Travel Notes: Free Travel in Japan

In May of this year, the family decided to take a free trip to Japan during the summer vacation. There were seven people in total, including my grandfather, who was in his 70s, and my cousin, who was 13 years old. In the past, I had only planned trips for three or four people at most, but this was the first time for seven people to travel independently, and it was huge. After the itinerary and time were confirmed, I began to plan every step of the itinerary in an orderly manner. The pre-trip preparations were roughly as follows: apply for a visa - book air tickets - book hotels - book transportation tickets to Japan." Route: Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Kyoto - Osaka -Tokyo, 12 days.

When relatives and friends around me heard about going to Japan, most of them had two reactions: first, "Going to Japan? The Japanese devils are rushing to send them money!". Second, "Japan is great. It's a developed country. Japanese people are very polite. Japan is super clean. Don't forget to bring the toilet seat when you come back."

On July 26, a group of us took Pakistan Airlines PK852 from Beijing Capital International Airport to Tokyo Narita International Airport. The flight lasted three and a half hours, and the arrival time was around 1 p.m. local time. Speaking of Pakistan Airlines, I kept thinking before booking a flight. The first thing I considered was flight safety, but later I found out that I was overthinking it. Every airline must put flight safety first, and this has nothing to do with the development of the country. For the seven of us, this flight was very cost-effective, it was cheap, direct, and arrived during the day.

The facilities in the cabin are old, the entertainment system is disabled, and the service staff are all Pakistani male flight attendants. Needless to say, they don't speak English. You can't understand what they say anyway. Although there is not much smile service, at least they are friendly and at least we can reach Tokyo safely, that's it:)

Arriving in Tokyo smoothly, the picture shows my cousin and grandpa.

After picking up my luggage, I found a redemption point where JR PASS and Skyliner tickets could be redeemed, and there was a long queue. JR PASS is a railway pass issued by Japan specifically for foreign tourists. It can take many Shinkansen lines and ordinary trains, which is very cost-effective. Transportation in Japan is complicated and expensive. Before you understand it, you are really confused and have trouble moving forward. When redeeming the ticket, you have to fill in a form, confirm the effective date, etc. The staff is really serious and enthusiastic. The lady just asked me about my specific itinerary and time in Japan to make sure there were no problems. Next, take the Skyliner from the airport to Ueno Station in the city. This is also the fastest way, and it only takes about 30 minutes to reach the city.

First stop Tokyo Tokyo

Accommodation in Tokyo is a traditional Japanese B&B, located in a residential area of ​​Tokyo, surrounded by residents. It has two floors, wooden floors, tatami mats and beds, and is very stylishly decorated. Checking into a B&B is basically a self-check-in. You will not meet the landlord, and the keys will be placed in a key box with a password at the door. God knows how excited we were when we dragged our tired bodies and suitcases to the door of our house and saw the key! As a result...the door cannot be opened. The door is a push-pull type with two keyholes. Several people took turns trying to open it, and even called passers-by to help, but it still didn't open. In the end, it was my clever cousin who opened it for some reason. Haha, from now on. , the task of opening and closing the door was left to her.

After a short rest, night has fallen and we start to go out to look for food. At this moment, we didn’t have a dime in cash, so we thought we could pay with a bank card. I walked to a supermarket, where they sold fresh fruits and lunch boxes, which were very tempting. When I checked out, I realized that I couldn’t use bank cards, neither UnionPay nor Visa, so I could only use cash. So my dad and I rushed out, found an ATM, and successfully withdrew our first cash in Japan, 50,000 yen. The maximum daily limit could only withdraw so much. The lady who checked out was still waiting for us patiently, without showing any impatience, and kept apologizing to us. The most commendable thing is that the cashier always patiently helps customers sort things neatly into each shopping bag. Later, I discovered that people in almost every supermarket, convenience store, and store take every product in the hands of every customer so seriously, which makes people feel warm in their hearts.

Finally, we can have this dinner around the small table.

Interlude: In the middle of the night, I felt the bed shaking in my sleep. When I opened my eyes, I felt like I was dreaming and fell asleep again. Unexpectedly, I chatted with my parents the next day and found that everyone had the same feeling. Haha, well, it must have been a slight shaking. This kind of small shaking should be as common in Japan as wind and rain.

The first stop of the tour on the second day is the crowded Sensoji Temple, which is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The most eye-catching entrance to Sensoji Temple is the "Wind and Thunder Gate" (referred to as: Thunder Gate). The big red lantern in the center weighs 670 kilograms, and is protected by wind gods and thunder gods on both sides.

"According to legend, in the thirty-sixth year of Emperor Suiko's reign (AD 628), two fishermen were fishing in the Miyato River and picked up a 5.5 cm high golden statue of Guanyin. People nearby raised funds to build a temple to honor the statue. This is Sensoji Temple. The temple was destroyed by fire several times in December 1865 and slept for 95 years. In 1960, Matsushita Konosuke was ill. It was the founder of Matsushita Electric who miraculously recovered his health after visiting Sensoji Temple. In order to fulfill his wish, Matsushita Konosuke funded the restoration, and Raimon finally woke up from his sleep." (Excerpt from Baidu Encyclopedia)

There is a 300-meter shrine leading from the Kaminarimon Gate to the main hall of Sensoji Temple, with various shops and snack bars on both sides. The weather is very hot, so let’s have some matcha ice cream first. On this street, no matter what snacks we buy, we must finish them in front of the store before leaving. We cannot eat while walking.

The main hall of Sensoji Temple.

Sensoji Temple cleanses hands. Before worshiping the gods, you need to wash your hands and rinse your mouth to show sincerity.

The five-story pagoda in Sensoji Temple.

After visiting Sensoji Temple, we went to Ueno Park. The first time I heard about Ueno Park was probably in Lu Xun's "Mr. Fujino": "Tokyo is nothing more than this. When the cherry blossoms in Ueno are in full bloom, they look like crimson light clouds...”

Ueno Park is very big. I wanted to have a picnic, but I couldn't find a suitable place. After finally settling down, I found that I was bitten by mosquitoes, so I had to eat in a hurry and leave quickly.

Next, we went to visit Ueno Zoo. This zoo is definitely very conscientious. There are all the animals you can think of here. Tickets are very cheap. It is divided into East Park and West Park. You can’t finish it in a whole day. Our national treasure panda is naturally the most popular in the zoo, and there is always a long queue for the panda house.

Please show me your appearance!

A chubby polar bear.

Like dad.

Brother Monkey.

When I walked to the West Garden, it was almost closed, and I burst into tears. There were still many animals that I didn't get to see. In the last few minutes, I saw flamingos, but unfortunately they were blocked in the fence. The staff had already come to catch us, and as smart as I was, I pretended to be lost and stayed with the staff for a few minutes, leaving them more time to watch. Next time you come, you must start from the West Garden!

The lotus flowers in the garden are in bud.

In the evening, follow the walking team to visit the Tokyo Sumida River Fireworks Festival, the oldest firework festival in Japan. On this day, many Japanese people will wear yukata to attend this summer festival.

Exquisite Japanese granny.

Stand on the bridge to watch the fireworks and record the most beautiful moments with your mobile phone.

Second stop Mount Fuji

Early in the morning, we were going to take the Fujikyu Line from Shinjuku to our next destination. We originally had enough time, but unexpectedly, when we checked out, there was no place to put the already packed garbage, and there was no trash can outside. An old man happened to pass by and asked him where to throw the garbage. He gestured for me to go with him. I was still carrying the trash, thinking I finally had a place to put it. As a result, what he showed me was a picture similar to the one below (I found this picture online and did not take any pictures at the time). It took me a long time to explain. It turns out that this is a garbage collection point. The garbage collected is different every day of the week. For example, Monday is combustible, Tuesday is non-combustible, Wednesday is plastic bottles, etc. The day we traveled happened to be a Sunday, so no garbage was collected. I had no choice but to explain the situation to the landlord and leave the trash at the door.

I have to admit that Japan’s garbage classification is really implemented very well. Trash cans are rare on the streets, and the ones you see are basically like this.

Every B&B we stayed in attached great importance to garbage classification. Later, everyone developed a habit and stopped littering.

The garbage problem was solved, and we rushed to the station non-stop. It was thrilling and exciting, and the car left in just one minute.

It's really lucky to see Mount Fuji. Unexpectedly, the quick glance on the bus turned out to be the last. By the time we actually arrived, the weather had turned overcast and cloudy, and we couldn't see anything, which was a pity.

Stay in a small villa in the mountains.

It is a traditional Japanese house, all with tatami mats. The house is very large and has everything you need. The picture shows a corner of the bedroom.

After resting for a while at home, we went out to look for food and found a shop specializing in tempura. Tempura is a batter-fried dish and one of the four major Japanese dishes.

When I first saw it, my instinct told me that I couldn’t get enough. However, after eating, I was not hungry anymore. After eating and drinking, we started to visit Lake Kawaguchi Park. We took a long walk along Lake Kawaguchi.

The scenery is beautiful, but it's a pity that the weather is not beautiful.

Even the dark clouds couldn't resist our enthusiasm for taking pictures.

Cousins, cousins ​​and grandpa.

There are four of us.

Mom, dad and me.

What greeted us next was a violent storm, lightning and thunder. How confident are we that we only bring two umbrellas when we go out?

Graffiti on the manhole cover.

Accompanied by bursts of thunder, we ran all the way, and there were fewer and fewer people on the street. It was the first time I saw lightning so close to me, and the thunder was right above my head, which scared the baby to death. The pouring rain forced us to take shelter in front of a closed coffee shop.

We were discussing how to distribute the umbrellas, one by one, when we heard the sirens on the street going off continuously. Someone was saying something on the radio, "Is there going to be an earthquake?" A volcano is about to erupt? What the hell? Anyway, we didn’t understand, so we just ran. Everyone ran all the way to a supermarket, where they found a slight sense of security. The rain is getting lighter and lighter, and we have selected the ingredients for the evening and are preparing to have a barbecue dinner. No danger, go home and cook!

These two little sisters stayed up late at night and told Japanese ghost stories, which scared my little cousin and insisted on sleeping with us. After she fell asleep, I lifted the mattress and moved her back to her original position in the middle of the night, but she didn't feel anything anyway.

Third stop Kyoto

Even though it was morning, Mount Fuji was still covered by clouds, so we had no chance to see him again! We chose to go to Tokyo from Kawaguchiko Station, and then take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Inside the Shinkansen.

In Kyoto, we stayed not too far from Sagano so that we could tour Arashiyama by bicycle the next day. The landlord has already prepared bicycles for us.

A corner of the courtyard.

The next day, after a long sleep, I got up, checked my bike, and set off. The streets in Kyoto are very narrow and slender. I led the way with the navigation in front, and the people behind me followed me closely. Japan drives on the left. The first thing we arrived at was Qingliang Temple, whose name is Mount Wutai. It contains the original wooden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha from the Song Dynasty of China.

Walk through the Sagano Bamboo Forest.

The Togetsukyo Bridge across the Katsura River has become the center of Arashiyama. It originated from a poem written by Emperor Kameyama, "It's like a full moon crossing the bridge."

Monument of poems by Premier Zhou Enlai. The front of the monument is engraved with "Lanshan Mountain in the Rain" written by Zhou Enlai written by Liao Chengzhi: "My second trip to Lanshan Mountain in the rain, with pines on both sides and a few cherry blossoms sandwiched between them."

"In September 1917, Zhou Enlai traveled east to Japan to study. In April 1919, on his way back to China, he visited Kyoto and wrote four vernacular poems. On January 22, 1979, a speech by various Japan-China friendship groups and well-known celebrities in Kyoto People jointly initiated the establishment of the "Preparatory Committee for the Zhou Enlai Poetry Monument". On April 16, 1979, the poetry monument was completed " (from: Baidu Encyclopedia).

As night falls, ramen and beer go best together.

The prosperity and excitement of Kyoto only become more lively at night.

You who move as fast as the wind.

Travel in Kyoto wearing a kimono. We chose Okamoto Kimono, a century-old kimono rental store in Kyoto. Customers can choose to make an appointment online. After arriving at the store, the aunt who received us was very enthusiastic. Because it is summer, the store can provide yukata rentals. Yukata and kimono are different. Kimono is more complicated to wear and has high-end fabrics, while yukata is relatively light and simple to wear. However, we still chose kimonos.

Choose clothes first, then belts, strings and carryalls.

From time to time, foreigners come to take photos with us.

Although I was wearing three layers inside and three outside, it was not as hot as I imagined.

Walk through the streets and discover all kinds of gadgets on the roadside. I have always felt that things in tourist attractions are not very reliable, but in Japan, you can buy with confidence because the souvenirs here are of high quality and low price, every little thing is exquisite, and the quality is excellent. After I came back, I discovered that I had bought more than a dozen bags, large and small, including wallets, cosmetic bags, pencil cases, handbags, backpacks... I didn’t want to miss any of them.

The fourth stop Osaka

It was already evening when we arrived in Osaka, and everyone was exhausted and had no intention of going out to enjoy the night view. Not far from home, there is a FamilyMart convenience store, which is very convenient. After eating and drinking enough, I rested until the next night before I felt relieved.

Where to go in Osaka at night? Of course, you have to come to Dotonbori first to eat, and then go to Shinsaibashi to do some shopping.

Dotonbori is a 2.5-kilometer-long canal located in the center of Osaka, famous for the bustling neighborhoods on both sides.

Shinsaibashi is Osaka's largest shopping district.

In the end, we chose to go to a Korean restaurant to eat bibimbap.

Everyone got a piece of bibimbap, but when it was my turn, I couldn't pick out any beef. I asked the boss if what we wanted was a bibimbap. The boss said yes, and I asked why there was not even a trace of beef in my pot. As a result, the boss ran to the kitchen, took out the beef bowls, and added the last few pieces of meat to our bowls.

Then, we went to a drug store in Shinsaibashi to buy some. We didn’t come out until they closed at eleven o’clock.

On our third day in Osaka, we decided to go to the world's largest aquarium - Osaka Aquarium to see the true appearance of whale sharks.

Osaka Aquarium is located in Osaka Port, surrounded by a Lego Discovery Center and the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. As soon as you enter the gate, you can see a giraffe made of Lego bricks.

The theme of the Aquarium Aquarium is to display various creatures of the Pacific Rim, from the sun-drenched "Japanese Forest" to the ice-capped "Antarctic Continent", taking us on this mysterious journey around the Pacific Rim.

Otters clinging to each other.

Baby penguins.

Little fish asking for a kiss.

The largest fish in the world, the whale shark can reach 20 meters in length.

We watch the fish carefully.

When it’s feeding time, you can also see the friendly interactions between the affectionate keepers and the lovely sea creatures.

Happy dolphins and friendly keepers.

The capybara (South American tailless water rat) obediently eats.

In addition, in the somatosensory exhibition area, visitors can gently touch sharks with rough skin and rays with sticky skin. Wash your hands with clean water before and after petting to avoid contaminating the water and causing harm to them.

The cousin who can’t even be pulled away...

Flowers and plants in the greenhouse.

At the exit, there are staff who will take free photos for tourists and give away small photos similar to the size of photo stickers. Of course, you can also purchase large photos.

It was already around four o'clock in the afternoon when we walked out of the aquarium. In order to watch the night view on the Ferris wheel at night, we had to wait until dark. The shopping mall next to it is naturally a good place to kill time.

Kittens lying in the window.

Hello Kitty themed boutique. These gadgets are not only beautiful to look at, but the quality is also very good.

When you are tired from shopping, you can drink Taiwanese pearl milk tea.

Finally, we waited until night and took a ride on the Ferris wheel to see the night view. The Ferris wheel has two cable cars, one with a completely transparent floor and the other with an opaque floor. We chose the fully transparent cable car with a longer queue. The staff will thoughtfully ask about the number of people and arrange families in one carriage to provide tourists with the best viewing experience. I have to say that this is really considerate.

The famous global cruise ship Mir, photographed on the Ferris wheel, traveled around the world in about a hundred days. In 2008, the famous female writer Bi Shumin boarded this cruise ship, completed a round-the-world trip in 114 days, and wrote "Blue Heaven". This cruise ship is so big that we only discovered its existence on the Ferris wheel. At first we thought it was just some ordinary high-rise building. There are all the facilities on the ship: grand theater, dance hall, bar, swimming pool, gym, children's playground, beauty salon, library, etc.

What to have for dinner? Ramen, have a bowl of ramen.

The fourth day's itinerary was naturally arranged at Universal Studios in Osaka. We only bought a big ticket and did not buy a fast ticket. Fast tickets can save some queuing time, but they are ridiculously expensive. A ticket for seven fast tickets costs more than 2,000 yuan per person. We checked the strategy online in advance and marked the route on the electronic map. The next day, I rushed straight into the park as soon as it opened, with a clear goal.

The first one to enter is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

I waited in line for an hour and a half to board the "Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey". Photography was prohibited inside. This kind of flight feels like it can only be experienced in person. My father, who was afraid of heights, was dragged up by me. After he came down, he said he had boarded my pirate ship. He no longer believed what I said, haha.

The second item to check in was the Great White Shark, which was a relatively gentle item. I explained to my dad that it was a simple boat ride, with nothing thrilling, so he got on the boat with us with some hesitation.

The captain is already waiting for us, about to embark on a life-and-death struggle with a great white shark.

In Jurassic Park, we checked into the Jurassic Park boat ride together.

Everyone was sitting in the boat, and the surroundings were peaceful. Suddenly, several dinosaurs appeared, and they trembled with their strange screams.

Immediately afterwards, there was an exciting rapids advance.

There are also various shows in Jurassic Park. Even if you don't play any projects, you won't feel bored at all.

Dinosaur themed restaurant.

Only my cousin, who is not afraid of anything, went to check out the Flying Pterodactyl, a thrilling roller coaster, by herself.

Because everyone was interested in different projects, they were divided into three groups. By the time we played the minions' naughty farce car ride, I already felt a little dizzy. My mother was still excitedly explaining to me, and I almost kept my eyes closed.

watch the show.

I originally wanted to watch the Happy Voice Tour Concert, but we were already seated. However, halfway through the first show, we had to cancel it due to equipment failure. The staff issued a fast ticket to each spectator at the exit, which allowed him to play a certain item quickly as compensation.

My cousins ​​and my mom took express tickets to the Space Fantasy Train to explore the dark universe at super high speeds.

Universal Studios at night is uniquely interesting. Both sides of the road are already filled with tourists waiting for the float parade. It is really pleasant to end a tiring day in this way.

Fortunately, we had realized it early and had secured a seat in advance so that we could watch this night parade performance up close - the most grand debut of Hollywood!

The first to enter was the Harry Potter-themed team.

Transformers that transform while walking.

Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.

Naughty little yellow man.

The trip to Universal Studios has come to a successful end and it’s time to head home!

Fifth stop Tokyo (return)

We took another ride back to Tokyo from Osaka. This time we chose to stay in an apartment hotel close to Ueno Station, so that we could take the Skyliner directly to the airport the next day. After arriving at the hotel, we took a short rest and then went to visit the two-dimensional paradise that my little sister has longed for - Akihabara.

Giant panda in the station.

After a lot of shopping, I finally had a sumptuous seafood barbecue dinner. After careful comparison, I chose this restaurant.

Draft beer and BBQ, a perfect pairing!

Sashimi.

Delicious eel rice.

I would like to commend the waiter in this store for being handsome, cute and very enthusiastic :)

The weather in Tokyo is fine, let’s go home!

On the plane, have nothing to do and take selfies. Our family almost occupied a row of seats, and we went to Beijing just to chat.

As a result, the flight was delayed for nearly two hours. As soon as we got off the plane, we ran all the way and took the shuttle bus to change terminals to catch the flight home. There was only a little more than an hour left. Everything was just right, I finally made it to the plane, and unexpectedly met a long-time friend in the seat next to me.

The trip to Japan has come to a successful end, with both difficulties and happiness coexisting. I have gained a lot along the way. Travel is full of adventure, excitement, luck and fate, so why isn’t life like this?