MyAuckland 2017: Auckland University
Auckland University is located next to Albert Park. It is the largest, most comprehensive and highest-ranked university in New Zealand.
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MyAuckland 2017: Albert Park and Art Gallery
Landed in Auckland last night. I had the morning to myself, so decided to explore Albert Park and the Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Japan 2017
We returned to Japan in 2017 and visited Tokyo, then headed down south to Okayama and Hiroshima, returning via Osaka and Kyoto.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Haneda Airport)
We arrived at Haneda airport, and wandered around the airport shopping area. There were lots of fake cherry blossom trees.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku evening)
We spend the rest of evening walking back from the Tokyo Metropolitan Goverment building along the subways and streets of Shinjuku.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Metropolitan Government Building)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎) is the tallest city hall in the world, with observation decks proving amazing views.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Shinjuku (新宿区) has been a major secondary center of Tokyo and a commercial hub full of skyscrapers and retail shops.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku Gyoen)
Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is a large park and garden. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family, then became an Imperial Park.
Japan 2017 Day 9: Tokyo (Character Street)
Character Street is a row of shops selling toys based on various character themes, located underground in Tokyo Station.
Japan 2017 Day 9: Tokyo (Imperial Palace East Garden)
The Imperial Palace East Gardens encompasses the former Honmaru and Ninomaru areas of Edo Castle and the Imperial Tokagakudo Music Hall.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (evening)
We walked back to Kyoto station as buses were full, crossed the bridge at Shichijo and saw a lovely sunset.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera)
Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺), is a Buddhist temple and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Higashiyama)
We walked along the stone-paved roads in Higashiyama (Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka) that lead up to the Kiyomizu Temple.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Chion-in)
Chion-in is a Pure Land Buddhism temple consisting of a colossal main gate (Sanmon), a huge temple building and Japan’s largest temple bell.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Otani Sobyo Hondo)
Otani Sobyo Mausoleum is the grave of Shinran, the founder of the Shinshu sect Otani school (Higashi Hongan-ji Temple).
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Yasaka-jinja)
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, with bright red gates.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Honen-in)
Honen-in ((法然院)) is a nice quiet reflective temple on Kyoto's Philosopher's Path. There is an amazing statue of Buddha here.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Ginkaku-Ji)
Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺), or Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is officially named Jishō-ji (慈照寺) and built for a Shogun who became a Buddhist monk.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (morning)
Today we traveled from Osaka to Kyoto and arrived in the morning. Along the way we passed through some interesting sculpture street art.
Japan 2017 Day 7: Osaka (USJ)
Today we visited Universal Studios Japan (or USJ as its more popularly known as). We are excited to see the new Harry Potter attractions!
Japan 2017 Day 6: Osaka
We travelled from Hiroshima to Osaka and arrived around 3pm. We checked into the Ritz Carlton and spent the afternoon exploring the area.
Japan 2017 Day 6: Fukuyama
On the way back to Fukuyama station, I saw a rose trellis in honour of Hugh Jackman - I took a picture there.
Japan 2017 Day 6: Tomonoura
Tomonoura is a small fishing village famous as the location for several films: notably Miyazaki's Ponyo and Wolverine.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (evening)
We walked around Hiroshima in the evening and finished up with a dinner of the Hiroshima variant of okonomiyaki.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Peace Museum)
They say the Hiroshima Peace Museum is quite confronting - we found it terribly crowded and quite hard to see some of the exhibits.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Peace Park)
The Hiroshima Peace Park is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Genbaku Dome)
The Genbaku Dome (aka Hiroshima Peace Memorial, or the Atomic Bomb Dome) is a former exhibition hall that somehow still stands as a ruin.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Hiroshima Castle)
Hiroshima Castle is yet another reconstructed castle because the original was destroyed along with most of Hiroshima by the Atomic Bomb.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (morning)
Hiroshima is infamous as the first city targeted by an atomic bomb. Largely rebuilt post war, the city is once again a significant city.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Mt Misen
The peak of Mount Misen, at 535m, is the highest point on Miyajima Island. We got there via Miyajima Ropeway.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Miyajima
Today we visited Miyajima (Shrine Island), an island famous for the O-Torii gate seemingly surrounded by water.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Shinkansen to Hiroshima
We boarded the Shinkansen from Okayama to Hiroshima at 8:25am and to my surprise it's the N700 - the fastest train in the fleet.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Dinner and shopping)
After visiting the castle and the garden, we wandered around the commercial heart of Okayama, primarily for dinner but also some shopping.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Korakuen garden)
We decided to visit the Korakuen garden in Okayama next to the castle. It is It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Okayama Castle)
Okayama Castle (岡山城), located in Okayama Japan, was completed in 1597, destroyed during World War II, and reconstructed in 1966.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Kurashiki (Bikan Historical Area)
We took a day trip to Kurashiki. The old merchant quarter (Bikan) contains wooden warehouses along a canal.
Japan 2017 Day 2: Tokyo DisneySea
Today we are visiting DisneySea, a unique nautically oriented theme park, unlike the other Disney theme parks around the world.
Japan 2017 Day 1: Tokyo (Ghibli Museum)
On the first day, we landed in Haneda Airport and took the train to Asakusa to check into the hotel. We then headed to Mitaka for the Studio Ghibli museum.
Japan 2017 Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
Our return to Japan after nearly a decade! On arrival in Tokyo (Haneda Airport), we took the train to Asakusa and checked into our hotel.
Japan 2008
Our first trip to Japan (10-22 April 2008)! We arrived in Tokyo, and visited the Ghibli museum, Nikko, Kamakura, Nara, Osaka and Kyoto.
Japan 2008 Day 13: Palette Town (Venus Fort)
Venus Fort is a completely over the top shopping centre in Palette Town, Odaiba, designed to look like a medieval European town.
Japan 2008 Day 13: Mega Web (History Garage)
Mega Web History Garage is a museum located at the basement of Venus Fort and features historic cars, motorsports and nostalgia.
Japan 2008 Day 13: Mega Web (Toyota Universal Design Showcase)
Toyota Universal Design Showcase allows a visitor to "touch and feel" various elements of Toyota design and innovation.
Japan 2008 Day 13: Mega Web (Toyota City Showcase)
The Toyota City Showcase is probably the world's largest Toyota car showroom, and features exhibits and hands on experiences.
Japan 2008 Day 13: Tokyo (Palette Town)
Palette Town is a shopping mall and entertainment complex containing a giant red ferris wheel plus Toyota's showcase centre (Mega Web).
Japan 2008 Day 13: Tokyo (Odaiba お台場)
Odaiba is an artificial island built from reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. It has ultra-modern buildings looking like a science fiction film.
Japan 2008 Day 12: Tokyo (Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Whisper of the Heart)
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka was the inspiration for the location used in the animation film 「耳をすませば」 (Whisper of the Heart).
Japan 2008 Day 12: Tokyo (Leaving Sanrio Puroland)
Well, sad though it may be - eventually we decided we have seen everything and therefore it was time to leave Sanrio Puroland (sob!).
Japan 2008 Day 12: Sanrio Puroland (Fairytale Under The Sea)
The last show we caught was "Fairytale Under The Sea" - this one had lots and lots of dancing, and has an underwater theme.
Japan 2008 Day 12: Sanrio Puroland (Parade – Believe)
Sanrio Puroland's parade (Believe) is a homage to all those fans young and old who have "believed" in Hello Kitty for most of their lives.
Japan 2008 Day 12: Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty Nutcracker)
The next show we watched was a version of the Nutcracker ballet, but starring Hello Kitty and her family. This ends with a cabaret show!
Japan 2008 Day 12: Sanrio Puroland (Someday II)
The first show we attended at Sanrio Puroland is a fairytale called "Someday II" (obviously a sequel to Someday I).
Japan 2008 Day 12: Tokyo (Sanrio Puroland)
Sanrio Puroland hosts musicals, restaurants, attractions, and theme rides based on Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, and more.
Japan 2008 Day 12: Tokyo (Tama Center)
Today we decided to head out of Tokyo towards the sprawling western suburbs of Tama New Town. The commercial centre is called Tama Center.
Japan 2008 Day 11: Shinosaka Station
Today we leave Osaka to return back to Tokyo. We took some photos around Shinosaka station whilst waiting for the Shinkansen to arrive.
Japan 2008 Day 10: Osaka (Various places around Umeda)
After visiting Osaka, we explored various places in Umeda before heading back to the hotel and packing for our trip to Tokyo tomorrow.
Japan 2008 Day 10: Osaka Castle (大阪城)
Osaka Castle played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. It has been rebuilt several times.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Osaka (大阪) at Night
By the time we arrived at Osaka from Nara, it was already evening. We had dinner at Umeda then explored Osaka at Night.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Osaka (大阪) Kiddyland
The Kiddyland at Umeda is not as big as the Tokyo flagship store, but the goods are nicely arranged and it was easy to find things.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Osaka (大阪) Donguri Republic (ドングリ共和国)
The Donguri Republic is a store selling character goods and plush toys. We had a lot of fun here browsing and gaping at the merchansdise.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Kasuga Grand Shrine (春日大社)
The Kasuga Grand Shrine, originally the family shrine of the once powerful Fujiwara family, is the largest and most extensive shrine in Nara.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Tamukeyama Hachimangu (手向山八幡宮)
Tamukeyama Hachimangu (手向山八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine next to Todaiji, dedicated to the Hachiman kami and established in 749.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Toudaiji (東大寺) Other buildings
We explored other buildings in Toudaiji temple complex, including the Great Bell precinct and the halls named after festival months.
Japan 2008 Day 9: Nara (奈良) Toudaiji (東大寺) Daibutsuden (大仏殿)
The Daibutsuden in Toudaiji houses the huge bronze statue of the Great Buddha, and is apparently the largest wooden structure in the world.