Koyo Chasing in Tohoku Japan (#9) and some last minute shenanigans

[rbjhan]

Didn't book hotel breakfast since I've been wanting to try the Nagoya café breakfast for quite some time now.
Basically you order a drink and it comes with free toast and egg.


It was not bad.

 

[rbjhan]

Nagoya TV tower and Oasis 21 was walking distance to the hotel.


Anyone likes Japanese manga? Detective Conan's next movie trailer is up (vaguely remember the English name is Case Closed due to some legal problems), only 20 secs, but you can tell it will be based in Nagoya as you can see these two!

 

[rbjhan]

Still had some time left before the flight, went to Nagoya Castle.


All the other castles I've visited in Japan, there wasn't a Honmaru Goten 本丸御殿, mostly destroyed by fire.
The one in Nagoya survived many years until WWII.
Reconstruction started in 2009 and finished recently, using only traditional materials and techniques.

It was originally built for Tokugawa Ieyasu's 9th son Tokugawa Yoshinao, first Lord of Owari. (the Owari Tokugawa family was the most senior house of the Gosanke "The Noble Three Houses"- had succession rights to the Shogunate if the main house died without heir.)

Genkan entrance, loved the gabled roof.


Shogun's private sauna


Omote Shion, where the audience with the Lord or Shogun happened.




Jorakuden


The thing with traditional Japanese room, I think is that there's no furniture. So really not much you can do to it apart from wall paintings and ceilings...

 

[rbjhan]

Main Keep was closed for reconstruction, until 2022 I think...
Current one is also a post war reconstruction using concrete, similar to Osaka Castle. It will be destroyed and the new work will be done in wood.

 

[rbjhan]

Time to leave!
Express Train to Chubu Airport cost 1250 Yen and 28 mins. When are we going to see one in Melbourne? sigh.


Skyteam Lounge is available for Priority Pass card holders.
Sadly it was the normal Japanese lounge quality, if you know what I mean...




Shoulda gone to the sento, honestly!

 

[rbjhan]

CX A350-1000.
PE cabin was quite empty for this short flight...




Is it me or catering cost cut? The dinner felt like a half portion. But I did have plans to visit NingXia Night Market, so it kinda worked...

 

[rbjhan]

to be continued...

 

[drron]

At both Chubu and KIX on a domestic flight we used the public areas and didn't miss the lounges.Food was much better than the lounge and relatively inexpensive.
But I do love their airport trains though not at HND.

 

[rbjhan]

At both Chubu and KIX on a domestic flight we used the public areas and didn't miss the lounges.Food was much better than the lounge and relatively inexpensive.
But I do love their airport trains though not at HND.

HND is probably too close to city centre to have an express train. I don't mind the Keisei line though, from Higashi Ginza it's direct to the airport. With the new HND slots being granted, fingers crossed there will be a direct flight MEL-HND!

I have taken both commuter trains and express to KIX (JR and Nankai), they were all alright.
As for Chubu, if I'm flying out of there again will definitely be going to the sento.
Just don't understand why the lounges in Japan are all so meh Only exception I've seen is the Sakura Lounge NRT main building.

 

[rbjhan]

Landed in Taipei. My first trip to Taiwan, very excited
Airport Express to Taipei Main Station, 150, all numbers will be in TWD going forward.
Note that there's a purple line and a blue line, purple line is the express option, cost the same though.

From Taipei Main Station a quick taxi ride to my hotel, only cost 80.

Play Design Hotel
More like an Airbnb than hotel, this one has only 5 rooms. It was set up by the owner to showcase local design.
Part boutique hotel part show room?
I don't use Airbnb as a general rule, but came across Play Design Hotel on booking.com and simply fell in love...

Each room has a theme, so I booked two different ones for my two nights here.
First one is called Play Tea Room


You can try all the teas, most are variety of Oolong which is local specialty.


From lights to tea cups to bottle openers, everything is designed and made in Taiwan.

 

[rbjhan]

Second room I stayed is called MIT 3.0, as in Made in Taiwan.


Really liked the chair!


View.

Hotel Gallery.

 

[rbjhan]

There's not much amenities here, no restaurant, no gym, etc.
But staff are uber friendly and eager to help, they are also very passionate about local design.
There is even a room called "guest selections" where you can pick everything individually, table, side table, chair, coat hanger, lamp, clock, vase....would be fun.

Guest Selections | play-design-hotel

www.stay.playdesignhotel.com

NingXia night market is just around the corner and Zhongshan MRT station is probably 7 mins walk away.
It's not going to be for everyone but I liked it a lot.

 

[rbjhan]

Then of course off to NingXia night market
Warning, if you are not adventurous then maybe don't go to night markets in Taipei...

Stinky tofu and duck blood.


Pipi I think?


Shave ice covered in sesame and soy bean powder.

 

[rbjhan]

Remember the friend I met in Marhaba lounge? Well here in Taipei we met again.
Caught up with her for lunch the next day.
She booked a place famous for crabs.

 

[rbjhan]

Visited the famous Xi Meng Ding afterwards, apparently it's a bit like Shibuya, full of young people...and tourists, ha ha.




Ay Chung Rice Noodles, a must have in Xi Meng Ding.


This place is amazing, no table or chairs, instead everyone just standing there holding a bowl...

 

[drron]

Actually we think the JAL Flounge at HND is better than any of their lounges at NRT.

 

[rbjhan]

Actually we think the JAL Flounge at HND is better than any of their lounges at NRT.

Haven't been to that one.
But the J lounge in HND I'm not a fan...

 

[rbjhan]

Day 14
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall


Changing of the guard

 

[rbjhan]

Endless shopping malls near City Hall station. Some kind of drumming thing going on...


Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

 

[rbjhan]

I had booked a free guided tour for the National Palace Museum at 4pm.
Considering they moved all the good stuff from Beijing's Forbidden City to this museum, this is really a must see if you are interested in Chinese history and artefacts



Okay a few goodies.

This is probably the most sought after one, the jade cabbage. Not my personal favourite but people were lining up to take pictures.




All kinds of china obviously.


My favourite.