Japan
(25 Nov 2007 to 02 Dec 2007)
I won a free air ticket in a lucky draw. This time I went alone. I visiteded Osaka (大阪), Shirahama (白濱) and Kii-Katsuura (勝浦). I enjoyed the onsen (hot spring) very much. It was my frist time to travel to Japan alone, first time to stay in a capsule hotel, first time to fly in business class, first time to extend my holiday, first time ......
I won a free air ticket in a lucky draw. This time I went alone. I visiteded Osaka (大阪), Shirahama (白濱) and Kii-Katsuura (勝浦). I enjoyed the onsen (hot spring) very much. It was my frist time to travel to Japan alone, first time to stay in a capsule hotel, first time to fly in business class, first time to extend my holiday, first time ......
| Expenditure before trip |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Airport tax and fuel surcharge |
N/A |
541.0 |
| Travel Insurance |
N/A |
136.0 |
| USJ (環球影城) ticket
from EGL |
N/A |
365.0 |
| Total |
N/A |
1042.0 |
25 Nov 2007
From Hong Kong to Kaisai airport in Osaka (大阪)
Stay in Capsule Hotel, カプセルホテル大東洋
http://club.pep.ne.jp/daitoyo/sauna/index2.html
I traveled from Hong Kong to Kaisai airport.
To my surprise, my flight was upgraded from economy to business class
.
Both neighbours were Japanese. One of them was very nice to me and told
me to take care my
belongings in the capsule hotel.I wanted to buy a round trip bus ticket for transportation between Umeda (梅田) and Shirahama (白濱), but the 07:50 bus was full, I could only bought the 09:50 bus ticket in the airport JR Mitori Window
. Please
noted that
it is much cheaper to take round trip bus. One way JR ticket from
ShinOsaka (新大阪) to Shirahama (白濱) costs 5250 yen and one way JR ticket
from
Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) to ShinOsaka (新大阪) costs 6700 yen. Round trip bus
ticket costs
only 5000 yen.I travelled from Kaisan airport to Umeda (梅田) by JR train. I got the wrong train, the train was heading to Tenoji (天王寺), not Umeda (梅田). A Japanese girl assisted me to take JR Loop Line from Tenoji (天王 寺) JR to Osaka (大阪) JR in Umeda (梅田).
With the guidence of the staff in the information center (near Osaka (大阪) JR South Exit), I went to the capsule hotel. My luggage was too big to be kept in the capsule hotel locker. I had to keep it in my bed
. I went out for dinner. I ate beef rice
and then
went shopping in Umeda (梅田) 
,
bought CD 
for
Frank. Before, I went
back hotel, I ate noodle 
.In the capsule hotel, I watched television
, read
books,
browsed
internet websites 
, enjoyed
sauna 
and
ate cup noodle again before I slept.| Expenditure on 25 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Round trip bus ticket between
Umeda (梅田) and Shirahama (白濱) |
5000 |
353.0 |
| JR ticket from Kansai airport to
Osaka (大阪), Umeda (梅田) |
1160 |
81.9 |
| Capsule Hotel |
2300 |
162.4 |
| Beef rice dinner |
550 |
38.8 |
| Miscellaneous shopping |
2600 |
183.6 |
| Noodle |
650 |
45.9 |
| Bottle water in capsule hotel |
110 |
7.8 |
| Cup noodle in capsule hotel |
200 |
14.1 |
| Total |
12570 |
887.4 |
26 Nov 2007
Travel from Umeda (梅田) to Shirahama (白濱)
Stay in minshuku, 民営国民宿舎 ホテルシラハマ
http://www.naxnet.or.jp/~hs3039/
I took bath and then left the capsule hotel. I had breakfast in a coffee shop
near
Osaka (大阪) JR and bought
some sandwiches for lunch. I got on a bus
to Shirahama (白濱) 
. We
stopped
at the Kinokawa service area 
for
food and
toilet. It took 3 hours to the Shirhama bus center. I bought a 2-day
bus pass in the bus center and then checked in minshuku 
.I travelled from the minshuku to Yuzaki (湯崎) by bus and enjoyed Sakinoyu (崎之湯)
.
Then I walked to the Submarine Observation Tower (海中展望塔) 
,
went to Rinkai (臨海) by
bus, visited Engetsuto Island (圓月島) 
. I
met some tourists from Hong Kong
and
met some English speaking Japanese. Then I walked from Rinkai (臨海) back
to
the Shirahama (白濱) bus center 
. I
visited Shirarahama
(白良濱) 
, Energy
land
(錯視世界) 
and onsen
street 
for free
hand 
and foot
onsen 
. I
had dinner in a restaurant 
and
the restaurant lady was very nice to me, she gave me free sashimi. I
talked to her
and her family in English, Japanese and her translation booklet. Then I
bought some food in a convenient shop and tried to buy some medicine
for my friends in a 100-yen shop. I enjoyed onsen 
with
minshuku staffs
and free massage chair before I slept.| Expenditure on 26 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Breakfast |
450 |
31.8 |
| Sandwich |
420 |
29.7 |
| 2-day bus pass |
1250 |
88.3 |
| Sakinoyu (崎之湯) |
300 |
21.2 |
| Pork rice dinner |
850 |
60.0 |
| Rice bun in a convenient shop |
105 |
7.4 |
| Total |
3375 |
238.3 |
27 Nov 2007
Day time in Shirahama (白濱) and night time in Kii-Katsuura (勝浦)
Stay in minshuku, 民宿こいで
After checked out minshuku, I took bus to the Shirahama (白濱) JR train station.
I waited until 09:00 to keep my luggage in the Meiko Bus shop counter.
Then I went to Tore Tore market (とれとれ市場)
by
bus. I had breakfast 
,
bought
souvenir 
and lunch
box there. The
ice-cream girl assisted me to take
Meiko Bus. I went to Sandanbeki (三段壁)
,
Senjojiki (千疊敷) 
and
Shirahama onsen park
(白濱溫泉公園) 
. I
enjoyed
many onsens in the onsen park 
. Then I went back Shirahama (白濱) JR train station by bus
, got
back my
luggage
and took a rest in the resting area of the Meiko Bus shop. I travelled to Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) by JR train. The train was full of students
, most of
them were good students, but some students were very lazy
and some were very naughty.When I arrived Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) JR train station, I was quite frightened because the street was very dark and I did not know the way to my minshuku. Some pedestrians, restaurants masters instructed me how to go to the minshuku.
I checked in the minshuku
and then
went out for dinner. I
had yaki niku
(bbq meat) 
.| Expenditure on 27 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Check out Minshuku |
3500 |
247.1 |
| Keep luggage in Shirahama (白濱)
train
station |
200 |
14.1 |
| Sashimi in Tore Tore market
(とれとれ市場) |
1000 |
70.6 |
| Sashimi rice in Tore Tore market
(とれとれ市場) |
560 |
39.5 |
| Three rice buns in Tore Tore
market (とれとれ市場) for lunch |
315 |
22.2 |
| 3 boxes of scalop as souvenir |
3060 |
216.0 |
| 5 boxes of fruit cake as souvenir |
5250 |
370.7 |
| Post cards in Sandanbeki (三段壁) |
420 |
29.7 |
| Onsen in Shirahama Onsen Park
(白濱溫泉公園) |
1000 |
70.6 |
| Locker in Shirahama Onsen Park
(白濱溫泉公園) |
100 |
7.1 |
| Bottle green tea in Shirahama
(白濱) JR
train station |
150 |
10.6 |
| JR train from Shirahama (白濱) to
Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) |
1450 |
102.4 |
| Check in minshuku for 2 days |
6000 |
423.6 |
| Yaki niku (bbq meat) dinner |
850 |
60.0 |
| Total |
23855 |
1684.2 |
28 Nov 2007
Whole day Kii-Katsuura (勝浦)
Stay in minshuku, 民宿こいで
Walked from minshuku to bus station. It was too early, so I could not buy round trip bus ticket, I had to pay the bus fare by cash. I did not know how to use the bus numbered ticket, money exchange machine, ...... so stupid. I got off the bus at Daimonzaka (大門坂)
. It was
raining and I walked along the muddy and slippery Kuman Koda
(熊野古道) 
. As it
was too early, no tourists there,
still very dark, shops were not opened yet. I felt very hungry and
cold, therefore I went into a restaurant though it was not opened yet.
I had beef rice breakfast 
. Then I
continued to visit
Kumano Nachi Grand
Shrine (熊野那智大社) 
,
Seigantogi (青岸渡寺) 
,
Sanjunoto
Pagoda (三重塔) 
.
Then I took
bus in Takimae (瀧前) to Kii-Katsuura (勝浦)
and
did not visit Hirou Shrine (飛瀧神社) and Nachi waterfall (那智瀑布). I enjoyed free foot onsen near Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) train station
. I
visited
the fish market, there were many fish 
and
sea birds 
. I
bought
medicine for my friends, walked very long distance to buy CD for
Frank 
and sent post cards in the post office 
.I walked to the Katsuura (勝浦) Wharf (觀光棧橋)
to take
ferry 
to Hotel
Urashima (ホテル浦島) 
. I
had
lunch buffet 
and
enjoyed many onsens in
the hotel 
. As
I finished all
the onsens 
, I got
some
souvenirs 
. It was
a very large hotel 
,
very few
guests in the restaurants 
and
onsens in the afternoon. Before, I left, many
travel
groups arrived the hotel. Note : Stay one night in Hotel Urashima
(ホテル浦島) with buffet dinner, buffet breakfast and onsen costs ￥10500.
Onsen only costs ￥1000. Onsen with buffet lunch costs ￥1500.http://www.hotelurahsima.co.jp
I went back to the wharf (觀光棧橋)
by ferry,
I
tried to buy some medicine
for my
friends and then had chicken dinner in a restaurant near the minshuku.| Expenditure on 28 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Bus from Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) bus
station to Daimonzaka (大門坂) |
410 |
28.9 |
| Beef rice breakfast |
600 |
42.4 |
| Bus from Takimae (瀧前) to
Kii-Katsuura
(勝浦) bus station |
600 |
42.4 |
| Send postcards |
350 |
24.7 |
| Lunch buffet and onsen in Hotel
Urashima (ホテル浦島) |
1500 |
105.9 |
| Chicken dinner |
850 |
60.0 |
| Total |
4310 |
304.3 |
29 Nov 2007
Travel from Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) to Shirahama (白濱) and then from Shirahama (白濱) to Namba (難波)
Stay in Spa World
http://www.spaworld.co.jp
I travelled from
Kii-Katsuura (勝浦) to Shirahama (白濱) by JR train. It was a very warm
train 
. I used
the exchange machine 
to
change my dollar-note to
coins for bus fare.
Then I took bus from Shirahama (白濱) JR station to minshuku because I
wanted
to buy some medicine for my friends in a dispensary near the
minshuku 
.
I bought lunch box and rice bun 
in a
convenient shop and then I
carried
my heavy luggage to the Shirahama (白濱) bus center. I had lunch there
and
then I went shopping in a 100-yen shop 
near the
bus
center. Then I took
bus from Shirahama (白濱) bus center to Umeda (梅田). When the bus stopped
in the
Kinokawa service-area 
, I
discussed with the driver and
I decided to
change my destination from Umeda (梅田) to Namba (難波). I went shopping in
Namba (難波) and
tried to buy medicine for my friends. I kept my luggage in a Nankai
train
station locker 
. Then I
went shopping in Dotonbori (道頓堀) 
,
Shinsaibashi (心齋橋) 
. I
bought a CD 
for Frank and bought some medicine 
for
my friends. I had
noodle and
rice 
,
visited DVD shops for adult 
, Kuromon
market (黑門市場) 
and Den
Den
Town (電器街).
Finally, I walked to the Spa World and stayed there till next
morning 
. It
was
wonderful. There were many big, small, indoor and outdoor onsens 
,
restaurants 
, TV,
books, newspaper, different style massage, resting
area with blanket 
,
gym 
,
swimming pool 
, doctor
fish 
,
water games 
......
| Expenditure on 29 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| JR train from Kii-Katsuura (勝浦)
to
Shirahama (白濱) |
1450 |
102.4 |
| Bus from Shirahama (白濱) JR
station to
Shirahama (白濱) bus center |
330 |
23.3 |
| Lunch box and rice bun |
825 |
58.2 |
| Bottle water in Kinokawa service
area |
110 |
7.8 |
| Locker in Nankai train station |
600 |
42.4 |
| Noodle and rice in Dotonbori
(道頓堀) |
800 |
56.5 |
| Spa World entrance fee |
2700 |
190.6 |
| Spa World ice-cream |
160 |
11.3 |
| Total |
6975 |
492.5 |
30 Nov 2007
Daytime USJ (環球影城), night time Umeda (梅田)
Stay in capsule hotel
After having breakfast, I checked out Spa World
. I
walked to the Shin-Imamiya
(新今宮) JR and traveled to USJ
(環球影城) by JR
(transfer at Nishi Kujo (西九條)) 
. I had
wonderful time there and
"Single
Rider"
made me save time from queuing 
. I
had lunch 
outside
USJ
(環球影城) and
found that
McDonald in Japan is much more expensive than McDonald in Hong
Kong 
.
Then I went to Umeda (梅田) by JR (transfer at Nishi Kujo (西九條)),
however, the Loop
line stopped for 45 minutes due to the train accident 
. I
had dinner in
Umeda (梅田) and went shopping there 
.| Expenditure on 30 Nov 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Spa World breakfast |
680 |
48.0 |
| JR train from Shin-Imamiya (新今宮)
to USJ (環球影城) |
170 |
12.0 |
| Hamburger lunch |
620 |
43.8 |
| Noodle lunch |
320 |
22.6 |
| JR train from USJ (環球影城) to
Umeda (梅田) |
170 |
12.0 |
| Pork rice dinner |
630 |
44.5 |
| Capsule hotel |
2300 |
162.4 |
| Capsule hotel small locker |
10 |
0.7 |
| Capsule hotel extra towel |
200 |
14.1 |
| Capsule hotel noodle |
550 |
38.8 |
| Total |
5650 |
398.9 |
01 Dec 2007
Shopping in Namba (難波), then go to airport and back to Namba (難波)
Stay in Swiss Hotel
I travelled from Umeda (梅田) to Namba (難波) by subway train. I had cuttle fish ball
in
Dotonbori (道頓堀) and soya
milk 
in
Kuromon market (黑門市場) 
.
The cuttle fish ball shop staff was interested in my guide book from
Hong Kong because his photo was printed in the guide book. Then I
requested a carpark staff gave me a free photo copy of my guide book
and I gave the copy to the cuttle fish ball shop staff and he shew me
the way to the wrestling theatre 
.I got back my luggage in Nankai train station and went to Kaisai airport.
I had lunch in the airport. When I checked in, Cathay Pacific requested me to give my seat to other passengers, Cathay Pacific would give me HKD 1000, hotel, dinner, breakfast, upgrade to business class, lounge and free extra 10kg badage fare as compensation. I promised to give my seat to other passengers, but Cathay Pacific refused to give me HKD 1000 because my flight ticket was free.
I checked in Swiss hotel, the room was very big. It was an executive room
. I
had buffet dinner in the hotel and then I went to Spa World by subway
train 
.
However,
I did not enjoy onsen in Spa World because the onsen was not changed,
the same from both Nov and Dec 
.
Therefore, I went shopping in
Den Den
Town (電器街) 
,
Dotonbori (道頓堀) 
,
Shinsaibashi (心齋橋), Wrestling theatre 
and
Namba (難波) City 
.| Expenditure on 01 Dec 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Subway train from Umeda (梅田) to
Namba (難波) |
230 |
16.2 |
| Cuttle fish ball |
300 |
21.2 |
| Soya milk |
60 |
4.24 |
| Locker in Nankai train station |
1200 |
84.7 |
| Nankai train to Kansai airport |
890 |
62.8 |
| Lunch in airport |
1080 |
76.2 |
| Nankai train to Namba (難波) |
890 |
62.8 |
| Subway train from Namba (難波) to
Spa World |
200 |
14.1 |
| Total |
4850 |
342.4 |
02 Dec 2007
From Kansai airport to Hong Kong airport
I had breakfast in Swiss Hotel and then went to the airport by Nankai train. I wanted to get back my HKD 1000, but Cathay Pacific only gave me 3500 yen as transport allowance.
| Expenditure on 02 Dec 2007 |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Nankai train to Kansai airport |
890 |
62.8 |
| Travel allowance from Cathay
Pacific |
-3500 |
-247.1 |
| Total |
-2610 |
-184.3 |
| Expenditure |
Yen |
HK Dollar |
| Before trip |
14759 |
1042.0 |
| 25 Nov 2007 |
12570 |
887.4 |
| 26 Nov 2007 |
3375 |
238.3 |
| 27 Nov 2007 |
23855 |
1684.2 |
| 28 Nov 2007 |
4310 |
304.3 |
| 29 Nov 2007 |
6975 |
492.5 |
| 30 Nov 2007 |
5650 |
398.9 |
| 01 Dec 2007 |
4850 |
342.4 |
| 02 Dec 2007 |
-2610 |
-184.3 |
| Total |
73734 |
5205.7 |
More photos below :
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
