While selecting activities for my trip to Australia, I came across many tours for penguin watching on the beach online. As an animal lover, I decided that this was something I must definitely experience! However, most of these tour packages were priced at over $100 to go on a two hour trip to Phillip Island, which is a bit expensive for people who are backpacking. With a little more research, my friend and I figured out that you can see them pretty much every night at the beach in St. Kilda, which is just 20 minutes away via tram from central Melbourne.
After knocking back a couple drinks at the bars in CBD, we hopped on the tram from Southern Cross Station and made our way to the pier at St. Kilda Beach around 7pm a little after the sun set (we confirmed this time via the weather app). At first we weren’t sure if they were going to come out, as spring had just started in Australia and it was a bit chilly. But we saw a large group of people gathered at the pier and sure enough, a group of penguins started to emerge from the rocks!
Sometimes they are hard to see in the dark, so usually a fluorescent light is shone over them so people can view them from the wooden docks. Park rangers are present to ensure the penguins’ safety, but sometimes they wander close to people. One even climbed up to say hello to us (I apologize for the low video quality, as no flash photography was allowed):
I really enjoyed this experience a lot because it wasn’t like going to a zoo–it was a completely natural phenomenon! Compared to other penguins I’ve seen in other countries, these ones looked a lot tinier. In addition to Melborune, there are several other places in Australia where you can see penguins frolic on the beach.
St. Kilda also has botanical gardens that I recommend going to during the day! My friend and I were able to see some sakura blossoms here and along the Yarra River. Though I thought the weather here was quite cold compared to Tokyo, I am really happy I was able to see the beautiful sakura once again this year!
No matter what time of year you come to Australia, I think you can always find something beautiful to enjoy!
For the past 2 weeks I’ve been invading Australia; starting from the southern picturesque city of Melborune to the charming countryside of Adelaide. Since a number of my Japanese friends have studied abroad or traveled to this country, it’s always been on my radar. Unlike my previous trips to Asian countries where I have a set itinerary for each day, this trip was a lot more easygoing and spontaneous. A friend I met at a beach party in Japan kindly let me crash at their place near the center of the city, so together we decided to hit the city while catching up and also experience the seemingly endless nightlife.
A lot of my American friends have asked me what Melbourne was like, and I told them: “Picture a cleaner, safer, version of your favorite American city with slightly less people, and that’s pretty much it!” One thing I notice about most Australians is that they are pretty laidback and travel more frequently outside the county than a lot of Americans do. Australia is very affordable to live in, and the tuition fees for education are greatly subsidized by the government compared to America. The only downside is that eating out is somewhat expensive, but on the plus side, there is no tipping like in the US.
This trip initially started out very rough because I negligently forgot to apply for my ETA to enter the country (I thought I could do so upon arrival), so Jetstar had to reschedule my flight a day later after I applied for it. Essentially all you need to do is fill out a form online and pay $30 to enter the country so it’s extremely easy, but make sure to do this before your flight! I have never had issues with tourist visas until this trip, but it was only a small bump in the road because I still was able to do everything I wanted.
Once I landed, I took the Sky Bus to Southern Cross Station to meet my friend. Immediately he recognized me due to my flamboyant blonde hair despite us not seeing one another for over two years. We first got some lattes at Mid Town Coffee which I highly recommend, then immediately proceeded to go day drinking at Melborune’s famous rooftop bar. The coffee and the White Russians somehow helped me fight off the jetlag as we walked around Chinatown and other parts of the city. What I liked most about Melbourne is that almost all of the downtown area is walkable and there are inexpensive trams available as well. The system is very easy to figure out.
Being in Australia felt like being in an alternate universe America. Instead of GameStop, they still have EB Games, which seems to have more selection and be far more superior. Forget about Burger King–it’s called Hungry Jack’s here. Porn Hub should cum and get their pizza. 8bit burgers is also a great place to eat out (I love their logo design). Lord of the Fries is not only a good pun, but they also has an entire vegan menu. Despite living in Tokyo, I tried a lot of Japanese places here that were a little expensive but overall delicious. Wagaya was one of my favorites due to its large sake list, but Japanese Gyoza Bar deserves an honorable mention. Those are just a few of the places that we visited, but there are many more!
My favorite dessert places were Chokolait, where I had amazing rainbow pancakes made with pavlova, and a cakeshop called Glace where I had an amazing mushroom pastry. They also had a really cute marshmallow one I wish I could have tried, but was too full!
There are a number of bars along the Yarra river that runs through the city, but my favorites were Storyville where I ordered Butterbeer, and the Croft where one of my Japanese friends DJed. They also have syringe drinks available that are very tasty and fun to share with others. All of these places had really friendly and welcoming atmospheres, and I even managed to make friends in the bathroom!
One event I recommend checking out is Delight because they run really fun music events with Smash Bros. tournaments at various locations in central Melbourne. I met some very nice people here, and was impressed with the quality of music.
それを考えぬく – EMBRACE
One of my favorite memories in this city was drinking Korean sochu while watching Kenny Beats & Zack Fox with two friends in an office building. I felt like I was reliving my college days and it was extremely nostalgic. The above poster I shot inspires you to let go of your thoughts and embrace your surroundings, which is exactly what I did during this trip. It was really beneficial for my mental health.
Seeing this Shelter poster hanging in my friend’s room only continued to add to the nostalgia.
Overall I was very impressed with this city and felt like I could finally escape from my high-stress life in Tokyo. Some people refer to Melbourne as the “hipster” area of Australia, but I think it has a lot more to offer than just chic cafes and murals like other places that have that label. I will be writing more about the art galleries and wildlife reserves I visited in my future posts so you can get a better feel about what this country is like, but I recommend that you visit it if you ever get the chance!
Before heading to Nanoboro Festa, a famous underground music festival during my trip to Kyoto, I decided to rent a yukata (casual summer kimono) and do some sightseeing in the Gion district. Historically, this area was one of the most famous for its tea houses and traditional sweets, upscale lodging for visitors, and the extremely aesthetic Yasaka Temple that attracts a lot of people with its brilliant colors.
Yasaka Temple is dedicated to the three wise monkeys and a guardian warrior known as Shomen Kongo. The colorful cloth balls that are attached to it are called “kukurizaru” which are talismans that provide good luck by taking away greed and impure desires. Like ema and other talismans in Japan, you are able to purchase one at the gate if you would like to make a wish or prayer, but there is no fee to enter the area where the temple is.
Back in the day, many geiko (who are similar to geisha, but are known more as “woman of art”) resided in this area. Nowadays there are many bars and restaurants as well as hotels for travelers, but much of Gion’s history has been preserved and it is a very relaxing are to visit. You can see beautiful parks, temples, a river, and bamboo growing around Gion Station, so it is definitely worth checking out.
For those who are interested in renting a kimono, I rented one for 4000 yen from Kyoto Kashin in Gion. This is actually a very good price because it includes hairstyling, accessories, and shoes as well. At first I was a bit nervous about wearing one because I am a foreigner in Japan and it is not native to my culture, but I realized they are very flattering and fun to dress up in when you are seeing temples in Japan. I encourage everyone to try it at least once~
Have you ever had the urge to just straight up inject fresh Nutella into your mouth with a syringe? Well at Dex2Rose, one of Melbourne’s most unique gelato spots, you can legally do this without any shame. In fact, the syringe filled with chocolate and hazlenut spread actually packs a lot flavor you wouldn’t get by simply spreading it on food. Not only do they have Nutella gelato that seemingly defies gravity, but they also have crepes, waffles, cider, and other brilliant desserts. This was one of the silliest things I did while I was on my two week trip to Australia, and it was completely worth it for the meme factor.
Another unforgettable dessert I had was Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Ice Ccream at Milkcow. Who knew that by mixing vanilla ice cream and ground up Cheetos sprinkled with the “flamin’ hot” powder, you could get this beautiful creation:
Flamin’ Hot ice cream that ironically helps you beat the heat.
The taste of this ice cream is a bit difficult to explain in words, so I recommend that everyone tries it for themselves! The ice cream was definitely still sweet, but the texture of the powder makes your mouth tingle for a bit at first until the ice cream hits your tongue. Regardless of the initial sensory processing disorder, this is something I’m really happy that I had the chance to try!
I will be writing about my experience traveling through Melbourne and Adelaide including stories about closeup counters with kangaroos, partying and playing Smash Bros. at the local bars, and all of the aesthetic food I had in the meantime! I am currently back in Japan writing and doing some freelance work, but I will be planning my next international trip for my birthday very soon. Thank you for reading, as always! ♡
Soft mochi and iced green tea at a traditional sweets store in Gion.
Whenever I travel to a new place, I like trying a combination of the local cuisine and the most crazy places that I can find. Kyoto is known for its tofu, noodles, kaiseki (vegetarian dishes), and of course; matcha sweets (which includes green tea-flavored ice cream, parfaits, and more). Here is a list I have compiled of the most unique dining experiences I have had in Kyoto:
Gold Ramen at Zundoya
Zundoya is an extremely popular ramen chain in Japan because of their affordable and delicious bowls. In their Tokyo and and Kyoto branches, they have the option to purchase gold flakes which you can sprinkle on any ramen dish on their menu. This comes with a hefty extra 5000 yen charge, but was fun to do just for the aesthetic purpose of eating golden ramen. You can buy these gold flakes at souvenir shops in Kyoto and Kanazawa. They can be used as a topping for virtually any food due to them being flavorless.
The regular bowls of ramen are also packed with flavor! The funny thing was I came here after a music workshop with some of my Japanese friends per their recommendation. That’s when you know it’s a good place to eat!
Kichi Kichi Omurice
Omelette and rice dishes (dubbed omurice) are an extremely popular food combination in Japan, and this restaurant does it best! When you see the head chef, Yukimura Motokichi, slice a freshly baked omelette and have it perfectly melt over the rice in an almost cinematic fashion, you’ll understand why this restaurant is so popular.
This meal was seriously the best omurice I had ever tasted because the omelettes are cooked to be extremely fluffy. Since this website is so popular, it is recommended to make a reservation on their website.
Kitten Company Cafe
As the name implies, this cafe has cat-themed sweets, and is extremely vegan-friendly. I tried their vegan curry, chocolate cake, and kitten cookies. All of them were scrumptious, and I was delighted to see the curry arranged in the form of a happy cloud! No reservation is required for this restaurant, but you can see their website here.
Menbaka Fire Ramen
“NO RAMEN NO LIFE” is the English slogan that greets you at this ramen restaurant. I immediately liked the atmosphere the minute I entered. Menbaka puts a large amount of green onions and pours oil right over the dish before it is served to create an explosive fiery effect. Just watch the video of me seconds before the fire starts to burn:
The taste of the ramen is quite ordinary; maybe a little more oily but otherwise unnoticeable. It is worth going to once just to see the fire! This restaurant does not accept reservations; you must lineup and take a numbered ticket. You can explore other places in Kyoto while you are waiting, so it’s not so gruesome of a wait.
Green Tea Soba Noodles
Tsujiri Teahouse offers one of the most unique noodle dishes I’ve ever seen in my life: green tea soba and tofu in a white milk-like broth. Though that doesn’t sound appetizing at first, it actually has a refreshing taste! I ordered mine chilled and they really hit the spot. If you are feeling adventurous, this is definitely a good thing to try! In additional to noodles, there are many parfaits and sweets here. Next time I come to Kyoto, I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for more unique food like this!
Over the weekend I made the amazing discovery that samurai cats are real! About an hour east from Kyoto lies a quiet castle town called Hikone with the adorable samurai cat mascot you see here: Hikonyan. Hikone is in Shiga Prefecture and borders Lake Biwa, one of the most famous lakes in Japan due to its lovely scenery. I decided to start my trip by taking a ferry from Nagahama Port, which is just a few stops north of Hikone Station on the JR Tokaido-Sanyo line, and visit the mythical island in the middle of the lake called Chikubushima. See the ferry schedule for reference–a roundtrip ferry ticket is around 3000 yen.
Chikubushima is known as the “Island of the Gods” and is said to be imbued with magical powers. Though I am not a religious person, I appreciate going on journeys like this because it gives me the chance to see rare parts of the world! You can walk around the whole entire island within 30 mins and see shrines, a beautiful view of the lake, and also try some local cuisine at the cafes (though the selection is very limited).
The main point of interest here is visiting Hogonji Temple and making a wish with a daruma doll. Daruma Dolls are a special kind of talisman here that you can write your wish on a slip of paper and put it inside the doll for good luck. The Japanese people at the shrine were extremely kind and helped me do this. Though this island was tinier than I expected, it was a very nice way to start my trip!
After the pleasant ferry ride back (which only takes 30 mins), I then decided to go directly to Hikone Castle to see the Hikonyan Show! During this time, the fiercely adorable samurai cat will come out before the castle gates to greet his visitors. Hikonyan is treated as a celebrity by Japanese people. I was surprised to see a line of people with cameras out waiting to see him, but he is definitely worth the hype! He appears every day and you can see the timetables here.
In addition to Hikonyan, you can walk through the Hikone Castle, see the Genkyu-en Gardens, and also visit the Yume Kyōbashi Castle Road that has shops and souvenirs. I visited all of these places by foot from Hikone Station, but you can also take buses around the city! By 6pm, I was exhausted from all the travel so I decided to go back to my capsule hotel in Kyoto. Hikone makes for the perfect day trip from Kyoto because it is easy to access and full of history.
When people think of Kyoto, they usually think of the historic temples, people clad in colorful kimonos, and the Arashiyama bamboo forest. All of these are wonderful aspects of visiting the city, but there is actually a lot more places explore! In the far north lies a beautiful fishing village called Ine which welcomes visitors. Ine is extremely important to the history of Kyoto because it is where rice-growing was introduced from China, and it also shows how people traditionally lived by the sea. This culture has been preserved since its establishment and is truly magnificent to see.
There are a number of boathouses called funaya that are available for visitors to stay in, but they require reservation at least 2 months in advance. The advantage to staying in one is that you will have a meal plan and can relax while seeing and an amazing view of the ocean. You can also rent fishing equipment quite easily. I wanted to watch the weather to ensure it was a sunny day when I arrived, so I opted to just take a day trip here.
I’ve been to Kyoto numerous times, but this is the first time that I’ve ever gone this far north! From Kyoto Station, you can take the JR Line to Miyazu, then reach Ine by bus in approximately 3 hours. The trip is very long, but the scenery you see along the way is a great way to pass the time.
The reason I wanted to come to Ine is because it reminds me of Terazzi, a town in one of my favorite PS1 games called Tales of Destiny. Tales of Destiny is an amazing game because it takes the player through forests, castles, harbors, and even to Utopian societies in outer space. Namco utilized the Linear Motion Battle System in the game so you really feel compelled by the battles and the areas you travel through are quite memorable. Though I first played it nearly 10 years ago, I still remember how the towns felt like real places.
Terazzi always stood out to me because it is this beautiful, Venetian-like city but has boat houses almost exactly like those in Ine. Terazzi and Ine are both have a number of residents living in them, but also feel a bit isolated at times. In the game, you must navigate through a maze of waterways to find the entrance to the castle, much like how walking around the boathouses is here (although sadly there is no castle). I can see a clear resemblance of how many port towns in games are inspired by real places like Ine. It feels surreal when you finally experience them in real life!
Going back to reality, when I arrived at Ine, I decided to take a few pictures by the harbor and walk alongside the ocean. There are a few houses you can enter and see the boats up-close in. I went to the tourism office, and they were able to arrange a boat tour for me and a few other people for only 1000 yen. The boat trip was really fun because you get to learn about the history of Ine, and they also give you bird food so you can feed the local birds! They really aren’t afraid of people and flew close to the boat. I was able to capture some amazing photos:
Besides fishing and being on the ocean, you can also walk around and see a few local shrines. There are restaurants and cafes open during certain times as well where you can try the local cuisine and a lot of seafood. I stayed here for about 3 hours, and that was more than enough to see everything I wanted.
If you are an adventurous traveler who has already seen most of Kyoto and likes being near the ocean, I would recommend this trip to you! Please note that this area is quite remote, but easy to navigate on foot. Just be careful to watch the bus timetable when you get off, and you’ll be absolutely fine.
Over the weekend I had a wonderful trip to obscure fishing villages, islands, and beaches in northern Kyoto and Shiga Prefecture. One of my favorite places that I discovered was this sandbar in Miyazu called Amanohashidate (try saying that three times fast)!
Amanohashidate is a 3 hour train ride from Kyoto Station with four different transfers, but its scenic atmosphere and remote location make it the ideal getaway for hotspring vacations or even just day trips away from the city. Due to my bus itinerary, I arrived here around 7pm just as dusk fell. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to walk across the entire sandbar this late at night, but surprisingly it’s open 24 hours, which is often rare for public beaches in Japan.
When I reached the southern tip of the sandbar (which is just a short walk from the station), the beach was illuminated with backlights in stark contrast to what it would normally look like during the day and some serene music was playing from a speaker. It was like being at a rave, but with calming music. I felt as if I was an alien that had landed on another planet!
Though I’ve been to many wild beach parties in Thailand, my stroll on Amanohashidate was something I’d had yet to experience. I’ve never seen such a thin and beautiful beach lit up like this. In the middle of the sandbar is a shrine, and there are lookout points on both ends of it. It takes about an hour to cross the sandbar by foot, but bike rental is available during the day. I was extremely tired from all of the travel, but during this trek I felt rejuvenated by soaking my feet in the water.
I’d recommend for most people to visit Amanohashidate during the day so you can ride the cable car, but unfortunately I did not have time to do this. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience I had here, and would recommend it to people who have already been to Kyoto and Osaka and are looking for something different. Walking across a sandbar is definitely a unique experience for most people traveling in Japan!
Before I went back to central Kyoto, I decided to try a course meal at a restaurant near the station called 310 Amanohashidate Japanese Table. Since I do not eat meat, I requested a fish and vegetable course a received avocado, salad, tofu, sashimi, and some delicious grilled fish and rice:
If you have the time, please consider exploring northern Kyoto. You will find less tourists and a lot more culture here!
As someone who’s been a cross country runner for over 10 years, I have a tradition of going on an average length run (around 5km) every time I’m in a new place. Not only does it help me get better acquainted with the area, but it also gives me an incredible endorphin boost that will keep me in a good mood throughout the day. If you do this, just be sure to take your phone along so you don’t get lost!
The hilarious part about my 5 day trip to Kyoto was that my shoes randomly broke while I was hiking. Fortunately I was able to borrow some cheap ones from my hotel, but I really need shoes with good support to continue to high level of activity.
I found a shoe store chain called ABC Mart near Nishiki Market in central Kyoto. They have Nike, Puma, Converse, and a variety of brands but my favorite is the Japanese brand ASICS. I settled on this pair of red ones so I could continue my streak of running around the city:
ASICS is a reliable brand with gel support, and they tend to last for a while. I set off for the Kyoto Imperial Palace which has a beautiful park that you are free to roam around in outside of the gates. It’s so peaceful and quiet here, and you can choose to do laps around it or run down the street nearby towards Nijo Castle. I love the sense of peace I get coming here in the morning. Even if you’re not a runner, this is an area I definitely recommend checking out!!
Trying unique and adorable ice cream stores scattered across Asia has become a huge hobby of mine. As I was thrift shopping for clothes in Shimokitazawa (which has much better selection than the overcrowded Harajuku), I stumbled upon Sweet Twist–a vintage ice cream store selling a variety of soft cream, gelato, and crepes with customizable toppings.
Like most sweets stores in central Tokyo, the store is tiny, but the bright pink exterior and colorful signs advertising a variety of desserts seemed extremely inviting. Not to mention the fluffy mascot that’s printed on all of the cups is the epitome of cute!
I decided to try the strawberry topped soft cream first. Like the name implies, the ice cream is extremely light tasting and sweet. The strawberry topping tasted much like strawberry chocolate so I really enjoyed the taste. Since the portion size I ordered was small (I regret not doing the 2 scoop option), I decided to try the raspberry gelato as well. They have a variety of flavors like green tea, coconut, chocolate fruits, etc. and you can choose extra toppings for just 50 yen. I liked the ice cream slightly better due to its sweetness, but I imagine everything here is really good!
The interior design with the neon pink flamingo and framed photos of Audrey Hepburn and other nostalgic icons was also a pleasant experience to take in. This neighbor hood has a lot of vintage shops that you should definitely check out if you have the chance. I will definitely be back here in the future to try more delicious flavor combinations!
