Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VIII - The end}

Previous post Summer in Japan Diary {Part VII}, click here.

DAY 9 - AMEYA YOKOCHO - YANAKA GINZA - ISETAN SHINJUKU - SUKIYA - HANEDA AIRPORT 

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VII}

Previous post Summer in Japan diary {Part VI}, click here.

DAY 8 - OMOTESANDO - DOMINIQUE ANSEL - HEIROKU SUSHI - KABUKICHO - IZAKAYA DINNER @SHINJUKU 

Spending our last full day before going back to Jakarta the next day at our favorite part of Tokyo, Omotesando. We love Omotesando so much that we practically had been going back to this area almost every day during our Tokyo trip. I can't really explain why the area is our favorite, mostly about feeling, of course aside from the so many good food, the shops, the modern chic street and my favorite laid back alley on the back of Gyre building where Tonkatsu Maisen, Luke Lobster, Gyoza Lou and many more are located.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VI}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part V, click here.

DAY 7 - ASAKUSA - DAIKOKUYA TEMPURA - TOKYO STATION - SHAKE SHACK - MUTEKIYA RAMEN

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part V}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part IV can be read here. (click on link).

DAY 6 - TSUKIJI FISH MARKET - GINZA - GYUKAKU MOTOMURA - HARAJUKU GYOZA LOU - GOOD TOWN DOUGHNUTS - KABUKICHO SHINJUKU - MATSUYA

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part IV}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part I, Part II, Part III can be read here. (click on link).

DAY 5 - FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE - SHINKANSEN KYOTO TO TOKYO - JR KYUSHU BLOSSOM SHINJUKU HOTEL - MAISEN TONKATSU - MAGNOLIA BAKERY - SHIBUYA

Since we don't have much time in Kyoto, we have to choose between either Arashiyama Bamboo Forest or Fushimi Inari. We ended going to Fushimi Inari with reasons that it is closer so we can spend more time exploring the place rather than rushing back and forth Arashiyama.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part III}

Summer in Japan Diary Part I can be read here.
Summer in Japan Diary Part II can be read here.
 

DAY 3 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN - KAITEN BELT SUSHI DOTONBURI - DARUMA KUSHIKATSU 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN 

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part II}

Previous post of Summer in Japan Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

DAY 2 - HOZENJI YOKOCHO - KUROMON MARKET - AQUARIUM KAIYUKAN - SHINSEKAI - TSUKENKAKU TOWER - TENJIMBASHISUJI SHOPPING STREET - YAYOIKEN - MIZUNO OKONOMIYAKI - EBIBASHISUJI

HOZENJI YOKOCHO

5 mins walk from Namba Station exit 14

Hozenji Yokocho is one of my personal favorite. The temple with quaint narrow alley located at the busy Minami area take you back to the olden days of Osaka. Can't believe this place located just few blocks away from the vibrant Dotonburi. You can really feel the strong Japanese culture in this place. Rows of small authentic Japanese restaurants are along the alley. We went here early morning before our trip to Kuromon market so the shops are all closed, they only open around late afternoon and sadly we didn't have time to come back later that day, even though our hotel just 10 minutes walk away. Seriously, we loved how Cross Hotel is so conveniently located. The famous Hozenji Sanpei Okonomiyaki and Daruma Kushikatsu can also be found here.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part I}

 

Hello! Welcome to my Summer in Japan travel diary!

To most people, summer might not be the best season to visit Japan. We know that the peak times to visit are in spring and autumn, but we had our reasons. The very first one is that when it comes to traveling, Hubs doesn't have a flexible schedule. We own a humble business and though it can be managed without having him there everyday, He always there. He's a workaholic and I love that about him. My parents are both workaholic too, we have our small family business, so since my childhood, I am used to the idea of having long holiday only on Idul Fitri or new year where here in my hometown, most business will closed for a period of week or two.

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part II}

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I}

Another Bangkok travel diary, this time on Christmas. Obviously, we didn't plan to go to Bangkok to celebrate Christmas since it isn't the best city for it. The majority religion in Bangkok is Buddhism, so you hardly see any big celebrations nor Christmas decorations here. 

To cut straight to the story, we spent 6 days in the city and again, we stayed at our favorite hotel in Bangkok, Amari Watergate Hotel. I'm not going to talk much on this as I've covered on why we love this hotel on my previous Bangkok trip. But to say it again, if you like street food and shopping, Pratunam is the best area to stay in Bangkok, and Amari Hotel is the best one to stay, good accommodation with great location. 

Ivy's Travel: Snacks To Buy in Japan

Since I am still working through hundreds of pictures from my Japan trip, let's start with something less editing stressful. I bought quite many snacks to bring home though of course, there are many many other snacks that I didn't buy. I'm going to show you only what snacks I bought, where to buy and whether they are recommended or not. And no, I'm not crazy, most of them were for my family, my nieces, nephews and friends, they were not all for me. 

Ivy's Travel: Singapore Food Diary IV

A short post on what we ate during our last SG trip. Don't expect any trending cafes since we didn't go to any. It's funny how I changed so much now that I'm not really into the rapidly growth food scenes. Normally my trip to SG won't be complete without visiting few of the trending spots, but now I am more into locals and food that I do enjoy rather than wasting my tummy space for fancy cafes' typical food, not that I won't be going there for good, it just won't be my priority anymore. 

Ivy's Travel: The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter - Osaka Japan

Let's start our Summer in Japan travel diary with one of the highlight from the trip. I have been a fan of Harry Potter, probably not a super avid one, but I read and watched all the series. Yes, I am a book nerd and a movie slut. In that context, I was beyond excited to finally witness Hogwarts off screen. 

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Travel Diary {Part III}

Story on my previous posts on Bangkok travel diary can be read here. 

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Travel Diary {Part I) 

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Travel Diary {Part II}

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Travel Diary {Part II}

My travel story on Bangkok part 1 can be read here.

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Food Diary {Part I} 

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Travel Diary {Part I}

Writing on travel post is never an easy one. The amount of time for choosing from hundreds of pictures, then editing them and the long writes. One of the reasons why I'm forcing myself to always do this after travel is because I enjoy rereading them and memorizing back those travel days. Also, I hope it can somehow be helpful for people who plan to travel to the same city, since I gained a lot of knowledge from blog walking on others' travel posts as well.

Ivy's Travel: Hong Kong Food Guide

Hong Kong has always been one of my favorite cities in Asia. I grew up having most of my holidays here since Mom and Dad often take us to China, and we always make sure to transit several days in Hong Kong. I can't exactly recall how many times I've been in the city, probably around fifteen and still a visit here is always, always irresistible.

Ivy's Travel: Christmas Festive in Singapore

It always fun to be in Singapore during Christmas since we hardly see any Christmas celebration in Jakarta. Though I'm not Christian, I do admit Christmas decorations are the best. One of my bucket list is to be able see Christmas in New York in person.

This post won't be long, since I only want to show you what Christmas look like in Singapore. Orchard Road, the heart of the city, was filled with lights, Christmas trees and ornaments. A sight to the eyes. 

Ivy's Travel: Dubai Travel Diary

Hello! :) It's time to share my stories in Dubai. It took me quite a time to write on this one as I'm not really sure the best way to describe this whole trip. My travels had always been personal, with my family mostly, or with friends that I am really close with. This one is... different, in a good way. 

Ivy's Travel: Bangkok Pattaya Diary {Part 2}

Hello! My babbling on Bangkok trip part 2 starts. If you missed out the part 1, please click here.

DAY 4 (CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET - PLATINUM FASHION MALL - HELLO KITTY CAFE)

CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET

When you plan a trip to Bangkok, be sure to fit in Saturday and Sunday so you don't miss Chatuchak. The market only opens on weekend and it has lots of things not to be missed, fashion, home wares, kitchen wares, souvenirs and the FOOD! Make sure you have a good bargaining skill, as besides from the food, everything is up for bargain. 
It opens from 8.30am, though many sellers will only open their shops around 10.