Totally Tokyo

Travel Date: May 28 - June 5, 2016 via CEB
All Images taken using Panasonic Lumix LX7, iPhone 6S and Galaxy Note 5

I have always been fascinated by all things Japan - its culture, the food, its people, not to mention all the crazy gadgets they come up with.  So when the opportunity came up this year to travel to this part of the world, giddy would be an understatement.  We were hysterical!  Ok, that's laying it on thick but you get my point.  ;-)

Since this will be our first time in Japan, we decided on the capital Tokyo as our destination for the whole duration of our stay.  Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka would have to wait then.  


Over the years, this blog has morphed into a purely photo travelogue so I will spare you the gabs and blabs of which I have been known to indulge in sometimes.  I'll try to keep my stories short but along the way, I'll be giving out shopping, food and travel tips to help you, hopefully, enjoy your Tokyo experience as much as we had.  

Did someone say shopping? 

SHOPPING TIP:  To manage your budget, here is a quick and practical tip.  If you want to know how much something is in pesos, just divide the Yen amount by two and assume that the quotient is the conservative Peso equivalent.  For example, Y600 = P300.  Simple.      

If you want to save on transportation cost - From the airport, take the bus heading downtown.  It's cheap, convenient and relatively fast.  A word of caution though - when they say the bus will arrive at 10:42 and will leave at 10:46, they absolutely weren't kidding.    

Starting with our 2015 Taipei trip, we have been using AirBnB when booking for our accommodation.  For our Tokyo trip, we chose to stay at Shibuya Maruyamacho which is about an hour away from Narita airport.  Rate that was given us was about P3,200/night. 

The building looked fairly new and well maintained as expected and we loved the slate grey motif of the place.  For security, we were provided proximity cards to access the lift and the room. 

It felt like we had the building all to ourselves.  There was no one in sight - no guard, no receptionist.  The whole week we were there, we rarely saw people or fellow tourists in the hallways or the elevators.  But we kinda dug it.  ;-)

The place was (pun intended) a bit zen, a bit spartan.  There was a mini-ref but no TV.  But as I've mentioned in a previous post, as long as there's aircon and a washroom all to ourselves, we're happy campers.

Slippers were provided but we never used them.  Shhhhh.

Yup, the room also had those hi-tech only-in-Japan toilet bowls that we never learned to operate.

Stepping out of our building, this quiet street is what would greet you.  Across you will have access to a Family Mart and a few small retail shops.   FOOD TIP:  The cakes at Family Mart are the bomb!  Make sure to stock up on them before retiring to your room. You'll thank me when you have those midnight hunger pangs.

Best of all, Don Quijote or Donki is just around the corner!  Let me tell you, this shop will overwhelm even the most hardened shopper with floor after floor of things you never knew even existed.  SHOPPING TIP:  Japanese nailclippers are popular as gifts or as a souvenir because of their sharpness and build quality.  Prices can range from about P200 up to more than a thousand pesos.  Never buy from the tourist shops.  Make sure to check out Donki or the various drugstores like our favorite Matsumoto Kiyoshi for the best price.      

H&M, Uniqlo and ABC Mart are also just a few steps away!  Choosing to stay in Shibuya and this AirBnB apartment was definitely spot-on and something we will do again if ever we decide to return to Tokyo.   

FOOD: The food in Tokyo was amazing!  A bit on the pricey side if you choose to dine in the touristy areas, but good eats are not hard to come by.  Japan doesn't really have a vibrant street food culture like Thailand or Taipei but there are lots of opportunities to discover something new.  

Would you believe the first time I've ever tried Ramen was in this nondescript joint in the Shinjuku area?  It was soooo good . 

 

Never eat Ramen without Nitamago (those soft-boiled eggs). Luuuuv it!

 

Just to give you an idea of how much Yen to shell out when ordering sushi/sashimi in most restaurants.  

 

Nina's favorite cold Soba noodles and I don't understand why.  They're bland and....well ...cold.   I guess her Canadian palate is kicking in on this one.   

Don't be afraid to explore those narrow alleyways.  The best takoyaki in the world might be grilling in there somewhere.

Careful with those side street eateries.  I was a little surprised (and mildly annoyed) to see an additional charge for those green bean thingies pictured above (edamame) and another fee for some unimportant and unnecessary service.  The last thing I'd want to do in a vacation is to engage people in pointless argument so we'll just charge this to experience.  Oh well.

Again, the wife was raving about this Yokohama treat we bought at a tourist stop.  She loved it so much she finished a whole box before remembering to let me have a taste.  Hon?!?   

The Aoyama Flower Market is hands down one of the prettiest, most picturesque restaurants we've ever dined at in all our travels.  Let the pictures below prove our point.   

Our ultimate goal is to put up a similar place here in Manila. Nothing big but cozy with about 8 tables max.   Until then, all we can do is dream. 

The prettiest flower in all of Aoyama.  (As I'm typing this, I can almost hear her shouting - "Bakit Aoyama lang"?!?)  ;-)

As beautiful as the place was, unfortunately, the food we ordered was only so-so, nothing to write home about. We went here only for dessert so I can't say anything about their set meals.  The flourless chocolate cake was a bit on the dry side (as expected) but the tea was good.  

I'm not really a big fan of sushi but the most obvious thing I've noticed with the food here, as compared to those in Manila, is how ginormous the servings are.  Look at the slabs of salmon and tuna on these beauts! 

I dare you to try them all.

This convenience store was memorable to us because this is where we had the best matcha drink ever (see picture below). 

MOS Burger is a fastfood chain that originated in Japan and is the 2nd largest franchise in the country after Mcdonald's.  I'm not sure if there are plans to bring them to our shores so until then - I suggest you give them a try when in Tokyo.  

Originally from Osaka, Pablo had the foodie world raving and was even given the title (albeit reluctantly) " the best cheesecake in the world".   I'm not sure I agree.  At the time of this writing, Pablo has just opened its first branch in Manila and people are reportedly going crazy. 

They do look pretty but tastewise - they got nothing on Macau egg tarts. 

So I've posted pictures of where we stayed and some of the food we ate.  Next ....pictures of random awesomeness

Kabuki and Noh are two of Japan's more famous classical dance/musical drama forms.  Having a wife who is very into "cultural" stuff, my hoi-polloi butt had to be dragged into watching one.  The picture above was taken infront of Kabuki-za in Ginza, the principal Kabuki theater in Tokyo.  My thoughts on the play?  Interestingly boring.  Once I got over the initial awe at seeing the colorful makeup, elaborate costumes and the actors' stylized movements, the storyline wasn't able to hold my maltese-level attention.   
TRAVEL TIP:  You can watch a one-act Kabuki play for a minimal price.  No need to sit through the whole show.   

SHOPPING TIP:  Prices of Green Tea flavored KitKats vary from store to store in Tokyo but the cheapest ones we found were sold at this one mom and pop store in Harajuku.  In Manila, prices per bag can range from about P180-300.  At this store? - about P70/bag!  Beat that.  Perfect place to buy pasalubong.

The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, Shibuya crossing is a must experience for first time travelers to Japan.  During rush hour and at night, this crossing can get prrreeetty crazy.  Expect to see teens taking "groufies" and tourists with GoPros vlogging while crossing this world famous intersection.

The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku  (http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/?lng=en).  

People lining up for breakfast at a sashimi restaurant in the Tsukiji area.

SHOPPING TIP:  Don't forget to buy Tenugui!. They're perfect as souvenirs and very cheap if you know where to look.  Tenugui are traditional Japanese multi-purpose hand towels that come in a variety of designs and its price will most likely depend on the texture and fineness of the cloth used.  

"Dollar" stores abound in Tokyo.  Pictured above is a 300Yen shop where most of the items on sale are fixed for the amount stated.  Daiso seem the be the most popular but our favorite would have to be Seria, a 100 Yen shop in Tokyo that sells mostly cute stuff aside from the usual home, office and school supplies.  The branch in Odaiba is chockfull of french-inspired trinkets you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.  It was a good thing the Toyota Museum was just beside the building so I sneaked (or snuck) out and indulged in some "car guy stuff" for myself.  Not surprisingly, wifey was still scouring through the craft aisle at Seria when I got back about an hour later.      . 

Another attraction we never got to try on this trip.  Maid Cafes are little restaurants where waitresses dress up in maid costumes and treat patrons as masters or mistresses.  As kinky as it may sound, maid cafes are usually very wholesome and touching the servers and engaging in inappropriate conversation are big no-nos here.  We have to admit that one of the reasons we why try out new things is for the photo-opportunity.  Right?  Unfortunately, picture-taking is not allowed in the maid cafe we wanted to visit and that was a deal breaker for us.   

I wouldn't be surprised if 99% of visitors who frequent Maid Cafes are men. 

Not to be left out, women can visit "host bars" where they can pay some spiky-haired Japanese dude for a few hours of (I'm sure) awkward conversation.  The place pictured above is also in Akihabara. 

The Edo-Tokyo Museum. Admission fee is 600 Yen (about P286).

There are many "interactive" items on display which you can touch and take pictures with and in.

Located just beside the Edo Tokyo Museum, the Ryogoku Kokugikan or Sumo Hall is an indoor arena where the important sumo events are held.  There is also a museum inside where you can view the pictures of past and current Yokozuna.  Trivia:  WWE held a professional wrestling event at this place back in 2015.  

Just one of the fascinating buildings you will see in downtown Tokyo.

Never miss the chance to try out any of Joel Robuchon's restaurants.  When you see one - go for it!  Robuchon has over 30 Michelin Guide stars under his belt, the most by any chef in the world.  That fact alone is all the reason you'll ever need to indulge.

SHOPPING TIP:  Make sure to ask the friendly shopkeepers how to go about bringing home cool Japanese stuff such as the Katana (Japanese sword) and shuriken (ninja star).  I'm still banging my head for not doing so.  They were all so affordable!  Another must buy are Japanese kitchen knives which are known worldwide as one of the best.   Make sure to visit Kappabashi street between Ueno and Asakusa.  You know you're there when you see the big chef head on top of one of the stores. 

As rabid dog lovers (haha), it would be a crime not to visit Hachiko's statue near the Shibuya crossing.  A very popular meeting place, his statue never seem to run out of visitors whatever time of day.  He has become such a beloved symbol of loyalty, the nearest train exit has been named Hachiko-guchi or The Hachiko exit.  TIP:  If you want to see his stuffed and mounted remains, head on over to the National Science Museum in Ueno.   

Another "famous chef" restaurant to try. 

I should probably dedicate an entire blog entry on my love affair with Yodabashi and BiC Camera.  I can easily spend an entire day here.  Yodabashi is V-Mall + Anson's multiplied 50x.  While browsing through the stuff here, Nina gladly waited for me on a massage chair which are available to customers for free.  

Taken at the world's busiest fish market - Tsukiji. Since there is news that this popular tourist spot will be relocated to another area by the city government, better check the internet before heading here.

Possibly my most favorite store in the whole of Tokyo, Matsumoto Kiyoshi is filled with thousands of awesome products. Catering primarily to women because of their extensive selection of beauty products, this store will keep even guys preoccupied and consumed for a few hours.  What I love about this store is what also makes it challenging.  Unlike Hongkong's Sasa, Matsumoto Kiyoshi sells mostly Japanese products aimed at locals.  That means you will have to rely on the staff to translate the labels for you.  Just look at the picture below.  Those are eye drops by the way which you should not just purchase but hoard!   They are amazing.

In this little restaurant located in some obscure side street in Ginza is where Nina possible had the best meal in Tokyo.  

J-Pop fans unite!

If Aoyama was the prettiest, this has got to be the worst.  Alcatraz E.R. is not for the squeamish or stuck-up.  With a medical/prison theme, we were expecting to be shocked.  Surprisingly, we had a great time here.  

Try drinking red iced tea using a tampon served in a test tube.  I love it!!! Haha.

Creepy hallway with equally creepy hospital staff roaming around?  Check.  

Crazy nurse with an always ready dirty finger?  Check.

A condom shop in the middle of a busy street.  Only in Tokyo.

SHOPPING TIP:  Sneakers are quite cheap in Japan, about P1-3K cheaper.  Make sure to stock up on the latest models or you'll be sorry.  Head on over to ABC Mart which can be found all over Tokyo for more choices.     

Car lovers will have a wonderful time in Tokyo looking at exotic cars plying the streets.  Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maclaren - name it, Tokyo has it. 

Only tourists bother to take pictures of super cars like this shiny silver Lamborghini.  Locals be like "So?"

The ubiquitous vending machines of Japan.  In their National Tourism Organization website, it says there are currently over 5.5 million of these metal babies scattered all over the nation. Gotta love 'em!  You can't leave Japan without buying one of them goodies.

A little hard to locate, the Shinyokohama Raumen Museum is still a worthwhile visit.  With an entrance fee of about 310 Yen (P148), fans of ramen can try the many varieties of this Japanese noodle. Count me in. 

In this museum, you'll learn that there are 4 primary types of Ramen:  Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), Miso and Tonkotsu.  

If you get to read all my travel blog entries, you will probably notice I always have a shot of street signs or directional signages.  Don't ask me why. 

Reviewing our pictures from the trip, it's simple images like this that make me want to go back and enjoy Japan more profoundly.  I caught this sweet old lady above peacefully doing sketches in the park and she had no idea she would be part of a snap that would inspire me to travel and explore the world even more. 

The Imperial Palace is a ten minute walk from Tokyo Station. 

The Starbucks at Tsutaya Tokyo in Roponggi Hills is BAR NONE the best looking Starbucks branch we've ever set foot in.  Sipping coffee surrounded by books - priceless.

Odaiba is a popular shopping and entertaiment destination in Tokyo Bay.  Accessible via the Yurikamome line, there are lots of places to see in Odaiba and one of our regrets is not exploring the area further.  TRAVEL TIP:  Make sure to spend one whole day here.  Aside from the places few places we visited (Miraikan, Aqua City, Venus Fort, Toyota Megaweb), other attractions include the Fuji TV Building, Panasonic Center, Leisureland and the Oedo Onsen Monogatari.  Ohhh, writing this piece makes me REALLLY want to go back.

 

The Fuji TV Building.  We never got to try but the observatory deck housed in the sphere shaped part of the building is accessible to visitors.

The Rainbow Bridge connects Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo.  

The Gundam Cafe can be found at Diver City Tokyo Plaza also in Odaiba.   

I have to admit something.  For the first time, it was I who took on the task of preparing our itinerary for this trip.  Big mistake.  And for that, I take the blame for us not really getting to explore everything there is to explore in Tokyo.  I may have posted lots of photos here but there are still tons of places we didn't get to visit and lots of experiences we shouldn't have missed out on.  Oh well, I guess that's just another reason for us to come back.  And we hope it will be sooner than soon.  See you again Japan!