Shopping in Japan

I wrote a similar post before my S. Korea trip. There, I mentioned junk food, cosmetics, memorabilia, and airport chocolate. For this post, it's almost the same.

So, here's my shopping list:

#1 Kit Kat

Image from Lostintranslation.com

Every single Kit Kat flavour I can find. I'm going to catch 'em all, pack them up, and come home with a Kit Kat 'loot' (in which I won't be sharing. Sorry not sorry). 

#2 Face Mask

I have no idea what cosmetics Japan has to offer, because my knowledge of what's good for my face revolves around Laneige. However, I recently tried a Kanebo face mask and I love how my face feels after. So I think I'll buy some when I'm there.

Image from mynews13.com

#3 Memorabilia

In this case, all the awesome Harry Potter merchandise and clothing I will inevitably fall in love with when visiting Universal Studios Japan. 

Also, if I can find an Attack on Titan shirt, I'll be buying it without a second thought.

*I actually converted around RM1,200 to yen just for shopping. I know. I've never done such a thing before. I'm hoping to fill my luggage with 'pottery' things.

#4 Airport Chocolate

Whether in Kansai International or KLIA2, duty free chocolate is the best. I'm going to be looking out for Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter M&Ms. 

Also, they say there are special Kit Kat flavours sold only in Japan airports. I'll definitely look out for those too.

So there you have it, my shopping list. When I get home, I'll take a picture of my glorious haul. Till then, I'll just dream about them.

Check out my other posts on Japan:

Itinerary - Planning for Japan

Lodging - Thank God for Airbnb

Trip Budget - 10 Days, 11 Nights

Post-trip posts:

Trip Summary
Infected In Japan 

Japan 2015 Trip Budget

This is the trip budget before leaving for the trip. I have a feeling that once we get back, we probably would have extra yen. And if the yen keeps rising, with the ringgit at a low, we would make money. Haha!

Anyway, check out the budget below. I tried to make it as comprehensive as possible.

10 Days, 11 Nights in Japan

*At time of conversion: RM30.40 = 1000 yen. 

Airfare: RM1028.67
KL to Tokyo: RM477.50
Osaka to KL: RM551.17

Transportation: 27,000 yen (RM820)

Narita Airport Bus Shuttle: 1000 yen

Kansai Airport Rapid Train: 1100 yen

Miscellaneous Estimated: 6000  yen

*Nakasendo Transport

Tokyo to Nagoya: 10,360 yen

Nagoya to Nakatsugawa: 1500 yen

Nakatsugawa to Nagoya: 1500 yen

Nagoya to Kyoto: 5600 yen

Entry Fees: 25,300 yen (RM847.65)

Osaka Aquarium: 2300 yen

Miscellaneous Estimated: 2700 yen

 *In-hand: 5000 yen (RM152)

Disney Sea: 6900 yen (RM221.33)

Universal Studios + Express Pass 5: 7200 yen + 6200 yen (RM474.32)

 *Paid in advance: 20,300, subject to bank exchange rate at time of purchase.

Accommodation: RM1435.25

Includes Tokyo, Ena, Kyoto and Osaka.

View itinerary for number of nights spent in each place.

Food: 33,000 yen (RM1003)

Total Per Person: RM 5134.57

The 'priciest' part is the entry fees, especially to the theme parks and the additional Express Pass. Most people wouldn't go for both Disney Sea and Universal Studios. I, on the other hand, am a big Harry Potter buff, so USJ is a must on my list. Should you wish to remove one of those two places from your own trip, the whole budget goes below RM5000.

So there you have it! Who said going to Japan is expensive? 

Check out my other posts on Japan:

Itinerary - Planning for Japan

Lodging - Thank God for Airbnb

My Shopping List

Post-trip posts:

Trip Summary
Infected In Japan 

Thank God for Airbnb - Lodging in Japan

By the grace of God, (dear God, I hope this doesn't count as using your name in vain), someone told my mother about Airbnb.

At first, she brushed it aside and began checking hotel prices. When she told me they costed around RM200 a night, I decided to check out Airbnb. And lo and behold, I found so many wonderful places at a much cheaper price. 

(Btw, click HERE to sign up and get 25$ off your first Airbnb stay. Yes, it's a referral link. I benefit from you signing up and booking a stay. Just being honest.)

So, where will I be staying in Japan? Here are my chosen (and already booked) places:

*No pictures because you can see them all on the listing's page.

Tokyo: 2 Bedroom Apartment in Shinjuku
My first booking went unlisted a month ago, so I had to look for another place to stay. Airbnb gave extra credits and I managed to find this place.

Ena (for Nakasendo trail): Bed and Breakfast
You should check this one out. The design is so unique!

Kyoto: Family Apartment
The best I could find. Finding a nice and cheap place to stay in Kyoto was quite a challenge, since I wanted one near the station.

Osaka: Namba Colourful House
Looks small, but mother says it looks nice. Best I could find too. There weren't many choices in Osaka for separate bedrooms, which is something I really wanted.

On average, it is RM130 a night. That's RM70 cheaper than hotels! 

Yes, no free breakfast (except for the one in Ena). But we get a whole apartment to ourselves with portable wifi. 

The host for my stay at Ena offered free rides from the train station to lodge (and back) and to the Nakasendo trail (and back).

Kyoto host is waiving the rental fee for the portable wifi. Which is awesome. (He's the only host that actually charges for rental. The rest don't. But hey, he ended up offering it for free anyway.)

Even though all hosts stated a late check-in time, they allow to leave the luggage first if needed. The only problem I foresee is the little hunt for each lodging location upon arrival. Since they are not hotels, they provided me with instructions on where to find their apartments and how to retrieve the keys. You need to punch in secret codes and all that, just to access the place. A new experience, I guess.

Honestly, I wished someone told me about Airbnb last year. Holidaying is S.Korea could have been so much cheaper (not that it wasn't cheap already). This year's Japan trip is definitely way more expensive, but I'm glad I manage to save on accommodation.

Anyway, I'll write another post on these places once I get back. That's when we'll see if my expectations were met. Till then, I'm quite happy with my choices and I'm looking forward to my stay :)

Check out my other posts on Japan:

Itinerary - Planning for Japan

Trip Budget - 10 Days, 11 Nights
My Shopping List

Post-trip posts:

Trip Summary
Infected In Japan 

Planning For Japan!

There is no such thing as being too early to plan for a holiday. Planning itself gives you something to look forward to, and I'm excited as ever about my 11 days in Japan this coming Autumn.

So, for those who have wanderlust and would like to leech off my itinerary, which I worked on for days, you can find it below. You're most welcome :)

*This is not the complete itinerary. Maps and accommodation were removed. A separate post on accommodation will be published later on.

Check out my other posts on Japan:

Lodging - Thank God for Airbnb

Trip Budget - 10 Days, 11 Nights
My Shopping List

Post-trip posts:

Trip Summary
Infected In Japan 

Jaw-Dropping Hallways

What hallways will make jaws drop? I don't know, perhaps the hallways of an international school?

If you follow me on social media, you would've known that I was invited to an international school during their book week. I had a great time with the students and I would love to do it again. But that's not the topic of this post. The topic of this post is how glorious that school is.

I grew up attending a government school and I've never been or seen an international school during my schooling years. So you can imagine how in awe I was when my friend showed me around after I was done with my session.

Firstly, they have a swimming pool... And a basketball court, and a tennis court, and a badminton court, and a table tennis room. A sport subject is a must. There's no need to teach your child how to swim, because they'll learn it in school.

Secondly, they have a design room with machines I've never seen before. And I bet they'll add a 3D printer to their collection soon.

Thirdly, they have a dance room, a gym with Pilates classes, and a theater room. Apparently, they are practicing for their upcoming performance of Macbeth. Freaking Macbeth. In high school, I directed plays and the most literary one was Phantom of the Opera. Even that was because I pulled the team together and wrote the script.

Fourthly, drama is a compulsory subject, along with French and Chinese. Is this an art school? No, it's an international school.

Fifthly (who on earth uses fifthly?), year 3 students are loaned iPads. It's an Apple school with tons of Macs just waiting to be used. I hate Macs by the way, but I'm forced to use one at work. Yay.

Sixthly, the fees. I'm not saying they're cheap. The fees are more expensive than my entire film degree. If I could afford a school year, I will be sending myself there. Sorry kids, mommy will be going back to school. 

To some of you, this seems normal. To most of us Malaysian government school graduates, it's a resort. I'm not joking. Let me know the check-in time. 

I get why parents are sending their children to private and international schools these days. I wish it was cheaper though. What I attended and what I visited were two worlds apart. Question is, will I send my children to one? I don't know. Maybe a place less pricey, since I'll have to send them both at the same time. Hey, I'm hoping to have twins. Everything is double with twins, including school fees.