[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 4 - A Day Trip to Hamamatsu

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😊

Day 4: A Day Trip to Hamamatsu

14 April 2019, Sunday

This part of the trip, was one that I felt the most apologetic about. So.. in Japan, there are several railway lines operating from different companies, and so many types of trains that ranged from rapid express to local trains.

Even the JR railway has two types - the more known Shinkansen (bullet train) and their local JR railway trains. So prior to the trip, we were sourcing for options to make our travel from around Shizuoka (and to Mt.Fuji) easier and we found that there was this Mt.Fuji-Shizuoka pass which covered quite a range of places.

To make use of the pass, we thought ok, lets go Hamamatsu since it was a 3-day travel pass. What I didn't know was, this is a very different pass from the JR pass that I was familiar with (the Shinkansen). This pass only worked for the local/rapid trains which meant longer than expected travel time between the two cities. 😭

Hamamatsu Flower Park (はままつ フラワーパーク)
Map: 195番地 Kanzanjicho, Nishi Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1209, Japan

How to get there: take bus #30 from the JR Hamamatsu station (about 30 mins travel time)...

Definitely a crazy array of flowers. The whole flower park is pretty huge, and you can get on a tram ride (which is payable) to tour around or stop at specific tram stops to enjoy the flowers in any particular area that might interest you.


Sesame-based Ramen 
(The problem with blogging the experience only a year after... you've pretty much forgotten the details 😭)

At the train station before heading back to Shizuoka... Taiyaki!!!

& Macca's to end the day with (after super long train/bus rides, so long that we only managed to visit one attraction in Hamamatsu *sobs*)

Next post: [Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 5 - Off to visit Mt. Fuji 
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[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 3 - Nagoya to Shizuoka

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😊

Day 3: Nagoya to Shizuoka

13 April 2019, Saturday

Off to Shizuoka! We got our bus tickets the night before (@ 2880円/adult). I definitely think it is safer to purchase them ahead of time rather than on the day itself as it is highly dependable on availability and consumer demand. So, buying them ahead of time would give a slight flexibility in terms of e.g. bus timings. 

Before we head off, we got our Lawson fix for our asa gohan (朝ご飯), fried chicken & a sushi roll for me 😍, while waiting for our bus departure timing.

Normally, I get terrified when I'm seated at the back (thanks to my motion-sickness). But somehow, I always managed to fall asleep on long-distance bus rides while in Japan. 😂 よかったね。

The journey from Nagoya to Shizuoka took about 2 hours, and the 1st thing I saw on arrival was that their macca's had this: BACON POTATO PIE.

Anything potato is 🧡.

松屋牛丼 (Matsuya Gyudon)

Its a gyudon chain, so its very common across the country... (hence I won't be putting a specific  address since its everywhere). Orders are through a ticket machine and you pass the staff copy of the coupon to the staff. 

We were walking through a shopping center when I spotted these doughnuts!! 

These unbelievably cute doughnuts produced by Shiretoko Factory, I got to know about them through my friend, hm (whom I visited tokyo skytree with in my Nov 2018 trip) and during that time, the store was already closed and I didn't get the opportunity to try it there. 

And so, imagine my surprise when I found it so unexpectedly. 

(but they did feel like a pop-up store, I cant find the exact location from their site anymore 😔)

Random stuff we saw along the way... imagine doing self ear piercing. 😱😱😱

A NEW BAG that I haven't got to use it till date 😭

静鉄ホテルプレジオ (Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio)

Map: 13-21 Minamicho, Suruga Ward, Shizuoka, 422-8067, Japan

静岡おでん (Shizuoka Oden)
Map: (somehow, I cant seem to find the exact location for this, but it is in the vicinity of the hotel😢)

This, is the highlight of the day. The meal was so perfect, and we were given a table on the 2nd level which was overlooking the restaurant. I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

It was the best... one of our most memorable meals throughout the trip. We had a bit of beer to go with the meal and we ended the day feeling satisfied (but there's one problem, iirc, there wasn't a non-smoking zone. But I cant exactly remember anymore 😅).


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[Travel Log - Japan] In Spring: Day 2 - Nagoya

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😊

Day 2: Travelling around Nagoya City

12 April 2019, Friday

Starting the day with our 朝ご飯 (breakfast) at Lawson! If I hadn't already mentioned, Japan's コンビニ (convenience store) is THE best. 

Special mention: We HIGHLY recommend trying out the Corn Dog and Cream Swiss Roll at Lawsons. Their fried chicken series is great too.

With our 1-Day pass on the subways, we headed for Nagoya Castle to fulfill our 1st objective set for this trip - KIMONO! 😂

Kimono Rental Matsuura (着物レンタルまつうら) 

Website | Map: 〒462-0845 愛知県名古屋市北区柳原１丁目４−8

We had a bit of mis-planning for this, but we managed to find this rental shop in the vicinity and they happened to be able to take all four of us without notice. 💖

Photo credits to Google Images

For approx. 5,400 yen/pax, we could rent the costume with basic hairdo done + bag & a pair of kimono slippers. 

Nagoya Castle (名古屋城)
Website | Map: 1-1 Honmaru, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0031, Japan

In our rare dainty moment (since we were all constrained in our kimonos and cant speed walk), we strolled to the castle...

(feat. the back view of sy & fio 😍)

"Can I take a photo with you"... I think we bumped into 3-4 groups of people that wanted a photo, which we awkwardly complied before getting paranoid about how strangers have our photos now. 😂

Gohei Rice Cake (五平餅): これはすごくおいしい! this is fantastically delicious. 

Takoballs that were not worth the bucks 😭

After touring the castle for about 2~hours, with too much attention on us - random comments along the way from how dumb we were (wearing the kimono to the castle) to how pretty the kimono was, we decided, we preferred being regular civilians and hurried back to the kimono rental (special mention: running in small steps across the road). 

Atsuta Horaiken - Main Restaurant (あつた蓬莱軒 本店)
Website | Map: 503 Godocho, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 456-0043, Japan

HITSUMABUSHI ひつまぶし, one of nagoya's specialties. We headed to Atsuta Horaiken, and check out the queue...

the traditional feels...

Steps to eating hitsumabushi... first, divide into 4 portions.

1. 1st portion - to be eaten as it is
2. 2nd portion - to eat it with condiments supplied (seaweed/spring onion/...)
3. 3rd portion - to eat it with the soup 
4. Last portion - savour it the way you like it (from above steps 1-3)

Unsatisfied with the takoyaki that we had earlier at the castle, we decided to search for one near our accommodation:

大阪ミナミのたこいち 名駅西店

Map: Japan, 〒453-0015 Aichi, Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Tsubakicho, 14−5 グランド松竹梅1F

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