Kansai, Fujikawaguchiko + Hakodate. Nov 9 – Dec 9 2022

Around 9 cities, 4 amusement parks, and 2 seasons

[Highlights video](https://vimeo.com/jdq/scenic-japan-kansai)

# Fujikawaguchiko
I began my trip in the charming town of Fujiyoshida and Kawaguchiko, where I spent two weeks exploring the area. I had a plan for half of my stay, but the other half was filled with spontaneous wanderings along the picturesque shores of Kawaguchiko. Some of the highlights of my stay included
– the stunning Oishi park with its pinkish-maroon kochia plants
– the breathtaking Momiji corridor, known for its maple leaves
– the thrilling Fuji-Q highland,
– the peaceful Chureito Pagoda and the nearby streets of Shimoyoshida,
– and the awe-inspiring Tenku no Torii, also known as the “Torii in the sky.”

Although I wasn’t proficient in biking, I still cherished my walk along the northern shores from Oishi park to Kawaguchiko station, offering breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Sadly, my timing was off and just after I left, the mountain was covered in a heavy blanket of snow.

# Tokyo Disneysea
After leaving Fujiyoshida/Kawaguchiko, I spent one day at Disneyland, which was super crowded. The next day, I went on a day trip around Shibuya before taking the Shinkansen to Osaka, where I spent the rest of my time in Kansai.

# Kobe beef
I visited Kobe to try Kobe beef steak at Royal Mouriya. During my downtime in Osaka, I just walked around the Umeda and Suita areas. I also saw the movie “Wakanda Forever” with Japanese subtitles at Osaka Station City Cinemas.

# Kyoto by the Sea
I went to Amanohashidate and Ine, known as “Kyoto by the Sea.” I stayed in a hotel there for one night to have a more relaxed experience. The views were stunning and I could see why it’s considered one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan (日本三景, Nihon Sankei).

## Kasamatsu Park, sandbar, Ine Funaya
On the first day of my visit to Amanohashidate and Ine, I arrived at the Amanohashidate station and went for a walk along the pine tree-lined sandbar. I wished I could have biked instead. I then took a chair lift to Kasamatsu park on the other side. The view from this park resembles a “Bridge to Heaven” when viewed upside down from under your legs, known as “matanozoki.” It’s a quiet park with good food and souvenir options. I spent about an hour and a half there before taking a city bus to the Ine sightseeing boat cruise. I had dessert at the Ine Cafe, which offers a nice panoramic view of the Ine bay.

## Yura River Bridge, View Land, Tango Kuromatsu
The next day, I went to the Yura bridge to see trains cross over the river. It was very peaceful to watch. Then I went to Amanohashidate View Land, another view of Amanohashidate (it looked like a dragon ascending to the sky, “Hiryukan”). The park was packed with activities for kids like rail bikes, a ferris wheel, and a mini train. To wrap up my “Kyoto by the Sea” trip, I took a restaurant/sightseeing train, Tango Kuromatsu, for a dessert/sweet course.

# Kyoto City
The next few days were spent taking the standard tours of Kyoto city. Unfortunately, most of the autumn leaves had already fallen, but I still took the chance to explore the following places:
– The Sagano Romantic Sightseeing train and the surrounding area of Arashiyama
– The temples in Higashiyama
– Fushimi Inari
– The Golden Pavilion.

# Nara & Mie
I did a day trip in Nara to see wild deers, Todai-ji Daibutsu and hike Mt. Wakakusa, before leaving for Mie.

In Mie, I visited Nabano no Sato winter illumination (day 1) and Nagashima Super Land (day 2). In retrospect, I could’ve done this in one full day and shorten my hotel stay by one night. Returned to Osaka afterward

# USJ
To end my trip, I visited Universal Studios Japan (USJ). I splurged a bit and got the express pass premium, which saved me around 12 hours of waiting in line. In the end, I have no regrets as it was worth it.

# Bonus, unplanned trip
I had two full days left after USJ day, with nothing else to do and Japan Rail Pass at hand. So I decided to go to Hakodate to visit the Snow on the Beach. Booked the the Sunrise Seto sleeper train to Tokyo to get the ~8am Hayabusa Shinkansen service. Arrived in Hakodate at around 1pm. Omori beach, Goryokaku Tower, dinner at Lucky Pierrot. The following morning, 7am train bound for Kansai Airport, and then good bye Japan :’(

# some botes
– Ta-q-bin for the “hands-free” travel and hotel/airport transfers 🙂
– Suica for non-JR pass and some retail
– survived 4 weeks with minimal cash. Primarily paid with mastercard, then Suica
– used apple maps as much as possible. The “get off soon” notification from the watch was a nice feature