2024 Philippines: Christmas in the City

 

Let us be thankful for the blessings we received.  Appreciate everyone we have met, and celebrate life!

It's the time of the year that we enjoy the Christmas displays, illumination and sounds around the city. 

Kameyama, Mie, Japan: Seki Post Town in Tokaido road

 

In 2019, I have visited Magome and Tsumago towns in Nakasendō route. And Old Tōkaidō Road Ancient Cedar Avenue in Hakone, Kanagawa.  This 2024, I have visited Seki-juku in Tōkaidō road.

What is Tōkaidō road?

Roughly means "eastern sea route," connecting Kyoto (previous capital) Japan and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). [Reference]

Mie, Japan: Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town

 

Planning:  I'm torn between choosing between their building in Kanmuri or Kourai.  Kanmuri is less than 10 minutes walk from Uenoshi or Hirokoji station. It's where their lobby and restaurant is. Room 103 is enclosed without a window or garden view at the ground floor. But has windows on the 2F.

Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Iga-Ueno, Mie

Cafe huone

Location: 126-1 Uenomarunouchi, Iga, Mie 518-0873, Japan

https://instagram.com/cafe_huone

Food: omellete rice and apple juice

Personal Preference: 9 out of 10

Mie, Japan: Things to do in Iga-Ueno

While planning for this trip in Mie, I have two options on where to experience ninja activities. One is Ninja Kingdom Ise in Futamicho Mitsu.  But I chose the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in Uenomarunouchi due to its location which is on my way to Seki Post the next day.  And other reasons listed below are the things you can do in Iga-Ueno.

Taki, Mie, Japan: Things to do in Vison (For the Joy of Life)

 

Vison in Taki, Mie is an on-going construction of a village, where you can stay for an onsen, enjoy food and restaurants and wake-up in the middle of the mountains.

Mie, Japan: Oharaimachi and Okage Yokocho

 

Part of going to Kotai Jingu (Ise Jingu Naiku, Inner Sanctuary), is to pass by a street market known as Oharaimachi.

Mie, Japan: Ise Jingu (Geku and Naiku Sanctuary)

I did plan to start my day early because I want to avoid the crowd at the market street. However, it was raining hard that morning.  A week after, there were warnings to avoid forests and mountains during early mornings as there might be bear sightings, glad I have not seen one.

Mie, Japan: Sanco Inn Iseshi Ekimae Honkan

Sanco Inn Iseshi Ekimae Honkan

Japan, 516-0072 Mie, Ise, Miyajiri, 1 Chome−1−1 

Travel Date: June 2024, 3 nights

Japan: Mie Prefecture - 7 days Itinerary and Expenses

Japan: Mie Prefecture - 7 days Itinerary and Expenses

First time we have visited Mie is on spring of 2019 (year before the global lockdown).  It was a bus trip away from Nagoya station to Nabana no Sato. 

This time (2024), I'd like to try to visit Japan during summer, season for blooming irises (Hanashobu) and hydrangea (Ajisai).  For month of June, I'd say early morning and late afternoon is still cold with strong winds.  Midday may already be hot with striking sunlight.  There are few rain showers so better bring a light jacket and umbrella. 

Coming from Manila, there are four airports to choose from and Nagoya has the most affordable in-bound flight during the search period, so I gave it a shot.  This will be my fifth time to inbound in Chubu Centrair International Airport.  

Ehime, Japan: REF Matsuyama City Station by Vessel Hotels

REF Matsuyama City Station by VESSEL HOTELS
5-2-2, Matsuyama, Matsuyama, Japan, 790-0012
Travel Date: March 2024, 2 nights

Location: In the center of Matsuyama City Station, which is the hub of local trains going to transfer stations in the JR line. Also, base for the tram heading to Dogo Onsen. Bus stops from other prefectures like Kochi or Hakata, etc. It is the same building as Takashimaya and the ferris wheel. There is a small underground market and a very long array of ground markets heading to Okaido. 

Shikoku, Japan: The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden

I have several parks on my list but most are still without blooming flowers.  Gladly included Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden the day before going to Matsuyama.

Kochi, Japan: Yusuhara Town

 

Less visited by travellers, I first learned about Yusuhara town when it was tagged as having one of the most beautiful libraries in Japan.

Shikoku, Japan: JR Clement Inn Kochi

 

JR Clement Inn Kochi  

JRクレメントイン高知

Kitahonmachi 1-10-59, Kochi, Kochi, Japan, 780-0056

Kochi, Japan: Ino Town Paper Museum

 

The museum is open from 9am to 5pm.  I arrived around 3:30pm and they were still able to  accommodate me on the paper making program.  The museum guide helpfully explained the procedure and steps to me in English.

Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari

Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari 

四國真中千年物語

Kagawa, Japan: Kotohira Maritime Museum

Kotohira Maritime museum (also known as Marine Science museum) displays  Edo-era ship and marine-themed exhibits.

Kagawa, Japan: 7 things to do in Kotohira

 

Travel Date: 15 March 2024 (Friday)

Kagawa, Japan: Onyado Shikishimakan Kotohira Hot spring

Onyado Shikishimakan Kotohira Hotspring

713-1 Kawanishi, Kotohiracho, Kotohira, Kotohira, Japan, 766-0001

Travel Date: March 2024, 1 night

Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan: Ritsurin Park

Ritsurin Park has been awarded the highest rating of 3 stars in the French travel guide book Michelin Green Guide Japan, meaning it is ``worth the trip.'' (First published in March 2009.) Ref: https://www.my-kagawa.jp/

Philippines: Churches to visit in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon

 

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church

Alaminos, Laguna (Diocese of San Pablo)

Kagawa, Japan: Cathedral of the Assumption

Cathedral of the Assumption

カトリック桜町教会

Japan, 760-0074 Kagawa, Takamatsu, Sakuramachi, 1-chome 8-9

https://www.sakuramachi.catholic.ne.jp/

Open: 9-12nn, 13-17pm

Takamatsu, Japan: Shikoku Village

 

Shikoku Village

Japan, 761-0112 Kagawa, Takamatsu, Yashima Nakamachi, 91

https://www.shikokumura.or.jp/

Travel Date: 14 March 2024

Shikoku, Japan: JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu

 

JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu

1-1 Hamano Cho, Takamatsu, Takamatsu, Japan, 760-0011

https://www.jrclement.co.jp/takamatsu/en/

Travel Date: March 2024, 2 nights

Japan: Shikoku - 7 days Itinerary and Reviews

Japan: Shikoku - 7 days Itinerary and Expenses

If you bump into this page and are still planning for your first visit in Japan, you may go to this separate entry instead.  Or visit the bottom section of this page for more itinerary options. 

This year's spring trip is a 7-day stay in Shikoku island, which is a separate island from the main Honshu island (where you can find Tokyo or Osaka). Shikoku is accessible by air, ferry, trains, or buses from Fukuoka or Osaka.

Japan: Food crawl and Cafes in Osaka

 

Which cafe and restaurants have you visited in Osaka?

Japan: Food crawl and Cafes in Kyoto

 

Let's fill-up our tummy with the options we found in Kyoto. 

Japan: Book cafes in Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka

If you are adding libraries, bookstores, or book cafes in your itinerary, you may want to look at these places. 

Osaka, Japan: Katsuo-ji Temple

We are chasing autumn in Osaka and looking between Minoh Falls or Katsuo-ji temple.  But since we had already been forest bathing in Kyoto and it seems like the temple has more character, thus we chose Katsuo-ji.

Osaka, Japan: Hankyu Brick Museum

Osaka, Japan: teamLab Botanical Garden

We went to visit this teamLab because of the lights and it is in an open garden.  

First artwork is seasonal for autumn, Life is Continuous Light - Bald Cypress.

Osaka, Japan: Catholic Tamatsukuri Church

Catholic Tamatsukuri Church

Kyoto, Japan: 9 things to do in Uji

 

What are the places and things we can do in the home of the famous matcha, Uji in Kyoto?

Kyoto, Japan: Night viewing at Eikan-do Temple

 

Travel Date: 19 November 2023 

The Autumn night exhibition at Eikan-do Temple runs for a limited time between November and December.  Guide will be posted a few days before the open date. Regular open hours can be seen here. 

Kyoto, Japan: A day in Arashiyama

 

Twelve years ago when we first visited Arashiyama.  We failed to ride the Sagano romantic train as some parts of the train tracks were hit by a landslide.