Sunday

In the afternoon, my Shinkansen from Nagoya arrived at Tokyo Station. The usual metro ticket purchase followed, which wasn’t simple.

In Tokyo, two major companies operate the metro (Toei and Tokyo Metro), and not all tickets are valid for both. From the vending machines, you can only buy 24-hour tickets, but they’re only valid for one company (depending on which company’s vending machine you’re at). The Subway 24, 48, 72-hour metro tickets are valid for both, but these can only be purchased at tourist information desks. Even finding this desk wasn’t easy at Tokyo Station. So it’s worth paying attention to this – it’s not the most tourist-friendly solution. 🙂

Two more things about the metro. One is that here too you have to walk a lot in the underpasses and when transferring. More than in Osaka, for example. The metro has many surface exits, so it’s worth checking on Google Maps in advance which one suits you. The other thing is that if the machine doesn’t accept the metro ticket, the magnetic strip is faulty. In this case, you need to go to the desk at the metro station and they’ll replace it.

My accommodation was near Tokyo Skytree, 5 minutes from the metro. The location of accommodation is important because the city is huge. First, I booked in a suburban area, but when I saw it was about an hour to the city center by metro, I rebooked to a closer one (it was only slightly more expensive). This way, I was in the center in fifteen minutes by metro.

For the late afternoon, I planned one program: Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum located there. The museum entrance is 1000 yen, it’s one of the most famous such institutions in Japan. Indeed, its collection is diverse, though honestly, I thought it would be bigger. But it’s definitely worth visiting. The park is one of Tokyo’s largest green spaces, complemented by Shinobazu Pond. I took a pleasant walk here, and dusk fell in the meantime.

On the way back to the accommodation, I walked back through this kind of environment:

Monday

About a 10-minute walk from my accommodation was Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensō-ji. This is next to Asakusa metro station, so there were many tourists already in the early morning. It’s indeed a beautiful building, and the area leading to it forms a small shopping street.

I traveled by metro toward Tokyo Tower, stopping at the Ginza district along the way, which is one of the city’s most important shopping districts with trendy stores.

I didn’t go up Tokyo Tower (instead going up Tokyo Skytree on Tuesday), but from the Zojo-ji temple in Shiba Park next to it, there was a very beautiful view of the tower. It’s worth coming here, and I even saw a Japanese wedding.

An unexpected shower arrived, even though there was zero percent chance of rain. Weather forecasts should be taken with reservations. I went back to the accommodation to change shoes, then set off again after the rain stopped.

The Shinjuku district is one of the most famous parts of Tokyo. Here, on top of one of the skyscrapers, is the Godzilla head, and the area really comes alive in the evening when everything is bathed in light.

An interesting part of the district is the adjacent Shinjuku Golden-Gai, which has preserved its old character. In the alleyways, you can find diners and small pubs, the complete opposite of the streets a few hundred meters away.

Next came the other iconic district, Shibuya. This is mainly famous for its intersection, which is considered the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. Well, tourists contribute to this, as huge numbers use it to take pictures in the middle of the zebra crossing. Actually, it really does have a certain atmosphere, I also crossed it several times from every direction. 🙂

After this, I took the metro to the illuminated Tokyo Tower to see the local Eiffel Tower not just in daylight.

The last stop of the day was the Akihabara district. Similar to Shinjuku, this is also fully lit up, full of anime and electronics shops. I’m not a fan of either, but it’s worth a visit.

Tuesday

This day turned out quite short, thanks to Monday’s soaking. I already felt on Monday evening that I’d caught a cold and my throat was a bit scratchy. So I spent the morning at the accommodation in the warm room. Fortunately, the weather wasn’t very good either and not much time was lost.

For the afternoon, I had a ticket to Tokyo Skytree, 15 minutes away. This has the best view of the city. I booked through the trip.com app, you can buy tickets in half-hour slots. The time slots around sunset are sold out days in advance, although according to the on-site notice there were plenty of tickets (maybe the ones given to intermediaries sold out). On-site, you need to scan the QR code received at booking at the vending machine, which gives you a ticket and with that you can go up. You can stay upstairs as long as you like.

As usual, I went up before sunset while still light and it got dark in the meantime. The view is wonderful in every direction! I went around many times, couldn’t stop taking pictures and enjoying the sight. I even managed to catch sunshine through a layer of clouds.

There’s also a glass floor section where we can gaze into the depths. If you’re not afraid, walk on it. 🙂

And to make the minor cold completely disappear, I ate a good hot, hearty ramen. Rich meat soup. 🙂

Wednesday

Fortunately, I woke up without problems and the sun came out.

My first trip was to the Imperial Palace. The building cannot be approached, but the adjacent garden is visitable. It’s an interesting sight how skyscrapers rise around it.

Many don’t know there’s also a free observatory in Tokyo. This was evident from the number of people too, about thirty of us. From the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at the Tochomae metro stop after Shinjuku, there’s also a beautiful view. In fact, Fuji is also clearly visible in clear weather. I managed to photograph the volcanic peak.

I walked to Shinjuku station, where I also looked around the area during the day. I went up to the Godzilla head, but unfortunately the terrace part was just closed, I could only take a photo through the window.

I took the metro to the Meiji Shrine next to Yoyogi Park. I liked this best in Tokyo, probably also because of the large forested area around it. Locals also like to come here, it feels less touristy.

I decided that instead of metro, I would walk to Shibuya through Zelkova Avenue. As I approached the intersection, there were more and more people. During the day too, there are crowds at the pedestrian crossing, many rush to the middle when the light turns green to take a selfie. 🙂

I waited for dark, I didn’t get bored with the place even after an hour. It’s worth coming here at both times of day and enjoying the sight.

Only one thing was missing, a good dinner. Since I’d already eaten enough ramen, I chose a local burger place near my accommodation. I ate a truffle wagyu beef burger. It wasn’t cheap, but in return it was insanely delicious.

Thursday

The plane departed at 12:55 from Narita Airport. I traveled from Oshiage station at Tokyo Skytree with the Keisei Narita Express, it reaches under the terminal in 55 minutes (if I remember correctly, the ticket was 1200 yen, can be bought from a vending machine).

Summary

Well, Tokyo was also quite intense, the city is huge, travel also takes a lot of time. It’s worth preparing well with a schedule, because if we go here and there randomly, time flies quickly. And you have to get used to the metro too. 🙂

For those who really want to immerse themselves here, I would recommend at least five full days. In retrospect, I would also dedicate more days to the city, but this at least means I’ll come back sometime. Because you really have to return to Tokyo!

Tokyo travel guide

Other reports about my Japanese journey

Part 1: general information

Part 2: Osaka

Part 3: Kobe

Part 4: Nara

Part 5: Kyoto

Part 6: Nagoya

A Two weeks in Japan – part 7: Tokyo bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

I traveled from Kyoto to Nagoya by Willer bus on Friday, with the stop at the main train station. There are 24-hour and day passes available for the metro, obviously the 24-hour pass was the best choice.

After checking into my accommodation, I walked around the city center. You need to get off at the Sakaemachi stop, where the Mirai Tower and Oasis 21 are located. The tower also functions as an observation deck and looks beautiful when lit up at night. Oasis 21 is a terraced building with a good view of the tower. It’s worth coming up here both during the day and at night.

On Saturday, my first destination was the Atsuta-jingu shrine, one of Nagoya’s most famous. Admission is free, but honestly there’s nothing special about it. I guess the bar was set pretty high after Kyoto…

From here I traveled to another well-known temple, Tōgan-ji. I got off at Motoyama station on the Meijo metro line, from there it’s just a few minutes’ walk. At first I thought I’d come to the wrong place. There was no one there except me, you can tell it’s a bit away from the city center. The green Buddha statue is the interesting feature, it’s especially a peaceful place when you’re alone. It was worth a visit, then I traveled back to the castle.

I also took the Meijo metro to Meijo Park, next to which stands the castle. The exterior itself is similar to the one in Osaka (although looking around, most Japanese castles look very similar). The admission is 500 yen, but you can only view it from the outside.

From here it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Endo-ji shopping street. Needless to say, this is also covered, like most in cities. This district was the central part of the old town. The crowd was huge, you could barely move on the street, so I didn’t spend much time here.

I took the metro to the Mirai Tower to see it together with Oasis 21 in daylight as well. After a late lunch, I walked to the Science Museum building and the nearby Osu Kannon temple. From here starts the Osu Shotengai covered shopping street.

The last activity was the city’s main observation deck, the Sky Promenade, where I bought a ticket in advance for a time slot before sunset. The building stands next to the main station, you need to approach the elevator from the ground floor, which takes you up. There’s no need to buy the ticket in advance, because there are plenty available on site, there were very few people there. The view is very beautiful. The weather was quite clear, so the entire city was visible. You can almost walk all the way around, with many benches placed along the way.

On Sunday I just took the metro to the station, from where I traveled to Tokyo by Shinkansen.

As I wrote at the beginning, Nagoya is not an unmissable place, but it’s worth a day trip. It’s more relaxed than Osaka or Tokyo and with fewer tourists, Japanese daily life might be more enjoyable. For this reason alone, this lightning visit was a good idea!

Nagoya in TikTok video

Other reports from my Japanese journey

Part 1: general information

Part 2: Osaka

Part 3: Kobe

Part 4: Nara

Part 5: Kyoto

A Two weeks in Japan – part 6: Nagoya bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

From Osaka, I traveled from Kyobashi Station to Kyoto Shichijō Station on a Keihan company train. I bought the ticket from a vending machine here too, it cost 480 yen. During the morning rush hour, there are a lot of passengers – we stood in the carriage like herrings. 🙂

From Shichijō Station, I walked about 900 meters to the main railway station, where I left my bag in a luggage locker. Depending on the size of the luggage, it’s 400-700 yen, so it’s worth leaving it here.

I bought a day pass, which cost 1,100 yen. This is valid for the Kyoto Metro (there are two metro lines) and the buses. There’s a separate machine for the one-day pass at the metro gates and at the station bus stop. The first time you use it, it stamps the date, and once it has the date on it, you just need to show it to the driver on the bus (at the metro, you put it in the slot at the gate).

Since I was traveling on to Nagoya at noon the next day, I had quite limited time. Looking back, I should have spent at least one more day here, but I couldn’t change the schedule anymore.

At the main station rises the Nidec Kyoto Tower, which I went up to, since several excellent viewpoints were also planned for this day.

I took the 205 bus to Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Temple. This is Kyoto’s most famous temple, which the huge crowd also showed. The admission is 500 yen and you have to follow a designated path. The temple and its surroundings are truly wonderful, but looking back, I’d say this wasn’t the most beautiful place in the city.

I took the 204 bus to Ginkaku-ji temple, which I liked better. It’s not as crowded as the Golden Temple, but I think it’s a more beautiful place because of the view. Here too we follow a designated route that takes us up the hillside. There are two places here where you can take great photos.

From here followed a longer walk. On the Philosopher’s Path, which runs along a stream bank, I went to Nanzen-ji temple. Many people chose this route, and it’s a pleasure to walk this section in pleasant weather. The temple’s huge gate and the arched brick aqueduct are particularly noteworthy, it’s worth visiting here.

About 10 minutes away is Okazaki Park, around which several attractions can be found. I just walked past the Kyocera Museum of Art and the zoo, and explored the grounds of the Heian Shrine. There’s nothing special here, ‘just’ a typical Shinto shrine.

Next came the city’s most popular district, Gionmachi. The two most famous parts here are Hanamikoji Street and Yasaka Shrine. There are big crowds, tourists mostly come here, which somewhat diminishes Kyoto’s authenticity. The shrine is very beautiful, lying on quite a large area with a pond at the back.

A few hundred meters from the center of the district is the Shirakawa stream bank, which I think is worth walking to. There are slightly fewer people here, but the riverside wooden houses and streets exude a real Japanese atmosphere. I also came here in the evening, I liked the place so much.

From the Gion district, you can most easily get to the deservedly most beautiful temple, Kiyomizudera. The streets below the temple on the hillside are the busiest. The crowd is huge, not the most enjoyable part. But the wonderful view is still worth it: the Hokan-ji pagoda is an iconic image, unmissable to photograph even among so many people. You can see many ladies in kimonos, although many of them aren’t Japanese but are walking around in rental clothing. 🙂

We reach Kiyomizudera temple by stairs, but the climb and the 500 yen are worth it. From here, the view of Kyoto is the most beautiful, which the photos also capture well:

There was still one mandatory sight left, the Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine. This is a little further out, which can be most easily reached by train. I went on the Keihan company line from Kiyomizu-Gojō station to Fushimi-Inari, the journey takes about 15 minutes. From the stop, one street leads directly to the shrine.

This shrine is famous for the path leading under countless red gates. It would be difficult to count them, it really seems like they show the way to infinity. I didn’t even go all the way to the end, because it got dark in the meantime. However, I managed to catch the viewpoint during twilight. On the way down, I didn’t even go the same way, to have some variety. Down at the square in front of the temple gate, it was already dark, which had an even better atmosphere than in daylight.

I took the number 5 bus back to the main station, where I picked up my bag and went to the accommodation. I managed to photograph the Kyoto Tower illuminated as well:

Although I was tired, I still made a quick evening visit to the Gion district. It’s worth strolling aimlessly even then, we get an equally wonderful experience.

The next day I visited two more places before I set off for Nagoya. Kyoto Gyoen Garden is the city’s largest park, with the Imperial Palace as the main building inside.

The other was Higashi Hongan-ji next to the main station, which is a huge temple. We can even enter the shrine part for free, we just have to take off our shoes.

Summary

Kyoto is truly an authentic Japanese city with countless attractions. Most places are very crowded with tourists, but if you find a less crowded place, enjoy it! And don’t dedicate just one day to it, because it’s worth spending at least two full days here at minimum!

Kyoto in TikTok video

A Two weeks in Japan – part 5: Kyoto bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

From Osaka, the easiest way to get there is by direct train: the Kintetsu Railway runs from Namba Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station (680 yen/direction). From here, the famous Deer Park, home to the gentle deer, is just a few hundred meters away. Since it’s not a large area, the park and its main attractions can easily be explored on foot.

First, I went to one of the most famous attractions, Todai-ji Temple. This route is where you can encounter the most deer. Lots of them were wandering around among the people, really as if they were domestic animals. It’s funny to see them bowing, that’s how they wait for food. 🙂

To enter Todai-ji Temple, you have to go through a massive gate, and the impressive building stands in the middle of a small park. There are two types of tickets: 800 yen for just the main temple, 1200 yen including the museum. I only bought a ticket for the main temple. Inside there are several huge statues, including the inevitable Buddha.

After that, I walked to the Todai-ji Nigatsu-do Temple on the eastern edge of the park. This is a higher area, so the view from the temple is excellent. There were far fewer people here than elsewhere, most people won’t walk even a few hundred meters. 🙂

I continued my walk southward and reached Wakakusayama Hill. This is a large, steep hillside, admission is 150 yen. I didn’t go all the way to the top, but climbed up to the highest point of the steep section where there’s a fence. The view is wonderful, I definitely recommend the approximately 5-6 minute climb upward.

There are several Shinto shrines in the southeastern part of the park. I walked over there too, although these don’t show anything new compared to what I’d seen before. The Kasugataisha Shrine is the most beautiful, but it requires admission.

The most beautiful sight in the southern part of the park is the Ukimido Pavilion. This is a small resting area standing on a lake, which can be approached by a wooden bridge. The lake surrounded by yellowing and reddening trees offered a wonderful view.

After that, I went to the Naramachi district, which preserves the city’s past. It consists of a few streets where you can see typical Japanese wooden houses. While strolling here, I found a small museum that has preserved old-style furnishings. Admission was free, so I went in to look around.

Only one attraction remained, the also famous temple, Kofuku-ji. I only photographed this from the outside, I’d had enough temple visits for the day. 🙂 Anyway, you can see it perfectly well from outside, it’s only separated from the outer area by a small fence, so I found it unnecessary to go in.

I spent about 6 hours in Nara, which was enough time to explore the most important part, the park. The deer alone make it worth coming here, after a while you don’t even notice anymore that there’s a deer standing next to you. 🙂

In Part 1, I wrote about useful information and things to know – it’s worth starting with that!

Two weeks in Japan – part 5: Kyoto

Nara in TikTok video

A Two weeks in Japan – part 4: Nara bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

Trains depart from Osaka’s Umeda railway station. The Hankyu Kobe Main Line runs to Kobe-Sannomiya station, which is in the city center. The ticket costs 330 yen each way. Most of Kobe’s attractions are located in a fairly small area. I used the metro once; otherwise, I explored the city on foot.

A few minutes from the station is one of the city’s most important shrines, Ikuta-jinja. It’s considered one of Japan’s oldest shrines, so it has a distinguished role not only in Kobe.

After this, I walked back to the railway station, from where I took the metro one stop to Shin-Kobe station. From here, a very beautiful waterfall, Nunobiki, is easily accessible on foot. You have to conquer a few minutes of uphill walking, but the view is worth it.

I walked to one of Kobe’s most beautiful areas, the Kitano-cho district, which is the most European part. The houses were built for diplomats in the early 20th century, so we can stroll through an elegant neighborhood here.

From here, a path leads up through the houses to the Venus Bridge. This offers the most beautiful view of the city. The bridge is actually a spiral-shaped observation platform. I lingered here for a while, and I recommend everyone come up here!

With about 15 minutes of walking downhill, I reached Sorakuen Garden. This is Kobe’s largest garden and it’s free. Since this was the first garden I visited during my Japan trip, I spent at least half an hour there. It’s very beautiful, worth exploring and enjoying jumping across the stones in the water. 🙂

My next stop was the waterfront Meriken Park. Kobe’s symbol, the Kobe Port Tower, stands here. The uniquely designed tower is also an observation deck. I didn’t go up here because there’s no better view than from Venus Bridge anyway. Another striking feature is the Maritime Museum, whose building resembles a ship.

Next to the park is the Earthquake Memorial Park, which was established in memory of the 1995 earthquake. It caused great destruction in the city, and we can see numerous images of this.

I returned to the railway station via Motomachi Shopping Street. This is the city’s covered shopping arcade; you can find something like this in almost every larger Japanese town. There are countless restaurants and eateries, and there was a lot of hustle and bustle here too.

In the eastern part of the shopping street, we find Chinatown. It consists of a few streets, but it’s one of the most famous such districts in Japan. Naturally, there are countless eateries and shops here as well.

As you can see from this account, the main part of Kobe, including the main attractions, can be explored in less than a day. If you’re spending several days in Osaka, it’s worth dedicating a day to this city!

In Part 1, I wrote about useful information and things to know – it’s worth starting with that!

Kobe in TikTok video

A Two weeks in Japan – part 3: Kobe bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

The Wizz Air flight departed early in the morning on Friday, January 9th, and I was supposed to return home Monday morning. Unfortunately, a friend’s funeral was scheduled for Monday, which I only found out about on Thursday afternoon. So I quickly looked for a Sunday return flight: although there is a direct Wizz flight that day, the ticket was 140 €, which I won’t pay for travel within Europe. What I booked instead: a morning flight from Alicante to Treviso, then an evening flight to Budapest (both Ryanair), the two together cost 60 €.

Alicante

The plane landed at 10 o’clock with a half-hour delay. Just getting off the plane in the pleasant weather was an experience, as I had left for the airport at home in the morning at -14 degrees. 🙂

Bus C-6 runs between the city center and the airport, departing approximately every 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €4.60 and can be purchased from the ticket inspector at the stop. You can also get off at the bus station in the city, otherwise Porta del Mar is the final stop (this is the harbor and beach area).

Since the attractions are quite concentrated, I explored the city’s main sights on foot. First, I wandered around the downtown area. The pedestrian street, Carrer Sant Francesc, is famous for its mushrooms. They’re fun creations that make the otherwise average street atmospheric. The harbor area and the promenade are a typical seaside quarter with wonderful palm trees. The castle rising above the city is most beautifully visible from the harbor.

On the other side of the harbor begins the beach, Playa del Postiguet. This is a few hundred meters of sandy beach where many people were sunbathing in the pleasant 16 degrees (it felt like more when the wind wasn’t blowing). Some even dared to go into the cool water. 🙂

Before heading to the castle, I popped into the MUBAG Museum of Fine Arts. Located next to the cathedral, it displays works across three floors. Admission is free, and it’s absolutely essential for anyone who loves paintings. It’s an exceptionally high-quality museum.

I walked up to Castell de Santa Bàrbara from the El Barrio neighborhood to the southwest, which is the easiest and most beautiful route. Even on the way up, there are wonderful views of the city. The castle itself covers quite a large area with several viewpoints. Admission is free, and there’s a restaurant and two cafés. It’s worth conquering the slopes for the views. 🙂

On the way down, I headed toward the center of the El Barrio neighborhood, where you can stroll through beautiful, flowery alleys. Together with the castle, you can take great photos. There are also several small squares with restaurants and cafés, worth stopping somewhere to enjoy the atmosphere. I really loved this old town area.

I walked over to the other viewpoint, Castell de Sant Ferran, which is located north of the downtown area. This one is less popular, only a few of us were hanging around. I took some photos, but after the Barbera castle, this doesn’t offer anything extra. But since it’s not far from downtown, it’s worth a visit.

I walked down to the harbor area, but on the way I popped into the Museu de les Fogueres. This is an exhibition of a few rooms where you can see funny creations. It’s free, but you can also get through it in a few minutes.

I also checked out the harbor and the promenade in the evening, all lit up, which is perhaps even more beautiful than during the day.

Benidorm

On Saturday, Benidorm and the eastern part of Alicante, San Juan Playa, were on the schedule. The easiest way to get to Benidorm is by suburban train (actually a fast tram). It departs from Luceros station in downtown Alicante and the journey takes about 70 minutes. You can buy tickets from a vending machine, €2.80 for a one-way trip.

From Benidorm train station, it’s about 1.5 km to the old town area and the beach. There were lots of English and American tourists, you can clearly see that the wealthier class stays here. Mirador del Castell is the main viewpoint, a balcony-like section on the beach. You can see well in both directions along the coast and the skyscrapers, and take nice pictures.

From here I headed west on the promenade along Platja de Ponent. There are tons of restaurants and bars, almost all of them were full. Although it was 17 degrees, the brilliant sunshine and the sand made it feel warmer. I took advantage of the good weather, it was nice sitting on the bench in a short-sleeved shirt. 🙂

On the western part of the coast, a mountain peak rises, and from the Tossal de la Cala viewpoint, there’s the most beautiful panorama of the city and the beach. It’s about a 15-minute walk with a steep climb, but the view makes up for everything. I definitely recommend going up there!

From here I walked to Cala Finestrat train station and took the train back to Alicante.

San Juan Playa

This is the eastern part of Alicante, where there’s a several-kilometer-long sandy beach and promenade. The northern section is called Playa de Mutxavista, and I got off at the Carrabiners stop.

I walked all the way to the southern end of the beach, which was about 3 km. I walked partly along the water in the sand, enjoying the pleasant weather and the fine sandy beach. The promenade is less developed, with only a few bars and restaurants. Because of this, there aren’t big crowds either, which is exactly what makes this part atmospheric.

There’s a tram stop on the street parallel to the beach, line 4 goes to Luceros, line 5 to Porta del Mar terminus. The ticket is €1.45 and you can buy it from a vending machine on the tram.

In summary

For anyone who wants to travel to a pleasant place with nice weather in winter, Alicante is the perfect choice! I must say, Spain is a big favorite of mine, especially the coastal cities (Barcelona, Malaga). And the prices are similar to those at home, so you don’t have to dig deep into your wallet. 🙂

A Fast visit to Alicante bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

In Part 1, I wrote about useful information and things to know – it’s worth starting with that!

Arriving from Shanghai, my plane landed at 12:10 PM, and after a lengthy entry process, I took the train to the city. The Airport Express operated by Nankai runs to Namba Station, the journey takes about 50 minutes. The ticket costs 970 yen and can be purchased from a machine (cash only).

My accommodation was the Toyoko Inn, which I can confidently recommend. It was a clean, well-equipped room, and they even provide pajamas. 🙂 A Japanese-style breakfast is included in the price, so it was around 16,000 HUF/night. It was excellent value for money. It’s located near Kyobashi Station, which is both a railway and metro station, so it’s easily accessible (and trains to Kyoto also stop here).

For public transportation, I bought a day pass every day, which allows unlimited use of the metro and buses for that day. For the metro, you can only use the Osaka Metro lines, not the other (railway) lines! The day pass costs 820 yen, and it’s cheaper on weekends and holidays at only 620 yen. At the machines, you can only pay with cash.

On Sunday, after checking into the accommodation, I had one place planned: Dotonbori. This riverside promenade is one of Osaka’s favorite spots, especially in the evening. Most of the iconic photos are taken here, as neon lights illuminate the entire waterfront. There are countless shops, restaurants, and bars along the river and in the surrounding streets. Tourist boats constantly cruise along the river. It’s worth wandering here aimlessly and enjoying the sight.

On Monday I went to Kobe, on Tuesday to Nara, and on Wednesday I explored Osaka, so I’ll continue with that.

Since Osaka Castle was about a 15-minute walk from the accommodation, I started the day there. It’s an interesting sight – behind a large skyscraper stands a typical Japanese-style castle on a fortress-like area. Approaching from the south side, the building is located in the middle of a park, and from the castle walls, there’s an excellent view in every direction. On the north side is the most beautiful entrance, the Gokuraku-bashi wooden bridge. You can take wonderful photos from here.

Not far away is one of Osaka’s most popular Shinto shrines, Tenmangu. After about a 1.5 km walk, I arrived here and was surprised to find hardly anyone there, even though it appears in most travel guides. The main building is currently being renovated, but even without that, it’s an atmospheric place among the residential neighborhood.

About 200 meters from here begins one of the city’s most famous covered shopping streets, Tenjinbashi. This is a nearly 1.5 km long street, full of shops and eateries. It’s worth walking at least part of it; there were relatively few tourists here as well.

I took the metro to Ebisucho Station, where I explored Tennoji Park and its surroundings. The steel-framed observation tower, Tsutenkaku, is visible from many places. I didn’t go up there because I had planned to visit the Umeda Building observatory in the evening.

In the northern part of the park, I checked out the Isshin-ji Buddhist temple. Honestly, I liked this better than Tenmangu.

It’s worth spending time at Tennoji Park. In the middle is a small lake spanned by an iconic red bridge. The Wake Bridge, together with its surroundings, is practically a must-visit.

I also went into the adjacent Keitakuen Garden; admission is 300 yen. The garden itself is an average Japanese garden, but there’s a very good view of Osaka’s tallest building, the Abeno Harukas. This little garden is worth a fifteen-minute visit.

I made a walking detour to Shitennoji Buddhist temple, which is considered one of the most beautiful in Osaka. The multi-story pagoda stands out nicely from the complex, but after so many temples, it didn’t provide a special experience.

In the southeastern corner of the park is Tennoji Station, whose surroundings form a bustling neighborhood. I boarded the tram departing from the south side (Hankai Denki-Uemachi line), which took me to the also popular Sumiyoshi Taisha Shinto shrine. The tram is old-style, very atmospheric to ride on. Interestingly, you have to board through the rear door and exit through the front, paying for your ticket when you get off. At the shrine – since it’s further from the city center – there were also fewer tourists. It covers quite a large area with many smaller shrines.

I took a bus to the nearby Nagai Park, which doesn’t hold any particular attractions, so this can safely be skipped.

Meanwhile, I bought a ticket to the Umeda observatory (2000 yen), which I planned to visit at sunset. I still had time, so I took the metro and got off at the nearby Yodoyabashi metro station. The Nakanoshima Peninsula is one of Osaka’s modern areas; I strolled here and walked to the observatory.

To reach the Umeda Sky Building observatory, you need to go to the 3rd floor of the building, where you queue for the elevator. This takes you up to the ticket counter, where you validate your online ticket. Then you take an escalator up to the 40th floor and the rooftop terrace. The latter is open, so you can take wonderful photos in every direction. I caught the sunset perfectly, but in the evening when lit up, I think the whole city is even more beautiful. An unmissable program if you’re in Osaka!

Afterward, I walked around the Umeda Station area among the many illuminated skyscrapers.

Next to my accommodation was an interesting place: many golfers were hitting balls from terraces several floors up. Anyone who’s seen the Jean Reno film Wasabi knows what I’m talking about. 🙂 For those who haven’t, here’s a picture of the place:

In summary, Osaka is a very good place. Although I’m going to write this about the other cities too, after all, Japan’s 2nd largest city is where most people travel to besides Tokyo.

Osaka in TikTok video

Osaka travel guide

A Two weeks in Japan – part 2: Osaka bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

During the summer I was looking at plane tickets and found a multi-city route for €600: to Osaka, back from Tokyo with China Eastern. Although I don’t usually spend this much on plane tickets, this was an acceptable price. I departed on November 1st and returned home on the 13th.

China Eastern operates daily between Budapest and Shanghai with Boeing 787s. I was satisfied with all the services: comfortable seats with pillows and blankets, decent food. And all four flights were on time, boarding was smooth as well. In both Budapest and Tokyo I received both boarding passes, so I didn’t have to deal with this during the transfer.

As is my habit, I visited several places this time too. The itinerary looked like this in order:

• Osaka
• Kobe
• Nara
• Kyoto
• Nagoya
• Tokyo

What was Japan like through my eyes?

I can now say that I’ve been to quite a few countries, but for me this one took the prize! I can really only spout clichés: you have to come here once to experience the whole thing.

I usually characterize Japan with five words: organization, discipline, punctuality, kindness, cleanliness. These describe well what you can expect if you travel here!

And not incidentally, the yen-forint exchange rate has weakened significantly in recent times, making the country expressly cheap. Food and services (with a few exceptions) are at Hungarian price levels. So now is the time for a trip to Japan! 🙂

Entry

As Hungarian citizens, we can travel to Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. I transferred in Shanghai, where transit is also currently visa-free.

Entry at the Japanese airport is a bit cumbersome and time-consuming. You need to go to the immigration officer with an entry document (basic information must be provided). On the plane, the flight attendants go around once showing a QR code with which we can fill it out on our mobile phones. After completing it, we receive a QR code, with which we need to go to a machine at the airport that issues the document. If we don’t do this, we have to fill out the paper by hand at the airport.

After immigration, we can pick up our luggage, and we still need to fill out another paper document (custom form). If we have nothing to declare, they just take the form and we can go.

Mobile applications

For navigation I used Google Maps, it showed everything perfectly. Public transportation also worked in real time, there were only one or two cases where it differed from reality.

Many people said that they don’t really speak English in Japan. Actually, I hardly had to use a translation program, compared to China more people spoke English. But it’s still good to have Google Translate on your phone.

I used the trips.com application several times for ticket purchases (except for public transportation tickets). They were at the same price here as on the attraction’s own website. Very reliable, we get the ticket by email immediately, I’ve never had a problem with it.

Payment, cash withdrawal

It’s interesting that in such a developed country you can use bank cards in fewer places than, for example, in our country. For instance, metro machines only accept cash.

For this reason, it’s worth having cash on hand. I exchanged yen on Revolut and withdrew it from an ATM there. The 7-Eleven chain has its own ATM, up to 10,000 yen it costs 110 yen, above that 220 yen. Totally fair.

Prices

I already wrote above that travel has become cheaper due to the weakening of the yen. This is also visible in local prices when converted to forints, you should expect Hungarian prices.

I’ll write down some prices that I noted:

• large bowl of ramen: 1100-1300 yen
• half liter of cola in a store: 190 yen
• long coffee at Starbucks, largest size: 490 yen
• half liter of water from a vending machine: 120 yen

Internet

As in China, I bought a daily 1 GB internet eSIM on trip.com here too. For 12 days it was €6, it worked perfectly everywhere. Activation is also very simple. (eSIM means you don’t have to buy a physical card, but can activate it on your mobile phone without one.)

Actually there’s very fast wifi in many places, the daily 1 GB was more than enough for me (I mostly used it for general browsing and maps). If by chance the internet isn’t enough, you can buy more.

Accommodation booking

I booked accommodations on trip.com and Booking. As usual, it was important that they be in good locations in terms of public transportation and have good reviews. All four accommodations met these criteria.

City public transportation

I used the metro in almost every major city, I only took the bus a few times. The metro is a bit tricky at first, but then you get used to it.

First of all, major metro stations are often in shopping centers or at large stations. It’s quite easy to get lost, the signs sometimes disappear. The metro line is marked with both color and letter. The stations are numbered, making navigation easier. At transfer stations, arrows in the appropriate color sometimes show the way. There are free restrooms at every station!

The exits are marked with numbers and sometimes also with letters. A station has multiple exits. Google Maps shows the exit numbers, it’s worth checking in advance which one is good for us, because the metro station has a very large floor area. If we start in the wrong direction, we have to walk several hundred extra meters on the surface to reach our destination.

I bought a day pass in each city with a metro (the system writes the start date and time on it at first use). The machines only accept cash. At the gate you have to put the ticket in the slot, and it gives it back when you pass through.

In Japan it’s customary to queue nicely at the metro, bus, train, escalator, etc. There’s no pushing, which is a bit strange for us at first. Arrows at the metro doors show that you should stand to the side and wait for passengers to disembark.

It’s not customary to talk on public transportation. There are warning signs about this everywhere. Most people are on their phones or sleeping. If they do talk, it’s very quietly.

Trains, long-distance buses

Most people naturally travel by Shinkansen. I traveled from Nagoya to Tokyo on it, the trip was about €60. Not cheap, but you must try it once. 🙂

Although there are many machines at the station, it’s worth buying online in advance with a seat reservation to ensure we have a seat. If we’re traveling to Tokyo, we should book on the left side by the window, because Fuji is in that direction. Unfortunately the weather was bad during the trip, so I didn’t see it.

This website is the official Shinkansen site, the booking process is simple. We get a QR code, which needs to be scanned at the entrance gate, which gives us a small ticket (with the train and our seat information on it). At the destination station the QR code is also needed at the exit. The seats are comfortable, there’s plenty of legroom.

I also traveled by regional train (e.g. Osaka-Nara), here you can buy tickets from machines at the stations. The ticket price depends on the distance, we can read this from the map on the wall. We need to select the price on the machine and we get the ticket. By the way, for regional trains you should roughly expect Hungarian prices.

I also traveled once by long-distance bus from Kyoto to Nagoya. The Willer express buses are comfortable and well-priced. Booking a week in advance, the trip was €12. When booking we can also choose a seat (included in the price) and we get a QR code. You can board with this.

Interesting facts

One of the most important things is that there are very few trash cans. The custom is that everyone takes their trash home and collects it selectively. Some can be found near vending machines, but even those are mostly for drink bottles. So let’s factor this in when we buy something.

There are tons of vending machines. There’s one on almost every street, often several next to each other. And there are some where the coffee or tea comes out hot. I was even surprised the first time when I took out the coffee can and it was nearly boiling hot. 🙂

There are also many grocery stores. The three largest chains are 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. These can be found everywhere. Most grocery stores are also small eateries where there’s a lot of pre-prepared food. After payment we can heat it up in the microwave and we can also sit down there to eat it. We could do this at home too…

At the 7-Eleven store I saw a smoothie-making machine that you have to try. You take the fruit cup from the fridge, pay for it, and put it in the machine. The smoothie is ready in a minute. It’s a fun thing.

A Two weeks in Japan – part 1: general information bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

Sunday

We arrived in Prague after visiting Hluboká Castle. Our accommodation was in a suburb, next to the Strizkov metro station, from where it was a 15-minute journey to the city center. We bought 3-day passes, which allowed unlimited travel, and it’s free for those under 15.

After a hearty early dinner, we went into the city where exploring the Old Town was on the program. Here we saw the „usual” sights: Tyn Church, Clock Tower, Charles Bridge. And of course, we wandered around aimlessly a bit, as the small streets and alleys are very atmospheric.

Meanwhile, we visited two pubs: U Tri ruzi and Lod Pivovar. I definitely recommend the latter because it’s a ship on the Vltava River that serves as the pub itself. It’s worth sitting on the upper level and enjoying the view – and the beer, of course. 🙂

Monday

Our first sight today was Vyšehrad. The „C” metro line has a stop here, and the castle complex can be reached in about a 5-minute walk through the Tabor Gate. This is an area protected by castle walls and several gates, with the central element being the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. The neo-Gothic church is imposing from the outside as well. It’s worth walking along the castle wall, as there’s a very beautiful view of the city center to the north.

We walked down from one of the gates to the Vltava riverbank, from where we took a tram to the Dancing House. It’s an interesting building, worth a photo. From here we walked to the funicular leading to Petřín Tower on the other side. Along the way, we touched upon the Memorial to the Victims of Communism.

The funicular leading to the tower was being completely renovated and wasn’t working. So we had no choice but to walk up to the tower. This is about a 20-minute walk, but it’s worth it because the tower offers the best view of the city. You can take the stairs or the elevator. We were feeling a bit fit, so we chose the stairs both up and down. Since the staircase is open, we get increasingly beautiful views as we go up.

From here we went to the castle, stopping by the Strahov Monastery brewery along the way. This is quite a popular place, and their homemade beers are excellent. We also ordered a small beer tasting alongside: together it was world-class. 🙂

We explored the castle thoroughly. The main part is naturally the cathedral, which looks wonderful from several points in the city, let alone up close. It’s a huge building with many small sculptures characteristic of the neo-Gothic style. The view from the castle wall towards the Old Town is also very beautiful.

We walked down towards the riverbank, where we visited Prague’s narrowest street. You have to go down between two buildings and indeed only one person can fit. There’s a traffic light system, but many people don’t follow it, so crowds often build up. However, it’s worth trying, it’s a fun thing to do.

We hurried across Charles Bridge to a pub, Pivovar Národní. Along the way we passed the Kranner Fountain, which is a monument to Emperor Franz I. It reminded me of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, which looks similarly beautiful.

From the pub we walked to Kafka’s rotating metal sculpture, which is mandatory if you visit Prague. The head consists of metal layers that continuously change its appearance and position through rotation. His work „The Metamorphosis” perfectly fits this attraction.

We took a tram to one of the city’s most beautiful churches, St. Ludmila Church. Also Gothic style, the view in the center of the park is very beautiful. After this we visited two more pubs, and after the two beers, we headed back to the Old Town. It was starting to get dark, so we were able to take good photos.

Tuesday

There was heavy rain in the morning, so we decided to wait it out in the apartment until it stopped. Fortunately, this happened in the early afternoon, and we set off around 12:30.

First, we went to the viewpoint on Vítkov Hill, which rises near the Old Town. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Křižíkova metro station, you don’t have to climb much uphill. The panorama is beautiful, worth putting on the must-see list. In addition, Jan Žižka’s equestrian statue and the National Museum are also located here.

Two more pub visits remained. From these, I highlight U Kunštátů. Besides the pleasant place, the beer selection is unmissable! You can choose specific beers, but you can also describe what you want and the waiters will put together a selection. That’s what we did, they brought out six different beers for us. There was even a grapefruit-flavored one, so you can really taste special ones. It’s not a cheap place, but it’s well worth it!

At the end of the day we wandered aimlessly around the Old Town again, the many alleys are perfect for this. We headed home around seven o’clock, which ended our two and a half days.

The other report about Czech trip

Journey in Czech Republic – Krumlov, Brno and others

A Prague (beer) trip – Two and a half days in one of my favorite cities bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

We spent six days there, solving the five nights in three different places. We started in the southern part, in Krumlov, then went to Prague. From there the route led towards Brno, but not via highway – we made stops at two more places along the way.

Cesky Krumlov

We spent the first night (Saturday) perhaps in the most beautiful place. I think many people know Krumlov’s name – the city lying in the bend of the Vltava River is as beautiful in person as it is in pictures.

The city has an outdoor swimming area (Hornobranský rybník), which is good to know for those who want to swim. Our accommodation was one street away, and there’s also a good restaurant next to the swimming area. We ate there too. True, the selection isn’t large, but the pork knuckle is unbeatable. 🙂

After an early dinner, we set off to explore the city. We started at the southern bend of the Vltava, went along Linecka street towards the immediate city center. Already here we saw many kayakers: you can actually paddle by kayak all the way to the castle area. The river’s current is very gentle, so many families tried it without any problems. There’s a section where you have to paddle into a narrow channel, where the boat quickly slides down. It’s completely safe, but the whole thing is very cool.

We went up to the castle, from where the iconic photos are taken. From here you can see the city center best. There’s also a small buffet at the viewing terrace, it’s worth lingering here and enjoying the view.

We walked through the castle, then back along the main pedestrian street to the old town in the river bend. We lingered here a bit, especially since it was starting to get dark, which made the sight even more beautiful.

Walking in Krumlov feels like we had traveled back in time. The buildings are renovated very tastefully but not pretentiously, you can really feel the feeling of the past. It’s worth exploring the entire city center, walking in every street.

Unfortunately, we traveled on the next morning: if I were to replan the trip, I would definitely leave another full day here, because there’s plenty to see in the city. And we wouldn’t skip the kayaking either. :/

Ceske Budejovice

This city is about half an hour towards Prague, so we stopped for a quick downtown walk.

We parked next to the Dlouhá lávka bridge, from here we reached the atmospheric old town through a park. Since it was Sunday morning, everything was quite deserted, but at least there were no crowds. The main square is very beautiful: a fountain in the center, surrounded by very beautiful, colorful buildings.

Almost the entire main square has arcades, which makes it even more atmospheric. Here we found a café where there are many types of coffee varieties. However, these are unique coffees, most of which you can’t buy in stores. Worth visiting if you’re in the area!

Hluboka Castle

About 10 km from Budejovice is one of Czech Republic’s most famous castles, so it was obvious that we would visit here. It’s located within the built-up area of Hluboká nad Vltavou settlement, easily accessible on foot too.

We left the car in the parking lot in the village center (80 crowns for parking), from here we reached the castle in about 10 minutes. Surprisingly, entry is free not only to the park, but also to the building’s courtyard and the greenhouse next to it. You only have to pay for the lookout in the tower.

And since it’s free, we looked around thoroughly. There’s a wonderful flower bed area in front of the castle, from here you can take great pictures. Most photos are taken from this spot.

Prague

We arrived here Sunday afternoon and stayed in the capital until Wednesday.

You can read the report about Prague!

Kutna Hora

Wednesday morning we left Prague for Brno, the first stop was in this small town.

Here you can find a chapel (Kostnice Sedlec) whose interior is „decorated” with human skeletons. It’s an interesting sight from the outside too, recommended for those who aren’t disturbed by lots of bones and skulls to go inside. You can’t take photos inside! In the small street leading to the church there’s a gift shop where you can scare the folks at home with „skeleton” souvenirs. 🙂

A few hundred meters away, along the main road stands the cathedral, which is an imposing building. Tickets can be bought online or at the local information office. With the ticket you can enter both churches.

Punkva Cave

The next stop was the cave not far from Brno. There are several in the area, but this is one of the most popular, thanks to the boat ride at the end.

From Blansko settlement, a car road leads to a large parking lot, from where you can reach the cave on foot or by small train. Tickets must be bought online: places sell out quickly, you can only get them on site with luck. You have to pay separately for parking and the small train. We went there by small train, walked back. The latter is about a 15-minute easy walk on an asphalt road.

The tickets are for specific times, this is when the tour starts from the central building at the cave entrance. The first part is an „average” cave with beautiful stalactites. There’s a large hall where there’s a small lake, this reflects everything, a very beautiful sight. The first, less average thing is that we come out to an open section, I haven’t been in such a cave before.

At the end comes the most beautiful part: we return to the starting point about 500 meters by electric boat. The passage narrows quite well in places, those sitting on the sides have to lean inward to avoid head bumps. Incredibly beautiful and a great experience!

Brno

About half an hour from the cave was the 2nd largest Czech city. I’ve been this way several times when going to Prague, but I’ve never been here. Now I could finally see why many people love it.

Our accommodation was right next to the city center, so we could explore it on foot. After a mug of beer, the first place was the castle rising on the hill. We can walk freely on the castle walls, the view is very good on all sides.

From here we walked down to the old town area. The Germanic style was already visible at the beginning, which is no wonder, since many Germans lived here until World War II. The city center is very atmospheric, clean and beautiful. On one square there was a mini-concert full of young people, in a courtyard a more rock performance, and on another square a DJ entertained the people. Lounge chairs were set up here, with a beer in hand we also sat down and enjoyed the music.

It was getting dark, the second-to-last thing was to see the cathedral. It’s visible from quite many places, a monumental and wonderful church. Last, we sat down in a local small restaurant, where alongside a (usual) beer we ate incredibly good food.

Summary

Most people usually „only” go to Prague when it comes to Czech Republic. But it’s worth exploring more places, because similarly to us, the countryside also hides countless great sights. And how much we had to leave out too!

But I have to highlight one thing: wherever you go in the country, seek out and enjoy the beer and good food. Pork knuckle and dumplings are basic, but wherever we went, we never had to be disappointed! Alongside beer, the good food that belongs to the Czech lifestyle.

A Journey in Czech Republic – Krumlov, Brno and others bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.