SHINJUKU (新宿)

East exit of Shinjuku Station! Apparently it's connected to a shopping mall 8D Lumine est

CATTT CAFEEEEEE

24 HR COSMETICS SHOP!!!!!

MATSUMOTO KIYOSHI 24 HR OUTLET

Look out for the big yellow sign!

24 HOUR COSMETICS SHOP!! Relatively close to our hotel (about 15mins walk?). If that isn't heaven for two shopaholic night owls, I don't know what is LOL 

CALICO CAT CAFE

This photo of Calico Cat Cafe Shinjyuku is courtesy of TripAdvisor

CAT CAFEEEEE I'M GOING TO DIE.

Really close to the 24 hr Matsukiyo, and rather close to my hotel!!

It's in the 6th floor of the building, if that helps!

IKEBUKURO (池袋)

I like how it sounds in chinese :3

Serves a total of 8 LINES, including JR Yamanote and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, among others.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3038.html#seibu

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/ikebukuro-walking-tour/map

MUTEKIYA RAMEN

Oooh looks nicee

Apparently its a really tiny shop, with REALLY AWESOME RAMEN. Saw a blog review that said she had to wait about twenty minutes in line, but she would still wait if she had to wait like two hours because I was so good??? And according to their website, it's quite affordable too! About SGD$9 is their cheapest! That's cheaper than Ajisen okay. =.= 

Directions: 3-minute walk Meiji street, to Shinjuku from JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit.

ODAIBA/ TOKYO TELEPORT STATION (東京テレポート駅 tokyo tereporto eki)

I SEE. VENDING MACHINES! 

Served by the Rinkai Line!!
How to go from Shinjuku: Take YR Yamanote to Osaki station (大崎駅)! Then change platform to Rinkai Line!

VENUS FORT

Okay so from what I can tell, the outside and the inside is VASTLY different

I am slightly confused, but I suppose I'll know when I get there!

According to Mimikaayu, 

Venus Fort is kind of like an outlet where most stores sell past seasons items at a great discount.  Located in Odaiba, it is close to a few other attractions and shopping malls. I do found the items in Venus Fort just like other outlets, i.e. sometimes it's your luck whether you can find great pieces at a discount as there is really no way of telling what stock an outlet has at a particular time. Prices are good though other than the Burberry Blue Label store which I found similar to outside. I think if you live in Tokyo and Venus Fort is easy to get to it's great to hunt for bargain, but if you are only there for a short time as a tourist, I'd rather spend my time on other shopping destinations selling in season items.

I've looked at its website apparently it sells stuff like one dress and one cardigan for about sixty bucks. Wow, budget. GOSH. But I suppose usually its one dress for like hundred and twenty. So.

So I guess we shall see if we have time to go!! Honestly, off-season clothes are likely to be in-season in Singapore =.= But the thing is it's about 22mins away from Shinjuku? Which actually isn't that bad..... HMMMMMM.

We could just spend about half a third of a day here (aka morning to mid afternoon) and still make it back in time to walk around say, Shibuya, or anywhere, really.

I'd say if we go, go before we go Harajuku, etc. So we can buy cheap stuff first and hence hopefully prevent us from buying too much ex stuff LOL

HARAKUJU (原宿)

Harajuku Station!

Harajuku Station is served only by the JR Yamanote Line, i.e. we can only get there by the JR Yamanote Line.

Summary of Places to Go

1) Takeshita Dori - Shopping street for teenagers!
2) Omotesando - Street for high end shopping!
3) LaForet - Located on Omotesando, shopping mall!
4) Tokyu Plaza - Located on Omotesando, department store!
5) Oriental Bazaar - Tokyo's largest souvenir shop!
6) Yoyogi Park!
7) Meji Shrine! - Located quite a distance away North-West of Harajuku station, but ought to be worth it! It sort of is in Yoyogi Park??

ORDER:
From Harajuku Station, cross Harajuku Bridge and go to Yoyogi Park.

Then maybe go Meji Shrine.

Then backtrack to Harajuku station again, and take takeshita dori exit to Takeshita Dori.
Walk the 400m of Takeshita Dori!
Then turn down towards Laforet  and Tokyu Plaza at Omotesando.
Turn into Omotesando! And then we can go by Oriental Plaza and Omotesando Hills!

TAKESHITA DORI (竹下)

Holy shit they weren't kidding when they said crowded

Takeshita Dori @ Harajuku!! Officially, it appears to be in Shibuya. O.O But whatever. Get off at Harajuku station, and take the Takeshita Dori Exit! And because Takeshita dori is really unsuited to my Xiao Gu's tastes... She can go to Omotesando! 

The only directions I can find online is basically, upon reaching Harajuku Station, exit from the Takeshita Dori Exit and follow the crowd of teenagers and tourists. WTF LOL.

Okay so after walking through the whole of Takeshita Dori, we should end up at an intersection, wherein we should probably turn right, our south, to head towards Laforet, and hence Omotesando!

OMOTESANDO (表参道)

Everywhere I go, the standard first thing websites say is "Omotesando, a tree lined street..."

Omotesando is a (tree lined) street for high-end botiques and branded goods, apparently! Many of my intended destinations in Harajuku are in Omotesando, i.e. Laforet, Tokyu hands, and Oriental Bazaar. Oh and Omotesando Hills! I think Xiao Gu will like this place a lot LOL

LAFORET (ラフォーレ原宿 rafore harakuju)

Stolen off wiki

Upon looking at their website, it looks pretty damn pricey OTL Everything is so goddamn pricey. Apparently even freaking Shibuya 109 is more affordable than this.

TOKYU PLAZA (東急プラザ)

Whoa. Wts? Whoa.

Talk about abstract. 

Well anyway, turns out I was wrong, I mixed it up with Tokyu Hands. Tokyu Plaza is NOT a department store, it is a shopping mall! And once again, pricey, I'm not even surprised anymore. I need to spend more time in takeshita dori. I should really consider telling xiao gu we should split up for maybe an hour.

ORIENTAL BAZAAR

Whoa. LOL

Apparently one of the biggest souvenir shops in Tokyo! They sell things from kiminos to legit Japanese porcelain to teddy bears???? A must-go, in other words!

OMOTESANDO HILLS (表参道ヒルズ omotesando hiruzu)

What is up with these architects??

Everything is officially INSANELY priced. Oh goddddd.

Shopping!

SHIBUYA 109

YES THAT'S TAIBANI.

Ridiculously expensive, insanely trendy, i.e. equivalent to a freaking 12 LEVEL JRUNWAY.
It even has the brands JRunway carries, like, not kidding. Like Emoda, Baby Shoop (I think that's how you spell it. I have their shirt aaaah hearts and dies), Liz Lisa (okay I don't actually think JRunway has Liz Lisa but you get it)... I'd have to say their cheapest stuff would be from Heather, aka a brand that Lowry's farm has... Doesn't seem a lot cheaper there too... But oh well!

TOKYO BAY LALAPORT 

Looks like a really short Changi Airport 

Supposedly one of the largest Shopping centers in Tokyo! Unfortunately, it's not all that convenient to visit from Shinjuku, as we'd have to get to Tokyo Station (via either JR Yamanote or JR Chuo Line), then change to the JR Keio Line and travel another about ten stops before reaching Minami-Funabashi, the station closest to Lalaport, after which it is apparently within five minutes of walking distance?? They also have a shuttle bus service that comes every 15mins.
Apparently the stores also close at around 8pm! People online seem to recommend going in the morning.


TAKESHITA DORI

Holy shit they weren't kidding when they said crowded

Takeshita Dori @ Harajuku!! Officially, it appears to be in Shibuya. O.O But whatever. Get off at Harajuku station, and take the Takeshita Dori Exit! And because Takeshita dori is really unsuited to my Xiao Gu's tastes... She can go to Omotesando! 

CHEAP(ER) SHOPPING IN TOKYO

- Takeshita Dori @ Harajuku
- Ameyokocho Shopping Street @ Ueno
- AbAb @ Ueno
- Ikebukuro
- Okachimachi Station!
- Takeya @ Ueno-okachimachi (Take north exit, sign is big and purple)
- Kinji used clothing @ Harajuku (Kitasando Station (Tokyo Metro) South exit)

TRANSPORT

TO-AND-FRO NARITA AIRPORT

KEISEI SKYLINER AND TOKYO METRO PASS

We will most likely get the Y4880 one! About SGD61 for a Roundtrip skyliner ticket, and a two day Tokyo Metro Pass! I went to have a look, and apparently, undiscounted, a roundtrip skyliner ticket would be SGD61, excluding the two day Metro Pass, so I'd say we have to use the Metro pass to its fullest for it to be considered a discount at all!

I've already kinda thought about it, so we will likely take the Skyliner to Ueno, then from Ueno make use of the Metro pass and take the Tokyo Metro to Higashi-Shinjuku, aka the train station closest to our hotel!

So from Ueno, take the Ginza line (Orange) toward Shibuya for one stop, to Ueno-Hirokoji Station (上野広小路駅), then go to Ueno-Okachimachi Station (上野御徒町駅 ) to take the Toei Oedo Line (Magenta) in the direction of Oh shit strike that Toei isn't the same as Tokyo Metro wtf =.=

Okay so now we have two options:

a) We could buy a PASMO (to be discussed later) and pay to go by the Toei Line, which is much shorter (8 stops). In which case, we do not use the Tokyo Metro at all so as not to waste the free two days. Then we use the PASMO and go from Ueno, take the Ginza line (Orange) toward Shibuya for one stop, to Ueno-Hirokoji Station (上野広小路駅), then go to Ueno-Okachimachi Station (上野御徒町駅 ) to take the Toei Oedo Line (Magenta) in the direction of Tochomae Station (都庁前駅) for 7 stops to Higashi-Shinjuku, and walk to our hotel! A journey which will cost us about SGD3.50 per person O.O

b) We could decide to use (and hence activate our Tokyo Metro Pass), which is about twice the length of time (15 stops), to go to Shinjuku Station, which is further away from our hotel than Higashi-Shinjuku. On the other hand, this journey will be free! From Ueno (上野駅), take the Ginza Line (Orange) toward Shibuya for 7 stops to Ginza Station  (銀座駅), then go to the Marunouchi Line (Red) on the same level (B2) and take 8 stops in the Shinjuku direction to Shinjuku Station (新宿駅)! Then walk about 15 mins to our hotel.

So how these affects the plans are as such:
If we go by a), and don't activate the Tokyo Metro Pass, I would probably put off activating it at all till after Mount Fuji (since we will probably go on Wednesday 21 May), i.e. put off Ikebukuro till after Mt Fuji too.
If we go by b), and activate the Tokyo Metro Pass, would most likely want to go to Ikebukuro the next day, and generally do our most travel-heavy things within that day or the next day.
Actually, since it seems the SGD3.50 for a) is actually inevitable (since we have to go back to the Airport, maybe... IDK. YOU KNOW WHAT I SHOULD ASK XIAO GU TO CIRCLE ALL THE PLACES SHE BLOODY WANTS TO GO AND I'LL PLAN FROM THERE. But yeah, two possible routes to-and-fro Ueno, and hence the airport.

Directions as to where to buy the tickets! We have to get them at special Skyliner Ticket counters at Narita, or Ueno, depending on whether we're going to, or from the airport.

I JUST REALISED THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO GET FROM NARITA TO TOKYO, AS IN, STRAIGHT TO SHINJUKU STATION.

NARITA EXPRESS TOKYO ONE-DIRECTION TICKET (NÉX)

It's a LOAD cheaper, although it takes about ten minutes longer and looks vaguely less comfortable. BUT IT TAKES US STRAIGHT INTO SHINJUKU! No need to worry about getting on crowded subway trains!!

One way ticket is 1500Yen, aka SGD18.75!! Compared to the SGD61 for the Keisei express O.O Idk man. Will research more tmr, ending work soon!!

PASMO

PASMO WIKIPAGE LINK

PASMO is essentially the Japanese EZ-Link card, and can be used at most places in Tokyo, from what I gather..

For example, Tokyo Metro and Toei (the two on the map I printed out), as well as JR East (with lines like JR Yamanote wherein stations like Shinjuku, Ueno, and Harajuku are, and JR Chuo, for places like Koenji, etc.). So yeah! Pretty much everywhere! 

Tokyo Metro Logo (so I remember where my Metro pass can be used)

The Toei Lines (aka where Higashi-shinjuku is on) is the green fan logo, which is NOT Tokyo Metro. I.e. I'll have to use my PASMO.

This thing.

Here's a non-comprehensive map of places it can be used. I say non-comprehensive because I just can't seem to find some stations. -.- Like Koenji. =.= No idea why.

THERE IS A DEPOSIT OF 500YEN FOR THE CARD, WHICH CAN BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RETURN THE CARD. But I intend to keep the card for memory's sake. :) So the card effectively costs SGD6.25.

Thank you, insanely specific Japanese Railway Website. And that's how we buy a PASMO.

REMINDER TO SELF TO UPDATE ABOUT PASMO

FUJI/ONSEN DAY TRIP(S)!

WHAT'S A TRIP TO JAPAN WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE???

I was thinking if we wanted to go to Mt Fuji, we should probably join a bus tour, since we can cover more ground that way... We've already booked seven nights at Shinjuku Granbell, so staying at a ryokan at Fuji isn't an option, which leaves us with only a day trip!

Sunrise Tours: Mt Fuji Day Tour incl. Onsen!
Price: SGD118.75
Includes: Two-way Bus, Lunch, Mount Fuji 5th Station (really high place), Onsen, and scheduled two hours for shopping there!
Pick up: Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal at 9AM, i.e. Take JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Hamamatsucho Station (23mins)
Drop off: Shinjuku Station (West Exit) at about 8-9PM (A bit late for dinner but oh well)

Pros and Cons:
So on one hand, it's a trip that includes an onsen experience!! And apparently that onsen has a really nice view of Mt. Fuji. On the other hand, I really, really want to try the Shinkansen, and this tour is bus ride to-and-fro, so no chance for Shinkansen at all ): There was another tour that's bus trip there but shinkansen back, but no onsen, and it's hella expensive like SGD150++. NO ONSEN. D:

I think if we decide on a tour we'll most likely go with this one though! Since the other one I was talking about, I just realised it's like SGD 170++ with lunch included D: And this includes shopping, which my xiaogu would be interested in LOL

Viator: Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day tour
Price: SGD170++ with lunch
Includes: Bus ride there, Bullet Train there, Lake Ashi, Mt Komagatake cableway
Pick up: Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal at 9AM, i.e. Take JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Hamamatsucho Station (23mins)
Drop off: Shinkansen Tokyo Station 9.30PM i.e. Take Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line from Tokyo to Shinjuku Station

Pros and Cons:
NO ONSEN. D: Although their tour does seem to offer a wider range of activities, NO. ONSEN. And it's like sixy bucks more expensive per person. NO ONSEN. But shinkansen. ): Aw man. On the other hand, it arrives in at Tokyo Station, which is a bit more inconvenient than the Sunrise tour, which will drop us off conveniently at Shinjuku.

These appear to be the only two tours that are alright... There's one really cheap one that goes to Aokigahara Forest!!!!! :O Omg so cool it's such an interesting place (suicide hotspot) but that tour doesn't really seem to cover much else, so... I'm sure I can give Suicide Forest a pass...

ONSENS!!

Nyuto Onsen
Location
From Shinjuku Station,
a) Take JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo/Ueno Station (Abt 30mins)
b) Take Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line to Tokyo Station
When at Tokyo Station, take Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線), Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) which is served only by Komachi trains. (3hrs)
 RESERVATION IS REQUIRED. CLICK TOHOKU SHINKANSEN LINK.
AKITA SHINKANSEN RUNS HOURLY, FROM 8AM TO 8PM.
Picture of Shinkansen Line
Take to Tazawako Station.
Take bus from Tazawako Station.

As you can see, Tsurunoyu is quite far off from all the other onsens. I'll talk about this later.

More of a collection of Onsens, wherein the most famous one is Tsurunoyu Onsen!

It looks ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL GAAAH

Wait I hear someone blasting Demi Lovato's Heart Attack. It's such a nice song.
Anyway, unfortunately, Tsurunoyu Onsen is freaking inaccessible.

Take a bus from Tazawako Station to Nyuto Onsen (50 minutes, 800 yen, hourly departures), which makes stops near most ryokan except for Tsurunoyu, Kuroyu and Magorokuyu.
To access Tsurunoyu, get off at "Tsurunoyu Onsen Iriguchi" bus stop, from where it is a 45 minute walk to the old inn. Staying guests should get off at the Arupa Komakusa bus stop instead (35 minutes, 600 yen) to be picked up by the ryokan (arrangements must be made beforehand). If you arrive by car, free parking is available in front of both inns.

REFER TO MAP ABOVE.
45 MINUTE WALK. WTH. Personally I mind like 0% but I'm just worried that my Xiaogu won't like so much walking, so..... Let's look at other onsens.

Wait actually it's not really all that worth it to travel so far for an onsen. Since I think it's not good to stay in an onsen for more than an hour or two (you'll get pretty much cooked). So we'll be travelling about 8 hours to and fro for two hours of onsen. Wtf. NO.

Let's look for onsens closer to Shinjuku then~~

Okay so I found a few, but I think it'll really be the best to just go for the Mt. Fuji Tour with the Onsen...

Utsukushi no Yu
Price: SGD11.50
Location: Takaido Station (Keio Line, which goes between Shinjuku and Takaido!)
Opening Hours: 9.30am - Midnight

Pocket Wifi!

Rented from: Global Advanced Comm

75mpbs Pocket Wifi

So, mostly because my Xiao Gu and I can't imagine seven days without 24/7 internet, we decided to rent a pocket wifi!!

It's actually a lot cheaper than I expected. I kinda thought it might go up to SGD15 or 20 per day? But for rental for 7 days, it's actually less than ten bucks a day! And honestly, between the 25mpbs and 75mpbs, the price is pretty much the same, so we obviously got the faster one :D

The price chart!! 

So we will be renting for 7 days, and it's 5500JPY, which is about SGD69 bucks! Small sum for seven days of unlimited wifi everywhere, tbh! We can be sure we won't get too lost that way HAHA. YES THAT WAS OUR MAIN CONCERN WE'RE BOTH BIMBO'S WE'D PROB GET LOST ANYWAY.

Ramblings about plans for 19th May!

My flight to Japan is at like, freaking 5.30AM, and we're supposed to check-in about two hours before the departure time, which means we have to be at Changi Airport at approximately 3.30AM.

Which also means that since we won't be getting any sleep anyway, we may as well go to the airport at like midnight or something (or whatever time that Chris can still ferry us there and get some quality sleep) and just hang around at a Starbucks there till we can get on the plane. Or we could shop tax free :)))))

Knowing me and xiao gu we probably won't be having a lot of trouble staying awake LOL

AAAAH I'M GONNA HAVE SUCH A LOOOONGG DAY ON THE 18TH.

And then since we're only going to get breakfast on the plane, most likely we'll be eating lunch in Narita!

Have to remember to collect our pocket wifi from the Airport first though!!!!!

WHEEE

There and back again

SINGAPORE  →  JAPAN : 19th May 2014, Monday

Flight Number: DL-166

Departure:
Changi Airport Terminal 1 , 5.30AM

Arrival:
Narita Airport Terminal 1, 1.25PM (Japan time)

Travel Time: 6 hours 55 mins, no layovers

Services Provided: Breakfast, Movie, In-seat power source, in-seat video player/library


JAPAN → SINGAPORE: 25th/26th May 2014, Sunday/Monday

Flight Number: DL-167

Departure:
Narita Airport Terminal 1, 7.20PM (25th May 2014, Sunday)

Arrival:
Changi Airport Terminal 1, 1.35AM (26th May 2014, Monday)

Travel Time: 7 hours 15 mins, no layovers

Services Provided: Dinner, Movie, In-seat power source, in-seat video player/library


AIRLINE; Delta Airlines

In searching online for reviews, apparently their food is great. Yeah that's all I have.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!! I KEEP FORGETTING THAT I'LL BE GOING TO JAPAN IN LIKE,  A MONTH?? I swear okay I'll like take pictures of everything from Changi Airport to the plane EVERYTHING ASGGSFAFGSFHGSDAL.

I don't think I'll want to come back ):

Anyway, it may interest you, future self or reader, to know that I changed this blog's background picture to one of Tokyo! Since, you know, it's relevant. :)

A documentation of my first time travelling overseas!!

Alright, technically, I've traveled overseas before. To Malaysia. Which I'm not sure is really counted.

Maybe I should change the title to FIRST TIME GOING FOR A HOLIDAY!!!

I'm starting a separate blog just for this, because I have so much I want to write and post about this but I feel slightly bad flooding my main blog with irrelevant things about Japan...

I really want to record like every bit of this, so here goes!