Briggs in Japan and Philipines 🇯🇵 + 🇵🇭 = 😃

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 2:37am

Dear Local Guides, hope all’s well. Do you know any awesome spots for Legendary @Briggs to visit in Japan and Philippines over Christmas? Kind regards from Osaka78

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 2:50am

Dear @Briggs , hope all’s well. Just saw Pastor David from Cornerstone at Bunnings, he’s from Philippines. He recommended his must try spots for you: Puerto Galera, Boracay and Bohol. He said usually Siargao Island is a good surf spot, but atm it’s the middle of a war zone, warning, be careful in South Philippines, due to the war. We let Pastor David know you’re an awesome photographer and said hopefully we can share him some of your nice travel pics soon. Looking forward to hearing all the stories of your adventures, Briggs. Kindest regards from Osaka78

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 2:56am

Dear @HiroyukiTakisawa @Atsukot , hope all’s well. Do you have any must see places for @Briggs in Japan? Kind regards from Osaka78

Briggs · December 2, 2017, 3:44am

@Osaka78forTRUMP , you really are so sweet, and so kind. Thanks for reaching out and finding some suggestions for my Japan-Philippines trip! Can you believe it’s in 17 days? So close, yet so far.

The only thing we’ve managed to organise is accommodation and flights, so it might look a little something like this:

December 19th - December 26: Tokyo. In one of those days we want to go North or to some hot springs.

December 27th - December 30: Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.

December 31st: Tokyo. We fly out back to Manila on January 1st.

January 1st - January 3rd: Manila.

January 4th-5th: Olongapo (My hometown!) We return to Manila and fly out to Puerto Princesa on January 5th.

I can’t remember when we fly out, but it’s around January 11th, after a few more days in Manila.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 6:09am

All those places look beautiful on Maps, @Briggs . Olongapo will be a highlight. It’s always powerful returning to places you grew up. Everything’s changed, everything’s the same. It’s fun suggesting edits there too. We believe @HiroyukiTakisawa is from Iwate, so if you get that far, see if you can meet-up together. Looking forward to lots of photos and stories. Kind regards from Osaka78

@Briggs wrote:

@Osaka78forTRUMP , you really are so sweet, and so kind. Thanks for reaching out and finding some suggestions for my Japan-Philippines trip! Can you believe it’s in 17 days? So close, yet so far.

The only thing we’ve managed to organise is accommodation and flights, so it might look a little something like this:

December 19th - December 26: Tokyo. In one of those days we want to go North or to some hot springs.

December 27th - December 30: Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.

December 31st: Tokyo. We fly out back to Manila on January 1st.

January 1st - January 3rd: Manila.

January 4th-5th: Olongapo (My hometown!) We return to Manila and fly out to Puerto Princesa on January 5th.

I can’t remember when we fly out, but it’s around January 11th, after a few more days in Manila.

I look forward to hearing from you!

HiroyukiTakisawa · December 2, 2017, 8:49am

@Osaka78forTRUMP @Briggs

Hi, @Briggs !

I live in Iwate, Japan. Iwate is so far from Tokyo. (3 hours from Tokyo by Bullet train)

So, I think you don’t come all the way here. And I also can’t go to Tokyo during Dec 19 - 26.

Instead of it, I can present some Onsens that are close from Tokyo.

For example, I recommend Onsen in Tochigi. Kinugawa, Nasu, Shiobara… those Onsens are all wonderful.

Do you have some preferences? If you need my help (Searching, Recommendation etc), tag me anytime

I hope your journey is awesome!!!

Briggs · December 2, 2017, 10:38am

Hello @HiroyukiTakisawa !

3 hours by shikansen is actually amazing considering the amount of distance and the hilly terrain being covered. That’s okay, I’m with my family anyway and so they just want to start in the main metropolitan areas (except Nara, because deers).

@HiroyukiTakisawa wrote:

For example, I recommend Onsen in Tochigi. Kinugawa, Nasu, Shiobara… those Onsens are all wonderful.

Do you have some preferences? If you need my help (Searching, Recommendation etc), tag me anytime

Tochigi doesn’t look too far from Japan. But especially in a Wintry setting, I would love to bathe with the snow right next to me, I haven’t experienced real snow since Winnipeg in 2014! The snow in Australia’s Snowy Mountains isn’t the same. I actually would like a few recommendations for food around the area, and maybe a bit of advice too in terms of cultural etiquette. I’ve done my comprehensive (enough) research but I don’t think I can cover everything, hehe! Thanks for responding!

AkmalB · December 2, 2017, 12:57pm

Hi @Osaka78forTRUMP

Thanks for the news about @Briggs holidays.

I knew that because @Briggs wrote somewhere about his upcoming tour,

Wish you a very nice holiday.

If you planning or wanted to visit Malaysia or Singapore during your asia tour, just PLEASE CONTACT ME I WILL REACH YOUR PLACE ON MY SUPER BIKE EVEN THE KILOMETRES ARE IN THOUSANDS,and you know @Briggs

Its your favourite season here in Malaysia now a days I mean PINEAPPLE AND MANGOS SEASON.

have a nice day

HiroyukiTakisawa · December 2, 2017, 2:36pm

@Briggs

Okay!

In this season, I want to recommend Nabe (Stew). Nabe is delicious with Sake!

And if you find oyster of Sanriku (North east in Japan, our home), try eating it!!

Etiquette/Advice is below.

When you stay at Onsen, you are going to move for eating dinner. That time, a staff will enter your room for setting your bed, like a Ninja. It is usually in Japan, don’t surprise.
Japanese people slurp noodles, especially Soba. This is good manner for noodles. If you don’t like hear that sound, you should avoid crowded time for meal.
Even if you feel so good about something, don’t give tip.
When you into Onsen, you should remove your ring or jewelery because these colors may be changed by the effect of Onsen.
When you use escalator, standing people on the left. Walking people on the right. But, if you stay in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto around there), positions change. (Look another people)
When you go to a Izakaya bar, you may receive Otoshi (Seats charge). This is a tiny food for you. And you have to pay for it later. Basically, you can cancel it if you say “Otoshi wa irimasen (No seats charge)” when you sit down.

That is for now. When I remember something, I’ll add them here.

And if you in trouble in Japan, contact me by direct message or HO anytime.

Have a wonderful journey!

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 3:22pm

How much is bullet train fare from Tokyo to Iwate, @HiroyukiTakisawa ?

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 2, 2017, 3:29pm

Hey, @AkmalB , good to see you. Hope all’s well. How is Malaysia World Wide Food Crawl shaping up? Have you heard aboutDollar Pizza NYC Meet-up on Hangouts yet? You know, @ThanulakshanS is a bike lover too. What kind of super bike are you on at the moment?Kind regards from Osaka78

HiroyukiTakisawa · December 2, 2017, 11:22pm

@Osaka78forTRUMP About 30,000 JPY (267.00 USD) round trip.

Osaka78forTRUMP · December 4, 2017, 11:34am

That’s a lot, @HiroyukiTakisawa

@HiroyukiTakisawa wrote:

@Osaka78forTRUMP About 30,000 JPY (267.00 USD) round trip.

Atsukot · December 15, 2017, 9:16pm

Thank you @Osaka78forTRUMP , you are very nice to help Briggs.

Hello @Briggs , sorry for my late reply. I want to share this post because the travel notes are very helpfulTrip to Japan with family, including biking between villages. Thank you @VStudio for sharing the great travel notes.

It’s cold in Japan, so please dress warm. Since it’s winter, you can enjoy eating hot pots and relax at a hot spring. If you are interested to going to a hot spring, I would recommend Hakone because you can also enjoy seeing Mt. Fuji there. Hakone is located between Tokyo and Shizuoka. Mishima Sky Walk provides a stunning view of Mt.Fuji.

Osaka is Japan’s most food-obsessed city, don’t forget to eat “Takoyaki” and “Butaman”. Kyoto and Nara are the beautiful cities with temples and shrines.

Enjoy your holiday in Japan and Philippines

Briggs · December 22, 2017, 12:49am

Ohayo Gozaimasu!

It is the second full day of Japan for me. I arrived on Wednesday evening after missing a connecting flight due to engineering issues back in Sydney.

On Wednesday evening we explored Shinjuku, near the station .

On Thursday we visited the Sensōji, parts of Roppongi and Ueno, and then further down to Akihabara where my siblings probably spent 5000 yen playing claw games (I did not spend any cent!). And then further to Shibuya to check out the Scramble Crossing and Hachiko, my was that an experience!

The food has been immaculate by far. I can’t wait to write up more details of all my adventures. Tomorrow I will be leaving for Kyoto and Osaka via Shinkansen, so that will conclude my adventure in Tokyo for the meantime. Because the family is quite time-poor and my siblings are sick, we decided to skip the Mt. Fuji tour and the onsen, so maybe one day when I’m on a solo trip, I will visit all that I want to.

Thank you everyone for your advice and wishes! I beautifully and wonderfully adore my experience here so far (except that my siblings are always getting lost).