Experience Japan in a day - without leaving Victoria

I lived in Japan for 4 and a half years - 18 months in Saitama (a satellite of Tokyo - think Geelong!) and 3 years in suburban Tokyo.  It was a great experience and one I often miss.  I get ridiculously excited when I come across places that remind me of Japan locally.  I've put some of these experiences together to devise a Melbourne day trip.  This day trip would be great for anyone who would like to get an initial taste of Japan or for Japan-philes looking for a mini-fix.  Just think - japan without the flight, money changing, language difficulties or early morning commuter crushes!

Click on the links below for more information, including location.

Breakfast?

Head to Ajisen at Melbourne Central for a hearty start to the day.

Now it is time to shop!  

100 Yen Stores

My favourite 100 yen store is in Abbotsford.  Get lost in Daiso - everything is $2.80.  Cosmetics, homeware, stationary, snacks and more.  I love the onsen bath salts, origami paper, tea cups and all the containers.

A bit more central is my second favourite 100 yen store - Tokuya - right near Target on Bourke Street.  This one is smaller, but is still great to look in.

Both Daiso and Tokuya are on Facebook - you can find out about their seasonal products.  I've heard that sometimes the shelves look a bit empty - between shipments - but I haven't experienced this.

Home wares

Made in Japan is a great place for buying omiyage (trip souvenirs for your friends), a little something for your home or window shopping.  Beautiful crockery, textiles and chopsticks to be ground here.

Lunch!

The South Melbourne Market is just around the corner from Made in Japan.  On Cecil Street, between Coventry and York Streets, you'll find a casual hole in the wall for a quick (and budget!) bite to eat.  The okonomiyaki and gyoza are recommended!!

Relax...


Time to jump in the car and head to the Peninsular Hot Springs.  It's a 90 minute drive to bliss, so if that is too far, try the more centrally located Japanese Bathhouse in Collingwood.  Cleanse and relax your cares away "Japanese-style".

Collingwood

Peninsular

Dinner and....


If you have chosen the Peninsular resort, you may be happy to head home for a quiet meal.  Back in the city, I have a few favourite places for dinner that won't break the budget.  (If I felt like spending more, I'd head to Maedaya in Bridge Road, Richmond.  The owner knows his izakaya-style food and sake.  Book ahead!)

For a fun, quick bite try: Sushi Burger in Exhibition Street.  The buns are made of sushi rice, plus you can have gyoza, noodles and sushi.

Izakaya Chuji feels authentic - it is one of the oldest izakayas in Melbourne. Try it for the atmosphere - I have had better food in other places.

There's heaps of izakayas in Melbourne now - choose your own adventure!  This article talks about the Izakaya invasion in Melbourne.

Slightly out of the way, but worth mentioning: North of the city in Niddrie is Tookaiya.  Another casual eatery - try the banquet if you are hungry!

If you are ready for more, it is time for karaoke!  I'd recommend the Chi Lounge in Little Bourke Street.  I think it is a great deal too- there's a minimum spend of $25 / person for the room hire between 6 - 10 pm.  That means you can buy a bottle of wine (approx $25) to keep you singing for the night.  You can also buy food here too.  The rooms are comfortable and there's a great range of songs.

  You could even get some purikura done on Swanston Street on your way home.

So there you have it - Japan in a day! I hope it recharges your batteries and adds a genki spring to your step.  How about you- any Japanese experiences in Melbourne you can share?

A definition of "adventure"

From my travel journal: 

July 20^th , 2006

Denali National Park

Today was a great day.  In 1969, man first walked on the moon on this day.  In 2006, I was in a tiny plane flying over glaciers!!

It all started when we played Beautiful Day by U2 as we set out.  It was so sunny and clear and when we got to the national park we were able to see all of Mount McKinley clearly- doesn’t happen very often. We boarded the park bus (old yellow school buses!) for our trip into Denali. At the first rest stop our tour guide suggested we go and organise a flight for today.  He acknowledged it was a risk- we were giving up one of our 2 days in the park on the possibility of a flight.  I hadn’t planned on doing the flight over McKinley, but seeing it in the park- I decided to go for it!  The five of us were quiet as we waited for the bus back to the park entrance - would we even be able to get on a flight?  Maybe we'd be hanging around the campsite for the afternoon!

It worked out perfectly: we were able to make a reservation AND still had enough time to go and get icecream at a weird little roadside diner.

The flight was bumpy and scary but so amazing and at a certain point I forgot my flight fears and was so into the scenery I thought I would cry- a turtle moment! * The snow covered ranges, fault lines and glaciers- and just being in Alaska in a tiny plane with oxygen masks  on because the cabin wasn’t pressurised.  The pilots did cool aeronautical tricks so we could see things- like pointing out peaks with the wings.   We saw where the Into The Wild’s guy’s bus was. Then...I was  SO HAPPY to be land!   Some days seem too perfect and I worried about us getting back down.  But no- a perfect, BEAUTIFUL DAY!

* A "turtle moment" is my personal shorthand for any overwhelmingly awesome or beautiful moment while  travelling.  The original turtle moment happened at the Turtle Islands, just off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia.  Seeing the sea turtles making their way in the world was an amazing sight.  

This to me is an adventure.  I don't (knowingly) take dangerous risks.  I'd usually rather take a chance, rather than stick to the path.  How about you?  When did you take a risk that paid off in a nice little adventure? 

Why No Fly?

I love adventures.

Whether the adventure lasts 2 minutes or 2 months,  I love the freedom and possibilities of deviating from the routine.  To me, an adventure is a choice- saying YES when you are not sure quite what the outcome will be.   I have a heap of great memories because I chose to say YES! And some not so good memories... but I happily admit I am someone who can deal with a bit of inconvenience when the path chosen turns out to be slightly less comfortable.

In the past, this love of adventuring has lead to holidays, work abroad plus some great weekends and nights out.  I loved diving into new countries, seeing how other people live and seeing how I would survive. Alas, the lifestyle was not sustainable.

Sustainability (the "environmental" kind) is a real deal breaker for me.  I couldn't knowingly keep a lifestyle that meant I was expending so much energy on flights for the sake of my own gratification.  This is a simplistic explanation but all I can manage in the first post.  I'm all for overseas travel, but I can't justify 2 or 5 overseas trips a year as I once did.

The other kicker is sustainability of another kind: $$$.  I am currently "between" permanent work contracts and expecting a first baby.  I know I need to rein in the expenses to make sure there's enough for that rainy day.

This blog will incorporate:

1. Suggestions for some local adventures (apologies in advance- these will be mainly melbourne- and Victoria- centric)

2. Some trip reports - places I've been in the past and recommend
3. Trip planning and ideas- because I LOVE planning trips!  The challenge of developing a trip that makes sense while providing value is almost as good as the trip.
4. Hopefully some child-friendly adventures, as I become more experienced in that area.