A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Japan is one of the top destinations in the world for Filipino travelers. Osaka, along with Tokyo and Nagoya, is considered one of the three major cities. This large port city and commercial center located in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan is known for its modern architecture, nightlife, and street food.
Most first-time travelers immediately think of Tokyo when planning a trip to Japan. From hi-tech sights to vibrant culture, the bustling capital offers the ultimate modern Japanese experience. However, the city can be quite overwhelming and tiring to navigate.
If you’re looking for a more peaceful and laid-back destination to go to with the whole family, Osaka is a good choice with because of the rich history that will appeal to seniors and kid-friendly deer encounters.
Continue reading “Japan 2023: World Heritage Sites and Deer Encounters in Nara City”Filipinos are finally traveling internationally once again after the pandemic. However, with the surge in travel demand and rainy season, there’s been an increase in flight delays and cancellations. It’s more difficult to book transportation getting to and from the airport, and top tourist spots require online reservations ahead of time. To make trips more hassle-free, you’ll want be connected online constantly.
Anyone who grew up playing old school video games dreams of visiting Super Nintendo World. This themed section inside Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is a geek-filled paradise where you warp right into Princess Peach’s Castle, punch question mark blocks in real life, and dine on cute Mario-themed food items.
After years of being stuck at home and escaping to virtual worlds, it felt great to get sucked into this immersive video game world in real life in Japan during a recent family trip.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (2023)”
Japanese cuisine is very popular throughout the world. As an island nation surrounded by the ocean, it’s widely known for its seafood. Aside from the freshness and high quality of food, what I like the most about Japan is how beautiful everything, including their food, is presented. No matter how many elements there are in a dish, everything always looks so neat and organized. Japanese food really reflects the culture.
Most Filipino travelers have Japan high on their bucket lists. But most of us have this perception that traveling there is too expensive. Generally, the cost of living is higher than popular Southeast Asian countries on the backpacking trail like Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam.
But Japan is such a worthwhile destination in terms of natural landscapes, rich traditional culture, and world class technology. It’s amazing how efficient and clean everything is.
Continue reading “Budget Travel Tips for Japan”As a huge fan of J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter novels and the blockbuster film series based on the books, visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a dream come true. This themed area within Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was a major highlight of my recent trip around Osaka and the Kansai region upon the invitation of Cebu Pacific & USJ. Flying along with Harry, Hermione and Ron in the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Castle, walking along the shops in Hogsmeade and drinking Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks was just amazing!
“I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good!”
There’s a LOT to do in Universal Studios Japan (which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary), but if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll probably want to spend most of your time in this themed section. This is only the third Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park and the only one in Asia (the others are in Orlando and Hollywood), making it the most accessible for Filipino geeks. Everything is recreated in meticulous detail and can be quite overwhelming to take in but here are the highlights that Potterheads can look forward to.
Continue reading “Mischief Managed: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Japan”
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