JKM Fund: January 2023

If you follow the CPF Annual Report definition of regrossed balance, we have a combined S$1.214 million in CPF. That sounds better.

The regrossed balance includes the monies you have spent on investment/housing loan/education, etc.

That is the right way of calculating as it shows your own ability to draw cash into the CPF account (be it topping it up yourself or from the employer contribution).

Nevertheless, the net cash balance in CPF account is S$918,000.

Why such a nice figure?

I round out the numbers by doing Voluntary Housing Refund (VHR)!

It shall break S$1 million mark on January 1st, 2024.

The key is to stay employed.

My 10 years boy has the CPF balance of S$54,741.05 (sitting in SA and MA account that both draw high compound interest of 5.0% currently).

If you want to boost your CPF balances at a faster pace, you can choose to pay your housing loan all in cash instead of CPF OA.

We have withdrawn total CPF OA amount of S$261,802.98.

We have missed out the potential interest of S$67,024.15, which is the accrued interest.

CPF is not the only retirement income but surely, it is one of the damn good incomes when we retire! Cheers.

Updated on December 23th, 2023:

The trip was simply awesome. In summary, we spent about S$7,000 for this trip for a family of 3.

Fushima Inari Shrine Gates (my number 1 tourist spot in Kyoto!)

Kiyomizu-dera

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Nijo Castle

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

Nara Park

Universal Studio Japan (Osaka)

Osaka - Kobe - Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

Our meals:

(1) The Originator of Teppanyaki Steak Misono (KOBE)

(2) Menya Inoichi - MICHELIN Guide Restaurant (KYOTO)

(3) Yakiniku Issho Kitashinchi Rikyu (OSAKA)

(4) Louie's N.Y. Pizza Parlor (Universal Studio Japan, OSAKA)

(5) Kyoto Curry Seisakusho Karil (KYOTO)

(6) Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu (KYOTO)

(7) Maimon Sushi @ Kuromon Market (OSAKA)

(8) Ichiran (KYOTO)

(9) Sukiyaki and Gyunmabushi Momoshiki (NARA)

(10) MOS Burger (OSAKA)

(11) Ganso Gyozaen @ Chinatown (KOBE)

(12) Ichie Yakiniku (OSAKA)

(13) 松阪肉.老铺 DAIMARU UMEDA (OSAKA)

(14) Soba Tempura shop @ Higashiyama Kiyomizu (KYOTO)

(15) Shabu Shabu dinner @ Pontocho (KYOTO)

(16) Yakiniku Kura Teramachi (KYOTO)

(17) IPPUDO (KYOTO)

(18) 渔师小屋 @ Nishiki market (KYOTO)

(19) Yakitori @ Kyoto Porta (KYOTO)

(20) Dramatic Curry Golden Nakazaki (OSAKA)

(21) Tully's Coffee (KYOTO)

(22) Kumonocha (KYOTO)

(23) Seared Wagyu Beef sushi @ Nishiki market (KYOTO)

(24) Kuromon market (OSAKA)

(25) Saint Marc Cafe (OSAKA)

(26) The Veranda at Kobe (KOBE)

(27) cafe Granché (OSAKA)

(28) cafe @ Nara (NARA)

(29) cafe @ Fushima Inari Yotsuji (KYOTO)

(30) Kurasu Kyoto Stand (KYOTO)

(31) 京野菜 shop (KYOTO)

(32) Street food, OSAKA airport food & flight meals...

Our hotels:

(1) Hotel Monterey Le Frere (OSAKA)

(2) Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo Natural Hot Spring (KYOTO)

(1) The Originator of Teppanyaki Steak Misono (KOBE)

The Originator of Teppanyaki Steak Misono

We ordered 3 sets of lunch menu, Kobe beef loin steak (150g), Wagyu beef fillet (120g) and seafood and fillet steak (120g). It came with 5 types of grilled vegetables, rice, miso soup, pickles, dessert and coffee. The lunch bill was JPY44,550. Very good quality meal.

(2) Menya Inoichi (KYOTO) - MICHELIN Guide Restaurant

麺屋猪一

We ordered Dashi ramen with white soy sauce, two grilled Wagyu beef ramen with black soy sauce with seasoned half boiled egg, 4 pieces of homemade shumai (so delicious!), one grilled thin sliced pork on rice with egg yolk and a glass of pear juice. Total bill JPY7,250. It's definitely a must dine place at Kyoto. It's a Michelin guide restaurant, hence you have to queue! It's worth it.

(3) Yakiniku Issho Kitashinchi Rikyu (OSAKA)

板前焼肉一笑オンラインショップ

This is one Yakiniku shop that is very near to our hotel. We ordered today's special steak, outside skirt and sparerib. Pretty good, total bill was JPY8,390. That's our last dinner at Osaka before we went back to Singapore the next day. :)

(4) Louie's N.Y. Pizza Parlor (Universal Studio Osaka)

Louie’s N.Y. Pizza Parlor | Universal Studios Japan | USJ

I kid you not, the pizza here was so damn delicious! We ordered Christmas Roast Chicken (whole pizza). The pizza size is massive! We dined at 10.30 a.m. to avoid the massive crowds at the noon. Total bill: JPY6,650.

(5) Kyoto Curry Seisakusho Karil (KYOTO)

京都カレー製作所『カリル』

It's a Japanese/Indian fusion curry, pretty nice. Worth a try. The lunch bill was JPY3,950.

(6) Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu (KYOTO)

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

MUST TRY at Kyoto! The food was yummy. It has many branches at Kyoto tourist spot. The lunch bill was JPY7,128.

(7) Maimon Sushi @ Kuromon Market (OSAKA)

Osaka Maimon Sushi|KUROMON MARKET

This is one good place for sushi at Kuromon Market at Osaka. Fresh, delicious fish! The lunch bill was JPY7,959.

(8) Ichiran (KYOTO)

ラーメン｜天然とんこつラーメン一蘭

A trip to Japan is not complete without Ichiran ramen, ha ha ha... There are plenty of Ichiran shops in Japan. We went there for tea break, unsure how much tokens we put inside the vending machine. Hey, the smoke-flavoured stewed pork was so good with rice. Must try too!

(9) Sukiyaki and Gyunmabushi Momoshiki (NARA)

Sukiyaki-to Gyumabushi Momoshiki (Nara)

We ordered all the top 3 dishes at the shop, e.g. Yamato beef sukiyaki, Yamato beef glazed lean meat and Yamato beef top loin. The lunch bill was JPY7,480.

(10) MOS Burger (OSAKA)

That's my son supper! I have a bite on the burger, damn, it's pretty good! The supper bill was JPY1,380.

(11) Ganso Gyozaen @ Chinatown (KOBE)

神戸で餃子なら伝統の元祖ぎょうざ苑

We had gyoza as dinner at Chinatown Kobe. The shop is famous for gyoza! The dinner bill was JPY3,355.

(12) Ichie Yakiniku (OSAKA)

This was our first dinner at Osaka and we chose yakiniku as our first meal. Good stuff.

Dinner bill was JPY11,310.

(13) 松阪肉.老铺 DAIMARU UMEDA (OSAKA)

We had our dinner at the shop at basement level at Daimaru Umeda. The beef was nice. Almost all the Japanese beef that we had were good!

The dinner bill was JPY2,670 for two as mummy went to eat vegetarian bento at another shop. :)

(14) Soba Tempura shop @ Higashiyama Kiyomizu (KYOTO)

石臼挽き二八そばそばしき清水店 - 清水五条/そば | 食べログ

We went for this Soba Tempura shop at Higashiyama Kiyomizu for lunch.

The lunch bill was JPY6,380.

(15) Shabu Shabu dinner @ Pontocho

We had shabu shabu dinner at Pontocho and the bill was JPY8,720.

Just normal shabu shabu, nothing fantastic.

(16) Yakiniku Kura Teramachi (KYOTO)

焼肉ホルモン蔵寺町店 - 京町屋焼肉

We had yakiniku dinner again at Kura Teramachi. Yakiniku can't be wrong in Japan. :)

The dinner bill was JPY9,548.

(17) IPPUDO (KYOTO)

A trip to Japan is also not complete without IPPUDO even though Singapore now has many IPPUDO branches! Ha ha..I find out the soup was a little too salty. :(

The lunch bill was JPY4,500.

(18) 渔师小屋 @ Nishiki market (KYOTO)

錦市場 | 京都錦市場商店街

【京都锦市场美食攻略】必吃店家推荐、交通方式、锦天满宫介绍

You can also stay at a hotel near Nishiki market. It's a good shopping street at Kyoto.

We had our dinner at Nishiki market, the dinner bill was JPY6,080.

(19)Yakitori @ Kyoto Porta (KYOTO)

We had Yakitori dinner at Kyoto Porta. Pretty good. The diner bill was JPY4,686.

(20) Dramatic Curry Golden Nakazaki (OSAKA)

ドラマチックカリーゴールデン中崎

This is an interesting place for you to check it out! It's very delicious!

The dinner bill was JPY3,720.

(21) Tully's Coffee (KYOTO)

We had our breakfast at Tully's coffee. Breakfast bill: JPY1,722.

(22) Kumonocha (KYOTO)

日本茶カフェ | 雲ノ茶kumonocha

We had tea break at this interesting cafe at Nishiki market. The bill was JPY2,470.

(23) Seared Wagyu Beef sushi @ Nishiki market (KYOTO)

Street food at Nishiki market, seared wagyu beef sushi, not bad.

(24) Kuromon market (OSAKA)

Some street food at Kuromon market. A very nice street to walk around for food.

(25) Saint Marc Cafe (OSAKA)

サンマルクカフェ (saint-marc)

We had breakfast twice at this cafe, which is near our hotel. I love the food here a lot! Apparently, they have many branches at Osaka.

(26) The Veranda at Kobe (KOBE)

ザ・ヴェランダ神戸（The Veranda at Kobe）

We had tea break at The Veranda at Kobe with a good view! Beautiful cafe too.

The bill was JPY2,970.

(27) cafe Granché (OSAKA)

CAFE GRANCHE - カフェ英國屋公式

We had a tea break here while we shopped at Daimaru OSAKA.

The bill was JPY2,910.

(28) cafe @ Nara (NARA)

We had breakfast at this cafe at Nara and I forgot the shop name. :)

These are the biscuits for the deer at the park! You can purchase it at the stall near the park. It was JPY200 for 10 pieces of biscuits. We spent JPY600 at the end for such biscuits, for the deer!

(29) cafe @ Fushima Inari Yotsuji (KYOTO)

We had tea break at the cafe at Fushima Inari Yotsuji and I forgot the shop name too. The red bean with matcha ice-cream will never go wrong. It's damn good!

Still can't imagine we made it to the top! It's amazing!

(30) Kurasu Kyoto Stand (KYOTO)

Kurasu – Kurasu Kyoto

This is one good place to have very good coffee!

(31) 京野菜 shop (KYOTO)

We had authentic Kyoto dishes here for lunch.

(32) Street food, OSAKA airport food & flight meals...

These were our street food, titbits purchased in this trip.

(1) Hotel Monterey Le Frere (OSAKA)

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

We stayed in this hotel twice in this trip, once from Nov 29 to Dec 1, then, left 2 luggage at the hotel and only bring one luggage to Kyoto. This strategy worked very well and we came back and stay in this same hotel from Dec 7 to 9. The hotel room size is large and the location is pretty good too!

(2) Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo Natural Hot Spring (KYOTO)

Onyado Nono Kyoto

The room size is beyond words, it's huge! Love it. This is a must stay hotel at Kyoto! The price is much cheaper during the weekdays.

Throughout this trip, I had done 19x times of onsen, average about 2 times a day. :)

Updated on December 15, 2022:

Yes, I have settled my booking for another 12-day Japan trip this year in December. Firstly, we redeemed 3x SIA tickets to Osaka by using 162,000 KrisFlyer miles and paid S$311.10 taxes for 2 adults and 1 child.

We booked total 6 nights of hotel stay at Osaka. The average daily rate is S$153.43.

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka | Official Website

We also booked 5 nights of hotel stay at Kyoto. The average daily rate is S$207.88.

Nono Kyoto (hotespa.net)

Both hotels have onsen facilities again!

With the airfare and hotel bookings, we have paid S$2,271.10 so far.

The rest will be updated 12 months later! :)