How about spending some time in the nature? Takaosan is one of the closest natural recreation areas in Tokyo, and it is only about 50 minutes away from Shinjuku station.       Takaosan is considered a sacred mountain, and has been a center of mountain worship for more than 1000 years. There are several temples and you will have the chance to view monks going through ascetic trainings at Biwa Waterfall. Takaosan is 599m high and there are 6 different trails you can hike to the summit. It takes about 90 minutes to hike from the base of the mountain to the top. You are able to utilize cable cars and chair lifts that lead halfway up the mountain. My friends and I decided to take the 6^th trail, which is considered to be one of the roughest trails because it has stepping stones and runs along the stream. After hiking about 5 minutes, you’ll see several stone Buddhist images wearing a red hat called a Senshin Shichifukujin.   Then you’ll see Biwataki waterfall which requires you to take the left trail branch at the intersection.   After viewing the waterfall, you will enter a slippery narrow trail. It started snowing on the day we hiked so it was even more slippery. Make sure to wear shoes with good trends. There is a resting place near Daisanbashi Bridge after the narrow trail. Here my friends and I ate some chocolate and granola bars and drank some water. It’s very important to keep yourselves hydrated. After hiking for about 40 minutes the trail ascended the valley. Then there are stepping stones at intervals. It started snowing harder here and the view was beautiful.   After the stepping stones, the trail gets gentle until you reach the stairs. Many people took a rest in this area because there are more than 100 steps. After the steps, you will reach a wide open road and after hiking for another 10 to 15 minutes you will get to the top!   At the top there is a mini soba and udon restaurant where you can rest and eat.   My friends and I were going to cancel our trip due to the snow, but we were actually glad we went because the view was spectacular. You can always climb the Takaosan on a sunny day, but you won’t have that many chances to see the snow covered Takaosan!   ■Writer：Jessica Poluhowich ■SNS：@mintbaaby

Hakone, Kanagawa is one of the most popular “onsen” (hot spring) towns in Japan. The area is popular among both Japanese people and tourists from foreign countries since it is close to Tokyo and has many sightseeing spots such as Ahinoko (lake), Owakudani (valley) and Hakone Chokoku no Mori Museum.

 

There are several ways to go to Hakone but I recommend using the “Odakyu Romancecar” (limited express train) run by Odakyu Dentestu which departs from Tokyo. It takes about an hour and 40 minutes and you can go to Hakone direct. In this article, I will inform you of how to ride on the “Odakyu Romancecar” to go to Hakone.

 

1: How to ride Odakyu Romancecar?

Let’s get tickets first. The tickets you must buy are “Joshaken (normal fare)” and “tokkyuken (limited express surcharge).” The “Joshaken” is an Odakyu Dentetsu limited ticket and the fare differs according to the station that you will get off at. “Tokkyuken” is a ticket you must buy when riding on a limited express train which means you must buy this ticket in addition to the “joshaken.” There are three ways to buy these tickets.

 

1) Making a reservation/purchasing the ticket via the Internet

2) Making a reservation/purchasing the ticket at a ticket counter/ticket vending machine

3) Making a reservation on the telephone.

 

Making a reservation by telephone is not recommendable for those of you from foreign countries since English-speaking staff are not available.

 

2: How to but a ticket via the Internet?

Using e-Romancecar is recommended when using the Internet to buy a ticket. As a matter of course, you can use a credit card on this web site. You can ride the Romancecar by just by handing out the printed sheet or showing the screen of your smart phone to the staff at the ticket counter. If you are planning to just make a reservation (not paying the fare) on the web site, you must pay the fare by using the ticket vending machine or at the ticket counter before getting on the Romancecar. It is recommended that you buy your ticket beforehand if the date that you are going to Hakone is decided.

 

 

3: How to buy a ticket/make a reservation via the ticket counter at the station?

The ticket counter is normally open from 6:30 to 21:00. The ticket vending machines can be used any time (except for when the trains are not running) but credit cards cannot be used. You can purchase tickets for up to 8 persons at once using the vending machine. So, those of you who are planning to go to Hakone with a group of more than 9 people you must purchase your tickets at the ticket counter.

 

 

4: Let’s get on to the Romancecar!

Now let’s learn how to get on a Romancecar. There are several types of Romancecars available - MES (Type 6000), VSE (Type 50000), EXE (Type 30000) and LSE (Type 7000). The fares for all types are the same. You can eat a limited-“bento” (box lunch) if you make a reservation 3 days (AM) before you ride the Romancecar.

 

Why not experience a ride on the “Romancecar” and enjoy the hot springs in Hakone. Wishing you a pleasant trip! MMN will introduce to you many kinds of “Q&As in Japan.”

 

If you have any questions, feel free to send a message to MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON’s FB account!

https://www.facebook.com/msmsnippon/

Tokyo has to be one of the most fun cities for finding souvenirs. But you might be left spoilt for choice wondering where to go. So we’ve compiled a list of shops where you can buy great Japanese souvenirs at a low price all situated in easy-to-find locations   These shops aren’t just used by foreign tourists, they’re used by Japanese people too, so you can rest assured you’ll be getting good quality items at a good price!  

miwaさん(@maru_miwa)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 6月月16日午後6時25分PDT

1.Matsumotokiyoshi You’ll find this drug store easily with its trademark yellow sign. They sell high quality Japanese cosmetics, medical supplies, daily necessities and more priced lower than their regular prices elsewhere. Most of the time you’ll be able to spot this shop surrounding the major stations in Tokyo. It’s a very popular shopping spot, with Japanese people young and old going there daily. Get your hands on popular cosmetics by Shiseido for a low price or stock up on medicines amongst many other things.       2.Don Quijote There’s no one in Japan that doesn’t know about this discount store. It’s so popular there’s over 30 branches in Tokyo alone. They sell pretty much anything you can thick of from snacks, food and drinks to clothes, cosplay toys, merchandise, daily necessities and much more. You’ll get lost in the maze of shelves all of which overflow with different items. If you’re looking for something a little different for a souvenir, then look nowhere else.   We even made an article on popular souvenirs in Don Quijote which you can read here.    

nugoo本社便さん(@nugoo_honshabin)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 7月月17日午前12時41分PDT

3.Tokyu Hands If you’re seeking out kawaii stationery you can’t find outside of Japan as well as other convenient Japanese everyday use items then Tokyu Hands is the place to go. They have branches in Tokyo, Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku and elsewhere, making it a great place to stop by when you’re shopping or sightseeing. They stock a lot of products but it’s not like a discount store such as Don Quijote where everything is scattered around, so you can feel more relaxed as you search for a souvenir.    

銀座ロフトさん(@loft_ginza)がシェアした投稿 - 2017年10月月26日午後11時00分PDT

4.LOFT Like Tokyu Hands, LOFT stocks a lot of different products. Japanese people use this shop often for birthday presents for friends and family. There’s over 25 branches in Tokyo including Shibuya and Shinjuku making it another easy place to get to. They also have lots of Japan-made kawaii stationery which makes it a very popular spot amongst foreign tourists.    

Brian Wilkensさん(@atbw7)がシェアした投稿 - 2015年 6月月28日午前2時55分PDT

5.Yodobashi Camera If it’s electronics you want, then no place is better than Yodobashi Camera. This huge chain sells all kinds of high tech Japanese equipment from PCs to cameras and other electronic items.    

美香さん(@mika_sanchu)がシェアした投稿 - 2018年 8月月10日午前4時19分PDT

6.KIDDY LAND Japanese merchandise for characters like Hello Kitty and My Melody is very popular overseas too. KIDDY LAND sells a huge range of character goods including plenty that cannot be found overseas. There’s 8 branches in Tokyo including Harajuku, so if you’re a lover of iconic Japanese characters then you’re going to love this place.       Make use of our list and find the perfect souvenirs for yourself, your family and your friends!