Our first trip to Japan!

From Malaysia ✈ to Japan 🚄

Our journey from KLIA to Haneda Airport ( HND)

December 30. We safely arrived in Haneda Airport at 10.15 p.m. and took a taxi to the apartment Sun White Gyutoku 202 to recharge and rest our body from the long journey. 

 

This apartment is really comfy and suitable for a group of travellers. It only cost about ¥95418. We really enjoyed ourselves here as this apartment location is really strategic to the city, and it is also easier for us to find Halal food around here.

December 31.The next morning, we wake up early in the morning and make breakfast together as we are so excited to start our journey to Tokyo Disneyland Resort. Our dream theme park ever !😍😆 We took a taxi as we wanted to enjoy the city view of Tokyo. 🚖🌈

        FUN FACTS 💭💬

Japanese work culture is well-known with hardworking 💪in all around the world. Unfortunately, this culture has lead to bad tragedies such as "Karoshi" (death by overworking) among the community 😨 and this was recognised by the government. Therefore, interest in leisure marketing has risen in Japan from the late 1950s until now. 🎌

NOW, LET'S BEGIN OUR JOURNEY ! 🚶😍

DAY 1: TOKYO DISNEYLAND RESORT🎌 

Finally, we are in Tokyo Disneyland Resort! 😍 What dreams come true. We are so amazed with the view of this resort which was the same view as we expected from the internet picture. We entered the resort by paying the ticket for about ¥8700 (RM322) 💵💸per person. For your information, this resort was opened on April 15, 1983 and was the first Disney park that was built outside the United States while DisneySea construction began in October 1998 and completed in August 2011. Disneyland and DisneySea theme park consist of 7 different attraction ports for tourist all around the world to spend their lesiure time

ATTRACTION PLACES IN DISNEYLAND😍

1. ADVENTURELAND

Adventureland includes attractions that encompass the spirit of adventure. Here you can join a jungle cruise, explore the Swiss Family Treehouse, ride the Western River Railroad and sail with the Pirates of the Caribbean.

2. FANTASYLAND 

Fantasyland is based on the classic animated films by Disney and is home to the iconic Cinderella's Castle at the center of the park, as well as other characters and rides such as Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Snow White, It's A Small World and Pooh's Hunny Hunt.

3. TOMORROWLAND

Tomorrowland explores the themes of outer space and future technologies. It is home to popular attractions such as Space Mountain, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek and the Happy Ride with Baymax.

4. WESTERNLAND 

Westernland is themed after the US western frontier along the Rivers of America. The area is home to the popular rollercoaster Big Thunder Mountain, while Tom Sawyer Island is located out in the middle of the river.

5. WORLD BAZAAR

World Bazaar, located at the main entrance to the park, is a covered shopping arcade lined by shops and restaurants. The area is designed like an early 20th century American town and serves as the park's main shopping area where many guests stop on their way out of the park.

6. TOONTOWN 

Toontown is a suburban toon neighborhood where the Disney characters live, work and play. Aimed at a younger audience, Toontown lets visitors meet Mickey and Minnie at their houses, play on Donald Duck's boat, check out Chip'n Dale's Treehouse and ride a kid sized rollercoaster.

7. CRITTERCOUNTRY 

Critter Country is home to Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear and the other characters from the Disney film "Song of the South". Here you can find the popular Splash Mountain log ride, as well as guided canoe tours on the Rivers of America.

ATTRACTION PLACES IN DISNEYSEA😍

1. MEDITTERANEAN HArBOUR 

Enjoy the views as you ride on a Gondola through Romantic Canal

2. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND 

Explore the fantastic undersea world aboard small submarines 

3. MERMAID LAGOON 

Explore the DisneySea World with different types of attraction

4. ARABIAN COAST 

This two-level Carousel offers camels and others steeds, including the Genie

5. LOST RIVER DELTA 

You can ride a high-speed train  to avoid the traps and escape the vengeful Crystal Skull

6. PORT DISCOVERY 

Board a watercraft for whirling ride with unexpected turns!

7. AMERICAN WATERFRONT 

Experience the American waterfront living by your own eyes!

✉GUEST SERVICES ✉

1. Baby Center / Nursing Mother's Lounge 

2. Hand Washing Area

3. Stroller & Wheelchair Rentals 

☝TRAVEL GUIDE 👇

1.  Do not be worried about the language barrier as the signboard of the park is bilingual English. 👍

2. A security and guardian will guide you going toward your desires in the theme parks. 👋

3. We recommend to go for ride and go seek with characters of Monters Inc. It was really adventureous as you needed a flashlight to trigger special effects and uncover the hiding monsters along the way!👀

We feel so blessed as we manage to adventure so many things that we never imagined in this resort! 😀😁Our leisure time is successfully spent with new knowledge and self-love.👏👏 Alhamdullilah for this oppurtunity 😊

DAY 3 : Let's go to the AKIHABARA Guys

 💝AKIHABARA💝

 

1. What is Akihabara?

Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. It's also the best places to witness the underground cultural of Japan and shop high-technology gadgets.

 

Our second place is Akihabara. Before we proceed to this place, we had a lunch at 12.30 p.m. until 14.00 p.m. After that, we go to the Japan Railway (JR) Yamanote Line to buy our ticket. JR Yamanote Line is the easiest way to get to the Akihabara. Our trip is about three minutes and the costs is about 140 yen per person. 

 

JR Yamanote Line to Akihabara Station

Next, After we arrive in Akihabara Station, we decided to choose 3 of best places in Akibahara such as Otaku Goods, Game Center, and Rare Collection.

1. What is Otaku Goods?

💛 In Otaku, Maid cafes are cosplay themed restaurant where guest are served                        waitresses that are typically dressed as French maids.

 

3. What is Game Center? 

💥 In Akihabara, there a Game center which is SEGA Game Center. The Street of              Akihabara are lined with numerous arcades and game centers where visitors              can have fun playing a lot a game.

4. What is Rare Collection?

👾 There a lot of rare collections around streets in Akihabara such as shop that                 specializing anime and manga characters.

Finally, at time 2000 p.m., we all had a dinner together and go back to our hotel at time 0000 a.m.

Spiritual journey at Sensoji Temple ⛩️👺👹

Sensoji Temple

Day three; Sensoji Temple

Our first place is Sensoji Temple. We are taking our breakfast in the early morning, so that we have more time to explore in Tokyo. As we planned, we were going to one of the oldest temples in Japan, Sensoji Temple. We took a taxi to get to Sensoji temple. Our journey from the hotel was 10km. The charge imposed on us was 3290 Yen. There are many more ways to get there. either take the train. but we were less savvy considering this was the first time we got to Tokyo. Therefore, we choose transportation that is convenient for us to use. 

From April to September, Sinsoji's main hall is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from October to March, it is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Sensoji temple is open to the public for free. The temple grounds are constantly open, and the main structure is lit up from sunset until 11 p.m. every night.

History of Sensoji Temple

Sensoji temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon and located in Tokyo's Asakusa neighborhood, is the city's oldest and most colorful religious structure. It is also Japan's most visited temple and the world's most visited spiritual destination, with about 20 million yearly visits. Sensoji is a large temple complex dedicated to Kannon Bodhisattava, the compassionate nirvana achiever and the Bodhisattva of compassion. It includes the main temple structure and a 5-story pagoda, as well as an on-site retail street, the Nakamise-dori.

Sensoji's history dates back to the year 628, when two local brothers were fishing when they found a golden statue of Kannon in the Sumida River. Despite the fact that they returned the statue to the sea, it seemed to mysteriously return to them. The leader of the then-small town of Asakusa chose to rebuild his own home into a shrine to hold the statue and encourage residents to worship it as a result of this obviously miraculous occurrence. In 645, the first version of the Sensoji temple was built.

When Tokugawa shogun Ieyasu designated the location as a family shrine to act as spiritual protection against prospective invasions from the northeast in the 1600s, the temple gained even more symbolic importance. Sensoji later had visits by powerful samurai warlords from the Taira and Minamoto families in the 10th and 11th centuries, who chose to restore and extend portions of the temple. The now-famous Kaminarimon and Hozomon Gates were built during this time period. The torii gate, which marks the entrance to the Nishinomiya Inari inner shrine, was built in 1727 and is a major element of the modern-day temple. Despite the fact that most of the Sensoji complex was destroyed during World War II air raids on Tokyo, the temple has since been completely rebuilt and is now seen as a symbol of rebirth and peace in Japan.

Sensoji Temple from top view

What to do in Sensoji Temple? 

Kaminarimon

Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate. Kaminarimon, the Sensoji Temple's outer gate, is not only an iconic emblem of Asakusa, but it's also one of Tokyo's most popular gathering spots and picture opportunities. The gate is known for its massive crimson chochin light, which weighs about 700 kg and looms over those who pass beneath it. The word Kaminarimon, which loosely translates as "thundergate," appears on the front of the lantern, while the official name of the gate, Fraijinmon, appears on the back.

Kaminarimon gate view

On each side of the Kaminarimon gate are statues of two minor Japanese gods: Fujin-sama, the deity of wind, and Raijin-sama, the god of thunder and lightning.

Dragon-shaped Carving

Many visitors to Kaminarimon may have spotted a lovely, intricate dragon-shaped carving on the lantern's bottom. It is, in fact, the "Dragon Sculpture," a highly significant artwork.

When the two brothers caught the statue of the Kannon Bodhisattva in their net, a dragon with brilliant gold scales appeared from the sea, according to tradition. As a result, the dragon carved into the lamp is seen as another god guarding the temple.

Dragons that live in the seas are also thought to have control over the clouds and rain in Japan. Asakusa used to be a town full of fragile, fire-prone timber structures crowded tightly together. Because it was a water dragon, this dragon was venerated as a deity who could save Asakusa from fire with its water strength. This adds to the significance of the sculpture at the bottom of the Thunder Gate light.

Hozomon Gate

Hozomon Gate

Hozomon is Sensoji's main gate, which dates back to the 10th century but, like most of the temple's other structures, has been renovated several times.

Hozomon, like Kaminarimon, is protected by two sculptures that are claimed to be based on two great sumo wrestlers from the 1960s, Kitanoumi and Myobudani Kiyoshi. A pair of massive waraji straw sandals, constructed to commemorate the sculptor and weighing about 2.5 tons apiece, can be seen at the rear of the monument on the right-hand side.

Waraji straw sandal

Joukoro

A big crowd generally gathers just inside the gate around the joukoro, a giant incense burner supposed to cure the wounds of those who bathe in its smoke.

Joukoro

Nakamise- Dori

Nakamise, a 200-meter-long retail strip within the temple grounds, is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir markets. Its history as a commercial center dates back centuries to the Edo era.

Nakamise, which runs between the Kaminarimon and Hozomon gates, is home to about 90 stores offering traditional Japanese goods including as kimonos, fans, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints, as well as a variety of foods from the Asakusa neighborhood.

Nakamise-Dori

Omizuya

Before paying their respects, people cleanse their mouth and hands at Omizuya. Omizuya is used by only Sensoji Temple and generally called as Chozusha.

Omizuya

Main Hall

When you arrive at the main hall, you can make your monetary offering and pray to Kannon, who is enshrined in the shrine's rear.

They propose putting your hands together in front of your chest and reciting the phrases Namu Kanzeon bosatsu at Sensoji Temple. The Japanese Buddhist way of expressing "Amen to Kannon Boddhisattva" is Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu.

Main Hall

At Main hall, at section Hondo's (main temple) if the place is open you can go there and make sure you look up to the ceiling. Some of the greatest painting are painted directly to the ceiling.

Celestial Nymph Painting 

Dragon Painting

Travel Guide 🚊🚊🚊

These are some advice when someone go to temple or shrine or any sacred place that local people are protect the place.

Maintain a calm and courteous demeanour. If you are unwell, have an open wound, or are mourning, you are NOT PERMITTED TO ATTEND ⛔⛔⛔ shrine since they are regarded impurities. Avoid going in the middle of the road on the way to the shrine; instead, stick to the sides, as the centre is reserved for the deities.

Take one of the supplied ladles to the purifying fountain at the shrine's entrance, fill it with fresh water, and clean your left and right hands. Then, fill your cupped hand with water, rinse your mouth, then spit the water alongside the fountain. The water should not be swallowed or transferred immediately from the ladle into your mouth.

Return no water from the ladle to the fountain; instead, discard it beside the fountain. It is recommended that you have a handkerchief on hand to dry your hands afterward. You'll note that a lot of people skip the mouth washing or the cleansing procedure entirely.

Throw a penny into the offering box, bow twice, clap your hands twice, pray for a few seconds, then bow once more in the offering hall. Use a bell or gong if one is available before beginning the operation. 

At shrines, PHOTOGRAPHY IS TYPICALLY PERMITTED 🚫🚫🚫, with the exception of inside the structures. When in doubt, look for signs or ask the temple personnel.

Last but not least, DO NOT LITTER!!! 🚯🚯🚯