This time, I took the Ninja High-Speed Boat from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Tsu. The trip took about 45 minutes, crossing Ise Bay directly to the Tsu Nagisamachi ferry terminal. There are buses from the port to Tsu Station, but they don't run very frequently. I missed the bus while buying a ship stamp, so I ended up taking a taxi in Japan for the first time.
Tsu Station is shared by JR, Kintetsu, and the Ise Railway, so first-time visitors need to pay some attention to where they're going. When entering from the east exit, it's easier to reach the JR area first. If you're taking Kintetsu, you'll need to follow the signs inside the station to the Kintetsu platforms.
What left the strongest impression on me at Tsu Station was actually the Wi-Fi. My mobile data suddenly stopped working, so I had to rely on the free Wi-Fi in the JR area to look up directions. It didn't really work once I left the JR area, but fortunately, I somehow managed to make it all the way to Ujiyamada Station. It really made me miss the convenience of free Wi-Fi being available everywhere in public places in Taiwan. However, this service has now been discontinued, so anyone who suddenly needs Wi-Fi should keep that in mind.
Tsu Station | Review by Holly
Other Reviews by Holly
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TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® Dream Christmas
At TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN®, a commercial complex composed of TOKYO SKYTREE® and TOKYO Solamachi®, special Christmas events are held annually from early November. The entire town is enveloped in a Christmas mood with illuminations, a Christmas market, and projection mapping.
這次剛好遇上就特地過來感受一下聖誕氣氛。活動期間除了聖誕市集，整個晴空塔城也會搭配大規模燈飾、聖誕樹與限定燈光演出，晚上來真的很有節慶感。
聖誕市集本身主要還是以吃的為主，像熱食、甜點、飲料等選擇很多，現場也有設座位區，只是人潮蠻多的，座位數就顯得有點不夠，價格也偏觀光地水準，不算便宜，但氣氛確實有做出來，燈光、裝飾和晴空塔本體放在一起，對於很少感受到聖誕氣氛的我而言，還是覺得挺不錯的。
如果要來，我會建議先查好當天晴空塔特別點燈或投影演出的時間，再安排市集一起逛。這樣同一趟既能吃東西、看聖誕裝飾，又能順便欣賞限定燈光秀，整體會比只為了市集單獨前來更值得。 -
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Narita International Airport
The international airport and gateway to Tokyo, visited by 44 million travelers each year (as of 2019). Opened in 1978, this world-famous airport (airport code NRT) has ferried over 6 million flights both in and out of Japan. The airport grounds include 3 different passenger terminals, a freight terminal and is currently planning to open a new runaway in addition to its two runways currently open.
This time I arrived at Narita Airport pretty early, so I actually had time to look around at the airport facilities. What really impressed me was that there were seats with power outlets and workspaces near the check-in counters. My first thought was, “This is way too corporate-slave-like,” but thinking about it, international airports do have many business travelers who need to handle last-minute work, so having a place to sit down and use a computer is actually very thoughtful.
The baggage services before departure are also comprehensive. Each terminal has a baggage repacking area and scales, so you can check the weight before the airline counters open. In my experience, the numbers were pretty close to those at the airline counter, so you can adjust your luggage ahead of time. Terminal 1 also has a luggage-wrapping service, so if you're worried about your suitcase getting scratched or damaged during handling, you can arrive early and take care of that.
After immigration, there are still duty-free shops, restaurants, and stores all the way to some of the boarding areas, so it's not like there's nothing once you pass through security. But compared with Kansai Airport, which has been renovated in recent years, I personally found Narita's shopping area a little more modest. Food prices weren't outrageously high, though. What really stood out to me instead was the price of bottled water.
I also really like the capsule toy machines at Narita Airport. You can see quite a few machines as soon as you arrive at the airport by train, with everything from popular characters to more obscure designs. If you still have some 100-yen coins left at the end of your trip, this is a great place to use up your change, and sometimes you can even find items you might not come across in the city. -
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Ginza Itoya Main store
The Stationary Specialty store was established in 1904, Alongside department stores and luxury brand shops, in Ginza. The main store building symbolized by a bright red paper clip was renovated in 2015.
If you're a stationery lover, Ginza Itoya is definitely worth visiting when you're in Tokyo. Each floor is organized by a different type of stationery, with clear categories covering everything from fountain pens, planners, paper goods, and cards to art supplies. There are especially many high-quality products with distinctive designs, making them great as gifts for others or yourself.
However, although Ginza Itoya has many floors, each floor is actually not that large, so I wouldn't recommend visiting with luggage, as the aisles will feel even more crowded. Its selection also isn't geared toward everyday stationery, but focuses more on fountain pens, planners, paper, art supplies, and design-oriented stationery. The paper goods and writing instruments in particular are really worth taking your time to browse.
Overall, Ginza Itoya is more of a place for stationery lovers to broaden their horizons and shop for premium stationery, rather than a stationery store focused simply on variety or getting everything in one place. -
