Affordable Hotel in Nagoya Airport: Your Money's Worth at Toyoko Inn

It was for a heartbreaking reason that I checked-in at Toyoko Inn, Nagoya Airport branch. My boyfriend`s vacation in Japan has ended and he has an early flight the following day. Instead of coming all the way from Hamamatsu in the early morning, we decided to stay in a hotel in the airport.

Toyoko Inn  at Nagoya Airport
photo credit: http://www.channels.nl/326607b.html

There are three hotels around Nagoya Airport-Toyoko Inn, Comfort Hotel and Central Hotel. Toyoko Inn and Comfort Hotel are about a few minutes from the Airport building while Central Hotel is connected to the building. The only reason we chose Toyoko Inn is that it has the cheapest price. And we're glad we did!

I booked a mini-double room worth 6458 Yen. We were assigned on the 10th floor offering us a good view of the airport and the control tower. I think the rooms on the opposite side of ours would have a better view since the hotel is beside the ocean.

double room at Toyoko Inn

The bed is spacious enough for two people- even the large-sized ones, I think. I just think that the bed is a bit short for tall people. The mattress is firm, too firm for my taste but it wasn't hard.

There's a mini-fridge in the room. A small water heater for hot drinks are also provided. There's tea with just an okay taste. There's no closet just a set of hangers. There's TV but no cable.

What I love most is the big tub really suited for two people. I've been to several hotels in Japan and so far Toyoko Inn has the most spacious tub I have seen. Toiletries are provided including a beauty kit for women.

toilet at Toyoko Inn

However there are two things that I didn't like. First was the itchy bed covers. I kept on scratching my legs throughout our stay. It was clean but it was just so itchy. Also, the room smelled like cigarette. It might have been my fault cause I booked a smoking room but I didn't expect that the room would also smell like a smoking area!

Breakfast is included. It was filling with a wide variety of bread, rice, soup and vegetables. Coffee is also free. (Yey!) Wifi is available but you have to ask for the password at the front desk. There are also computer terminals in the lobby.


The staff was courteous and they can understand English so you don't have to worry about communication.
Lastly, the hotel has free shuttle airport service. From the airport, go to Platform 8 and wait for the shuttle every 15 to 20 minutes.

Our stay at Toyoko Inn seemed like a perfect way to say farewell for the time being.

Winter Illuminations in Japan

Although Christmas is not celebrated in Japan, there are a lot of places decorated with colorful lights during the winter break. I think these places are also taking advantage of the winter break to attract tourists and visitors. They call this winter illumination.

Here are some of the places I have visited with Winter Illumination

1. Yokohama Winter Illumination

Yokohama at night

lighted port in Yokohama

This is located in Cosmo World in Yokohama just beside Minato Mirai- a well-known tourist spot. I like this place the best because aside from watching the lights, there are also other things you can do. There are also a lot of places you can see. Also the port near Cosmo World is also illuminated. Then there's a giant Christmas tree just a few steps away from the big lighted ferris wheel. The Yokohama Illumination will last until mid- February.

A tip when visiting the Yokohama area. Avail the Minato Burari Pass. It's worth 550 Yen. You can access the Blue Subway Line running along significant stations in the area. You can also ride the loop bus stopping at the tourist spots in the area.

2. Tokyo Dome Love Illumination

I think Tokyo Dome has the most beautiful lights. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. These will last until February.

walkway under the rollercoaster

3. Hamamatsu Station Illumination

From the Kanto region, I went back to Hamamatsu. The nearby areas around Hamamatsu Station have been lighted since late November. The bright lights add beauty to the streets of Hamamatsu.

in front of Zaza City 

4. Flower Park Winter Illumination

Even without the lights, a visit at the flower park can be a refreshing experience. A step in its vast garden feels like a step in paradise. With the added lights, the place looks painfully romantic.

*I'll add more pictures once I got them. ^_^

5. Nagoya Airport Skydeck Illumination

For passengers awaiting their flights, a visit at the Skydeck of Nagoya Airport can help pass time. The only thing I didn't like is the super chilly air.

Here are other places with illuminations.

1. http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=533

2. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2303.html


Take advantage of this season and see the lights!

My New Year in Japan: New Year Traditions in Japan

New Year celebrations back home have always been a grand, noisy, multi-colored event. Fireworks and firecrackers are just about everywhere. This New Year's celebration was so far from what I was used to. It was solemn and quiet. Since I am already in Japan, I decided to celebrate New Year the Japanese way.

Here's how I spent my New Year in Japan:

1. Seen the last sunset at Lake Hamana

last sunset of 2012 at Lake Hamana

Japanese have this thing for nature and the environment that the last sunset of the year is significant to them. My boyfriend and I braved the bone-chilling wind and marched to Lake Hamana. There's a torii there in the middle of the water. We had hoped to see the sunset in the middle of the torii but we weren't that lucky. Nonetheless, it was a sight to see a beautiful sunset together with other Japanese people.

2. Watched a famous TV show during the night

Determined to have an authentic Japanese New Year, we also watched a famous New Year's eve program where Japanese performers sang the night away with popular songs. We didn't understand the songs, what the hosts were saying or why the people were laughing. The colorful performances were enough to hold out attention. It was also a good way to add a dose of revelry to our two-person-and-quiet-surroundings New Year's eve.

3. Ate noodles before 12:00 midnight

ramen for long life on New Year's eve

Japanese eat soba noodles during New Year. Eating noodles is a like having faith to have long life. Since I don't know how to cook noodles, we went to the nearest Ramen house. It wasn't soba that we ate but it's still noodles though.

4. Went to the temple

ringing the temple bell at New Year's eve

temple bell at daytime

temple proper at day time

At 12 midnight, the temple bells around Japan rang. We walked to the nearest temple and fell in line along with other Japanese. It was a line for people who would like to ring the bell. Before ringing the bell, I dropped a coin in the donation box and hit the bell. (It felt like hitting because the bell was so big.) I imitated the person before me by putting my hands together and saying a little wish.

Then we went to the temple proper. We saw a lot of people taking some paper like fortune cookies. I would like to get one but they were written in Japanese. We went back again to the temple in the morning just to see how the temples are different at night and at day time. Visiting temples or shrines on New Year is called Hatsumode

5. Watched the first sunrise at Nakatajima Sand Dunes

first sunrise of 2013 at Nakatajima Sand Dunes
photo credit: http://www.inhamamatsu.com/recommend/cat/Hatsumode-hatsuhinode.php

If the last sunset was significant the first sunrise of the year was even more important. Even though the temperature already felt like negative, we went with other Japanese to Nakatajima Sand Dunes to witness the first sunrise. There were a lot of people but the atmosphere was reverently quiet. II When the sun started to rise, people took out their cameras and recorded it. I felt reflective with the ocean wind touching my face, the people looking awed and the amazing view. It was actually a moving experience and I would have cried if not for the constant chill.

6. Shop! Shop! Shop!

trying on shoes on sale

I think the most fun thing about New Year in Japan is the New Year sale. Clothes, shoes and bags are slashed by 50 to 70 percent. My boyfriend had a grand time buying sports shoes. He bought four pairs of Nike for only 10,000 Yen! My aunt in Tokyo also mentioned that she bought about 10 pairs of jeans for only 50 yen each. I bough 2 bags for only 500 yen each. And they are all brand new bags.

I love how cultural New Year in Japan is. I think the best word to describe the Japanese way of celebrating New Year is reverent. Maybe it has something to do with the sunsets, sunrises and temple bells. Even without fanfare, New Year celebration in Japan felt like I was really marking the end of the past year and starting a new one. It was refreshingly solemn.