[utsav1303]

Originally Posted by sameerpb

Day 4: Visit to Akihabara

Akihabara is definitely a paradise for electronics lover and you might have find many persons belonging to India, Bangladesh or other South Asian countries employed there in electronics stores, even the giant ones like Softbank.

The best part is that buying used electronics is a very transparent process with all details provided and colour coding done if any accessory is missing or any other issue prevailing with an item.

I have been in Japan for six months and have travelled through many cities, with a lifetime memorable experience of riding a rented bicycle through SETO islands for 75 km from Onomichi - Imabari
(http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html).

Your thread have brought back the memories of all those weekend trips that I did during those 6 months.

If you love playing music instruments, Ochanomizu Guitar Street is worth visiting.

Also, visiting luxury Ginza market (with a fine Indian dining restaurant Maharaja) and Tsukiji fish market (early morning) in Tokyo is an experience to remember.

[sameerpb]

Day 5 : Mount Fuji and around. Downloaded the route map and started our journey.


There were some special trains to reach mount fuji station








Shops and shopping street


Beautiful house close to train track


Nearest village to Mount Fuji


First view of Mount Fuji


Out side railway station

[sameerpb]

Visit to Shibazakura flower festival :

Shibazakura (scientific name: Phlox subulata) is a perennial of the family Polemoniaceae, and a species of phlox.

From April to May, it blooms in small blossoms of around 1.5 cm diameter, in red, pink, white, or purple. Native to North America, it is also known as “Moss Phlox” Noted for the resemblance of its flowers to cherry blossoms, it is a creeper plant, covering the ground like a lawn, and thus it is called “lawn cherry” (shiba-zakura) in Japanese. This feature makes it a popular choice for edgings or ground cover.

Banner for shibazakura flower festival


First view of flower garden














Mount Fuji close look

[sameerpb]

More pictures





















There were fresh food counters which was more of a barbecue serving barbecue fish, chicken and other meat. Since I am vegetarian found barbecue sweet corn, barbecue sweet potato which was amazing in taste. Sweet corn was boiled and barbecued served with soya souce and it taste amazing.







On the way back I saw a giant roller coster with a view of Mount Fuji

[sameerpb]

Originally Posted by utsav1303

Akihabara is definitely a paradise for electronics lover and you might have find many persons belonging to India, Bangladesh or other South Asian countries employed there in electronics stores, even the giant ones like Softbank.

The best part is that buying used electronics is a very transparent process with all details provided and colour coding done if any accessory is missing or any other issue prevailing with an item.

I have been in Japan for six months and have travelled through many cities, with a lifetime memorable experience of riding a rented bicycle through SETO islands for 75 km from Onomichi - Imabari
(http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html).

Your thread have brought back the memories of all those weekend trips that I did during those 6 months.

If you love playing music instruments, Ochanomizu Guitar Street is worth visiting.

Also, visiting luxury Ginza market (with a fine Indian dining restaurant Maharaja) and Tsukiji fish market (early morning) in Tokyo is an experience to remember.

Thanks Utsav ! Akihabara is a very nice place for electronic lovers. In past I bought used camera lenses. As you mentioned Akihabara is very reliable place for used electronics.

I also visited Ginza, specially apple store the shop was amazing and bought sim free phones.

Since I am vegetarian I skipped Tsukiji fish market and preffered to visit odaiba more to come on that.

[utsav1303]

Originally Posted by sameerpb

Since I am vegetarian I skipped Tsukiji fish market and preffered to visit odaiba more to come on that.

Oops. Even I am also pure vegetarian and it is very difficult in Japan to find veg. food or Indian restaurant especially in the smaller towns. Even in restaurant managed by South Asian people, eggs are used at many places in Naan and even spice level rating 5 may taste sweet to us (Indians).

I had the chance to visit Tsukiji market with a Japanese colleague and friend as they wanted to have Sushi and check out the world's largest fish market operations in the early morning. Experience of strolling around the Sumida river crossing nearby was quite scenic in the morning.

Look forward for the pics from modern land Odaiba.

[sameerpb]

Random pictures from Disney Land!

[sameerpb]

Last day visited to Toyota Mega web, Mega web is decided into 3 parts,
1. Toyota Global cars
2. Toyota Cars sold in Japan
3. Toyota Mega web - History Garage (I happen to be there when there was also Toyota Motor sport collection on display)

will start with Toyota Mega web History Garage

[sameerpb]

some more cars from Toyota History Museum...

[DicKy]

Nice pics ,would love to visit the place.

Sameerpb, you do have the Toyota cars pic right?

[sameerpb]

Originally Posted by DicKy

Nice pics ,would love to visit the place.

Sameerpb, you do have the Toyota cars pic right?

Yes, More pictures to come

[PetrolRider]

Originally Posted by sameerpb

About Travel bookings got a good deal from Air India and getting visa was also very quick and all travel arrangements sorted in in just 3 days

Hi Sameer,
I am also planning for a japan trip this may. Yup it is a family visit trip for me too.
As I see your location as Pune, could you suggest some good travel agents who do handle the Visa works?

[sameerpb]

Originally Posted by PetrolRider

Hi Sameer,
I am also planning for a japan trip this may. Yup it is a family visit trip for me too.
As I see your location as Pune, could you suggest some good travel agents who do handle the Visa works?

I did the visa on my own as I am based out of Mumbai. It hardly took some 15-20 mins for me to submit the documents and cost was less than 1000 RS.

As you are from Pune you can look for some agent or visit once submit documents and Japan embassy will courier the visa back.

It was very quick and easy process. There are certain documents required to whom you are visiting once you get them you can do the process.

[FuelInjector]

wow. never realized Japan had so many things to see around . thanks for sharing your travelouge. enjoyed. Keep the photos coming.

[cnaganathan]

Stumbled upon this post today only. Nice travelogue and nice pix too Sameer. Some of them remind me of the time I spent there exactly 10 years ago. Here are some pix from those days.
1. A 15% gradient road leading to Mt.Mitake from the Mitake san station
2. Taiko Drummers during a summer park concert at Ueno Zoo
3. Hakkejima Oceanarium
4. Isumi Valley train - This is a single car diesel engine train where the engine is strapped underneath the car like a bus. Looked like an oversized bus infact
5. Track through Isumi valley, Chiba Peninsula - two hours to the east of Tokyo city
6. Cherry trees in full bloom
7. Two E2 model Shinkansen at Niigata station
8. Seaside LRT at Kamakura - a sea side resort and temple town
9. Giant Budha at Kamakura