Hamamatsu Flower Park & Ferry from Irago to Toba Wakayama Japan

Hello Traveler to Japan

It’s Golden week and we are traveling by car with various stops.  Today I am in Nagoya in this sensational hotel but let me start at the beginning, our first stop was in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka on our way to the Nachi Falls and Hiro Shrine in Wakayama. 

My husband works regularly in Hamamatsu but I have never been here. We stayed at a very cheap hotel, The Centirium Hamamatsu. It cost around 13,500 ¥ a night for two person and it is directly at the Hamamatsu Station. It’s a small room and functional, the staff told us, they just started a week ago. Breakfast buffet is included. The hotel has 3 stars. The location is great, sleeping was good, breakfast also good but overall lacking in atmosphere. 

Hamamatsu is famous for eel and my husband knew a great restaurant and I highly recommend it as well, (link in the description) so for lunch we went to this Hamamatsu Station South side and the restaurants name is Unagi Yaotoku Main Restaurant. A definitely great lunch, for me the best Unagi I ever had.

The Hamamatsu station has a Tourist Information Office at the station. We choose to go to the Hamamatsu Flower park because Wisteria were blooming at the time. So I will bore you with lots of footage or follow me on Instagram, if you like landscape and travel photography from Japan. This was our only activity on that day because we started early, 4 am to drive to Shizuoka, no traffic jam, we were happy about that.

That night we went to an Izakaya, cheap and good also on the south side of the Station and discussed our driving route the next day. We decided to go with the ferry via Irago to Toba to Wakayama, our original plan was to drive there around the bay. The ferry cost around 10,000 ¥ one way for a car and two adults. The coastline from Hamamatsu started late but when it started it was stunning. 

That’s it for today, in my next video, which I will publish on Monday I will show you stunning Wakayama. It’s a very mystic place and absolutely worth visiting. It is my second stay in Wakayama. See you then! Bye

Links:

Hotel: https://www.centurion-hotel.com/

Unagi Restaurant: https://www.unagiyaotoku.com/

Toba Italian Restaurant: https://en.japantravel.com/mie/cuccagna-italian-cafe-restaurant/3565

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😁Don't be a stranger 

🎠Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MartinaTakano

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🎠Email: martinemler@gmail.com

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Editing Software: DaVinci Resolve 17 Studio

Camera: Sony Alpha 7C & iPhone 12 

XOX

Martina Takano

Travel Japan with me

#Japan #Hamamatsu #flowerpark

Hamamatsu-Cho Tokyo Japan | Along the Yamanote Line

Zojo-ji Temple

Hello Japan Traveller

Hello Traveller to Japan

Tokyo’s maze of public transport is difficult to navigate. My advice is to look at the poison green line of Yamanote. It covers major tourist attractions and you do not need a wifi to check where you are going. If you use an App, I recommend the “Japan Travel App” but Google is fine as well.

The Yamanote line circle is going clockwise and anti-clockwise through Tokyo. It is easy to remember this line and to get around. I review every station on this line. Today’s Station review is Hamamatsucho. A rather old station with lots of small corridors going in various directions. But remember, once you arrive at any station in Tokyo, look out for a map and know where you are. From there it is easy to navigate.

I have been many times to Hamamatsucho Station because of the Zojoji Temple. It is one of the most photogenic temples in Tokyo and had a very nice tradition of sending sky lantern into the sky until maybe 2010 or 1 or 2 years later. Now they have this beautiful tradition on Tanabata to create the milky way on (this is July 7). This shrine is 10 minutes walk from Hamatsucho Station. The Zojoji Temple has many events and I recommend to visit the website, you can easily translate the website with google. Tokyo Tower is just beside Zojoji Temple and I am not getting into it, there are tons of videos on youtube featuring the visit to Tokyo Tower.

You could go further and reach Roppongi Hills but I believe it is to far and to much for a day.

Links:

Events: https://www.zojoji.or.jp/event/#event02 

Visitors in 2019: https://www.japan.travel/en/news/visitor-arrivals-reached-30-million/

Gion Map Source: https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_society/articles/900001771.html

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😁Don't be a stranger 

🎠Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MartinaTakano

🎠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinatakano/

🎠Email: martinemler@gmail.com

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Editing Software: DaVinci Resolve 17 Studio

Camera: Sony Alpha 7C & iPhone 12 

XOX

Martina Takano

Travel Japan with me

#Japan #Tokyo #Hamamatsucho

Tokyo Station Japan | Along the Yamanote Line

Hello Traveler

The Imperial Palace is popular among Tourists and it is right at Tokyo Station. But be aware, only 300 visitors per tour on first come first serve basis are allowed in the East Garden. There are more information on the official website:

https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html

https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/multilingual/lang/en/information.html

Walking map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qCx2hTRK9zM8bPDo8

Imperial Palace Garden

On the other side of Tokyo Station is Nihombashi. There are to many sightseeing spots to mention and I will focus on the Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace and Nihombashi. My latest video you can find on youtube here:

For all large Japanese Station there is one rule, find a map and find out where you are. Usually there are four exits in all cardinal directions. I arrived with the Yokosuka line and usually end up on the West side of the Station. 

Tokyo Station location map

Meeting Points

I do not leave through the gates and stay within the station because there are two meeting points, one, the Gin no Suzu is very famous and the other one is the clock tower, just around the corner.

Screenshot from my video

Obento or Ekiben

Inside the Station on level one you have access to all trains and the Shinkansen. Ekiben and Omiyage Shops are everywhere. When I travel long distance I buy an ekiben, Eki means station and Ben is short for Obento. This Salmon pressed Sushi tasted delicious 

pressed salmon - Masunosushi

Ekiben offers

Souvenirs at Tokyo Station

and this Omiyage or Souvenir I bought for someone, tulip sweet. 

Tulip Sweets

You have many options and do not need to stick to my choices. After that I meet my travel companion at the Gin-no-Suzu and we wait at one of the waiting rooms after the Shinkansen Gates.

At level B1 lockers are in all sizes available for traveler and you can get rid of your luggage to explore the surrounding areas. Many restaurants are also available within the gates of Tokyo Station. 

Tokyo First Avenue

But there is more, if you leave through the Gates and go in the direction to the East Exit you will find ”First Avenue Tokyo Station and it is one of the best spots in Tokyo compressed interests. I believe 10 times better than Akihabara.

Map of First Avenue

Meeting Points at Tokyo Station:

Gin-no-Suzu B1

Clock Tower B1

First Avenue Tokyo Station

Tokyo Character Street

Tokyo Okashi Land

Nippon Gourmet Road

Tokyo Ramen Street

Tokyo Gift Palette

Ramen Street at Tokyo Station

I love the Tokyo Ramen Street and I wanted to eat there but it was to crowded, just come a little earlier than 12 pm, maybe 11 am and you can find the most delicious Ramen. Even vegetarian Ramen is available. Here is an video about Ramen. 

If you are not into Ramen, just turn your back on it and there it is, Nippon Gourmet Road and everything looks fantastic. After that buy some sweets at the Okashi Land or go to the Tokyo Character Street. 

Japanese Modern Sweets

At the end many souvenirs are available at the Gift Palette. You can spent hours here.

And the next is Nihombashi, just exit the East side and walk into the direction to Nihombashi. What I find surprising was that there are not many tourists on this side of the Station and the horde of salary man going for lunch in small alleys everywhere. I believe this is a great area to explore for cheap and good restaurants and of course the world famous Takashimaya. 

Nihonbashi

Links:

https://www.jal.co.jp/it/en/guide-to-japan/destinations/articles/tokyo/tokyo-station.html

https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0001176/

https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/free-things-to-do-around-tokyo-station/

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😁Don't be a stranger 

🎠Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MartinaTakano

🎠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinatakano/

🎠Email: martinemler@gmail.com

🎠X: https://twitter.com/MischainJapan

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Editing Software: DaVinci Resolve 17 Studio

Camera: Sony Alpha 7C & iPhone 12 

XOX

Martina Takano

Travel Japan with me

Vlog / blogger