Travel to Japan: Saitama - Kawagoe

Saitama is a prefecture in Japan, located in Kanto region, about 40 mins journey by train from Shinjuku area in Tokyo. I visited Saitama area twice when I was in Japan. The first time was to catch CNBLUE concert in Saitama Super Arena and the second one was to visit 'sweet potato city' Kawagoe.

CNBLUE ARENA TOUR 2013 'ONE MORE TIME'

I thought I already used up all my luck last year when I had a chance to travel around for watching several shows of Blue Moon World Tour. But even when the year almost came to an end, the universe was still so kind for letting me catch another unexpected show. It felt like magic when I read the news for the first time. I only had 5 days in Tokyo and the concert date was so fit with my schedule. Through some help from several friendly people, I managed to get the concert ticket from a very nice Japanese lady, R :)

CNBLUE held their Winter Arena Tour last year in 5 cities (Saitama, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Fukuoka), in total of 9 shows. Saitama was their first stop. This tour called 'One More Time' and it's also the title track from their newest Japan album 'What Turns You On?' that had been released on late August.

CNBLUE's concert in Japan was added to my bucket list since I watched their '392' Yokohama concert  through YouTube and I have been blown away by their performance throughout the Blue Moon World Tour. I was getting more curious since many fans stated that their shows in Japan were difference. That's true, even the atmosphere was not the same. Unlike any other concerts, there's no camera clicking or blocking my sight during the show. Maybe there were some but I couldn't even notice.

The band performed both their Korean and Japanese songs for almost 2,5 hours. 17 songs for the first part of the show plus 5 songs for the encore. They also added an impromptu song in the middle of the show and jokingly sang the derp version of 'I'm Sorry'. Oh these guys can turn into comedians someday~

My favorite part was when they had their solo session in the middle of 'Coffee Shop'! Another thing that I love from this show was the Japanese audience precisely knew the right time to scream, to clap, to sing along, and to keep silence. There's a moment during 'eclipse' when the only sound I heard inside this big big big venue was the members played their instrument while Jonghyun sang the mellow song. Didn't I shiver? Yes, I did.

SUPER ARENA, SOOOO BIG!

Saturday, November 2, 2014. CNBLUE Arena Tour 2013 'One More Time' at Saitama - 2nd day.

When the show's over I had a little chit-chat with 2 Japanese women beside me who old enough to be my mother! They also traveled from another city/region just to catch this concert. That's what I love about music, it has no boundaries :) They also gave me a little box of candy as a welcome gift to their country. Once again I'll say this: Japanese people are very kind to foreigners!

Mini sweet package I got from R. Filled with sweet potato and Christmas theme snacks :)

How to get there

Saitama Super Arena

Take JR Saikyo Line to Akabane Station from Shinjuku Station, transfer to JR Utsonomiya Line and get off at Saitama Shintoshin Station (+/- 35 mins).
Turn left on the exit, the venue is just about 2 mins walk from the station.

KAWAGOE - SWEET POTATO HEAVEN

The main reason to visit this city was because I'm a fan of YongSeo couple. The couple visited this city in the middle of their busy busy schedule in Japan around September 2010. The WGM production team chose Kawagoe trip for this couple because this city is famous for its sweet potato. YongSeo couple is also known as Goguma (sweet potato in Korean) couple.

Kawagoe is a city in Saitama prefecture. Not many foreigners paid their attention to this small city, but I hope they will someday in near future. There's an area called The Kurazukuri Street and it's probably the main attraction of this city. It's not a very long street with some alleys filled with museums, warehouses, snack stores, several temples, and Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower). There's a tourist information office inside Kawagoe Station with English speaking staff. They're so helpful and gave me some English brochure along with Kawagoe Tourist Map. He said other than The Kurazukuri Street, I should visit Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane) and Honmaru Goten of Kawagoe Castle. Since I just had a short time, 3 hours more or less, I couldn't visit all those places that day.

The Kurazukuri Street. Look at that clear blue sky!

Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower)

After the first YS trail that I followed when I was in Korea, now I present to you: YongSeo trail part 2! ^^

Sweet Potato Snack Store 

It's located in the main street of Kurazukuri area. The couple visited this store and bought some snack made from sweet potato. There are some sample snacks available inside the store, so you can try some before decide which one to buy. Sweet potato snacks in Kawagoe are taste so goooood, I want to eat them all >,<

There's also a YongSeo set back then, it contains of imo-manjyu & kiri-imo. Both are snacks that the couple bought in the store, but the imo-manjyu was no longer available now.

It's hard for me to find this place at first since I relied on the old facade and wooden board in front of the store from WGM show. I already passed this store several times until I accidentally saw YongSeo pictures on its display. 

Kiri-imo. Imo means sweet potato in Japanese.

Sweet potato snack covered with sugar. The red one is my fav!

Sweet Potato Ice Cream Parlor

This ice cream parlor is located in an alley across the snack store. It's so near with the Time Bell Tower. When I saw the couple ate this ice cream on the show, I couldn't imagine what it's taste like because it's an uncommon flavor. After I tried it, despite of the cold weather, I still wanted to eat another cone of this purple good lookin' ice cream. Heavenly sweet!

3) Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

The couple bought a wooden plate, wrote their wish and hang it inside the shrine. I did the exact same thing.

Each picture on the wooden plate means something, I just randomly chose this one since I can't speak Japanese ^^

On my way to Hikawa Shrine, I also passed by Sakuma Ryokan where the couple stayed for a night and the 711 store where the couple bought they 'holiday' drinks.

Kawagoe is a not that big to explore for 2 days. I think one day trip should be enough to see practically everything. Most places can be reached by foot. I got lost once or twice but not too long until I found my way again. The tourist map is my secret weapon. 

How to get there
From Shinjuku Station: take JR Yamanote Line to Ikebukuro Station, transfer to Tobu Tojo Line and get off at Kawagoe Station (+/- 45 mins).

Directions
From Kawagoe Station exit, find Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mistui Bank Corporation Building. There's a big gate to enter Crea Mall (shopping street). Keep walking straight until the end of Taisho-Roman Street, turn left, take several steps ahead, and you'll find The Kurazukuri area on your right. Just follow the yellow line on the map and you won't get lost.
For getting around in Kawagoe you can ride Koedo bus loop or take the local bus. I chose to walk from Kawagoe Station to Kurazukuri area and Kawagoe Shrine. Then I took the local bus to go back to Kawagoe Station at the end of my journey.

Travel to South Korea: YongSeo Story! ^^

YongSeo! My favorite virtual couple!

You can read my previous post about this couple here.

I managed to visit some of YongSeo memorable places around Seoul and Busan during my trip. Here we go:

1. Sindang Tteokbokki restaurant
YongSeo couple visited this restaurant on their first and last meeting. The restaurant is located in Sindang.
Directions: Sindang Station exit 7, walk for 2 blocks then turn right and you'll see a big sign on your left, turn left and the restaurant will be on your left. It's easy to recognize since they put a YongSeo banner in front of the restaurant.

looked up for this big sign

YongSeo tteokbokki restaurant

YongSeo table! :D

tteokbokki set for two

neomu massisseoyo :9

The best tteokbokki in town! 

2. Sindang Mini Store

The store is located near tteokbokki restaurant. The couple visited this store on their first meeting. They bought their first 2.000 won couple ring ^^, couple cups, couple socks. They visited the store again on their last meeting and spend their money that have been saved for a year. What a cute couple! 

Directions: just across tteokbokki resto

ttekobokki resto on your right, mini store on your left

I also bought some silly things in this shop: yonghwa & cnblue student name tag and ribbon hair band :)

3. Jass Cafe

Jass Cafe is located in Hongdae next to FNC Academy. The couple had their third and fifth date on this cafe. This cafe is well known as YongSeo Cafe until now. YongSeo International (YongSeo fanbase) set up a corner full of YongSeo stuff inside this cafe. I visited this cafe on a rainy day to grab a hot cup of coffee while waiting for the rain to stop. It felt so warm inside :)

Directions: Hongdae exit 2, turn left, walk 2 blocks, cross the street, go to your right, turn left the road between Pourtoi Bakery and Hana Bank. On the next block you'll see FNC Academy on your right side with Jass Cafe next to grocery store.

YongSeo corner with Yong and Seo signature on their CDs

A funny part is.. while I'm enjoying my coffee, the owner gave me 2 album full of yongseo art from YSI.. Haha.. I didn't say anything to him but he seemed to know the reason I visited his cafe :)

4. FNC Academy

Located near Jass Cafe. The couple frequently visited this building on their several meetings at the beginning. FNC Academy is the place where FNC artists (incl. CNBLUE) are practicing. They also visited this building again on their last meeting :)

There's a new FNC Academy building at Apgujeong, it's opened since last January. 

5. MissLee Cafe

The couple had their lunch at Miss Lee Cafe on their 3rd date. They ordered two sets of lunch box along with jujuba latte (Seo recommendation for Yong) & schisandra latte (Yong recommendation for Seo). They also wrote their feeling after heard the news that they got a new house and hung it on a paper tree inside the cafe.

Directions: Anguk Station exit 6, turn right, walk towards Insadong area until you see the crown bakery on the beginning of Insadong path way, the cafe is located in front of Insadong Information Center, above G25 convenience store (2nd floor). 

Insadong 

paper tree

YongSeo couple sat on that table, there's a signage too ^^ 

lunch box set and a glass of goguma latte!

6. Haeunde Beach

Haeunde Beach is the most famous beach in Busan. The couple went to this beach when they visited Busan (Yong's hometown) to meet Yong's mom and friends. The beach is sooo beautiful! Clean air, sand, and water :) There are lots of seagulls flying around too!

Directions: Haeunde Station, walk towards the beach (exit #3 or #5 is closer)

I also met "Yong" & "Seo" ;p

Aside of tried to visit YS trail on Seoul, I also managed to visit several agencies building, Gary's restaurant, and Taeyeon's Appa (father) eyeglasses store, Eyebis, in Jeonju.

SM Entertainment Old Building

Located in Apgujeong, Seoul.

Directions: Apgujeong Rodeo Station, exit #2, walk to your left along the main road around 5 mins (passed through Galleries East and Kia Motors building), you'll find SM Ent building on your left.

YG Entertainment Building

Located in Hapjeong, Seoul.

Directions: Hapjeong Station exit #8, go straight, you'll find gas station on your right, keep walking until you see Hotel Circle on your right then another gas station, walk along until you see a junction and cross it. You'll see Coffee&Beer Cafe then a huge statue on your left, turn to your right, walk along the path. YG building is already visible from that point. Cross the road, walk pass "Prouod" apartment. There's G25 convenience store next to YG building and 12pm Cafe across it.

the statue I mentioned earlier

Pal Ja Mak Chang (Gary's restaurant)

There are two branches, Gangnam and Konkuk Univ. I visited the last one.

Directions: Konkuk University Station exit #1. Follow this map.

Eyebis

Located at Seodo Plaza 1st floor in Jeonju. There's a Taeyeon gallery inside this store. Read my Jeonju story here.

Directions: take a cab from Jeonju Hanok Village to Seodo Plaza, it'll costs around 5000 won (15 mins).

Taeyeon's Appa gave me this drink :)

On my next trip to Seoul, I would like to visit FNC new building at Cheongdam and another SM building (which located just 53 steps away from FNC^^), also Kang Min Hyuk's Appa Restaurant! 

Check this link for another clue for YS Trail.

(I dare myself to take a trip to Kawagoe, Japan, this November!)