I’m loving every moment of Tokyo. The people, culture, food, meeting up with family, the fresh experience of eating in a local izakaya, skipping on the powder-snowed grounds, staying in a quintessential Japanese hotel – its just filling my heart to the brim with joy.

entrance of Sensoji temple

One of the highly sought ryokans in Hakone has finally replied me that they do have availability after all.

But this will cost me 888 sgd / person because it is known as ‘SEASONAL price’.

And strange enough, the normal price (which is approx. 30% cheaper) will be valid if I choose to go 2 days later.

[note to self: willing to spend for Bo's birthday but not to this extreme. already bleeding from other costs involved].

As you can tell (again), how madly excited I am about Japan. I had better be laughing myself silly-happy if I do re-read this entry some time in the future, post the trip.

I know, I know, its at least 2.5 months to Xmas and I’m already crazy researching & booking Japan-related stuff almost every day for the trip that takes place after Christmas. I even think about it in the shower.

But its only because every Japanese folk out there is going to flock to these popular destinations for their short break & new year celebration as well (since they don’t celebrate CNY), and at last check about an hour ago, all the ryokans with onsens in Hakone & Kyoto, even the pricey ones are booked out. Grrrrr.

So, I’ve decided on plan B. To incorporate some skiing on our trip instead. Bo has been wanting to try, and experience lying on, holding, smelling, feeling powder snow for a while, while I’m just a sucker for power snow, available onsens, snow deers and trying out snowboarding. Plus its only 77 minutes ride on the Shinkansen from Tokyo! Wheee.

I’ve been to Japan twice, and I’ve never been as hardworking as I’ve been in the past 2 weeks with burning the midnight oil, reading all sorts of guide books, researching on the Internet just for our upcoming trip.

Perhaps its the fact that I am travelling with my spouse this time, and I really wanted to make it a very memorable 2011 beginning and a special birthday celebration for him which is why I’m saving every dime I have for this trip, and researching madly just so I ensure every cent spent on this trip is well-spent. Its a birthday present to him after all.

And to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about planning for a trip, to the extend of drawing up a detailed itinerary, consuming more & more information by the minute of any spare time I’ve got, and emailing ryokan/inns/guest houses wildly. My enthusiasm to read up on more stuff seems to be piling up by the minute, and I’m all smiles even knowing that I can’t buy as many misc. stuff as I usually would subconsciously just so that we can enjoy the trip comfortably.

So, left with just deciding if its worth to purchase the JR pass (which cost a friggin $460 per person!), and some logistics on our side trips (a basic accommodation costs $550/night in each of the 2 cities we wanna go!), I’m trying to motivate myself by psyching up and saying ‘I’m almost there!’.

Finally, one task down! 4 more to go. Note to self: jiayou!!!