My Masteral Education Journey, made in France (Oui!)

*A series of posts

Hello, po. Share ko lang yung education journey ko sa France at baka kasi may interested or nagiisip, or sitting on the fence kayo of studying abroad/living abroad. Hopefully, makatulong or ma-inspire kayo to take that leap of faith and follow your dreams.

Back in 2021, when international travel started to ease up after Covid19 lockdowns, I thought of doing a Euro roadtrip. I knew na 3 months lang ang binibigay for tourist visa, and I thought that was not enough. Kaya I researched what other longer visa options are available na pde for me. There was work visa, but I had work already that I enjoyed and did not plan to let go at that time. Next was student visa, which i thought, uy ok to, kasi sakto gusto ko rin talaga mag-aral uli so I can improve and level up my knowledge and that having an international diploma would also be better for my resume. So by Dec 2021, I started looking up masteral courses, which countries ang pasok sa budget ko and will be a good starting point for the Euro roadtrip. So I chose France. Baka nagtataka kayo bakit hindi Spain pinili ko na mas maraming Pinoy dun, bakit France na wala naman akong kilala, and d ko alam ang language. D rin naman ako marunong mag Spanish pero cguro edge natin mga Pinoy na dati tayong colony at may Spanish words tayo sa language o dialect natin. Gusto ko talaga pinahihirapan sarili ko, kaya ayon. Walang pakilamanan ng trip kasi. Charzz. God’s divine plan cannot be avoided kumbaga. Nagresearch rin ako, Google pa gamit ko nun, kasi d pa naman uso Chatgpt nun, and I read a lot of blogs to get tips on where to start. So I looked for a business school in France na pasok sa budget ko, may offer ng scholarship, English language ang medium of class, and merong course na I am interested in. So in Dec 13, 2021, I found Audencia Business School which is in Nantes. A city that is 3 hours travel to Paris. Why not Paris? Hindi kasi ako honestly attracted sa big cities, and syempre if I chose Paris, mas mahal lahat. Tuition, cost of living, accomodation, etc. D naman ako mayaman or anak mayaman, kundi simpleng masipag na manggagawa lang ako sa Pinas na nakapag ipon sa marangal na paraan at gustong iexpand ang horizons ko thru traveling at education. 40 years old rin ako nun, e sabi kasi life starts at 40. Kaya gusto ko ng matinding renewal, rebirth or new life for me. Yung pasabog talaga na pati ako magugulat sa mga life choices ko and consequences of it. Kasi alam mo naman, maraming naganap at bagyo dumaan sa buhay ko before I hit 40. Sabi ko deserve ko to. And sa totoo lang, every action, every decision leading to this, was blessed ni Lord. Cya talaga nagtulak sakin gawin to. It was in my every being, and lahat ng gawin ko na related dito was smooth, fast, and walang kaproble-problema. Kaya alam ko in my heart, it was His divine plan for me. Kami 2 lang ni Lord nakakaalam ng mga pinaggagagawa ko noon.

So ayon na nga, Audencia in Nantes. Nantes was the perfect choice for me. Near the beach, a city but still has the quaint chill, relaxed and slow life. When I went to their website to check out their course offers, it also had a quiz that will match my interest sa mga courses nila, pra ma-filter and shorten ang list for me. May info rin on how much the cost will be for tuition, estimate for cost of living, accomodation, transportation, etc. If I remember, wala akong ibang tiningnan kundi Audencia lang. Lolz. Parang yun lang rin talaga ang gusto ni Lord for me. At that time, nagttry pa lang naman ako to see what’s out there and try if madali ba magapply, if makakapasa ba ako, etc. So ayon, Dec 13 2021 ko nakita ang Audencia and started the application journey. By January 10, 2022 (less than 1 month), I got accepted sa Master in Management (Grand École) programme which is a 2 year course. Pinili ko talaga yung pinakamahabang course para mahaba rin ang iggrant sakin na visa stay.

Itutuloy ko in another post yung next episode, kasi mahirap at mahaba na pagkasyahin sa 1 post lang ang 2 years and more na kwento na ngayon ko pa lang masisimulan. Long delayed, I know. But everything has its own perfect timing. Mahalaga ay, eto na nga…

#studyabroad

#studentvisa

#FranceVisa

2022 Reflection

Psalm 32 : 8

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: i will guide thee with mine eye.

As I reflect on my 2022, the year has been all about learning. I had new experiences that showed me how big the world is outside my own world. It was the biggest comeback to the setback of 2019 until 2021. Every day, I am grateful to still be meeting in my journey new people who share life nuggets. I gained new relationships, yet sadly lost some too. God as always, has been my great Teacher. He said, “Just trust me, and I will show you how I can change your life.” Trusting is not so easy. As I have years of doubting and doing things on my own, relying on myself that I need to unlearn. Until now, I have to consciously keep the faith and win the battle over the negative whispers that keeps saying “I cannot do it”, the “what ifs”, the “nope, not gonna happen”. But when I do completely trust and just say, “Yes!”, I am brought to experiences, places I never imagined I would be. I am still amazed how I am where I am now, and what I have achieved in just a matter of 1 year! God taught me to choose wisely the people who will be on my court cheering for me, to say “No” when a relationship or a situation does not do me any good. To be a cheerful giver as well as a cheerful receiver. That the Giver is the gift. That it is not that I love Him that I am blessed but that He loved me first. That I cannot lose what is mine by divine right. If I do lose something, something bigger and better is to come for me. That I should be grateful for what I ask for even if I have not received it yet. That even if people are not, if situations are not, I should choose to still be kind. That 1% improvement is still an improvement and compounded daily will give me the improvement and good habits I want to achieve. To all that are still with me, cheering for me, know that I am 100% all in for you too.

How was 2022 for you? What are your 2022 life lessons? Merry Christmas and happy 2023, loves!

Emergency Fund – Emergency What?

At an early age I took to heart the saying, “save up for a rainy day” and the story of the worker ants who were always busy saving food during good weather, that way they have enough when the rainy days arrive. I started working when I was still in college and had to pay for my education. I was very grateful to be on working scholarship grant but I still had to pay for books and other expenses for school like projects, etc.

I learned the value of money and saving up at an early age. I enjoy reading books and when I like one, I save money to buy that book. That’s how I learned the lesson of delayed gratification. I had to save and not be tempted to buy the small things that I want that way I can finally buy THAT book.

I also learned that there can be life situations that will need us to be ready financially too. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency fund.

What is an emergency fund?

An emergency fund is a personal budget set aside as a financial safety net for future financial dilemmas or unexpected expenses.

Financial dilemmas can be:

Loss of a job
An illness (yours or a family member)
Major repair that cannot be ignored for your home or car
Safety net savings during a pandemic (like what we have now)

An emergency fund is a liquid asset that you can quickly and easily take out from where it is kept, perhaps in your your savings bank account. Or available cash kept at home, if the banks are closed for an indefinite period of time.

Your emergency fund can be 3 to 6 months worth of your monthly expenses saved.

Why is it important to have an emergency fund?

Emergency fund will give you peace of mind and a good night’s sleep knowing you have enough to tide you over should an emergency happens. May it be a small bump in your financial life or a complete disaster in your entire life.

It saves you from the worry of not having money to pay rent or get your car fixed if it breaks down and the awkward feeling of borrowing money from family or friends.

Operative term for me here is PEACE OF MIND.

Financial dilemmas

How do i start building my emergency fund?

1. Identify where you want to save your emergency fund.
   It could be a savings bank account where you can link to your payroll bank account.
   That way it will be easy for you to move around money once you get your salary every payday.
   The idea is when an emergency happens, it will be easy for you to take out the funds.
   So the savings bank account should have an atm card provided, with several machines accessible.
   But of course you need to be disciplined enough not to withdraw money from it for impulse buying.
2. Figure out from your expenses what your needs are versus wants.
   Ask yourself if you can live without a cable TV subscription, replace your gym subscription with a home workout, or if you really need a premium Spotify account? etc.
3. You can start your emergency fund with how much amount you can save from the expenses you can cut off. You just need to make sure you do put it away in your emergency fund and not use it for another expense you THINK is a need.

You can decide to save anywhere from P100 to P10000 every month to practice your self discipline. Or you can decide to pay yourself first – decide on a percentage to take out from your salary. It can be 10% or 20% then it goes straight to your savings/emergency fund. The remaining amount will be for your expenses. I started with 10% and eventually challenged myself and made it 20%.

4. Stick to your saving activity regularly. Avoid delaying it or postponing it to the next salary or to when you will get your 13th month pay or that bonus. Remember an emergency can happen any time, any day.
5. When you are done completing your emergency fund, then whatever amount that you save you can decide to invest it in a business, or you can create other kinds of funds (travel fund, self learning fund, etc.).

Do not stop saving. Even if you complete your emergency fund, best you keep doing the habit of saving. Use it to reach your financial freedom.

Mo Money, Mo Problems

Get Your Freelancer Pay Fast!

One of the things we look forward to as part of being employed is being paid. As a freelancer, there are different payment systems that you can choose from. You just need to see the benefits of each and choose wisely. As part of my freelancer journey, here is a comparison of getting and transfering your pay via Paypal versus Payoneer.

I had my Paypal account for a long time already and I can say if you want a secure way to pay or be paid for transactions; or receive or transfer money then I can recommend Paypal.

Based on my freelancer experience so far, I was told by another freelancer friend that I should try Payoneer since it is faster and the currency conversion (USD to PHP) is higher (not a huge difference but still better). I didn’t use it yet on my first pay though.

I wanted to experiment and see for myself the difference between the two. So I withdrew my first pay from Upwork to my Paypal account and transferred it to my local bank account. Since I had my Paypal from before, my local bank account has been associated with it ever since too. I got my pay Friday 8am (local time) and transferred it to my Paypal account before lunch time. The transfer costs $2. I transferred it to my local bank account right away and waited for it to reflect there via my online banking account. There is a PHP 50 cost for this type of transfer. I got an email from Paypal saying that it usually takes 5-7 business days for the whole process to be done and for the amount to reflect in my bank account. It wasn’t same day but it reflected on Monday instead.

I decided on my second pay to use Payoneer. Since it was my first time, I had to sign up. I got my pay at 8am but got to transfer it to my Payoneer account around 10am. I got an email from Payoneer asking for a photo of my valid ID as part of their security procedure; to allow my pay to be transferred to my Payoneer account. At first I sent a photo of my driver’s license. After 2 hours of no reply, I realized it would be faster to send a photo of my passport instead. So I sent it to Payoneer. In 30 minutes, I got a reply saying my ID has been validated and I proceeded to withdraw the amount and transfer it to my local bank account. I got an email at 2pm from Payoneer saying they have received my request and that the amount will reflect in my bank account in 5-7 days. Unfortunately since it was already in the afternoon, my hopes of getting the amount same day did not happen. I got it the next day in the morning. Still not bad, right? After all that process, a day is not so bad. If we remove all the initial security process I had to do, it can still be considered that I got my pay on the same day. There was no transfer cost from Payoneer to my local bank account and the currency conversion rate was higher alright.

I will try again on my third pay to see if the timeframe will be better with Payoneer. But so far I am pleased with Payoneer: no transfer cost, currency conversion rate is higher, and transfer of money is faster. All the better for us freelancers who look forward to getting paid right away!

This homegirl has gone home-based.

Yes, after more than 14 years (no hiatus) of working office-based I finally took a leap of faith to do home-based work.

Though technically I have been teaching part-time online English classes from home for 5 years now, I still had my full time job in the BPO which was in a regular office set-up. I was doing online teaching as a passion.

I started with my home-based work journey in the middle of January 2018. I was encouraged with this decision because I have people in my close circle who do home-based work for a long time already. My sister is doing full time home-based online teaching, my cousin-in-law who does virtual assistant/data entry/customer support also home-based, and friends who do it part-time. At first, I made my online teaching full-time. But I was fortunate to get a referral from a good friend who is working as an appointment setter. The job was via Upwork (formerly known as oDesk). I went through 2 interviews before I got hired. Then took a 2 week training – all via online.

All I needed to make it possible was a well functioning laptop (thanks to my DH who gave it to me as a wedding anniversary gift), Upwork account, stable internet and headset. I just make my make-shift office space anywhere at home. Wherever I feel like working for that time/day (hahaha).

So let me give you my opinion so far of working from home.

PROS:

1. No more painful daily and expensive commute to the office and going home. Road traffic is relative to the time of day.

2. You can start working as soon as you wake up. Of course there is the part where you need to boot your laptop, set up your tools, etc but you get what I mean, right?

3. The once travel time is now extra time. Extra time to do other activities that I’d be too tired to do when I get home from work before – cooking, chores, blogging (you might have noticed the last timestamp of my last blog entry), wifey duties, hobbies time, etc.

4. Less laundry to do, cost saving on laundry cost. You can work even in your pajamas (hahaha #truestory, refer to # 2). But of course this is possible if your work does not require you to open your webcam and have video calls. If that’s the case, you can just put on your blazer on top of your pajama (hahaha #truestory).

There are too many PROS, promise. I will just edit and add more here next time, okay?

Okay, for the CONS:

1. Food is way too accessible. The fridge and the pantry are within a few steps and within reach. I keep stuffing food to my mouth. So I stock on fruits and veggies so I have healthy food to snack on. But you know there are really times when you are weak to temptation (sorry naaa).

2. I get sleepy often. So I nap for 30 minutes to an hour in the day.

3. Butt pain because of my make shift office chair. I need to use a pillow to sit on next time.

4. I am now lazy to go out. Just thinking of the traffic and the commute makes me tired already. So when I have chores where I need to go out, I am sooo tamad.

Overall I am enjoying so far my home-based work journey. For those who are thinking of doing it but are a bit scared of the unknown, message me or comment below. Or you can just comment on whatever about this post. If you need help or want some tips, let me know in the comments section, too.

Japan Pack-Off!

Hello again! Now for this entry, I will talk about what I bought and packed for our Japan trip.

It is always a good idea to create a packing list, so you know what to prepare and won’t forget anything. A neat trick I learned if you don’t want to cram-pack on the last day before the trip is to have your suitcase ready and just dump 1-2 items in it each day.

# 1 thing to check at least 2-3 weeks before your trip is the country’s weather. I use AccuWeather whenever I check what the weather will be on our travel dates. This is important since you need to know what items to pack. You wouldn’t want to have the wrong wardrobe for a different season especially for countries that experience the 4 seasons. Since hubby, R wants to travel during winter season it’s automatic that our clothes are for the cold weather. To get wardrobe inspiration or ideas, I suggest using Pinterest since it will show you various internet results of your search keywords.

Here’s our packing list:

1. Basics
   • Travel aids – anything that you might need for the long wait or long trip (reading materials, gadgets, snacks, gum, etc).
   • Funds – the type of financial funding you will need for your trip (cash, credit/debit cards, manager’s check, etc).
   • Travel info – all necessary documents you need for your travel (passport, visa, plane tickets, other valid ids, itinerary, hotel reservations, etc)
2. Miscellaneous
   • Documents – copies of travel docs, etc
   • Bags – back pack, hand bag, etc
   • Laundry needs – laundry bag, sewing kit, etc
   • Miscellaneous – umbrella, keys, etc
   • Contacts – impt contact numbers, etc
   • Technology – mobile phone, power banks, laptop, etc
   • Work – work documents, anything related to your work, etc
3. Clothes
   • Basics – undergarment, sleepwear, etc
   • Dressy – pants, sweaters, skirts, etc
   • Outerwear – jackets, coats, etc
   • Casual – shirts, jeans, shorts, ect
   • Footwear – athletic shoes, leisure shoes, etc
   • Accessories – belts, watches, jewelry, etc
4. Hygiene
   • Facial
   • Hair
   • Body
   • Medicine/First-aid Kit
   • 

I used to travel with just hand carry baggage since I didn’t like waiting for my luggage at the baggage claim area. It was a good way to get ahead of the taxi queue. Since we travel most of the time to cold places, additional luggage space is needed for your bulky warm clothing. Given that it’s bulky it gets burdensome to carry them too, thus I started to buy prepaid baggage space. Usually suitcases are just thrown in the baggage area of the plane (even with the Fragile sticker on it!), I suggest to get suitcases that are not made of plastic so it won’t break due to the impact of being thrown around.

That’s it for now. Happy packing! 🙂

Buy Your JR (Japan) Train Pass

Are you planning to buy your JR Train Pass? Buy your JR Pass before you travel to Japan to get it at a cheaper price. Whether you will get a regional pass or the all Japan pass, this entry will give you an idea on how to do it.

Below is the estimated delivery time once you buy your pass online. Make sure to choose the country where it will be delivered. It will be delivered via FedEx.:

Follow each step number as indicated in the screenshots.:

Once you click on “ADD TO CART”, you will be brought to this page below. Update the ones indicated with steps number:

Fill out the next page:

And finally, fill out the billing address and click “ORDER”:

You will receive an order confirmation with the FedEx tracking information in your email. In a few hours you will also receive an email from FedEx updating you on your shipment. I got my JR Pass invoice after 2 days from when I bought it online. Make sure to bring the invoice with you when you travel. You need to bring it to the JR office once you arrive at your Japan airport destination. From there, they will print out and hand you your JR Pass. Take note of the dates when you plan to start using it.

Enjoy your trip! 🙂

 

Got the JP Visa, Now What?

From my last blog entry, I gave an insight on what I went through to get our Japan visa. One thing to note is you are not required by the Japan embassy to reserve and pay for your accommodation and plane tickets. So it’s at your risk if you don’t get approved for a visa and you’ve done all the purchase ahead of time. You just need to provide estimates on your trip dates and where you will stay.

Now that we have our visa, the next thing to prepare is the transportation arrangement, trip itinerary, and accommodation.

Japan is a country with different regions – north, east, west and south regions. Since we only have 8 days and how my hubby, R likes his vacation to be a relaxing one I knew it would be impossible to see all regions. Anyway, going to the other regions we haven’t seen yet is a good excuse to go back to Japan. 🙂  I initially wanted to go Hokkaido because I wanted to be where there’s a lot of snow, but opted with Kansai region as there are more famous places to see there. It would be a good first Japan experience for both of us.

I read in a blog that you can get a train pass for a certain region, or even for all of Japan which you can use for 1, 2, 3, 7 or 14 days. You can choose from several options from different train lines. I chose the Japan Rail Pass since JR is the biggest and widest railway network in Japan. Use this website to see what they can offer:

https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/jr-pass

It took me quite some time to decide on what train pass to buy since I wanted to go to all the major attractions in Japan in 8 days, but knowing R he will have a hard time with a jam-packed itinerary and our budget will also shoot up. I read another blog to get more tips on what would be the best option to choose. I eventually bought the JR Kansai Area for 3 days consecutive use ($99 for 2 including Fedex delivery of the invoice), as well as the one-way ICOCA and Haruka pass (3,030 yen).

After finalizing the train passes, then I started to create our trip itinerary. It’s another blog entry though, so click here to read it.

 

As for accommodation: Since I have started to use Airbnb to host our condo unit for rent (Let us host your next Manila trip! Click here >> Link 1 , Link 2 ), I booked via Airbnb our accommodations in Osaka and Kyoto.  We were able to save a lot as well as enjoyed our stay in our 3 accommodations. I highly suggest for those who are budget conscious, to check out options in Airbnb for your next trip. You even have the option to choose for places to stay in that offers a pocket wifi, which in my opinion is a must-have when you are traveling in a foreign country to help you look up information/location via the internet. Below are links to our accommodations:

1: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4360676

2: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5937367

3: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9175972

That’s it for this one. See you on my next entry! 🙂

 

Kansai, Japan Itinerary (6 Days)

Here are the details of the trip itinerary that I created for our Kansai, Japan trip. It may seem extensive but I like putting in as much information I can get.

Travel dates: Nov. 21 – 28, 2015

Temperature ranges: 5 – 15 degree Celcius

Day 1 (Nov 21): MNL to KIX

Day 2 (Nov 22):

Nara

• What to see:

• Todaiji Temple

Get There and Around

Todaiji is located in the northern part of Nara Park. It is about a 30 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or about a 45 minute walk from JR Nara Station. It can also be reached by bus from either station. Get off at Todaiji Daibutsuden from where it is a 5-10 minute walk to Todaiji’s main building.

Hours and Fees

Daibutsuden Hall

Hours 8:00 to 16:30 (November to February)

8:00 to 17:00 (March)

7:30 to 17:30 (April to September)

7:30 to 17:00 (October)

Closed No closing days

Fees 500 yen

Todaiji Museum

Hours 9:30 to closing time of Daibutsuden Hall (admission ends 30 minutes before closing)

Closed Between exhibitions

Fees 500 yen (museum only), 800 yen (museum and Daibutsuden Hall)

•  Horyuji Temple

Get There and Around

Horyuji is located about 12 kilometers outside of central Nara.

Other places to see:

3. Omizutori
4. Isuien Garden
5. Nara Park
6. Kasuga Taisha
7. Toshadaiji Temple
8. Wakakusa Yamayaki
9. Yakushiji Temple
10. Shin-Yakushiji
11. Heijo Palace
12. National Museum
13. Kofukuji Temple
14. Yoshikien Garden
15. Naramachi
16. Wakakusayama

 How to travel between Nara and Kyoto:

Two railway companies, JR and Kintetsu, provide train connections between Kyoto and Nara:

By Japan Railways (JR)

Direct, 45 minutes, 710 yen one way, two connections per hour.

Miyakoji rapid trains operate every 30 minutes between Kyoto Station and JR Nara Station. The one way trip takes 45 minutes, costs 710 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. For the same fare, the trip could also be made by twice-hourly local trains in 75 minutes.

By Kintetsu Railways

0-1 transfers, 35-45 minutes, 620-1130 yen one way, multiple connections per hour.

Twice-hourly limited express trains take about 35 minutes and cost 1130 yen for the one way trip from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara Station. Alternatively, there are hourly direct express trains that take 45 minutes and cost 620 yen one way. There are additional connections by express trains if you do not mind transferring once at Yamato-Saidaiji Station. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Kintetsu trains.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current yen exchange rate, click here. 

• Nanzenin Temple – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3905.html
  • Nanzenji’s central temple grounds are open to the public free of charge, but separate fees apply for entering temple buildings and subtemples.
• Konchi-in Temple
• Tenjuan Temple

Get There and Around

Nanzenji is a 5-10 minute walk from the nearest subway station, Keage Station on the Tozai Line (about 20 minutes, 260 yen from Kyoto Station by subway via Karasuma-Oike Station), or a 5-10 minute walk from the nearest bus stop, Nanzenji-Eikando-michi bus stop (35 minutes, 230 yen from Kyoto Station by Kyoto City Bus number 5).

Nanzenji is also located only a short walk from the southern end of the Philosopher’s Path, while Ginkakuji Temple is at the northern end.

Hours and Fees

• Sanmon Gate

Hours 8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December to February)

Admission ends 20 minutes before closing time.

Closed December 28 to 31

Fees 500 yen

• Hojo

Hours 8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December to February)

Admission ends 20 minutes before closing time.

Closed December 28 to 31

Fees 500 yen

• Nanzenin

Hours 8:40 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from December to February)

Admission ends 20 minutes before closing time.

Closed December 28 to 31

Fees 300 yen

• Konchi-in Temple

Hours 8:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30 from December to February)

Closed No closing days

Fees 400 yen

• Tenjuan Temple

Hours 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 during winter)

Special evening hours during the autumn illumination

November 11 and 12 have limited opening hours

Closed No closing days

Fees 400 yen (500 yen during the evening illumination)

Day 3 (Nov 23) KYOTO:

Tofukuji Temple – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3930.html

Get There and Around

Tofukuji is a ten minute walk from Tofukuji Station on the JR Nara Line (2 minutes, 140 yen from Kyoto Station) and the Keihan Main Line. Alternatively, the temple is a ten minute walk from Tofukuji bus stop (15 minutes, 230 yen from Kyoto Station by Kyoto City Bus 208).

Hours and Fees

Hours 9:00 to 16:30 (April to October)

8:30 to 16:30 (November to early December)

9:00 to 16:00 (early December to March)

Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time.

Closed No closing days

Fees 400 yen (Tsutenkyo Bridge and Kaisando Hall), 400 yen (Hojo and gardens)

Fushimi Inari Shrine – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html

Get There and Around

Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station, not served by rapid trains). The shrine can also be reached in a short walk from Fushimi Inari Station along the Keihan Main Line.

Hours and Fees

Hours Always open

Closed No closing days

Fees Free

Southern Higashiyama

Kiyomizudera Temple – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html

 Get There and Around

Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station by bus number 100 or 206 (15 minutes, 230 yen). Get off at Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, from where it is a ten minute uphill walk to the temple. Alternatively, Kiyomizudera is about a 20 minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station along the Keihan Railway Line.

Hours and Fees

Kiyomizudera Temple

Hours 6:00 to 18:00

Closed No closing days

Fees 300 yen

Spring and Fall Illumination

Hours 18:30 to 21:30 (mid March to mid April and mid November to early December)

Fees 400 yen

Kiyomizudera (1 hour)

Start at Kiyomizudera Temple. Go early in the day, if possible, as it tends to be less crowded in the mornings.

• Higashiyama District (1 hour) – Upon exiting Kiyomizudera, walk down the temple approach while exploring the shops along the way. Turn right just before the fork in the road and head down the Sannenzaka stairs onto the somewhat quieter shopping streets below. Continue past the Ninenzaka steps to reach Kodaiji.

• Kodaiji (45 minutes) – Explore Kodaiji and surroundings.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:30

Closed: No closing days

Fee: 600 yen

Kodaiji Temple was constructed in 1605 in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi by the great political leader’s wife. It features temple halls, gravel and landscape gardens, teahouses and a bamboo grove.

• Yasaka Pagoda

Hours: 10:00 to 16:00

Closed: No closing days

Fee: 400 yen

Yasaka Pagoda, the last remnant of Hokanji Temple, is one of the most visible and recognizable landmarks in the Higashiyama District. Visitors may climb up the inside of the five story pagoda, which is a rare opportunity as most pagoda can only be viewed from the outside.

• Yasaka Shrine (more details)

Hours: Always open

Closed: No closing days

Fee: Free

Yasaka Shrine, host to the Gion Matsuri, is one of Kyoto’s most popular shrines and is located at the eastern end of Shijo-dori next to Maruyama Park. The shrine’s hanging lanterns are lit every night after dark.

• Maruyama Park (more details)

Hours: Always open

Closed: No closing days

Fee: Free

Maruyama Park is a public park next to Yasaka Shrine. During the first half of April, when the cherry trees are in full bloom, Maruyama Park becomes Kyoto’s most popular and most crowded spot for cherry blossom viewing.

Day 4 – 6 (Nov 24 – 26) OSAKA : Universal Studios Japan (1^st option) – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4021.html

 Get There and Around

By train

The entrance gate of the Universal Studios Japan is located a five minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line (also referred to as JR Sakurajima Line). From Osaka Station, there are several direct trains per hour (15 minutes, 180 yen) and many more connections that require an easy transfer at Nishikujo Station. From Kansai Airport, take a JR airport rapid to Nishikujo Station and transfer to the JR Yumesaki Line to Universal City Station (75 minutes, 1190 yen).

By bus

Universal Studios Japan is connected by bus to Kansai Airport (35-75 minutes, 1550 yen, about 1 bus/hour) and Itami Airport (45 minutes, 930 yen, about 1 bus/hour). Some overnight buses from other cities across Japan also stop at the Universal Studios Japan.

By ferry

A ferry service named “Captain Line” connects the Universal Studios Japan with the Osaka Aquarium (10 minutes, 700 yen one way, 1300 yen roundtrip, 1-2 ferries per hour). A combination ticket for the aquarium and the ferry ride can be purchased for 2700 yen (one way) or 3300 yen (roundtrip).

Hours and Fees

Hours:    Varying hours, typically from 10:00 to 18:00 during low season and from 9:00 to 21:00 during peak season. Please refer to the park’s official website.

Closed:   No closing days

Admission:            6,980 yen (12-64 years old)

4,880 yen (4-11 years old)

6,270 yen (65 years or older)

Passes include unlimited rides and can be bought at the gate or at JR ticket counters, Lawson convenience stores, selected travel agencies and partner hotels.

Express Passes, that allow holders to skip lines for selected rides, are available for four rides (3,290 yen) or seven rides (5,040 yen) on the day of the visit at the entrance gate and inside the park. Express Passes may sell out on busy days.

Day 4 – 6 (Nov 24 – 26) OSAKA :

Minami (Namba) – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html

 Get There and Around

The Minami area is centered around Namba Station and the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) and is served by multiple train and subway routes as well as buses.

Namba Station is not a single station, but rather a collection of multiple station buildings and platforms, including Nankai Namba Station, JR Namba Station and Kintetsu’s Osaka Namba Station. Furthermore, the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae Subway Lines stop at their respective Namba Stations.

Most airport and highway buses serve the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT), which is located in the same building as JR Namba Station.

From Shin-Osaka and Osaka Stations:

The Midosuji Subway line connects Shin-Osaka and Osaka/Umeda Stations directly to Namba Station. It takes approximately 8 minutes and 240 yen from Osaka/Umeda Station and 15 minutes and 280 yen from Shin-Osaka Station.

From Kansai Airport:

By train:

Nankai Railways operates direct trains between Kansai Airport and Nankai Namba Station. Express trains take around 45 minutes and cost 920 yen (non-reserved seats only), while limited express trains (“Rap:t”) take around 35 minutes and cost 1430 yen (reserved seats only).

It is also possible to travel by JR, but it requires a transfer at Tennoji Station along the way. The whole trip takes approximately one hour and costs 1060 yen, using the JR Airport Rapid.

By bus:

Buses run from Kansai Airport to the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the airport limousine bus counter and cost 1000 yen. Travel time is about 50 minutes.

Osaka Castle (Osakajo) – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html

 Get There and Around

 The recommended approach to Osaka Castle is through Otemon Gate at the park’s southwestern corner. The closest station is Tanimachi 4-chrome Station along the Tanimachi Subway Line and Chuo Subway Line.

The closest JR station to Osaka Castle is Osakajokoen Station on the JR Loop Line, a 10 minute, 160 yen ride from JR Osaka Station.

Hours and Fees

Castle Tower

Hours 9:00 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:30)

Extended hours during various holidays and special exhibitions

Closed December 28 to January 1

Fees 600 yen

Nishinomaru Garden

Hours 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from November through February)

Open until 20:00 during the cherry blossom season.

Closed Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), New Year holidays

Fees 200 yen (500 yen during the extended hours of the cherry blossom season)

Sumiyoshi Taisha – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4007.html

Get There and Around 

Sumiyoshi Taisha is located in southern Osaka, a few steps from Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Main Line. From Nankai Namba Station, the one way ride costs 210 yen and takes less than ten minutes by local trains. Note that faster train categories do not stop at Sumiyoshi Taisha Station.

Sumiyoshi Taisha can also be reached by the Hankai Tramway from Tennoji. Alight at Sumiyoshitoriimae or Sumiyoshikoen Station (15 minutes, 210 yen one way from Tennojiekimae), which are a few steps from the shrine.

Hours and Fees

Hours 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 from October through March)

Closed No closing days

Fees Free

Shitennoji Temple – http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4011.html

 Get There and Around

 Shitennoji is a short walk from Shitennoji-mae-Yuhigaoka Station on the Tanimachi Subway Line. Alternatively, it can be reached in a ten minute walk north of JR Tennoji Station on the JR Loop Line.

Hours and Fees

The outer temple grounds are free to enter, but admission to the inner precinct, the Gokuraku-jodo Garden and the treasure house is paid. In the pebble covered courtyard of the inner precinct stand a five-storied pagoda that can be entered and ascended and the Main Hall (Kondo) in which Prince Shotoku is enshrined as a statue of Kannon.

Inner precinct

Hours 8:30 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from October through March)

Closed No closing days

Fees 300 yen

Gokuraku-jodo Garden

Hours 8:30 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from October through March)

Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time.

Closed Frequent closures, particularly during the first ten days of many months.

Fees 300 yen

Treasure House

Hours 8:30 to 16:30 (until 16:00 from October through March)

Closed Long closures between exhibitions

Fees 500 yen

Our Japan Amazing Race

We just came back from our 8 days “Amazing Race: Couples edition” version trip to Japan. Our trip was from Nov. 21-28. I thought of blogging about the whole 9 yards, so I can give back to our blogging community as well as to help DIY travelers like me who rely and get helpful tips from travel blogs, too.I will divide them in portions though, lest I want to bore you with a lengthy read.

1st part: The JP Preparation (plane tickets, documents gathered, visa application)
2nd part: Got the JP Visa, Now What? (Accomodations, itinerary)
3rd part: JP Pack-Off! (Stuff bought, packed)
4th part: JP: Ready, Jet-set, GO! (Day 1-2)
5th part: JP: Ready, Jet-set, GO! (Day 3-4)
6th part: JP: Ready, Jet-set, GO! (Day 4-5)
7th part: JP: Ready, Jet-set, GO! (Day 6-8)

Enjoy! 🙂