCZTif1oUNNWKYFFIlgNzutNVFx9Oa63CeCwsR5uV4mA8CBvI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3a7a_dcd6_92da_f1dd" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CFPKQ2qQTVbF01IWFQ_4Zwy_lbBETh-U8eCzayNvRogvPIDkJlTu8FGUVTQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_eb7c_3a02_11ae_eaed" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mul_w_q4Jzpzgh-1-LID-Y3rB9u_0g_S0hNJtGJuQFlMDP9ydCf-GT62HEY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Meet-up with friends who are in and around Tokyo but I don't see often because of our schedules. I'm glad to have caught-up with you all! Super thank you for the time and the company~</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_909f_5599_98ad_b84a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yLFGD-gDlITizm1_gmqRstHwTB357fQs1sci8uVQFF0eZ3Q_15x-MrX4M1Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9f1f_900b_4f75_a34" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1FtQ9bbvYAC9dilFrbqp91Dx1AHi1pKRggsrz7Hm9RMrIKphW18FJ4oCGxU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_72fd_ef93_4dd_d373" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mrbNJMammZUYJ35mqEM5dqt7DzsfrHSkhqUvoyUNqFYWlr4wemalrgJeW_w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1c1e_c1a0_a138_55c1" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aLiWwprhcxgCnaBXRSzTJOIydArySzLdPyXH1fm-vULyqq_bfPTGQ_oPB90" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6590_6938_3bf9_5a4f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Lpr1tlqwRrUWOCuvPwDLJqVqnXaplMJZdY8P1BJYNbUehlGdJykEbPiQXNY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5397_ba9a_aa6d_a922" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jWgDwDqrltho4t2hgkN-f6UEfadn2iFDrICfaN-LwJffFslUjJz6h5syiL8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f9c2_b8fe_8f4a_5a41" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Sq850VmzbpDN0LDG6npg2VmpsI0WxN7i09aPinA8K2aFod6roOZNuQ_-9k8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4b31_8fe_bea4_64e3" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3WfkPB7Lppz3VPhF4_ld53nlZBfHBcWig89bKUuZe3C1XsoiC6eFo4ImfxI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5961_59a_4e8a_7433" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TdNOPvM38nsX_eDi6dPvM3UQ3baz2twGS3QAUNBS34DafJaZe6Qlwc1sXDQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d71c_4e67_eab6_6cbf" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/fW7U_mIDl2mAW5m6ReF5hjhGt9S-YyLB1SmkqWMaRx96ZeK9ZuUBHy2p98E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6fa2_73c_3578_bdb6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_LmtPjnR0eTs1v9vO6mZ1YwC0vXCI1RZh4qEm2me1WD5HMmirAIgBwIJKL8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Went to two art exhibits this month and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Here is a separate post about those exhibits plus one more. *wink* </i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i> </i></font><a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/08/art-lately-boltanski-shiota-tanaami.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/08/art-lately-boltanski-shiota-tanaami.html</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_61ec_133f_7449_3196" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fyCBpQZs4Hz8VBR3iDLcSWBJFY2FEBx02Q6I1lJ9S0qZjZWp51EffmSTSeM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8fc5_159f_7995_ccaf" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CMinBy5cQIJH_mA7VlaNwVUjg287387E8t_6U0XVBXf9saIoK4YLoJrmUqE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>LANY concert in Tokyo. Fun, fuuuuun night!</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ea5c_418b_4ed3_8fb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jF9n4tCd7LxXrpqePMs9BCvlqucwDt1cGSaXl5X9Uk9h5gQG5crWc9RQQdA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_850b_f575_8599_29b1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Tjn4-QjwcnQBSwTtIr16-d8S3YysbxpXPnXuPPqLIzk0ae-WgQzgtWW76Fs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3bea_dbce_61c4_1045" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/abF8x11vrySF68IVEmQshoWdOK651q7om16owN-Xm68DD6L3vGpeqo0s3w4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_5e9d_447c_3612_8065" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3Ch8GQL_NGgt2HsX38J85GHGc7p6_S6Qy5Sdsis0OWyFyptQD1oDqm6fKFQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Kiyose Sunflower Festival 2019. I have loved sunflowers since day 1 and I'm so glad to have visited a nearby sunflower festival! So many yellows that lifted my mood in an instant! Check out my post on this, </i></font><a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/09/sunflower-shangri-la-in-tokyo.html" id="id_d5a0_8698_dbaf_b798" target="_blank">here</a><font size="4"><i>.</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_e0ea_7d2e_c08e_9fab" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XJ3aIzd-bZogEQHmMBnaipZhzrgGKUDTV90I3cNM45vBqPZGDbHplz9wsVs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Summer Sonic 2019 aka my third one since 2017. As always, it was so much fun! Highlight would be BLACKPINK and CHVRCHES!!!</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_1b1d_571b_8771_2072" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/q1WIhFHnroMzoqmEBUMConRzquDhbjUky0r6u_uRS7m3y7Dl8uEFzJLPhuo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9a17_e18d_8acf_4a50" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JBcKiTQiubW6q_wgH87EiSDgV-z_xGPErqswSZ6E-6Bs4q2wQ9e1cS0UjVo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_75e5_1c52_7561_b7c8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hkb9roiU89L_bp5EI_nq-DOXBNsMxBEen8W3hoXmh07_GPzFjj5h7J0jwMA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_36ff_88de_e0e6_9b36" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/DsHb2KEjSdQ_03HSP3K9d4TusDDv9nrIJbYDBWbyB8Jgxnp6ylTI__RiIvk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b7e_a4e9_4de2_3778" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Lt5sTlSOcXoEJV-fU2-Zs5U5v1hXfpaOvHj5SpGMZGwct4lpQGNUTyz2cXs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><img id="id_f3dc_e483_d8c5_abd8" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vqTUqI0fa74UfCSHRm61kToGgaHmB_1z0FFojQS3IxunjSLZI8M3D_IvFNg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></font><br><br><font size="4"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>Riverside BBQ at Jurigiland in Akiruno and Japanese Tourism Workshop on the last day of August c/o Valiant Japanese and Japan Lover Me. It was a fun day of travel journaling, photography, stationery, and talking with some old and a lot of new faces! Super thank you to Kaila/@Rainbowholic for inviting me and giving me first dibs on the newly-launched #MyValiantJapanese book. You can check the website below to get your copy!</i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://valiantjapanese.com/">https://valiantjapanese.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8fef_a7fa_bdb0_6127" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nPzmAm51-dBWWD6LjxBPSkiv0rVGrTjHkjHimAtqu-f4PZmyilcHmbW7ht0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ff56_7e44_ee43_f7c3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2gKpRJbtEO0Ykb8IQD8PYw00gjT-iKSveU-PhA5mBuecsiN3TEs0u_DAMZA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_392b_df3e_56bc_d3c3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/boUQdQ9eAZ5fAA7eFLxwpRh8Ftrm8s2otZOonZU_X6JnoMV-GjwqdrGGoHk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2659_54e_2812_d6a0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Gs7LW0lTnE87gnP5KhYsDLtsa753UYeRw-YTAHu-ZsjIvFNPkTG5emr0Ru0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_11ac_176d_92e9_7eb7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UYXt6ix1r5DnKgCXFOM8V9n36OsUtQg2xN6kraTp17s0gTtXvZr-yfjj4lg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7d7e_ec08_5aac_f4c2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8VN8T4eWRzQarFsDxZ1Hcn7YGsFjPXaATiVLD5Rc-CXzOmJ0GXMcYKyF9JI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ab1f_8414_d165_4064" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VzQAba13Z-Ir5E5eEpI2NsgxFEbAT7aGs-3pckog-B96Cjz16Pmo8X4LV7A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4"><i><br></i></font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Weeeewwww what an August! Pretty hectic but a loooooot of fun! Ya girl is very happy! Hope you had an awesome August!♡ September will be ending soon so please look forward to another Life, Lately post from me! 😘</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Previous Life, Lately post (July): <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/08/life-lately-crossroads.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/08/life-lately-crossroads.html</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Alyssa</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><br></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-52071620127192000002019-08-16T21:06:00.001+09:002019-09-02T08:14:18.671+09:00Art, Lately: Boltanski, Shiota, Tanaami<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know this is not the first art-related post I have here on my blog but I want to organize my posts a little, hence the "Art, Lately" heading lol. I know, I didn't put that much effort on naming this new blog series but that will do for now. If you have suggestions, feel free to comment down or let me know via my sns sites. Thank you!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So yup, I have been to a couple of museums and galleries recently- probably the reason of me trying to put things in order here on the blog. It was quite a bold thing for me to go to the three exhibitions below as the artists were foreign to me. But if I think about it, that's probably the reason I went- because their names were new to my ears. I didn't research on them beforehand for the thrill of it. I wanted to know what they're made of. I wanted to know what kind of stories they tell. I was quite hesitant to go and shocked at times during the visits but I'd admit that it was quite refreshing to see different perspectives and art styles. If anything, these museum visits fueled me to reach out more to the vast world that is ✧art✧.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font size="5">⎡Shiota Chiharu: The Soul Trembles⎦</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I went here three days after the opening and was amazed by most pieces as they were huge and just imagining me doing all of those made me tired already lol. Some pieces were disturbing for me but I guess it's on me. Berlin-based artist Shiota Chiharu was just presenting me something that already existed and me being uncomfortable with it doesn't make its existence invalid. The whole exhibition was centered around memories, anxiety, dreams, identity, existence, and boundaries. Pieces I personally loved are as follows:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_7ef1_d000_74dc_da88" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fjYAATvOhQbAI9dpwQeZZVBx5Dvn36XthPeuWZUYdWscLVxf5Zf9yJngoYw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_819b_cd2a_86b8_2d1e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZTNUBgK7EAKmQTY8xQZqbUMpNZz9dwDOblAzSe0THwXndT8Htl8utd-_Y9w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_78d0_717_9c63_73fb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tmAkJPfnvQ-hGRcL-6Lz4Smy6qfT-t8Cp_NPB-QsoYo3vQCTTdD13ReXMeM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2145_c51e_6169_69e9" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rUQ9URVWR2Ifz-yi5QHrbJV8geZUJBmwOIR1uTFMyvqri4_G492GYcT-mK8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4d38_d4dd_6711_82e4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8_kGomuxTCVYx4RMqfbE8k1eIX3pRv_vIQzauWFHuD2pflhfTRg7nzDQBrw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cb5a_2d63_66cd_9922" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lpxDoSZLIovybAyybQJ6gxZ8_iWvM_0AliYH47jG3x63DGHfR_C6ODH_RDI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4255_224e_a751_917" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7UIufZ7DLkYTymtxE31ib4jBAPGF1Hl9llvnPr0uc8XSbEwcB-wLQNmi7vE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nearest Station: Roppongi Station Exit 3</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fee: ¥1,800/ adult</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Run time: June 6, 2019 - October 27, 2019</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font size="5">⎡Christian Boltanski: Lifetime⎦</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boltanski is a French contemporary artist, and this exhibition in Tokyo is said to be his biggest one yet. His works revolve around "history, memory, and the vestiges of human existence".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_7aa5_50f2_3363_122f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/G5MSDebIAMMJ6CXdBHuvxWaDr_MAokE8fe04FMtRUDWpFP7Svje5k8i3-YQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_79cf_f7cc_46fb_facb" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OxvuPFeGdQwW-pHgbBIQFpBG0Vzd4q-uPY9Bqo3WZ75BPFQAk4Nj9HTHMuE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ef90_2c5d_3160_9c83" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mGEYZ-O8PHwt7-B7KkdVwntgR8f7w2aodGXRexcsxkXhlZ-Uq4bAkW0ZRmo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d082_f598_f4bb_aeab" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VwG25kHEpwOyByJerPPTRwhUgwRSFlqRjrZSSd6OYM7IjtKt9ZhdCvJ_Xb4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b05b_2a2_2ec6_9468" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/OoYMIFV-9oODgSUtsCbsPIvtG5cxCf1rEIFJHqeBN8JnBZNaBfco3TF_ZJo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f53f_2517_cf25_da4e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EuBNtFHpNo0M2Z4LQx1vB9qisyA8FCPx7WPds7wRq2htr4I1leWtp1CbWk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b772_7c3_43d1_1d5" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cBu9toDIwErWKkaOpKVpkC24RP-e9fLawpcXhSk9LVScZjPcfZBsRBavxC4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a206_df55_8daf_a29e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3CL8N-AoMJhatkd7ZM_RXewrChS0oyI9mXoommjr6Dh9Ey16xQR0l6bZHIs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The National Art Center, Tokyo</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nearest Station: Nogizaka Station Exit 6</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fee: ¥1,600/adult</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Run time: June 12, 2019 - September 2, 2019</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font size="5">⎡Keiichi Tanaami: Great Journey⎦</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I went here with my childhood friend Tomo and we were greeted with a mural near the door of the gallery, a work made by the popular post-war Japan artist Keiichi Tanaami. We went and saw a sculpture- colorful, psychedelic, pop in nature. I thought the artist is in his 30s, someone young and vibrant. But he's actually 83 years old!!! Me being shocked is an understatement lol. It was intriguing... how his mind works- in a good way, of course. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f822_49ed_43e4_7031" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zYRWuijrtJfJNqBzDCnVb085-FmveV3yghW9D8IyH3Js94zVheMR6fh6_aI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d506_bfb9_c4a0_dccd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8HlLwmUsaLypm1NumfX_9ARDDZSTphtneiDmA1QqBsNb38tK-9X6qTaozy0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c1df_6db5_189c_6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6N_DQ9MmSRx_QclET47-AE1aj_feMQifPg-iB488FLE-PkkYGENj1gyO18I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1ed2_e806_a1e1_4d1c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Aj50NsKhEBhxmRbZCn-5MUQ1uPDKYfNshj2r5sU4sXRl89NjdZ7eYDZl6Xg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8fa5_ab39_1c46_df6a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/HkjxICoeru_tAMIQLcDAtH5MQOoKk77XC0RVIE2dJWAMJJg73c9DvUe8BGY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9bbf_a42a_a6bf_fb5f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l4u_u1ldbGH74FMkFxEChUswPbZz_C5UAhFy6Xp46_U2YtRxnNe7QcQ6uNE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f634_c9fc_e69b_e1ec" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EH_5qy8JaC1YjgYuv_VNudtlQAHPqF68G2cPSukwI1dR_BDfYGshqvaA23I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a54e_d5f7_d8ac_30e1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QRGtvEgufxi8uJtkh1bvpSD0ExcKWS8OjGqMHwlPz4PcSJlGPKKbBKf-WYw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ginza Graphic Gallery</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nearest Station: Ginza Station/ Yurakucho Station</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fee: Free</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Run time: July 21, 2019 - August 21, 2019</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you liked this first ever Art, Lately post. More to come in the future, please look forward to it!♡</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><font size="6">xx, </font></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><font size="6">Alyssa</font></i></b></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-40284790172633354922019-08-06T12:52:00.001+09:002019-08-16T10:40:16.782+09:00Life, Lately: Crossroads<div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4"><i>July</i></font>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Halfway through the year. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Funnily enough, I'm stuck in the narrow hollow of decisions, if there's a physical space associated with it. I probably was stuck earlier but I was too preoccuppied to notice. I mean, this life? It's great. Who would not want to stay where they seem to have things going on for them? But eventually, no matter how glittery and pretty things are going, me being stuck won't go unnoticed, unless I purposely do it and then it's just going to be this viscious cycle of ons and offs and then I'll blame myself for not addressing it earlier when I had better chances of making my stand better. But then, isn't that human nature? Or I'm just too quirky for this world lol.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enough of the vague introductions which I think I failed at doing- preparing you for my dilemma this month, I'm just gonna spill it. I don't want you to think that you're required to help me nor give me a sound advice (but if you want to, please, thank you). You listening rather reading, is enough.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I graduated as a Biology major though I ended up in the education field. I found teaching tiring but very rewarding. My current work is near my house and gives me paid leaves that allows me to go for long vacations if I want to and salary that lets me afford going on a few trips throughout the year, on top of all the bills I have to pay while living here in Japan. So you'd probably ask,<i> what the hell is your problem even?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quite a lot and tricky, I may say. You see, the scenario above is my current comfort zone. And I feel like I'm stuck here though I know I can just go out of it. But I'm scared to actually go out of it and I don't really know... I've been weighing my options for a couple of times already. I've been talking to other people, especially those older than me just to get their insights. In spite of those, I'm still lost. And scared. I have come to a conclusion (for now) that I have a lot of things on my plate- a lot of things interest me, it's in my nature, but I thought of those being hindrances to knowing what I really want. And maybe, just maybe, letting go some of those would help me. <i>But will I be happy letting those things go even if they make me happy and sane? </i>Quite like a double-edged sword lol. Anyway, for now, I'm thinking of doing these things:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>- finally studying Japanese in an actual school (to help with more career choices in the future but how long will it take me to actually know enough to shift careers? )</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>- delving deeper into education by earning a TESOL or a Master's degree in Education (but then this will narrow my career options into education and related ones)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>- diving into a completely different field, like I actually thought of studying International Business Communications offered in one of the schools here in Tokyo </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh this whole career thing is driving me insane which makes me not to want to do anything and just stay right where I am now. But where's the growth in that? <b><i>I owe this to myself, at least to try, I think.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, at some point I need to figure this out, ね? For now, here are some July snippets, minus the heavy dilemma above. And as always, thanks to the people around me who help me with serious thingamajigs and also help me breathe when things get too tight. I appreciate you all.♡</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9a1a_8d6b_117e_8feb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/L9m_ilufmQJTN5rZQRKy3ovE8doENHLSy9LuKVTFYv4_Py5-yaOrVV09ZbY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tanabata Festival at work~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_4b89_e7d5_b547_8315" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gPXsCOVTX_Q4MV1qjXNF-Pj2T0kYmzlB-G-gW_9gzJP2-FTDk9F8T4MM0N4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bar Zingaro aka Takashi Murakami's bar/cafe in Nakano</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_d98d_2326_e300_e116" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bsfB3DFzvBYZTJ-bHbhZtmybY7nQkqAD2vUX14ezDuD4oSPWBYpjzmoOS9s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cafe-hopping and catch-up with Kaila</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_7e89_f82c_4019_1439" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hJTBe73mxFej5IKER5CAcUjkcv-1jn4aY-dfHs9V7VxCLhARyWINism3m00" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Visited the beau and I's favorite Korean chicken place, Shinchan and did some roaming around K-town.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8838_ffa_635a_e9ab" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rr87M74py8a5zZ4A143eMH2g7ji6ue3wRNF31Gx_FnCX_qWP0ckF-C0VOlo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Washi Tape Museum with stationery lover friends! We had so much fun shopping around for tapes and stickers that we were the last customers to leave- the store shutters were already closed so we had to wait for the store staff to open it lol! 楽しかったです〜</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_516b_cc86_84fa_f82c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gC4ePWVLi6qQ-KEt8qOSFXwxm_ECdR-CpJ38VFgU10QTOcfJ2O-ze58vi8U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Friday on a Monday with these girls from work. I love how we roll- from venting out stressful things to purikura real quick haha!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, half of the year already passed by. Let's hope for more happiness and blessings to come our way but let's not forget that we can make our happiness and work for more blessings, too! *wink*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Alyssa</div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-52893210452483555852019-07-28T20:33:00.000+09:002019-08-05T23:38:52.273+09:00Life, Lately: Celebrations and Realizations<div style="text-align: center;">
Every June the past years, I get busy getting into everyone's schedules to celebrate my birthday. And I am thankful for those people who have shared their time and energy with me. This year was a complete turn around and I did not really plan on doing anything grand cos I'm saving up for something and well, I'm just tired and getting old that I somehow don't want to do anything, ya know, stuff like that. But the universe still made ways, as if it's a dear friend pulling some strings to make things work. It worked. And for that I'm forever grateful.</div>
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I welcomed my birth month with a weekend trip to Shizuoka with my family- probably the first time in a loooong time that I celebrated my birthday with them. It was a much-needed breather for me and I guess for my family, too. We went to this cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere in Kannami, had BBQ for dinner, dipped into the private onsen, and breathed in the view of Mt. Fuji through the window. The next day, we roamed around Atami (the beau and I's second time) and Mishima. It was a fun trip and to be honest, I did not expect it to be. But it was. This trip will forever be in my heart and memory.</div>
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<img alt="" height="566" id="id_a094_1576_a0e6_9635" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N83_KarbpqwM_-IgxUkV4XAUdgvjJMcbw8en1jv3l8RzG0Akn-eo6zA1fKY" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
<i>First time to see an alpaca in person! Omg! Haha!</i></div>
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<i>If you are in Mishima area, definitely go to Mishima Rakujuen Park!</i><br />
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On my actual birthday, I had a very interesting dinner care of the beau. Everything was great, the raclette, the edible jelly lipsticks, ahhhh the dessert table! I loved this night! And when I got home, I got a birthday cake my Mama ordered for me. Ahhhh a million times yes!</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_bf4f_c5ee_84d5_5af2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Du-shqgIBxbh0xlhLz9jjJWeZJcZCWAwDlQ235_EbtqKrhGy-rJZIIGY6-A" title="" tooltip="" width="576" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_8811_9708_eed5_808b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SYUxKSqw9MstQ-VP4UjhD70g0a7pHC6T4mUk8jxQK_JvJbIK9z4b2b9nExA" title="" tooltip="" width="532" /><br />
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I was also lucky to have tutees-turned-friends and one decided to have our conversation lesson while celebrating my birthday at Shinjuku Mitsui Club. ありがとうございました。</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_c12e_f576_e9c1_adfd" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zQkqK8LeyeJO39PIgdEWwKwnh96xJLPyJraO3PBQS-dslO8G2jfxfT-pDRs" title="" tooltip="" width="603" /><br />
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Since there was a Detective Pikachu campaign at Pokemon Cafe, we went of course. Though this was our second time at the cafe, we still enjoyed how cute the food were! </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_d677_1237_a4c2_59f1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WPBYPaPL4X2t5qEExU8EQ4pf8x9jiwP9WOY9phuBDGXy-mjo9WgmylTgc30" title="" tooltip="" width="437" /><br />
<i>Pokémon Cafe</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><span style="text-align: start;">〒103-0027 東京都中央区日本橋二丁目11番2号 日本橋髙島屋S.C.東館 5階</span></i><span style="text-align: start;"><i>電話番号 <a dir="ltr" href="tel:03-6262-3439" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">03-6262-3439</a></i></span></span></div>
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Last but not the least of my birthday celebrations... indoor skydiving! My childhood friend and beau joined me and I could not have asked for better companions. I loved every bit of this day.</div>
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<i>Fly Station Japan </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Nearest Station: Koshigaya Laketown Station, 12 min walk</i></span></div>
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<i>For details and reservations, visit <a href="https://flystation.jp/access/">https://flystation.jp</a>.</i></div>
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As if all those celebrations did not exhaust my energy and my pocket, I went to Chiba to see one of my favorite flowers- hydrangea/ajisai with my cousin and beau and I did not regret nor I ever will. Just look at these beauties! </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_7fc8_1b94_3d71_a5b7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eMVJN9l67un5xF8uBW3wQsJMb-Igvw1amZVwmvXF_4PpK2CCmy1cREZuHLk" title="" tooltip="" width="359" /><br />
<i>Read more about my hydrangea heaven escape here:</i></div>
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<i> <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/07/hydrangea-heaven-at-hattori-farm.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/07/hydrangea-heaven-at-hattori-farm.html</a></i></div>
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Since my cousin is here for a limited time, we also decided to go to Shiota Chiharu's exhibit, something I've been looking forward even before it opened. It was a great ending to a great day and a great month that was June.</div>
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Celebrations aside, if there's something I've learned this month, or have re-learned rather, it was focusing on who is important, on what is important. I've had my fair share of distractions this first half of 2019, I was blinded by things I deemed as gold but were only rocks, and I've compromised things I should have not even compromised in the first place. Thankfully, I was given another year which means more time to re-align. And that, for me, is the best gift my 28-year-old self has received this year. </div>
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Hope your June was beautiful. Moreover, I hope July has been treating you well. </div>
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xx,</div>
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Alyssa</div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-79488537118193269792019-07-01T15:33:00.001+09:002019-07-03T01:54:44.327+09:00Hydrangea Heaven at Hattori Farm <div style="text-align: center;">Hello, www friends! Just updating this humble abode of mine cos I recently hopped on and off train(s) for two hours and more just to reach this beautiful destination in Chiba Prefecture and I want to share what sort of beauty blinded my eyes when I went! Ahhhh, this place I'm talking about is literally heaven on earth! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without further ado, here are some of the photos I took! Lust over them now because like the famed cherry blossoms/sakura, these hydrangeas/ajisai don't really last long! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ya ready? Here we goooooo~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f42e_a21_ba95_28f7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jsKWO6Bp3xnmg61KFYZl7facOrA6A_JE4d1RiwkZMsNziCAkSzwAnBEajwQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 598px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Quick deets:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hydrangea Mansion Hattori Farm</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">719, Sangaya, Mobara-shi, Chiba</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">10min by taxi from JR Mobara Station</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">25min by Mobasu (Mobara Citizen Bus) on weekdays only, ¥200 one way</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></i></div><img id="id_5e81_2a0c_f855_b5e7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RLjgQEP8pDBBZrEovvia9L37NN9502J9IVSUWs_nB1PzePZonklAj0hiA7o" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 559px; height: auto;"><br><br><font size="4"><img id="id_53b6_5d4a_c4bb_53a1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uNcfF4-xVWq3AjJtQYoFnFPYBZdDw7jH_oDxyhQC9aQ5Z-HHNxBAfBcilqM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 541px; height: auto;"></font><br><br><img id="id_bb09_f524_6d28_ae5c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4zKK0rHYg4qHOosEb-RxkqmSN78UUZLYHxzS0Pvl7pLDKax1SuwRprWfGCg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 533px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_6b8f_221b_2632_bd9a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uouOsYkj8dvW1VRYwNkeDeQndQec19ns57xuevGgkAasQYYQ9WfF9mzMuaw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 528px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to a Japanese friend whom I have shown the picture to, the house was a typical farmer’s mansion, hence the place’s name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><img id="id_c806_a3ae_99cb_9964" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/F7uKLEF0TEho4RBEYs3imssZj_ANHcIATkodoymddnvFqzZEJaX6jGHxp08" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 527px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">So fluffyyyyyyy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br><img id="id_a866_4ade_86d0_e27e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xGYIH9M29XM9TNsCfeJQC0L70tfW0OMLZkmlqM_sC1O6xS6whU6p2gKLYkU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 553px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_dd8b_a033_780_a3d6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Db0zFBbStPIwTA8jwNOKsvssrVIqussVU81oRONyPg3MOhe98_pF_tCfmdU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 560px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This was probably the most number of hydrangeas that I have seen in one go! Ahhhhh!<br></span><br><img id="id_58f8_a8ff_3c80_c258" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RoNP3frvKhWRb3zlaDGiXgixJ6u8fq_4u5C17Hj7vwachilDu88B9CEZiOw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 567px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, it was raining when we went so it was difficult to traverse the hydrangea hills. There were stairs and pavements but the rest were just plain ground so it was slippery that day and we did not risk going up. The pictures would have been better but as they say, safety first, heh. Another thing to note if you are planning to go - wear comfortable footwear!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><img id="id_952e_a542_de31_4950" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/V6dEtyhJmApCQeqtFSwi55fK1tf3r1lG6oAMENca_UaKU0Q3WgqvRTkhBgc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 578px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f926_92f4_fbe7_3c85" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/g58z2y0YwD1iQZMNBp-VNCtIS2bp-RLpfQSkRnIGhijWHI7RXjQL4thdRHE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 571px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6bad_1840_7eeb_dbaf" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RI4aa1DXGxkQ07AaIARk547gmSCcwaTsabe3HwDb0dQh9rikdDQP0Kc9lsc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 577px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5f6c_5eec_c2b3_8137" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/D3MjlkbxUCsmrBvozzYSfQBYpAPD8RrtKg4kQIrk0cWtdNiqz02Xr1lt1k4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 565px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_c933_2179_80c6_1f35" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eBjSNV1eznFSmmIb5M4ZLev6fvuAIoFbnqk8iUk2VJwVd4ljZhI-tTXKhIg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 557px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8d54_4307_f680_5d1c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aptAfm1CuGglkKocRosie2fOd3VgwMaMlgy3Wa8IvNgd5Z_sWXMrTCUjPoE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 597px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">After feeding our eyes with the scenic view, we bought soft cream near the entrance and took shelter under the roofed lounge along with other tourists who didn’t wanna get drenched in the rain. Afterwards, we called a taxi to fetch us by the parking lot just by the entrance to bring us back to the nearest station. </div><div style="text-align: center;">〜The end〜</div><div style="text-align: center;"> lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you had fun browsing the photos! More so, I hope you all could experience the euphoria brought about by them beautiful hydrangeas someday! Though I really hate Japan summer, the thought of seeing hydrangeas around helped me bear and brave this notoriously hot and humid season!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So yup, ‘til next time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_26e3_7bba_41bc_d0b8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/4_oLIZ2rwyyM8GaTD_reK0JS5UbEqcNiGZyhn44j2EtrLWAtyvHgVwLacoo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 155px; height: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_9ba8_7db9_2a93_8323" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/K84yTQXWz07vBE-mxxKuJz-otTILNJSEe5b7-7m8iPFHzxr6bHSFvaZDEoE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 275px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Instagram: </i><a href="www.instagram.com/alyssashimode" id="id_8d65_90_31a7_6f69">@alyssashimode</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">YouTube: <a href="www.youtube.com/alyssashimode" id="id_1579_61a3_4339_88ff" target="_blank">Alyssa Shimode</a></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-64050603499263904052019-05-23T00:10:00.001+09:002019-06-11T08:38:12.704+09:00Life, Lately: May Day(s)<div style="text-align: center;"><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hello, hellooooo~</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> It's been two months since I've written something re: my life. Not that I'm saying you're interested nor you've missed anything grand about this mundane, humdrum existence of mine, but yeah... let's say I just missed "talking" to this blank space on the www. Also, March and April were a blur- those two months happened so fast and it's just now that I got to pause and calm down even for a little bit.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First off, I finally finished my Beautiful Bicol series, a three-part write-up on my recent trip somewhere in my home country, Philippines. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><img id="id_5092_8a7e_da97_f7d6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_4GLjwYEVt0dHY5LGRYsVVfHAGIBvhda3cv4Oro4U5vlLIfuoyc-UMCPnFk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you haven't read them, you can access the following links:</span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bagasbas Beach x Around Daet <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/beautiful-bicol-bagasbas-beach-x-around.html" id="id_b0bb_a68a_b927_5af3">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/beautiful-bicol-bagasbas-beach-x-around.html</a></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Calaguas x Balagbag Island</span></div><div><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/temporary-backup-beautiful-bicol.html" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);" id="id_79bb_f46d_c9e0_40c6">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/temporary-backup-beautiful-bicol.html</a> </font></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All About Mayon</span></div><div><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/05/beautiful-bicol-magayon-mayon.html" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/05/beautiful-bicol-magayon-mayon.html</a> </font></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You might have also heard that Japan changed its emperor and along with it comes a change in the name of the era. From Heisei, it's now Reiwa, which I turned to like because of the petty reason that its kanji characters are easy to write for a kanji noob that is *drumroll* me lol~ So yeah, this year's Golden Week in Japan was a whopping 10-day vacation (for some lucky ones, yours truly included) because of that so I was able to spend a few days in Yamanashi with the beau's family. It was quite fun and I'm planning to make a proper post on our Yamanashi trip (once I get the time and the will to write it lol) so doncha worry~</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_b70a_499e_140_ba0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eBiZTe_m7_lx1QIQe2NwnCqV4gtcq-JG6-A3F8F0GaQGjpagw-Lwai2ZJPk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, I went to iKON Fan Meeting 2019, something I've been eagerly waiting for this month. Well, I love iKON to death, need I say more? Heh~</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_6cfb_d332_4df_d720" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/I8EJbccxnWXiuprQIFkA_MLxRetK785EE6xnkyfGcMpHg0WY9M64JydCoB0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One random night, I answered a personality test online (again, after three years) and me being "shocked" with the results is an understatement. I am INFP-T (The Adventurer). Since when did I become an introvert??? I mean, I always thought I like people and being with people- that I'm an extravert/extrovert. I had the surprise of my life from an online test *much wow* lol. I was an ENTP-T (The Debater) before. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Guess, people really change over time huh~ </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_c8b_f7ec_63ca_ecb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3xwZfeulq15TN-NhMwaxd2L3mKb3KBl-3bEIfLCqtHdOjCUFODLasMIYSBM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here is the link if you wanna try out for yourself: </span></div><div><a href="https://www.16personalities.com/profiles/bb2f6fbc99cd9">https://www.16personalities.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shocking personality tests aside, the beau and I had a little Narita exploration after we brought his parents and relatives to the airport! I've always associated Narita with well, Narita Airport. But then there's more to it being an airport- go out and you'll see. I did that and I'm glad I did. Another proper post about that coming soon. *wink*</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_d5c1_6cb4_bac9_99a0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mN583zg1yjqwu3ZtXLWrE3Mjj9Q_yviQzUIPpR12FNTZEnasFRFSJoJJpTY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last but not the least, Roppongi Art Night 2019 which I enjoyed better than last year's. I'd have to give the curators a very big round of applause for this! I enjoyed a lot!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_2435_6c2_3e24_fea7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qyNtEnLX9tbdc2VhICE6lDUy1fTIVh589T12AmxNWqMPtk36-A1y4rkl81Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahhh quite a lot of things happened, huh? But I guess there's gonna be more cos June is my birth month!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So yup! Until then, www friends!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">xx,</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Alyssa</span></div></div><div></div></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-31494701531351604212019-05-14T23:30:00.002+09:002019-05-20T19:33:39.352+09:00Beautiful Bicol: Magayon Mayon!<div style="text-align: center;">
Been dreaming of seeing Mt. Mayon's perfect cone shape since I've learned of it in one of my Sibika at Kultura (Civics and Culture) classes back in elementary. This visit was almost 20 years in the making! All I can say was, "finally" ~cries~</div>
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Without further ado, here are the places we went to in Albay, for multiple million-dollar views of Mt. Mayon:</div>
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<b><i>1. Along the highways of Camalig</i></b></h3>
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We drove from Daet to Naga and ate lunch at Chef Doy's Gourmet Restaurant with the beau's family and relatives. After that, we drove from Naga to Albay and luckily saw Mt. Mayon, clear of clouds. Of course I snapped some photos! The beau's parents were very supportive, we even stopped multiple times just to get good views! We also stopped by the small baduya/sinapot/maruya stores along the highway for some merienda~<br />
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<i>Ahhh! Day 1 of chasing Mayon and she graced us with her beauty! Lucky!</i><br />
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<i>Also, yummy dishes from Chef Doy's! This one's Paella Bicolana.</i><br />
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<i>Crispy Kare Kare! Sinful!</i><br />
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<i> Leche Flan na may Pili (milk and egg custard flared with pili nuts) </i><br />
<i>cos you gotta eat pili nuts when in Bicol hehe~</i><br />
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<i> I personally loved this steamed plantain-guava-coconut milk combo called Pinakro (Bicol's Ginataang Saging) ♥</i><br />
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<i>2. Quituinan Hills, Tinago, Camalig, Albay</i></h3>
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Next destination was Quituinan Hills. If you're not versed with the roads in Albay, I think it will be hard to spot cos the road that leads to the place is very narrow and the signage was small. I was just very lucky that the beau's dad grew up in Albay so he knows the area. There's an entrance fee of 20php/person and 20php/parking. There were lots of horses just grazing on the wide field when we went there. You can ride it for a fee but I chose not to.<br />
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<i>Mayon was covered with clouds this time but what I liked about this place is that it's so wide and breezy! </i><br />
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<i>Ofc, a photo with the beau!</i></div>
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<i>Also, golden hour, so I was able to take a handful of portraits, one of which is above lol!</i><br />
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<b><i>3. Sumlang Lake</i></b></h3>
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Probably my most favorite place in Albay! I loved the view, the balsa/raft boats, design, everythinnnnggg~ Here, we were able to try the famous chili ice cream from Soccoro Lakeside Restaurant! Yum! We spent the rest of the afternoon just taking photos and admiring the sunset view- of course Mt. Mayon was present!<br />
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<i> Hi, Tita! </i><br />
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<i> People can use the raft boats free of charge! Yasss!</i><br />
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<i>Even the beau's parents weren't able to resist this picture-perfect vchair/boat/view haha!</i><br />
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<i>Chili strawberry ice cream so yummyyyyy!</i><br />
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<i>Just a little before sunset, people were heading home but we stayed. And I'm glad we did...</i><br />
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<i> I mean look at this...</i><br />
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<i> and this...</i><br />
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<i>and thissss ahhhh so pretty!</i><br />
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<i>We went inside not to dine but to check the interiors out heh~</i><br />
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<i> This reminds me of my Mama's dresser in our house in Malolos~</i><br />
<i>Ahhh I left this place with really happy eyes!</i><br />
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<i>4. Red Labuyo Restaurant/ Airbnb place/ Daraga Parish Church</i></h3>
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As if going to three places for viewing Mt. Mayon was not enough, we booked a place to stay for the night with the view of Mayon still! It is in the same building as the Red Labuyo Restaurant. And I'm really glad that throughout my stay in Legaspi/Albay, Mt. Mayon kept on showing up! I'm one lucky tourist!<br />
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<i>Our airbnb~</i><br />
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<i>Lovely facade of Daraga Parish Church~</i><br />
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<i><b>5. Cagsawa Ruins Park</b></i></h3>
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After having breakfast at the famous food joint, Biggs Diner, near our Airbnb. We then hurriedly went to Cagsawa Ruins (remnants of a 16th century church built by the Franciscans), just a few minutes drive.</div>
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<i> I missed eating tapsilog (tapa, sinangag, itlog) so of course I had to order this haha!</i><br />
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<i>Happy faces, happy tummies~</i><br />
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<i> Hello, Cagsawa!</i><br />
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<i>Can't believe I'm here! I only see it in books before until this day haha!</i><br />
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<i> This would have been a good photo if Mt. Mayon decided to show up but that's okay~</i><br />
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<i>This belfry and parts of the facade of the church were the only ones remaining after Mt. Mayon's most violent eruption back in 1814. If you happen to go here, you might want to go to Cagsawa National Museum nearby.</i><br />
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<i><b>6. Legazpi City Domestic Airport</b></i></h3>
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Mt. Mayon didn't disappoint until the very last end. Just look at the photos below! Ahhhh! Whether you're admiring the famed volcano near or far, on land, water, and even up above, it shines bright and blinds the beholder like a diamond! W<strike>ell that's a pretty lame comparison lol but you get what I'm saying okay hehehehe~</strike><br />
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And just like that, my Bicol trip came to a close. I know there are still a lot of things that I have missed out but I know for a fact that I'm coming back... so til next time! For the beautiful people who were with me during this trip and for all of you who spared my Beautiful Bicol posts a look, thank you so much! ♥</div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0Albay, Philippines13.1774827 123.5280072000000512.1883677 122.23711370000005 14.1665977 124.81890070000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-66218065297345011132019-05-06T17:35:00.001+09:002019-05-14T18:59:18.307+09:00Just Another Studio Ghibli Post<div style="text-align: center;">
If you have been following me on SNS, you probably have an idea on how soft I am for Studio Ghibli films and anything related to it. But hey, who isn't?</div>
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Of course being the (slightly crazy) fanatic that I am, I readily got tickets when I knew there's gonna be a pop-up exhibition honoring the late Toshio Suzuki (one of SG's co-founders and producers). Fittingly, it's called <i>Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli</i>.</div>
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I went two days ago and even though the venue was small and there were lots of people who came, somehow, nostalgia seeped its way through the crowd to me. I never thought I'd feel a pull on my heartstrings just by looking at the film posters and Toshio Suzuki's calligraphy... but boy, oh, boy, that was one big pull.</div>
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So yeah, enough with the drama lol. Here are some photos I took of the exhibition. There were places where photography was allowed and then there were those where it was prohibited. When you go, just make sure that you read the guides posted throughout the exhibition venue. Oh, it runs until the 12th this May so you might wanna go before then~ *wink*</div>
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<img alt="" height="144" id="id_e364_d514_ef29_8548" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8ZDMs3WMgAOymmRFRiskLqju17NhZkh1qzl4hg3JUDbwsXYcmkdHUi0RIwM" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We were greeted by these movie posters with calligraphy on it. Apparently, Toshio Suzuki was into calligraphy. Throughout the exhibit, his calligraphy works can be seen.</span></div>
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There were also areas where his books, manga, and vintage stuff were displayed. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed. </div>
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There was a big room where you can see a giant Yubaba and a giant Zeniba (from Spirited Away). </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From the mouths of each, one may pull out a numbered tag, go to the omikuji box nearby, open one of the numbered boxes (should be the same number as the numbered string one got), and get a strip of paper containing one's fortune. The exhibition-goers can only choose one, either you get a love omikuji or a fortune omikuji. Kenji and I chose the latter~</span></div>
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I got 八 or 8.</div>
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Kenji got 五 or 5.</div>
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Here's how the omikuji box looks like~</div>
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I got "forthcoming luck" and Kenji got "great misfortune" oh noooooo</div>
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(you can bring the omikuji/fortune strips home as a souvenir)</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_dfc6_4509_9a92_5695" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3KCtqHuPSCMPYVJgNJIeloxlL5eZ5NQuk06YSZ-0D8WsInSDjqlJwMV2LCU" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
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Also spotted is a calligraphy of Reiwa, Japan's new era name.</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_4f8e_7334_8941_6603" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2MJA4Wtye_ntk5RGyUP-nugMeaMqKmXvcSLFqK37ElLM_kM1LsKTrn40Tas" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
From researching aka Google lol, Reiwa is handwritten as the one above. If printed, it's 令和.</div>
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Spotted this random corner too, I think it's cute heh~</div>
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Ahhhh, the bath house from Spirited Away~~~</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_6d00_c741_5dae_a510" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iarreLxqKS975JcTMqNicDvg64RR8CiQUirnSfmimmFQkKii8NAhShqVyc0" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_bf57_3bf4_31fe_9240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/io_-6f0NkxpOVG0j4LljZacSS_k6yaFpQkinyTBShY05dFBpOYJURkmmZiE" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_3f10_6696_ae05_b559" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/R36xC8rhiIedYA3RGptshJphq2U2keKaKGHH_S_mHzY6eTor3i0uo0XtLiQ" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_1afd_d048_e282_da11" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0K2GiAGU74QepdrInqdmS9qId_gJ1AoiyZPaiP7i_Sam2V47qFBEOdpPSLw" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Look at these delicate deets~</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_e1f4_deb2_5dc3_93dd" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/q6bmRR_Qpfh0ssUP0fcH94QvPVIvdC6q84y-BkoCDeZLxEB090wKxXTR31c" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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The end~</div>
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It was a small exhibition for the price but hey, it's not every day that they hold one so yeah, that's enough. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;">Right after this room is the exhibit shop where you can buy goods and whatnot related to Studio Ghibli.</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_9e84_2cf9_b885_9448" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5ktvl4YUjo-fSfKG6XLWTEWPsBf-hjEN0WqW_v3NO67iebb-18sRObLDbvQ" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_6637_ab3b_777d_4a7f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8X4jPhjLxzY0kOp8EqG3_J_sUUOyGC3ObzxayRXKEh_5IzNbPAxjOGSGLhU" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_f2fa_f9bc_a091_52a3" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gx_dj2IQ168IqGUBzpYkoyZDCC9xfTcBPJB2Fmxphy43JCeQer5JXDxKxxg" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_c279_6514_d24f_9a1b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/k2bvJoX1XLQCTlYWBYhQ3sIBkn3ZX0PBvGAPjs9u7LCYMyv-furoQ3uh3Ps" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_539_a40a_4374_6b57" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CWH2LzvID1kXP053QmB0RD_AiNB35ABNnsgcayeuqyX3eyBJa9booj8xrm4" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also, don't forget to take a photo with our giant furry friend outside the exhibition hall!</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_3e2d_edbd_3ed2_5596" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SanVuhnQX5b4RPg2kwQ4d4Ll4G3nEC_oR8sgBhHXvXVSZL-L8E1KlY_JdXg" title="" tooltip="" width="426" /><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">And if you still have spare time, go around the nearby (really just right next to this furry friend) Kanda Myojin Shrine. It's so beautiful at night!</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_845b_dd22_90ba_76b4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eJ2rTTOJ4yjWxLEBM2JIifNYEpHY7vKEtxrwRK6sCIuvSkoyp00jQd6ozQ0" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_476e_bda6_c992_9daf" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Xbp67pf3DxCFPFqpGCnwIb6sAhGYvrfOa_yPBnCayvsd_7gcjz5qpdbfr9E" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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So yup, that's one short but sweet Studio Ghibli day. I hope there will be more to come, and if there is one again, for sure, you'll find me there~ ♡</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span lang="en" style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exhibition Details:</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli Exhibition </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;">Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center “EDOCCO” at Kanda Myojin Shrine Hall (</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;">神田明神 文化交流館「EDOCCO」内 神田明神ホール)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="en" style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda 2-16-2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(東京都千代田区外神田2-16-2)</span></div>
</span><span lang="en" style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="en" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Dates: April 20th to - May 12th,</i></span><span lang="en" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i> 10:00AM- 6:00PM</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fee: ¥1,300</span></i></div>
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xx,</div>
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Alyssa</div>
Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-64348584646080289452019-04-18T20:41:00.001+09:002019-04-23T17:47:24.553+09:00 一期一会<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If there's one thing I can describe cherry blossoms with, that's gonna be:</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">一期一会 </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">one time, one meeting</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I mean, cherry blossoms are so short-lived, probably a week or two, but people still look forward to it every year. Well maybe, that's probably partly why. It's limited edition, if you miss it, you'll have to wait another year.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Not wanting to miss it and also probably my last cherry blossom hurrah this spring</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">, the beau and I went to a new park in my list last weekend. I don't often go to Kita-ku but went out of my way there to visit Asukayama Park, a few minutes walk from JR Oji Station. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Why that park, you'd ask. For one, it's not that big like Showa Kinen Park (aka my favorite park in Japan) but it's not too small that I can still roam around and stay for a few hours. Second, the park houses museums, three museums, if I'm not mistaken. Third, it is famous for cherry blossoms. Lastly, the big playground (my mental age is showing hahahaha)!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">So yeah, look on~</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_8120_dc18_2499_c80" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/d74cY8TDIvUfnjcp-knIXr4W915Unth_lC7pQ_eaEKV66RJqwRm98fBbVQc" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>Girls girls girls</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_b5f0_3993_32fb_6e2a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rAT-bp9NY4uOlgukePjyKLMcx-TfTrQ_v7DSY0x30MZmBanIofNJQeNPK80" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_cdfa_7c09_cca8_b770" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QfbH9UWQrjdhZVicNbh9auF8Arn-8JkKQHin_TBxEyfg1xnEnjZY1A5kEPc" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>On the way to Asukayama Park</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_b1fe_6bd9_bcb0_5da1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XhhyIczoL_1P-mHQ-4flOyhRQDXy5x32_FWMEpi3ua0AsmoOyYdJs_UcFC4" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>One can enter the park in three ways: one using the stairs, one going up the slope along the road, and through this cable car elevator. We chose the first.</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_8be8_66ec_b241_d860" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/etoSv7F30TTmbBjLJ7YjcE7jy6i3Ew33KNRBf2x-GXdss3G1zWNUta5gyp0" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_1f3_dca_1136_7f15" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/P03MDWPB8-d0bB-M_JhPcETOZJjqhjXD63b6faeqlhd7rzrmKEulFlMmEHw" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>Cherry blossoms~</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_5781_2ad9_aa29_3a31" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fvVScPoLJ7Y7qjQJcN94Dg9Vr7Hlf5ddxGDcMxXJ5kTvZSKWcNj7SaHjGvY" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>We were lucky we were able to witness a traditional Japanese dance practice for a matsuri/festival, I believe~</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="400" id="id_8808_cf74_15af_ab76" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qCMzjQ0pgx_n1i7UOcncE-fy29mYV4Cwc99SHh7D9_iGKOfh2QXnuk8oVYg" title="" tooltip="" width="266" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i>Lovely, lovely sight~ </i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i>The beau and I watched them for a pretty while.</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><img alt="" height="400" id="id_812_6734_a2fb_7a7f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5cVqzi_P26CDL43kERO36Xaz-9K8IZ7Yah6VnZPUz_ZSXEBq2iI59235ESU" title="" tooltip="" width="266" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" id="id_d809_14d3_dad8_fb2e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RQCFMWIpI22OsmG2fkjVXOXkkFpbiDVuQlWCNHa9Ue18fspWHnPMd2z-RCg" title="" tooltip="" width="266" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" id="id_c965_c3c7_a72d_c70a" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QkhQ9YPXA1LiDHLDc7NmwS-t5J6DU_f1mQIzwF6hwwN-YsoZoSZFkiRUCW8" title="" tooltip="" width="320" /><br />
<i>Ichiyo x kanzan maybe</i><br />
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_3c51_7ad1_1800_8a33" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6LtH_IsLWS4DBofALzhasjRGSvHV8GlN7LVzoND3AyrOg2EC4fP93EJ7dzM" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>My favorite: yaezakura (this is the kanzan variety, if I'm not mistaken heh~)</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_40de_a4ee_29a4_3a73" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/j_e4u5nQb_Uz-jgEOb-dnnURREBqcv61ZQQV8siH-hSrc_cCUGaA1_1SXio" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>Child: What is this human doing?</i></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_76cc_fe0f_f6e6_7a98" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2ZXHPBBF-YtHspIuLS5fHz-r4rSz8i3KfcQ5TAJ6I56TjItElCL698ELVGY" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<i>At some point I wanted to try this giant sand castle slide out but I was too shy to mix in with the kids haha! Next time, maybe!</i></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_b0d0_7ed_32a7_4f9" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qqeS1Qd8Y3kJuHRA49vDQLcUVK0axKr0psBKsoPDozilhHw0OWRAihCv2Dw" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
There were lots of animal chairs like this squirrel! There were two trains as well but at this point I was too full of train thingies already so I didn't take any photos lol!<br />
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_4e1f_411c_ac2c_3cb" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/e5gUb9Gn_GmHl6X2n2LuZbrEJ2hIBym-DscZPaDilaSYOV5DJDRB4luSAXs" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>Another yaezakura</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="400" id="id_7dff_af37_c5c7_c589" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Af2FDjmB5xvtcr_-ZCTS706C3ZL99wDRneKO4bVFj3srAKLsTRSvIZxF8lo" title="" tooltip="" width="300" /><br />
<i>lol </i><br />
<i>This is me during mid-week, tired af</i></div>
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<img alt="" height="266" id="id_9e00_1581_6ff3_4741" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KoN-XgoQY4k5RLjFn0BhCXxKjGbS_zFzN-56KKSmdDP70H8WY0XScyjaTKA" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />
<i>So dreamy~</i><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Ending this post with a compilation of clips I impulsively took that day at the park. May the cherry blossoms remind you to seize the day and grab every opportunity coming your way!</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="281" id="y_id_344e_651b_5b19_a9dd" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/atRLlKXY0B4" width="500"></iframe><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Asukayama Park (</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">飛鳥山公園)</span></i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>1-1-3 Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Oji Station South Exit, 1min on foot</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Free entrance</i></span></div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-82085775579060928472019-04-14T03:00:00.002+09:002019-04-14T15:06:51.474+09:00Beautiful Bicol: Calaguas Island x Balagbag Island<div style="text-align: center;">
As promised, here is the second part of my Beautiful Bicol blog series yayyyy!!!</div>
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On my previous post, I hinted that the next one will be all about sun, white sand, and blue waters. If you have guessed Calaguas Island, then a big thumbs up for ya!</div>
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Let's start this, shall we? ♡<br />
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Our group left Daet for Paracale around six in the morning. From the tour guide's place (Ellen's Calaguas Island Tour, details at the end of this post), we walked for a few minutes to the port where our boat was waiting. After about 2 hours traversing the deep, blue waters and encountering occasional waves, we finally made it to Calaguas! Hurrah!!!</div>
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<img alt="" height="427" id="id_cd43_b2c_e624_f10d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v5X7UhgG1GwII-nl0HytRNjwAiq_fUge8efnmkKSz0RIWbmGYCLJmzp63Gg" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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One of the kuya tour guides offered some hot coffee while they prepare for our lunch. The waiting was not in vain for we were presented with a very delicious seafood lunch cooked by another kuya tour guide, Kuya Bing! Ahhhhhh I felt like I was in seafood heaven!<br />
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<img alt="" height="426" id="id_8980_eb07_13cd_6034" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hDidSo4SP7VyP1clO5VhPjEy1NMigKpojP1SqsIt8SbmeYq001x5yUuN-9k" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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It was still scorching hot so the beau, another friend, and I decided to explore the island by foot instead of swimming. And this was what we witnessed... ahhhhhh! We even saw brittle startfishes, hermit crabs, broken corals (and okay barnacles, lots of them lol) near the shore!</div>
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Come afternoon, we soaked in the cool and clean waters of Calaguas while it was raining (yup of all days, it rained this day lol) and the rest was history~<br />
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We were then served with a sumptuous dinner! Ahhh I loved everything! We were even served with authentic Bicol dishes! We were so full so we decided to stick by the shore and stargaze for a bit before calling it a day. ☪︎</div>
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Fast forward to the next day, we woke up around six in the morning, had some coffee, then set off to trek up to "Small Baguio". It was an easy one cos we passed by cemented pavements going up the hill. The view was very beautiful! Of course, we took lots of photos!<br />
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For some reason, these dogs appeared out of nowhere and even escorted us on our way down~<br />
Thank you, bitchezzz (pun intended lol)<br />
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We went down after we've lusted over the view of Calaguas. A wonderful meal awaited us!</div>
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There were more foooodddd but I was too hungry to take pictures of everything lol</div>
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Our group packed up our things and waited for the boat to be ready. While doing so, some of us went for one last quick dip, including ya girl, of course~</div>
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<img alt="" height="478" id="id_ccc0_c163_5883_713e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FrxpC-8vlCLqfVXE76j52BTDHbfVrVVeGsiIjQInmn5uUWdAIzd1vKew7hM" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<i>I thought trekking will take a whole day so I just only brought one swimsuit so I just reused it on the second day lol</i></div>
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Included in our tour package was an island-hopping feat and some of us added the snorkeling option with which we paid 200php each for. We paused near Balagbag Island to look at the flora and fauna underwater- awesooooome!<br />
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I don't know how to swim "properly" so imagine my nervousness lol but they say you gotta jump when you gotta jump~ Glad I faced even a single of the gazillion fears I have this day!<br />
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<i>Thanks to the beau's dad for the snorkeling photos!</i><br />
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Then, we continued to Balagbag Island, got off for some quick trek and got amazed omggg! Super beautiful viewwww! They didn't call the place Batanes-like for nothing!<br />
<i>The photos from here onwards were taken by just my iPhone, since I didn't wanna risk my camera while on the boat so I had it tucked safely in my bag that was in turn, covered with plastic~</i></div>
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<i>Peace out Balagbag!</i></div>
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After breathing in the view, we availed of the fresh coconuts/buko for 20php each near the entrance of the island (oh, btw, they asked for a 50php/person island entrance fee). During this time, I learned that Balagbag Island is called such because it is a horizontal island among the numerous vertical ones around. Balagbag is the Bicolano term for horizontal.</div>
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We were supposed to go to another island but the waves were getting bigger so we just opted to head straight to Paracale Port and eventually go back to Daet. We had our late lunch of Bicolano dishes at Pratesi Cafe before going home and getting a home service massage! What a loooong day!</div>
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No food photos of what we ate at Pratesi Cafe cos we were all starving at 2PM!<br />
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This post is very text-and-photo-heavy, so thank you so much for reading until this point! Hope you liked it! Soooo, any guesses on part three of my Beautiful Bicol series? Hmmm! Watch out for it, yeah? *wink*</div>
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Ellen's Calaguas Tour </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ellentotanes/?epa=SEARCH_BOX">https://www.facebook.com/ellentotanes/</a></div>
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Pratesi Cafe</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pratesi-cafe-139165519592408/">https://www.facebook.com/Pratesi-cafe-139165519592408/</a></div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-84277954629621547042019-04-07T14:32:00.001+09:002019-04-14T01:21:34.769+09:00Beautiful Bicol: Bagasbas Beach x Around Daet<div style="text-align: center;">
Finally set foot in the beautiful Bicol region! *confetti* The beau hails from Daet, Camarines Norte so it's just fitting that the first stop of this whole trip is his hometown~</div>
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From Manila, we rode a night bus to Daet via Superlines (Php 720/person), traveled for eight hours, and arrived a little after four o'clock in the morning. We went straight to the beau's family house, which by the way, is up for rent on Airbnb. Here is the <a href="https://abnb.me/nUIdIJewGV" id="id_caf6_f467_43bd_76fe" target="_blank">link</a>.</div>
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<i>This reminds me of the trees with crystals at the Venetian Glass Museum in Hakone</i>~</div>
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Beautiful and well-maintained... plus beautiful souls for hosts! What more can you ask for?</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After unpacking and some siesta, we visited the beau's family's old prawn hatchery in Mercedes and ate fresh coconuts (buko)! Yummmm!</span></div>
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<i>This is the only decent photo I have because I looove buko so much that I downed mine in a snap! Also, it's so hard to get/eat one in Tokyo so I seized the given chance lol!</i></div>
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We then headed to Bagasbas Beach which is becoming more famous nowadays. Of course I didn't dare miss it!</div>
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<i>Look at that~</i></div>
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<i>Hello from the beau and I ✌︎✌︎</i></div>
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<i>Messy hair don't care heh~</i></div>
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What I did miss though, was getting some Earl's Burger! Next time, maybe~</div>
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We then headed home to rest and prep for the beau's birthday dinner. His godmother was kind enough to host it in her gorgeous house yay!</div>
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Food! Foooood! </div>
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So yeah, that was my first day in Bicol and I wouldn't want to have it any other way! Tune in for the next part of this Beautiful Bicol series... hint: sun, white sand, blue waters~ *wink*<br />
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-63907230228190732132019-03-21T01:26:00.001+09:002019-03-21T08:20:57.147+09:00Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
It's March and spring aka my second favorite season is coming (or is it already here? lol) yayyyy! And as expected, my feed was (and is still being) bombarded with cherry blossom forecast posts. Based on what I have seen so far, the cherry blossoms in Tokyo will start blooming today, earlier than usual, which means I'm gonna miss it cos I'm flying out of Japan a few hours from now for spring break ohhhh nooooooo!</div>
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Of course ya girl won't give up that easily! I'm not gonna miss this fleeting sakura season without putting up a good fight! I knew before that there are lots of sakura varieties and each has its own bloom period. The somei yoshino type would bloom before the fluffy yaezakura type (my favorite) and so on. Given that, I tapped my bestie Google and gladly, I was answered- MATSUDA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL A.K.A. KAWAZU SAKURA HEAVEN!</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;">So off I went to a place I have never been before and after two hours worth of train and bus rides... I finally got my kawazu sakura dose! Glad that these early-blooming cherry blossoms exist omg! Yassssss!</span></div>
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Kawazusakura (カワズ桜) is one of the earliest cherry blossom varieties to bloom. These pink beauties can be seen as early as late January until the first few days of March. I went to this place last March 9th and these were what I have had witnessed~ </div>
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There's a mini train that children (and children at heart lol) can ride. I'm not sure if there's a fee as I didn't try but you can easily spot the entrance to this "attraction".</div>
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<i>ハロー ❀</i></div>
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<i>ハロー、ラブ! ♡</i><br />
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We had to hike up a bit to see the view I <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">wanted to take a photo of: Mt. Fuji with lots of kawazusakura beneath it but it was very cloudy when we went so yeah, I couldn't. </span></div>
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But look at this view? Ain't it breathtaking? Ahhhhh this was more than enough for me~</div>
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This was another favorite view: pink kawazusakura x yellow rape blossoms </div>
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Another favorite view weeeeew~</div>
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Sorry for flooding ya all with my face, I can't help but take lots of pictures with these pink beauties omggg heaven~</div>
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Also, I loved that this place wasn't that crowded! Usually, sakura places are flocked with lotsa tourists but not this one... not yet lol!</div>
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It started drizzling so we hurriedly headed down and ate sakuramochi soft cream instead! It had bits of sakura mochi ahhhhhh oishiiiiii~</div>
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The long travel time and the impromptu hike were worth it! If you have time to spare during the first two weeks of March, I suggest you go! Here are the details for when you plan to go next kawazusakura season~</div>
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Matsudayama Herb Garden</div>
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2951, Matsudasoryo, Matsuda-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa <a dir="ltr" href="tel:258-0003" id="id_d1e3_cd4d_3974_aa2f" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">258-0003</a></div>
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Access: Matsuda Station/Shin-Matsuda Station, 10-min shuttle bus from Matsuda Station bus stop to Nishihira Park (¥150/adult, one way)</div>
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xx,</div>
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Alyssa</div>
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❀❀❀</div>
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<b><i>All photos are mine. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Please don't use them without permission</i></b>.</div>
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For more cherry blossom photos and stories, as well as those of Tokyo and around Japan, please follow my Instagram accounts:</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.instagram.com/alyssashimode" id="id_2242_efc0_5ed5_ea24" target="_blank">@alyssashimode</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.instagram.com/nipponstreets" id="id_591b_df1a_adee_f" target="_blank">@nipponstreets</a></div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-48296752073547055862019-03-06T18:26:00.001+09:002019-03-11T22:16:02.149+09:00Life, Lately: Oh February, You're So Fine<div style="text-align: center;">And just like that, February ended. I can't fathom how fast this year has been going for me. How did those 28 days go unnoticed? I guess I was the only one who didn't really pay attention... my camera roll says otherwise. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Continuing January's theme of *lay-lowing on life*, here were the things that made it hard for me to stick to that theme lol</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>⎡Valentine's Day⎦</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">An excuse to have dinner at La Boheme Qualita in Shibuya a.k.a. our go-to date place. I've lost track of the celebrations Kenji and I shared in this place (or rather in this restaurant chain, they have other branches where we have gone to before) but ya get that idea that it's "that" place for us heh~ Since we both grew up in the Philippines, we still have not accustomed ourselves to how the Japanese celebrate this day when girls give chocolates and whatnot to the boys. Kenji and I sorta exchanged gifts but we stood away from chocolates (I'm not really fond of them lol)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_808e_ee7f_1cc7_8a86" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sPtVNUxl8Dk/XIZZQ59Z5-I/AAAAAAAAK4c/1SQdE-U6SzU0qQR1lWteOeC6-o_K9m5RACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_dbb3_5bf_a3d4_1d46" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWELdzRydlI/XIZZRUnpSHI/AAAAAAAAK4g/HXvJhrOfLRYt7HSg89n0iAxfro2cSb4XgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>⎡K-pop Dance Classes at Otoya⎦</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you know me from college, you'd know I love k-dramaaaa! And later on, learned to love k-pop as well. I started listening to that genre back when people still cringe at it, now I don't care anymore if they still cringe- to each his own ha~ But yeah, now I'm into it more than ever, to the point of wanting to dance to the songs lol. I started random dance lessons summer last year and it was something I'm glad I started doing because the stretchings are great. Stretchings before the dance lesson proper are the only stretchings I do (I'm lazy af) haha. The catchy songs and cute steps are just bonuses! This month I got to go to three dance lessons! Still not good at it but I sure had fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_d110_5083_dec4_9e0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k6faQEL2Ehg/XIZZRzV9pnI/AAAAAAAAK4k/FOjJRRymGkwt8Sikb-2dv4UtbuctTtRPgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>⎡Onsen and Chill⎦</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Went to an onsen somewhere near Shimmura-Sakaue Station and stayed the whole day dipping in the numerous baths, eating, being massaged by uhm massage chairs haha, and sleeping. Such a chill way to spend time and heal!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ce83_afb5_147a_8066" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OIBwj7t_3ds/XIZZSWfOu-I/AAAAAAAAK4o/g6EbUyL-D0kEd-HwPsIcnzenOmi1C990QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>⎡Setagaya Ume Matsuri/ Setagaya Plum Festival⎦ <i>Hanegi Park, Setagaya</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I took a day off for the sake of using my paid leaves cos I haven't used one throughout the year. With that said, I tapped my childhood friend for some catching-up under the pretty plum trees. Glad we were blessed with a very fine day; Totoro even joined us~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_56ea_8654_6791_b01c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F_i4V2W3nA8/XIZZS4HIaWI/AAAAAAAAK4s/AYup1A4YZko7hk4JeS7isNa_CsnEkCRRgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_77bb_e8a9_2321_785d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X2Y8UAWXlyE/XIZZTaZ7BsI/AAAAAAAAK4w/5OxnR1IMcUkh7jMOIUVa5emoHFwII6gqQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_90ad_eb91_2ba5_774b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZZKN_krk9k0/XIZZUOX34DI/AAAAAAAAK40/mGfe-_yMlsgQKlF5EgZG8AKllsULH-B-gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">So yeah, that was February for me (okay, those above plus work)! Can't wait for the second half of March! Why? You'll see in the next <i>Life, Lately</i> update! See ya! ♡</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alyssa</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;">Follow me on Instagram for more Japan travel and life photos and stories: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="www.instagram.com/alyssashimode" id="id_b327_5f1d_2636_5ed6"><a href="www.instagram.com/alyssashimode" id="id_b327_5f1d_2636_5ed6">@alyssashimode</a></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div>Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-78763263958427839112019-02-09T23:39:00.000+09:002019-02-18T02:21:58.775+09:00Icicles of Misotsuchi (Misotsuchi no Tsurara)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've always wanted to go to Chichibu, Saitama because of two reasons: first, I want to hike up Mt. Chichibu and second, I want to see the Shibazakuras in spring. But then, I came across with an article about <b>Misotsuchi no Tsurara</b>, also located in Chichibu, which "sparked joy" lol at my #KonMari reference~ And so around this time two years ago, I went... with the beau of course! *hurrah*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Edit: I've had this in my drafts for what seems like forever... but thanks to it, I won't struggle remembering the details~</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, let's start, shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Set the alarm a little early on a Saturday morning to catch the trains to <i>Mitsumineguchi Station</i>, the nearest one to Misotsuchi no Tsurara. Yes, trains. We needed to do three train line transfers from what I remember, so just a tip, know your train route beforehand. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As if a few train line transfers were not enough... there's more haha! From Mitsumineguchi Station, we rode the bus to reach Misotsuchi no Tsurara. Buses to our destination come infrequently. We arrived at Mistumineguchi Station at around 11 o'clock in the morning and had to wait for the 12:40PM bus bound for Mitsumine Shrine and get off at <i>Misoba stop</i>, which should take us 30 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unfortunately, my beau and I weren't able to get off at the said stop cos we were waiting to get off at a rather non-existent stop: Sanjuba stop. Before this trip, we've researched for tips re: Misotsuchi no Tsurara and according to a few blog posts, Sanjuba is the nearest stop. Little did we know that there's no Sanjuba stop, only Misoba stop. Probably a Kanji mix-up... so yeah. Remember, it's Misoba stop lol!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of the mishap of not being able to get off at the right bus stop, we were able to reach the last of all the stops the bus we're on had: Mitsumineguchi Shrine ー a shrine on top of Mt. Mitsumineguchi, which was about 30 minutes away from our intended destination. That looooong~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Imagine how pissed off I was, not to mention how hungry I was cos we didn't get to eat lunch (Mitsumineguchi Station has one or two restaurants around but unfortunately those were closed when we got there). So we decided to eat lunch in one of the restaurants near the shrine's entrance and take a few photos around as we wait for the next bus bound back to Mitsumineguchi Station, with Misoba being one of the stops before reaching it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And yeah, after less than an hour, we finally made it to Misotsuchi no Tsurara! It is located in the confines of Wood Roof Camp, so when you get off at Misoba stop, you need to follow the road to Wood Roof Camp. There are arrows on the road leading you to the place, so don't worry. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ahhhhhhhhhh finally what I went here for~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we got tired of taking pictures plus our fingers and toes were already numb from the cold (despite the two coats I have on), we walked up to the entrance where a cafe sits. They offer coffee, cakes, and other light treats on sticks (which I don't have any idea of). Ordered coffee and cheesecake. Normal taste, nothing special, only that the cups and saucers had Peter Rabbit characters on it. I'll admit that made me smile- Peter Rabbit was one of my childhood besties sooo~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At exactly 5PM, Misotsuchi no Tsurara lighted up in different colours! Yup, we stayed for the illuminations even though the last bus leaves the place at around 5PM and we don't know how to go back to Mitsumineguchi Station except for a taxi company's number saved on my phone. Nevertheless, we still were amazed by the light show! It was great! It would have been greater if some music accompanied it~</span></div>
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<i>(watch in HD *wink*)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After our eyes finished feasting over the greatness that is Misotsuchi no Tsurara, we decided to head home but to our dismay, the taxi company that we called said no taxi driver could pick us up cos there's a traffic jam in the area. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were thinking of staying the night there and so we started to look for some airbnbs or ryokans in the area but to another dismay, we found none. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were on the verge of playing dead hahahahaha but the beau thought of asking the guards near the cafe if they know other ways of going back to Mitsumineguchi Station and yessssss they did! They said if we run, yes ruuuuun asap, we might be able to catch the last bus at Misoba stop (which should have been gone at 5PM) cos it was caught in the said traffic jam, too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so we ran like we were running for our lives in high hopes that we'll make it. It was the scariest run of mine so far cos it's dark with only the headlights of the cars on our sides and those coming towards us guiding us, plus there is a lack of walking space- I was literally rubbing elbows with the cars on the road! Geez! Good thing we got to Misoba stop with our body parts still intact and zero wounds haha! And after a few minutes, the miracle of miracles came! The bussss!!!!! *hurrah* The end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What an adventure! Or a misadventure at that! Nevertheless, I'm glad I went to see Misotsuchi no Tsurara even once in this lifetime~ You should go and see it, too! Just make sure you don't make the same mistakes as us -- maybe bring a car and remember, it's Misoba stop. *wink*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><i>Details</i></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Misotsuchi no Tsurara</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">4066 Otaki, Chichibu, Saitama-ken 369-1901</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Hours: From 9AM onwards, Light-up at 5PM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Nearest Station: Mitsumineguchi Station, ride the bus bound to Mitsumine Shrine, and get off at Misoba Stop</span></div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan35.9916885 139.085441835.580525 138.43999530000002 36.402852 139.7308883tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-9987289509438697742019-02-01T19:41:00.001+09:002019-03-06T22:53:20.612+09:00Life, Lately: Hello and Bye, January!👋🏻<div style="text-align: center;">
Ahhhh one month down 2019! How are you? I still can't decide whether January went fast or slow lolー that's how lost I was and still am. Surprisingly, I was not that bothered (okay a little bit) that I'm lost. The past years I was lost too but at least then, I had things in mind I wanted to pursue and reach. I looked straight and just went on until I get them. But now it seems like I'm lay-lowing on life. I'm not my usual go-getter self. I feel like this year's theme would be living one day at a time... way different from the previous years. It's refreshing, though. I just don't know where this will take me. Who knows?</div>
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Anyway, before I bore you with my 27-year-old-lost-girl thoughts, let me share with you the highs of my January! At least the pictures are more entertaining than me just babbling nonsense, right? LOL</div>
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<b><u>Hatsumode/ first Shinto shrine visit of the year</u></b></div>
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(Okunitama Jinja, Fuchu)</div>
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Went around five in the morning to pray and wish, as well as buy omamori/ lucky amulets~</div>
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<b><u>Omiya Railway Museum</u></b></div>
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Been meaning to go here for a looong time and we finally did after years of trying haha! Kenji and I enjoyed the museum like kids lol! I love everything! We bought tickets at Lawson (Loppi Machine) instead of on the day at the museum for it was a little cheaper that way~</div>
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<b><u>Yamanashi Weekend</u></b></div>
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(Gasthof Lumiere, Arakurayama Sengen Park/ Chureito Pagoda)</div>
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Staycation with Kenji for our monthsary aka an excuse to leave Tokyo and breathe in fresh air~ I was searching for real fireplaces x private baths and it led me to Gasthof Lumiere! The Chureito Pagoda visit was a last-minute decision and we had to hike for the great view but it was totally worth it!</div>
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<b><u>Tokyo Metro: The Underground Mysteries</u></b></div>
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This was actually our second time to try this Tokyo-wide-puzzle-solving challenge and as always, it was amazing! Got to roam around parts of Tokyo I know exist but never really bothered to go to lol~ It was funnnnnn! Try it when you have the time! The 2018 version ended this 31st of January so you might have to wait for the 2019 version! Kits are available in Japanese and in English, doncha worry! *wink*</div>
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<b><u>Art Bar Tokyo Painting Night</u></b></div>
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(The Hive, Jinnan)</div>
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Finally got the guts to join a painting class~ I knew this for a while now but I was always hesitant to go because I don't really paint and the classes are usually conducted in Japanese (which you and I know I'm bad at lol). But then, the stars must be on my side for they offered a lesson in English and the subjects were close to my heart: Tokyo and Van Gogh! Hell yeah, I went! Dragged Kenji, too! Ha!</div>
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<b><u>Karuizawa Snowboarding/Skating Trip with Friends</u></b></div>
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(Prince Snow Resort, Harunire Terrace, Kera Ike Skating Rink)</div>
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Second time in Karuizawa, Nagano and it was indeed lovelier~ I blogged about this already and you can read it here: <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-winter-weekend-in-karuizawa.html">https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-winter-weekend-in-karuizawa.html</a>.</span></div>
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<b><u>Fuji Youchien Campus Tour</u></b></div>
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Sooo Fuji Youchien is a famous kindergarten in Tokyo, famous that I knew it from a Red Duck video that circulated on Facebook~ I was surprised that it's in my city! A friend went earlier and tipped us about the four times a year campus tour it hosts so off Kenji and I went~ I loved the rooftop playground!</div>
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Believe it or not, these things were *not that planned* the Alyssa way a.k.a. planned months before with an itinerary (except for the campus tour cos I had to fight for my slot so I had to book it early). But you know what? I'm finally learning to be more okay with unplanned things, to just live and savor each day when it comes, to just rest. I must have been restless all these years (because I felt the need to). I'm slowing down but my heart is calm. And that's a good thing, right?</div>
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How was your January? Any goals / realizations / discoveries?</div>
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xx,</div>
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Alyssa</div>
Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3398962297796449339.post-33972173793511097952019-01-27T17:19:00.002+09:002019-01-27T17:19:27.620+09:00A Winter Weekend in Karuizawa<div style="text-align: center;">
Almost a year ago, I first found my way to this little but pretty town in Nagano, Karuizawa, due to my persistent search for cabins with private baths. I was obsessed with cabins and camping that time. Off the beau and I went and stayed at one and that's the only major thing we did. Read it <a href="https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2018/03/karuizawa-days.html">here</a>. We missed exploring Karuizawa, though. I was fine with it because we went there for a staycation in the first place.</div>
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Fast forward early this January, my friends and I were planning for a ski/snowboard trip. After loooong discussions and considerations, we decided to go to Karuizawa. And yup, that's where we went last weekend~</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>DAY ONE</b></i></span></div>
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We rode the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Karuizawa Station. Costed us a fortune but yeah, you can always ride a highway bus for a cheaper price but longer hours. We intended to do that but there were no bus seats available the time we tried booking. TIP: Foreign tourists and non-Japanese passport holders can opt to purchase the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, a 3-day discounted pass for unlimited rides (includes Shinkansen and limited express trains) to and from areas in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area.<br />
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After an hour, we finally arrived at Karuizawa Station. We ate lunch somewhere in the nearby Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and off we went to the ski resort ten minutes walk away.<br />
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This was where it got soooo expensive. We went to the ski resort operated by Prince Hotel and we had to rent snowboarding stuff and lift passes. A snowboard set (boots and board) will set you back ¥5000, snow wear set for another ¥5000, while additional helmets can be rented for ¥500 each. Luckily for me, I bought my own snowsuit way way back so I didn't have to rent one. The lift pass was overpriced in my opinion, ¥4500 for four hours or ¥5000 for a 1-day pass. (Niigata had a more reasonable price, ¥500 for a one-time lift or less than ¥5000 for a 1-day pass).<br />
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Anyway, we had heaps of fun playing, rolling (lol) with snow so everything was fine.<br />
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After getting our snowboarding fix, we went back to the shopping plaza to fill our hungry tummies some dinner, bought drinks, and then rode a taxi to our hotel, Hotel Karuizawa Elegance, which was old (no elevators) but pretty, with really accommodating and kind staff~<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">+ DAY TWO +</span></i></b></div>
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Woke up early for the breakfast buffet and I was very delighted~ I love breakfast food! Moreover, I love yummy breakfast food in a pretty cafe all for ¥1500 ahhhh what a steal!<br />
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Around 10AM, we checked out and rode another taxi for some quick sightseeing. First stop was the Stone Church. It's a pretty little chapel made of stones set up in an unusual way. It was small but the details inside were amazing. Good for intimate weddings, I'd say. When we were there, we had to wait for a wedding to finish before we can get in the chapel. Taking pictures inside weren't allowed so lust over these outdoor photos ha~<br />
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We walked towards Harunire Terrace, another pretty place with cafes and restaurants, an onsen, and some shops. Good ambiance ahhhh! We saw an ad for the <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">KERA-IKE Ice Rink (it's a pond in the middle of the forest and freezes in winter, hence the name)</span> and of course, we went! The ¥1800/adult fee did not disappoint! I later learned from my friend that it was the same skating rink shown in the Netflix series Terrace House where Shion and Tsubasa went for a date!<br />
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Coffee break cos it was freaking cold~ Look at this kawaii latte art!♥<br />
@Picchio<br />
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We ate some late curry lunch at Sajilo Cafe before calling it a day and going back to Tokyo~<br />
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Ahhhhh, fun times! It's true what they say, it's lovelier the second time around, especially if you are with good company! See ya next time, Karuizawa!♥</div>
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Alyssa Shimodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04630153364839191848noreply@blogger.com0Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan36.3482902 138.5969549999999836.1436717 138.27423149999998 36.5529087 138.91967849999997