Isang Araw sa Gifu Park

Kapag nababanggit ang Gifu, karaniwang pumapasok sa isip ang UNESCO World Heritage Site na Shirakawa-Go na matatagpuan sa hilagang bahagi nito. Binubuo ito ng mga lumang Gassho-styled houses na napanatiling maganda at maayos sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Bukod dito, mayaman sa kasaysayan ang Gifu. Maraming lugar dito ang minsang naging sentro ng mga castle towns noong 1500s. Isa sa masasabing kayamanan ng Gifu ay ang Gifu Castle na makikita sa tuktok ng Kinkazan.

Ang Gifu Castle

Ang Gifu Castle ay orihinal na itinayo ng pamilyang Nikaido noong 1200s. Naging higit na kilala ito dahil dito namalagi si Oda Nobunaga, isang daimyo o feudal lord noong 1500s, sa loob ng siyam na taon bago siya lumipat ng Azuchi Castle sa Shiga. Dahil sa magandang lokasyon at istilo ng pagkakagawa ng castle town, naging modelo ito sa iba pang mga itinayo noong panahon na iyon. Mula sa tuktok ng castle makikita ang napakagandang view ng Gifu City, ang kahabaan ng Nagara River at ang mga bundok na nakapaligid sa Gifu. Hindi mo mapipigilang mamangha sa ganda ng tanawin at mapapaisip kung paano naitatag ng mga sinaunang tao ang castle na ito sa tuktok ng bundok.

Upang makapunta sa Gifu Castle, maaaring sumakay ng Kinkazan Ropeway na tumatagal lamang ng tatlong minuto. Ang istasyon nito ay matatagpuan sa Gifu Park na nasa paanan ng Kinkazan. Bawat 15 minuto ay mayroong biyahe ang ropeway paakyat at pababa ng bundok. Para naman sa mga mas gustong akyatin ang bundok, mayroon din na mga hiking trails na maaaring sundan paakyat.

Sa labas ng Gifu Castle makikita ang Gifu Castle Archives Museum na nagtataglay ng ilang mahahalagang artifacts mula sa Gifu Castle. Makikita rito ang ilang lumang sandata, baluti at helmet na ginamit noong 1500s. Kasama na sa ticket ng Gifu Castle ang pagpasok sa museum na ito.

Makikita naman pagbaba ng ropeway sa tuktok ng Kinkazan ang Squirrel Village. Ito ay tila maliit na zoo na puro squirrel lamang ang kanilang inaalagaan. Maaari mong pakainin ang mga squirrel sa iyong kamay. Mababait ang mga squirrel at hindi takot sa mga tao. Mayroon din na mga staff na palaging nagbabantay kaya walang dahilan upang matakot sa pakikipaglaro sa mga squirrel. Mayroon din pinapahiram na gloves upang protektahan ang iyong kamay habang pinapakain ang mga ito.

           

Matatagpuan rin na nakakalat sa iba’t ibang lungsod sa Gifu ang mahigit kumulang 13 pang castle. Ang ilan dito tulad ng Kiyosu Castle, Ogaki Castle at Sunomata Castle ay nagkaroon ng mahalagang papel sa Battle of Sekigahara noong 1600.

Ang Gifu Park

Ang Gifu Park ay isang malaking parke sa paanan ng Kinkazan kung saan maaaring mamasyal at magpahinga habang pinagmamasdan ang iba’t ibang halaman at bulaklak sa paligid. Makikita rin dito ang iba’tibang atraksyon tulad ng:

           

Gifu City Museum of History. Dito malalaman ang mayamang kasaysayan at paraan ng pamumuhay sa Gifu. Makikita rin dito ang ilan sa mga tradisyunal na produkto ng Gifu at mga lumang artifacts na nahukay sa ilang bahagi ng Gifu na tinatayang ginamit pa ng mga sinaunang nanirahan sa Gifu may ilang libong taon na ang nakakalipas. Mayroon din ditong replika ng free market na pinasimulan ni Oda Nobunaga noong 1500s.

Nawa Insect Museum. Ang museum na ito ang unang insect museum sa buong Japan. Pinasimulan ito ni Yasushi Niwa, ang nakadiskubre ng isang uri ng paru-paro na matatagpuan sa Gifu na binansagang “Gifu Butterfly.” Makikita rito ang halos 300,000 specimen ng 18,000 uri ng insekto.

Lokasyon ng dating tirahan ni Oda Nobunaga. Sa paanan ng Kinkazan matatagpuan ang ruins ng dating tirahan ni Nobunaga na ngayon ay binubuo na lamang ng mga natirang pundasyong bato.

Hindi man kasing kilala ng ibang lugar tulad ng Osaka at Kyoto, mayroon din na mga natatagong pasyalan ang Gifu na masayang tuklasin at bisitahin kahit anong panahong pa ito, mapa-spring man o winter pa.

How to Apply for a Japan Tourist Visa

Published in the February 2016 issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal.

See the rest of the pages here: https://issuu.com/filipino-japanesejournal

          The rising popularity of anime, cosplay and JPop in the Philippines has attracted a lot of potential tourists to Japan. People are drawn to Japan’s extreme image of eccentricity and traditionalism that are, surprisingly, blending harmoniously in its landscape. As part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic plan, Japan is targeting to attract 18 million tourists in 2016, 2.5 million of whom are projected to come from Southeast Asia alone. An even more ambitious goal is to raise this number up to 30 million in 2030.

In support of this initiative, Japan has recently relaxed its strict visa restrictions for Southeast Asian countries. Tourist visas for Malaysians and Thais were recently waived. Unfortunately for the Philippines, Filipinos are still required to apply for a visa to enter Japan.The good this is, multiply entry visas that would allow tourists to stay for as long as 15 or 30 days are now being issued to Filipinos. With affordable low-cost carriers operating between Manila and Tokyo and other areas in Japan like Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, the dream for Filipinos to visit Japan is now within reach.

            It is important to take note that tourist visas are only being processed through certain travel agencies accredited by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines. The application would be smooth and hassle-free if the required documents are complete upon submission. Here are some simple tips to remember:

• Visit the website of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines for accurate information. This sounds too basic and simplistic and yet this is the step that most people forget. While friends and family members can give substantial tips and advices on how to apply for a visa, the website gives you official information. It provides the list of documents to be submitted and the contact numbers of accredited agencies. Forms can also be downloaded from the website. (www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp)

• Get in touch with an accredited travel agency. Make sure that you are contacting the correct agency. The Japanese Embassy does not accept applications from other agencies not accredited by them. The visa application is free but the travel agencies charge a processing fee that ranges from P1000-P1800 for individual applicants and P2000-2500 for those with guarantors.

• Make sure your documents are complete upon submission. Some of the basic requirements to be submitted are: valid passport, visa application form, proof of previous travel to Japan or other countries (old passport stamps), Certificate of Employment, Letter of Explanation for requesting a multiple entry visa, Bank Certificate, Income Tax Return (ITR). Please note that there might be additional documents that are required to be attached apart from the above stated depending on your situation. For example, those applying for a tourist visa to visit relatives or those applying with guarantors might need to attach documents proving their relationship to the person they are visiting.

• Check the date of issue of the documents. The birth certificate and/or marriage certificate to be submitted should be officially issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) within one year. If you thought that they would not check it, well, sorry to say, but they surely will. If your copy is more than a year old, you should request a new one through the NSO branches or online.

•  Bring the complete documents to the agency and pick it up upon release. Tourist visas are released through the agencies within 5 days. You don’t directly pick it up at the Japanese Embassy. If the documents submitted are insufficient, the agency might request for additional attachments. To avoid hassles, make a checklist of all the required documents to make sure that you will not miss anything. It would be a total bummer if you exerted an effort to bring the documents to the agency only to find out that you forgot some. If you do not have time to pick up the passport at the agency, you can check if they offer delivery services through courier companies. 

With an easier and smoother visa application process, coming to Japan is no longer a far-fetched dream for those who want to see real cosplayers in Meiji Jingumae or take photoshoots under the sakura trees.

How to Enjoy Spring in Japan on a Tight Budget

This article was published in the March issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal.

Read the rest of the pages here: https://issuu.com/filipino-japanesejournal

           Spring is a very popular time for tourists to come to Japan because of the appeal of the transcendent Cherry Blossoms. Contrary to the impression that traveling to Japan can cost you an arm and a leg, enjoying this peak season on a budget is highly possible if you know where to look for the cheapest treats. 

            Watch out for discounted fares. Your airfare can eat up almost half of your budget if you are not eager to find cheap flights. Compared to other destinations in Asia, Japan can be a little more expensive, but not that expensive to hinder you and not go at all. Thanks to all the low-cost carriers that are traveling to and from the Philippines, you can avail a cheaper airfare compared to those offered by major airlines. Flights by low-cost carriers are cheap enough for your budget, but if you want to save even more, better wait for seat sales that happen 3-6 months before your desired travel time. Sometimes they are difficult to get because they easily get sold out so it requires perseverance and patience to wait and book for these kinds of fares. Moreso, these carriers now also offer flights to other parts of Japan like Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya that can be a little cheaper than the direct flights to Tokyo. These sites can also offer you an interesting adventure that is very different from the highly urbanized Tokyo.

            Book service apartments. With a growing number of people offering their own apartments or vacant rooms to tourists, you can now stay in an authentic Japanese residence like a local via websites like airbnb. Or if you are up for a greater adventure and if you don’t mind sleeping in a stranger’s uncomfortable couch for free, you can try couchsurfing and meet a new friend who can probably help you get around Japan too.

Eat at nice restaurants during lunch time. There are a lot of nice places that offer good food and relaxing ambiance may it be in Tokyo or Osaka. However, the prices of dinner menus in these posh restaurants with good views Tower can skyrocket in the evening. But there’s a cheapo way to experience these places. Make a reservation during lunchtime where restaurants offer cheaper lunch menus, sometimes as much as half the price. You get to try the food, enjoy the view and even save up a little for the next good restaurant you see around town. 

Avail special train passes. Transportation in Japan can be quite expensive but with a number of different train lines offering special passes, you can save a lot. There are passes that offer unlimited train rides or bus rides in a particular area for a day or more like the JR Rail Pass and the Kansai Wide Pass or a discounted round trip fare to a nearby destination like the Hakone Pass and the Nikko Pass.

Go to free sightseeing spots. You can go to these places without spending a penny for entrance fees. See the Tokyo skyline for free at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building or stroll around the moat of the Imperial Palace in Chidorigafuchi to see the lovely Cherry Blossoms dangling on both sides of the river with boats filled with lovers scattered all around the river.

Peak seasons like spring in Japan do not always equate to overpriced traveling costs. There’s always a way for the cheapo traveler to make ends meet!

 

Memories of Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan

As I was watching an old taiwanese drama the other day, i found the place where the characters hung out somewhat familiar. After a few scenes, it suddenly dawned on me where it was and all the good memories - accompanied by a rollercoaster of emotions, a lust for adventure, the overlapping images of fantasies and realities, an unexpecting but hopeful heart - started flashing like black and white pictures in my head. that was when i thought, "oh god, i miss taipei!" But more than that, i realized that what i miss more is the version of "me" that was in taipei. #ximending #taipei #asiantravel #taiwan #memoriesofnobody

Takashi Murakami's The 500 Arhats Exhbit

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The 500 Arhats

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

The exhibit runs from October 31, 2015 to March 6, 2016 at the Mori Art Museum, Roppongi Hills.

What to do in Tokyo: Learn to Bat

After watching a baseball game, there's no better way to end your day other than learning how to bat yourself. At the back of Tokyo Dome, where baseball games are usually held in Tokyo, you can find a 5-story sports center where you can try your hands on a real baseball bat.

Batting area

For only Y400 for 20 balls, you can practice batting and know what it feels like to hit a ball with a speed of 80km/h. This is the slowest among the speed of the machines. If you want to challenge yourself, you can try faster machines. You can try something as fast as 130km/h. It's also exciting that you can see Japanese baseball players pitching for you on the screen right in front of you. 

If you get tired batting, you can also try bouldering, golf and bowling in the same building. 

Where to get your coins to play

You can purchase your tokens from this machine. You will put insert the token in a small machine inside the batting booth and you can choose the height of the balls - whether you want them pitched high or low. You can get a discounted rate for 3 games for only Y1000.

I mist say, this is not only a fun activity for baseball fans but it is also a great way to relieve stress and release after a kong day at work. 

A Geek's Afternoon Walk at Nakano Broadway

Today, I decided to go for a walk at Nakano Broadway, a four-story building outside the South Exit of Nakano Station - a so-called haven for geeks of all ages and interests like me. Here you can find shops selling different kinds of goods that cater to different fan bases and collector groups. There are those selling anime and manga goods, from figurines to very old collectible cards; idol goods such photos, concert goods, CDs/DVDs, and other memorabilia; manga, books and magazines, both new and secondhand; clothing stores selling costumes for cosplay or everyday street wear; vintage shops selling dolls, accessories and collectibles; and other specialty stores catering to specific interests like train model kits, create-your-own-doll-kits, and vintage samurai film posters from the 1960s.

Entrance to an otaku wonderland

Akihabara is the first place that pops into mind when the word anime is mentioned. Indeed, Akihabara is home to a lot of specialty stores catering to different otaku subcultures. However, if you don't want to get lost in that bigger world called Akihabara, you can just wander around Nakano Broadway (I warn you, it is a jungle in itself!). As expected, you can spot an anime and manga shop after every two shops, sometimes, they are right next to each other you don't know where to go first! I must admit I got so overwhelmed I din't get to take a lot of photos! 

A cosplay shop

Of course when we talk about anime, along comes with it is cosplay. There are specialty shops in Nakano Broadway that sells not only costumes but also accessories. So if you are into cosplay and you want to add amazing details to your costume, you might want to drop by in these shops and purchase your much-needed sunglasses, pin, hair accessories and other important pieces to complete your ensemble.

Gacha gacha land

Dragon Ball Z gacha gacha

I am addicted to gacha gacha machines, I can't help myself from trying it once I saw one. When I passed by this shop, I was so excited I didn't know what to try until I found my pick at the bottom of the row. The last time I tried gacha gacha (and yes, it was also a Dragon Ball Z gacha gacha), I spent thousands of yen because I couldn't get Vegeta's 3D sticker! So I dropped two Y100 coins into the machine and waited for my toy to come out but it didn't! I didn't know if the machine was broken or what but I feel too lazy to talk to the guy in Japanese and tell him that his machine ate my precious Y200 and there were a lot of people too asking him questions. So I just let it pass and I lost Y200 and a precious chance to get a DBZ memorabilia! Maybe it's also a good thing because the heavens thought that I might overspend again if I didn't get Vegeta the first try.

Baseball goods

Create-your-own-doll Shop

I also found a store that sells baseball memorabilia and oh boy, these items are so precious it will really make you spend Y60,000 for a signed ball. Another interesting shop sells different toy body parts that you can use to create your own doll. A head or a torso costs around Y1600.

A table full of V6 goods

I also went inside some shops that sell idol goods but I didn't find anything good to purchase but I was so happy to find this table especially dedicated for V6! The shop is even playing one of their old concerts and there was a message on top of the TV greeting Morita Go a happy birthday! When I went to another shop, there was also another girl who was so engrossed in selecting nice photos of Okada Junichi, I wasn't able to look at it! 

sushi shop outside Nakano Broadway

Bar Zingaro in Nakano Broadway

There are also a lot of restaurants inside Nakano Broadway, which I must say I was surprised to find because I thought that this building is all for anime and manga goods. I decided to have an early dinner at one of the sushi places right outside Nakano Broadway. You can find it at the end of the long stretch of shops right before you enter the main building.

One cafe that is definitely worth a visit is Bar Zingaro, a cafe on the second floor of the building. This cafe was produced by the company Fuglen togethr with contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, who recently had his exhibit at Mori at Museum. See my post here. Takashi Murakami opened Bar Zingaro as the latest addition to the Zingaro Galleries, a chain of contemporary art galleries that he is running in Nakano Broadway such as Kaikai, Hidari, Ox and Pixiv.

If you are into more artsy fartsy stuff, you can have your caricature drawn by a young artist outside Nakano Station. She looked so happy when she was drawing this other girl. 

A small alley outside Nakano Broadway

A young caricature artist outside Nakano Station

However, if you are feeling a little adventurous, you can explore the smaller alleys around Nakano Broadway that can lead you to more interesting and quainter cafes and restaurants that are off the beaten path.

Delicious looking bread at Paul Saint-Germaine

You can also explore the other side of the station by passing under the train tracks and going to the North Exit side. There are other shops and restaurants around that area. Not very far from the station is Paul Saint-Germaine, a bakery that sells fresh and delicious bread. Even though I just had an early dinner, I bought a few pieces of bread when I saw the bakery. I guess, that is how good the bread looks like. It's so inviting! So whether you're planning to buy something or just want to look around and amuse yourself with what weird things people get crazy about, then going to Nakano Broadway for an afternoon walk is a good idea to kill time.

Cafes in Jimbocho

Jimbocho is famous for being the haven of new and secondhand books in Tokyo. If you are a bookworm and can read kanji without twitching, then Jimbocho is a place for you. However, if you are a mere traveler who has limited time in Tokyo, then this area might not be on top of your priority list. However, bookshops are not the only interesting thing in Jimbocho. It is also the home of several interesting cafes that are scattered around the area that would make the visit more worth it. Here are some of the cafes that you might want to check out when you visit the area.

Sabouru. This cafe is situated right outside Exit A7 of Jimbocho Station. It is difficult to miss before it would catch your attention right away with its detailed architecture outside. This place was used as a filming location for the movie Shitsurakuen (Lost Paradise), which was released in 1997 and was based on Junichi Watanabe's novel with the same title. Order their classic milk shake for Y500 and enjoy it as you chill and people watch as it is said that writers and actors usually frequent the place. If you are up for a bigger meal, you can transfer to Sabouru 2, which is right next the cafe, that serves Neapolital Spaghetti for Y650.

A Cafe called Sabuouru outside Jimbocho Station

Paper Back Cafe. If you want to sit and read while enjoying a cup of coffee, this cafe is highly advised. This cafe is in the same building as Toyodo Bookshop so you can shop for books then drink coffee after. The English books are situated in the second floor of the building, although the selection is not outstanding. They only have a few art and photography books. It is still worth checking out. The cafe also has a few seats on the counter facing the street, which is a nice place to people watch.

Paper Back Cafe is in the same building with Toyodo Bookshop

Big Boy. Jimbocho is also home to a few jazz cafes, Big Boy being one of those. You can find Big Boy a few shops away Sabouru, in a small alley right next to Exit A7 of Jimbocho Station. As you near the cafe, you can already here the melodious jazz playing inside as if inviting you to come in. You can get a cup of coffee for Y650 while listening to relaxing jazz. They were playing instrumental jazz when I came in. The wall behind the counter are lined with hundreds (or maybe thousands) of old vinyl records. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing. The old man, I suppose he's the owner of the cafe, if friendly and jolly. He can speak a little English and he's always enthusiastic when serving customers. See my full review of the place here: Jazz Bar in Jimbocho: Big Boy

Entrace to the jazz cafe Big Boy