Tag Archives: asakusa

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Oh, Saturday

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Even though I woke up a few hours ago, my body is still has that numb feeling and my eyes keep closing lazily, as if I just woke up. I had an amazing week, it’s almost too good to be true. It was tiring, though, so I wish I could go back to sleep and reward myself with some lazy time, but I have some chores to do (my wardrobe exploded a few minutes ago) and I should really get out of the house soon, for it’s incredibly warm (for February). I’ll leave you with some weekend inspiration and I hope you’ll have an amazing time! tumblr_m8tfo9fcIa1qb5t88o1_r1_500

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Thank you for reading! Enjoy your Saturday <3

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What I hate most about traveling

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There ain’t no sunshine without a little rain, huh? No matter how perfect a trip may be, there is always, yet ALWAYS something that rains on my parade. I’m not talking about forgetting stuff at home (my family got pretty used to having to buy me toothbrushes because for some reason that’s one thing I forget every time) nor literally about bad weather ruining my travels, because most things can be replaced or you can leave without them for a while and I actually like rain, snow, fog and the sorts while traveling. Bad weather makes the cities show their other side and I find it beautiful. What I hate from the bottom of my heart when going abroad is the last day you spend there. You already know your way around the hotel, you know how to get to the hotel, you don’t get lost in train stations anymore, you even know the best coffee shop that’s close to you and then you just pack and leave. I always feel so apathetic when I know it’s the last day I’m spending somewhere. I don’t even know where to go again, what to do, what to visit, where to eat, I just can’t decide! It usually ends up with me running around the city until my body really screams stop so I can take in as much foreign beauty as possible.
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I’ve never felt as if I truly belonged here. Since I was little I felt a weird attraction to asian stuff and as I grew up I ended completely engrossed in the Japanese culture. In 2009 when I’ve first been to Japan, I felt it for the first time, oddly enough in a place worlds apart from the safety of my home, with different people who spoke a language unknown to me and had a different culture, that I belonged there. This sounds waaay cheesier that it did in my head, but I’ll let cheesy pass for once. I fell in love with the narrow streets, the short people, the amazing food, the way new mixed with old and traditional with modern. You could only imagine how bad I felt the last day I spent in Tokyo. All I could think of was how much I’ll miss it all. The city, the temples, the parks, the food, the people. But I survived (after crying half the plane ride back, I still wonder how come I didn’t die from dehydration). The only thing that sucks is that since I’ve been there I can’t help but compare every other city I’m going to to Tokyo and that’s a bummer because nothing compares to Tokyo. I’ll leave you with more photos of the things I miss, I hope you’ll enjoy :)

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And then you’re off :) If you’re interested, you can read more about my trips to Japan here, here, here, here and here.

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Beautiful Japan: Tokyo, oh, Tokyo!

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I’ve missed making a Japan photography post, so here it is! The last pictures taken in Tokyo before heading up north, to Sapporo. Most of the pictures in this post have been taken in Asakusa, Shinjuku and around Ginza, I think. I remember the moments as if it all happened yesterday, but sometimes you can’t quite put a name on a place. Has it ever happened to you?

Make a prayer in the city of sin.

The Asakusa Beer Hall, or casually known, the flying poop (or was it fart?). I was deeply amused when my Japanese friend pointed to it and explained, because I was just wondering inside my head if it would be rude to say what I thought it looks like. It’s supposed to be the burning heart of the Asaki beer, but well, you can see for yourselves.

We took a boat ride and reached the Shinjuku Gyoen (park)

Japan must have some amazingly skilled urban planners because the views are just breathtaking. Everywhere you go, there will be at least one sight you will never be able to forget.

Around Ginza. We were looking for an open restaurant to have some lunch before taking the train to Sapporo (with a brief stop in Aomori)

And a last glance back to the city that stole so many hearts from innocent travelers. I have to admit I didn’t fight much too keep mine, I just… left my heart in Tokyo :)

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Beautiful Japan: Still in Tokyo

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A few of my favourite pictures from around Tokyo. I think the first two are from Tsukiji, Tokyo’s biggest fish market. I remember having lunch in a tiny sushi bar there and obviously having eaten the best sushi of my life. It was a salmon nigiri with melted cheese and onion flambe <3 I’ve just eaten before posting this but I’m hungry again!

The next few are from Asakusa, around the five storied pagoda :)

Here you can see the Tokyo Sky Tree, which back then was under construction. It will be opening in May, I think.

I was a bit appalled upon seeing the world’s famous ~evil~ sign on a pagoda in Asakusa. But then I decided to look more into it and found out this is the Asian swastika which has nothing to do with the Nazis, it’s been originated in the Indian culture long before Germany even existed. The name swastika is derived from the Sanskrit word svastikah, which meant being fortunate and it’s a symbol for compassion, luck, success and happiness. Pretty far from the feeling we get from seeing it nowadays…

Thank you fro reading! Take care!

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Beautiful Japan: A new beginning

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As the title predicts, yes! This is the start of a new series! A series in which I will share with you beautiful pictures and memories from my trips to Japan.

In the beginning I wanted to post about my trips day by day, but they are already more than two years old so, unfortunately, I can’t remember the events well enough in order to relate them. So I decided I’ll share my favourite images in no particular order with tiny insights about the places and my time there.

The picture above is taken on the train, on our way to Tokyo (from the airport). There are still many many small cities separated by rice fields which have these beautiful, slightly traditional houses.

 

Tokyo – on our way to Tokyo Tower.

There are so many architectural wonders in Tokyo, compared to my tiny city. Each building is different and beautiful in its own way.

This is in Ginza if I remember well, close to where our hotel was. It took us so long to find it and it was noon already, I remember whining as we kept walking on narrow streets, dragging my huge suitcase around.

This is in Asakusa, we were visiting the temple when our Japanese friends pointed to the Sky Tree. It will open in a few months and the Sky Tree will be the highest observation point in Japan.

Around Tokyo~

The troublemaker gang!

Special abilities: complaining about the heat, always hungry, pissing the adults off, wanting to do stuff completely different than planned, sneaking out of hotels at night.

What is the furthest place you’ve ever travelled to? Thank you for reading!