Japan Trip 08/11/2007 to 17/11/2007

It has been one week since I am in Japan for my trip. Everyday is so tiring as touring in Japan is about walking, climbing stairs, walking....and the transport is so convenient yet very complicated for me.

I promised to log on to update my blog to for my freinds to read and see the pictures of where I have visited but every night, I only have the energy to get back to my friend's place, shower and sleep....(one toilet, one bathroom), so got to wait for my turn...I dozed off normally....hahaha....

Here are some pictures and I can tell you, I am never excited about disney, but for the first time, I am!!!!

Day 1(Arrival at Narita Airport)

This picture is taken while waiting for the train to Shinjuku. I am very excited but there are not many airport staff whom speak English. Luckily I found one and the ticket actually indicates that I have to go to cabin no.2. Below is the picture of the seat number.

Seats are comfortable and there is a service crew whom push a trolley cart in the train to ask if the passengers would like to get some refreshment, tit bits or some light snack. Well, how can I miss this one!!!!

I order this drink because the bottle looks cool!!
A quick snap on anything outside the train...everything is so different out there..(3.30pm Japan time, 2.30pm SG time)

It's only 5.30pm (Japan time) and it is already so dark!! This is going to be winter soon as it is near end atumn. Weather is so so cooling..erm...In fact it is cold for those whom is scare of low temperature...but not me!! Hahaha...
A paradise for smokers in Japan as you can see, there is smoking corner on the street. At first, my friends and I thought that they are queuing up for free gifts or some promotion going on...but to realize it is a smoking corner for them...(-_-")

Nothing much after that when my friend whom work in Japan is here to fetch us. Took a cab back and I am so so impressed with the GPS build in their cab. Once you board the cab, it is Yen660.00 (Yen100 is around S$1.25).

Went out for dinner after that. Many vending machines around and all convenient stores have sandwiches, rice ball, bento sets, nice milk tea, green tea...(stunned)


Day 2 (Disney Sea)

The sun is so sunny yet the weather is so cooling...I am like in aircon environment everywhere I go. Disney Sea!!! Here I come!!!

Before even entering Disney sea, I am already feeling thrilled with all the above pictures.

Vending machines everywhere and they really sell all kind of drinks. Do you remember Qoo??

Before entering disney sea, have to buy a train ticket which cost Yen250.00. It is like only a few stations away, around 8 mins train ride if I remember correctly. I cannot help but to notice the big clock with mickey mouse!!

Mickey mouse handle in the train!!

Finally, Disney resort Line and I am nearer to disney sea!!!




When out of station, there is a mickey mouse statue!!!

One day pass cost yen5,800, the guards before you enter the disney resort will request you to show them your belongings (it is a fast check, just open up for them to see will do)

Inside disney, I am welcome by this fountain with a globe on it. Many disney characters "pulling water" into it. I suppose this is a theme for "DISNEY SEA"

Closer view on the disney characters.

This is the first thing I rode on when in the resort. It is very fun, 2 person in one "ship" and it has tracks under the shallow water to transport me around at various speed.
While sitting on the "ship", you will go near this "quick water" (not sand hor) and it seems that you will be caught into it and being drown...but the "ship" will transport you away from it at a high speed..ride is short, but quite nice
Guess you know who is he right?

Went into this weather control station and tourists have to go for a mission to go into the "eye" of the hurricane and launch a missle to "de-arm" it.

When flying in the air craft, you will find yourself to be in a real aircraft out for a mission and even when the foreign object after being blown up by the hurricane hit our aircraft, the water from the storm came into the aircraft...it is so so real!!!

Took a lot of rides which I never did before. Roll coaster which we queued up for more than 30 mins. It is really nice and I try screaming out very very real...but dun know how come the voice is like mouse squealed..sighs..maybe too scare to really scream out loud...but I think I did spent sometime in the roller coaster chuckling...so am I timid or brave?? *wink*

Too much to write but not much pictures as the rides are difficult to take pictures. I shall end my disney tour here.

Day 3 (Onsen)

A blue label burberry day which I bought a bag for my friend's mum. Queued for quite a long time as some tourists buy the stuff like it is free!!!!

Raining day and I do not like to carry the burberry bag around as it is a "woman" thing!! Hate it!!

Went to a place call "Aqua city". Nice night view and took ramen there. Stan selected the place as there are many shops in one place. I heard that they will have competition and the less popular one will have to let out the place for another good ramen chef and shop to be in that area. Obviously, Stan do not have a good judgement skill as one look I know this place is not fantastic, but who ask the host to ask him to select. (sighs...bad bad choice bro!! should ask some expert like myself)
Think this is the Japan famous "rainbow bridge". The ride by train to this place is very special. Train with no driver (like our LRT, but of course ours cannot compare to Japan)

Tried Macdonald after our ramen session as most of my friends should know that I am always hungry :P

McPork is the name and it is not available in Singapore. Well, the taste is ok only, but it is not expensive. 100 plus yen, maybe S$2.00.

Onsen is a tradition in Japan where the father will bring their young children (son or daughter) into a bathroom where all guys will stripped themselves naked in there. They will shower their kids or bring them to dip in the hot pools. Before entering the pool, one has to clean themselves thoroughly. There will be a stool for one to sit on, have a big mirror, shampoo, body foam, a round tub and shower head to wash up yourself.

The temperature of the water for the Onsen (hot pool) is around 42 degree celcius. There are different temperature for each pool.

Stan and myself in Yukata. It is a Japanese unisex clothing. Everywhere in this Osen, people are wearing this. When I get back to Singapore, my other friends told me that there are cheaper osen other than this. This is more of a tourist place as it is more expensive. Yen1987.00 per person. No free food. If you like to have anything, you will use the key tag you carry for your locker to tap and buy food and pay later while check out at the counter.

Tiring saturday night I must say.

Day 4 (Shrine in Asakusa)

Bought breakfast at a convenient shop near my friend's place outside a train station. Travelled to Asakusa and took the picture outside the temple while waiting for a Japanese friend of my friend's to come bring us around.

The famous shirne (temple) in Asakusa. We went to have a nice tempura lunch before entering the temple.
It is a long walk inside but with many stalls around selling alot of things. Just outside the temple, a female owner of 2 cute poodles and they are posing for tourists to take pictures of them.
A normal sunday and look at the crowd.

Food along the shrine. We just get to know that the shrine away from this one, which is at the other end, around 2km walk is having an event, which they are sell (refer to below pictures) which symbolize wealth for the whole year. The bigger you buy, the more wealth you will get throughout the year. I understand from our Japanese friend that every year, you have to go back to the temple to get a bigger one from the previous year. I got no chance to take the video of the simple "ceremony" or "ritual" they did for customers whom bought them. They will clapped in the same manner and mumbled something in Japanese. I suppose it is for good luck and a blessing.
This is a Hello Kitty one, which is a modern one. Below I have are more traditional, but I cannot get a good snap on them.

Just before I leave for Japan, I get to know that they are having a second event for this type of ceremony on the sat when I am leaving for Singapore. I think it is no longer a religious events, it has become an event more to make a living.

While walking away from the crowded street, we passed by a place which we immediately stopped to snap the picture. Cars of the resident stacked in this order when they are home. As most people might know, rental of any kind in Japan is very expensive, especially car park. It can be USD600 for a parking lot in Shinjuku I heard