Japan
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Which cosmetics to buy in Japan? Where to buy them? (2020)
After a month and a half in Japan, I must tell you one thing: Japanese women have really beautiful skin (even without makeup, their skin is flawless). It’s not only genetic, the many cosmetic stores and statistics prove that Japanese women spend a lot of money in facial care. And their products are really effective. Where to buy Japanese cosmetics in Japan? You can buy most cosmetic products at “drugstores” such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Seijo,K Port Drug Mart, Sundrug, Kokumin… You can also find them at Darty’s equivalents, such as Big Camera, Tokyu Hands… It is better to buy the most expensive brands like SK-II, Shiseido from “department stores” like…
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Travel diary Tokyo (Japan) #1: Nihonbashi, Ginza, Odaiba
Here we are, at last, in Tokyo! After a month spent in Osaka, we are relieved to finally change our airbnb because ours in Osaka starts to get drunk (it’s too small and badly arranged), very noisy because of the works and the bad insulation and even Internet doesn’t work anymore It is therefore with surprise and relief that we discover our superb Airbnb in Tokyo, a 15 minute walk from Tokyo train station Part 1: Travel Diary Note: Since Tokyo is very large and we frequently move from one neighborhood to another, we prefer to group places of interest by zone/neighborhood in our travel diaries, not in chronological order.…
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How to attend (for free?) a Sumo training in Tokyo (Japan)?
Sumo is an ancestral sport that appeared 1500 years ago. Visiting Japan is an opportunity to discover this little-known sport. There are only 6 Sumo tournaments per year in Japan and these last 2 weeks. The Osaka tournament ends the day after our arrival in Osaka. Not having thought to inform me in advance, we miss the opportunity to attend the tournament. It’s a pity. Outside of tournament periods, it is however possible to attend morning training sessions in a Heya (stable) of Rikishi (sumo wrestler). If you want to be sure you can attend a training session, you can book a tour on the Viator website (link Viator). How…
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Travel Notebook Osaka (Japan) #7: My favorite shopping addresses
It’s hard to resist shopping when you’re in Japan. And especially when we chose an airbnb near the two tourist and spending places of Osaka: Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. Here I give you my favorite shopping addresses in Osaka. Just type the name on Google Maps to find the exact location Warning: in Japan, all prices are displayed without tax (unless otherwise stated), so you have to mentally add 8% tax, unless you spend more than 5000yen at a time and subject to tax exemption (look for the “japan tax free shop” logo). Take your passport with you. And if you’ve done too much shopping, don’t bring all your stuff with…
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One day in Koyasan – Mount Kōya (Japan): Okuno-in cemetery, how to get there, Koyasan pass, practical info
Koyasan is the cradle of esoteric Buddhism in Japan. It is here that a young monk named Kukai (Kobo Daishi) established a religious sect in 816, inspired by his 2 years in China Source : Lonely Planet We have heard much good from travelers who have come here to see thousands of tombs covered by vegetation. So we decided to go there, even though it took us 4 hours round trip from Osaka For the travel journal, read Part 1 For transport tips, tricks, night in a temple, lunch at the monks etc. read part 2 Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Usually, we…
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A day in Kobe and Himeji (Japan): Himeji Castle and Arima-onsen Hot Spring
I have already told you about our unforgettable lunch in Kobe (Kobe beef in teppanyaki yum yum), but it is only today that I tell you the rest of the day. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary So we came 30 minutes before the restaurant reservation time, so as not to miss the long awaited and difficult to book lunch. The time to make a very quick tour of the station area. In Kobe, there is apparently a nice Japanese garden to visit, but we also want to go to Himeji so we hurry, after lunch, to take the train to Himeji (it will…
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Travel Notes Osaka (Japan) #6: My Favorite Restaurants
The interest of being in the 3rd largest city in Japan (after Tokyo and Yokohama) is to enjoy many restaurants in Osaka (and not too expensive). I bring you to discover in this article my favorite restaurants Note: JB and I don’t like to cook and we spend all our time at the diner since we get a salary. With time, we have become extremely difficult, so if we tell you that this or that restaurant is good, take our word for it! Sakae Sushi Address: 2-27 Souemoncho, Chuo, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0084 Prices: between 150yen and 500yen per sushi 3000yen/person/meal to not be hungry anymore (I counted the drinks…
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Travel Diary Kyoto (Japan) #5: Kiyomizu-dera, Hokanji, Ishibei-koji, Gion district
Today, we return to Kyoto with the intention of visiting the two famous temples that we didn’t have time to visit last time: Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama Jisho-ji But very tired from the intensive visits of the last few days and accompanied by a little cold, we only get up at 10am Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Here we are, we are never very proud when we only leave the apartment at 11 am when the initial project is to take the train to Kyoto at 9:30 am Rhalala… for the trouble, we propose to three digital nomads met virtually on Facebook, to be…
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A day in Nara (Japan): Tōdai-ji, Isuien Neiraku Museum, Yoshikien Garden, Kasuga-taisha shrine, mochis and deer from Nara Park
Nara is known for its large park and thousands of deer in total freedom. At first I just wanted to go there to see the deer, and then I was told that it couldn’t be a goal in itself because I would die of boredom. Finally, we spent a great day in the company of two French digital nomads Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary We meet in front of an okonomiyaki restaurant, nicknamed “Japanese pizza”, but with a lot of mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. Our first try in Osaka was a total failure, so we can’t wait to test this new restaurant, hoping…
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Travel Notebook Osaka (Japan) #5: One night in a Ryokan – Fudouguchikan Ryokan in Osaka
Sleeping in a ryokan is one of the top experiences to do in Japan. After intensive research, we decided to spend a day and a night in a ryokan near Osaka. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. Before, it was mostly frequented by the aristocracy, but nowadays, ryokans can be compared to spas with accommodation. Some ryokans have onsens inside, others do not. But the common point is its superb location/environment (often in the nature), impeccable service (with dinner usually served in the room). We chose a ryokan with onsen. Note: most ryokans are very badly rated…
