As we are all prepping to close the year, there are many things to be thankful for, and it has indeed been a wonderful 2014. One of the best things to always practice and cherish is to travel, and for the past year, we had been to many countries and cities, learned about cultures and expressions that we were never exposed to, shopped a lot, and ate cuisines of all kinds.
And among them is one trip that we took in November, where our readers joined us on a tour around Japan’s coastal area and Osaka city. We saw the bests of Wakayama, Mie and Osaka, and experienced the ultimate Japanese hospitality. It was a fun-filled week, and we all had a ball of a time picking fruits, visiting shoyu factory and soaking in cave onsens.
Once again, we would like to thank all our readers who joined us on this tour, and it was our pleasure to meet each and every one of you! Not forgetting the people behind the planning and coordinating – Apple Vacations Singapore. Here are some of the highlights of our 8D6N tour to Osaka, Mie & Wakayama:
WAKAYAMA PREFECTURE
We started our trip with some days in Wakayama prefecture. Sitting along the coastal, the picturesque places we went to left great memories we have of Japan. It is quite unlike your usual city holidays where you would pack your itinerary with shopping and lavish dining. More than those, we were kept away from everything cosmopolitan, and experienced life in the countryside.
Kuroshio Ichiba is a seafood market in the West of Japan, and it is well-loved for its biggest catches. Here, we watched the tuna filleting show and were in awe of how trained the chef is with his knife. And we tasted the fresh tuna right after it was filleted.
Next, we went to Yuasa - one of the finest shoyu factories in the Arida region where shoyu (soy sauce) was first created - for an educational tour to learn more about the production of shoyu. The highlight, for gluttons like us, was trying the homemade shoyu soft serve.
The Wakayama Prefecture is famous in Japan for its fruits. In autumn and winter, persimmon is in season, so we made a trip to one of the local persimmon farms to pick and try some of the sweetest and freshest persimmons that we’ve ever had. It was such fun that everyone enjoyed.
Engetsuto, or more popularly known as round moon island, is a famous spot in Shirahama and a good pitstop to catch the sunset when you are travelling along the Wakayama and Mie coastal region. We were all marveled by this nature’s creation.
Other than that, we also had the chance to go to Sandanbeki and Senjojiki – two gorgeous vantage points – created by the erosion of waves over the years – that offer spectacular and breathtaking perspectives of the ocean.
This was what we loved about the entire trip – being so close to Mother Nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city; suddenly the world seemed so small and your troubles are so far away.
An interesting stop on our Wakayama itinerary is Taiji Kujira Park – the largest whale museum in the world – where we got up-close and personal with whales and dolphins.
Our last stop in the Wakayama Prefecture was Nachi Waterfalls. Standing at 133-meter, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in Japan. Its sheer height is a magnificent sight to behold.
MIE PREFECTURE
During the journey from Wakayama to Mie, we took a quick break at Onigajo, which is also known as Demon’s Castle in Japanese. The skies were perfectly blue, the waves were calm, and it was a breezy morning that we would all remember.
After a long drive along the coastal route, we arrived at Ama Hut for lunch. Ama, for those who do not know, is Japanese woman shell diver that specialises in diving deep into the ocean to collect abalone, shellfish and pearls.
Needless to say, we had a terrific seafood lunch of abalone, Ise lobster, large clams, scallops and turban shells that was cooked right before our eyes by the friendly and hospitable ama divers.
Step back into time at Ise Jingu, which ranks among the most prominent shrines in Japan. Next to the entrance of Ise Jingu is Okage Yokocho - a lovely traditional street lined up with machiya (old wooden houses) that sell local snacks, crafts and little souvenirs.
When we came for our recce trip - to curate the best of Wakayama, Mie and Osaka – with Apple Vacations Singapore back in May, we did not have enough time at Okage Yokocho. So this time round, we made sure that everyone could walk around to explore the area. Boy, did we feast to our hearts’ content!
The next day, we headed to Iga Ninja Museum where we learned more about ninjas – from the way they collect information, to the weapons they use. And then it was back to the dazzling light of Osaka.
OSAKA, KANSAI
The magnificence of Osaka-jo. Standing tall on stone foundation since 1583, the castle is five stories on the outside, and eight stories on the inside. During April, it is the best period for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) too.
And lastly, it was time for us to go free and easy. Other than stuffing ourselves with Osaka’s popular street food - Kushikatsu, Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki – and wandering around Shinsaibashi (the city’s main shopping area), we also had lots of fun cafe hopping at Orange Street, and taking postcard photos at Dotonbori which is illuminated with neon signboards, together with its iconic Glico billboard. There are plenty of reasons for you to fall in love with Osaka.
This tour is specially curated by us and created for readers of ladyironchef so you won’t be able to sign up for it in the future. But the good news is Apple Vacations Singapore is constantly coming up with new exciting itineraries to explore new cities. The next time you are planning for your holiday, head down to their office, email [email protected] or call +65 6533 5161 and the good people from Apple Vacations Singapore will be more than happy to recommend and help you plan for your holiday.
To find out more about the tours that Apple Vacations offers, go to www.applevacations.com.sg, like them on Facebook and Instagram.
This post is brought to you by Apple Vacations Singapore.
Japan is one of favorite country. There are beautiful nature and variety culture. The foods very yummy.
ladyironchef, Thanks for the well written article, it was inspiring and powerful.