Japan Wireless Pocket Wifi Rental and Review

 Earlier before dinner, we're at JR Kyoto Station for 

group photoshooting of Team I and Team II.

Knowing that Hotel Gravia is integrated part of Kyoto station,
we rushed to the hotel to collect parcel from Japan Wireless.

  The hotel receptionist checked and handed us the parcel

with this Instruction on how to connect to the router,...


Pocket Wifi Router, Portable Battery, Charger, Protective case,
and returned envelope to courier back.

For our Korea trips, WIFI was really important for us. Most of the time, we need to search  information such as for Google maps, hotel, flight information, checking e-mails, SNS and others apps are crucial for independent travelers.

So, it's actually not that necessary for this guided trip. Although hotels have Free Wifi, but we're not stationed there. Most of the time it's already late and tired when we reached hotel.

We wanted to call two kiddos at home as we missed them and felt sorry for not bringing them with us. And, it's nice if we can stay connected with my family and friends. We all know that international call is really expensive, and data roaming fee is also ridiculously costly. Maybe a call back to Singapore for few minutes equal to 5 days rental fee of pocket Wifi.

JPY 3,700 for 5 days unlimited data
(cheaper than last year rate by JPY 600).

The rental price is quite affordable. It's even cheaper if you share the cost to five to ten person. It's about SGD 1.50/day/person (based on 6 days rental sharing with 5 person).

So if you ask me is it necessary to rent Pocket Wifi in Japan? I think it's more prudent to rent it, especially if you are avid SNS user, or on business trip. 

Unlimited data usage means you can on it the whole day. We even let four of the team members to use our WIFI connections without worrying it might exceed data limit. Most of the time, we used apps like Skype, Kakao Talk, or Line to make the call and messaging. 

This aided me to write this Japan trip postings too, because I checked-in and updated my whereabouts. Else, by now I might not remember the name of the restaurants we visited.

How to rent Pocket Wifi?

You only need to go to their website, then select the select the device that suit your need and make payment. Do make sure you order it at least 3 days before your flight to Japan, 'Kiasu' us reserved it 3 weeks before our departure date. 

There's option to collect it at the airport or courier to your hotel. We opted to collect it at hotel because we're joining the tour. Not like in Korea, we can have our own sweet time to search for the collection booth, make deposit and sign necessary documents. It's alright to pay additional  JPY 500  and not asking the whole group to wait for us.   

I can say that the connection is pretty fast and stable. Only a bit lagging when 4 or 5 of us bombarded it simultaneously. As you know, the first thing when we stepped in the bus was to update our SNS. Posted lots of photos... It's real time, real place update hor~! 

The network coverage was pretty strong in the city and attraction spots, but sometimes it's no coverage when we're on the way from Kyoto to Osaka. I think it's still acceptable, because it also happen in Korea, our pocket wifi was totally disconnected when we're at rural areas in Yeongju and Muju Ski Resort.

At the end of our trip, we just asked a favor from receptionist of Imperial Hotel in Osaka to courier it back to Japan Wireless. You can courier it from the last city you visit, or just drop it at the airport postbox before you fly off. It's easy and convenience, right?

Gyeongju - Museum without Walls (II)

In Jeju we took taxi tour...  here in Gyeongju, we hop in and off 3-4 busses in a day. We just took buses so we can just sit and rest our tired leg, but at the same time we can view Gyeongju city. Initially, I thought to join city tour, so I didn't plan where to visit in Gyeongju...

Good that when we purchaced Korea Pass & KR Pass, they gave an useful booklet which has a lot of information such as places to visit, map, city tour, and discount coupons (hotels, restaurants, performances,...). 

On top of that, being able to connect is a plus point... we rented Pocket Wifi from S Roaming that we can access to internet by the maximum 3 devices simultaneously. We can search online to get more information too ^^

Korea Pass & KR Pass guidebook with Gyeongju Bus guide

For City tour, please click here for more information

Here are some photos of Gyeongju

but some of the photos quite blur as taken when the bus was moving~~~

Gyeongju City Tour Office, Coffee & Bun Shop, rice field, traditional market, paddy field,

Tumuli Tomb, Hanok House, Hwangnam-ppang bread shops & Gyeongju Station

Charming traditional Hanok-style rooftop everywhere ^^

Tourist Information Centre, Bus Stops, Gas Station, Houses, Ticket counter, Restaurants,... 

   

So, after gathered information, we decided to go to Shilla Millennium Park (신라밀레니엄파크). We alighted somewhere near Gyeongju Tower. Not sure whether we alighted at the correct bus stop... Anyway, we went a convenience store to buy something to drink and the main purpose is actually we need small notes to take a bus later :P 

 Shilla Millennium Park, which reproduces Shilla architecture and a village of aristocrats.

Famous Korean show Queen Seondeok was filmed here too.

Hey... wait!!! where are the rest of the photos inside Shilla Millenium Park?

I didn't lost my way, you can see the photo was taken outside the park... but I somehow changed my mind. My body was raising white flag (surrender) as I was completely exhausted! 

Although I enjoy Korea much, but I rarely do exercise... You know, the only exercise I like is swimming. So, for these 6 days in Korea, I walked the most in my life... and 3 more days to go! Therefore, need to recharge my energy first... :P

Tadaaa! Let's just relax and soak in Hot spring sauna in Hotel Gyeongju Kyoyuk Munhwa Hoekwan.  Yes, thanks to Korea Pass booklet, I accidentally saw that this hotel have Sauna facilities when searching for attractions near Bomun Lake... Furthermore, you can enjoyed 30% off for Sauna if you're using Korea Pass!

Uh Oh!!! After payment... they told us that 3rd floor is for Male and Female on 2nd floor. They just provide 2 towels and there's no clothes provided, so I think there's no unisex (jjimjilbang) area.

Male's Lockers area

You need undress everything and store all your belongings in the locker... yap~ no strings attached on your body! 1, 2, 3,... faster walk to shower area! Well, though I think people won't be interested to look at me, but still no confidence to walk nakedly in front of people and bath together! Aigoo... Aigoo~!!!

Though, some people looked at me, they can sensed that I'm not a local? Whatever, after showered, I can finally jump and hide inside the tub... There are 4 tubs with different hot and cold temperatures. I like the one with Jacuzzi and took a quite nap at that pool... after tried all the pools and sauna rooms.

Re-energise and fresher after relaxing my body... my mind not that relax though~

Spa centres in Singapore, mostly have hydropool or Jacuzzi in the private or couple room,

or have curtains separator between the tubs. For shared tub, you need to

wrapped yourself in a bath gown or towels provided there...

Afraid that my hubby not enjoying the sauna, I just came out half and hour earlier. Expecting that he's outside waiting for me. But, I was wrong! Wow... He really knew how to enjoy his one and half hour of hot spring and came out on time.

While waiting for my hubby,  I was wandering around the lobby and outside the hotel alone... Saw few people brought their own basket of toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body or face cleanser and 'ddae’ a scrubber which you use to take off the dead layers of skin on your body). Next time I should bring my own toiletries too :P

Small Sikdang near Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal

Kimchi jjigae and Galbi Tang with banchan spread covered almost the whole table.

After dinner, we walked around Bus Terminal to find famous Hwangnamppang (황남빵). It's Gyeongju specialty bread  filled with a sweet red bean paste, which has preserved the same traditions and flavors for 70 years, spanning three generations.

  You can find this big Hwangnamppang store/factory near bus terminal

 Chalborippang (찰보리빵) another popular specialty bread of Gyeongju.

It is round and flat, made with locally produced glutinous barley, which gives it chewy texture.

The bread makers selling Hwangnamppang, Gyeonjuppang, and Chalborippang are located around the downtown area of Gyeongju, bus terminal and Singyeongju KTX station.

Well, it's quite late... so we took a taxi to our final destination for the day..

Evening stroll in this stunning Anapji Pond (안압지)

Anapji is an artificial pond. Imhae jeonji was a detached palaces of the Silla royal family’s main palace. It was built for the crown prince, constructed by order of King Munmu in 674 CE.

  

The pond is situated at the northeast edge of the Banwolseong palace site.

Pond had been surrounded by stone walls, and that 5 buildings had been

standing on the pond's west to south.

Beautifully lighted up pavilions, huge pond and surrounding park.

 

 Too bad... I'm not a good photographer

these photos just not justified the beauty of Anapji Pond

I love those pretty reflections on the pond surface.

Thanks for the restoration and maintenance of this historical place, Anapji Pond is reviving to its former glory.

Here are video and more photos of Anapji Pond: 

Drama "Gung (궁) Princess Hours" mesmerising scenes of the front and back palace courtyards were filmed at Anapji Pond. I hope that there will be more films or dramas setting using Anapji Pond as filming location...

 Back to Seoul the next morning by KTX

Unbelievable...  only yellow sticker on the floor
"고객신뢰선 (운임경계선) We Trust You (Only paid customers can cross)"

Goodbye Gorgeous Gyeongju!

Related Post:

~ [Gyeongju] - Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto