(Part 1)
I have been dreaming to visit Japan for such a long time. I always felt connected to Japan. I love anime, ramen, and anything that is zen and beautiful. So when I had the wonderful opportunity of an airfare price down from Jetstar Airways I cannot let pass the chance to book round trip air tickets to this beautiful country. You can check out this link for Jetstar all day, everyday low fares https://www.jetstar.com/ph/en/home.
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean. This country is near for 4-5 hours of air travel from my home country the Philippines. Japan is amazingly beautiful encompassing different natural terrains, mountains and alps, natural hot springs, beautiful parks, magnificent lakes, and captivating flower fields. Japan is also surrounded by magnificent temples and castles. You can visit Japan all year round but the most beautiful seasons are spring and autumn. Spring is where you can enjoy the charming cherry blossoms while Autumn is where you can capture the wonderful changes in colors of nature. Trees transforming from green to orange and red.
If you are traveling during the Autumn Season you can expect a friendlier climate which ranges from 23 degrees to 28 degrees. Our family opted to travel to Japan during the Autumn Season.
We visited Japan in October of last year. Anika and I were onboard Jetstar flight inbound to Chuubu Airport while Alexis went with her Lola and Tita Tina on board Cebu Pacific flight and arrived at night. (If you want to check Cebu Pacific Airfare click this link.) https://www.cebupacificair.com
Anika and I landed at Chuubu Airport past 5 in the morning and waited for my brother's arrival who joined us on our family vacation.
Our Japan family trip covered Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. From Chuubu Airport We grabbed a quick breakfast and went to Noritake Garden.
Noritake Garden is famous for its red brick building, a fountain plaza, and the vast green garden.
You can easily relax in this serene garden. You can stroll around and have lovely walks, they also have restaurants inside the Noritake premises if you want to eat.
My daughter running around the green garden and enjoying the lovely sights.
If you are traveling to Nagoya on a tight budget you can include Noritake Garden to your itinerary because this one lovely place is free from the entrance fee.
My daughter Anika posing for the camera. In the background is the famous red brick building.
I having my red brick moment at the Noritake Garden while Anika is resting near the fountain. Noritake Garden is located 3-1-36 Noritakeshin-machi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken . Noritake Garden is easily accessible by several local train lines. The closest major transport hub is JR Nagoya Station. The closest train station is Kamejima Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line. It’s just a few minutes from Kamejima Station.
From Nagoya Station, Noritake Gardens is a 15-minute walk. You can also get there by taking the Meguru loop tourist bus line.
Our next stop was Shiritori Garden. Anika enjoyed her time here feeding the koi fishes and seeing the ducks swim in the pond. While I simply enjoyed the tranquility of this place. Actually, We did not see the whole garden and missed the beautiful yukitsuri ( tree protector) Shiritori Garden is more beautiful at night glowing with illumination.
Shirotori Garden is located 2-2-5 Atsuta Nishimachi, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 456-0036, Japan. Access via train is Subway Meijo-line "Jingu Nishi" sta. Exit4. Entrance fee is
300 yen for adults while Junior High School students or younger are free.
The third and last stop from our 1st day in Nagoya was Atsuta Shrine.
The Atsuta Shrine is home to the “Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi(a sword)", which is one of the Three Sacred Imperial Treasures. This is the 2nd largest shrine after Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture, about 6.5 million people visit here annually.
My brother cleaning himself at Chozuya.
Chozu (cleansing yourself) is the customary way to clean or purify yourself before making any prayers at shrines or temples in Japan.
The Chozuya is a large basin with special wooden dippers that are usually located at the entrance of shrines and temples. It is customary for visitors to purify themselves here before stepping on sacred grounds. ( from https://matcha-jp.com/en/201 )
Atsuta Shrine was the final destination on our first day in Nagoya. Anika was really tired and hungry from all the walking that we did. Anika had sweet-tasting warm ramen, this includes really delicious tofu. Atsuta Shrine has many restaurants inside the compound you can choose from.
Atsuta Shrine address is 1 Chome-1-1 Jingu, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 456-8585, Japan
We fetched Alexis together with her Lola and Tita at the train station. They arrived in Nagoya late than expected because the immigration officer was stricter. The immigration officer apparently offloaded 2 young Filipino women who cannot answer their queries.
This moment was nerve-wracking because I do not have communication with my sister. She has no internet connections. They supposed to arrived at the train station 3 hours earlier. So my brother, Anika, and I waited for their arrival. Plus I was so bothered we might miss the last train ride going home to our Airbnb. My daughter strolls around with my brother to entertain themselves while I patiently sit and waited for them.
In the span of my waiting a Japanese old lady approached me and gave me a newspaper. She could not speak English and I could not understand Japanese. She just demonstrated to me that I should use the newspaper and sit on it so that my pants would not become dirty. I was amazed and really felt wonderful. I had read so many stories about how warm, welcoming, friendly, and helpful Japanese people to tourists when I personally experience this warm and helpful Japanese Lady I was convinced that this is real. The Japanese people are amazingly cordial they will make you feel special and they love to make you feel welcome in their country.
Japan is quite an expensive travel destination but I would definitely go back and visit other beautiful places and be mesmerized again by the unique charm and beauty Japan has to offer. When that time happens we will be a complete family on vacation.
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