Tokyo’s literal translation means “East(ern) capital”

When I was 20 years old, I read Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84. The stories of cults, spirits, and modern-day Japan made me cry, laugh and get scared in my lonesome college apartment. As an accidental introduction to Japanese literature, I thought of it as an “oddball” of a country. We know that Tokyo has some of the best food in the world, all the while having a culture and history unlike any other because of its isolation for over 200 years. Without any doubt, I knew I’d visit someday.

How to get to Tokyo, Japan

The Skyscanner app, lets you search “Everywhere” at “Anytime,” giving you a bird’s eye view of what’s cheap. I usually check Skyscanner multiple times a day.

I found roundtrip flights via Philippine Airlines from Cebu Mactan airport to Narita Tokyo for Php 14,000 (USD $280) all-in, including travel tax.

Pro tip: Once you find the flight you like, save it in Skyscanner then look at the airline’s official website. The prices will be the same. Personally, I feel more secure paying at the Philippine Airlines ticket office than giving my credit card details to a third-party site.

Getting a VISA to Japan

In Cebu City, the Japanese consulate is located on the 7th floor of Keppel Building in Cebu Business Park. Some basic requirements are your passports, proof of ticket and accommodation and bank statements. We received our VISA within 5 business days. For more information about the Japanese VISA, click here.

Where to Stay in Japan

Tokyo has a population of almost 14 million people with 20 different city wards. It’s the largest metropolitan area in the world, so choosing an area to stay is crucial. In most of the travel guidebooks I’ve read, they recommend tourists to stay near TOKYO STATION, SHIBUYA, SHINJUKU, and ASAKUSA.

Using a quick search in Booking.com, I found Palace Studio Tochomae in Shinjuku. Just like an apartment, it did not have any front desk or cleaning service. The other downside is it can only fit 2 persons in the quaint 17 square meters room size. We booked for 3 reasons:

• Close distance to a major transport hub. It’s a short 12-minute walk to Shinjuku Terminal
• Affordable price of Php3,500 (USD $69) /night for 2 persons
• Includes a kitchen, laundry, and free wifi

We lived in the city like a true Japanese local, boiling our own drinking water to save money and doing chores and laundry for the 8 days we stayed there. Some people may hate that, but I found it enjoyable, especially figuring out Japanese appliances. The online booking and key delivery were all seamless.

What’s The Weather In Tokyo, Japan

Very cold, top to bottom covered in winter gear

The weather in Japan, Tokyo is generally hot humid summers with mild winters. It’s best to check the weather forecast before you go because that will heavily influence your activities and clothing.

When we landed on November 24th, it coincided with Tokyo’s first November snow in 54 years. We did not expect that much cold – we had to stop in the middle of the street while walking so we can add more layers. The temperature that day dropped to (-1) Celsius, nothing close to anything we experience in the Philippines. It’s good that I’ve had a bit of experience living in cold, foggy city San Francisco, so we knew how to deal.

(READ: How To Visit San Francisco Like A Local)

How to visit Tokyo, Japan: Must Have Items

1. Pocket WiFi (Pupuru)

Perhaps you can skip this and save some yen, but having a pocket Wifi throughout our vacation in Japan was crucial. We used it to load Google Maps for directions, Hyperdia.com for train times, and Google translate for help with the language.

We chose Pupuru for 3 reasons:

• You can prepay online
• Convenient to pick up and return via mail drop off at the airport
• Easy to understand website and video tutorials

The cost of Pupuru wifi rental without insurance was Php10,000 (USD $200) all-in for 8 days.

2. Suica Card

The Suica card is a prepaid e-money for shopping and moving around. You can use it for all trains in Tokyo, without the need to buy tickets from a vending machine and to make purchases onboard trains as well as coin lockers, convenience stores or restaurants.

How To Get From Narita Airport To Tokyo (Shinjuku)

The Narita Airport is a 75-kilometer drive to Tokyo city proper

Note that Narita Airport is 75 kilometers or 1.5-hour drive from Tokyo city proper. There are a couple of ways to do get to Tokyo, depending on the price.

The cheapest way is via local trains or Skyliner. I don’t like this because as a first timer, I’m not yet an expert in navigating local transport.

The most expensive is via taxi, about Php9,000 (USD $180)

The mid-level and best choice for me is Limousine Bus. It only stops at certain major hotels, so I had to research which of their stop is closest to our accommodation. Turns out, Washington Shinjuku Hotel is a 4-minute walk to Palace Studio Tochomae. We were comfortable in our 1.5-hour drive to Shinjuku because of the heater and free wifi.

Pro tip: If you buy roundtrip tickets (and I made sure to bring a printout to show to the counter),  the fare is at a discounted rate of Php1,900 (USD $38)

How to visit Tokyo, Japan summary:

• Even before you go, start reading about Japanese culture. I highly recommend two books: Lonely Planet Japan and Tokyo Cheapo (the website is also an excellent resource)
• For cheap plane tickets, use the Skyscanner app feature set to “everywhere” at “anytime”. Pay directly at the airline’s official website
• Book accommodation as VISA requirement. If it’s your first time in Japan, choose central locations near train / bus stations. Use websites that allow for NO CANCELLATION FEE
• Prepare all Japanese VISA requirements; apply
• Check the weather, plan activities accordingly (example, winter is best for Mount Fuji viewings)
• Bring a lot of yen! Even if credit cards are accepted sometimes, Japan remains to be a cash-based society
  

  When you arrive at the Narita airport:

• Buy a suica card at JR East travel service center, for transport all over Tokyo
• Pickup/buy pocket wifi rental
• To get to your hotel, arrange for Limousine Bus for Php 1,900 (USD $38)

This is Part 1 of my series “How To Visit Tokyo, Japan” discussing all the preparation. In Part 2, we will talk about the things to see and do in Tokyo, including how much it costs to travel there. Tune in!

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a freelance writer who has worked across media platforms in places as diverse as US, Singapore, and Australia. She lives in Cebu City where she covers travel and entrepreneurship at crystalneri.com. Say Hi to her (@nericrystal) on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to her newsletter:

The post How To Visit Tokyo, Japan (Part 1) appeared first on Crystal Neri.

On August 19th, 2016, I received one of best work freebies ever – a helicopter ride to the south of Cebu. The usual grueling land trip to Oslob takes 6-hours, but the chartered helicopter took a mere 1.75 hours. With my bosses Brett and Michelle, and three colleagues Ione, Marian and Sherry, we were treated like kings and queens for the entire duration of the afternoon adventure.

My eyes bulked seeing the price of the Airtaxi. It was truly a deluxe experience: a Toyota Super Grandia drove us to the airport, a personal guide waited for us in Oslob, Brumini hotel reserved a room for us for a day-use, and the hotel staff packed sandwiches including a bottle of champagne.

Although I’ve seen the Oslob whale sharks three times now, I have never swum with them or brought an underwater camera before. The result is this stunning footage of me being just a few inches away from what they call “friendliest animals on Earth.”

Despite all that, nothing beats the helicopter ride. I loved every minute of seeing Cebu’s coastline from 10,000 feet. I cannot believe all my luck to get to experience this at least once in my life. Everything was caught on video below. Enjoy!

The post A Very Special Helicopter Ride To See Whalesharks in Oslob appeared first on Crystal Neri.

In my four years living in San Francisco, I joined over a dozen free walking tours in what they call The Paris of The West – known as a world-class city with diverse, courteous people and an eclectic mix of cuisines, beautiful neighborhoods, parks, museums, and architecture. Over those years, I developed a deeper understanding on why so many fell in love with this City By The Bay. Tourist travel guides like Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor might  rattle off common must-see landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars, or Alcatraz. My suggestions are mostly based on local knowledge formed from my college years residing in the city from 2009 to 2013.  Some may point to uncommon quirky little places, but are true gems that are uniquely San Francisco.

A Foodie’s Dream: Little Italy

XOX TRUFFLES artisanal, unforgettable truffles with over 30 different flavours

Little Italy, located at the north beach district, is my favorite neighborhood and one of the city’s most charming areas. You can spend an entire day there eating and strolling in the multitude of restaurants, pastries, and coffee shops.

THE AMAZING STELLA PASTRY, serving soft, golden flaky traditional pastries

Tommaso’s (1042 Kearny Street) may be fancy but every pizza is traditionally-made with the freshest ingredients. Over at Stella’s Pastries (446 Columbus Avenue), you must order their famous cannoli which is a tube-shaped shell of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling and ricotta.

A LOCAL FAVORITE Victoria Pastry is another great place to have dessert at Little Italy

Another dessert place is Victoria Pastry Company (700 Filbert Street), famous for their authentic Sicilian recipe of the Saint Honore Cake – a classic French dessert in a circle of puff pastry at its base with a ring of pâte à choux. A few yards away, you’ll find XOX Truffles (754 Columbus Avenue) where French co-owner and Chef Jean-Marc Gorce makes 27 different flavors of chocolate truffles by hand everyday. For $1.75 you can get one truffle and a cup of GRAFFEO Coffee, a local coffee that has made a name with high-end suppliers all over the world.

SAN FRANCISCO’S CHINATOWN is the largest Chinese community outside Asia

A few blocks down and not quite Italian, walk over to Chinatown’s Wing Sing Dimsum (1125 Stockton Street) if you find yourself craving for cheap and fantastic siomai and siopao. For a little history, you can visit City Lights Bookstore (261 Columbus Avenue), the oldest and most revered bookstore in the city, where the poets of the ’69 Summer of Love started the movement.  

Hidden Gems At Fisherman’s Wharf

From Little Italy, you can take a 20-minute walk to the Fisherman’s Wharf. Amidst overpriced T-shirts and keychains, there are true gems there that you must try for an authentic SF experience. Boudin Bakery and Cafe (160 Jefferson Street) is famous for their chowder bowl served in a sourdough bread. As a historic San Francisco attraction you must not miss Ghirardelli Chocolate’s (900 Northpoint Street) world-famous sundaes, hot cocoa or free chocolate squares. In N Out Burger  (333 Jefferson Street), just a few steps away, is the chain’s only branch in town.

Premiere Shopping at Union Square And The Mission

Union Square is the hobnob for shopping – its main feature being the second largest Macy’s in the US. During Christmas, they put out an outdoor ice-skating rink and 65-foot tall Christmas tree. Everything comes out sparkling, alive and absolutely beautiful at night. Off on Mission street, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is an off-the-wall modern museum and garden worth visiting. For croissants and bread, nearby La Boulangerie is a famous San Francisco-based French restaurant and bakery.

Arts And Culture At Golden Gate Park

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, viewed from the De Young Hamon Tower

Golden Gate Park (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) consists of over 1,000 hectares of public grounds. It houses several of the best museums in the country such as the California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Drive). I can describe it as a zoo with an iMax Globe Theater, giant underground aquarium, and a living plant life rooftop. Entrance costs $30 each during the day. But a wiser alternative would be to visit on a Thursday night where there is a special event with cocktails for only $12 per person. Called Nightlife at the California Academy Of Sciences, it’s a weekly themed event open only to adults over 21 years old, so expect to see everything you can see in the daylight for half the price and without children.

DE YOUNG MUSEUM’s Hamon Tower, with a 360 degree view of San Francisco

De Young Museum (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) is right across California Academy of Science. It is the city’s largest public arts institution and one of the five largest art museums in the US. For $10, you can get access to the Hamon Observation Tower for a 360 degree view of the entire city. The Japanese Tea Garden, (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) also in the vicinity, is the largest public Japanese garden in the US.  I loved the little tea place where you can sip a hot beverage while staring at hand-carved greenery.

There’s more to San Francisco than one article can cover, but rest assured that these places ­– with a mix of touristy spots and hidden gems­ – are enough to give you a good picture of what it’s like to live in SF as a local.

How To Get Around Downtown San Francisco

BREATHTAKING VIEW, Fisherman’s Wharf is San Francisco’s most famous waterfront community

Walk or take MUNI

Being a popular tourist spot, parking is expensive. Besides, streets are mostly one-way so driving is perhaps the worst way around the city.  Fortunately, every place is walkable and public transportation is convenient and simple.

Muni Metro is a light rail/streetcar hybrid system serving the city operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI). You’ll find MUNI stops prominent in every street, just look at the map or ask the driver to help you. Regular fares start at $2 per person. It’s also best to download Google offline maps before you leave your hotel. If you get lost, don’t be afraid because the locals are used to tourists asking for directions.

Tip: Explore in Comfort

True San Francisco locals understand microclimates. Temperature can drastically change from one street to another, either cold wind slapping your face or the sun nicely tanning your shoulders within a short walking distance. The solution is dressing in layers and bringing thin jackets, scarves, hats and gloves at all times. As for footwear, it is best to wear comfortable walking shoes with warm socks. Expect to walk long distances and hike very steep hills.

About the Author

Crystal Neri is a Content and Social Media Marketer. She is a Hootsuite and Hubspot certified expert, covering travel, self-improvement and marketing trends. A graduate of Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Crystal currently works for international companies looking to expand their marketing team in Cebu. Say Hi to her on Twitter (@nericrystal).

Have you been to San Francisco before? Let me know if you have any travel stories or tips to share in the comments section below. Also, say Hi to me on Twitter (@nericrystal) or subscribe to my newsletter:

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