Hiji-Machi One Day Tour and Harmony Land

Warning: LOADS OF PICTURES! but I guarantee it's worth it to see my face

I got invited for a one day tour in Hiji-Machi 日出町 or Hiji Town, Oita to promote this beautiful town. I was so happy!!!!!!!!!!!! tho I didn't know what was the agenda that day lol. I just love to travel, and I heard Hiji-machi couple times as a local exchange destination, but never got the chance to go.. so this is it! Finally I can visit Hiji-machi!!!! Yippieeeeeeeee!

Anyway, (January 10, 2015) I woke up quite early that morning, maybe around 8.30 ish.. yes, that's like super early for me. We went to Hiji with bus from Beppu which is not so far. I think it only took us about 20-30 minutes to our first stop.

First stop, we went to the monastery. I forgot to take picture because I was listening carefully..and beside we only spent about 30 minutes there. The place is small and up hill, but beautiful :) I'm so sad that I can't show you the picture :(, but there I bought their cookies. Yes, the monastery made cookies, and their cookies are sooooooo gooooooood and very cheap compared to the quality. They even have hand-made cookies one! I bought one also and I finished the whole pack on that day, right away. I also bought a matching necklace with le bf

then, we proceed to the next stop which only took 10 minutes from the monastery..

We were brought to a big house. Turned out, it was a big house belong to someone who now moved to another city, and he/she decided to donate the house for the town to do some local exchange activities! HOW GENEROUS IS THAT?! The house is so damn big!

When we arrived, there were several people waiting already and cooked for our lunch.. :') so sweet...

I was like O_O when I saw the table full of food...

the food are prepared by the lovely obaasan (grandmas) from Hiji town! All taste good! I love the karaage! and the jelly also! I tried kabosu jelly and it was.. UNIQUE.. It taste just like Kabosu.. I really can't describe it.. but if you got the chance, please, try KABOSU JELLY! You won't find this elsewhere!

After a happy lunch time, we chilled out there and play some Japanese traditional games! See! You got the chance to learn Japanese culture too here! and afterward, I just roam around the garden.. snapping pictures... mwahahahaha.. 

the gate picture for my ootd post that day lol

lets continue..

one side of the garden

another gate

After we said goodbye to all yasashii obaasan (kind grandmas), we went to see some historic scenery, we were brought to a primary school that used to be a castle.. the pathways are beautiful, very Japanese, unlike Tokyo which is full with tall buildings mostly..

then, we continue our journey to a Buddhist Temple

 So green and traditional here.. I can feel the Japanese culture right away..

It was almost 3 pm when we finished the tour in the temple, so I thought, right, time to go home! It's been awhile and what a fun day! I'm tired already too.. but I totally love this tour!!! Before I went back to the bus, I took some brochures, including a brochure about Harmony Land, I planned to visit Hiji again in the future with my friends/family and wanting to go to Harmony Land too next time!

but..

suddenly...

the bus..

stop..

IN FRONT OF HARMONY LAND!!!!!!!

I was like "WHAT?!!! Are we really going there?!!!!!!! *pause*   FOR FREE?!" (<-- shameless)

sorry.. too happy.. lol

I literally run into the park.. the guide said we only have an hour to go around, and I was like, yeap one hour is good enough for me to do a preview! I will just go back again to try all the rides, so now, let me take pictures and shop! LOL

So, in that 60 minutes, I managed to go to the Hello Kitty's house

 

The bedroom I believe..

The wardrobe

Even have piano! (fake one tho) still, it's PINK and CUTE!

The dining room

Then I walked out to enter EVERY SHOPS. Yes, EVERY SHOPS.

and snaps more pictures... 

me being ケチ (pelit) 

just take photo, ok :p no need to buy lol

with random bear, or is it just me who dunno about this character?

I swear I saw GUDETAMA but he is going for his break so he rejected me who wants to take picture with it so badly =_= shitty luck me.. I have to take picture with gudetama if I came back!!!

Anyway, I finished shopping, and still have about 20 minutes.. so decided to go for Kitty Robot because le bf spotted that one and was very interested with the word "Robot"

So we went in to a big house, and turned out, it's a cool game where you have to complete like 6 tasks to make your own Kitty Robot!! then you can print your own card (but must pay for the card yea, and the queue was too long, so I cannot purchase my card since I was so ギリギリto go back to entrance or my guide will leave us)

inside the house

This card will let you know your progress on completing the tasks.. so whenever you are on one machine, put your card, play the game, get the points!

The games are so cute! they were originally designed for kids tho, so it's freakin easy for us, but still, we can have fun!

this is me, trying to save kitty!

inside the lab

arrghh so cute!!! How I wish I can print my Kitty Robot.. :(

I will definitely print one if I came back!

I have 3 excuses now to drag my bf back...

1. I want a picture with Gudetama

2. I want to make my Kitty Robot again!

3. I want to try their rides! They have roller coasters you know! and illumination at night!

Ok, I'll end my post with my little shopping..

I bought the Amao Latte (Amao is a name of Strawberry in Japan, very famous one for its sweetness) and Strawberry Milk Mochi (so the mochi is strawberry and inside have milk). Both taste super good! The phone straps and notes were gift from the Harmony Land to us for visiting! They also asked us to promote Harmony Land.. and I was like OH YEAH SURE!!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!! hahaha

So, yes people, you go to Japan, you don't go to USJ or Disney only! There are always more to discover! Come to Harmony Land when you come to Oita! P/S: the entrance ticket is CHEAP! So, seriously, GO, GIVE A VISIT!

Alright, see you!

Disclaimer:

This is not a sponsored post. 

I did this review to thank them for the opportunities and help promote Hiji town.

All pictures belong to this blog and should not be used for other purposes without agreement from author