Neil The Wanderer

Saturday, May 14, 2016

It was nearly Saturday midnight and the cold Tokyo wind was beginning to send chills down my spine.

Tokyo’s night-dwellers, most of them wearing dark suits, others in outlandish clothes in varying shades of neon colors, were passing by and I, an outsider in this bustling and noisy city, had nowhere to go.

It was my fourth night in central Tokyo and against my better judgement, without any guide, I decided to explore its every nook and cranny, getting helplessly lost in the process.

Glancing at my faded Tokyo train and railway map, I could hardly read the stations and the railway lines I need to take to get myself back to Ariake Bay. I was shaking in panic.

Earlier in the day, I trooped to Ueno area from my hotel in Ariake near the bay area, to make a must-do pasalubong shopping for all friends and relatives who demanded gifts.

My 11-year old nephew, who’s been nagging me for a play station portable (PSP) even warned me not to go back to Manila without any gift at hand and I didn’t want to him.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Tokyo was so high-tech for me that its highly complicated train and railway system left me dazed and confused during my first moments of solo exploration.

I have spent a good hour loitering around the Shimbashi station of the JR East line, but still could not find my way towards the connecting Yurikamome train that would take me back to Ariake.

And though I made attempts of ‘dokoni imaska Yurikamome’ to Japanese passersby, nobody stopped to give me detailed directions on where to go so I just decided to just explore Shimbashi.

9:35 PM

Shimbashi is a business district and the newer skyscrapers are beginning to change the landscape of this busy area. Walking around, you would notice large neon signs for money exchange (largely because this is a transfer point of the major transport systems in Tokyo and because of the rich population of foreign visitors).

Skipping dinner for shopping, I also could not stop staring at the fancy restaurants around Shimbashi, some of them offering ramen and tsukumen at 1,400 yen (around P600) a cup.

But with my preference for raw fish, the sight of endless sushi houses in Shimbashi was truly agonizing especially for someone working on a dangerously limited budget.

Shimbashi is also 10 minutes near the shopping districts of Ginza and Shiodome so the idea of continuing my pasalubong hunting was tempting.

But with a measly 1,000 yen inside my pockets and a few dollars left after my earlier bargain-hunting, shopping was definitely no longer an option and I had to contend with just looking through the windows of fancy shops in the district.

As the minutes passed by, my mind was beginning to ponder on the possibility of missing all the trains and being forced to sleep on the cold pavement of Tokyo’s streets.

Under normal circumstances, I would not panic during such episodes, but my childhood has left me scarred and well-aware of the perils of losing my directions.

As a curious 5 year-old, I followed my sisters on their way to their grade school in the northern portion of Binondo, Manila one morning of 1987. It would be three weeks after that I would next see them.

Losing track of my sisters, I ended up being taken cared of by a rich Chinese family at the opposite side of Binondo.

While that family took good care of me, the thought of losing my family forever terrorized me so much that I would wake up in the middle of the night and cry while looking out the window of my adoptive family’s house. I would also refuse to eat with the company of the people I cannot understand at all (I would later realize that they were speaking in Mandarin). My parents found me after three weeks with the help of relentless announcements in newspapers and television programs.

I returned to my old life and family but I was never the same. Growing up, I would always follow map directions to a T.

But this time was obviously an exception.

10:30 PM, (almost two hours later)

With very few precious time left before the Yurikamome line stops its operation, I summoned all my strength and courage to again ask Japanese strangers for directions on how to get to the Yurikamome line that would take me back to Ariake bay.

I know that if I don’t make it in time, I would be definitely be sleeping in the hard, cold streets of Shimbashi. Or worse, the roving patrolmen of the Japanese police may invite me for sake at the nearest police station.

My stomach already growling and my mind filled with the various doomsday scenarios, I hesitantly approached a woman sitting at the nearest bench at the JR station.

With strain clearly etched on my face, I asked her one last time for directions and to my luck, she quickly gathered bag and walked me through the confusing pathways around the station to the front gate of the Yurikamome line in Shimbashi.

Me in Roponggi area

And with a small smile, the lady said ”oyasuminasai” (good night) to me. I quickly boarded the last train and silently expressed my gratitude to her. I was sure that she was an angel in disguise out to save me from misery.

While my evening was not exactly good ( it was filled with misadventures as a matter of fact), I gave her a grateful bow and repeated the greeting because if not for her, I would have been totally lost in the streets of Tokyo and fail to find my way back home.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Seeing a cherry blossom tree in full bloom is truly a sight to behold. Its blooming marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. In Japan, it also symbolizes the nation’s deep-rooted belief that life’s immense beauty cannot last forever.

First glimpse in Kyushu

Every year, tourists from all over the world come to visit the different cherry blossom spots in Japan. However, one can have the first glimpse of blooming Sakura leaves in Kyushu, where the much-anticipated seasonal cycle starts.

There are countless parks where people can practice hanami or “flower-viewing” in Kyushu. One can head to its capital, Fukuoka, or Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki or Kagoshima, as cherry blossoms in each destination are set to bloom from late March to early April.

Located in the southernmost part of Japan, Kyushu is bound to be the first to experience the change in season. In the following months, the cycle moves upward to Osaka, Kyoto, mainland Tokyo, Hokkaido and cities in other islands.

Bask in Fukuoka’s rich culture

Fukuoka is one of the largest and most active cities in Japan. When the castle town of Fukuoka merged with the port town of Hakata in 1889, the city became progressive while maintaining its rich culture. Hakata remains to be the central district in Fukuoka and contains the JR Hakata Station, the main railway station that transports people all over the city. The Fukuoka Airport is also as accessible as the other forms of transportation available, ranging from local bus lines to long-distance buses.

Home to more than a thousand cherry blossom trees, the most popular parks in Fukuoka are Fukuoka Castle (Maizuri Park), Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, and Nishi Park (Nishi Koen), all just about a few minutes’ walk from the nearest train stations.

Aside from the alluring Sakura tree parks, the capital of Kyushu also houses a variety of other tourist destinations. For enthusiasts of history and culture, the Fukuoka Castle ruins, the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, and the Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan (a folk museum that recreated townhouses from the late Meiji era) are the places to be. When it comes to food, the Kagomma Furusato Yataimura food stalls, as well as the noodles in Ichiran is a must-taste for foodies and enthusiasts alike, while the rural beaches in Nokonoshima and Shikanoshima will surely delight the adventurous-at-heart.

Complete your Fukuoka-Kyushu experience

The island of Kyushu and its capital Fukuoka serves as Japan’s gateway to its neighbouring countries, making it a melting pot of different cultures. Fukuoka, as a destination, can truly provide historical and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Its rich geography boasts of charming qualities that are second to none. Scattered all over Kyushu are Onsens or “hot springs,” brought to life by vibrant volcanic activity, making Kyushu a must-visit for tourists looking for relaxation. A 4-hour drive from Fukuoka, Aoshima beach in Miyazaki has shallow waters perfect for a refreshing dip on hot summer days. About an hour and-a-half away from Fukuoka is the Kumamoto Prefecture, with hills and plains that glow green during the summer season, fit for an artistic eye that appreciates nature’s profound beauty.

These are just some of the activities that one can enjoy in Fukouka and the rest of Kyushu. With a lot more to discover, it is definitely an out-of-the-box experience for visitors that complements the fleeting beauty of the Sakura Festivals.

Starting December 17, 2015, explore and experience the different destinations that make Kyushu stand out, with the rest of the wonders of Japan, with Cebu Pacific’s new Fukuoka route. For more information and flight bookings, visit www.cebupacificair.com.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Ask a casual traveler what he thinks of Japan and most likely, he will start talking about the mega city of Tokyo and its blinding lights, its efficient transport system, high cost of living, and great Japanese food. If the traveler is art and history inclined, then perhaps he will start dreaming of the imperial city of Kyodo, its perfectly preserved wooden houses and the beautiful geishas, clad in beautful kimonos, that walk around the old city.

But Japan is so much more than its first world megacities or historic towns.

Japan, a large archipelago in the East Asian region, has millions of other stories to tell and even more adventures to offer to different folks with different strokes.

Specifically, Japan’s Hokkaido region bristles with snow sports activities come winter season.

The Land of the Rising Sun’s unique feature is its fascinating geography which comes to life in the snow season and boasts of extreme, high-octane sporting activities.

With over 500 ski resorts nationwide, skiing and snowboarding are prominent winter sports best practiced at resorts in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Niigata, and Nagano.

You can also try other snow activities such as snow rafting, snow shoeing, cross country ski, and snowmobiling
Around Mt. Fuji, resorts such as Niseko, Shiga Kogen, and Zao, offer marvelous views of the beauty of the great mountain.Of all three, Niseko is definitely the most popular and it attracts snow sports aficionados from all corners of the its powdery snow.

For travelers who enjoy high altitude, climbing the Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido and Kamikochi in Nagano-ken should be top priority.

For those who are into a ore relaxed experience during the winter, one can head out to the famous Sapporo Winter held in February, and marvel at larger than life ice sculptures depicting famous people, places and landmarks from all over the world.

Started by a few high school and middle school students in the 1950s, the Sapporo Snow Festival has become an iconic event in Hokkaido which attracts about two million visitors from all over Japan and the world, every year. The festival is so popular that teams from Canada and the United States are even participating in it by sending teams.