Fall Time in Nikko, Tochigi - Lake Chuzenji-Ko, 10/26/2014

Fall is definitely my favorite season in Japan!! The weather is nice, it's mostly sunny and enough warm to just wear sweaters outside.
Even more exciting is Japan's nature during Fall. It looks so magical. This is why we decided to go outside of Tokyo and visit Nikko.

Instead of going by train, my friend rented a car for a day which was less expensive, if you are going in a group of more than 3 people. I only paid 4000 Yen for transportation. By train it would be more expensive.

We didn't go exactly to Nikko city but to a mountain close to the city. On that mountain there were two different lakes. A small one and a bigger one. That place is also famous for the waterfalls around the lakes.

We went up the mountain by car and hiked around the lakes.

 

On the way to the second lake we walked by a waterfall, it's the Ryuzu-no-taki.

Unfortunately the weather started to change towards the late afternoon. It was still really beautiful.

After the second lake there was a much bigger waterfall. It's called Kegon-no-Taki.

Kawagoe Aki Matsuri / Fall Festival 10/19/2014

Kawagoe is a city in the north of Tokyo in Saitama. From Shinjuku it takes about 50 minutes by train (Saikyo-sen) to get there. They call this city little Kyoto because it is built in a traditional way.

I finally found the time to go visit it. As I arrived at the station, it was full with people. I thought it might be because it's the last station of the train and because it's Sunday.
For my surprise the day I went there they were having a fall festival. The festival was held during the entire weekend.

There was a parade with traditional music and the people were wearing traditional clothes.

They had lots of foodstands and souvenir stands spread all over the city.

Since there were soo many people I didn't get to take a lot of pictures from the buildings.
Eighter way it's true that there were many old buildings and what I personally liked was to take a look at the traditional shops. There were many tea shops and also traditional japanese clothing stores. I had a lot of fun just checking them out.

traditional japanese tea pots

Hostel in Hokkaido - Sapporo/Asahikawa

I finally get to go to Hokkaido for a bit more than a week. If you haven't seen my post yet click here.

During these 8 days I spent the nights in Sapporo and Asahikawa. In both cities I decided to stay in a Hostel. My friend suggested me to download this app called: Hostelworld. This app suggests you a bunch of hostels from the city your staying in and you can directly book everything through this app.


Hostel in Sapporo

For my stay in Sapporo I had several options. I booked my stay in the "International Hostel Khaosan Sapporo".

entrance to Khaosan

Location

The location of the hostel is right in the center of Sapporo in Susukino. It's 10 minutes away from the Metro Station and easily accessible.

Place description

The hostel is quite big. They offer a big kitchen and the living room is big too. For each floor there is a bathroom with 2 shower rooms. The bathrooms are mixed, girls and boys use it, even if you are in an only girl room.

room in Khaosan

Rooms

You have the choice between mixed room and only girls room. It's sometimes hard to get an only girls room if you ask for it last minute.
The first few days I had an only girl room and shared it with 2 other girls. I even went with one to Otaru. For the last few days I ended up in a mixed room. I felt kind of uneasy because there was a weird guy in my room. There is a curtain in front of your bed but it only covers up your face, so there is not much privacy.
The beds are in japanese style futons. For each bed there is a locker.

room in Khaosan

japanese style bed

Rate 3/5

All-in-one I thought it was ok. I didn't meet many people because most of them already knew each other and where just ignoring all the rest. I was not really a fan of the shared room and I also didn't like that the bathrooms were shared too. The location was really nice and everything was clean too.


Hostel in Asahikawa

Guesthouse

There is only one Hostel in Asahikawa and it's called "Guesthouse". Be aware that it might always be full, since many tourists pass by frequently. I got lucky and still found some space last minute.

entrance

Location

The access to the hostel is so easy. It's 10 minutes away from the station. All straight ahead.

Place description

Random decoration

If every hostel was like this one, I would travel around the world all my life. The decoration was awesome!! It's a small place, maybe around 20 beds. The bathrooms were separated, but there was only one shower that was shared. The kitchen was really small. The owner is from Okinawa and I got the feeling he decorated the place in Okinawa style, there is just someting soo cozy about that place. In that hostel I met many new friends and it was really easy to talk to others. Most of them were hikers and only stopping by for a night before climbing up a mountain.

Kitchen

"Hallway"

Rooms

Also in this hostel they offered mixed or only girls room. I ended up in the mixed room, but it was a whole new level compared to the hostel in Sapporo. My bed was completely covered up and no one could see inside my bed. The only disadvantage is that if somebody near my bed would turn on the lights it was quite disturbing. The beds where also in japanese style.

The only girls room

Mixed room

Rate 5/5

No joke, I wished I could go back there! That hostel was so much fun. The owners were all so friendly and helpful. It felt kind of like home. =)

Ps. Ask the owner about the secret base ;)

Penis Festival in Kawasaki 2014年４月６日

Once a year near Tokyo in a town called Kawasaki which is about 20 minutes from Shinagawa, takes a weird festival place.
It's the so called Kanamara Matsuri or also known as the penis festival.

The event takes place at Kawasaki-Daishin. Right near a station there is a small temple. Unmissable since so many people are going. Not only japanese but also many foreigners.

The festival starts around 11 o'clock, but the actual parade only starts at 12 o'clock.

Around this temple there are many stands with food and drinks offered. Most of the foods are in a penis form. Ex. ice cream, lollipops, sausiges, ...

They also offer amusement activities.
There was a group of japanese women dancing and some wooden penis riding.

This little cute monkey was an attraction too. Honestly this only broke my heart seeing him like this!! ='( I don't think he actually wanted to be there. He looked quite confused and probably felt uncoｍfortable around so many people!!

Honestly I don't really know what to think about this event... It was really crowded and we were barely able to see anything. Once you saw it there was nothing holding you there anymore.
We didn't stay long there. We went through the sweets section and saw the beginning of the parade. That was enough for us and we left.
I was quite surprised at how many people actually went there. I imagined that there wouldn't be that many people, but it was really crowded.

My flight with Qatar Airlines Zurich - Tokyo

Before booking the flight with Qatar airlines, I had my doubts about them.

On internet I read a few reviews on different websites. They all had different opinions about this airline.

I was skeptical because they were always one of the most inexpensive airlines and they always had many offers.

On one review I read that sometimes they offer more tickets than places are available.

Although all those information, I still booked my flight with Qatar airlines.

I was kind of nervous when the day for departure arrived.

The day of departure

I was almost late, when I arrived at the gate all the passengers were already on board. I was held off when I tried to change my money. In the end I didn't even had time for the duty-free section. Well I had a 6 hour stay in Doha. Enough time there. XD

Btw I only got this kind of connections because I had to postpone my flight. Originally I would only have a 1 1/2 hour stay in Doha.

My thoughts about the Airline

My thoughts about this airline are the opposite from negative!!

The personal is really friendly. Their appearence is really representable. It seems that they even change coats during the flight. I had the feeling that they were walking more often back and forward than in other airlines.

You also have a function on your display were you can text the stuff for some needs.

The food is good. You receive a menu and can choose between two different ones.

I had Spätzli with chicken

I flew economy and had my own screen. As for movies they offered all the actual theater movies. I watched Despicable me 2! Was really funny.

They have internet on board, pretty cool heee?!? ;) Although you have to pay for it.

The window are sun repelling or better you can darken them.

The overall appearence of the plane was really good. Everything was clean, the seats were kind of comfortable especially for the head. They had a head pillow at the back. Seems that in the older planes they still don't have them yet.

I actually flew on 2 different planes. QR 806 and QR 94. I'm pretty sure my first flight was with a newer plane. Because from Doha I had a plane that wasn't as modern as the first one.

in the first plane QR806

Airport in Doha

It must be a huge airport. We had to take the bus from the landing line. It took us about 10 minutes to reach the buildings.

There are different stations and you know by the color of your ticket where you have to leave the bus. They also call it out loud. Unmissable!! =)

I had to leave at the Transfer&departure station. Right after security check you find all the duty-free sections.
A huuuuge section!! They have a really cool souvenir section.

Duty-Free Section

This airport also offers you free wifi!!
It's a fight to find any good dock station. They do have a location with dock station but they don't work. I had to sit in a small corner somewhere in the airport. This was kind of disappointing.

 

All in one I really enjoyed flying with Qatar. I would book a flight with them again. For some reason both of my planes were not full at all. I'm not sure if it's because it's not really a holiday season or if this airline is still not that trusted. Anyways from Doha I had the whole section for myself, no one sitting next to me, that was really nice!!

Watch my youtube-video =)

My 2014 adventure in Tokyo starts!!

In a few days I'll be leaving for Japan again!! I actually should have been there already, but something went wrong with the visa application.

This time I'll be there with a student visa that expires in 1 year.

Extending Tourist Visa for 3 months

The first time I went with a tourist-visa that originally expired in 3 months, but as a swiss passport owner, I could extend the visa for other 3 months. I could do this while I was already in Japan at the immigration office. It's actually really simple and it doesn't take long. You only have to fill in a paper on where you are explaining why you want to stay longer.
It might be that not all nationalities can extend the tourist visa. So inform yourself before going to Japan.

Certificate of Eligibility

Through my school in Tokyo I requested a student visa called "CoE".

It requires 3 months to get that visa and you have to fill in quite some papers. Because my tourist visa was almost expired at that time, I had to leave Japan and go back to my country to wait for the results.
This visa permits me to work and study in Japan. The Work-and Holiday Visa doesn't exist for my country, so I had no choice than requesting this type of visa. The difference between these two visas is that with the CoE I have limited working hours, while with the work- and holiday visa you don't have a limit on working hours.

Attention!!

I had a few Swiss friends with the same visa and they both requested the visa while they where already in Japan, they didn't had to do anything in Switzerland.
When I received the accepted visa documents from my school per mail, I thought that I had to go to the immigration office in Japan.
Only 1 day before my departure I realised that I had to go to the japanese embassy here in my country to get the permission for my visa. This requires 1 week until it's done!!!
It never accured to me that I had to go there!!! It was kind of written in the papers that I got from my school, but I misunderstood it totally! That was quite a shock actually but in the end everything went well.
Actually I had to fill in some other documents at the japanese embassy. Kind of the same again as I had to fill in in Japan.


Working with the CoE

With the student visa I'll be able to work for 28 hr per week, which is quite a lot since I'm also going to school.
It's not necessary to work. If you don't need it you can also only go to school.

I received from my school a document that I have to submit at the airport. There I get the permission to work in Japan.
Actually you can also do it a the immigration office when you have already left the airport, but I guess it's easier to do it right from the beginning.


Kai Japanese School

A few friends asked me, if I was planning to change the school. I never thought about it and I don't see a reason why I should change school. I really like the school and their concept. All my friends are there and this is why I don't see a reason to change my school.
If you are interested in the school, here is the link to their website: Kai School

Guesthouse Hippo House Kita-Toda

I actually didn't want to go back to the same place where I was before. I still decided to go there again, because I know the people that are living there and it's not a start-over again.

I wrote a separate post about the guesthouse. Click here to know more about it.

Website: Hippo House Saitama

If there is a possibility to change and find a new place that is closer to my school and cheaper, I will take the opportunity.
I'm actually thinking of gathering some friends and rent an appartment. But well I still haven't figured it out.
I will let you know if something has changed.


Let's start with this adventure!! =)

I'm a horrible blogger..Ageha, Disney, Madame Tissauds... New Haircut!!

I feel sooo horrible!!! I specially made this blog for my travel adventures, but I'm not blogging as much as I thought I would. Just soo much is going on!!!

In these past few weeks I met so many new people, I changed my school course, visited Disneyland, went on the biggest ferris wheel in the world, went to Madame Tissauds, went partying in Ageha and other cool stuff.

School life

Until last month I was going in a conversation class for 3 month. Since I decided to stay 3 more months in Japan, I changed to the general courses. So you may ask yourself what is the difference between those two courses so I like to explain it to you: 

Conversation class:

- everyday new grammar 

- few exercises

- talking while using the new grammar

- every month a new course starts

- 5 different levels

- small classes

- no kanji exercises

- no tests
- 4 h a day
- no writing exercises

General course: 

- everyday new grammar 

- everyday kanji exercises

- listening and writing exercises

- 1 semester goes 3 months

- speaking exercises with cd

- tests

- final exam

BTW I think I never told you in what school I'm going. It's the Kai Japanese Language School in Shin-Okubo. It's 1 station away from Shinjuku with the Yamanote Line. It's situated in the korean Town.
Here is the link to the schools website: http://en.kaij.jp/

Summertime is getting crazy hot in here!!!!

Damn!!! I heard that it would be hot here in Tokyo, but feeling the real thing is crazy!!! I really am thankful for that person that invented air conditioner!! Sometimes when leaving the train it feels like entering an oven!! Be sure to carry around tissues! They will save you.

It wouldn't be that bad if it's only hot, but there are some days when it gets really humid and the clothes are sticking on your skin.

Odaiba

After 3 months I finally went to Odaiba. It's an Island in the south of Tokyo.
It's really pretty there. It is definitely the perfect place for a date!!

I went on the highest Ferris Wheel in the world. It was pretty cool. The view was amazing. Actually I want to go again when it's nighttime. =)

In Odaiba I also found the statue of Liberty!! Lol why going to New York if you can find it in Tokyo as well ;)

Disneyland

This was my first time ever in Disneyland. Just being there feels so magical!! There were a lot of shows. Most of the food had some Mickey shape.

Be prepared for long waiting times at the roller caster and no seats in the restaurants.

Madame Tissouds

It's different from the one in London. Here in Tokyo it's placed in Odaiba. Basically you could took pictures with almost every single one, because it wasn't crowded at all. I was really surprised about it. There are less wax statues than in London, but it's really cool.

AGEHA Partytiiiime!!!

Damn!! This club is sooooo cool!! They have an outside "floor" with a pool. Well you actually can't enter the pool, but still an outside floor!! How cool is that?!?

That club is huge. There are a lot of partypeople and they sometimes have some theme going on really cool. I actually went to some cosplay event. They were all dressed up. It was amazing.

Ageha is the biggest club in Tokyo and it's situated in Shin-Kiba. Quite far away from the center. Apparently they have some buses running from Shibuya that goes directly to Ageha. There is also a train station near the Club. So it's quite easy to reach it.

New Haircut

I cut my hair!! Like a lot!! I used to always have long hair, never wanted to cut them. I felt like they would be my symbol. I was so proud of them.

Recently it was getting so hot and I was always putting my hair in a bun. I got annoyed by it.

As the new song from Miley Cyrus was released, i was thinking at how much she changed optically after cutting her hair and I started to wonder how I would look with short hairs. 

Somehow while I was thinking about it I started to have that wish to change something while I'm here in Japan.

On a Friday afternoon after school I decided that it was time to cut them.

It feels sooo great. I really was asking myself why didn't I cut them earlier!!

They are so light and they dry in no time.

How I decided the length?? I just wanted an extreme change but still the possibility to tight my hairs so i decided them to be a bit longer then the shoulders and with layers.