A Walk To | Asakusa Tokyo

Asakusa is the first area in Tokyo that we explore, curious why? Our hostel is located in Asakusa haha. I think that Asakusa is "the old town" of Tokyo,you can still feel the atmosphere of Tokyo of past decades among the modern and urban Tokyo.

Sensoji and Nakamise shopping street are Asakusa's main attraction which can be reach by foot from our hostel. There are many other shopping street in Asakusa as it's a favorite tourist destination, we've also lost and strolling around Asakusa to find dinner or souvenir :D

Pentax Espio Mini + Kodak Ektar 100

How to get there:

Asakusa is served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Railways. It can also be accessed by the Tokyo Water Bus.

From Tokyo Station

Take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station, transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa

From Shinjuku Station

Take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station, transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa

On The Way | Kyoto Local Bus

Kalau di Tokyo dan Osaka itu kereta jadi transportasi umum yang pertama, di Kyoto itu bus sarana utamanya. Untuk pindah dari satu tempat wisata ke lainnya di Kyoto itu lebih gampang diakses dan murah pakai bus. 

Biar lebih irit nih, sebaiknya kita beli flat fare bus ticket (1 Day Pass Ticket) yang harganya 500 Yen untuk seharian. Jadi kalaupun nyasar ga takut salah buat naik turun bus haha. Biasanya tiket bus ini bisa dibeli di terminal atau tempat penginapan. Waktu itu gw selalu beli di hostel tempat gw nginep, mereka juga nyediain Kyoto travel map :)

Kekurangannya bus ini, petunjuk dan pengumumannya dalam bahasa Jepang jadi kita harus memperhatikan udah sampai mana nih jangan sampai keterusan haha. Kalau nggak punya 1 Day Pass Ticket, kita harus ambil ticket dari mesin tiket yang biasanya ada di dekat pintu. Terus perhatiin tujuan kita di display dekat supir, di bawah tujuan kita ada angka tarif yang harus kita bayar. Biasanya bus ini berhenti di tiap halte, sebelum turun jangan lupa bayar ya haha caranya tinggal masukin tiket dan uang koin sesuai tarif, kalau agak bingung dengan koin biasanya pak supir yang semuanya baik hati bakal bantu kita :')

Salah satu momen yang bikin gw terharu waktu naik bus itu saat pergantian supir, mereka saling membungkuk, salam hormat gitu. Terus pak supir membungkuk ke para penumpang dari depan, masukin papan nama, dan mulai jalanin tugasnya. Emang bener ya kata orang-orang, apapun pekerjaan orang Jepang, sepertinya semuanya dilakuin dengan sepenuh hati & penuh dedikasi :')

Pentax Espio Mini & Olympus Mju Zoom 115

On the Way | Kyoto

Probably, most people say that Tokyo is their favorite city in Japan but I can say that mine is Kyoto. I love it's scenic nature and traditional vibes.

During each visit my grandparents home or traveling, I always wonder if I was born and live in smaller town without traffic, pollution, hustle bustle of Jakarta.


Ok back to the topic haha, if someday I could back to Japan, Kyoto is in my first list, there are more to explore here, then followed by Fujikyu highland (again), Hiroshima and Nagasaki probably :D

Pentax Espio Mini + Fuji Superia 200 (expired) and Olympus Mju Zoom 115 + Fuji Proplus 100 (expired)

A Walk To | Togetsukyo Bridge Kyoto

Following the small walking path from Bamboo Groves, we found Katsura River (which I just knew the name while I'm writing this). We thought we lost at that time because nobody walks there, we found another tourist but then she walked back to the way we came. The path was kinda creepy and it's almost sunset. We were joking that if somebody killed us, nobody will know. What a relief... it didn't happen.

we didn't know the meaning of this sign, we just followed the arrow haha

silent, creepy park :P

Along Katsura river, there are cherry trees which made Togetsukyo Bridge a favorite spot for spring and fall. It reminds me of Banjir Kanal Timur in Jakarta but here is much much better haha. That afternoon I saw young and old couple spending time together, people jogging with their pets, a wedding, and tourists walking - taking pics -taking Pleasure Boat or enjoying time to do nothing and staring at things/people like us :D

after long walk without no one around, finally...a civilization

The Togetsukyo bridge itself was built around 794 and reconstructed in 1930s. I love the view to forested mountainside from here. There are also small stalls on the riverside, since it's spring already, I bought sakura ice cream. The taste? It's like vanilla but less sugar and it has flowery or leaf-ly taste haha

Pentax Espio Mini + Kodak Ektar 100

A Walk To | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto

No wonder that Bamboo Grove become the cover of Lonely Planet's book. It's scenic, another instagramable and new profile pic spot after Fushimi Inari Shrine :D

Just like Fushimi Inari, you have to wait patiently to take picture without no other people captured in the frame.

An afternoon walk here is recommended, that's why we chose Arashiyama after strolling around Nara. I personally don't suggest nightwalking because there are cemeteries behind the bamboo trees, it's kinda creepy and believed to be haunted in Indonesia haha

Nevertheless, the groves are amusing when there is a light wind, the ray come through the tall bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth.

Pentax Espio Mini + Kodak Ektar 100 and Fuji Superia 200 (expired)

How to get there:

Take JR Sagano Line (also known as JR Sanin Line) from Kyoto Station and stop at From Saga-Arashiyama Station, central Arashiyama can be reached in a 5-10 minute walk. Road map is provided on the street. You can also take the bus to reach Arashiyama.

Spring in Kyoto