I have to say I’m not the sort of traveler that does a lot of pre-trip planning. I never even heard of Kawagoe (川越) in Japan before I googled “day trips near Tokyo”. And it was only on that day I decided on visiting Kawagoe when I discovered that it was just 30 minutes away from Tokyo where I was staying at the time via train at Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Toju Line.
Kawogoe is a small city in Saitama Prefecture, with a population of around 340,000. Not a big city when compared to Tokyo but if you’re looking for that old world Edo Period charm than Kawagoe won’t disappoint you.
What to Do and See in Kawagoe
One of Kawagoe’s claim to fame is the Bell Tower located near Kurazukuri Street which is a popular section of the city famous for its old warehouse style shops. It’s an area made up of small alleys upon back alleys and a real fun to walk around and just get lost for awhile
There is supposed to be an area loaded with shops selling snacks and treats that is very popular with tourists and locals alike. But I missed it. I guess I should do a little more pre-trip planning (“my sarcastic inner child tells me”).
The Confectionery Row (菓子屋横丁 ) is where you’ll find the Bell Tower…
You truly get a sense of how things were back then during Japan’s classical Edo era. I truly appreciate Japan’s effort to recapture and retain their culture and not lose their identity among today’s fast paced world.
We visited Kawagoe during the weekend and yes it was packed full of locals and sight seeing folks like us. The weather was terrific, around mid 70°F and just a total pleasure to be outside with so many smiling folks out and about.
And even though there were a lot of people all around which I normally don’t prefer, being there on a busy weekend at Kawagoe was still very enjoyable.
I already mentioned Kawagoe is famous for it’s confectionary which I had not known about. Kawagoe is also very famous for it’s sweet potatoes too which I love eating. But again, I had no idea. Which could be a good thing as I’m avoiding carbs.
So my wife and I went around and about looking for some grub. After a bit of walking around and a whole lot of indecision we dropped into a very busy restaurant and was lucky enough to score two seats.
There was a simple menu in Japanese with pictures luckily. We just chose a set menu, not knowing what we really ordered but there’s buckwheat soba noodles. There was also some grilled sticky rice dumpling which I just discovered after some googling while writing this post called Dango.
The buckwheat soba noodles were delicious. Though I’m not sure if we were in a vegetarian restaurant or not. Because as far as we could tell everyone around us didn’t have any sort of meat in their bowls. And I have to admit I was expecting some sliced pork in my bowl of soba noodles, just digging around but there was only bamboo and Dango.
The Dango however we were not a great fan of. Now I’m not saying it’s not any good. I honestly do not want to insult the establishment. They have lots of happy customers dining on Dango. We just weren’t digging it.
Main street in Kawagoe…
After a little while of strolling and exploring the side streets it was about time for a little bit of rest. And a snack too while at it. And oh yeah coffee!
I wish that I could try all of their bagels…
Bread pudding made with bagels…
Shakerato… a shaken iced espresso drink…
We passed by Vanitoy Bagel shop and decided to drop in for some much needed afternoon coffee buzz. The first floor is the shop’s counter space display with dozens of varieties of bagels with the bakery in the back. The seating space is upstairs and it’s very cozy and comfortable. They do have English picture menus and two items caught my eye instantly, the bread pudding and the Shakerato. While my wife ordered a hot latte.
Our order was delicious. Do yourself a favor, if you’re in Kawagoe, drop by Vanitoy Bagel shop. If I’m ever back in Kawagoe Vanitoy Bagel shop is my go to pit stop.
Kitain Temple is located not far at all from the main street of Kawagoe…
Kitain Temple
There is a bit more to Kawagoe besides charming shops and possibly one of the best bagel shops in my book. You should also drop by Kitain Temple which is a short walking distance from the main street.
There is an entrance fee of 400 Yen at Kitain Temple. Besides the temple, there are smaller complexes which was a part of an old Edo Castle that survived a fire and was moved to Kitain in the mid 1600’s. That in itself is a good reason why you would want to visit Kawagoe. It’s not a big section however and you will get to see a classic example of a fine Japanese garden in the back.
A very nice view of traditional Japanese gardens at Kitain…
Back near the entrance where you purchased your ticket is a smaller courtyard filled with 540 small statues. Wander around these statues and you’ll see that each have distinctive features. You might even receive some good luck as the story goes.
Gohyaku Rakan statues at Kitain Temple in Kawagoe…
These statutes are called Gohyaku Rakan. You’ll find that coins are placed on these statues too as an offering for good luck in return.
Gohyaku Rakan statues…
Kawagoe is not a huge area and it’s great day trip kind of place because it’s only 30 minutes away by train from Tokyo. From my experience may times it’s great to get and explore such places away from the big cities. And even though Kawagoe doesn’t have too much to do I would still go there again. Especially for that bread pudding at Vanitoy Bagels. Okay enough about the bagels.
How to Get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
There are only three train lines that go from Tokyo to Kawagoe:
Tobu Toju Line – At Ikebukuro Station takes 3o minutes on an express train and cost 470 Yen one way. There is a discounted round trip fare you can buy at the station booth for 700 Yen. This is the train we took while we stayed at a hotel near the station.
Seibu Shinjuku Line – Seibu Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 500 Yen one way.
JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line – Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 760 Yen one way. Kind of expensive luckily but this route is covered by JR Rail Pass.
Been to Kawagoe? Let me know about your experience. Make sure to comment below if you have any questions about visiting Kawagoe!
If you are a big castle fanatic like I am, and you’re wondering which castle I would suggest you visit first in Japan, I would name HimejiCastle with no hesitation. Himeji Castle is one of the largest in Japan and easily visited as a day trip from Kyoto and Osaka in the Kansai region.
Before you read on you might want to take a look at my last post about Kansai region take a look here. It’ll give you an idea about traveling by train to the area’s points of interests.
Day Trip to Himeji Castle
Himeji is a city west of Kyoto. About 132 km with Osaka and Kobe in between. Himeji is not just any ordinary run of the mill city in Japan. If you are a castle fanatic like I am then you will want to go to Himeji Castle.
And it was a gorgeous day too. The temperature was in the high 60 degrees fahrenheit and partially cloudy. The air was so fresh and clean. One of the things I love about Japan is the clean fresh air.
Himeji Castle is also called the White Heron Castle…
How I Got There
From Kyoto Station I took the Special Rapid Train. The ride takes about 90 minutes to Himeji Station. Normally the train fare would cost 2270 Yen. But since I got the 4 Day JR travel pass I didn’t have to pay.
From Himeji station just follow the English signs. When you’re out of the station you will see the castle which may look far away but you can walk up the road to the castle in around 15 minutes. And it’s a lovely walk past many shops.
What’s So Special About Himeji Castle
To me, this is the mother of all medieval castles in Japan. It’s immense size and cultural significance has placed it rightly as a world heritage site and national treasure.
A map showing how immense Himeji Castle complex is…
We were here during October but the leaves haven’t fully changed colors yet…
But too bad we couldn’t get into the main fortress. Yup, just our luck we picked a time when the main structure was under major renovation and will be open to the public again March 2015.
So we walked around the castle grounds and made the best of it. Because Himeji Castle is so massive and filled with natural beauty there is still plenty to see. It’s amazing to see that this castle that is basically built during feudal wars has so much beauty surrounding it.
A small exhibition of Himeji Castle armory…
Through Japan’s feudal period, Himeji Castle was expanded through various clan controls. Which resulted in a lot of history. And because Himeji Castle was largely untouched by war and natural disasters what you see today is basically what it looked back then.
From up in Himeji Castle you can see the city below…
Wandering around the gardens you can’t help but admire the beautiful architecture. The way the buildings are combined with nature is amazing.
You’ll find some exhibits about castle life…
Take a look at the fake cat on the photo above… looks quite similar to this live kitty right?
Himeji Castle is also a museum of sorts. Throughout the castle surroundings you can find these nooks and crannies with educational exhibits. And you can learn all sort of things such as life during feudal Japan. There is even a nice little exhibit for the kids showing the methods of how the fortress was built and assembled.
But of the course the biggest treat is walking around the well kept gardens. And there are so many ponds filled with giant koi fish. I learned somewhere that Japanese gardens are all planned and designed. Certain stones and trees are carefully laid out to make a garden more pleasing to the eye.
A family enjoying a beautiful day in Himeji Castle…
You don’t have to be a total castle fanatic like me to appreciate the awesomeness of Himeji Castle. Anyone will appreciate the beauty and history surrounding the castle.
Kuala Lumpur: One of My Favorite City to Visit Again and Again
Kuala Lumpur has a lot of unique districts but I always like to stay in an area called Bukit Bintang. It’s the city’s shopping and entertainment district so like me, many travelers choose to find a hotel in Bukit Bintang.
For a few years Bukit Bintang is undergoing a massive MRT subway construction project. Pavements and roads are being torn up and shredded to make way for progress as KL is growing at a rapid pace. And I believe the new subway line will be completed in a few more years. It’s a city that is fastly expanding and competing against other Southeast Asian nations.
Lots of construction around in Bukit Bintang…
So as of writing, Bukit Bintang’s a central portion of the area is under huge construction. But there are plenty of safety barriers to direct and protect pedestrian walkways.
Plenty of places to eat around Bukit Bintang. One particular restaurant I go to is called Arraaziq. You’ll find it right across the street from Low Yat Plaza. There are many Indian/Arab restaurants located all over KL. Sometimes it can seem intimidating going into one of these restaurants. But people inside can speak English and they are quite friendly and polite in helping customers choose what they want to eat.
After filling up on some hearty food I usually go to the Pavillion Mall for coffee. I always go to a cafe called Coffea Coffee on the 6th floor. Their coffee is quite good and the free Wi-Fi is quite fast and reliable. It’s the perfect place to compose a post for this blog or just chill out for a bit.
Hot Latte at Coffea Coffee
What else do I do in KL? There is Chinatown which is not far from Bukit Bintang via the KL Monorail. It’s a great place to take in some street photos.
But I also head down to KL’s Chinatown because there is a temple or an association rather dedicated to the Chan clan, my family name. Way back when a Chan came over to Malaysia and did super well. Eventually the temple was built to welcome more Chans from China.
It’s called the Green Temple. As you can see on photos below it’s green. Namewise it’s called Chan She Shu Yuen Temple.
I suppose that’s why I drop by the Green Temple every time I’m in the area. Its got my family name and generations of Chans possibly came through those very same doors, eyes wide open in the hopes of a brighter future and a new life in Malaysia.
But Malaysia is not just all about the Chinese. There are local Malays and Indians too of course. And with that comes different religions of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. In this crazy world where everyone is different in most parts, everyone gets along pretty well in Malaysia. There are flare ups of tensions between ethnicities but tell me which country doesn’t have that problem.
Anyways, this blog isn’t about politics. How about some photos of cute kitties?
On this trip I also had an opportunity to spend a few hours with Robin Wong, a local Malay photo blogger with an encyclopedia wealth of knowledge on Olympus micro 4/3 camera systems.
Robin Wong, one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met…
On a Saturday morning Robin took me to an area I’ve never been to before but heard about. It’s the Chow Kit Market. It’s a dry/wet market that is common in most Asian countries where locals go to buy groceries. With so many local interactions in Chow Kit it was no wonder why it’s one of Robin’s favorite areas to go on one of his shutter therapy sessions.
I have to admit, I haven’t been too adventurous when it comes to exploring more local areas in KL. So I was very appreciative to Robin for showing me around Chow Kit. Now that I know how to get there I can feel comfortable exploring that area alone some time.
But the places that I do discover on my own are usually a real treat. For instance while exploring parts of Little India I came across Sin Sze Ya Temple. It’s a Taoist Temple located in Pudu, which is also just a 3 minute walk from Jalan Petaling Street.
A little history of this charming temple…
After checking out the history of Sin Sze Ya Temple I learned it’s where students go before big exams. Even though there’s a greater history to this temple. That’s what I like about Malaysia, or pretty much wherever I travel to around Asia. Lots and lots of fascinating history.
Inside the temple you can certainly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It was a Sunday I came to visit Sin Sze Ya Temple so surprisingly it wasn’t very busy and crowded. And I liked it. There are some benches you can sit on and just take in the interior. Up above on the base of the roof are these open windows that really helps circulate the air.
A beautiful shaft of light above temple altar…
I remember going to temples such as this back in NYC with my mom…
Just beautiful natural lighting all around Sin Sze Ya Temple…
Certainly a temple with a lot of character…
But if you’re inside when the sun is high and bright you’ll be treated to a beautiful light show. I’m sure the architect of Sin Sze Ya Temple planned to place a window above the altar so a beautiful stream of light would surround worshippers offering burning incense.
You often hear that many cities in Asia are fastly developing towards the future with many skyscrapers and modern transportation systems being built or at least planned for the near future. So a lot of the older historical buildings get knocked down to make way for progress. This is certainly the case in Thailand.
Looks like a fancy hotel being built across Pavillion Mall…
It’s also happening in Malaysia as well it seems. But progress also benefits the local citizens as well. And shiny new skyscrapers attract foreign investments which in turn spur jobs and growth. There are quite a lot of train systems with new ones being developed. And it’s great for travelers as well too in a way for exploring more of this wonderful country.
The KL monorail is not an extensive line, however there are many train lines in the city…
I’ve been to Malaysia, specifically Kuala Lumpur numerous times. And I can tell you it never gets boring. And I can’t wait to explore more of this wonderful country.
One of the most majestic skyscrapers in the world, the Petronas Towers…
I’m going to apologize in advance for this sloppy interview of the Hanoi Golden Palace Hotel. I took a bunch of photos of this hotel particularly for this review but somehow, someway I deleted all of them.
Since I like this blog to have all of my own original photos I don’t like to pull stock photos off this ol’ google and stick them here. However, I was lucky I snapped some shots on my iPhone of the room we stayed in.
So, to start check out my walk around in Hanoi post. While I was visiting I staying in the Hanoi Golden Palace Hotel. There are a lot of budget hotels in Vietnam. Loads of them. It’s very possible to find a cheap place with decent quality in a very good location for around $20USD. And possibly less, depending on your comfort zone.
A King Sized bed en Suite…
I chose the Hanoi Golden Palace out of total randomness. It was August and in the middle of the low season. So many hotel rates were greatly reduced. But I paid $45USD for a Suite Balcony City View room type.
This hotel located in the Hanoi’s Old Quarters and there are tons of hotels in that area that looked the same quality and around the same price range as the Hanoi Golden Palace.
I can’t get the hotel’s exact location on google maps. But it’s located about 5 to 10 minutes walk south from one of Hanoi’s most famous landmark and local hangout place the Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
The Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi’s address is 46 Bat Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Old Quarter. There are no shortages of fine Vietnamese cafes and terrific Pho’ restaurants!
Our room was located on the top 7th floor. But there are no elevators to that level so you have to walk up from the 6th floor. Not a big deal because the hotel’s bellboys will take your bags up to your room. Even though our room had the name “Suite” in it you’d think it might be a bit fancy but it’s not so much. But our room was clean. And spacious too at 35 square meters.
There’s a jacuzzi bathtub but we never tried it out…
And even though our room also had the “City View” title there really isn’t a view at all. You’ll see some roof tops and the streets but directly from the bed’s view you’ll see the adjacent building. I’m not the one to complain and bitch and moan. Just telling it the way it is so you if decide to stay in this particular hotel you’ll know what to expect.
But to be fair, if you take a good look at Hanoi’s and even Ho Chi Minh City’s city architecture many buildings are right next to each other. So many buildings especially most 2 to 3 star Hanoi hotels are narrow with possibly.
A suite city view room with balcony. And also an unflattering picture of my wife…
I’ve stayed in many budget hotels all over Ho Chi Minh and although this was my first time in Hanoi I noticed that 2 to 3 star hotels are small and have at most 3 to 6 rooms on every floor.
The Golden Palace was renovated last year so the fixings are fairly new. However the air con unit was probably the same unit installed when the hotel opened 5 years ago. It worked. But it took a bit long for the room to cool. To be fair it was August and temps were in the high 90’s. Plus we were on the topmost floor so we got a lot of heat from the sun. But once it was going it worked well.
The breakfast area located on basement level…
When we booked the room, breakfast was part of the deal. They have a limited buffet breakfast selection including house made yogurt which was quite nice. They even had house made Flan which was a nice and different. But you’ll find the usual fare like eggs cooked to order. Just a word of advice because the hotel is small there’s only 4 or 5 tables.
One of the high points of this hotel is the super friendly hotel staff, particularly the ladies. They were always helpful with a smile and courteous. Plus they were genuinely curious about guests. At least for us they would ask many questions. They loved to talk to guests about where they come from. Plus they have handy maps available and are knowledgable about local shops and restaurants.
I give the Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi a 2 star rating in my books. You may see it graded as a 3 star hotel on hotel booking websites. But there’s no pool or other recreational facilities. It’s one of those hotels where it’s perfect for being out most of the day exploring Hanoi and its surroundings. And we certainly enjoyed our stay. Check out rates for Golden Palace Hotel Hanoi.
I’ll be heading over to Malaysia in a few weeks. Every year when I have to head out to do a Visa run I usually head over to Kuala Lumpur. It’s also a perfect excuse to get out and eat all that awesome Malay cuisine. Plus I’ve always enjoyed visiting Malaysia. Downside is I’ll be going back to Thailand a kilo heavier from eating all the good food.
I always stop by this temple on the way to the Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown…
Even though Malaysia is so close to Thailand the vibe is different despite there are so many similarities. Malaysia and Thailand both have some sort of Chinese roots. But With Malaysia it seems to run a little deeper. At least that’s how I feel. But I love how Malay and Indian plus Chinese culture are intertwined.
A little outdoor market I stumbled on parallel to Jalan Petaling…
Malaysia to me also has a very laid back feel. Nobody seems to be in a rush. It used to be like that in Bangkok too but these days most people seem to be walking just a notch faster.
I’ve walked around KL, specifically in the Sentral KL area. There are loads of historical sights and I remember there was a Hop on Hop off bus tour that takes you to most tourists attractions in the city. I went a 4 years ago but this time I might take the tour again, who knows there might be something new this time around.
It’s the middle of August in Hanoi. It was hot, humid and utterly uncomfortable. The heat mercilessly drains your energy with every step you take along the narrow winding streets, past zipping motorbikes and friendly old Vietnamese women selling fruit and vegetables.
But this is post is not a rant on how much I hate Hanoi and its despicable soul sucking heat. Matter of fact I love Hanoi. I love it despite its heat and humidity amongst the city’s mass of hectic cacophony glory. I love Vietnam.
The wonderful people of Hanoi having fun on a hot sultry night…
So what if Hanoi is not ideal period to visit in August? At least the hotels in the city are very affordable at that time. And there are plenty of dessert and cà phê shops all over to duck into and load up on the classic Vietnamese coffee or what I affectionately refer to as rocket fuel.
I’ve been to Ho Chi Minh a couple of times this was my first trip to Hanoi. And I’m still kicking myself on why it took me so long to visit this wonderful capital of Vietnam. And there are more places I’d like to visit as well but so far I’m just hopscotching along as I go. But one reason why we were in Hanoi was because we wanted to visit Halong Bay and Ninh Binh province which are a few hours away by car near the northern coast of Vietnam.
Aside from the friendly people, wonderful culture and architecture, you all know how much I love food. Travel and food goes hand in hand after all. And while in Vietnam you gotta have the quintessential Banh Mi.
So I did a search on Tripadvisor on which restaurant has the best Banh Mi in the vicinity of Hanoi’s Old Quarter where I was staying. And I found Banh Mi 25, which was just a 5 minute walk from my hotel. I found it with a little difficulty because the streets of Hanoi are small with many twists and turns.
They have a small menu but I ordered a sandwich with everything on it which cost around $1US. Their Banh Mi are small though. Luckily I ordered 2!
I eagerly made my way back to my hotel to scarf those babies down and when I did I was surprised I was full. And my wife had a worried look on her face because I looked like a rabid dog eating its last meal.
A very beautiful lake in the Old Quarter of Hanoi…
To help me digest we planned a walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the evening. There’s a very interesting story or legend relating to the lake which you can check out here on the ol’ wikipedia. But long story short it has something to do with a sword, a golden turtle and a local god. And there are still turtles in the lake that are quite famous.
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is about 2 kilometers around. Which is a good walk to work of those sandwiches. Those Banh Mi sandwichs, still think about them yummmm….
In the lake resides Jade Island. This is an entrance to it across the Huc Bridge…
But I got hungry after walking around. Because it was so hot and I was dripping in sweat that the calories poured out of my skin. Luckily around the halfway mark we spotted a Pho restaurant.
I’ll probably get booed for this but the best Pho hands down is still back in NYC’s Chinatown. I’m not saying I don’t like Pho in Vietnam. I just haven’t found Pho anywhere else in Vietnam that matches my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC.
Yummy Pho goodness…
The restaurant I went to in Hanoi is called Pho 24. It’s a chain of Pho restaurants I’m used to in Ho Chi Minh City. And my wife enjoys it so I’m not complaining at all because the Pho powered me back up for another round of wandering around Hanoi.
Hanoi is certainly one lively city during the night. Everyone is about and about. The cyclos are merrily on their way with tourists snapping pictures happily. Locals are in the parks, around the lakes, sitting down and chatting with friends or simply strolling around. There’s certainly romance in the air. And I mean that literally.
I know, it’s a blurry photo but you get the point…
Lots of wedding photos were taken all around the lake, mostly in the areas where the backgrounds are more scenic. But wedding pictures were also taken out in front of Hanoi’s posh malls which near southeast corner of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
As always heed the traffic signals. There are lots of traffic on the road…
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is the center of activity for Hanoi’s locals, from morning to night. There’s no doubt about it. You can tell despite the high humidity everyone is out to enjoy the night.
But that’s not all there is to do around the Old Quarters of Hanoi at night. If you’re there on the weekends there is a night market located about a 5 minute walk due north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. But a word of warning, even though it’s night the temperature is still warm and humid. I know, I keep mentioning it’s hot but it is.
Factor in that there are shoulder to shoulder sweaty tourists and locals too walking up and down the narrow one street night market. So there’s plenty of body heat going around making the experience uncomfortable. Wear some comfortable loose fitting clothes, drink plenty of fluids and carry a towel cause you’ll need it.
I haven’t bought anything though my wife bought a bunch of small little coin bags with traditional Vietnamese motifs to take home as souvenir gifts. The more you quantities you buy the better discounts you get is the standard rule.
Hanoi’s Night Market is narrow but goes quite far and as far as we walked we couldn’t make it all the way through. There were too many people and as much water as we were drinking it was all coming back out via sweat.
Classic Vietnamese coffee with coconut cake, a real knockout combination…
Luckily, Hanoi is coffee heaven. There are many small and large cafes. We’ve picked quite a few during our stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and each and everyone we were happy. Vietnamese coffee is one of the best in the world. And they are proud and should be and you can see it in many of the small coffee shops.
This was our first night in Hanoi. It was a wonderful day and an awesome start for our trip in Vietnam And we’ve booked a day tour that starts early in the morning. A couple of posts on those day tours coming up soon. And even though I had that super powered Vietnamese caffeine coursing through my veins I was so tired at the end of the night experiencing all that Hanoi threw at me I still slept like a rock.
