Few months ago Air China was doing a promotion, we just could not resist. Flying from NY to Tokyo cost about USD800 round trip tax included / pax. it's a good price for a 18 hours flight. it was my first time flying with Air China, verdict? it was ok, well to be honest before this i expected the worst.. i'll save this for another post on Air China review.
Back to Japan. It hard for Japan to disappoint anyone. Once you step foot on Japan soil everything is just awesome. We landed in Haneda Airport, which is a smaller airport compare to Narita but it's also much closer to the city. Once we got out from the arrival hall immediately there are information booth to assist us with our questions and most importantly maps :)
Our flight was delayed 7 freaking hours due to bad weather condition in Beijing(our transit), (may i add it's a lousy airport) so by the time we reach Tokyo is already 7pm (one whole day wasted). From the Airport we headed directly to our hotel which was in Chuo area. We were told to buy a combo ticket of 500 yen/ pax for Tokyo monorail and then change to JR Yamanote line to Kanda station, where our hotel is located. It's so easy, we don't even need to plan ourselves which were the cheapest routes, the information helped us with it.
Once we checked in we were both too tired to eat or to go out straight to bed and start fresh the next day.
This is our 2nd time in Japan so this time we wanted to see more and
Here is our 2 weeks plan looks like
Starting from Tokyo(2 nights) - then Kyoto(3 nights) - Osaka(2 night) from Osaka we did a day trip to Himeji - Hiroshima and Miyajima(1 night) - Tokyo(4 nights) from Tokyo we visited Fujikawagujiko, Nikko and Kusatsu for day trips
We were up early like at 3am in the morning, time difference is a bitch but it does give us a rather early start. As many shops and restaurant were open yet so we settle for a quick breakfast in the convenient store, like many Japanese would grab, pay and go. we bought some, steamy hot red bean bun(yum), onigiri(rice ball with variety of flavors and filling) and a juice. I read somewhere that it's rude to walk and eat in Japan but i just couldn't wait till i find a bench, the food is just too alluring. Sorry Japan
From our hotel we walked to the Tokyo Imperial Palace, it's a nice 30-40 minutes walk, weather was rather chilly and windy. Thank god we brought warm jackets, well we had too it's freaking cold in NY
we got to go on a tour to go in the Tokyo Imperial Palace, something which we didn't know how the 1st time when we were here. We were too early, we had sometime we visit the bridge again
it was a rather foggy morning that day
but it's stunning nonetheless
2000 evenly spaced, Japanese Black pine trees a Kokyo Gaien
the imperial palace located in the center of the city, beside the business district.
love the contrast of the modern and the ancient structure dividing them is this moat.
There is also a East Garden of the Imperial Palace (Higashi Gyoen) worth visiting and it's open to public. We were there last time(in summer) it was beautiful and unfortunately this time it was close for repair or something. I was hoping to see the garden in Autumn
it's really interesting to visit beyond the moat that surrounds the palace. Advance registration is requited in order to go in the restricted area. visit this website for registration and more information --------> http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/koukyo.html
we resisted a month in advance
i'll saved this for my next entry
after a nice tour we were hungry, we went to Tokyo station and had a nice Tsukemen(dipping noodle)
waited in line for 30 minutes and we were not disappointed. i couldn't remember how much it was but it's around 1000yen but i remember being very very full
interior of Tokyo Station.
As we were going to traveling to Kyoto with Shinkansen the next day, we activated our JR pass and booked our seat for Kyoto. Yes! one can activate their JR pass in advance prior their traveling date. The activation date will be the date where you start using the JR pass.
it's a must have if one is traveling long distance in Japan with Shinkansen. This is only valid for foreigner and it must be purchase onside of Japan. We bought ours 1 month before our travel date to Japan. Cost us USD$240/pax for a 7 days. for more info ------> https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/?currency-code=USD&ap=b6021as&gclid=CI7U3fTA7ckCFVcTHwod17IJQA
after a heavy lunch we took subway to Harajuku station.
We just bought a 1 way ticket. didn't want to use our JR pass for something which cost about 500 yen
wanted to eat crepe so bad but we just couldn't after a heavy lunch
from there we walked to Meiji Jingu, something we missed from our last trip here
behind me are the barrels of sake wrapped in straw
many different types of sake are offered to the enshrined deities by member of the Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association(sake brewers from all around Japan) wish to show their deep respect for the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken
Provenance of Bourgogne wine for consecration at Meiji Jingu,
giant Torii gate at the entrance of Meiji Jingu
Chrysanthemum display
it's big
how do they do it??? it's so pretty
simple and elegant
make sure to do the cleansing of hands and mouth ritual before paying your respect in Meiji Jingu.
But the water was freezing cold
Boon at the gate to the inner sanctuary where the Meiji Emperor is enshrined
any wishes or prayers? write it down and you wish will come true
this couple just had their wedding ceremony at the Meiji Jingu, was surrounded by curious tourist me included....some even took pictures with them...lol, btw love her kimono
giant arrow on the west entrance building, one can buy amulets for good health to good luck here. Some of the amulets are to be brought back to the shrine the next year and burned. Something similar to the Chinese tradition.
we had a nice walked in the forest From Harajuku station to Meiji Jingu and from there through the west entrance
would be a nice in hot summers day
coming out there were Ginkgo tress along the road
in golden yellow so beautiful, the only sign of Autumn we see so far in Tokyo
nice spot to rest our tired legs
we then walked to Shinjuku which was not too far about 15-20 minutes walked from the west exit
Kabuki-cho, an entertainment and redlight district in Shinjuku
it's very crowded, something i would expect no less from Japan's capital city
we found Godzilla...hehe
after a day of walking non stop we headed to Omoide Yokocho( or more known as Yakitori alley) for dinner
small alley with a green sign
too many choices
food was good abit on the pricey side, dinner cost us about 4000-5000yen, we had a fish, 2 beef skewer, shiitake mashroom, bbq rice balls, chicken skewer and come with a miso soup and seaweed salad oh ya and a beer and tea
the next day we traveld to Kyoto but i'll write on about Tokyo
in Tokyo we also visited Ueno, Ameyokocho, for food and shopping of course. i didn't took any photo but check out my old post -----> http://cemzie.blogspot.com/2012/08/tokyo-japan-part-2.html
the place still look the same, crowded as i remember it 3 years ago
did a little shopping in Ginza, and also to see the Christmas decoration
brought Boon to Odaiba, he enjoyed the monorail ride
mini statue of Liberty
a piece of NY in Japan
Rainbow bridge
had dinner at Gonpachi, i had the tempura don which was great and big portion, Boon had the soba tasty but not enough for a big guy like him, he had to order another tempura don.... price was a bit pricey ( about 4000-5000yen for 2) but you got the best view of the rainbow bridge
pay Gundam a visit after dinner but unlucky for Boon the show was cancel due to technical problem.
It's ok it just some light show and smoke, the Gundam don't dance or fly :P
another famous tourist spot Tsukiji Market
so much to eat, see and buy
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Boon found a famous restaurant, Sushidai we went there and it was jam packed. thinking this was the line here....
boy were we wrong....see the people on the background that;s the continuation of the line
that is a 2 hours line, the restaurant had to even put a sign there that they couldn't accept anymore customer. this was at about 10 am?
another shop which is also packed with people.
reason for the long line is because well other than the obvious reason is that the shops here are really tiny, just 10 seats are available inside, so you do the math,
there are several restaurant and not all are full, for some reason that 2 were totally packed. that is what internet does.....most of the people in line are tourist
we decided since we are having sashimi, it really doesn't matter which shop, it's just raw fish. we settle for one which is less crowded
there are English menu is most of the restaurant in Japan, so it's really a tourist friendly country
boon had Nakaochi, which is the left over meat over the bone when cutting the tuna with rice, 1000yen
i had the onagi(eel), mantis shrimp, sweet egg with rice, cost 1800yen
overall it's a satisfying meal but i feel it's a little pricey though
after a rather heavy breakfast we walked around and found a pottery shop, we bought some really nice saucers(190yen each) and bowls(500 yen each)... good bargain and they packed it nicely for you. In Japan everything are nicely packed
go crazy
there is also an information center and free wifi
i caught a tuna
Tsukiji Market is a rather touristy place but it's really fun to visit nonetheless
Overall the time we had in Tokyo was rather limited as we plan alot of day trips to nearby towns from Tokyo so alot of the time we only had half a day in Tokyo to spend
next i will post about what's beyond the moat that surrounds the Tokyo Imperial Palace
~ Ja ne ~
