Fuji-Q Highland

So I got the chance to return to Japan a on April last year. Compared to all other trips that I've ever made, I must say that this one's a little different. For once, I didn't make a complete day to day schedule like usual, with the intention of not stressing myself and try to relax more and had a good time with my friends. And second, I usually avoid going to amusement park / theme park, as I don't enjoy the rides that much and moreso the queuing for the rides. But this time I visited not only 1 but 2! Fuji-Q Highland and Tokyo Disney Sea. My bestie Popon on this trip somehow managed to convinced me that it would be fun to go to both places and my Japanese friends also said that Fuji-Q was a great place to play. I guess everyone can imagine what a Disney Park is like, so I'll talk about Fuji-Q in Yamanashi instead in this post.

The night before we stayed at our friend Kota's place so we could leave together in the morning. We left Tokyo very early in the morning, around 6.30am to pick up another friend, Yoshi. Then we went straight to Fuji-Q with a rented sedan. We only made 1 stop for coffee on the way and we didn't rush at all. We arrived around 9.15am, it was still cold but we were so looking forward for the rides!!

 At the entrance of Fuji-Q

First of all, Fuji-Q is famous for its several roller coaster rides. Surprisingly, though not crowded there were already so many people queuing here and there. So the boys didn't waste any time and took us to FUJIYAMA which is called "The King Coasters" since the queue was always the longest. To be honest, I used to think that I'm OK with roller coasters, and that this was going to be just another roller coaster, but I was so wrong!! I think it didn't take very long till we got our turn. Verdict: I'd rather run for 2km than taking this again! Yes, it's 2km long with some turns and twists and whatsoever!! I started to feel sick actually, but I pretended to be okay LOL The other 3 looked like they're having the time of their lives so I didn't wanna ruin the mood.

But alas! They decided to take another coaster, DODONPA!! It's the fastest coaster at 172km/hour at the START. I didn't know whether my friends noticed that I was quiet while queuing hahahaha I was praying that my heart could take the ride. When our turn came, the car only fit for 8 persons, 2 in each row. And the kind-hearted Japanese boys of our friends decided we, girls, should take the most front seat. Okay, so I could still laugh (un)heartily here. Fine... no big deal... I even joked with Popon who sat beside me "Watched out or you might bump your head on the seat!" Everyone cheered and the staffs gave us a high-five as our car started moving and we're in front of a super dark tunnel and the count began, "five... four... three... two... go!" And suddenly we're flying at that 172km/hour speed and I screamed so hard and wished that I never agreed to come here in the first place!!! LMAO When it finally stopped, I didn't even realized that some tears already rolled on my face. My feet were shaking and I was holding onto my stomach, afraid that I would embarrass myself by throwing up nothing in front of the queue. And vowed there would be no more coasters for me for the rest of the day!

My friends were concerned (and laughed me) but I told them I was okay as long as they followed what I want next. They said OK so I happily pranced to EVANGELION: WORLD. Man, I was going to meet the sissy Shinji Ikari and my lovely Rei Ayanami, woohoo!! And I wasn't disappointed, really :)

I wanted to buy an EVA jacket but it's quite expensive so I just bought some small stuff and a towel instead at the souvenir shop on the way out. I was back to my happy self here :D And we decided to have lunch then. When we passed another ride on the way to the lunch place, the boys were interested to take at least another ride since we saw that the queue was short. So we took a ride on TONDEMINA. From below it didn't look bad really, but once it started I was thankful that I haven't eaten lunch at all!! Otherwise I'd really throw up then :p Lunchtime was also medication time. Before leaving for this Japan trip I had a terrible back pain and had a couple of physiotherapy sessions, the last was 2 days prior to departure. But it was still bad that I had to take a pain killer almost everyday, it wasn't even funny :( 

We wanted to take it easy afterwards and took a ride on the giant ferris wheel SHINING FLOWER. The view from the top of the ride was cool!! I mean, where else you can take a ferris wheel with Mount Fuji as the view!! Oh, don't forget I could see the Fujiyama rides from the top, another reminder of the unpleasant stomach churner from earlier hahaha

View from the compartment at the top!

Another attraction that I insisted on going was Mizuki Shigeru's Ge-Ge-Ge Haunted Mansion. I love this but I didn't realize that this attraction was actually for children!! So there were statues of Kitaro, Nezumi Otoko and Neko Musume along the way to the Haunted Mansion, so cuuuuute!! We were in line to get into the mansion with several children and their parents hahaha Once we got inside, we had to pick a seat and put on the headphones provided on the table, then the lights were off. So we actually heard the drama through the headphones while the lights were flickering and the table was shaking according to the story line. When it's done and the lights were up, a little boy on the other side of the room was crying in fear while my boys were... sleeping! LMAO They were really bored in there hahaha Sorry no sorry! :p

Another ride that we enjoyed was GREAT ZABOON!! The ride was too short though but it was a lot of fun!! If we don't want to get wet we should purchase a raincoat for JPY 100 at the entrance. On our lot, there was a guy who didn't wear one, he was soaking wet but went back to queue for another ride and it seemed they were not the only ones! You could keep the raincoat for another ride later on but the boys said no hahaha Yeah, I still got wet in some places though.

The moment I saw Hamtaro, I knew I had to take the ride! Fuwa Fuwa Osora No Dai-Bouken was apparently a coaster kiddy ride. We could only saw that there were 2 persons in one compartment, so we assumed that there were 2 seats inside. Kota & Yoshi were in front of us in line so they got to get into the ride before us. How surprising it was that apparently there was only 1 long seat inside (ideal for a parent and a child instead of 2 adults, or maybe a couple who doesn't mind to hold each other tight during the ride *wink*) and it was obviously too small for the boys!! I couldn't stop laughing seeing them squeezing inside it and several other people were also laughing. But it was a fun ride indeed :) Loved it!

My friends continued on with RED TOWER, a free fall ride which of course, I rejected with passion! The coasters ride was quite traumatic that my heart skipped a beat everytime I looked at them hahaha So no thanks, I just waited while checking the pictures that I took let them have crazy fun :D

They really had fun on this ride while I was feeling the breeze below LOL

It's nearing 4pm and since we wanted to go to Gotenba Premium Outlet, we headed out. But not without taking the last coaster ride on TAKABISHA for the other 3!! The line was super long, they kept insisting that I tried out for one last time, and I kept rejecting the idea as I felt nauseous enough just by looking at it and listening to the screaming from the people on it! Right in front of the Takabisha's line there was some BMX bike and jump rope performance. I watched it for almost an hour or so and after the performances they performers kind of offered children and people to take pictures or to try on the bike or the jump rope.

One of the photographers seemed to notice that I'm a foreigner as I was watching children ride on the bike. Suddenly he told the jump rope people that I wanted to try, so I was called and tried hahaha Lasted for a few seconds only :p It's been a long time since I played jump rope. Then he introduced me to the BMX team and let me posed on the bike. Only after the pic one of the BMX performers gave me his name card, I looked him up in the internet and wow!! Takahiro Ikeda is a pro-rider and also a Guinness record holder!! Higa Takuya is also a pro-rider and you can find some of his videos online.

Top: Jump Roping LOL

Bottow left: Higa Takuya, bottom right: Takahiro Ikeda the Guinness Record holder.

By the time my friends got out of Takabisha, they were still laughing like nuts, something that I couldn't understand why as I wouldn't been fainting up there if I really go on the ride with them! ROFL

I'm not sure that I want to return to this place hahaha I might get a heart attack next time I ride any of the coasters again LOL But it really was a fun place, especially if you like extreme rides, there's still EEJANAIKA, TEKKOTSU BANCHO or even PANIC CLOCK if you want more challenge but I've had enough, thanks!

Japan

I've been to Japan 3x only but I've helped 1st time travelers to Japan created their itineraries for almost 10 times, even to places I've never been before LOL Mostly they needed help in how to get around and how to pick the most comfortable accommodation. Many of them were already frightened by the image of "expensive Japan". I'm not saying that going there is cheap, but you just need to know the right tricks.

Since I have received the same questions over and over again, I'd like to share my little knowledge to those who might be considering to go there. I hope it really helps.

1. TICKETS

Nothing better than promo tickets. My cheapest tickets was on my 2nd trip with Air Asia X in March 2012. Total I paid including 20 kgs of baggage and meals was IDR 2.500.000,- Super cheap! Roundtrip from Jakarta - Osaka - Jakarta. And yes, I always bought extra baggage because I knew I'd bring a lot of stuff and I'd rather pay upfront rather than paid more upon check-in on return. And I bought meals because I know I need a drinks and wouldn't be able to spend more than 5 hours without munching on something :p

Bear in mind that you might want to have a little clue of where you want to go around before you book your ticket. At that time, I planned to spend the whole 8 days only in KANSAI prefecture (I went to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara & Kobe). So roundtrip tickets to Osaka was the best choice. If you want to visit other places as well you might want to consider different airports on arrival & departure. I did this last year (2014), I flew from Jakarta to Osaka and returned from Tokyo to Jakarta. Fare difference was about IDR 1 million compared to roundtrip to Osaka, but then again I also saved a lot on ground transportations -- will be another point below.

I'm sure you won't be able to get that cheap of fare anymore today hahaha but you might want to compare other airlines' fare to decide the most comfortable way to fly. Sometimes big airlines also have very good offer with little difference compared to budget airlines. A travel fair is a good start to look for cheaper tickets or calling the airlines won't harm as they have promo fare from time to time that's only available through the counters instead of online. Besides, direct flights save a lot of your energy and time while you just have to pay for a little more.

2. JR PASS

No, you don't always have to buy JR Pass when you go to Japan. That's why arranging the best itinerary is top priority. I have never bought JR Pass for all my 3 visits. Unless you want to go city hopping that's required Shinkansen for more than once, I don't see the need to buy it. READ THIS before you decide to buy one. You will still need to pay for some buses and most local trains. If you're only going from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo (or vice versa) -- as that's the most common route for 1st timers, think again whether you really need it or not. Check hyperdia of regular train schedule, you can see the fare there too. Then compare the total fare with JR Pass cost and see which one is better.

On my last trip, my friend and I bought a one way Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo (Nozomi). We got around Kyoto with Kansai Thru Pass instead and purchased a Pasmo card once we got to Tokyo Station. After the trip I checked the total money that we spent for the whole trip. It's a little bit less then a 7-day JR Pass costs. Then again, you still spend more with JR Pass.

Another friend chose overnight buses as an alternative. It's much cheaper and you save 1 night of accommodation cost as well. It's a very good option if you're the type of person who can sleep on a bus. I can't sleep on any kind of transportation or moving vehicle, thus it's the worst option for me cause then I'll be awake the whole night and I won't be enjoying sightseeing until I check-in into the hotel and have a little sleep LOL

3. ACCOMMODATION

Looks like this is the biggest concern for most people. And many were surprised when I told them that I always budgeted my accommodation around Rp 300.000.- - Rp 500.000,- per night per person, in consideration that I travel with a friend of more so we can share rooms. Otherwise then I'll have to double the budget. Mind you, that's my budget for hostel / guest house stay, not a hotel. A hotel costs more, but there are a lot of nice and convenient hostel / guest house.

On my first trip I was lucky enough to not spend a dime on accommodation as I was staying at a good friend's place in Tokyo. On my second trip I traveled with another 4 people, so we shared a family room (in Kyoto) and a 2 bedroom apartment unit (in Osaka), still under the budget. Then on my last visit I shared a room with my close friend the whole trip, still under the budget.

I'm not so fond of walking but it's unavoidable in Japan. You have to walk everywhere, lots and lots of walking. I lost 2 kgs on every trip even though I was snacking like crazy (who could've resist the colorful and cute packaging in the convenience stores?). And I hate to think that I have to walk a long way at night after spending the day going around before I can get to where I stay and sleep.

So my # 1 consideration in picking a place to stay is somewhere place within a reasonable walking distance from a train station or bus stop. There are a lot of hostel or guest house to pick in every city. Other than location, I also picked one with an elevator if possible. Breakfast is also a bonus. I'm not a breakfast person myself, but while traveling I try my best to have a hearty breakfast because many times we didn't get to have lunch on time. And a hungry me is a grumpy me :)

Hostel / guest house costs around JPY 2500 - JPY 4000 per person per night (dorm) or JPY 6000 - JPY 8000 per night per person (private room for 2) and not every place provided breakfast. Fortunately, every place will provide a common room to mingle and eat and I really don't mind convenience store bought bento :D Many times, I skipped dining at a restaurant just to try out another set at the nearest Lawson LOL

If you travel in group you might get lucky and find a nice hotel with a reasonable price for a family room. Back in 2012, I travel in a group of 5 and managed to stay in a family room for IDR 1.700.000,- per night per room at Hotel Universal Port Osaka. No breakfast, a tiny bit over the budget but hey, it's a very nice hotel and just a 5 min walk to the train station, and I can hear the people screaming on the roller coaster :p From there we moved to Kyoto Village Hotel, another amazing place in a tatami room for 5, inside bahtroom, breakfast included and there's an indoor onsen on the lobby level.

So far, my best staying experience (other than freeloading at friends, of course :p) is at Piece Hostel Kyoto near Kyoto Station. It's within walking distance from Kyoto Station (so practically easy to get anywhere!), private bunk bed room -- and the mattress was superb, breakfast included, clean and nice shared showers (separate with toilets), smoking area (for my friend, not me. Note that smoking is prohibited in most places around the city), and coin laundry.

Please note that you might get cheaper price for hotel when booking online, but not for hostel. And, if you feel adventurous you may try airbnb instead. I have a good experience with it in Korea, but haven't found a suitable place for me in Japan. Not lucky yet, I guess.

4. FOOD

I'm sorry but I can't recommend any halal restaurants in Japan as I never had the need to eat at one. But trust me, there's a lot. At least that's what my moslem friends told me. Convenience Store bento costs around JPY 350 - JPY 700, depends on the food. Somehow I always picked something no more than JPY 500. If you don't want to eat junkfood but rice, you can find SUKIYA or YOSHINOYA in a lot of places, a set of bento (rice, egg, meat and soup) cost averagely JPY 500 - JPY 700. I always budget at least JPY 1000 for a regular meal and more if I want to eat in a nice but average restaurant (and good ramen).

Other than breakfast, lunch and dinner, my money went to snacks. I kept snacking with cookies, chocolates, Pocky, pumpkin paste, choux cream, pudding and so on and so on. And most times, I spent more on snacks than real food ROFL Enough I think?

Good planning is very crucial for me. Here's my step by step for any trip, not just Japan:

Know your destination and what you want to see -- look at the map and search for the location of your destination -- start creating itinerary -- buy plane tickets -- finalize the itinerary including the budget -- book the accommodation and transportation (if possible, i.e. overnight bus).

My final itinerary and budget always includes the timing and duration of each visit for each day, transport route and fare. I don't always follow it down to the minutes or go to every places, but believe  me, you don't want to spend half a day looking for a place then you can't find it or in the end missing something that you really wanted to see. I'm quite flexible, but I try to follow my own itinerary as much as possible unless something better or more in advantage popped up. So far, I've never been disappointed with my way of planning and traveling.

It may sound like a lot of job to do just for a vacation, but hey, I'm not rich. I need to know that I get to see what I want to see, eat the food that I like, sleeping in a convenient place and most importantly, know that I have enough money (and a little more) to cover my trip expenses. This way, I have never ran out of money in the middle of the trip and I could always bring souvenirs and snacks home for my lovelies :)

I guess it's time for another vacation ;) And Japan in 2016, yeehaa!!