This time I’d like to share a plan for a weekend trip to Malaysia. My very first weekend trip abroad was actually to Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur is a destination I highly recommend for an easy getaway.
About Malaysia
Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia became a hot topic in Japan a while back (and maybe still is?) as a popular retirement destination.
It’s a multi-ethnic nation of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other communities, and many people effortlessly switch between multiple languages. It’s completely normal for someone to “speak Chinese with family, Malay with a mixed group of friends, and English in class,” so there are plenty of trilingual kids. Interestingly, Malay is so similar to Indonesian that speakers of one can apparently understand the other without ever studying it.
Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, is known as the cheapest city in the world to stay at luxury hotels. I never imagined the day would come when I could book a Sheraton without a second thought. (Sadly, not because I got rich!)
So here is my plan for enjoying Kuala Lumpur on a 3-day weekend — no paid leave required.
The Itinerary
Day 1 — Friday
21:00 Meet at Haneda Airport
The ANA direct flight we took departed at 23:30, so honestly we could have even worked overtime and still made it. (Though I’d love to become the kind of cool adult who finishes work without overtime!)
Get a solid sleep on the plane to prepare for the next day.
Day 2 — Saturday
8:00 From the Airport to the Hotel
After arriving, we went through immigration and exchanged money.
We actually landed around 6:00, but rather than rushing into the city at dawn, we took our time getting fully ready — sunscreen, insect repellent and all — before heading out. Exchange rates are better locally than in Japan, and even better at shopping centers in the city than at the airport, so I recommend exchanging only the minimum at the airport. (Though considering the time it takes, some argue it’s more efficient to exchange everything at once!)
9:30 Arrive at the Hotel
We took the train and monorail to the Sheraton hotel. The journey was on the long side, but people-watching on the train is fun in itself.
For example, Malay women wear headscarves as Muslims, but unlike in the Middle East, many are wonderfully colorful and cute. I won’t get into the debate about whether women should have to wear headscarves, but I got the sense that for them, the scarf is an important fashion item. Conversations like “With hair covered like that, expensive hair treatments probably don’t sell well here” and “Maybe the Chinese Malaysians buy them?” made the ride go by surprisingly quickly.
Since we were staying at the Sheraton, we relaxed a bit, got ready for a day of walking around town, and headed out. Reapplied the sunscreen, of course!
10:30 To the Twin Towers
From KLCC station, the Twin Towers are right there. KLCC stands for Kuala Lumpur City Centre. And that’s when I learned it’s “Kuala Lumpur” — two words, split right there!
At 88 stories, they are massive! Apparently one tower was built by a Japanese company and the other by a Korean company.
12:00 Lunch
We had lunch at a shopping center right next to the Twin Towers.
There were restaurants serving all kinds of cuisine, but since we were here, we went for Malaysian food. It was delicious — though my photo really doesn’t do it justice!
14:00 To Masjid Jamek
We visited Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur’s oldest mosque, completed in 1909. It’s right next to Masjid Jamek station, so it’s very easy to find.
But just as we thought “time to go inside!”, we heard the adhan — the call to prayer. During prayer times, non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque. The man at the entrance (a guard, perhaps?) told us to “come back after prayers.”
So we wandered around the station area instead. Unlike the gleaming high-rises around KLCC station, here we saw men napping in front of buildings with peeling paint. It was a reminder that Kuala Lumpur is still a developing city.
After walking a while, we spotted a McDonald’s and took a break with some ice cream. It’s hard to walk outside for long in the heat. What is it about finding a McDonald’s overseas that feels so reassuring?
15:30 Finally, the Mosque
At last we entered Masjid Jamek. Robes covering skin and hair are available to borrow, so you’ll be fine even without your own scarf.
The structure lets you see inside from the outside, and the rows of columns were beautiful.
16:00 To Central Market
So many goods on sale — it’s fun just to browse. Sea cucumber soap is apparently a local specialty.
19:00 Dinner at the Hotel
We returned to the hotel for dinner. There are many restaurants inside, and we chose the Italian one. Great atmosphere, reasonable prices, and we ate our fill — very satisfying.
If you have time, a dip in the hotel pool would also be nice.
22:00 Bedtime
After a full day of fun, we got a good night’s sleep to prepare for tomorrow.
Day 3 — Sunday
Day 3 is for the Pink Mosque and the Blue Mosque. Since they can’t be reached by train alone and we weren’t confident we could fit both in on our own, we simply booked an optional day tour with H.I.S. (a major Japanese travel agency).
6:30 Wake Up and Breakfast
Not only can you stay at a luxury hotel for cheap, breakfast is included too — what more could you want? That said, perhaps because it was so early, only part of the food selection was out.
8:00 Depart the Hotel
Our tour guide came to meet us right in the lobby.
10:30 The Pink Mosque
Apparently you can’t enter the Pink Mosque when it rains, and with the light drizzle it was touch and go. The rain lifted just in time and we made it in. What a relief!
This mosque also lends out clothing, so you’re fine even in a T-shirt and shorts. However, the loaner garments seem to be reused without washing, so if that bothers you, it’s best to bring your own scarf. A pink mosque is a rare sight, and the interior is adorable too.
11:00 Putrajaya Lake Cruise
We boarded a windowed boat for a cruise on Putrajaya Lake beside the Pink Mosque.
We heard everything from the history of the area’s development to down-to-earth details like what houses nearby actually cost.
12:00 Lunch
The tour stopped at a Chinese restaurant along the way. Malaysia has a large Chinese community, and the Chinese food is delicious.
14:00 The Blue Mosque
A volunteer English-speaking guide showed us around the Blue Mosque. (Clothing is available to borrow here too.)
I wasn’t used to the Malaysian accent so I missed parts of it, but the guide explained everything very thoroughly — a generous, satisfying tour. We even came across a couple holding their wedding at the mosque. Religion and weddings really are deeply intertwined.
The Blue Mosque has many beautifully designed features and might just win the “best photo spot” award of this trip. Incidentally, its official name is the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque. Quite a mouthful — I’ll never remember it!
There was also a wall of beautiful tiles.
15:30 Shah Alam Street Art
The tour ended with a visit to the street art. For groups, stepping into the artwork for photos would be a blast. We gave it a quick try ourselves, but got a little too self-conscious.
17:30 Back at the Hotel
The bus dropped us off right at the hotel. Some passengers got off in the city center.
17:00 To the Shopping Mall
Across from the Sheraton there was a large shopping mall with an AEON (a major Japanese supermarket chain) inside. (The mall is right in front of the hotel, but we had to walk a bit to reach an intersection with a crosswalk.)
We bought souvenirs to hand out at the AEON and had dinner. Since the hotel restaurant had been so affordable, I expected the mall’s chain restaurants to be even cheaper, but they turned out to be about the same as budget restaurants in Japan. I’ve heard that restaurants in Japan are far too cheap relative to the cost of living, and I suspect it’s true.
AEON has opened quite a few stores in Kuala Lumpur, which makes shopping feel reassuringly familiar and fun — though for hand-out souvenirs, I always stick to safe choices.
21:30 Bedtime
Part of me wanted to keep playing, but not getting sick is the golden rule of weekend travel, so off to bed.
Day 4 — Monday
We didn’t have much cash left, so we skipped sightseeing and headed straight to the airport.
7:30 Wake Up and Breakfast
Perhaps because it was later than the previous day, the buffet was fully stocked. They prepared traditional dishes and mixed juices to order right in front of us, so breakfast alone was quite the experience.
10:00 Depart the Hotel
We took the monorail and train to the airport.
11:30 Arrive at the Airport
There was a shop selling lovely traditional garments at the airport, so naturally I tried one on — and naturally ended up buying it!
Then we boarded our flight back to Japan.
22:30 Arrive in Japan
You land at a reasonable hour, so you can still get a decent night’s sleep before starting work the next day. And yes, I did put in a proper day’s work!
So what do you think? Even if you’ve always believed “overseas travel is impossible without a long vacation,” I hope you’re now thinking, “I could actually do a weekend abroad!”