Traveling to Japan

For the past few weeks I've been planing a trip to Tokyo and Sapporo. One of the best airline ticket price finder I used was sky scanner. With sky scanner, you can set up air ticket price alerts to be sent to your email. You can even have them alert you if the ticket your looking for reaches a certain price you have in mind. You have the control when to be alerted.
If you haven't been to Japan, just know Japan doesn't offer free wifi everywhere. Renting a pocket wifi is the best and cheapest way to get convenient internet while vacationing there. This trip I rented a pocket wifi from Global Advanced Communications. When I was looking up companies that offered pocket wifi rentals, several companies came up. I'm always weary about giving information and sending payments to a company overseas. I can assure you that this company is legit. I took a chance and ordered my pocket wifi, I even had it sent to my hotel. Upon check-in my wifi was already here, super convenient. The two week rental cost me around ¥7,650 (about $76.50) this includes the prepaid envelope to send the pocket wifi back. I love it and glad I got it. Follow me around the next 14 days as I will be traveling around Tokyo and Sapporo.

Related articles

• train trip to sapporo

Sapporo Snow Festival 2014

[caption id="attachment_2414" align="alignnone" width="300"] Photo Credit: www.gramfeed.com/umicafe_k[/caption]

The Sapporo Yuki Matsuri is held annually in Japan's Northern Island of Hokkaido.  The story of the first "Yuki Matsuri" began in 1950 with six snow statues made from local high school students, drawing in 50 thousand people. Today millions of visitors come every year to see these gigantic snow and ice sculptures that line Odori park, Tsudome and along Susukino.  Last year was a record high of 2.36 million visitors.  This year the snow festival will be from February 5 - 11, 2014.  I've been to Sapporo too many times to count, but I have never been able to see these wonderful life-like sculptures.  It is definitely on my bucket list.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqezNJ1OaGE&w=560&h=315]

See how the sculptors are made.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-td87IvEyCw&w=560&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_2418" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo Credit: www.gramfeed.com/hattam[/caption]

For more information please see Sapporo City's official yuki matsuri site and Sapporo City's official visitors site. You will be in absolute awe.

The videos in this post are not mine, please see Sapporo City's official visitors site and Sapporo City's official yuki matsuri site for more videos about Sapporo.

Related articles

• Event of the Month: Sapporo Snow Festival Japan


• National › Sapporo Snow Festival gets under way


• 2014 Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido


• Sapporo Snow Festival to display 200 giant snow sculptures


• The 2014 Sapporo Snow Festival Begins in Sapporo, Japan To see...


• Visit Sapporo in Winter to Witness Snow Wonders

Kai Japanese Ramen in Honolulu

[caption id="attachment_2190" align="alignleft" width="300"] Kai Japanese Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

 

According to Wikipedia "the origin of ramen is unclear" no matter, the Japanese made it famous and well known today.  I have to admit, Im a true ramen girl, total ramen lover.  I've been spoiled as a child, and had only the best and true Sapporo Ramen, from Sapporo of course.  So, I'm very doubtful when I go eat at a ramen-ya, especially when they proclaim to specialize in "Hokkaido" or "Sapporo" style ramen.  To my surprise,  Kai Ramen was pretty darn good.  I ordered the the Shoyu Ramen (my favorite) the broth was thick or kotteri which is robust and very rich with flavor.  Their Curry was delicious, rich in color and flavor.  My husband ordered the mini curry and the portion was quite large considering its a mini.  My  son ordered the Goma Tan Tan Men the broth had a nutty flavor and was kotteri, thick and robust with flavor.  Their gyoza I was disappointed with, it was bland not much for taste at all.  Even the texture of the filling I was disappointed with.  This is my third time eating at Kai Ramen and I have ordered gyoza every time, hoping it would get better.  They just don't make good gyoza in my opinion.  I have to warn you that the broth is really salty, so you need to drink a lot of water and since the bathroom is located in another building just behind the shop it is a little inconvenient.  Other than the gyoza, I love this simple little ramen-ya.  This little shop is located at 1430 Kona St, below Axis Hair Salon (The best Japanese Hair Salon in Hawaii).  Their hours of operation is 11:30 am to 9 pm daily.  They even have happy hour see picture below.  My family and I really enjoyed Kai Ramen and we hope you do too.  Let me know where your favorite ramen shop is, where ever it may be.  

See menu in english and japanese below.  

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Kai Japanese Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="226"] Kai Japanese Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

      

[caption id="attachment_2197" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Shoyu Ramen @ Kai Japanese Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2196" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Goma Tan Tan Men @ Kai Japanese Ramen Honolulu Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2194" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Mini-curry @ Kai Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2195" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Gyoza @ Kai Ramen Honolulu
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2193" align="aligncenter" width="214"] Happy Hour
Photo Credit: ionasiatrend.com[/caption]

 

 

 

Related articles

• Delicious Sapporo Ramen


• Sapporo Station in Hokkaido


• Japanese Cuisine, From Scratch


• Ramen Yushoken: South's Best Kept Secret


• Hello ramen burger!


• Hide-Chan Ramen


• Roundup: The Best Ramen In Philadelphia - Where To Get A Bowl Of Piping Hot Ramen In Philly


• Touhenboku's Chicken Broth Ramen Bringing a New Taste to Queen Street West