MY FOURTH TIME IN JAPAN: A SOLO TRIP

 LOCATION:  FUKUOKA, JAPAN

A late afternoon stroll in the scenic man-made lake in Ohori Park

This is my fourth time in Japan, but my second time in Fukuoka on a solo trip.  I really love Fukuoka.  It is more relaxing compared to the busy cities of Osaka and Tokyo. This was dated September 27-30, 2024.   The first time I was in Fukuoka, I was not able to explore Ohori Park, though it was just a walking distance from my accommodation.

Day 1 - September 27

During my departure at NAIA Terminal III

My departure from Manila thru NAIA Terminal III was dated September 27, 2024 boarding Cebu Pacific Airline Flight No. 5J922 at 2:05 P.M. seated at 19A passing thru Gate 10.

The view while on board of my flight to Japan

Arrival at Fukuoka International Airport

The flight we boarded arrived at Fukuoka International Airport at 7:00 P.M with a travel duration of 4 hours and 55 minutes.

Waiting for the free shuttle connecting to Airport Train Station

It took me 44 minutes to process all my needs before leaving the airport since I bought at the airport a Nimoca train card costing 2,000 yen equivalent to P820.  Then I bought a load for my train card for 3,000 yen or P1,230.  I also had a Wifi rental for 1GB per day good for 5 days for 3,080 yen or P1,262.80.

My accommodation at UNPLAN Fukuoka

Upon exit from the airport, I took Bus 1,  a free shuttle going to the Domestic Airport where there is already a train line there.   The station where I boarded is called Fukuoka Airport Station (Station 13), then, it stopped at Higashi-Hie Station (Station 12), Hakata Station (Station 11), Gion Station (Station 10), Nakasu-Kabawata Airport Line (Station 9), Tenjin Station (Station 8), Akasaka Station (Station 7), and finally the last station heading to my accommodation, Ohori Park (Station 6).

Inside my comfortable capsule accommodation

From the station, I just walked upstairs and on the same block, my accommodation was already there, the UNPLAN Fukuoka with an address of Japan 810-0074 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Otemon, 3-chrome-4-1 where I was billeted at the 5th Floor Room 5C Bed 89 and I was given a room pin number.  Aside from the online booking I paid, I was also charged with board and lodging fee at the counter for 200 yen per day totaling to 600 yen or P246.  My accommodation is actually a capsule type.  I find this type of accommodation very affordable and convenient.  Inside, there is a locker for your valuables, charging outlet, a space with a length of a laptop, hangers, it has its own switch for your electric lamp and a very comfortable and clean beddings.  

Dinner was available from a convenience store, just as when you go out from Ohori  Park Station platform. My meal set was 669 yen or P274.29.  I bought a bread for midnight snacks for 184 yen or P75.44 and a bottled drinking water of 500ml for 116 yen or P47.56.  Convenience store does not give a plastic bag for your purchases.  You have to buy it for 5 yen or P2.05.

Day 2 - September 28

Free breakfast provision at UNPLAN Fukuoka

I had a soundly sleep and I woke up at 7:40 A.M.  By 7:52 A.M. I had already my free breakfast at the guests dining lounge at the ground floor.  The free breakfast is unlimited bread (plain and choco bread), fresh milk, bread spreads (honey, cheese, butter, margarine, jam, hummus, tapenade, and pate) , cereals, coffee, fresh yogurt and tea.   The good thing here is you can refill for a drinking water so that you will no longer buy bottled water from the convenience store or elsewhere.

The spacious guest's lounge

After my breakfast, I had shower and I stayed shortly at the guests' lounge at the 5th floor, since I was working for a report needed to be submitted immediately.  Yes, I was on an approved vacation but reports should be submitted when it is being asked online.  The guests' lounge is working space.  The whole building provides a free wifi. Also at the lounge, guests can store their food for free, can cook, can wash, can iron clothes.  I usually stay here to work.  I feel comfortable here.  Guests are very nice.  You can pick conversation and have friends if you want.  

The view from the window of the guests' lounge

My accommodation is just a walking distance to the Ohori Park and Fukuoka castle.  Afternoon, morning and evening walks are very quite relaxing on this area.

The nearest convenience store to my accommodation

This mini stop is just next to the train station exit of Ohori Park station subway (left) and a walk to the foreground of this photo is just 1 building from the corner turn left and presto, UNPLAN Fukuoka is already there.

While exiting from Tenjin Station subway

Japan has really an efficient train transportation system.  So, from Ohori Park, I boarded the train to Tenjin station just 2 train stops. How much it costs?  Well, it is just a minimum train fare of 210 yen or P86.10. I went to Tenjin to buy something from Don Quijote.

The following are some photos of how Tenjin looks like.  What is Tenjin?  It is the largest commercial, business, and fashion district in Fukuoka City located in Chuo Ward. As the bustling heart of Kyushu, it serves as a major hub for shopping, nightlife, and dining, characterized by large department stores,  fashion boutiques, and the extensive Tenjin Underground Mall (Tenjin Chikagai).

Finally, to my destination - Don Quijote Store

The Don Quijote Store

The Don Quijote Fukuoka Tenjin Main Store consists of five floors above ground and a basement floor (B1).  It is located in the Imaizumi area, this multi-story building offers comprehensive tax-free services, a pharmacy, cosmetics, and various daily goods, operating 24 hours.  This is their directory:

        Basement 1F:  Food, alcohol, beverages, and souvenirs

        Ground Floor:  Pharmacy, cosmetics, and health products

        Second to Fifth Floor:  Apparel, household goods, electronics, and luxury goods

        Tax - Free:  Dedicated tax-free services are located on the 5th floor.

KOTA KINABALU CITY TOUR

Location:  Sabah, Malaysia

Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu City Mosque)

This is just a side trip of my Mount Kinabalu Climb where we stayed here one day before the climb and one day after the climb before we had our Brunei Darussalam Trip.

Our whole team for the Mount Kinabalu climb at Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Our group left the Philippines thru NAIA Terminal 3 at 11:10 P.M. of  June 10 boarding Air Asia Flight No. Z2503 from Gate Number 4 of NAIA Terminal 3 seated at 28D and arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport June 11 at 1:30 A.M.

Immigration check at Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Since our arrival at the airport was at dawn, we stayed at the airport till 7:30 A.M. waiting for our service vehicle chartered by our tour organizer.

Simcards and e-sim available at the airport

Since, it was a tour package, I only exchange P6,000 to Malaysian Ringgit where it was converted to 385.20 Malaysian Ringgit or US$96.44  On other hand, I bought at the airport a Malaysian Wifi Simcard amounting to 35 Malaysian ringgit or P436 or US$8.76.

A convenience store inside Kinabalu International Airport

From the international airport, we were picked up by our chartered van heading to our  accommodation at Faloe Hostel of shared accommodation of 10 persons for one group located at I-50-3, Block i, No. 50, 3rd Floor, KK Times Square, Off Coastal Highway of Kota Kinabalu City.

The highly-modern Kota Kinabalu International Airport

The highway heading to our accommodation

Based on my own experience of travelling, the roads of the city of Kota Kinabalu are not that busy.  Very light traffic.  Though, it is considered as a major tourist hub in Malaysian Borneo, serving as the primary gateway to the state of Sabah.  It blends urban amenities --- like shopping malls and bustling seafood markets --- with easy access to nature, including the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park for diving, islands, and yes, our ultimate destination, climbing Mount Kinabalu.

Almost reaching our accommodation

The KK Times Square at the left

My breakfast for 17 Malaysian Ringgit

Just down our accommodation is a restaurant.  Menus are entirely different from a Filipino dish.  The 17 Malaysian Ringgit is equivalent to P211.75 or US$4.26.  Meals cost higher inside the mall.  A 500ml bottled drinking water is 1.47 Malaysian Ringgit or P17.07 or US$.0.37.  In the Philippines, the average retail price of a 500ml bottled drinking water is P11.  I bought hot chocolate cup 40g 3-in-1 chocolate hazelnut for 7.30 Malaysian Ringgit or P90.93 or US$1.83.

Back to our accommodation after breakfast

After breakfast, we went back to our accommodation and comfortably rested in our beds.  We were so tired, but others went outside for a walk and some others took hot shower.  I opted to sleep.  Just imagine leaving the Philippines at 11:10 P.M. the other day and still have no sleep.

Just a couple of blocks away from our accommodation

At around 1:00 PM, we left our accommodation heading to a nearby mall for our lunch.  It was just three blocks away thru a leisurely walk.

Passing thru this point

Our destination for lunch

One of the stores where I bought pasalubong

At Victoria Secret, I bought an assorted perfume for pasalubong which costs 110 Malaysian Ringgit equivalent to P1,656.39 or US$27.54 for a very special person.  Kota Kinabalu Ref Magnet souvenir item costs 5.90 Malaysian Ringgit or P67 or US$1.48.

To make sure, we will get a cheaper lunch meal, we headed to the malls food court and opted to look at these corners.

But finally, we landed here.

It was cheaper here and with a variety of choices

Ended up ordering this combination

My lunch meal costs 23.90 Malaysian Ringgit or P297.70 or US$5.98.  In the Philippines, a Jollibee Super Meal A meal costs P185 or US$3.08 which includes 1-piece chickenjoy with one rice scoop, Jolly spaghetti, Yumburger and a soda drink.

On an afternoon city tour

Let's look at what they have in their city.

We are actually heading to Kota Kinabalu City Mosque arriving there at 3:52 P.M.

Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu City Mosque)

This mosque sits on a 14.83-acre (6.00 hectares) site at Pasir Road on the shores of Likas Bay, on the South China Sea.  It is partially surrounded by a human-made lagoon, thus, is has been given the nickname "The Floating Mosque".  It has a maximum capacity of 12,000 worshippers.  The mosque features an ATM, three madrasas, a palliative care clinic, and - in a joint project with University Malaysia Sabah - a fish farm.  In 2008, the mosque introduced paddle boat rides, from which visitors could see the mosque from the water; a mosque committee member stated that this was to make the mosque more relevant to the community's life encompassing religion, economy and social aspects.

Capturing the totality of the mosque

There is an entrance fee of 5 Malaysian Ringgit to enter the mosque which is equivalent to P62.28 or US$1.25.  Muslim attire (robes and headscarves) at the mosque is available for rental which range from 5 to 10 Malaysian Ringgit for all visitors.  The mosque requires that visitors should wear modest clothing that covers hair, shoulders, arms and legs to ankles to enter, that is way, we were not able to enter the mosque because we did not rent for this attire.  It was so hot then when we visited that I don't like to be wrapped up with a robe and headscarves.  All visitors must register at the kiosk before entering and renting.  For attire rentals and entrance, they only accept cash.

While at Jesselton Point

Jesselton Point in Kota Kinabalu is the main ferry and jetty terminal for tourists traveling to the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park islands (Sapi, Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug) and Labuan. It acts as a bustling waterfront hub for island-hopping, water activities, and boat transfers, ofren referred to now as the new South Jetty area.

The Jesselton Mall

Along our afternoon leisurely walk

Still on an afternoon city walk

Another malling

Outside the mall

Searching for other souvenir stores

And yes! This is the right area

Just next to the city hall

It was already 6:42 P.M.

It was already an evening stroll

The dinner ambiance at the night market

The night market offers a variety of seafoods.   Our group bought for a number of seafoods variety and had it cooked in one of the restaurants and our individual share costs 31 Malaysian Ringgit or P386.14 or US$7.76.

While waiting for dinner

After dinner, we headed back to our accommodation to have an early rest, conditioning ourselves for the following day's Mount Kinabalu Climb.