This Post, I should say ‘berangan-angan’ punya Blog Post lar, hehe. I’m gonna talk about My future travel plan to Japan. Estimate at least 15-17 days, backpacker + adventure style.
If you also planning a trip to Japan, I hope this Future Plan of mine will help you. To share for those who have the same dream like mine.

Basically, I already plan this trip for almost 2 years. What to do, where to go.. Estimate how much, What to eat, Where to live and etc.
I met a few Japanese Friend and also a few friends that been to Japan backpacking or visiting there with a very tight budget. Listening to their story really give me the anxiety without any worry about financial side. Althou, I still need to save some cash.. You know lar just incase, visiting Yodobashi Camera, BIC Camera, Labu, Don Qoijite and a few independent shop that sells vintage camera.. >_< althou, they selling quite a reasonable price.

Before you want to start berangan about you favourite destination.
First you need to research as many website/magazine as you can, not only wikitravel or trip advisor or lonely planet. If you know someone been there or have a friend who are from there, Ask them silly question and other stuff that u wanted to know. For example like their culture, custom, how to get cheap food and etc. Never ask your friend who’d been there just for 5 days with their family or rich friend! Their answer is hopeless! haha (learn form a friend of mine this )
Youtube is your bestfriend too when it comes to Travelling advice.
After research, don’t copy and paste everything into notepad.. Write it down some of the interesting stuff that attract you, something that makes you wanted to go there. Remember the name of the area, not the building!
And also, Try to memorize the City Map + Train/Metro Line. Although nowadays GPS helps allot. But, if you lost in a country that English is not their first language. Matai lar kau sana, kotoh sendiri.

This Map of Southern Tokyo.

Last but not least, wherever you go or whatever you want to do. Money involve everything~
If you’re not those High Class punya manusia type. You can save lotsa $$$ when it comes to Accomodation, transportation and food! If you are able to speak and read their language, itu lagi BAGUS! cos you are like part of their society already. Try to observe them, go to their local food-guide website and translate it using altavista or google translator. Eating in a local restaurant, can save up to 60% the amount of your money instead of having the same meal in hotels or 4-5 stars restaurant.
Try to be adventurous, if you visit Tokyo for 7 days. Try to move to other district motels/hotels.. Maybe today in Akihabara for 2 nights, then Shinjuku.. And in Outskirt of City and last day only treat yourself staying in a 3-4 stars hotel before off to the Airport.

This is my Itinerary Plan, roughly 15-17 Days wandering around Japan, Not only in Tokyo.

Day 1 :
- Departure to Narita Airport from KKIA. 12.50pm flight. Arrive Narita Airport 7.20pm.
- Immigration + Claim Baggage + Customs (takes roughly 1 hour 30mins) 9pm, purchase NEX+Suica Pass at JR East Counter stop at Tokyo Station, change platform to Akihabara where I gonna spend a night there at the nearest Manga Cafe that provides a night stay. After 9pm, most bentos in Convenient (コンビーストア) sales 50% offer, free drinks provide at Manga Cafe. Sleep tight and refill energy for the next day.

Narita Airport (pics from Flickr)

Narita Express to Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station. (pics from Flickr)

Manga Cafe (pics from Flickr)

Shinkansen @Bullet Train (pics from Flickr)

Day 2 :
- Wake Up around 5am, take a fast bath at Manga Cafe’s Bathroom. Have a cup of tea and Bread (パン) purchased at Convenient store last night, take the first train to Tokyo Station (only 2 stops away from Akihabara).
- Place your luggage in a Coin Locker (easy to locate, it’s everywhere in Tokyo) and wandering around until JRPass’s JR East counter open at 7.30am to activate your JR Pass.
- Obtained JR Pass, go to Tokaido Shinkansen Line platform. First stop is Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Daytrip around Nagoya City until the last Shinkansen Train to Kyoto. (Nagoya City Art Museum, Nagoya TV Tower, Spiral Tower, Hisaya Odori Park etc.)
- At Night, Last  train Shinkansen 10pm to Kyoto. Arrive Kyoto 11.30pm, stay at friend’s place for 1 night.

Nagoya Spiral Tower

Day 3 :
-  Wake Up around 7am, wandering around Kyoto. Rent a day bike cycling around. Visiting all the Shrines and Temples & also have their local food (Dango) with friend.
- Early Dinner with friend and take the 10pm Shinkansen Train to Osaka, arrive Osaka 10.30pm.
- Wandering around Osaka at night until midnight and stay at friend’s place for 1 night.

A million gate, Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. (pics from Flickr)

Day 4 :
- Wake up before Rush Hour time, wandering around the city again and capture City of Osaka’s Character during Rush Hour time.
- Osaka Okonomiyaki for Lunch. OMG OMG OMG OMG!
- Visit Umeda Sky Building, Tsuntenkaku, Shinsaibashi and Tenjinbashi-suji. Dinner Sushi Battera and Takoyaki.
- Take the last Shinkansen to Hiroshima, 8.50pm arrive 10.38pm. Check in at Hana Hostel for 2 nights, 3 mins walk from Hiroshima Station. (or I can take next day morning train to Hiroshima)

Shinsaibashi, Osaka. (pics from Flickr)

Day 5 :
- Wake up around 8-9am take my time then visit Peace Memorial park (30mins walk from Hostel), then visits Prefecture Museum of Art + Shukkeien.
- Roughly around 3pm, take tram to Miyajimaguchi then take ferry to Miyajima Island for the floating Torii Gate until Sunset.
- Late evening, take ferry back to Miyajimaguchi and back to Hiroshima. Hiroshima Okonomiyaki for Dinner (Highlight of the Trip!).
- Wandering around Hiroshima till late night. Then have a good sleep!

Miyajima Island – Floating Torii Gate (pics from Flickr)

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki *sawan* (pics from Flickr)

Day 6 :
- Wake up at 5am getting ready to step into Kyushu Island, taking 6.40am Shinkansen to Fukuoka (Hakata Station) arrive 8.20am. Rent a Coin Locker in Hakata Station until 3pm. (or call them whether can check in earlier)
- Breakfast Tonkotsu Ramen (Fukuoka’s Special) and Gyoza.
- Visit Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Momochi Beach, Fukuoka Tower, Kego Koen and etc….
- Check Baseball schedule whether have Baseball match at Yahoo! Dome or Wandering around Canal City and Hakata-bu Historical Area until I can’t move my leg anymore.

Fukuoka Tower (pics from Flickr)

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome (pics from Flickr)

Day 7 :
- Free Day in Fukuoka. Maybe visit other places that the reception recommended or free map I get from tourist centre.
- Lunch for Sushi.. Try to achieve 40plate since the sushi there is around 50-80yen.  HAHA
- Checking Yodobashi Camera then in the afternoon take Shinkansen back to Tokyo 2pm – 8pm. (Hakata – Shin Osaka – Tokyo)
- Arrive Japan’s Capital.. Busiest City in the world around 8pm. Check in to Hostel or if friend willing to let me stay for 3 night. Save RM400+ from accomodation.

Day 8 :
- Shukiji Fish Market early morning, cheap fish cheap sushi. Yummy!
- Visit Imperial Palace then Brunch, around Chuo-ku area.
- Off to Ginza, high fashion district of Tokyo.
- Looking for Melon Pan around Ginza, then head to Lemonsha checking out Vintage Camera.
- Back to my accomodation, relax and looking for free wifi spot update what’s happening and contact online friends and fellow photographer in Tokyo see when are they free.
- Akihabara at night.. Finally, get to see the real Otaku with my own eyes.

Ginza at night (pics from Flickr)

Tsukiji Fish Market

Ginza (pics from Flickr)

Day 9 :
- Akihabara.. nuff said`
- Akihabara.. Banyak bah barang here..
- Akihabara.. OMG
-  Akihabara… yeah right~~

Akihabara, pics explain why I should spend a day here. (pics from Flickr)

Day 10 :
- Ghibli Museum, finally! TOTORO!!
- Walking around Inokashira Park maybe have lunch there while enjoying the view of the park.
- To next destination, Shinjuku where most of the Photo art gallery located. Visit all the gallery one by one. *heaven*
- Shinjuku.. Music, Cameras, Anything!!

Ghibli Museum (pics from Flickr)

Shinjuku at Night (pics from Flickr)

Day 11 :
- Morning free day.. Be like the local~~ Jalan mana2 jak
- Late Morning, train to Jimbocho.. Book Town of Tokyo, looking for old photobook and art related stuff here.
- Early Evening to Shibuya, a must see the Scramble Eggs Crossing.
- Shibuya…. Music, 109, Idol.. More More More! LOL LOL LOL *facepalm*

Jinbocho (pics from Flickr)

Shibuya Umbrella (pics from Flickr)

Where art thou Shibuya 109 (pics from Flickr)

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Day 12 until Day 17 :
- Visit places that I missed (Akihabara, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ochanamizu)
- Day Trip to Yokohama
- Curry Theme Park, Ramen Theme Park, Food Theme Park (Yeazza!! where you can find Food Theme Park around the world? Only in Japan! I reckon)
- Tokyo Dome? baseball…
- Meeting Online Friends and Photographer
- Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree
- Odaiba, Fuji TV Building, Tokyo Rainbow Bridge
- Many more to discover once I step there…

Yokohama (pics from Flickr)

Food Theme Park (pics from Flickr)

Tokyo Dome (pics from Flickr)

Odaiba, Fuji TV building (pics from Flickr)

Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower background. (pics from Flickr)

Tokyo Sky Tree, under construction. (pics from Flickr)

Lastly, don’t forget to pack your stuff and off to Narita Airport. 1.30pm flight back to KKIA arrive 6.15pm. Damn, even typing this makes me feel so miserable ehh~~

So that’s how How I plan for my future trip. There’s a few thing that I didn’t mention so I’m gonna list down the link below here, have a look :
- Tokyo Art Beat website (Where you can check all the latest Art Exhibition photos, painting, sculpture, installation and contemporary.)
- Japan Rail Pass (Japan’s JR didn’t market this, you have to search yourself to get super cheap Shinkansen tickets travel around Japan.)
- NEX-Suica and also Pasmo Card (NEX-Suica is a discounted Card for you to take Express Train from Narita to Tokyo + free Suica card. If you don’t want to get stressed from the Spaghetti Train/Metro Line, I encourage everyone to purchase Suica and Pasmo Card save 20% from any destination. In Tokyo Only!)
- Used Camera Shop Link (If you’re a photo lover like me, this link is a must for you to check out.)
- Shinkansen Timetable in English (Hyperdia is the only Timetable web that provide in English and it’s updated! Check the timetable there when and where to take off to you next destination.)
- Japan Guide Website (The website doesn’t look modern, but you can get lotsa info about Japan generally.)

Wow.. What long post! It takes 2 and half days (1hour30mins a day) for me to complete this.
So, are you gonna plan you trip to Tokyo now? hehe

I hope so!

-peace bebeh and one love-

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Documentary, Life 2 Comments May 27th, 2010