Wonderful Japan

 Japan is a such a brilliant Asian country to visit. This is my story to the Land of the rising sun. Japan is a country I have long wanted to visit, with incredible mountain scenery, one of the world’s most chaotic & quirky cities (Tokyo), a long history of culture & tradition, and of course incredible cuisine with authentic sushi on offer everywhere you turn. I went here on December 2017. Just 8 days. I forgot the itenary little because its been a long time. I went there using Singapore Airlines to Haneda International Airport. I must change my clothe and wear a jacket because its so cold outside. My first Destination is Odaiba Statue Of Liberty. The Odaiba Statue of Liberty is made to seem much larger than it is in photos due to its proximity to a walkway, and with a suspension bridge in the background, it’s easy for the average person to assume they’re looking at a picture of New York.

To celebrate Japan’s ties with France, a Statue of Liberty was temporarily placed in Odaiba from 1998 to 1999. Originally gifted to France by U.S. citizens in 1889 to celebrate the French Revolution, this particular statue was brought all the way from the Île aux Cygnes in Paris. It was returned to Paris in 1999, but due to its popularity, a replica was erected in 2000. So, you don't need to go far to America, because in japan is already have it. After a few hour at Liberty, I went to Asakusa Temple. Tokyo's oldest temple, Sensoji contains a sacred statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Surrounded by imposing gates, a five-story pagoda, and the vibrant stalls of Nakamise Dori. There was many kind of foods and snacks. I was lunch at Japan Restaurant. So yummy. Not far from the temple, i straight to Tokyo Skytree. Just see from afar. On the side of the road there are many Japanese Snacks.

The next day I went to the most Popular Mountain in Japan, Fuji Mountain. Mount Fuji, affectionately called "Fuji-san," has been revered since ancient times. Mt. Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has inspired artists and poets, and is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains”. Height of 3,776.24 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain. It is located between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture, approximately 100 kilometers away from Tokyo. On clear days, this symmetrical, snow-capped wonder is perfectly visible from Tokyo, Yokohama, and other nearby areas. Very cold outside. 

We can see a beautiful mountain at national park called Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Of the handful of trails leading to the top, most popular for Tokyoites is the Kawaguchiko-Yoshidaguchi Trail, which is divided into 10 different stages; the Fifth Station, located about 2,475m (8,120 ft.) up and served by bus, is the usual starting point. From here it takes about 6 hours to reach the summit and 3 hours for the descent. But i can only see from far.

After chillin at mountain, I went to the Capital City Japan, Tokyo. Exactly at Shibuya. There was the most famous statue in Japan. One of the more popular tourist sites in Tokyo, besides the “golden turd” which I sadly missed, is the statue of Hachiko the dog. Just outside of Shibuya train station, one of the busiest stations in Tokyo, and in front of Shibuya crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the World, you’ll find a statue of Hachiko. People line up for hours just to have their pictures taken in front of Hachiko and it’s common to meet at the famous dog statue, but to me, this all seemed a bit odd. But, I have chance to take a picture beside the statue. Very crowded!.

I was bought hot tea immediately and also enjoy the sunset in Tokyo town. The next day i must be ready to get wet because I went to Shirakawago. The charming hamlet of Shirakawago lies within one of  Japan’s most   picturesque spots in the Gifu region, where feudal ‘shōguns’ and ‘samurai’ once roamed the grassy land.

Surrounded by striking mountain vistas, this UNESCO-protected village is famed for its ‘gassho-zukuri’ traditional triangular houses that date back 200 years (as is the nearby historic village, Gokayama). I went there right in the snow!. The temperature reaches -9 celsius!!. The best time to visit, even out of the winter days, is on the days of the Shirakawa-go Light Up. For just four days, the houses are lit up, giving the entire snowy village an extra glow.

After 3 hours at Village, I must changed my jacket because its so wet and I continued my journey to Iwasaki village. The first replicas workshop. Iwasaki Mokei (Sample Village Iwasaki), opened in 1932. Today it claims to serve over half of the Japanese food replica market with its models. Iwasaki's main store is located at the outskirts of the town, while a second store is located in the town center. Both offer visitors hands-on experiences, such as creating a lettuce leaf or tempura pieces. Another sample maker in Gujo is Sample Kobo which operates two stores in the town center. One of the two stores offers hands-on experiences where visitors can create pieces of tempura or a cup of ice cream, while the other comes with a cafe. I make many replicas foods! such as tempura, lettuces, and ramen!!. While waiting for the packaging, I bought a Japanese ice cream!. Very tasty!.

Its almost evening and I went to hotel in Tokyo. The next day I went to Temple again at mountain Koya. Koyasan is a sacred land of Japanese Buddhism in Koya City, Wakayama Prefecture, pioneered by the monk Kukai who founded the Esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism. As one of the Kii Mountain Range's sacred spots and pilgrimage routes, Koyasan was registered as a world heritage site in 2016. Its mountainous beauty and spiritual history attracts many travelers every year. At the koyasan, I went to Konpon Daito Pagoda. Konpon Daito was built as a seminary or place to learn the Shingon Mikkyō. It is the oldest two-storied pagoda still standing. The main Buddha who worshipped here is Taizo Dainichi Nyorai. The entire temple grounds are a 3D version of a mandala(Buddhist symbol representing the universe). The Konpon Daito stands in the middle of this mandala. Very historic.