Montag, 27. Oktober 2014

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 ;)

Mittwoch, 6. August 2014

Akihabara: スーパーポテト Retro-games Paradise

I'm back to talk to my Electro-NERDs out there!! And of course everybody else!!! If you are like me a fan of retro-games this store is exacly what you need!!

My friend brought me to this awesome place called Super Potato (スーパーポテト) in Akihabara. That place is filled with old school consoles and games like Super Nintendo or Playstation... ecc.

This store is kind of hidden somewhere in the middle of Akihabara. So here is a map that might be usefull to you.

 1 Chome-11-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021


This store is filled with nostalgic memories. It brings me back to my childhood. =)

When I was little I always gamed with the Super Nintendo and the Gameboy. Seeing both of them in that store made me think about all the good old times.




On top of that the prices are surprising low. I was quite suprised to find a Super Famicom for only 3000 Yen. The prices differs from the condition of the product though.

I'm literally considering buying a Super Nintendo or Super Famicom how they are called here in Japan.

Sonntag, 20. Juli 2014

Fuji-san and Shibazakura Matsuri Mai 2014



After almost 1 year that I've been in Japan I finally went to see Mount Fuji (富士山). I went towards the end of May.

Once a year from the end of April till beginning of June, there is a Festivity called Shibazakura Matsuri.


Shibazakura is a type of "cherry blossom" that grows from the ground. It comes in different types of pinkish colors.



Unfortunately for us the wether wasn't on our favor. It was really gloomy and cloudy that day... From time to time it was also raining. At the beginning I feared that I wouldn't be able to see Fuji-san at all. Luckily he decided to show up sometimes.



In the Fuji-san area there are 5 different lakes. We went to one lake in the area Yamanashi, Fujikawakuchiko, Motosu lake.


To get there we went on the train and had to change several times. The last station was Kawaguchiko. From there we took the bus to go to Motosu. We bought in Shinjuku an all-day pass that was around 4000 Yen. It's really worth buying that pass. From Saitama or Tokyo it takes almost 2 hours to get there!


We also went to the Kawaguchiko lake before leaving.


... we had to hurry up since it seemed like a storm was coming...



I still got some really nice pictures despite the gloomy day...


All in one I loved it!!! The nature around Fuji is just magical. It was one of the best experience that I had since coming to Japan. It's definitely worth going near Fuji-san.


Let's get some foodporn here!!! They had all Sakura themed food there!! I ate Sakura Ramen!! Ouuu yes!!! That was some delicious ramen!!


Sweets paradise!!! Everything just looked sooo delicious!!


Sakura flavoured cake!!! I wish I could eat it again!!

Samstag, 21. Juni 2014

Disneyland Resort in Tokyo


The place where fairy tales become reality. Since I can remember I always wanted to go to Disneyland.
Last May I went for the second time to Disney in Tokyo. I love that place!!


The entrace fee was 6400 Yen for 1 day-pass. It's quite expensive if you consider that only the roller coaster are for free. Then again considering the maintenance cost for the park, it's understandable.


Even thought Easter was already over, the park was still Easter-themed. The decoration was really really pretty! I heard that on Easter they actually had an egg hunting! How cool is that?!? =)


For roller coaster they actually have some really cool ones. There is  Pirates of the Carribean right next to the entrance and also a hounting castle and many more.



Disneyland has by far the bestest food ever!! I wish food would be included in the entrance fee. Since all I do in Disney is eating. Not that I don't do that when I'm not in there.. haha.. Oh well.. xD


Micky-shaped cookies and other delicious goodies... Not to mention caramel popcorn!! Literally the bestest popcorn in the entire world!!


As for souvenirs I got myself another micky-shaped macaroon lookalike pillow!! xD I already bought one in pink the first time I went. This time I purchased a minth-green one.


As for other things they had a lot of easter-themed products and so much more. Basically you can spend the entire day buying souvenirs.


Beside Disneyland there is also Disney Sea on the other side. The parks are not connected to each other. It's a separated entrance for each park. I've never been there but I heard that Disney Sea is more for grown-ups. The roller coasters are scarier, not that actually roller coaster in Disney are scary, but you know what I mean... right? xD


What I really like about Disney is that when you are there you just forget about everything and enjoy the moment. Everybody is so happy and it's just contagious. You literally just become happy yourself and everybody always greets you. It really feels like a little perfect world without worries. It's just the moment that matters.

Sonntag, 6. April 2014

Sakura has bloomed in the first week of April 2014

The Sakura right in front of my home - Kita-Toda

It's my second time to be able to see the beautiful sakura in Japan. It usually blooms towards the end of March until the beginning of April. This year it was in the first week of April. The Winter was longer than usual so it bloomed quite late.
Usually in the south of Japan it blooms earlier than in the north.



I personally think the blooming time is one of the most magical moments in Japan.
Last year I saw the cherry blossoms at the Ueno Park. This year I was able to see them at the Imperial Palace and Ichigaya.

Ichigaya




Imperial Palace Chidoya


 




They say the cherry blossoms at the Imperial Palace are the most beautiful in Tokyo. Indeed I spent a very magical day there!!

This beauty last for a couple of days until...

... the blossoms fall and the trees grow leafs.


It's definitely worth seeing a beauty like this live!!

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.