Here are my reviews of my stay in Japan! *updated on 8/5 with more photos!*
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Osaka
Apartment details booked from Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/3672907.
Period of stay: End March to early/mid April 2015
Period of stay: End March to early/mid April 2015
Price: S$940 for 11 nights. S$42.72 each per night. (After 10% off from using UOB card)
Check-in & Check-out time: Flexible
Getting there: Walking distance from ShinFukushima Station
Getting there: Walking distance from ShinFukushima Station
Welcome card and drink!
Double decker bed
Wall deco
Small bathroom
Review:
Location: 10/10
1 train station away from Osaka station; possible to walk or cycle back & fro. Train station at Fukushima is not as confusing as the one at Osaka station too! Convenient place to travel to Kobe, Kyoto & USJ. Many nice eateries around that open till late. 7 eleven directly below apartment.
Room & Amenities: 8/10
All basic necessities provided: towels, shower gel, shampoo, hairdryer, clothes hangers, small sewing kit, stove, cutlery & plates, rice cooker, coffee machine, oven, kettle, fridge, room heater, umbrellas. Washer and dryer are available at 13th near the rooftop. Additionally, the hosts provides portable wifi and bicycles. However, the portable wifi's battery drains quite fast. We have our portable charger to charge it, so it's fine.
We bought a lot of stuffs so the room became quite cramp with our luggage and items lying around. Otherwise, the room is just nice and cosy for 2 people. It is also well-insulated, we didn't use the heater at all! The mattress is a bit hard though..
The apartment is located at the 10th floor. There is a small lobby, occasionally you will see a staff there. So I think it is rather safe. The building also get locked up at 11pm; only residents with keys will be able to enter.
We bought a lot of stuffs so the room became quite cramp with our luggage and items lying around. Otherwise, the room is just nice and cosy for 2 people. It is also well-insulated, we didn't use the heater at all! The mattress is a bit hard though..
The apartment is located at the 10th floor. There is a small lobby, occasionally you will see a staff there. So I think it is rather safe. The building also get locked up at 11pm; only residents with keys will be able to enter.
Interaction with host: 9/10
Our hosts were responsive to our queries. They provide directions to the apartment sometime before our stay. Our host forgot to provide us the apartment number beforehand, but they responded to my message a few minutes later. When we reached, our host is still cleaning and preparing our room. She allowed us to leave our luggage and gave us the portable wifi and we head out to explore the vicinity.
The hosts are able to communicate in English, Mandarin and Japanese. They are very kind and hospitable; will definitely stay in their apartments if I go to Osaka again!
Our hosts were responsive to our queries. They provide directions to the apartment sometime before our stay. Our host forgot to provide us the apartment number beforehand, but they responded to my message a few minutes later. When we reached, our host is still cleaning and preparing our room. She allowed us to leave our luggage and gave us the portable wifi and we head out to explore the vicinity.
The hosts are able to communicate in English, Mandarin and Japanese. They are very kind and hospitable; will definitely stay in their apartments if I go to Osaka again!
Improvements/Notes: Aircon in room to combat summer heat (didn't really affect me since I went in spring. If it was too warm, I just open the window for the cooling air outside)
Kyoto
Apartment details booked from Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/3596434.
Period of stay: Early April 2015
Period of stay: Early April 2015
Price: S$193 for 1 night. S$95.50 each per night.
Check-in & Check-out time: 5pm/10am
Getting there: Walking distance from Kyoto Station
Getting there: Walking distance from Kyoto Station
Appearance of the apartment. Located on the first floor.
Sink and shower (Toilet in other room)
Toilet
For washing of feet?
Bedroom
You can lay out the extra futon
Review:
Location: 9/10
Walking distance to Kyoto station and nearby a few bus stops. The route to the apartment was a bit dim though. If the host didn't sent me a copy of the route and pictures to the apartment, I might have been a bit hesitant to walk to the apartment.
Walking distance to Kyoto station and nearby a few bus stops. The route to the apartment was a bit dim though. If the host didn't sent me a copy of the route and pictures to the apartment, I might have been a bit hesitant to walk to the apartment.
Room & Amenities: 7/10
Again, as with our Osaka's apartment, all basic necessities provided. As compared to Osaka's apartment, there are no fridge and washer/dryer, but with aircon. Portable wifi is also provided, but we did not use it as we already have our wifi from Osaka and we are staying 1 night in this apartment only. However, the toilet in slightly bigger than our Osaka's one and the bed and futon is more comfortable than the double deck! There is a cupboard in the room which I think the cleaner might have missed out on cleaning as I think there are some trash, kind of like for recycling trash? So it is not messy but still rather unslightly.
Again, as with our Osaka's apartment, all basic necessities provided. As compared to Osaka's apartment, there are no fridge and washer/dryer, but with aircon. Portable wifi is also provided, but we did not use it as we already have our wifi from Osaka and we are staying 1 night in this apartment only. However, the toilet in slightly bigger than our Osaka's one and the bed and futon is more comfortable than the double deck! There is a cupboard in the room which I think the cleaner might have missed out on cleaning as I think there are some trash, kind of like for recycling trash? So it is not messy but still rather unslightly.
Interaction with host:7/10
There was some confusion on the apartment. The host sent me a message that the previous address and directions to the apartment was wrong and a new address and directions were sent to me. However, this new apartment was not the apartment I saw from the pictures previously. But it was fine for me as I am staying for 1 night only. Otherwise, the host was prompt with the updates and replies. We did not meet the host, everything is done through airbnb messages.
There was some confusion on the apartment. The host sent me a message that the previous address and directions to the apartment was wrong and a new address and directions were sent to me. However, this new apartment was not the apartment I saw from the pictures previously. But it was fine for me as I am staying for 1 night only. Otherwise, the host was prompt with the updates and replies. We did not meet the host, everything is done through airbnb messages.
Improvements/Notes: Hopefully, there won't be anymore issues with having to change apartments!
Kobe (Arima Onsen)
Ryokan details booked from Agoda: http://www.agoda.com/en-sg/arima-onsen-taketoritei-maruyama-ryokan/hotel/kobe-jp.html
Period of stay: End March 2015
Period of stay: End March 2015
Price: S$528.66 for 1 night. S$264.33 each per night. (Maruyama Japanese Style Room, includes traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast)
Check-in & Check-out time: 3pm/11am
Getting there: Shuttle bus is available at Arima Onsen. Do give them a call, otherwise it's a 15mins walk from Arima Onsen Station.
Address: 竹取亭 円山, 1364-1 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 651-1401, Japan
Getting there: Shuttle bus is available at Arima Onsen. Do give them a call, otherwise it's a 15mins walk from Arima Onsen Station.
Address: 竹取亭 円山, 1364-1 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 651-1401, Japan
Tea and snacks are served while waiting to be checked-in
Room keys, dinner card and onsen reservation card
Entrance to our room
Living room
Place where we threw our stuffs ;D
Shower & bathtub
Separate Toilet
Living room turns to bedroom at night
Review:
Location: 7/10
It is a distance to Arima Onsen! You can go by train, bus or through Mount Rokko. From there, you need to go to the Tourist Information to get the staffs there to help you call Taketoritei Maruyama and a van will come and pick you up. We were told that the driver who picked us up to the ryokan was the owner!!!! :O
It is a distance to Arima Onsen! You can go by train, bus or through Mount Rokko. From there, you need to go to the Tourist Information to get the staffs there to help you call Taketoritei Maruyama and a van will come and pick you up. We were told that the driver who picked us up to the ryokan was the owner!!!! :O
Room & Amenities: 10/10
Everything was great! Even the shampoo and body wash provided are good quality products. There is hair tonic, facial wash, toothpaste & toothbrush, comb and etc provided as well. You don't need to bring anything there cause it is provided. The ryoken provided 2 kinds of clothes for you to change into. One is a one-piece Yukata and obi and the other is a 2-piece shirt and pants which is easier to wear as well. You can wear these clothes out to walk too!
The futon is surprisingly comfortable and warm. There is aircon & heater in the room as well.
You can reserve 45mins of their private onsen and we reserved 3 times in our 1 night stay! Onsen was awesome! You do not need to be too worried over the etiquette since it is private. Of course, please do wash yourself before soaking to keep the onsen clean and hygienic for others! No bathing essentials are provided in the private onsen though, but I just bathed in our room first before heading to them. Otherwise, you can bring the bathing stuffs to the private onsen to bath.
They have a total of 4 private onsens; 2 big & 2 small! Of course, we went to 3 different onsen rooms just to see how they look like! :P Somehow, I feel that the water in the large onsen pool feels hotter! Don't know if it's me or what :/
Some photos of our onsen!
Everything was great! Even the shampoo and body wash provided are good quality products. There is hair tonic, facial wash, toothpaste & toothbrush, comb and etc provided as well. You don't need to bring anything there cause it is provided. The ryoken provided 2 kinds of clothes for you to change into. One is a one-piece Yukata and obi and the other is a 2-piece shirt and pants which is easier to wear as well. You can wear these clothes out to walk too!
The futon is surprisingly comfortable and warm. There is aircon & heater in the room as well.
You can reserve 45mins of their private onsen and we reserved 3 times in our 1 night stay! Onsen was awesome! You do not need to be too worried over the etiquette since it is private. Of course, please do wash yourself before soaking to keep the onsen clean and hygienic for others! No bathing essentials are provided in the private onsen though, but I just bathed in our room first before heading to them. Otherwise, you can bring the bathing stuffs to the private onsen to bath.
They have a total of 4 private onsens; 2 big & 2 small! Of course, we went to 3 different onsen rooms just to see how they look like! :P Somehow, I feel that the water in the large onsen pool feels hotter! Don't know if it's me or what :/
Some photos of our onsen!
To the private onsen!
Small area to remove and place our clothes
Gold and Silver onsen!
Pathway to onsen at night
Another round of onsen in a different room!
Last onsen in the morning! This room is very big, so larger groups can use the private onsen too!
Service Quality: 9/10
Most staffs are able to communicate in English and they are ALL very friendly and hospitable! You never get to see a place in Singapore where ALL the staffs are good. I especially liked the female staff that checked us in to the ryoken! Also, we can to choose a bag design (waterproof so we can put our valuables and bring the bag when we go for onsen) as souvenir for our stay! They have so many nice designs to choose from! :) When the staff has brought us to the room, she offered us if we would like the ryokan to book a JR bus back to Sannomiya station, we agreed! The shuttle drove us to the bus stop to wait for our JR bus! Very convenient!
Most staffs are able to communicate in English and they are ALL very friendly and hospitable! You never get to see a place in Singapore where ALL the staffs are good. I especially liked the female staff that checked us in to the ryoken! Also, we can to choose a bag design (waterproof so we can put our valuables and bring the bag when we go for onsen) as souvenir for our stay! They have so many nice designs to choose from! :) When the staff has brought us to the room, she offered us if we would like the ryokan to book a JR bus back to Sannomiya station, we agreed! The shuttle drove us to the bus stop to wait for our JR bus! Very convenient!
Food: 8/10
During check-in, we are asked what time we would like to have our dinner and next day's breakfast.
We had a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner (Kaiseki Ryori). It was very filling! Some of the dishes were to adventurous for us and we didn't finish them or we were just too full, like the rice that comes in as the 9th course.. Some of the dishes were good, some ok, but it was a good experience!
For a detailed review of out Kaiseki Ryori, click >>here<<
Improvements/Notes: Be careful! You will just want to 'nua' (relax) the whole day away! ;D
During check-in, we are asked what time we would like to have our dinner and next day's breakfast.
We had a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner (Kaiseki Ryori). It was very filling! Some of the dishes were to adventurous for us and we didn't finish them or we were just too full, like the rice that comes in as the 9th course.. Some of the dishes were good, some ok, but it was a good experience!
For a detailed review of out Kaiseki Ryori, click >>here<<
Menu of our Kaiseiki
For breakfast next day, you can choose either a Japanese breakfast or Western one. It's Jap for us! Another filling day for us and this is the place where we had the BEST TAMAGO ever! I never liked the tamago sushi in Singapore cause it taste sweet and fake. But the tamago in Japan are all very nice, especially the one we had here! YUM!
Japanese Breakfast
THE PICTURE OF AWESOMENESS! BEST TAMAGO WE HAD IN JAPAN!
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