Japan Trip - Kansai Hokuriku Area [Part 2]

After spending 3 days at Kansai area, the next day I continue my trip to Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉)

On 25th May (Wed), I took the Shinkansen from Kyoto station to Kinosaki Onsen station which took around 2.5 hours traveling time. By its name you can already know that it is an onsen town which located in northern Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県). There are 7 public bath houses (link) to enjoy, and for visitors who are staying at the local ryokan can use these public bath houses for free during their stay. Since I wasn't staying there for a night, I purchased the Yumepa（ゆめぱ）or onsen pass (¥1,200) for unlimited admission to the 7 public bath houses on that day. 　

The Kinosaki Onsen station

Before I start going into the onsen, took a quick foot bath first

In order to use the public bath it's advice to bring your own towel there, but luckily they also sell towel there for ¥150 so I just purchased one and used it for the whole day. On that day in total I went to 4 public bath houses and some were closed on Wednesday. Probably because it was a weekday and the time I went in was still quite early, most of the onsen there were quite empty so I was enjoying the whole onsen on my own 😁.

Bought the towel at my first onsen stop

First onsen - Jizouyu (地蔵湯)

I guess I was the first user on that day (LOL)

Second onsen - Goshonoyu (御所の湯)

Third onsen - Kounoyu（鴻の湯）

Forth onsen - Satonoyu（さとの湯）

All the onsen there provide different kind of experience and view where I really enjoyed. Besides just going into the onsen, I also went for a short hiking trial which took around 40 minutes and enjoy the view from the observation deck. There are a few nostalgic gaming shops but most of them were closed on weekdays or only operate at night, so when I walked around the town there it was pretty quiet street.

 

The view from Higashiyama park observation deck

Hot Spring drinking water stand. There were small bowls to fill with onsen water and drink it. 

They sell a packet of eggs and cook them there to be onsen eggs

I spent a whole refreshing day there, and around 5pm I took Shinkansen to my next destination - Kobe which took around 2.5 hours. I spent 2 nights in Kobe staying in a hostel called Yume Nomad which cost around ¥4,500.

The next day morning I went to Himeji station which was just 40 minutes away from Kobe by Shinkansen. To Himeji（姫路）of course was to visit the famous Himeji castle（姫路城）which is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. It's not far from the Himeji station, just a 15-20 minutes walk.

From far can already see the beautiful white castle

The national treasure - Himeji castle

Going into the castle

The view within the castle

I spent the morning there and went inside the castle with admission ticket of ¥800. In the noon time I went back to Kobe and walked around the Chinatown there - Nankinmachi（南京町）. 

When talk about Kobe the first thing come to everyone's mind would be Kobe beef! Well, to me it was too expensive to try the Kobe beef there alone. So instead I went for a more budget option - try out the Kobe beef burger! However, to be honest I can't really tell what's the difference between the Kobe beef and other ordinary beef 😅

The ¥500 Kobe beef burger

Lotteria Kobe limited edition burger - Kobe beef burger set (¥1410)

The Kobe tower at Meriken Park

Kobe Harborland

The next day (27th May) early morning around 5.30am I took the Shinkansen to Kanazawa station while transiting at Shin-Osaka station. This journey took around 3.5 hours and all the costs was already covered in the Kansai-Hokuriku Pass. To travel within Kanazawa（金沢）I bought the one day pass of the Kanazawa loop bus for ¥500 (link). 

Kanazawa loop bus one day pass

Once you get out from the Kanazawa station, you can see the iconic structure at the entrance of the station - the Tsuzumi (drum) gate. It's called Tsuzumi-mon（鼓門）because of the 2 vertical pillars are shaped to resemble tsuzumi which is a type of drum used in Noh theather.

Water fountain clock

Before I started my one day trip in Kanazawa I had a quick lunch at the Kanazawa station. I saw there a Go Go Curry shop in the station which is my favourite Japanese curry chain in Japan, so I just went there without hesitation. After I saw the name of the shop (ゴーゴーカレー 金沢駅総本山) and went into the shop, only then I realized Go Go Curry is actually using Kanazawa curry. There is where the curry was originated from. They even sell their curry pack there.

There are more variety compare with the chains in Tokyo

Compare with other Japanese curry, Kanazawa curry is darker and spicier

Bought a few packs back for my family to try

My first stop in Kanazawa was to go Omicho Market (近江町市場), which is not far from the Kanazawa station but since I already bought the one day bus pass so I took the bus there. It's Kanazawa's largest fresh food market with around 200 shops and stalls. Most shops there are selling local seafoods and produce.

Next stop I went to Higashi Chaya district (東茶屋街). A chaya or teahouse is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During Edo period, chaya were found in designated entertainment districts and in Kanazawa there are 3 well preserved chaya districts - Higashi Chayagai, Nishi Chayagai (西茶屋街) and Kazuemachi (主計町). Among the three, Higashi Chaya district is the largest and the most interesting. Due to the preserved district I can see many girls wearing kimono walking there which is a similar experience in Kyoto.

 

Kanzawa is also known for producing almost all of Japan's gold leaf (金箔), there were quite a few shops selling gold leaf related products. There was even one famous shop called Haku Ichi (箔一) selling soft cream with a layer of gold leaf on top of it. It was featured in Arashi's variety show - Arashi ni shiyagare (嵐にしやがれ). I was very lucky that I bought the last one before it sold out 😆

Gold related shops

Gold leaf covered soft cream! pika pika✨

I was so glad I managed to buy one before sold out

Not far from the Higashi Chaya district is Kenrokuen (兼六園) which is one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens. The other 2 are Kairakuen in Mito and Korakuen in Okayama. The spacious grounds used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and were constructed by the ruling Maeda (前田) family over a period of nearly 2 centuries. The name Kenrokuen literally means "Garden of the Six Sublimities", referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden. To go into the garden need to pay for a ¥310 admission ticket.

The Kanazawa castle and Kenrokuen map

Kasumi ga ike pond (霞ヶ池)

The oldest fountain in Japan which uses the drop in elevation from Kasumigaike pond and causes the water to shoot out 3.5 meters high.

Hisago ike Pond (瓢池)

That was my last stop in Kanazawa. Originally I have planned to go a few more places there but on that day all the coin lockers were out of service due to G7 summit in Japan. Without any other choice I have to go Fukui and check-in the airbnb to put my luggage first. It was one hour distance by Shinkansen between Kanazawa and Fukui. So I spent my morning to settle my luggage and only left half day in Kanazawa. Evening time I went back to Fukui to the airbnb and called it a day. On that day I really glad that I bought the Kansai Hokuriku pass which cover the expenses to travel between Kanazawa and Fukui 3 times in a day. During traveling even though already planned out the whole itinerary, sometimes still need to expect the unexpected. When that happen just need to stay calm and try it find other options which may partially ruin the plan but at least still can enjoy the trip.

My last destination of this trip was Fukui city (福井市). I reckon this is the first time most people hear this place, me too. I never know this place until Perfume announced they gonna held their concert there.  It's not really a tourist spot as there is nothing much to visit there. The most well-known spot there is their Dinosaur Museum, Fukui is famous about discovery of dinosaur bones, even their prefecture mascot is a dinosaur called Rapto (ラプト). In front of the Fukui station there are even 1:1 dinosaur statue. 

Fukui mascot -Rapto

As my main purpose there was to attend Perfume concert, so I didn't explore Fukui much and never even visit the Dinosaur Museum which I'm a bit regret now. Should have visit the Dinosaur Museum that time as there is not many place for such museum. I spent 2 days there and in one morning I just went to a nearby park and enjoy a morning walk there. The park is called Nishiyama Park (西山公園). As I was walking there I happen to saw a small zoo called Nishiyama Zoo (西山動物園) and believe it or not there was no admission fee at all! 

This Nishiyama Zoo is actually where all Japan's Red Panda are breed from. After receiving the Red Panda from Beijing Zoo in 1985, they started to breed the Red Panda and send to other zoo in Japan.

On 30th May (Mon), I took the early Shinkansen to Osaka so that I still got a few hours time there to do some shopping before I go to Kansai Airport and take my flight back to Singapore. This wrapped up my 2016 solo trip in Japan. 

To go for a solo trip, early planning is definitely a must especially when going to different places. Plan out the route and taking note of the traveling time and train departure time will surely help to save up waiting time. Furthermore Japan is famous for the punctuality of the transportation departure and arriving time, this really ease up the planning. By planning the route you can decide which pass is the most suitable to save the traveling cost.

After this trip I thought I may stop going to Japan for 1 year, 

but....