Korea Trip Day 4 : Myeongdong, Deoksugung Palace & Cheonggyecheon Stream

We checked out of our hotel in Seongnam and took a cab to Seoul which is a more touristy area. Our accommodation was ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong. Although the hotel room is small, the decor is modern and everything is sparkling new and clean. 

Korea Trip Day 3 : Jungang Park & Seohyeon-Dong

It was always nice to visit Korea in the autumn as we could enjoy the cool weather and at the same time view the beautiful autumn foliage. At this time of the year, we could see trees with colorful leaves everywhere in Seongnam. 

Korea Trip Day 2 : Namhansanseong Fortress

Namhansanseong Fortress was strategically built on top of a mountain to defend and protect Hanyang, the capital city of the Joseon Dynasty. The fortress walls encircled a vast area with four main gates and various facilities within the fortress. Namhansanseong Fortress was of great historical significance to South Korea and it was also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage.

Korea Trip Day 1 : Seongnam

Upon arrival at Incheon airport, we took a cab to our accommodation at Gallery Hotel in Seongnam. Seongnam is a city to the southeast of Seoul and it is well connected to Seoul via its extensive transportation network. The hotel is located near Seohyeon station with many restaurants, cafes and shops in the area. While the decor of the hotel room was dated, the room was well maintained with the necessary amenities provided.

Japan Trip Day 4 : Ichikawa, First Avenue Tokyo Station, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown

We took the railway to  I-Link Town observation deck at Ichikawa. On a clear day, we were supposedly able to see Mount Fuji and Tokyo Skytree side by side. However, this was just not the right season to come as the weather was cold and misty. While Mount Fuji was not visible, we could still see Tokyo Skytree shrouded in the mist.

Japan Trip Day 3 : Senso-ji Temple, Akihabara

This morning, we went to Asakusa to visit the Sensoji Temple. According to legend, two fishermen found a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva in the Sumida river and subsequently, the temple was built and dedicated to Kannon Bodhisattva. Sensoji Temple was completed in 645 and it became the oldest temple in Tokyo. Before going to the Sensoji Temple, we visited Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center and took the lift up to the viewing deck on the eighth floor where we had a bird's eye view of the Sensoji Temple.

Japan Trip Day 2 : Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Dori, Icho Namiki

We would be exploring Harajuku district today. Our first stop was the Meiji Shrine which was a place dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his Empress Shoken. The shrine was built in the middle of a forest with graveled pathways leading to it from the entrance to the forest. Along the pathway, we came across barrels of sake piled neatly in rows and columns. These were offered by breweries to show respect for Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

Japan Trip Day 1 : Ginza

We arrived at Haneda Airport and took a cab to our hotel Mercure Tokyo Ginza. Traffic was relatively smooth and we reached our destination in about fifteen minutes. The location of the hotel was great as it was conveniently located in the vicinity of Ginza with lots of boutique shops and restaurants. The room was simple and comfortable enough for our stay.