First and foremost, Arigato Gozaimasu Cebu Pacific and Japan National Tourism Organization!
Indeed (tashikani), Japan is a dream destination, along with its people, its cleanliness, and its one-of-a-kind tourist spots.
For years, Japan has just been a dream destination for a traveler like me – until last September 6, 2019, when my dream came to reality.
On board a Cebu Pacific flight via Clark, members of the Pampanga Media along with Len Borja of JG Summit Holdings Inc., Cebu Pacific’s Michelle Lim, Selrahco head Charles Lim and representatives from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) went on a 4-day familiarization tour in Japan.
The tour was a partnership between Cebu Pacific and the JNTO.
After four hours of travel, our group was welcomed by the warm smiles and hospitality of the staff of JNTO, Kinki Nihon Tourist (KNT) and Living Versatile Solution (LVS).
teamLab Planets
First up in our itinerary was the TeamLab Planets museum in Tokyo. Who could forget the massive body immersive space where you move through water?
At teamLab Planets you can enter the museum barefoot, and become immersed and amazed by the vast installation of spaces.
Imagine how your body sink can into a black hole. You can feel space in an infinite crystal universe, chase koi and watch them explode into flowers when you catch them.
Each room has a unique atmosphere. You would also get immersed into a whole different world as in every room, the artwork changes.
The lab is Instagramable where you can spot great photos with a good lighting.
Gundam Statue
Next stop was the Odaiba Diver City Mall where the incredible life-sized statue of Unicorn Gundam was erected. The Gundam light show was cool, which wowed spectators in the area.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Comes Shinjuku, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building where a good panoramic view of Tokyo can be spotted at the 45th floor observation deck.
The entrance for the observation deck is free for visitors. The 243-meter tall building has two towers. It had been the tallest building in Tokyo until it was overtaken by the Midtown Tower in 2007.
Arakura Mountain Sengen Park
Excited as a kid, my dream turned into reality after seeing up close and personal Japan’s tallest peak – the Mount Fuji.
We set foot at Arakura Mountain Sengen Park where we climbed the 397 steps located near the main shrine building, the five-storey pagoda.
According to reviews, the observatory deck around the pagoda has recently become incredibly popular as a tourist spot – the best angle for a photo of the tower together with Mount Fuji. There are also many flowering cherry trees here, turning it into a truly gorgeous landscape during spring.
It was tiring going up the 397 steps, yet fulfilling once you’ve captured the best photo. The tip is to always bring with you a 2-liter water.
What wowed me was Japan’s taxi cab – a vintage car – going to the foot of Arakura Mountain Sengen Park. The doors automatically opened!
Hakone open air museum
A must-see huge outdoor sculpture park, the Hakone Open Air Museum, hould be included on the bucketlist.
Here, one can see interesting artwork framed by trees, grass and mountains including the Picasso Exhibition Hall. Its landscape is superb!
Royal Wing Cruise
What can a tourist ever ask for after having dinner on board the Royal Wing Cruise?
The ship sailed past the magnificent Yokohama Bay Bridge into a stretch of Tokyo Bay before drifting towards the thriving central business district of the Minato Mirai 21 skyscraper area.
Yamashita Park
Walking along Yamashita Park, along Yokohama’s waterfront, was how we capped our night after dinner at the Royal Wing Cruise.
The park was the first seaside park opened in 1930 (it was built from rubble after the Great Kanto earthquake).
The green space is flanked with wide pathways and one of the most notable statues is the Guardian of Water Fountain. It’s the park’s main attraction, particularly its lighting.
Tokyo Skytree
Sumida’s main attraction, is the Tokyo Skytree, the centerpiece of Tokyo with a height of 634 meters – the tallest structure in Japan and the second tallest in the world at the time of its completion.
The observatory has two enclosed decks located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively, where you can marvel at the scenic and best 360-degree panoramic views of Tokyo.
The famous building is also impressively crafted in a neofuturistic design, and is earthquake-resistant, so guests can marvel at its beauty and always stay safe.
Amezaiku Candy Making
We were delighted with a candy-making workshop at Amezaiku, one of the traditional Japanese art crafts at Taito-Ku, Tokyo.
The candy is softened by heating to around 90 degrees Celcius and is finely crafted with bare hands and traditional Japanese scissors. Amezaiku is created by cutting, pulling, and bending candy which is attached at the top of stick.
We were entertained as our crafts should be in rabbit form but other species were made.
Rickshaw Ride
Catch a glimpse of old-world Tokyo along the streets of Asakusa district, one of Tokyo’ s most picturesque sites, and the Buddhist Temple.
We definitely enjoyed our 30-minute rickshaw ride.
Sensoji Temple
A bonus to our trip was a walkthrough at Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple), a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa.
According to legend, in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River. Even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon and completed in 645.
Over 200 meters before the entrance of the temple is the shopping street called Nakamise.
Indeed, my Japan trip was a dream come true, but we missed the most sought-after crossing in the world, the Shibuya Crossing.