16 days Japan winter trip with my LX7

[samtcy]

74) Oden

75) Enjoyed this alot

76) There were a few stalls selling 2nd hand kimonos

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[samtcy]

79) Finally able to make out way to the main entrance of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

80) People mountain people sea

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82) We were a few weeks too early for plum blossoms

83) Still not blooming yet

 

[samtcy]

84) We saw a few plum blossoms just about blooming though.

85) 1 of the very few plum blossoms that have already bloomed.

86) Fried chicken

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[samtcy]

89) After leaving Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, we stopped by a Krispy Kreme outlet on our way back to Kyoto station.

90) Taking Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka station.

91) We were able to choose which type of pillow we wanted at the hotel we stayed (Super Hotel)

92) Our room

93) Brother's single room

 

[samtcy]

94) After taking a rest in our room, we went to Osaka's Dotonbori area for dinner and some light shopping.


95) Walking around to find the place for our dinner at Dotonbori. There are many restaurants and food eateries along this stretch.

96) I love fried food! And I absolutely love the kushikatsu from Daruma Kushikatsu outlet at Dotonbori. Eack skewers costs between 120yen to 240yen.
For non-smokers or those who can't stand smoke, the restaurant allows indoor smoking, so be prepared that they might seat you next to a table of smoking customers.
Also, the sauce dip for each table are shared with other customers, so due to hygiene purposes, do not double-dip your skewers into the sauce after you've already taken a bite on it.

97) After dinner, it's time to visit Don Quijote store for some budget shopping. The store sells many inexpensive products like cosmetics, appliances, souvenirs, snacks, electronic accessories, toys, luggage bags....etc....

98) Still shopping at Don Quijote...

 

[samtcy]

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102) Check out these cute USB ports for wall socket charging...

 

[samtcy]

Day 4 Visit Nara and Himeji. Stay at Osaka.

Itinerary for this day:
(Day 3 of the 14 days' JR Railpass's usage)
0747-0807 Shin-Osaka to Tennoji via Haruka Express (21mins)
0814-0851 Tennoji to Nara via JR Yamatoji line (35mins)
Took short 5mins bus ride to near Todaiji
Quick visit to Nara's deers outside Todaiji
Took short 5mins bus ride back to JR Nara station
1101-1134 Nara to Tennoji via JR Yamatoji line (33mins)
1150-1205 Tennoji to Shin-Osaka via Haruka Express (15mins)
Lunch at Shin-Osaka station
1305-1342 Shin-Osaka to Himeji via Shinkansen
Visit Himeji
1625-1705 Himeji to Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen


103) Quick visit to Nara to see the deers.

104) These deers roam about freely

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[samtcy]

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Since it started to rain, so we left Nara and headed for Himeji.

 

[samtcy]

110) But it was raining heavily at Himeji as well.

111) Had a short stroll along a sheltered shopping street between Himeji station and Himeji castle. Came across a Hello Kitty cafe.

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113) Kinda dragged the hubby and my brother to have a short teabreak at Hello Kitty cafe. Heh!

Since the rain had only gotten even worse by the time we were done with our break, we decided to skip Himeji castle and just head back to Osaka. It was also raining at Osaka so we just lazed around in the room for the rest of the day. Really a nuah day.

 

[DinoSG]

nice pictures.. keep posting.

 

[samtcy]

Day 5: Osaka to Tokyo. Visit Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.

Itinerary for this day:
0840-1140 Shin-Osaka to Tokyo via Shinkansen
1152-1157 Tokyo to Ueno via Shinkansen
Walk 5mins to our hotel near Ueno station
Ueno to Akihabara via JR Yamanote Loop line (4mins)
Have lunch at Katsu-ya outlet
Visit Yodobashi Camera store at Akihabara
Akihabara to Shinjuku via JR Chuo line (18mins)
Visit Shinjuku
Shinjuku to Kanda via JR Chuo line Rapid train (11mins)
Kanda to Ueno via JR Yamanote Loop line (6mins)

114) Saw Mt Fuji during our Shinkansen ride from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo.

115) Arrived at Tokyo around noon, then went to our hotel at Ueno for check-in. After which, we went to Akihabara for lunch. My brother and I love Katsu-don, so this particular chain (Katsu-ya) has nice and inexpensive Katsudon. This particular outlet is located just opposite Akihabara's Yodobashi Camera store.

116) Part of Katsu-ya's menu

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[samtcy]

After lunch, we went to Yodobashi Camera to shop around abit.

Yodobashi Camera stores, especially their larger outlets, don't just sell electronics. They often also sell other things like hobby crafts, figurines, toys, luggage bags, DVDs...etc...

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[samtcy]

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124) Gachapon machines, also at Yodobashi Camera at Akihabara.

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[samtcy]

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[samtcy]

132) Tripods at Yodobashi Camera

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135) Many camera straps

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[samtcy]

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141) Cute batteries. Too bad these aren't rechargeable.

 

[samtcy]

142) Memory card storage cases

143) And more...

144) Camera bags

145) And more...

146) Wide variety of luggage bags

 

[samtcy]

After leaving Yodobashi Camera, we headed for Shinjuku.

147) Outside Shinjuku station

148) At Shinjuku

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150) Uniqlo store near Shinjuku station

 

[samtcy]

151) We had an early dinner of king crabs at Kani Douraku branch near Shinjuku station.

152) All of these are crabs.

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[samtcy]

155) This cake shop near Shinjuku subway station sells cakes that look like oden, sushi, eel rice...etc...

156) These are cakes

After returning back to Ueno station, we went to ecute area at JR Ueno station to find some cute panda snacks.
Since Ueno Zoo has pandas, so it is common to find Panda products sold at Ueno area.

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