Japan Trip (3-14 March 2017) Part 4 Tokyo

Day 4, Odiba Onsen, Mirakan Museum, Toyota City Showroom and Divercity for Gundum. (Last day in Tokyo)

We checked out from our AirBnB early in the morning and kept our luggage at the expressway bus terminal 4-F, near Shinjuku Main Station. The lockers were quite expensive (roughly about 300 Yen for 2 hours) but it was better than taking them travelling around for the whole day. After leaving our luggage, we took a train ride to Tokyo Teleport St. then hopped on the free shutter bus to Odaiba.

Expressway Bus Terminal at 4th Floor..

Tokyo Teleport St. Weather was not so good that time and it was super cold!

Free Shutter Bus to Odaiba

Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari is a relaxing place with natural hotspring. They have an open-air bath, a foot bath garden, relaxing halls and an amusement park. After registering at the counter, we were given a token/pass to each person. Then we need to change on to their Yukata costume before entering to the main hall. From there, we can choose to go for open-air bathing (must be fully naked), foot-bathing, eating, playing games etc. Besides, there were also massage, sauna and fish spa but with an additional cost. You can spend how much time you like over there! Upon check out, then only we were given the bill. (Entrance fee ~ 2500 Yen).

Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari

Counter to select your Yukata.. There were a few designs to choose from..

The main hall with a lot of gaming and food stalls...

Foot bath garden..

After onsen, we then walked to Miraikan Museum, Toyota City Showroom, Divercity and back to the train station. 

Miraikan Museum.. Just walking distance from the Onsen but opening hours is until 5 pm..

Toyota City Showroom.. (no entrance fee needed) A showroom with full of past, present and future cars!

Interactive games to entertain everyone!

Gundum at Divercity..

We then traveled back to the train station at around 7 pm and get back to Shinjuku Main Station for dinner before boarding on Willer Bus Express at around 9.45 pm. 

Yoshinoya.. Cheap food and fast service but it's non-halal.. Just walking distance from Shinjuku Main St.

Rice with Beef Slice.. Less than 700 Yen if not mistaken..

Pork Slice Rice Set with soup..

Our bus to Kyoto.. About 10-hours bus journey! Very comfortable bus (roughly about 7000-8000 Yen per person)

To be continued..

Japan Trip (3-14 March 2017) Part 3 Tokyo

Day 3, Asakusa, Skytree Tower and Shibuya. 

Before we started anything, we had our breakfast at this beautiful bakery near Shinjuku Main Station. Gontran Cherrier, I suspect it's a French bakery but maybe I'm wrong. Because once we entered the shop, we had this very Western style classic feel. With the setting and displays, we were so tempted to get each of the pastries which were on the shelf! =) Pastries were great but the coffee was a bit disappointing! Anyway, I can say it's a MUST to come here at least once!

Gontran Cherrier, downstairs to buy and upstairs to sit and dine in!

Wonderful pastries... A bit pricey but worth to try!

Then we headed out for Asakusa via train. We got ourselves an ICOCA or SUICA card, so that we can travel conveniently and faster without the need to queue everytime to buy train ticket. You can load in a big sum but if you are worry that you can't finish the money inside the card, you can just spend it at any convenient store or get a refund at the ticketing counter.

Ticketing machines at Shinjuku Main Station..

Asakusa District.. Time for temple visit! Train station was just walking distance only.

The huge lantern at the entrance.. "People Mountain, People Sea" Hard to get a picture without the tourists! =)

Asakusa Nakamise Shopping St. Just a few rows of shops but mostly were selling food and snacks..

Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo.. It was a huge temple and it has many parts to walk about for a temple!

Get your free green tea at the side of the temple to warm your body! =) If you like, you can buy a packet home...

After spending the morning at Asakusa, then we walked about an hour to Skytree tower by passing though Sumida Park. If not, you can opt to get a taxi ride or tricycle service but it would be expensive.

Sumida Park, it would be great when sakura fully bloom!

Skytree tower! We didn't go up as we were running out of time and we were super hungry! Perhaps next time...

Lunch at Saboten Shinjuku @ Keio Departmental Store..

Pork Cutlet was the main dish! It was so so so good! They served this with rice and salad as well to get you full!

After lunch, we went to the famous Shibuya Crossing Street and visited the Hachiko Statue. Both of these were just few steps away only. But to get a good view of Shibuya Crossing Street, you can go to the upper level of Starbucks. After spending some time there, we went and shopped for our goodies and strawberries!

Huge strawberries... It was sweet!

You can also put some strawberry paste! )

Dumplings a.k.a gyoza @ Nishi-shinjuku for a short break before dinner!

The spicy version of the dumplings

The fried version of the dumplings... Just ordinary dumplings but I prefer KK one! =)

Uobei Sushi for dinner! Experience the self ordering sushi...

Each seat has a monitor to order food... Good that they will prepare freshly but cons is you can't really share!

Last stop before going back to Shinjuku!

To be continued...

Japan Trip (3-14 March 2017) Part 2 Tokyo

Day 2, trip to Kawaguchiko Lake and Kawazu River! As both of these places were really far from the city center, we rented a car and drove there as this would be cheaper. We started the day at almost 8 am (as early as possible) so that we can rush back to Tokyo to return the car by 10 pm (as the parking lots charges a very expensive price if you park overnight). Moreover, it's very convenient to rent a car as the rental shop is very near to Shinjuku main Station. 

Early morning at Shinjuku!

Our rent car for our day trip..

Once we arrived near the area (about 2 hours journey from Tokyo), we headed to the Fujikawaguchiko Tourist Information Center to get the map and perhaps some discounted packages. They have very friendly multi-lingual officers to communicate, so it was kind of easy to talk to them. After that, we drove to the lake! Wahooo! =)

Fujikawaguchiko Tourist Information Center

Here we are, Kawaguchiko Lake with very blue water! So you can choose to go for a "pedalling ride" around the lake or go for a boat ride for some scenery view of Mt Fuji!

Beautiful Mt. Fuji view, from the lower deck of the boat ride

Nice day nice weather, just too perfect! =)

Cheese Cake Garden for cheese cake. Just right opposite of the lake while on the way up to the Ropeway station.

Kawaguchi Ropeway (Mt. Kachi Kachi) for a perfect view of Mt. Fuji..

View of Mt. Fuji from Mt. Kachi Kachi..

Tanuki Dango (Rice ball).. No one can stop me from eating! Haha..

After coming down from Mt. Kachi Kachi, we went to the convenient store to have a quick lunch before heading to Kawazu River. Kawazu River usually has the early bloom of the sakura trees in Tokyo but we were unfortunate because we were there too early for the season. By the way, the drive from Kawaguchi Lake to Kawazu River was about 3 hours!

Spotted a Sakura tree while on the way to Kawazu River..

Us with just the bits of Sakura flower!

Clear Kawazu River..

We headed back to Tokyo after sunset to return the car..=0 another 3 hours journey back...

Udon Shin Shinjuku for our dinner + supper after returning the car.. Just nearby to our place and it opens till late night..

Dry Udon with cheese and a big piece of Bacon Tempura.. A MUST have meal~! Super great!!! Less than 1500 Yen!

Fish Cake Udon.. Big portion and the hot soup was great to warm your stomach in a very cold weather!

To be continued...