Guide on Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur for First-Time Visitors
If you’re searching for the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur then I’ve got you covered. Kuala Lumpur is one of the most exciting cities I’ve had the pleasure to travel frequently in Southeast Asia through the years.
And I can confidently say these are the 5 Best Areas to Stay in Kuala Lumpur!
So I know which areas tourists should book a hotel for their first trip to Kuala Lumpur based on my experiences. Here in this post, I’ll point out the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur that are safe and perfect for sightseeing.
I’m going to make personal recommendations on the best hotels near KL’s nightlife, shopping, and of course most importantly for finding excellent Malay food. I’ll point out where to stay in Kuala Lumpur on a budget or to live it up in 5 star hotels. In essence, you’re going to learn where the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur are right here so you can pick that perfect hotel.
And as you can see from this post, I really do enjoy eating in Kuala Lumpur and that’s just one of the many reasons why I am so passionate about coming to KL.
3 Quick Tips on Your Kuala Lumpur Hotel Search for Your First Trip in Malaysia
Book your KL hotels near a train line. It’s one of the best ways to get around and explore the city. I recommend staying at a hotel near any of the hotels along the KL Monorail Line, specifically Imbi Station and Bukit Bintang Station.
If you can’t stand the smell of cigarettes then be sure to specify you want a nonsmoking floor. Trust me on this you’ll thank me later.
Don’t be turned off if you see a room rate that is too cheap. Many $20USD per night hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur are decent and clean but on the small side. And there may not be a window.
Kuala Lumpur is rapidly expanding its subway train lines…
The 5 Best Areas to Stay in Kuala Lumpur for First-Time Visitors
Bukit Bintang– Kuala Lumpur’s primary shopping center with many hotels from guest houses to the city’s top 5-star hotels. From here you’re in easy walking distance to explore popular parts of the city. My recommendation and one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Changkat– If you like your hotels near bars for booze then Changkat is where you want to be. From dive pubs to wine bars if you pick a hotel near Changkat you’ll be right at home.
KL Sentral– Trains and buses plus a shopping center all rolled into one at KL Sentral. KL Sentral is the city’s main transportation hub so book a hotel here if you’re planning on taking day trips out from KL.
Chinatown – Sort of the city’s historic district with old-fashioned shophouses, restaurants, and counterfeit luxury goods markets.
Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC)– Here’s where you’ll find lots of 5-star hotels in KL’s business district. Hotels in this area are close to KL’s most famous building and landmark, the Petronas Towers. LRT Ampang Line has a few stations around KLCC.
Below I have a selection of four hotels in five different areas of KL that I think you will enjoy staying in.
All the locations I recommend are right in central Kuala Lumpur, perfect for any first-time visitors for sightseeing purposes. Keep reading and you’ll know why they are the 5 best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for first-time visitors!
But first, check out my video and get a quick look at traveling to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok. There’s also a review of Chaos Hotel in Bukit Bintang!
Update – Malaysia’s Hotel Tax
As of September 1st 2017 a 10RM per room per night hotel tax has gone into effect.
Malaysia’s 10MYR per room hotel tax is to be paid upon check in…
The first area I highly recommend staying in is called Bukit Bintang. It’s my favorite area in Kuala Lumpur!
1. Bukit Bintang
Hotel Price Range: $25USD to $250USD Subway Line: KL Monorail Bukit Bintang station and LRT Bukit Bintang station Why Stay in Bukit Bintang: Everything’s here, food, shopping, and train stations. One of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur even for backpackers on a budget.
Big expensive chain hotels in KL are surrounded by smaller locally run budget hotels all over Bukit Bintang…
Speaking from personal travel experiences in KL, I really do believe that Bukit Bintang is one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur ever.
Bukit Bintang is like the Times Square of New York City. It has flashy billboard lights, and shopping centers, full of activity and people. I highly recommend booking a hotel in the Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur for your very first visit.
Yes sure it’s where all the tourists go to stay. And that’s for a good reason. Everything you could want and possibly need for a fun experience in KL can be found in Bukit Bintang.
Even though Bukit Bintang is such a busy neighborhood prices for hotels are not so expensive. Even though all the top hotel chains like Marriott and Millennium Grand are there believe it or not you can find economy hotels with single rooms as cheap as $25USD.
That’s not bad at all considering you can easily walk to the posh shopping centers of Bukit Bintang and walk to Jalan Alor, KL’s famous street food haven.
For traveling families Bukit Bintang will be the perfect location for kids and most certainly for adults.
I highly recommend staying at a hotel in Bukit Bintang, especially when it’s your first visit to Kuala Lumpur. It’s easy to travel to and get to where you need to go because of the train stations. There are so many varieties of restaurants all around plus the shopping malls to check out.
Trust me, after staying in Bukit Bintang for yourself you will know for sure why it’s one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
But for the more adult crowd, it’s not a bad idea to look into Kuala Lumpur’s Changkat area, which is not far from Bukit Bintang.
2. Changkat
Hotel Price Range: $15USD to $250USD Subway Line: KL Monorail Bukit Bintang station and LRT Bukit Bintang station Why Stay in Changkat: The mecca of international bars and pubs in KL. Easy walking distance to Bukit Bintang and KLCC. Changkat is easily one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for nightlife.
Changkat’s restaurants, bars, and pubs add an international flair to KL’s nightlife…
Changkat borders Bukit Bintang so it’s still an advantageous location for your first visit to Kuala Lumpur. The only difference is you have to walk just a little further to Bukit Bintang Monorail station and LRT Bukit Bintang station. But if you put yourself up at a hotel near Changkat you’ll be near KL’s popular mini pub crawl street that is closed off at night to vehicles.
Changkat is also near Jalan Alor, KL’s famous tourist food spot popular for hawker stands and foods found throughout Southeast Asia. Jalan Alor is where you should go find famous Malay food and other Southeast Asian favorites.
Also, a strip of affordable massage parlors can be found along the streets leading to Changkat. A great little location in KL for adult travelers. So I recommend staying at Changkat for KL’s nightlife. Because the location is also not far from Bukit Bintang. The only difference is that Changkat is a more adult-oriented neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur.
Out of the four hotels on this Changkat hotel list I recommend Izumi Hotel Bukit Bintang and you can take a look at my post review here.
Stay in Changkat and you’ll know why it’s one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for partying.
Changkat is a decent area to pick and choose hotels as there are also many hotels in low price ranges to slightly upscale hotel properties to book.
It is a more adult-oriented location in Kuala Lumpur so you may come across touts looking to persuade men to partake in “special” massages. But even so, Changkat is a pretty good area to stay and explore Kuala Lumpur during your first-ever visit to the city.
3. KL Sentral
Hotel Price Range: $30USD to $250USD Subway Line: All train lines and certain bus lines converge at KL Sentral Why Stay in KL Sentral: If you’re in KL for a few days and need quick access to KLIA airports. KL Sentral is the best area to stay in Kuala Lumpur for shopping.
Booking a hotel near NU Sentral Mall is a good idea for a first visit to KL…
KL Sentral is where you can find the most good quality budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur.
As the transportation hub of Kuala Lumpur, there won’t be a problem finding a hotel in KL Sentral. From there you can travel to most parts of the city via the train system and even to most parts of Peninsular Malaysia.
Every single train line in Peninsular Malaysia converges on KL Sentral. This is why this is a great area to choose a hotel if you’re planning on exploring Western Malaysia.
Another reason why KL Sentral is a very good area to pick a hotel in Kuala Lumpur is because it’s attached to NU Sentral Mall. So you’re not far off from retail therapy as well as a wide variety of dining options from fast food to casual sit-in dining.
Because KL Sentral is linked to all train lines you can take a quick trip to Bukit Bintang as well as Changkat. So you’re not far off from popular tourist spots in Kuala Lumpur. This is one of the main reasons why KL Sentral is one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
As I mentioned earlier I am a frequent visitor to Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes I just visit for a few days and when I do I prefer to book a hotel near KL Sentral. Mainly because I like using the KLIA Express train located beneath KL Sentral station to get to the airport.
NU Sentral Mall which is connected to KL Sentral station has lots of retail brand name stores as well as plenty of casual restaurants plus Western fast food chains.
KL Sentral is an ideal area to stay in KL when you’re planning on exploring Kuala Lumpur and other parts of beautiful Malaysia.
4. Chinatown
Hotel Price Range: $10USD to $70USD Subway Line: Chinatown is a wide area. Pasar Seni MRT is in the center of Chinatown. KL Monorail Line Mahajarela is near the entrance to Petaling Street. Then up north of KL’s Chinatown is Masjid Jamek LRT station. Why Stay in Chinatown: The old world meets the new world at KL’s Chinatown. Chinatown is the best area to stay in Kuala Lumpur on a budget.
Kuala Lumpur is certainly a multicultural city with its local Chinese population present…
Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown is a colorful and lively part of the city filled with restaurants and hawker stands serving up good cheap eats and cheap shopping. If you’re here you’re looking for hotels near or along Petaling Street.
Petaling Street is KL’s shopping bizarre filled with loads of goods, mostly cheap and fake but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?
You can also walk to other points of interest in KL such as Central Market and Merdeka Square, sight of KL’s independence.
So if you want to see the old parts of Kuala Lumpur, picking a hotel right in KL’s Chinatown will put you in touch with KL’s rich history. This is why many consider Chinatown as one of the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Ahyu Hotel
I Highly Recommend the Ahyu Hotel in Chinatown
I frequently stay at Ahyu Hotel when I come to Kuala Lumpur alone. It’s a short walk to Masjid Jamek LRT station. So it is easy for me to get to this hotel from KL Sentral after taking the 1 hour 30-minute bus ride from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Rooms cost about USD 20 with taxes and these are the rooms with windows. So of course windowless rooms are cheaper. Most importantly it is clean and the rooms look new and in good condition. There’s a small fridge, room safe and the Wi-Fi internet speed is sufficient.
The front staff service is super friendly, it is a terrific hotel! And you will enjoy the Indian restaurants nearby. I certainly did!
Currently, it’s a good time to start your exploration of KL by booking a hotel in Chinatown. Through the years I’ve noticed that this little slice of KL is undergoing major renovation. New hotels are built up and many small businesses, particularly hipster cafés and restaurants are popping up all over the area.
KL’s Chinatown is undoubtedly one of my favorite spots in the city and it’ll be interesting to see how the transformation will look.
Regardless I find Chinatown is the best area in Kuala Lumpur for budget travelers.
5. Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC)
Hotel Price Range: $40USD to $300USD Subway Line: Ampang Line and KLCC Why Stay in Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC): This is KL’s flash business center with many new hotels including 4-star properties. Best hotels in the Kuala Lumpur area all in the KLCC area.
KLCC- The financial district of Kuala Lumpur…
If cash is not a concern for you then KLCC has the best hotels in Kuala Lumpur for you. KLCC neighborhood is Kuala Lumpur’s financial business area. I stayed in KLCC the fewest times because I used to go over to the Thai Embassy in KL to apply for a new visa.
KLCC is where you will find the most high-class business hotels in Kuala Lumpur. If you have the money and can pay for high-end hotel rooms then KLCC is the best area to stay in Kuala Lumpur for you.
KLCC is also where you can find the Petronas Towers, Malaysia’s famous skyscraper. Staying at KLCC you’ll still have some advantages when exploring the rest of Kuala Lumpur. There are several LRT train lines located along KLCC.
There are also a few shopping centers and the biggest one is located on the lower levels of the Petronas Towers. Plenty of restaurants can be found in the area as well. But if you’re staying there check out the food court inside Suria KLCC on level 2.
KLCC area is a bit more spread out. So I recommend looking for a hotel near the Petronas Towers because it’ll just be more convenient for sightseeing on your first visit to KL. The closest one on this list is Le Apple Boutique KLCC which is a very nice hotel with and in walking distance to an LRT train station too plus a shopping center.
The Takeaway
Kuala Lumpur is an amazing city to explore in Malaysia. I travel there often back and forth from Thailand at least 3 or 4 times a year. So I’m quite familiar with the areas of KL particularly where to stay for sightseeing.
Please remember the 10MYR per night hotel tax that was introduced on September 1st, 2017. You pay directly to the hotel upon check-in. However, if you book with a hotel booking website like Agoda.com, the tax is collected through their portal.
Now that you know where the best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur are I’m sure you’re going to fall in love with the city as much as I have. It’s been one of my favorite cities to visit ever since my first visit. I’m pretty sure you’ll feel the same way on your very first memorable trip to Kuala Lumpur.
A Taste of the Beach Life at Baan Sukhita in Chanthaburi, Thailand
Thailand has a lot of beaches. Some good. And some not so good. Everyone, including yours truly that is planning to stay indefinitely in Thailand is always out in the search of the best beaches as a side trip from Bangkok, either for a day or more. And that’s what we found at Baan Sukhita in Chanthaburi, Thailand.
A few weeks ago for the very first time I visited Chao Lao Beach where I made a review of Maldive Beach Resort. While driving around I came across Ao Yang by chance.
Ao Yang is a bay, so not a beach even if there is a small one. “Ao” in Thai “อ่าว” pronounced àao with a low tone means bay. But theres a small beach lined with restaurants and a parking area for visitors to the beach and restaurant customers.
The view right outside of Baan Sukhita Hotel. Quiet and peaceful bay in Chanthaburi Thailand…
There are several hotels and guesthouses along Ao Yang. But we chose to stay at Baan Sukhita because we had already seen it while driving through when we last visted Chao Lao Beach. And their sea view rooms left a good impression on us which is why my wife and I decided to go back check it out.
Reception desk at Baan Sukhita…
Baan Sukhita is just a simple hotel. But in a good way. It’s not a fancy place for the fancy folks that enjoy high tea in the noon overlooking the bay. It’s ideal for any visitor looking to get away from Bangkok just for a little while to reset and rest. Which is just right up our alley.
Baan Sukhita Chanthaburi – The beachfront rooms on the left are triple deluxe sea view rooms and the ones on the right are normal sea views rooms…
Baan Sukhita has sea view rooms just 50 or so meters from the beach with a picket fence and the road in between.
There’s no fitness center. No Swimming pool. A row of beach chairs, benches and tree trunks shaped into chairs with a lovely view of the bay from the property lawn.
No hotel bar with happy hours. So be sure to stock up on your favorite beers and snacks as there are no full convenience stores in Ao Yang.
Many hours were spent on this hammock… Pure bliss with the gentle breeze blowing in from the bay…
But there is a cool tree hammock! Just a single hammock is slung between two beautiful trees. Now I can imagine this hammock wouldn’t be enough during the weekends with more guests staying at Baan Sukhita.
Since my wife and I stayed during the weekday we were pretty much alone. So I had the hammock all to my self!
Baan Sukhita has 21 Rooms With 3 Room Categories:
Standard Nature View – 20 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-11 age
Sea View – 24 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-11 age
Triple Deluxe – 32 m² / 3 Adults 2 Kids 0-11 age
Room #106 with a sea view. Our home sweet home, well at least for 4 night…
On this trip I booked a sea view room and stayed in room #106. Per night we paid 1500THB ($55USD). The property was renovated back in 2014 and well maintained. The room still looks new with a nice comfortable queen sized bed, a flat screen television plus some chairs, a mini fridge stocked with 2 bottles of water daily and a small work table.
Sea view rooms lead straight out to the beach…
The bathroom has a shower room and the fixtures looked brand new. Though I believe the bathroom would benefit with a ventilation fan to to keep the air moving out.
First impressions of the room, nice and clean…
I also think the room would really benefit with more light fixtures. At night with all the existing room lights turned on the room was still too dim especially near the area where the work table was placed.
The Wi-Fi was not stable but I could always piggy back off the hotspot from my phone to my laptop computer. Television has a dozen Thai channels and a movie channel with Hollywood hits but of course it’s dubbed in Thai.
Garden view rooms at Baan Sukhita…
The Breakfast
Breakfast which was included with our room rate at Baan Sukhita is served from 7am to 9am. There’s not a lot of breakfast variety but understandably so. It’s a small hotel property which receives most of its guests on weekends.
No sense to cook up a bunch of food which will just go to waste with not enough people to eat it.
Western style breakfast at Baan Sukhita…
It’s not exactly buffet style but if you want to order more food the hotel kitchen staff were more than happy to cook another set. They even offered to make an omelette just to change up the menu a bit as we stayed for 4 nights. Staff were very nice at Baan Sukhita I have to add.
Khao Tom Moo Gung – A Thai style rice soup with minced pork and shrimp normally eaten for breakfast…
What they do serve is sufficiently enough. Sunny side eggs, some boiled ham and chicken sausage with toast is the western option. Khao Tom Moo Gung is the Thai breakfast of choice served with lots of fresh shrimp and minced pork was my favorite and I had it every morning with American style breakfast.
Things to See Near Baan Sukhita
To really explore Chanhtaburi and the area surrounding Baan Sukhita you’ll need to have a car or hire a driver. It’s the only way to get a glimpse of the natural beauty that surrounds Baan Sukhita. The area is mainly popular for beaches and there are a handful to enjoy. But I just want to mention that because these beaches are less traveled or visited you will find trash along the sand.
Lots of signs with English pointing to places of interest. But having Google Maps to get around was helpful…
Beaches near Baan Sukhita Hotel
Ao Krathing – This beach is owned by the army. You have to walk down to the beach, about 150 meters down a man made stone pathway. But coming back up could be tiring. Not a far drive from Baan Sukhita.
Hat Chao Lao – This beach is the nicest with long stretch of sand and not as much rocks in the surf. Great for swimming. Not a lot of resorts on this beach still quiet even on weekends. Drive time to Chao Lao Beach’s eastern tip is about 20 minutes.
Hat Laem Sing – Similar to Hat Chao Lao but a lot more busy during the weekends. Drive time from Baan Sukhita to Laem Sing takes about 10 minutes.
Recommended Area to Visit in Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi Waterfront – I haven’t been all over the city of Chanthaburi but I came across this little section of town near a river. It’s a nice little place to visit, explore and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many cafés by the river. A recommended side trip while staying over in Baan Sukhita.
Chanthaburi Waterfront – Because the area has Chinese and Vietnamese background you’ll see their influences all around…
The Takeaway
I like Baan Sukhita a lot for the ambiance and environment. If you want to travel Thailand, relax at a beach with not ton of people around than this is the type of place you’ll like and enjoy. I certainly did.
But you also have to have some expectations as well. Ao Yang is not a very developed. There’s a row of seafood restaurants along the bay where the locals go to enjoy freshly caught seafood right off the bay. And that’s all there is in the immediate vicinity of Baan Sukhita Hotel.
There’s absolutely nothing to do at night. Matter of fact the area is deserted at night except for the seafood restaurant owners and workers that live nearby. There are many dogs in Ao Yang area too and from my experience they are friendly. Especially when they get to know you. But if you’re afraid best to avoid them.
This is Frank, but in Thai is name is pronounced “Flang”, very friendly when he gets to know you…
During the day you can lounge on the hammock or take a dip in the beach and explore Chanthaburi by car. But this is the kind of rest and the sort of thing I enjoy. And enjoy I did at Baan Sukhita Hotel. I highly recommend staying at this nice little beach hotel in Chanthaburi, Thailand.
A Cozy 3 Star Hotel on Chao Lao Beach in Chanthaburi, Thailand
If you’re looking for a beach getaway side trip from Bangkok, look no further than Chanthaburi(จันทบุรี, pronounced Jantaburee) province. By car you’ll find one of the nicest and cleanest beaches southeast of Bangkok called Chao Lao(หาดเจ้าหลาว), about 250km away, past Pattaya and Rayong.
Chao Lao Beach may not be as famous as the other well known beaches in Thailand, but I really do believe that one day it will be another popular sought after beach destination in Thailand. And to date there are not a lot of hotels and resort on Chao Lao Beach in Chanthaburi.
Finding a quiet spot on Chao Lao Beach wouldn’t be difficult at all.
Here’s the beach right behind Maldive Beach Resort…
But I’ve got just the right place to stay right on the beach in Chanthaburi called Maldive Beach Resort. This 3 star hotel right on Chao Lao beach is just a 3 hours and 30 minute drive from central Bangkok via tollway. Which is not too shabby for some clean water along a nice quiet stretch of beach on the Gulf of Thailand.
Maldive Beach Resort – Nice Side Trip from Bangkok
I highly recommend Maldive Beach Resort for families looking to spend time on a beautiful quiet beach. Because the rooms at this resort are very spacious. So if you’re traveling with an extended family and looking for a nice hotel with spacious rooms around Chanthaburi then Maldive Beach Resort should be considered.
Lobby of Maldive Beach Resort in Chanthaburi, Thailand…
The Maldive Beach Resort has 42 Rooms With 6 Different Room Categories:
Standard: 35 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
Family Standard: 35 m² / 4 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
Superior Sea View with Balcony: 58 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
Family Sea View: 60 m² / 4 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
Garden Villa: 39 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
Beach Front Villa: 39 m² / 2 Adults and 2 Kids 0-4 age
During this trip I booked 2 room types at the Maldive Beach Resort: 1) Standard and 2) Family Standard.
Photos of the room you see above are of the standard rooms and the only difference between standard and the family standard rooms are the extra beds of course for more guests.
The beds in our room were comfortable and the air conditioners looked new and kept our rooms nice and frosty. Don’t expect much television channels. But you have a terrific view of the beach at least.
So all of the rooms we stayed in had a balcony. However, as of writing Maldive Beach Resort is going through some cosmetic renovations. So the balcony view below is not too impressive as of date. I expect that once they are finished there will be some sort of garden view below.
Not much of a view out of the standard and family room balcony but should be better after renovation…
I had a glimpse of the beach front villa and it looked really nice. If I ever plan on staying at Maldive Beach Resort again I’ll probably book the beach front villa.
Chao Lao Beach at Maldive Beach Resort
The main reason why you’d want to stay at Maldive Beach Resort is… well for the beach, right? The beach is called Chao Lao. The waters are far away enough from Bangkok so it’s clean and clear. The sand is white and soft on the feet.
While I was out on a morning swim I saw resort staff clearing the beach of debris. Which is a good sign that they care about their property and environment.
Chao Lao Beach is one of the nicest beaches in Southeast Thailand…
It’s not a private beach but due to the lack of resorts on the beach it certainly seems like it. There are not a lot of people, particularly tourists in the area and that’s probably due to the lack of direct transportation from Bangkok and other cities.
At the beach right on Maldive Beach Resort. My water quality test…
So you’re going to need your own set of wheels either self drive or hired driver. But the beach is worth it plus the fact that Maldive Beach Resort’s room rates are not expensive. Sure, you’re in the middle of nowhere. Which is why you’ll need a car to get around Chanthaburi on your own because the location around the hotel is beautiful like we discovered on our own.
Water quality is seasonal of course. And according to the staff at Maldive Beach Resort, the beach water is at its best from late May through late March.
I went there late January and the water was beautiful and clear with no jellyfish whatsoever.
One of the Most Family and Most Definitely Kid Friendly Hotel in Chanthaburi
I would recommend Maldive Beach Resort if you’re traveling with kids mainly for the kiddie pool. It’s got this awesome spiral pool slide connected. As a fully grown man I can say I probably had more fun sliding down it than kids.
There’s also nice little pool for adults as well with nice chairs to lounge on nearby. But to be honest we spent most of our pool time at the kiddie pool.
There’s no fitness center with cardio and weights but I suppose you can always run on the beach or swim laps for exercise.
An awesome swimming pool for the kids at Maldive Beach Resort…
Breakfast and Dinner at the Maldive Beach Resort
As I mentioned the area around Maldive Beach is a quiet. There are a few other resorts nearby but not much. There’s a 7-Eleven about a kilometer walk away. There’s a little hotel café on premise with a cozy space to hang out.
It seemed like this hotel includes breakfast in every room category. And breakfast is served at Maldive Beach Resort’s fresh and newly renovated restaurant from 7am to 10:30am.
They don’t have a huge variety of choices. But that’s to be expected for a hotel property in the outskirts of Bangkok. You’ll have the usual Thai fare like rice soup, fried rice and some sort of noodle dish. And for Western fare there’s eggs cooked to order, ham and sausage. Plus a choice of breakfast cereal and breads to toast.
If you’re on a beach then you better have seafood. And they do have that on the menu. All of their seafoods are cooked the traditional Thai way. There’s no real Western menu at Maldive Beach Resort except for some steaks. But the seafood dinner we had was tasty and very delicious with reasonable prices.
The Takeaway
I’ve been in Thailand for nearly a decade and as much as I’ve traveled around the country I am still impressed after all these years to find such incredible beaches and beautiful scenery. And, it’s quite fun to come across simple yet nice hotels such as the Maldive Beach Resort.
A nice little area in front of the adult pool to enjoy a cocktail or two…
It’s not a fancy hotel by all means. There are no elevators but the hotel complex is only 3 floors. There’s no concierge but there’s daily room cleaning of course. It’s not easy to get to. You’ll need to hire a driver or just self drive.
Nice size adult pool that is deep enough for a good swim…
But Maldive Beach is the type of place where you can book a room for an entire week and just chill out on site right in front of Chao Lao Beach.
Ratchada Bangkok – The Best Area to Stay in Bangkok for 24 Hour Cafés and Food
Not too long ago I wrote a post on the best areas to stay in Bangkok for first time visitors here. In this post I’ll point out which is the best area in Bangkok to stay for the night owls.
You know the type. They sleep during the day and go out when the suns down. Or you’re simply an insomniac or a writer with the late night inspiration looking to bang out that novel until sun up. What ever the reason I’m going to show you the best area in Bangkok for hanging out all night.
Luckily certain areas of central Bangkok is becoming night owl friendly. By that I mean there are plenty of 24 hour cafés and eateries to hang out in complete with free Wi-Fi and use of power ports. A full proper 24 hour supermarket. And of course the old stand by 7 Elevens which are always a plenty and reliable for quick late night munchies.
The best area in my opinion for tourists that plan on staying out all night and looking to stay in Bangkok for short and long term is called Ratchada.
Ratchada (Ratchadapisik Road) is a long stretch of road and is considered one of the main avenues in central Bangkok. So there are many hotels for all budgets including affordable condo and apartment rentals in the area.
3 Reasons Why Ratchada is the Perfect Area to Stay in Bangkok for the Night Owls (and Also First Time Visitors to Bangkok)
Three MRT stations are right in the heart of the busiest areas of Ratchada 1) MRT Huai Kwang 2) MRT Thailand Cultural Centre 3) MRT Phra Ram 9
Ratchada has the most concentration of 24 hour cafés and restaurants, particularly inside a mall called The Street. There are a few malls, big supermarkets and a very popular night market near MRT Thailand Cultural Centre station.
Lots of affordable hotels are in Ratchada that are really good for sightseeing in Bangkok.
The most 24 hour cafés and fast food restaurants can be found at The Street Mall on Ratchada Road…
The Street Ratchada Shopping Mall
The Street Shopping Mall is located on a busy intersection of Ratchada Road. This is the perfect mall for anyone visiting Bangkok and planning on staying up all night. If you’ve got a bunch of friends that love staying past midnight too than you’ll love this mall even more because the cafés inside, particularly Starbucks has huge tables and lounge space. There are electrical ports and free Wi-Fi too.
Only the basement level and ground level shops are open 24 hours. The shops on the upper levels have normal opening and closing hours.
This little outdoor bar near the side of the The Street Mall closes past midnight, sometimes…
If caffeine is not your thing then there’s a small outdoor bar right by the side of The Street Mall. Not a bad place to get some beers and chill out through the night when it’s a little cooler.
The upper floors have shops with clothes, an IT and mobile phone section and even more restaurants on the upper levels, but as I mentioned already only the basement and ground level shops are open 24 hours.
On the basement level there’s also Foodland Supermarket with a fast food restaurant also open 24 hours.
Best Way to Get to The Street Mall – The Street Shopping Mall is just a few minutes walk from Thailand Cultural Center MRT subway station, just be sure head out from Exit#4
All the 24 hour cafés and restaurants at the Street Mall are located on the ground and basement level…
Plus You’re Not Far From Huay Kwang Either…
Huay Kwang is also another popular local neighborhood which Ratchadapisek Road cuts right through. Huay Kwang is famous for it’s food scene, particularly street food hawkers and seafood restaurants. It’s where locals go to grab some good eats although prices at restaurants and hawker stands are more expensive it still manages attract locals living nearby and afar.
Huay Kwang is also an ideal location for budget travelers because there are many hotels with reasonable rates in the neighborhood with a MRT subway station. Check out a list of Huay Kwang hotels here.
You can walk from The Street Shopping Mall to Huay Kwang in 10 minutes. Check out my short little post on Huay Kwang and find out where I go to enjoy some awesome street food.
The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada – Just Another Reason Why You’ll Love to Stay in This Area
The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada – Rot Fai in Thai means train. But, there’s no trains. No worries, just go there and have fun. New Rot Fai Market Ratchada is perhaps one of Bangkok’s easiest to reach night markets. It’s just behind Esplanade Mall and you can get there by taking the subway train to Thailand Cultural Center MRT Station. Be sure to get out from Exit #3.
New Rot Fai Market is very popular with Thai locals but because its so easy to find many foreign visitors make it a must visit.
There’s lots of food from traditional and regional Thai to Asian, Western and European foods and desserts. And since it’s a market you won’t be hard pressed to find second hand items like clothes and shoes. But of course you’ll find new items as well.
Lots of bars line this market too so not a bad place to start the night out because New Rot Fai Marketopens from 5pm to Midnight only from Thursday to Sunday.
The Takeaway
Ratchada Bangkok is quickly becoming one of the city’s best hang out spots for locals due to the amount of 24 hour businesses in central Bangkok. Plus it’s not far at all from Huay Kwang, another night owl hangout for Thai locals.
And because there are 3 MRT stations within Ratchada it’s also a prime location which means if you pick a hotel in this area you’ll have easy access to exploring other areas in Bangkok, like Sukhumvit, Chid Lom and Silom.
Take it from me, as a guy living here for so many years I’ve seen Ratchada grow from quiet empty plots of land to a revitalized commercial center filled with restaurants and condos.
Ratchada, is a great area for any visitors to Bangkok looking to hang out in Bangkok all night. It’s also a very good area for first time visitors to Bangkok looking for a hotel or to hang their suitcases.
A Quick Osaka City and Eating Guide from the Wayfaring Soul
I love wandering around Osaka, Japan because it’s a huge city with so much space to get lost in. It’s got a great energy with a unique mix of beautiful architecture. And then there’s the food! Oh my god the amazing food! And I’m not just referring to sushi.
There’s a reason why Osaka has the title of the Nation’s Kitchen “天下の台所 (tenka no daidokoro)”! It’s quite a title to receive if you think about it because Tokyo-Kanto region has a much larger population.
Ayu Sashimi, so fresh theres still blood on the bones…
So in this little walking and dining Osaka guide, I started off at my hotel near Hommachi Station with a stop over at JR Osaka Station to pick up my 4 Day JR West Kansai Rail Pass. And then heading over to Osaka’s City Hall at Yodobashi Station to start my walk straight down Midōsuji Boulevard and ending at Osaka’s famous Dotonbori shopping and food district.
You can walk up and down Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade too if you have the time and energy to do so. Shinsaibashi is basically one long covered street full of shops and restaurants.
Before starting our stroll, we first went to Osaka Station to pick up our 4 Day JR Rail Pass…
Starting Off at Osaka’s City Hall with a Quick Bite to Eat
I was staying at Cityroute Hotel near Hommachi Station. Which is just a few stations to Osaka Station where I picked up my JR rail passes.
Then it was off to Osaka’s City Hall on the Yodabashi Line, Exit #1. I peeked at google maps quickly and saw a few cafés in the area because we we’re dying for some caffeine.
I’m not sure what it is but I discovered that Japan has some really good hot dogs. As a New Yorker I do miss and crave Gray’s Papaya hot dogs. And I can’t find decent hot dogs in Thailand. Osaka has a rich cuisine variety and yes! I do consider hot dogs in Japan a cuisine!
Iced latte and hot dogs with special sauces at Café Veloce Yodoyabashi…
We quickly found Café Veloce (website in Japanese only) after getting out from the subway station. This is a great little spot to get a quick bite and coffee because we were expecting to walk a lot today. Make sure you go upstairs to the second floor. You’ll have a great view of Osaka’s City Hall building and the O River.
Osaka’s City Hall is small narrow island surrounded by the O River…
Our plan was to walk from Osaka City Hall along Midōsuji Boulevard, bypassing Shinsabashi and ending at Dotonbori for a late lunch then head back out to hotel for a short rest and than back out for dinner.
Midōsuji Boulevard
Midōsuji runs directly north and south of the city. It’s the spine of Osaka and you can walk from Kita, all the way down to Namba. Just like it is in Seoul, South Korea you don’t need to take the subway to get around the best sights and locations in Osaka. Find this long and wide boulevard and you can’t get lost in Osaka.
This bridge connects Osaka City Hall along Midōsuji Boulevard…
After our quick bite it was already 1:30pm and even though it was high noon the light was harsh and bright in certain areas and in others it wasn’t.
We were in the start of of Japan’s winter but the temperature was not cold at all, about 22 °C (72 °F ) and the trees still had a lovely yellow appearance. But many leaves had already fallen off considerably.
Weird But Beautiful Light
I like taking pictures but it was kind of difficult because there were a lot of shade from the tall surrounding buildings and bright spots from the sun coming through. But it was still a beautiful with a lot of bright interesting light coming through.
The boulevard is lined with ginkgo trees and the leaves turned a bright yellow which made an amazing contrasts from the shadows of the office buildings.
Midōsuji reminds a lot like New York City’s famed Fifth Avenue with so many high end brand name stores. We passed by Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chanel and Gucci stores. There was even an Apple store as well.
The boulevard was quiet though and not as hectic and congested on the streets as NYC’s Fifth Avenue. That was one thing that really surprised me. There’s not a lot of people walking around for a big city like Osaka.
An entire building of just Louis Vuitton…
Also what struck me was how quiet the city was. But it makes sense if you think about it. Most of the cars are electric or hybrid. And lots of locals ride bicycles to get around.
Never a bad time to stop and take a pic of a cute little pooch…
Also what struck me was how quiet the city was. But it makes sense if you think about it. Most of the cars are electric or hybrid. And lots of locals ride bicycles to get around. Living in Bangkok and NYC I’ve become accustomed noise pollution.
They say that Japan is a nation of new and old entwined together in harmony. So it’s not uncommon to see traditional temples and shrines surrounded by modern high rises and offices.
This little stroll from Osaka City Hall to Dontonbori along Midōsuji Boulevard only took us around 30 minutes. Could’ve been quicker but we took our time and I was taking pictures. It’s an easy walk and most Japanese prefer to walk or ride their bicycles the short distances instead of relying on the subway trains.
A Landmark in Dotonbori – Don Quijote
So how do you know you’ve arrived into Dotonbori? When you see this mega thrift store called Don Quijote right on the corner of Dotonbori Bridge. This super thrift store is known for carrying beauty supplies, household goods, snacks and all kinds of other goodies at reasonable prices for Japan.
Don Quijote is a thrift chain store known throughout Japan. This branch is located right on Dotonbori Bridge.
Head inside and you’ll see wall to wall, shelf to shelf items. There are home appliances, clothing, Japanese snacks and beverages. They even sell bicycles. The most popular items I saw inside seemed to be the makeup and beauty section located on the second floor.
Don Quijote is a very popular spot for tourists to pick up make ups and other beauty supplies…
Lots of creams, lotions, nail polishes, lipsticks and mascara. My wife was having a field day inside. All I bought was a nail clipper.
The building has six floors and you can get lost amongst the aisles just wandering around. And Don Quijote is open 24 hours so you can head in to spend that extra Yen burning a hole in your wallet.
Enter Dotonbori
Chances are anything everything you’ve seen about Osaka, on television, on Instagram or the magazines you’ll come across the iconic snow crab on top of Kani Douraku restaurant.
Snow crab is expensive as you’ve mostly likely learned while watching episodes of Deadliest Catch on television. So if you want to have a nice snow crab meal be ready to dole out some big cash.
Restaurant Kani Douraku, the crab house restaurant in Dotonbori, Osaka.
But what if you don’t want to blow your entire Japan trip on pricey crustacean? Kani Douraku has a stand outside selling charcoal grilled snow crabs. And you can some day tell someone that you indeed tried snow crab in Osaka, Japan.
You have can buy a few small pieces of grilled snow crab leg for 900¥. And when I mean small, I mean small. Not even a full single crab leg. About a quarters worth I’d guess. I’m not complaining, just telling it like it is.
I only ate a little bit because I’ve had it before but it was the first for my wife and she found the grilled crab meat sweeter then the blue crabs or big claw crabs in Thailand. It’s good crab. But is it worth the 900¥? I think it’s worth it just to try. But I can’t imagine myself or anyone else spending that amount of money on couple of crab meat on a consistent basis.
Got Shellfish Allergies? There’s More to Eat at Dotonbori…
Take a walk around Dotonbori promenade and if you threw a rock in any direction, chances are it’ll hit a restaurant. Ramen, food vendor, sushi and Osaka’s famous takoyaki are all there right in front of your face.
Takoyaki in Osaka is something you’ve got to try for yourself. It’s bits of octopus (tako) encased in a pancake batter and grilled (yaki) on hot oiled cast iron with round molds. When cooked the octopus balls have a crusty outside but the insides are piping hot but soft.
Then the balls are drowned in mayonnaise and a sweet and tangy brown sauce. To finish, takoyaki are liberally peppered with chopped scallions and bonito flakes (fish jerky). With a nice frosty beer it’s a great snack during Osaka’s winter.
Otherwise, take caution when you bite into the balls as they are piping hot and it’s the way Osakans prefer it. Every takoyaki stand or restaurant will offer customers a variation of toppings so have fun experimenting.
Ramen Restaurants in Dotonbori
It’s Japan so plenty of ramen restaurants are around and Osaka is no exception. Filling the stomachs of hungry salary man and women with noodles in a rich broth day and night. There are many popular restaurants in Osaka. Some you have to wait to get in like Ichiran Ramen and they have two branches in Dotonbori.
Ramen broth or soup is usually made with chicken or pork with a combination of other ingredients. I have seen some ramen restaurants with vegetable broth. And ramen noodles are eggless. But to be sure for yourself go google translate your dietary needs and print it out so you can show to restaurants.
The Wayfaring Soul Travel Tip #141: “Japanese restaurants typically have discounted lunch menus or special menus from 11:30am to 2:00pm. Though it’s best to get in an hour before to beat the lunch crowd.”
I’ve eaten at many ramen restaurants in Osaka and my belly size is proof. And I’ve never had bad ramen. Not one time. Sure, some places make it different than others. But that’s what makes any restaurant unique, right?
I’ve walked around Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi many times and I can tell you a lot of ramen restaurants are typically busy during the lunch and dinner rush. Japan’s restaurants are usually at the busiest from 11:30am to 2:00pm because they have lunch specials and discount during those hours.
Sushi in Osaka
Something that absolutely boggles my mind is how affordable sushi and sashimi is in Osaka. Normally in Bangkok if you want decent sit down sushi at a decent Japanese restaurant it’ll actually cost more than having sushi in Japan.
Sashimi and sushi as fresh as it can get in Osaka…
At this particular restaurant we ordered a mixed sashimi plate with an assortment of sushi, mixed shrimp and vegetable tempura plus 4 beers. The price came out to 7200¥ or about $65USD. And there’s no need to tip and no service charge added. We went to a few sushi restaurants in Dotonbori area and prices are about the same depending on the style of course.
But I can confidently say you can find many restaurants in Osaka with surprisingly affordable and most importantly fresh sushi to enjoy.
You don’t even need to find food at sit in restaurants. There are many al fresco dining options today in Dotonbori where everyone can enjoy eating on communal tables. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Osaka is known as the “Nation’s Kitchen”.
I’ve been visiting Osaka for years and it’s always a joy to come visit and eat the food served by some of the friendliest peoples. Because there are so many tourists from all over visiting Osaka these days there are English menus and descriptions available.
But even if none are available Japanese menus are usually littered with food photos. Finally remember to always bring cash as most Japanese restaurants, street food vendors and ramen shops do not accept credit cards.
Dontonbori bridge. Straight up is Shinsaibaishi Shopping Arcade…
If you’ve read my day trip to Suwon post you’ll know I have a soft spot for quick getaways from popular city destinations. In this instance, my wife and I were searching for a day trip from Osaka where we were based for this recent visit to Japan’s Kansai region.
Except for this post, it’ll be a lot shorter. This is why I titled this post “A Short Day Trip to Wakayama City in Japan” and here’s the reason why.
Because in early December, the sun goes down around 4 pm in southern Japan. With dusk rolling in so early it’s not too easy to take those spiffy and awesome super helpful photos you typically see on my travel posts.
But Seriously…
Wakayama City is the capital of Wakayama prefecture. There are about 350,000 inhabitants, so yeah it’s going to be a quiet place. It’s a coastal city with the Kino River running across central Wakayama. I read there’s a nice little seaside town on the coast but will have to visit that the next time around.
On this visit, I was south of the Kino River because I only had enough time to visit Wakayama Castle. What can I say I’ve got a thing for castles because I used to play Dungeons and Dragons a lot when I was younger.
I arrived at JR Wakayama station around 1:30 pm. I had planned to take my wife to a special ramen restaurant in the city.
The sky was overcast already and looked a bit gloomy. This was a bit of foreshadowing as you’ll see why later.
My wife and I were determined to seek out a popular ramen restaurant I read about in this CNN article. She’s an absolute Japanese ramen fanatic. And I’m out to earn some serious brownie points to impress her. It’s one of the why reasons you should visit Wakayama City if you truly love to search out popular ramen restaurants in Japan.
The Build Up
Ide Shoten is what I’m talking about. Apparently Ide Shoten became a super popular ramen joint after getting showcased on a Japanese TV show. Check out the video below.
Looks amazing right!? I mean look at those delish ramen noodles. And the big portions. Look at the juicy succulent sliced pork!
I’d earn myself enough brownie points from my wife to screw up for an entire whole year!
The “Bone Headed” Traveler
That should be the title of my blog. Did you know Ide Shoten closes on Thursdays? You might’ve noticed when you took a look at that CNN article. But I didn’t. And guess what day I showed up?
On a f***in’ Thursday!
But it’s alright my wife was cool about it. It’s not like it’s the last time we’ll ever visit Japan. And it’s certainly not the last time I’ll ever make stupid mistakes. Ide Shoten, I’ll be back.
“Wayfaring Soul Travel Tip #103: If you want to impress your better half with a nice restaurant be damned sure it’s open the day you plan to go”
Sarashina Honten – A Gem of a Find in Wakayama
Sarashina Honten is located about a 10-minute walk from the main entrance of JR Wakayama Station on Keyaki Odori Street…
We were getting hungry and after 30 minutes but what seemed like an eternity of indecision and wandering around looking for a decent restaurant near JR Wakayama station we stumbled upon Sarashina Honten.
Now I can’t pinpoint exactly what Sarashina means. So if any of you fine readers out there that can tell me what it means I’d greatly appreciate it. But I found that “honten” 本店 means main restaurant.
Fake plastic food displays are truly unique to Japan…
There’s no other info on this restaurant save for what I found during a google map area search. It’s one of those utility Japanese restaurants with plastic fake food (Shokuhin Sampuru/食品サンプル) displayed outside of the window. But there are no order ticketing machines where you’d put money in and punch out a ticket with your order on it.
Every self respecting eatery in Japan will have these uniquely Japanese styled displays…
The restaurant from the outside looked old and worn. Even the fake food samples looked faded and discolored. And no ticket menu vending machines in sight, my instincts told me one thing. Sarashina Honten is an old styled Japanese restaurant with old style charm. And my instincts were correct. Because to me, all the above are good signs.
Going in we were greeted and seated by a very nice lady. She could tell we were not locals. Being a small city this is definitely the kind of restaurant where you’d see regular faces frequently at the same hours during the same days.
She gave us our menus in between servicing a few other tables of what looked like the late lunch crowd. Of course, there are no English menus but there are picture menus and those were helpful enough. And if needed you can always lead the waitress outside and point to the display of fake foods outside.
While waiting for our lunch I could see into the open kitchen and saw what is most likely a family-run operation. There were a couple of older aunties chopping and slicing ingredients. An older gentleman on the opposite side frying something delicious. And a younger gentleman stirring some pots and plating orders.
These are the types of restaurants I love and get excited about. If I lived in Wakayama I would be one of those familiar faces that showed up the same hour during the same days.
Isn’t that the biggest pork tonkatsu you’ve ever seen?…
My wife picked out Oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) 親子丼 for 600¥ from the menu. I ordered the 900¥ Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) 豚カツ which came with a bowl of rice, miso soup, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.
My wife’s food came first and I got my tonkatsu a few minutes later. My eyes nearly popped out when I saw the size of it. This tonkatsu could feed two but no way was I going to share. Good thing all the walking made me work up an appetite.
“Wayfaring Soul Travel Tip #219: In Japan, photos on food menus may look larger than they appear.”
The actual pork was flattened so the meat was really tender. And the brown sauce on top was tangy and heavenly. The rice, the miso soup, the faced-sized tonkatsu for 900¥, and the friendly hard-working family. I simply fell in love with this restaurant.
If you’re reading this I highly recommend having a meal at Sarashina Honten. But I have to add, like many restaurants in Japan that smoking is allowed in Sarashina Honten. Just wanted to put that out there.
Cross this river on Keyaki Odori Street and you’re halfway between JR Wakayama Station and Wakayama Castle…
After saying goodbye to our friendly waitress and the entire family in the kitchen my wife and I headed off in search of Wakayama Castle. It was about 2:30 pm and with the overcast clouds there wasn’t much light and we were worried a little about rain.
How to Get to Wakayama Castle from JR Wakayama Station
This is the main entrance of JR Wakayama Station. The bus stop is outside of the main entrance…
On Foot – The good old-fashioned way of walking from JR Wakayama Station to Wakayama Castle is a short 1.6km leisure walk. We did the walk to Wakayama Castle from the train station after stopping over to have lunch at Sarashina Honten.
On Bus – Like any other city in Japan, Wakayama has a good public bus system. You’ll find a bus stop right in front of the main entrance of JR Wakayama Station. The adult bus fare is 230¥. You can get coin change on the bus but best to carry exact change. The bus ride takes 5 minutes and stops right in front of the castle.
Wakayama Castle -This was taken outside of the castle grounds. There will be an incline to get up…
I’ve read reviews about Wakayama Castle elsewhere and some comments says it’s too small and perhaps not worth the trip. That it’s not as impressive or breathtaking as Himeji Castle or Osaka Castle and so on.
To me that’s like saying every car is the same cause it’s got an engine and because it gets you from point A to point B.
Every castle has its own personality, its own spirit, and perhaps even a soul. Even if Wakayama Castle was completely rebuilt in the 1950s after being destroyed in WWII the grounds itself are historic.
Inside Wakayama Castel keep…
Here’s What’s Unique About Wakayama Castle
The entrance fee is 410¥ for adults and 200¥ for elementary and middle school students. Cheaper than Himeji Castle and Osaka Castle.
There’s a Ninja near the ticket booth. Really there is. You can ask to take photos with him but I couldn’t at the time as he was busy with another tour group.
There are no huge tour groups! I mean there are visitors here and there but it’s not the same quantity as Osaka and Himeji. It’s like having an entire medieval Japanese castle to yourself.
Outside the castle grounds is a small zoo with a free entrance. It’s not a large zoo but hey, it’s free!
Okay, you got me. Maybe I’m stretching this a bit. Just go to Wakayama Castle. I think you’ll like it. There’s a nice little garden with a pond in the back that’s super popular during cherry blossom season. Inside the castle grounds are 600 cherry trees and from late March to early April they all bloom. I’ll mark my calendar for that next year.
The castle is a museum so of course it’s going to have medieval armor and weapons on display. There’s also info about the city as well and how it grew and prospered through time. But, it’s all in Japanese.
And a few things worth mentioning. A lot of the museum displays and information are only in Japanese. After checking around I found out there are no guided tours. I guess because it’s a smaller castle there was no need to fund guided castle and grounds tours for visitors.
You get a 360 degree view of Wakayama City on top of the castle…
One thing I missed out on in Wakayama Castle is a bridge that connects two key areas. This bridge is special because it has wooden walls to conceal the lords and ladies as they move around. I’ve seen photos of it after doing some research for this post.
A signboard map of Wakayama Castle near the entrance…
I missed it because it was getting dark already around 4pm. So the next time, I’ll be sure to arrive at the castle earlier.
I’ve always said I’m a piss poor planner. But I don’t mind missing out on points of interest. Because it gives me an excuse to go back. And that’s part of the reason why I don’t pre-plan my trips. I can tell you I get lost a lot. Even for me, that’s fun.
Because there are lots of reasons why you should visit Wakayama City I’ll go back and discover more reasons to.
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