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4.01.2019

Glamping at Hoshinoya Fuji

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I've traveled to Fuji 4 times, but they were day trips. This time was a special opportunity to have a 2 days 1 night stay at Hoshinoya Fuji . To reach Hoshinoya Fuji from Tokyo, my friend and I took the express highway bus from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station. Upon arriving at Kawaguchiko Station, we took the red line bus and got down at the 20th stop. From there, Hoshinoya Fuji is just a 5 min walk !

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This is Hoshinoya Fuji's reception desk. We were greeted warmly by the concierges. They explained us the activities we're going to have during our stay and asked us to choose one of the backpacks on the walls! Those bags are filled with 'glamping equipments' like the resort's map, foldable blanket, bottle, telescope, as well as some souvenirs we can take home! 

From the reception desk, we had to hop on the resort's jeep. The car would take us to the front desk and the area where all the cabins are located. 

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Hoshinoya Fuji offers 4 types of guest room (with a total of 40 rooms) with average 40-48m² area. Every room has a different view and different feeling, but the same majestic view of Mt.Fuji.

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The moment we entered our cabin, we were met with a majestic view of beautiful Lake Kawaguchi. As the cabin's interior is minimally decorated, the view essentially becomes a part of the room. The balcony also features a space where we can lit fire, enticing us to spend our time outdoors.

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The bathroom and the bedroom have great quality and complete amenities for guests. They even provide pyjamas & winter coats!

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The idea of Glamping that Hoshinoya Fuji offers was born after the CEO, Yoshiharu Hoshino saw that very few people go camping in Japan. This is because with camping, there's always a tradeoff, You get to spend time out in the nature, enjoy barbecue, and sit around a warm fire at night with good wine and music. But in between, there are the not-so-fun aspects like cleaning up after a meal, bugs in tents, inconvenient bathroom facilities, etc. So he came up with resolutions by expand the best parts of camping and eliminate all of the least attractive aspects.

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Hoshinoya Fuji offers a list of activities that we can enjoy throughout our stay. We can relax, lit bonfire & eat marshmallow, nap in a hammock, join a Pizza Workshop, and watch movies at the Cloud Terrace.

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I learned how to chop woods too!

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Grill Dining is a spacious dining hall, surrounded by red pines, and offers dinner courses that include an hors d'oeuvre plate, soup,a main dish, and desert. The Chef grill selected foods for our main dish at a grilling station in the center.

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Hors d'ouvre plate had fresh cuts of fish, meat, fresh veggies, and a selection of dipping sauces.

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We also got super delicious warm bread that was soft inside yet crispy outside. The pate we smeared on them was wonderful as well.

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Our main course was grilled domestic venison loin and beef loin. They were juicy and tender! We paired them with 2 different sauces, Yuzu Mustard and Beef Mustard.

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Peach and Grape Sorbet

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The next morning, we joined "Early Morning Canoeing" at 7am. It was really peaceful as there were only Hoshinoya Fuji's guests around the lake. To join this activity, guests have to reserve by 6pm the day before. The price for adults & children over 5 y.o is 3500yen excludes tax & 1500yen for children aged 2 to 5.

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Upon coming back to our cabin, the staffs prepared our Morning Box (Price:2800yen/box). The box was filled with nutritious and delicious breakfast meals like omelette, bacon and sausages, cream soup, salad, kefir yogurt, and dutch oven baked bread. We savoured every bit of it!

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Overall, the short stay we had at Hoshinoya Fuji was very memorable and enjoyable. The resort, the views, and attentive staffs provided us great comfort and leisure we had never expected before. I really recommend you to stay here if you're planning to explore Mt.Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi area.

Rate of the rooms starts from 45.000 yen/night. To reserve, please check http://hoshinoya.com/fuji or call +81-50-3786-1144.


8.18.2018

Mindfulness

Some of you might notice, I don't post pictures on instagram as often as before. Lately, it's been hard for me to pose in front of the camera. I still love dressing up, doing make up.. But I don't feel like being photographed unless I have to (e.g: my birthday, work-related). I even try to avoid gatherings because I'm scared of what people will say when they see me. 

Yes, I don't feel at my best these days. I have low self confidence. I know it's been a long time battle with self-love. But because I had a 3 consecutive bad experiences, my confidence who WAS slowly climbing up, fell back straight to the ground in a blink.

It's hard to write all the details, but basically I'm not as skinny as I was last year. I had health problems that forced me to gain body fats in order to recover. I hate to gain weight and to look chubbier. But what can I do? My body is just not meant to be skinny to stay healthy. Of course, health over looks. I don't wanna die young.

But some (or MOST) people, don't know that their actions and words can hurt somebody else. They don't know what I've been thru, yet it's easy for them to comment on my looks. 
Around 2-3 months ago, I had 3 relatives commenting on how fat I am. I tried so hard not to care. But in fact, it's not easy. Even until now, I still want to cry every time I remember those moments. For some of you, it might not be a big deal. But to someone who's conscious on how she looks, it means a lot. 

This year, I've turned into the most introvert mode I've ever been in my life. I really don't want to meet too many people anymore. I avoid meeting those that I haven't met in a long time (because my experiences made me scared to hear what they're gonna comment the moment they see me).

I still make new friends, because they never met me before. They meet me at my 'current' condition, hence I have no burden. I also feel comfortable hanging out with my close friends and my parents. 

I wonder... when will I be able to heal this scar? I wish people will start to be more mindful before they speak/ do something. Everyone has struggles. Everyone has different tolerances. What might be ok for you might not be ok for somebody else. Vice versa.

7.27.2018

Teatoxnco 14 Days Detox Package Review

Last month, I felt my eating habit had gone too uncontrollable. I snacked mindlessly and my stomach was so bloated! I exercised regularly but it's only plays 20% while nutrition plays 80% of your body's diet regime. I read about Teatox's programmes and was interested to try it to 'reset' my body.
I don't strive for weightloss, but fatloss and a better eating habit

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I decided to try their 14 DAYS Teatox Package which includes Good Morning Tea, Good Night Tea, a very stylish glass tumbler (to drink the tea on-the-go), tea infuser (to drink it at home with your mugs/ cups, and a booklet of the teatox's information!

Quoted from their website, this package will help you to:
Cleanse and detoxify body
Healthy weight loss
Improves digestive system
Improves skin clarity
High in antioxidant

What does the Good Morning Tea do for you?
Suppress appetite

Boost metabolism
Improves skin clarity
High in antioxidant
Improves ratio of good cholesterol


What does the Good Night Tea do for you?
Cleanse and detoxify body

Reduce bloating
Healthy weight loss
Improves digestive system
High in antioxidant


In those 14 days, I drank the Good Morning Tea EVERYDAY before I had my breakfast and Good Night Tea 1x in every 2 days before bed! 

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I made my own breakfast which usually consisted of 2 slices of pesto toast, grilled chicken/ tofu/ tempeh, and veggies (stir fry tomatoes/cucumber/lettuce). Dinner was usually my mom's chinese homecooked meals, but in moderate portion with no rice. On weekends, I ate out with friends !

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My impressions?
- YES! I really feel the difference after consuming the Good Morning Tea. My appetite became much more controlled, suppressed, and I didn't snack mindlessly like before. 
- Good Night Tea made my digestion better WITHOUT diarrhea-like stomachache
- I feel my tummy fat was reduced and less bloated
-Thumbs up for the glass tumbler as it's not only stylish but also very useful to drink the tea on-the-go
- I don't know whether I lose weight or not since I never weigh myself on scales.

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Overall, this package is recommended if you want to kick-start a healthy diet & lifestyle! It can reset your palette & cleanse your guts at the same time. Weight-loss will definitely be achieved if you combine it with regular exercise & calorie deficit. Remember, you are what you eat! Stay healthy, peeps! ;)

Where to buy Teatoxnco ?

6.23.2018

Day Trip from Tokyo to Tateyama Alpine Route

Hi, everyone! I went back to Japan last May and visited some new places I had never been before. One of them is Tateyama Alpine Route. The experience was very memorable to me and I really recommend you to do the tour when you're in Japan between April - June! 

On this post I want to share my tips to do 1 day trip from Tokyo (so you don't need to spend the night there) .

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First of all, Tateyama Alpine Route Tour can be done throughout the year, but the famous "snow walls" is only available from April - June. 

1. TICKET

You can purchase the tour ticket from major train stations & airport. I purchase mine at JR Shinjuku Station Travel Service Center (located at New South Exit). The price is 9000 YEN/ person. The ticket covers all your transportations from Nagano/Toyama to Toyama/Nagano. BUY Max. D-1 !

That means, from Tokyo to Nagano / Toyama (where you can start the Tateyama Alpine Route Tour) and from Nagano/ Toyama to go back to Tokyo, you have to buy shinkansen ticket! Luckily, I have a JR Pass that cover my shinkansen tickets! If you don't have a JR Pass, this day tour might turn too expensive.

2. ITINERARY

This tour consists of many stops and different transportations. They will take you from land to top of mountain, then go down to land again. The tour will take approximately 7 hours (can be more or less depending on how much time you spend at each stop.)


I did lots of research before the tour to prevent any mishaps as the tour is quite expensive. I read that it's RECOMMENDED to start the route from NAGANO and go back from TOYAMA instead of starting from Toyama. Most tour services start from Toyama, hence you might experience long queues for the ropeways and cable cars. 

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Nagano Station

I booked my shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano at 07.20 am. I arrived at 08.43 a.m. After that, we start the tour by taking the (1) Alpico bus from Nagano Station to Ogizawa Station that departs at 09.00am. (please see the route image above, but start from right to left.)
You SHOULD take this shinkansen because the last bus departing from  Nagano Station (to do this tour as a day trip) is at 10.30am. If you start the tour too late, you will be rushing to take the next transportation in the tour without sight seeing. 

(I'm sorry that it's all crumpled LOL. CLICK TO ZOOM!)

In Nagano Station, you can go to their Travel Service Center to grab the tour's schedule pamphlet ! The pamphlet is so important because it writes all transportations' schedule throughout the trip. As we're doing a 1 day trip, we CAN'T MISS the last bus/any transport or else we have to spend a night there.

Once you've started the tour and hopped on the bus, the key is only to remember the next bus/transport's schedule that will take you to the next destination! ;)

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One of the ropeways that took us to the top!

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Kurobe Dam is one of my favorite stops. We had to climb lottttsss of stairs but it's worth the view!

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Yup, I went with my college bestie and her aunt & grandma on this trip!
We were inside the cable car!

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Don't worry! There are few small restaurants / food stands and souvenir stops at every stop.

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Yay! The Snow Wall was indeed beautiful. Why is it only available from April - June? Because in July - October, the ice has melt and there's not any snow yet. The winter season lasts until March and the snow will be too thick! When the Ice starts melting in April, they will "build" the snow wall! 

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After sight seeing the snow wall, we went "down" by bus and another ropeway before finally taking the train from Tateyama Station to Toyama. I arrived at my last stop (Toyama Station) at around 6pm.  My shinkansen to Tokyo was at 7.37pm. The journey took 2 hours and 19 minutes. If you don't get this train, the last shinkansen to Tokyo from Toyama is at 9.20pm (but you'll arrive in Tokyo almost midnight!).

Overall, please visit this place if you happen to visit Japan in April - June! I thought 9000 yen (around USD100) was expensive at first. But after seeing the view throughout this trip, I think it's cheap! 

You can read more detailed informations from tripzilla or jrtateyama