Singapore & Tokyo 2023

April 2023

Family visit + My 11th & 12th Tokyo Layovers Read more

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Traveler Singapore & Tokyo 2023
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- Apr 13, 2023, 12:00pm
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- United States Hawaii Honolulu County Mokumoa Island (historical)Honolulu International Airport 21.331474, -157.92001321°19’53” N 157°55’12” W
Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda
April 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Japan Airlines JL73 | HNL/HND
Premium Economy Class
Boeing 787-9 | JA874J
ATD/1244 | ATA/1637+1
Lounge: Sakura Lounge
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- Apr 14, 2023, 4:00pm
- 🌬 21 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- Japan Tokyo Ōta Haneda 35.551712, 139.74798635°33’6” N 139°44’53” E
Day 1
Transit at Ota City
April 14, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
I booked a my overnight stay at Hotel JAL City Haneda. Located just two subway stops from Haneda, it was a pleasant way to spend a late afternoon and evening in spring,

After checking in and taking a quick shower, I explored the area around the hotel. My first stop was the Anamori Inari shrine, which featured a series of torii gates as well as kitsune statues. I then walked around the area and ended up along a river path. I followed the path for a while and then headed back north towards my hotel. Close to the hotel, I ate at a local izakaya named Kokonoe. I had a good but pricey tempura set. As I wasn't sated, I went to the Family Mart across the street from the hotel and bought soba and salmon onogiri. That hit the spot.

I woke up the next morning to rain. I decided against exploring. At 9am, I took the complimentary shuttle back to Haneda for my onward journey to SIN.Read more
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- Apr 15, 2023, 11:30am
- 🌧 14 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Japan Tokyo Ōta Keihinjima Tokyo International Airport 35.545261, 139.76959235°32’43” N 139°46’11” E
Day 2
Tokyo Haneda to Singapore
April 15, 2023 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Japan Airlines JL37 | HND/SIN
Premium Economy Class
Boeing 787-9 | JA871J
ATD/1138 | ATA/1757
Lounge: Sakura First Class Lounge

I was surprised to learn that, thanks for my new OneWorld Emerald status, I could access the first class lounge. This is a great new benefit, with upgraded dining (waiter service) and a quieter atmosphere.Read more
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- Apr 20, 2023, 6:00pm
- ☁️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 70 m
- Singapore Central Singapore Community Development Council Hume Heights 1.355071, 103.767541°21’18” N 103°46’3” E
Day 7
Singapore - Family, Friends, and Food
April 20, 2023 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
The main purpose of my visit to Singapore was to help my parents settle in with their new live-in caregiver. I did, however, take time out to catch up with various friends.
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- Apr 21, 2023, 8:30am
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 87 m
- Singapore Central Singapore Community Development Council Bukit Timah Estate Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 1.356134, 103.7715681°21’22” N 103°46’18” E
Day 8
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
April 21, 2023 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
I took a few breaks to explore Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and enjoy nature.
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- Apr 22, 2023, 10:00pm
- ☁️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- Singapore Kampong Ayer Gemuruh Singapore Changi Airport 1.34963, 103.9863431°20’59” N 103°59’11” E
Day 9
Singapore to Tokyo Haneda
April 22, 2023 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Japan Airlines JL36 | SIN/HND
Business Class
Boeing 787-9 | JA871J
ATD/2158 | ATA/0534+1
Lounge: Qantas First Class Lounge
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- Apr 23, 2023, 7:00am
- ☁️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- Japan Tokyo Chuo Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market 35.665157, 139.77165235°39’55” N 139°46’18” E
Day 10
Tsukiji
April 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
My first order of the day was to make my way to the Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast. Tsukiji is a shadow of itself ever since the wholesale market moved to Toyosu, but there still are a fair number of food stalls in the morning. After clearing immigration, I made my way to the Tokyo Monorail and transferred to the Oedo line to get to Tsukiji. The food outlets were only just opening up when I got there at 7.30am. After a bit of wandering, I chose a small, quiet stall with local patrons, and I had a soul warming crab soup there. After that, I wandered about a bit more and had grilled scallops and grilled squid. One key change I noticed was that prices have shot up, especially for shellfish.

One new development I noted at Tsukiji is that more stalls now had an area with tables to sit down and eat. Stalls that did not have tables had designated spaces for patrons to stand and eat. There were also signs telling people to not walk and eat. I knew that eating while walking was considered rude in Japan, but this is the first time I noticed this enforced anywhere.Read more
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- Apr 23, 2023, 11:00am
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 37 m
- Japan Tokyo Shibuya Jinnan Yoyogi park 35.667725, 139.69668635°40’4” N 139°41’48” E
Day 10
Tokyo Pride
April 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
After breakfast, I made my way to the torii gate at the Meiji Shrine where I had arranged to meet my friend Tom, who happened to be traveling around Japan at the time. We pretty much arrived at the same time. From Meiji Shrine, we made our way to the festival at Yoyogi Park. The Pride festival was only just starting up when we got there, but within an hour the park was crowded. The theme of the event was "Press On Until Japan Changes".

There was a lot of corporate sponsorship at the event, once again indicating that businesses are in general more progressive than government. A couple of tourism authorities - notably Thailand, Guam, and Tahiti - also had booths. The Thailand booth went all out and featured kathoey (ladyboys) who posed for photo opportunities. There were also a lot of food stalls. Tucked into a quiet corner of the festival area were a numbers of booths crewed by foreign embassies exhibiting their LGBTQ initiatives. These included the United States, Sweden, the EU, and Taiwan. The crowd in attendance was diverse and international. I don't think I have heard this much English spoken in Japan before.

Tom and I had a great time wandering around the booths, snacking, and soaking in the atmosphere. We also met up with his friends Ryo and Pete, but we later lost them in the crowd.Read more
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- Apr 23, 2023, 1:00pm
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- Japan Tokyo Shibuya Sakuragaokachō Shibuya Eki 35.659798, 139.70092835°39’35” N 139°42’3” E
Day 10
Shibuya
April 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Tom and I left the festival around 12.30pm just as the parade was about to start. We thought the parade would go past the famous Shibuya Crossing, which is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, so we made our way in that direction. After pausing for a ramen lunch, we staked out a space in the famous Starbucks overlooking the crossing, and we waited for the parade. Unfortunately, the parade never materialized, and so we parted ways a little after 2pm.Read more
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- Apr 23, 2023, 3:00pm
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 45 m
- Japan Tokyo Shibuya 35.669182, 139.70205735°40’9” N 139°42’7” E
Day 10
Tokyo Pride Parade
April 23, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After parting with Tom, I encountered the parade one block away from the Shibuya Crossing. It turned out that the route avoided the crossing. I guess that was for the better anyway as I cannot imagine how much chaos the parade would cause at the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. I texted Tom but he was already on the Metro. I walked around the area and stopped to watch the parade at various points on its route.

Around 4pm, I made my way back to Haneda Airport. A new rooftop onsen had just opened at a new hotel and shopping complex, and I thought I would spend a couple of relaxing hours soaking in the rooftop pools before heading to the Sakura Lounge for dinner. The onsen did the trick. I spent a relaxing 1.5 hours just relaxing and decompressing from my week taking care of parental logistics. I did have a little bit of sticker shock at the onsen, though... it was pricey!Read more
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