Summary of my Long Trip

2014, May The Long Trip - THE END

This is the end. Almost 2 months passed from the day I finished my trip. I must say I did what I planned to do. Now I wanted to present a short movie summing it up. My trip started in September 2013 in New Zeeland. Afterwards, I visited China, South Korea, Japan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Australia which took almost 6 months. I spent an amazing time and met a lot of incredible people. Some of my adventures can be founded on my blog. 
Enjoy the movie! I need to find a new destination - any idea?

2013 November, The Long Trip - Tokyo

2013 November, The Long Trip - Japan, Tokyo

It was an active day for me in Tokyo.



I booked a free training to learn how to survive the earthquake.
The Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Centre is located near Ikebukuro station. Exit near the Metroporitan plaza, the Fire Station is located near Metropolitan Hotel in front of Police station. The Learning Centre is located at 4th floor.
www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/hp-ikbskan/

Tel: 03-3590-6565
When I was there the first time they had scheduled trainings at 9:30, 11:30 and 15:00  closed on Tuesdays. Free entrance.

If you wish to book it for more than 2 people it is better to call them a day before.

I spent there around 2 hours as the training contained of 4 different subjects. The first one was a movie about the last earthquake and tsunami (English subtitles).



The second one was the Fire Fighting Training, the third one was a Smoke Filled Maze and the last one was the Earthquake Simulation.



It was a great experience and they are prepared to provide training for kids too.

After the safety training I went to JGSDF - a kind of military museum where I tried few simulators for free.
The centre is located near the Wako-shi station, around 20 minutes on foot.
www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/prcenter/index.html

It is an excellent place for fans of military stuff.  The best time to visit is during weekends as  on almost all Saturdays and Sundays  they have military picnics and you can ride a tank or visit a helicopter AH-1S.
It is closed on Mondays.

Let's start the training

Fire Fighting

Fire Fighting simulator for kids

Earthquake simulator

Dodne:-)

JGSDF - map

JGSDF- the building

JGSDF - kind of military museum

Helicopter simulator

2013 November, The Long Trip - Kamakura

2013 November, The Long Trip - Japan, Kamakura and Tokyo

A few pictures from Kamakura. Once more I bought Freepass which cost me 1430 JPY, a single use of return train from Shinjuku to Fujisawa and unlimited usage between Fujisawa and Kamakura.

What is important, almost all attractions are open till 4pm some till 5pm
In Hase is the Great Buddha (Kotokuin Temple). I went inside the statue of Buddha for 20JPY but only the first level was available. There is no option to climb to the head.

This place is famous because of many temples.

Great Buddha

Near the Ikebukuro station is located AMLUX - composite word of AutoMobile ane LUXe.
3-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, 3-chome, Toshima-ku
www.amlux.jp
Open every day excluding Mondays from 11 till 19 
They rents car for 1 hour and 1,5 hours - different models. For 1,000 and 1,500 JPY including insurance and petrol.
In the building they have around 70 models of Toyota cars and few simulators  for free.

AMLUX

2013 November, The Long Trip - Mt Fuji

2013 November, The Long Trip - Japan, Hakone Mt.Fuji

I will suggest to buy  Hakone Freepass valid for 2 days.  It costs 5000 JPY from Shinjuku.
If you buy tickets separately you pay around 6300 JPY for a circle route. If you go just to Hakone to stay in the town, it's not worth it. This pass can be bought at any Odakyu Line station.

It's only one of options to see Mt. Fuji from distance. 
I got to Gora where I changed my transportation for a cable car. From the second cable car I had a perfect view for Mt. Fuji. At the end I took a boat to Motohakone-ko (the last stop) from where I took a bus to Odawara and a train back to Shinjuku.

The pass allows you to hop on and hop off at any time. 
What amazed me most it was that they offered the first class for a boat ride. :) People got they own part of the ship. 
It is really worth to go there in the morning and stay till the last train.

Train from Shinjuku

Cable car

Mt. Fuji from cable car (on the left)

Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fuji

A boat ride

2013 November, The Long Trip - Japan, Nagoya

2013 November, The Long Trip - Japan, Nagoya

This time I took a day bus with small screens to watch movies and play Japanese games. 

As it was holiday, the day pass for subway and buses cost only 600JPY.
I went to the castle, the entrance fee 500JPY. Inside, some events took place. One was a Samurai show but it wasn't anything special for me.
The Hommaru Palace is being reconstructed at the moment. One part is ready and I visited it for free. Two parts are still under construction but I saw the process as they provided a tour to see the works.
It is a restoration of a typical example of Japanese traditional architecture called 'shoin-zukuri'. Inside are replicated screen paintings, the roof is covered with kokera shingles - Japanese cedar or other wood that has been cut into sheets about 3 millimetres thick.

Nearby is a Toyota museum and Toyota City. 

Near the port is an aquarium. I went there to walk around.

The castle

The Hommaru Palace

The Hommaru Palace under construction

Dog - Samurai

Nagoya Port

One special shop