Let's Enjoy Traveling in Japan!

 Morning in Osaka and on to Seoul, Fraser Place Hotel MAP In the morning, Ubigi was working. The breakfast buffet at the hotel was very good. Because it was early, and our flight wasn’t until the afternoon we decided to explore the area. I sometimes have frustrating dreams where I’m on a short layover at an airport in Japan but I can’t get out of the airport either because of time or other technicalities. This time my attempt to get out of the airport was not frustrated.  We walked over to the Nankai line which was adjacent to the hotel and caught a train for Izumosano (泉佐野市). From the station, we went past the Tsubasa shopping arcade, and through narrow paths and alleyways to get to the Edo era former Niigawa merchant house. It wasn’t open yet, but we enjoyed the atmosphere of the neighborhood.  A 7100 series electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by Nankai Electric Railway pulls out of the station Ginko leaf and nut themed storm drain cover. Narrow alleyways of Izu...

Changdeokgung Palace and Myongdong Night Market MAP Somewhere between Osaka and Seoul I had lost my toothbrush. Fortunately the convenience stores in Korea are fantastic. There were at least ten different kinds of toothbrushes to choose from! We were also surprised to find that they sold hanafuda cards (called hwatu in Korea). We bought a pack. It’s kind of a niche game in Japan, but in Korea, they play a classic family and holiday game called Go-stop with them. Of the many convenience stores in Seoul, CU was my favorite. Buy two spam, get one free! Goodies from the convenience store: yogurt with berries, sweet potato bread, and egg salad and grape jelly sandwiches.  These Yakgwa cookies are really good! BTW, a gat is a traditional scholar's hat.  We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant “First Floor”. After breakfast, we took the subway to Changdeokgung Palace. The T-Money app is very convenient for subway travel and convenience stores too.  The only trick is that, unlik...

National Museum of Korea and Lotte Zetaplex Hypermarket MAP Since the hotel room had a kitchen, we had breakfast in the room. We were able to find most of what we wanted from the nearby convenience store. The street in front of the hotel was closed in the morning for a marathon. We took the subway to the National Museum of Korea. It’s quite large and the permanent exhibitions are free. We concentrated on the calligraphy and Buddhist statue exhibits on the third floor.  National Museum of Korea Carved pagoda inside the museum. Song Si-yeol (송시열, 1607–1689) - philosopher and calligrapher, wearing a gat. Carved Buddha head. We took the subway to Seoul station and had lunch at Connect Place -  a shopping and dining complex. I had some really good bibimbap. We could see the old Seoul Station, which was built during the Japanese colonial period. It was interesting to see its resemblance to Tokyo station. The design of the Seoul Subway stations was very creative. Each one was differe...

 Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jogyesa Temple, Sewoon Plaza,  Bukchongdong Food Culture Street MAP We asked for a taxi to Jogyesa Temple at the front desk. I think they checked using an app like K.ride, and they said that no drivers wanted to take such a short trip, and recommended that we walk. Good thing we didn't get a taxi, because we saw so many cool things along the way.  We walked north on Sejong-daero road (세종대로) and came across Deoksugung Palace which wasn’t open yet, but definitely a place to come back to. Then we passed City Hall and came to a fantastic statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (이순신, 1545–1598). Then we saw a little further on, a statue of King Sejong the Great (the 4th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty) who created Korea’s written language. Hangeul (한글). The ingenious writing system enabled people to become literate in a matter of days. Admiral Yi Sun-sin (이순신, 1545–1598). And check out those huge curved monitors on the building to the left. Korea is truly the land of...

 N Seoul tower, Namdaemun Market, and Sungnyemun Gate MAP This morning we walked to N Seoul tower. There was a diagonal escalator followed by a ropeway (cable car). Then a separate ticket for the tower with its 360° views. We could see the morning commute along the Han river as well as palaces we had seen. Even the bathrooms had a view. I heard people laughing loudly when they entered and encountered the commodes with grand views.  View to the north with the lower ropeway station below, and to the left by the large brown building is our hotel. View to the south with the Han River in the distance. Heavy traffic on both sides of the Han River and the Lotte World Tower in the distance. Restroom with a view. We went down to Namdaemun Market and found tofu pots for lunch at Jeongdongsim Sundubu Bossam (정동심 순두부·보쌈). It was very good. They make their own tofu. Even though it looked touristy from the outside, there were locals there.  Jeongdongsim Sundubu Bossam restaurant. Why i...