A DisneySea-like Adventure in Hakone

Japan : Tokyo, Fujikawaguchiko & Hakone

Spring 2024

Sailing Lake Ashi aboard a pirate ship, the Victory Royal II - Queen Ashinoko, in Hakone
(apr-2024)

Journal Entry... Counting my 12th trip to the land of the rising sun, Japan. Hubby had me tagging along, as plus one, to his office junket. With a Japan's long-term visa stamp on my passport, I grab it and go... before its November expiration date.

Getting Around Central Honshu

Japan : Tokyo, Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama, Hida-Takayama & Shirakawago

Winter 2024

Kamakurakōkō-Mae, the tongue-twister train station next to a railway crossing,
which is made famous by Slam Dunk, the anime.
(jan, feb-2024)

Travel Journal... On this trip, I'm set out to explore Japan's Central Honshu region.

Frozen in Hokkaido

Japan : Sapporo & Otaru

Winter YE23>2024

Shrine visit on the 1st day of the year to Hokkaido Jingu, in Sapporo
(jan-2024)

Journal Entry... Year ender 2023... Flight to Sapporo. 

Sakura in Tokyo

Japan : Tokyo, Kawasaki
Spring 2019

Sakura (cherry blossom) viewing at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, in Tokyo
(apr-2019)

Journal Entry... How many times have I been to Japan by now, huh? It's been five times on a winter, one in autumn, one previous spring (sakura)... and now, this repeat spring (sakura), travel. Yes, that's as many as 8x I have traveled to Japan under a 5-year, 2014-issued Japan visa. Not a single year out of the validity period of my Japan visa went-a-wasted... (thanks to the hubby, of course!) Earned enough mileage from those air travel that this year's spring (sakura) travel was made possible by #ANAMileageClub miles redemption and, coincidentally still, unexpired visa*wink;)

Chasing Winter

Japan : Tokyo, Sapporo, Niseko, Osaka, Himeji
Winter 2019 

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart, says Confucius."
(feb-2019)

Journal Entry...

Journey to Jigokudani-- Hell Valley

Japan : Tokyo, Nagano
Winter 2018

Snow monkeys everywhere at Jigokudani Park in Nagano
(Jan-2018)

Journal Entry... What's in a place? Fear not faithfuls. Jigokudani, meaning "Hell Valley", is only a description for the steam and boiling water bubbling out of crevices in the valley amidst surrounding steep cliffs and hostile forests. Jigokudani is famous for its wild Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, that descend to the valley during winter, in troops, to sit in the warm onsen, or hot springs.

Countdown to HNY 2018

Japan : Tokyo, Karuizawa, Niigata
Winter YE17>2018

Snowscoot 101 at Iwappara Ski Resort in Niigata
(Jan-2018)

Journal Entry... Can't say the hubby and I have not gone to Japan enough already. Why the hubby keeps clicking that online airline ticket reservation to Japan, whenever the holidays are approaching. It already had me reacting, "Japan, again?!!" For as long as hubby is paying for it... Here's to a Merry Christmas 2017, and Happy New Year 2018, in Japan!

Sakura in Kanazawa

Japan : Kanazawa
Spring 2017

Hanami (sakura | cherry blossom viewing) in Kanazawa
(Apr-2017) 

Journal Entry... Sakura, or cherry blossom, most of which bloom only for a couple of days in spring, is celebrated with a hanami - cherry blossom viewing parties under the trees, in Japan. It is Japan's unofficial national flower. *2017 Cherry Blossom Forecast: Kanazawa - April 9-15

HNY, Tokyo! 2017

Japan : Tokyo, Niigata
Winter YE16>2017

Welcoming the New Year 2017 from Midtown at Roppongi-Minato in Tokyo
(Jan-2017)

Journal Entry... My 4th trip to Japan. Looking forward to another yearender in the snow.

The Hokkaido Drill

Japan: Tokyo, Sapporo, Otaru, Teine
Winter 2016

"Frosty the Snowman" melts in negative 7 deg. weather under Sapporo sunlight
(Feb-2016)

Journal Entry... Reached over to pull out the in-flight magazine, as there was no in-flight entertainment aboard #FlyPal to Narita. Front cover stared back at me saying, "Last Chance for Winter... Skiing in Seoul... Toasty cocktails in New York... Japan's enchanting ice village..." I grinned back at it, since I was on my way to one of it. 

Kawaii to the Holidays!

Japan : Tokyo, Osaka
Winter 2015

Arriving to a captivating sunset for Year Ender 2015, in Osaka
(Dec-2015)

Journal Entry... Didn't I say I'd put the Japan travel experience on repeat? It's a short flight away, and holidays are on its way! 

Autumn Fever

Japan : Tokyo, Fujikawaguchiko, Kyoto, Osaka
Autumn 2014

Confetti shower for the Birthday Girl in Fujikawaguchiko
(Nov-2014)

Journal Entry... There's a kind of craze for Japan, and all things Japanese, as of late. Why not jump on the bandwagon? Traveling to Japan was tempting really. It's merely four hours by plane, from Manila. Around November is autumn's peak-- one of two memorable seasons in Japan. And my birthday falls in November... Dang! My Japan travel turned out to be one unforgettable trip to remember. I'd surely put the Japan travel on repeat, if I must, given a 5-year Japan Visa stamp on my passport, and it'll always be just a short flight away.