From Neon Nights to Cherry Blossoms: Aishwarya’s Thrillophilia Travel Story
Me and my brother had always dreamt of going together on an international trip. When our parents finally granted us permission, we did not wait any longer to plan our vacation.
“Do you have any particular destination in mind?” I asked my little brother Akshaya.
The anime fan in him thought no more and quickly replied “I think we should go to Japan”.
After thorough research, we approached Thrillophilia to plan our trip to Japan. True to our expectations, the team at Thrillophilia, especially Karthik and Vidhi, did an amazing job in curating our itinerary. They assisted us very well in planning the dates and time for our stay at Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. The local transfers, accommodation and day tours were perfectly organised for seamless travel.
At Narita International Airport, the tour coordinator from Thrillophilia received us with a warm smile. He greeted us, “Yokoso Aishwarya and Akshaya! I am sure you are going to love Japan.”
Tales of Tokyo
After check-in, we had an entire day to explore the streets of Tokyo by ourselves. Akshaya had done his homework and was ready to tour the city like a local. Our tour package included a Tokyo Subway Ticket for 24 hours on a shared basis with free rides across 13 routes. Thanks to this ticket, we had the pleasure of exploring Tokyo easily with unlimited access on Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.
On the first day in Tokyo, we kicked off with a peaceful stroll through Suminda Park, followed by a refreshing walk in Yoyogi Park. Later we headed to Ginza district for some fun and entertainment. With a plethora of options for shopping and dining, Akshaya and I almost emptied our pockets. While I shopped for clothes and accessories at GU and Ginza Six, Akshaya was busy looking for a new Apple Watch at Apple Ginza. We also filled our bags with cute souvenirs from Hakuhinkan Toy Park and Matsuya. By the time we finished shopping, we were famished. We headed to Ginza Yamashina for a bite of their famous wagyu beef sandwich, and tried sushi at Sushi Ryusuke. A local directed us to Mitsukoshi Food Hall to taste authentic Japanese food. After buying a bento box there, we returned to our hotel room.
The next day was a leisure day, so Akshay and I decided to explore Tokyo on our own. We visited the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Senso-ji Temple and Tokyo Skytree.
On the third day, we drove to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station from where we captured mesmerising views of Fuji Five Lakes and the scenic backdrop.
The Hakone Ropeway ride there was a thrilling experience as we witnessed Mt.Fuji and Lake Ashi from the top while gliding towards Owakudani Valley.
Mickey Moments and Memories Made
One of the biggest reasons I said yes to visiting Japan with Akshaya was because of Tokyo Disneyland.
Like every kid, I too dreamt of experiencing the fantasy of Disneyland at least once in my lifetime. The moment I stepped through the gate, I felt like a 6 year old again with favorite Disney characters around me, vibrant music, and magical sights everywhere. Akshaya and I jumped up in joy when it was our turn to greet and take pictures with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
Our Tokyo Disneyland ticket provided by Thrillophilia included access to numerous shows, parades and attractions. My favorite attractions were Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast while Akshaya couldn't get enough of Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and Big Thunder Mountain. After munching on Mickey churros, we bought Chocolate Covered Rusks and Air Chocolates for our family back home.
Wanderlusts in the streets of Osaka
Our experience in Tokyo lived beyond our expectations that we were eager to reach Osaka. The super-fast Shinkansen bullet train journey from Tokyo to Osaka gave an electrifying start to our three-day trip to Osaka.
Post check-in, Akshaya and I decided to tour the city by ourselves. My nerd brother took me to the Osaka Science Museum and Osaka Museum of Housing and Living to learn about the city’s history.
“Where should we go next?” I asked Akshaya curiously.
“Aishu, let's go to Den Den Town”, he replied.
I followed him only to end up in a haven for anime, manga, video games and otaku culture. Akshaya shopped to his heart's content while I stood in a corner looking at the joy in my brother’s face.
The next morning, we set off on a short day trip to Kyoto and Nara. We walked through the gardens of Kinkaku-ji Zen Temple, saw the Anmintaku Pong where the water never dries up and threw coins at statues that bring good luck. At Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, we spent hours taking pictures of the Bamboo Alley for our Instagram grid.
Our farewell bid to Japan
Finally, it was the day of departure! We had to go back, not just to Bangalore but also to our mundane lives. The days in Japan were so magical that we did not want the trip to end so soon. It was the best 7 days of our lives that Akshaya and I will cherish forever.
We are grateful to the team of Thrillophilia for arranging such a wonderful trip and curating the itinerary the way we wanted. I would definitely come back to them to plan my next trip.
Read More: Thrillophilia Japan Reviews