Korean Hanbok Family Photoshoot at Bukchon Hanok Village (December 2022)

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Annyeong Chewys! It’s been such a really long time since I updated this dusty blog of mine that I had almost forgotten my login password hehe. Time flies~ Both littlemisschewy and minimisschewy are in primary school now. So before minimisschewy entered Primary 1, we went on a winter vacation to Korea (Seoul and Busan) with my parents last December (in 2022).
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My last trip to Korea before this was a couple trip with misterchewy. We did a hanbok photoshoot as well but it was at Gyeongbokgong and it was in May or June so the weather was pretty good. For this family trip, I really wanted to have everyone dressed in hanbok and I’m glad that nobody had any violent objections LOL.
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Since it was mid December, the weather was really cold. Sub-zero temperatures if I’m not wrong.. We rented our costumes from Hanbok That Day and they had a pretty nice variety of hanboks for adults and children. Tip: Always book the earliest rental slot and arrive at least 5 minutes early to avoid the crowd.
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We booked a one-hour photoshoot via Sweetescape and were very lucky to be assigned a local photographer who converses well in English and is also very talented as evident from the photos here. You can look up @jinkim.photography on Instagram.
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Like I mentioned, the weather was crazy cold and freezing! We actually donned our thick jackets but had to chuck them on the roadside whenever we stopped for photos. It was pretty hilarious!
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Some lovely shots of the grandchildren and grandparents.
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I have always wanted to strike a couple pose in Kdrama style! Hahaha.
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The following photos were actually taken before we walked to Bukchon Hanok Village. We had arrived a lot earlier than our photoshoot time slot and decided to seek refuge from the cold at this pretty Baskin Robbins ice cream shop while waiting for our photographer to arrive.
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What’s better than having ice cream? Having ice cream in cold winter weather! Brrr!
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Yup ice cream is always a good idea!
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Hope you guys enjoyed this set of photos from our Korean hanbok family photoshoot! Till’ the next time! 🙂

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

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I’m a hugeeeee fan of cup noodles and instant noodles although these are not the healthiest food options around. I love the convenience they bring and all the interesting flavors that are constantly being developed over the years. With that, I decided to include Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka Ikeda in our Japan itinerary.

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It is also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, named after the person who invented the world’s first instant noodles, “Chicken Ramen,” after an entire year of research using common tools in a little shed he had built in his backyard in Ikeda-city, Osaka Prefecture.

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Momofuku Ando, the Father of Instant Ramen, invented the chicken ramen in 1958 and dedicated his entire life to thinking about food in new and creative ways. Throughout his 96 years, he practised creative thinking and never quit until he achieved his goal. As a result, people from all over the world is still benefiting from his achievements today.

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Admission to Cup Noodles Musuem Osaka Ikeda is free of charge but fees apply for attractions like the Chicken Ramen Factory and Cup Noodles Factory.

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I bet you will be able to find all your favorite instant noodle here in this vast museum!

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I already spotted my favorite Seafood and also Tom Yam Seafood cup noodles!

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Due to time constraints, we only picked the My Cup Noodles Factory activity.

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A sample of how the final product will look like.

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In exchange for 300 yen at a vending machine, you will get this My Cup Noodles Factory cup and you can start decorating or coloring it in any way you wish using the markers provided.

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As Littlemisschewy was still napping in the stroller, only Minimisschewy joined us in the activity. Well, I did most of the drawing and coloring. As I’m not artistic, my “artwork” is very simple and minimalist!

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When we were done decorating our cup, we joined the queue to pick out the ingredients for our cup noodles. If you are not planning to eat the cup noodles, then whatever ingredients that go into the cup would not really matter.

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How thoughtful! Since most visitors are travellers, the museum has prepared a bag which you can store your cup noodles and then inflate it like an air bag, thereby protecting your cup noodles from damage.

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There’s also a string, which makes it very convenient to carry around.

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Littlemisschewy woke up from the nap and totally missed the activity, so here’s a photo of her with the final masterpiece.

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There are interesting exhibits in the museum, so it’s best to dedicate at least two hours if you are planning to pay a visit.

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There is also a drama theatre but I think it’s all in Japanese language.

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There is a small shop selling all sorts of souvenirs that you can buy for that friend who also loves cup noodles. I got myself some miniature cup noodle magnets, and trust me, they are the cutest!

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

(Reception time 9:00 – 16:30 museum holidays excluded)

Non-Business Days: Tuesday (in case Tuesday is a National Holiday, the following day will be a non-business day), Year-end through New Year Holidays

Universal Studios Japan 2018

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Hellooooo! It’s been a really long time since I last blogged and I’m determined to finish up our Japan 2018 travelogue before we head off for our next trip!

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We spent the second leg of our trip in Osaka, and no trip to Osaka is complete without visiting Universal Studios Japan! Well, I guess it only applies if you like visiting theme parks!

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We started our day bright and early, so the kids were chirpy and also thrilled to be able to interact with the various mascots in USJ!

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We got our admission tickets via Voyagin, which was easy and hassle-free. All we had to do was just scan the QR codes and we could walk through the gantry! Prices are also very competitive, and Voyagin is verified by over 50000 positive reviews.

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Look at those cute Minion popcorn buckets!

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The hubs and I also purchased fast passes to enjoy rides such as Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey, and JAWS. Without the passes, I doubt we could go for all of these rides! The waiting times for the normal queue are insane! At least one hour and could even go up to more than 3 hours!

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We spent most of our time in Wonderland as this park of USJ is catered for young children. However, minimisschewy did not meet the minimum height requirement for most of the rides.

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The minion buns looked cute but did not taste so good.

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If you are a Harry Potter fan like us, you would be in awe upon stepping into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I reckon it looks even more mesmerizing at night.

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Our second (first was in London) time having Butterbeer! YUMS!

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Let’s make a butterbeer moustache and say cheeeeese! Or should we say
Wingardium Leviosa?

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Even the washroom is so cool! I swear I heard Moaning Myrtle but I couldn’t find her anywhere..

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Sumptious dinner at The Three Broomsticks! And spot that butterbeer again!

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What an unforgettable dinner at USJ, in the nice cool weather with Hogwarts Castle as the beautiful backdrop.

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Namba Yasaka Shrine: Lion Head Shrine in Osaka

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We considered our trip to Japan in 2018 to be a very eventful one as we managed to discover many interesting places despite having been to the Land of the Rising Sun a few times before. When we were in Osaka, we paid a visit to a very photo-worthy (or should we say Insta-worthy) place, the Namba Yasaka Shrine, also known as the Lion Head Shrine.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine is very conveniently located within a 8-minute walk from Namba Station. As our Airbnb was also around the area, we stopped by early morning before heading to Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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The Namba Yasaka Shrine is the home of the Namba’s guardian deity and is also well-known for its enormous lion head-shaped architecture, which is often seen as something different and unique from most other temples and shrines in Japan.

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Inside the 12m high by 11m wide lion head is a stage where several events are held throughout the year. The lion head is believed to ward off evil spirits by swallowing them, and hence brings good luck to worshippers.

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Always remember to cleanse your mouths and hands before praying at a Japanese shrine or temple.

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The temple beside the lion head structure reminds me of Osaka Castle because of its white, light teal and gold colors. What do you think?

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Praying for good health, safety and happiness for the entire family.

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Amulets are available for purchase at the temple.

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There is also a small shop that sells a variety of amulets and wooden wishing plaques.

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Write your wishes on the wooden plaque and tie it up at the temple.

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Every temple and shrine has its own unique wooden plaque design. Of course, the lion head is featured here at Namba Yasaka Shrine.

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We also chanced upon Hello Kitty omamori and decided to get one each for Chanelle and Cayla.

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If you have time to spare, do explore Namba Yasaka Shrine and immerse yourself in its beautiful architecture.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine Osaka 難波八阪神社
Address: 〒556-0016 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City
Nearest Station: Namba Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 5pm
Admission Fee: Free

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel: Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

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“Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea?”

Trust me, I get this question from sooo many of you that I am providing a dedicated blog post on Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, our choice of accommodation in Tokyo Disney Resort. This post will definitely be useful to you to a great extent if at least one of these points are applicable to you:

  1. You are travelling with children.
  2. You want to stay as close to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea as possible.
  3. You are on a mid-range budget and Disney hotels are out of the question.
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Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is a Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotel

If you want to make the best out of your trip and wonder where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, we strongly recommend that you stay on property. It minimises all the hassle and travelling time, so that you get to do more and see more in the Disney parks. You can find a list of hotels on the Tokyo Disney Resort website that are categorised into Disney Hotels (Deluxe/Value), Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels, Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels. This should give you a rough idea on where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Only the Disney Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels are located within the grounds of Tokyo Disney Resort. Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is one of the relatively affordable official hotels which you definitely should consider!

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Besides the Disney hotels, Vacation Packages are also available for booking if you choose to stay at one of the official hotels. The Vacation Package includes a host of premiums such as fast passes and unlimited free drinks, etc which we will touch on later. We picked up our Vacation Package at the Tokyo Disney Resort Ticket Center at Ikspiari, the shopping and dining complex located in front of JR Maihama Station. PRO TIP: Check in directly at the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center next to JR Maihama Station and leave all your luggages at the hotel service counter. Your luggages will be delivered to your hotel free of charge. With that, you can save time and head straight into Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea!

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To get to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, take the Disney Resort Line monorail from the Resort Gateway Station adjacent to JR Maihama Station and get off at the second stop, Bayside Station.

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Disney Resort Line – Bayside Station

From Bayside Station, it is only a 1-minute walk to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle bus service from Bayside Station, as well as complimentary shuttle bus service to and from JR Maihama Station.

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Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is just opposite Bayside Station
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Sheraton Grande Tokyo Hotel Bay Standard Room
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I’m sure we are all aware that hotels in Japan are generally on the smaller side which can be quite uncomfortable if you are travelling with family members and have a few pieces of luggages. Our Standard Room at Sheraton Grande Hotel Bay is extremely spacious and also luxurious. The overall interior design is somewhat lacking but we really find that the space makes up for it. PRO TIP: Don’t forget to request for child amenities such as bed guardrail, step stool, kids toilet seat, kids nightwear, tooth brush, slippers and towels.

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Separate bathtub and shower
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We got a very beautiful sea-facing view.

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Casual Dining Galleria Cafe
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Galleria Cafe features an All Day Menu (11am to 12 midnight) and all of us had the same thing for supper – Pork Rib Ramen (¥2000). The soy sauce flavored chinese soup was especially comforting after an entire day of being exposed to cold weather. The noodles were thin and springy, while the deep fried pork cutlet was tender and juicy.

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As mentioned earlier, there are shuttle buses to get around Tokyo Disney Resort. If you would like to venture outside of your hotel for supper, take the shuttle bus.

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Disney-themed shuttle bus
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Seijo Ishii Supermarket at Ikspiari

If you love visiting Japanese supermarkets, you will be glad to know that Seijo Ishii offers a wide range of items, including fresh foods, imported wines, cheese, and also various home made deli products and desserts.

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Breakfast Buffet is also available at Galleria Cafe from 7am to 10am. The range is pretty extensive and food is quite up to standard. We didn’t manage to try every single food item as we were in a rush to get into the Disney parks.

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Alternatively, you can choose to have breakfast at Japanese Restaurant Asuka. Breakfast is from 7am to 10am. Do note that it is not buffet style.

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Japanese breakfast set at Asuka Japanese Restaurant
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Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel offers station delivery service at a fee as shown in the picture above. This is especially useful if you are planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea upon checking out as you can simply take the monorail straight to the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center at JR Maihama Station to collect your luggages, instead of making another trip back to the hotel. The fee is applicable for transporting of luggages from the hotel to the station. Transporting of luggages from the station to the hotel is free of charge.

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Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages

If you are willing to splurge a little more, we highly recommend booking a Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package. There are two types of Vacation Packages – “Standard Plan” and “Enjoy Lots of Attractions“. The main difference is that the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” package is more expensive than the “Standard Plan” but it really depends on your priorities and interests. If you would like to secure a show viewing ticket in Disneyland or DisneySea, go for the “Standard Plan” and if conquering as many rides as possible is your goal, the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” includes more fast passes.

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We wanted something which can cover a bit of everything, which includes trying out various rides and also being able to watch one of the show performances, hence we went ahead with the Standard Plan.

The Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package – Standard Plan includes:

  1. 5 fast passes per pax (can be used on all FP rides except for “Toy Story Mania!” and “Nemo & Friends SeaRider” at Tokyo DisneySea)
  2. 1 show viewing ticket per pax
  3. 1 original goods voucher per pax
  4. 1 ticket holder voucher per pax
  5. 1 free drink voucher per pax
  6. 1 original popcorn bucket voucher per room
  7. Disney Resort Line 3-Day Pass
  8. Hotel breakfast after the first night
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We hope this post is useful in helping you decide where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea 🙂 Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

What to Do & Eat in Asakusa

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If you are thinking of what to do and eat in Asakusa, and only have a few hours to spare, this post covers what you should not miss in this traditional district of Tokyo. 

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We recommend visiting Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic temple, the Sensoji Temple, also popularly known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. Our family makes it a point to pay homage to the Buddha at Sensoji Temple every time we visit Tokyo. It certainly feels very reassuring to be blessed by the Buddha from a temple with immense significance. 

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Visitors enter Sensoji Temple through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with a gigantic lantern hanging in the middle. This is a highly popular photo spot among tourists visiting Sensoji Temple. 

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Right outside Sensoji Temple is an entire street of shops known as Nakamise Shopping Street

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Over there, you can find all sorts of souvenirs and bric-a-brac. 

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There are also plenty of snacks that you can munch on while strolling along Nakamise. 

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At the end of Nakamise Shopping Street, you will find another giant lantern. 

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A mere 3-minute walk from Nakamise Shopping Street, you really ought to stop by Namiki Yabusoba for lunch. This famous soba restaurant in Asakusa boasts more than 100 years of history and sees a long queue during lunch and dinner times. 

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Namiki Yabusoba’s buckwheat noodles are handmade from 100% buckwheat flour milled on the same day, giving it that clean taste and earthy flavor. When eaten together with the rich and flavorful dipping sauce, the zaru soba is refreshing and satisfying. 

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If you prefer something hot especially when visiting in winter, there is also a choice of hot soba soup with fish cakes.

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I’m really glad I decided to try something different – the Yamakake soba, which is cold soba covered in a sauce combination of grated yam seasoned with dipping sauce. Give it a good stir so that the noodles are evenly coated in sauce. I loved that it was slimy and slippery, on top of being yummy. 

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If you visiting Tokyo on a tight schedule and still wish to spend some time in Asakusa, we hope this post on what to do and eat in Asakusa will inspire you. 

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Gotokuji Temple Tokyo: Birthplace of Maneki Neko

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OHAYO~! My gosh, our previous trip to Japan in 2016 didn’t feel too long ago and it was a very impromptu yet spontaneous decision on our part to book another trip to the Land of the Rising Sun this year! I left my previous company because I was so sick and tired of being a full-time working mum, and just felt like I needed to take a break from everything. Fast forward a few months later, I’m almost using up all my leaves at my current workplace for this trip. LOL. Oh wells, I suppose my itchy butt cannot stay at home for too long 😛

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We jio-ed my parents along for this trip as we share a love for Japanese temples and shrines. Their last trip to Japan was a decade ago, so it’s time for some refresh and update! I was doing my research and stumbled upon this interesting and cute temple in Tokyo, Gotokuji Temple, otherwise known as Maneki Neko Temple or Lucky Cat Temple. I call it the CONFIRM HUAT TEMPLE. Hahaha. Go already come back sure strike 4D, Toto, Big Sweep, get big big bonus! HUAT AH!

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Gotokuji Temple, located in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward, is a Buddhist temple that has an interesting story behind it, citing the temple as the birthplace of the Maneki Neko. These cats sit upright with their right paws beckoning luck and fortune, and are immensely popular enough to have their own worshippers from all over the world.

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According to a temple legend, during the Edo period in the early 17th century, feudal lord Naotaka li and his servants were trying to escape from a thunderstorm and was led to safety after a cat beckoned with its right paw, inviting them into the temple. Since then, it is believed that the Maneki Neko brings good luck.

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Today, hundreds of Maneki Neko figurines can be found at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo.

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Hundreds of them in different sizes.

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OMG don’t they all look so adorable? I love the teeny weeny ones! 😀

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Rain or shine, may the HUAT be with you!

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Before saying your prayers, you should first cleanse yourselves by washing your hands at the entrance of the temple.

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I’m not sure where the water comes from but I drank a few mouthfuls by mistake from the bottle that my mum filled up with but thankfully, nothing untoward happened to me over the next few days.

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Place both palms together and pray earnestly.

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Swing the rope firmly to ring the bell.

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Make a money offering.

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I love this place already. The attention to detail is AMEOWZING!

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Another reason why I love visiting Japanese temples is because I enjoying seeing the beautiful designs of the small wooden plaques (ema in Japanese) that are unique to each temple. Worshippers write their prayers or wishes on these plaques and hang them up at the temple, where the gods are believed to retrieve them.

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2018 is the year of the Dog (chinese zodiac), hence the ema features the dog in addition to the Maneki Neko.

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There is a small shop within Gotokuji Temple which sells various Maneki Neko souvenirs and good luck charms.

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Good things come in small packages. Teeny weeny cute little Maneki Neko, you are coming home with us! Purrrrfect! 😉

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Chanelle and Cayla were thrilled to see so many lucky cat figurines at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo too! A word of caution, these figurines are made of ceramic so always be extra careful. Cayla knocked over a large figurine with her foot on purpose and thankfully, it didn’t break. It was definitely a heart-stopping moment for us!

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I think we spent slightly more than an hour at the temple, oohing and ahhing at the lucky cat figurines, in addition to taking plenty of photos. If you are heading to Japan, I strongly recommend setting aside some time to visit Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!

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We travelled from Shibuya Station to Gotokuji Temple, which took about an hour of travelling time. If you are not travelling with young children, it should take you under an hour 😉

How to get there?

1) From Shibuya station to Sangen-Jaya station (2 stops via Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line)
2) From Sangen-Jaya station to Miyanosaka station (6 stops via Tōkyū Setagaya Line)
3) Walk from Miyanosaka station to Gotokuji Temple (between 600m to 800m, Google maps may lead you to other gates that are closed so keep on walking along the parameter of the temple)

Hope you have a pawsome time at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Gotokuji Temple Tokyo 豪徳寺
Address: 〒154-0021 東京都世田谷区豪徳寺2丁目24−7
Nearest Station: Miyanosaka Station (Tokyu Setagaya Line)
Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 6pm
Admission Fee: Free

North Borneo Cruises in Kota Kinabalu

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There are many things to see and do in Kota Kinabalu, and embarking on North Borneo Cruises will give you an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, sailing across the South China Sea, while indulging in an International buffet with live entertainment onboard.

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The North Borneo Cruises is the first of its kind in Sabah, taking guests on a 2-hour scenic cruise past the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park and down the central coast gliding along the city’s famous Waterfront. There are two different sessions daily starting from 4:30pm to 7:00pm for the Sunset Dinner Cruise and from 7:30pm to 9:45pm for the KK Night City Buffet Dinner Cruise.

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Since we were travelling with a bunch of kids, the earlier timing for the sunset cruise worked better for all of us, plus we wanted to catch the beautiful sunset for a more memorable exxperience!

Boarding North Borneo Cruises! Passengers in baby strollers or wheelchairs can board the cruise via the ramp.

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We were first ushered to the main deck and shown to our respective tables. The International buffet spread was already waiting for us! Haha.

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Free flow coffee, tea and water are included. Currently, there is Happy Hour promotion of 50% off beverages, not applicable for peak season, public holidays and eve of public holidays. Terms and conditions apply.

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All guests had to be seated and listen to the important safety briefing before we were allowed to roam around.

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Complimentary orange juice and Muruku fish crackers were served to all tables. We really like the intimate and cosy dining setting.

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Dinner is served! The variety is very wide and you will definitely get to eat your fill.

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North Borneo Cruises’ resident band offers daily stellar live musical performances in different genres and languages while you enjoy your sumptuous dinner. Feel free to join in the fun and dance the night away! The band also accepts song requests.

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Guests are welcome to explore the remaining decks and snap many photos while they are at it.

Even the North Borneo Cruises staff all seem to have plenty of fun! Their energy is simply infectious!

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The sun-deck is very popular as it offers a beautiful unobscured view of the sea and beyond.

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If you want to catch a glimpse of sunset, be sure to arrive at the sun-deck early to grab a good spot. We enjoyed the sea breeze blowing in our faces.

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Even without joining the KK City Night Dinner Cruise, we could still experience nightfall while out at sea.

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If you have a large group or celebrating a special occasion, North Borneo Cruise offers private VIP room which seats 20 to 25 pax comfortably, and the room is also equipped with a karaoke system.

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North Borneo Cruises is offering a Buy 3 Free 1 promotion, book and enjoy by 30th December 2018. For more information on the cruise and rates, visit their website here.

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We have come to the end of our Kota Kinbalu series of blog posts! We would like to sincerely thank the following for their kind hospitality and for making this trip a splendid one for all of us:

Flights – AirAsia
Accommodation – Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
Activities – Sabah Tourism Board

THANK YOU! 🙂

Manukan Island in Kota Kinabalu

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In one of my earlier posts documenting our Sabah holiday trip, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa is our highly recommended choice of accommodation especially for families with children because of the wide range of kid-friendly amenities. Apart from that, private jetty STAR Marina is exclusively owned and operated by the resort, offering guests easy accessibility to neighbouring islands for day trips and beach activities. If you have some hours to spare, you can take the speedboat shuttle to Manukan Island!

It was the girls’ first time taking a speedboat. Little misschewy was totally enjoying the ride while Mini misschewy was a little scared and clung onto Daddy. Life vests were provided before we set off and the journey was just a short 5 to 10 minutes.

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Manukan Island is the second largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. It was mood-lifting to see the sandy white beach and pristine clear waters when we set foot on the island.

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If you like to unwind at the beach, Manukan Island is a great choice. Besides sandcastle-building for young children, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and parasailing are just some of the many activities that one can do at Manukan Island.

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Great bonding session for families and nice sensory experience for little kids.

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For visitors who want to escape from the heat at Manukan Island, there are many benches lined up along the beach with ample shade from the trees. There are also some shops and cafes selling snacks and drinks.

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We had lunch at a cafe to fill our hungry tummies before returning to our resort.

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If you love the sun, sand and sea, you definitely have to visit Manukan Island when you head to Kota Kinabalu!

Mari Mari Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu

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We travel for a myriad of reasons. Apart from travelling as a form of escapism and to rejuvenate ourselves, we also seek to gain knowledge that you cannot get just by reading books. During our recent trip to Sabah, a visit to Mari Mari Cultural Village provided us with the opportunity to see and experience for ourselves, the culture and lifestyle of how the indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live in the olden days when electricity had not yet been introduced in their land. Mari Mari Cultural Village is situated amidst a remote forest setting in Kionsom, Inanam; away from the hustling and bustling Kota Kinabalu city. The village operates as a museum that preserves Borneo ethnic culture with the aim to share knowledge, history, culture, and tradition of Borneo with visitors so that it is not forgotten.

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Mari Mari Cultural Village features 5 different ethnic tribes. They are the rice farmer Kadazan-Dusun, the longhouse resident Rungus, the hunters and fisherman Lundayeh, the cowboy and sea gypsey Bajau, and the famously feared headhunting tribe Murut. I find it interesting that the village’s in-house guides are actually descendants of among the 5 tribes in the village.

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Our journey began with all of us crossing the wobbly suspension bridge over a small river.

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Our in-house guide showed us around each of the different tribe houses to learn about their different lifestyles, cultures, and histories.

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Not only did we get to witness how bamboo was used to cook their meals, we even got to taste the food!

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Montoku is a traditional alcoholic drink of the Kadazan-Dusun community and I find that it tastes like whisky!

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Delicious fresh honey.

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All the tribe houses feature something similar like this. The girls would sleep on the upper deck and their fathers would remove the ladders at night.

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We were truly amazed that a fire could be started in less than 5 minutes using bamboo! Back then, it was the ladies’ job and we could tell that it is actually physically tiring.

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Rope making demonstration.

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Little misschewy wanted to bring this “bracelet” home! LOL.

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The Murut blow-pipe was a pretty fun experience for all of us. It is a bit like archery except that you use your mouth to hit your target!

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Looks easy but it’s not! In the olden days, the blow-pipe was used as a weapon.

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The Lansaran is like a traditional trampoline made from bamboo and much to our surprise, it can carry a lot of weight.

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More than 10 people jumping on the lansaran? No problem!

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After visiting the 5 tribal houses, we proceeded to the event hall to watch the traditional performances.

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My favorite was the bamboo dance as I was captivated by how gracefully the dancers step in and out of the bamboo poles.

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Little misschewy and I took part in the bamboo dance too. All I can say that it is a lot harder than it looks but it was a fun experience!

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During the 2-hour tour around Mari Mari Cultural Village, we felt as though we were transported back in time, as we enriched ourselves in new found knowledge. Being able to participate in some of the activities was indeed an authentic experience that we will never forget. Click here to find out more about the itinerary and price if you are keen!

Mari Mari Cultural Village
Address: Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-3388 4827

Opening Hours:
Daily
10am – 6pm