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#Travel, Japan

NAGANO, JAPAN: Top 10 Things To Do!

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nagano1

If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, you might want to make a side trip to one of Japan’s best kept secrets!

Nagano Prefecture, besides having the most accessible snow resort in Japan, is surrounded by sought after attractions like the famed 400-year-old Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple and the cute wild snow monkeys!

Here are 10 reasons why Nagano is worth checking out.

NAGANO SERIES:
• MATSUMOTO CITY GUIDE: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES!
• MATSUMOTO CASTLE: Guide & Tips for Tourists!
• SUWA, NAGANO: Guide to Nagano’s Lakeside City!
• Zenkoji: Guide To Nagano’s 1400-Year-Old Temple!
• NAGANO, JAPAN: Top 10 Things To Do!

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March 31, 2019
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#Travel, Japan

Zenkoji: Guide To Nagano’s 1,400-Year-Old Temple!

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Nagano

The Japanese have long been told to visit Zenkoji Temple at least once in their lifetime. The 1,400-year-old temple is one of Japan’s most important pilgrimage sites since the 7th century and is regarded as a National Treasure.

 

NAGANO SERIES:
• MATSUMOTO CITY GUIDE: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES!
• MATSUMOTO CASTLE: Guide & Tips for Tourists!
• SUWA, NAGANO: Guide to Nagano’s Lakeside City!
• Zenkoji: Guide To Nagano’s 1400-Year-Old Temple!
• NAGANO, JAPAN: Top 10 Things To Do!

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March 29, 2019
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#Travel, Japan

SUWA, NAGANO: Guide to Nagano’s Lakeside City!

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This is the lake from Kimi no Na wa!

While the lake is fictional in the movie, it is based on Lake Suwa, a body of water in the central region of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Lake Suwa, located in the middle of the city, is one of Japan’s most famous lakes. It is known for its hot springs (onsen) and the spectacular Suwa Fireworks Festival where 40,000 fireworks take off, enchanting tourists every summer.

The Suwa area is also known as the “Switzerland of the East”, home to many watchmakers, glassmakers, music box and other precision manufacturers.

Here’s our sample 1-day itinerary of Suwa City.

 

NAGANO SERIES:
• MATSUMOTO CITY GUIDE: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES!
• MATSUMOTO CASTLE: Guide & Tips for Tourists!
• SUWA, NAGANO: Guide to Nagano’s Lakeside City!
• Zenkoji: Guide To Nagano’s 1400-Year-Old Temple!
• NAGANO, JAPAN: Top 10 Things To Do!
Read more

March 28, 2019
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#Restaurants

LAMPARA Poblacion: What this Modern Filipino Bistro Really Tastes Like (Review)

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Lampara Restaurant, in Brgy. Poblacion, Makati, is a Neo-Filipino Bistro by Chèf Rj Ramos (Samar), Chèf Alfonse Sotero (Iloilo) and Chèf Prince Tan (Nueva Ecija). These chef-owners are young graduates of Enderun and the deliciously hip Hey Handsome.

Its name was inspired by fire and the passion of these chefs to push the Filipino dining scene forward in Brgy. Poblacion.

We heard mixed reviews, and some say it’s all hype. We got to try it for ourselves and here’s what we think.

LAMPARA
5883 Enriquez Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati
Telephone: +63 917 173-588
Operating Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm,  10:00pm – 2:00 am
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Lampara
Messenger: m.me/lampara.pob
Instagram: @lampara.pob

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March 27, 2019
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#Travel, Japan

MATSUMOTO CITY GUIDE: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES!

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Matsumoto is famed as one of Japan’s great sightseeing spots!

It’s Nagano Prefecture’s second largest city, home to the oldest and most beautiful castle in Japan and a gateway to the Japan Alps that’s known for its winter activities and hot springs.

Here are the top 10 activities we recommend to complete your Matsumoto City visit…

NAGANO SERIES:
• MATSUMOTO CITY GUIDE: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES!
• MATSUMOTO CASTLE: Guide & Tips for Tourists!
• SUWA, NAGANO: Guide to Nagano’s Lakeside City!
• Zenkoji: Guide To Nagano’s 1400-Year-Old Temple!
• NAGANO, JAPAN: Top 10 Things To Do!
Read more

March 25, 2019
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#Philippines

Wandererland Fest 2019: Magical 2-Day Experience!

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Wanderland

On the celebration of its seventh year, Wanderland continued to exceed our expectations as they gave us another memorable year in the music and arts scene. This year, they made it bigger and better by making it a 2-day festival. Headlined by Two Door Cinema Club on day 1 and The Kooks on day 2, this year’s festival gave us a mix of old and new favorites from the best of foreign as well as local acts.

WANDERLAND
Filinvest City Events Grounds, Alabang
(March 9 & 10, 2019)
Facebook: wanderlandfest
Twitter: wanderlandfest
Instagram: wanderlandfest

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March 19, 2019
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#Philippines, #Travel, Japan

MATSUMOTO CASTLE: Guide & Tips for Tourists!

By

Nagano

It’s Japan’s oldest castle!

Matsumoto Castle is one of the five castles designated as National Treasures of Japan. It’s over 400 years old, making it the oldest castle donjon remaining in the country.  Unlike many palaces in Japan, its original structure was, fortunately, not bombed during WWII. That’s why it was able to keep most of its original wooden donjons and walls intact.

It is nicknamed as the “crow castle” for its contrasting color of black and white. It’s currently my favorite castle in Japan because I find it exceedingly rare to find a Japanese castle so well preserved in its original state.

It’s my second time visiting the famed attraction and here are some tips that I wished I knew on my first visit…

Matsumoto Castle Entrance: 
4-1 Marunochi, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano
Saturday (8:30 AM ~ 5:0 PM)
Sunday (8:30 AM ~ 5:0 PM)
Weekdays (8:30 AM ~ 5:0 PM)
Entrance: Adult: 610 YEN
Children: 300 YEN
6 years old or under: Free
Phone: (0263) 32-2902

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March 18, 2019
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#Restaurants, Food

HUI LAU SHAN: Opens in the Philippines!

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Hui Lau Shan PH

Hong Kong’s mango dessert expert Hui Lau Shan opens its Philippine flagship store in SM Megamall on March 23!

Hui Lau Shan 許留山 is a household name in Hong Kong globally known for their 200+ innovative dessert creations and refreshments using Philippine carabao mangoes.

The first store started as a traditional herbal tea shop in the early 60s, selling herbal jelly and a variety of herbal teas, which are believed to provide Chinese medical health benefits. With their passion for innovation, they made a product breakthrough by adding the mango sago in the 90s, catapulting Hui Lau Shan to fame and earning them the title of Hong Kong’s Fresh Fruit Dessert Pioneer.

As a frequent flyer to Hong Kong, I found no difficulty spotting all the Hui Lau Shan shops located around the touristy spots. With over 300+ international stores in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Macau, Canada, Taiwan, Paris, Vietnam and Melbourne, it only makes sense that the Philippines should be part of the growing chain.

Here’s a list of our favorite menu items…

Hui Lau Shan PH
SM Megamall Atrium, Level 4 beside Army Navy

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March 16, 2019
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#Restaurants

Good France (Goût de France): Guide to French Gastronomy Festival in Manila!

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Good France (Goût de France) is a gastronomic festival celebrating the inclusion of the “Gastronomic Meal of the French” in the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

First launched by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and renowned chef Alain Ducasse in 2015, the festival is now on its 5th edition.

Twenty-six chefs in the Philippines join 5,000 other chefs from all over the globe to celebrate the Biggest French Dinner in the World happening simultaneously on March 21, 2019 (Thursday).

Here’s our guide to the national Goût de France festival in Manila to help you choose the right restaurant come March 21.

Goût de France Philippines
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FrenchEmbassyManila
Twitter: @FrenchEmbassyPH
Instagram: @FrenchEmbassyPH

For more info, visit http://restaurateurs.goodfrance.com/

Hashtags: #GoûtdeFrancePH #GoodFrancePH

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March 14, 2019
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#Travel

Machu Picchu to Patagonia: A Latin American Journey

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Top Places to Travel in 2019 Series

We started my hubby’s 40th birthday trip in Peru. It was a long way to get to from the Philippines given that we first flew to Los Angeles (16 hrs) then stayed a few days before flying to Peru (10 hours).

Since this was our first time going to South America, I decided to go through an agency that was more familiar with this continent. I contacted A2A Safaris who are specialists not just in South African safaris but also Latin American tours. My husband said he would set aside his OCD on planning trips and would sit back and just enjoy the pisco sours!

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March 13, 2019
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