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Singapore & Tokyo | 2018
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Singapore & Tokyo | 2018

Family Trip + My 4th Tokyo Layover Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 15, 2018
  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    Old Ford Factory.
    The exterior of the Old Ford Factory.Old Ford Factory.A Japanese artifact at the Old Ford Factory.Old Ford Factory.The replica of the room where the British formally surrendered at the Old Ford Factory.The replica of the room where the British formally surrendered at the Old Ford Factory.

    Old Ford Factory

    November 20, 2018 in Singapore ⋅ 27 °C

    Next to my parents’ condo is the old Ford factory. It is a historically significant site where the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese in World War II. It is now a well curated museum telling the story of the fall of Singapore in February 1942. This under-the-radar free museum is well worth a visit for history buffs.Read more

  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    Tokyo Tower and moon viewed from Daimon station.
    Tokyo Tower and moon viewed from Daimon station.

    Arrival at Tokyo Haneda

    November 25, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 8 °C

    I landed at Haneda Airport just before 6am, cleared immigration, topped up my Suica card, hopped onto the monorail, and switched over to the subway at Daimon to get to Tsukiji. At Daimon, I saw a cool sight - Tokyo Tower and the moon side-by-side in the early morning light.Read more

  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    My chirashi sushi breakfast at Sushi Zenmai.
    Miso soup accompaniment to my sushi breakfast at Sushi Zenmai.Blowtorched seafood at the Outer Market.Snow crab legs.My pricey 1,500 yen snow crab leg snack.Blowtorched abalone.Outer Market stalls.Tuna head at the Outer Market.The closed Inner Market.The closed Inner Market.The eerily quiet streets around the Outer Market.The eerily quiet streets around the Outer Market.Anime van.Scenes from around the Outer Market.Offerings at the Namiyoke Inari Shrine.Offerings at the Namiyoke Inari Shrine.Offerings at the Namiyoke Inari Shrine.Offerings at the Namiyoke Inari Shrine.Namiyoke Inari Shrine.

    Tsukiji

    November 25, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 8 °C

    As I walked through the Tsukiji subway station, a worker who was cleaning the hand rails stood up, bowed, and greeted me with ohio gosai mas. You just have to love the service culture in Japan.

    The Tsukiji Inner Market - which includes the wholesalers and the world famous tuna auction, recently moved to another location at Toyosu, but the Outer Market remained at Tsukiji. I was curious to see how this has impacted the stall holders in the Outer Market. The answer was obvious as soon as I approached on foot: the Outer Market was a shadow of its former self. Many stalls were not open or were only just opening when I arrived at 7.20am, and the formerly dense crowds were thin. Ordinarily, this would have been a perfect time to visit one of the famous sushi restaurants like Sushi Dai or Daiwa Sushi, but they had moved to Toyosu.

    Anyway, I walked around, assessed which stalls were open, and then selected one of the Sushi Zanmai branches which I had never eaten at in the past because there was always a long queue to enter. This branch was full of Japanese people, so I felt good about my choice. I opted for a reasonably priced 1,500 yen chirashi bowl, which came piled high with different types of seafood. It was pretty good but not the best I’ve had.

    After this, I wandered around for a bit, ate a blowtorched Hokkaido awaebi (abalone) and a boiled snow crab leg from two street vendors. The crab leg was very tasty but priced steeply at 1,500 yen.

    I also visited the Namiyoke Inari Shrine at Tsukiji and saw evidence of a temple celebration as there were what I assumed to be offerings scattered all over the shrine as well as a vendor selling the offerings. While there, I witnessed a small group of devotees purchasing offerings and chanting as they proffered their gifts.

    https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Tokyo/blo…    Read more

  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    The "vegetable boat" at Meiji Jingu.
    Meiji Jingu.Meiji Jingu.Sake barrels at Meiji Jingu.Wine caskets at Meiji Jingu.Chrysanthemums at Meiji Jingu.Chrysanthemums at Meiji Jingu.Chrysanthemum display at Meiji Jingu.Chrysanthemums at Meiji Jingu.Mini garden displays at Meiji Jingu.Mini garden displays at Meiji Jingu.Mini garden displays at Meiji Jingu.The "vegetable boat" at Meiji Jingu.The "vegetable boat" at Meiji Jingu.Produce on display at Meiji Jingu.Produce on display at Meiji Jingu.The grounds at Meiji Jingu.Fall foliage on the grounds at Meiji Jingu.Fall foliage on the grounds at Meiji Jingu.The Harajuku branch of Eggs 'n Things.

    Meiji Shrine & Harajuku

    November 25, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 11 °C

    After eating my breakfast, I retrieved my backpack from the coin locker where I deposited it, and made my way to Shinjuku station which I decided would be my base for the rest of the day. Reaching Shinjuku, I found a coin locker exactly where I needed to board my train that evening for Narita, deposited my backpack there, and then headed towards Harajuku.

    Back in 2010, Jeff and I wandered around Harajuku enjoying the kids in cosplay costumes and the girls in goth and lolita garb. As this was Sunday, I wondered if Cosplay Sunday was still a thing. Unfortunately, the fad appears to have died down.

    After wandering Harajuku, I sat down for a coffee at Tully’s and plotted my next move. I decided to walk over to the nearby Meiji Shrine to see fall foliage on the grounds. I had already been to the Meiji Shrine in the past. Sadly (for me), the trees were mostly still green. Nevertheless, I had a enjoyable few hours strolling the peaceful grounds. Visiting the shrine itself, it again looked as if I had missed a major temple celebration; there was an impressive display of produce that devotees had given as offerings, and a pretty display of chrysanthemum. There were also two “boats” made up of vegetables. I couldn’t extract any more detail from the displays, though.

    https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Tokyo/blo…    Read more

  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    Olympics logo at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
    Olympics logo at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Olympics logo at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.One of the ubiquitous vending machines scattered all over Japan. Some of the coffee comes out hot.

    Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

    November 25, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 12 °C

    After this initial disappointment, I thought maybe Shinjuku Gyoen might have better fall foliage. I decided to make my way there on foot. En route, I started thinking that it looked like a clear day by Tokyo standards. During prior visits, I’d paid good money to visit the viewing platforms at Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and Mori Tower, only to be a tad bit disappointed that my views of the far horizon were obstructed by haze. I realized that the free viewing platform at the Shinjuku Government Office was on the way to the gardens, so I made a short diversion and found that the 45th floor observatory was open. I joined the queue and started getting my hopes up that I might be able to see Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed as soon as I stepped out of the elevator - it was hazy; I had been deceived by the blue skies at ground level. Nevertheless, I still had an enjoyable time surveying the Tokyo megalopolis from yet another vantage point.

    https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Tokyo/blo…    Read more

  • SiewchSingapore & Tokyo | 2018Traveler
    The Hanazono Shrine at night.
    The Hanazono Shrine by daylight.The Hanazono Shrine at night.My 650 yen tempura and soba lunch in Shinjuku.Fashionable pooch at Hanazono Shrine.Food for sale at Hanazono Shrine.Food for sale at Hanazono Shrine.Food for sale at Hanazono Shrine.Food for sale at Hanazono Shrine.Food for sale at Hanazono Shrine.The crowds at the festival.The crowds at the festival.The crowds at the festival.The offerings at the festival.The offerings at the festival.The Godzilla statue at Hotel Gracery.Scenes from around Kabukicho.Robot Restaurant.Robot Restaurant.Christmas lights at Kabukicho.Scenes from around Kabukicho.Scenes from around Kabukicho.

    Kabukicho & Hanazono Shrine

    November 25, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 14 °C

    It was past 2pm when I departed the gardens. I wanted some lunch and I thought about a friendly little hole in the wall donburi and noodle shop nearby that I had patronized several times on past trips. I made my way there, collected a ticket from the vending machine for my 650 yen lunch, and happily devoured the value meal handed to me by a cheerful English speaking lady.

    I finished my meal at around 3pm and wondered what else I could do as I wasn’t ready to head to Narita Airport. I started wandering aimlessly towards Shinjuku station and then came across crowds and street vendors near the Hanazono Shrine in Kabukicho. Wandering into the crowd, I marveled at the street vendors and saw people carrying the same type of offerings that I had seen earlier that morning at Tsukiji. I turned right towards the shrine and saw even more people and vendors. At the shrine itself, there were many stalls selling the offerings, and a long line of devotees waiting to go to the shrine, presumably to pay their respects. Now, I don’t speak the language, I didn’t know what the heck was going on, but I still reveled in this amazing display of local color and culture. This is what travel is all about: the possibility of endless fascination. Independent travel can be tedious at times, but the effort can really pay off when one encounters gems such as these.

    After observing the temple celebration, I still wasn’t ready to head to Narita, so I decided to visit Thermae Yu onsen (which I visited last September) which, incidentally, was right next to the Hanazono Shrine. I spent a very enjoyable 1.5 hours soaking in the various pools, and then decided to enjoy a different perspective of the temple festival after sundown. The celebration was even more spectacular by night with lighted lanterns.

    After another gander through the temple celebration, I reluctantly made my way to Shinjuku, retrieved my backpack, and took the next train to Narita Airport. En route to Shinjuku, I made a quick pitstop at Robot Restaurant and the Godzilla statue at Hotel Gracery.

    https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Tokyo/blo…    Read more

  • Trip end
    November 25, 2018
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