Land of the Sunrise - Tokyo

Day 1 : Arriving Haneda Airport

Another period of excitement finally hare. AirAsia X once again flew me to the one of the most expensive cities in the world, Tokyo. The aircraft take-off at approximately 1445 hrs and the journey took 7 hours. It was quite a challenge to remain comfortable during the flight unless i brought along one of my novels or any gadgets where I could watch movies, listen to songs or play games. I have no idea what did I do along the flight and all I knew it was time for landing at Haneda International Airport. 

When disembarking the aircraft, several passengers were running as if the airport terminal was going to leave them. Then only I realize that I am in Japan, where time is always leaving them behind that they must not be left any further. Or course, Japaneses are well-known for their punctuality and discipline. 

There is another reason why the passengers were running after disembarking the aircraft. They have already knew that they would have to wait longer at the immigration for clearance purpose. Yes, immigration clearance here takes such a longer time compared to the airports of the countries I have been previously. 

From the time consuming immigration clearance, we missed the last monorail to Hamamatsucho, thus the JR train to Nishi Kawaguchi. Fortunate enough for many of the stranded travelers that Haneda International Airport authority allows travelers, locals and foreigners to rest or sleep at the airport until the next day. This means that we cannot refund for our one night stay at JGH Tokyo Hotel. Kind of money wasting actually. My advice, if anyone intends to travel to Tokyo, especially for late arrivals flights, kindly save your money by not booking hotels/hostels for the traveling day as you will not be able to jump on the last trains. Unless if you  are willing to spend extra Yen, then it is not a problem, or, if you have someone to pick you up at the airport., you can take any flight at your own convenience. 

Pitty my mum that she really need to sleep and rest properly. There is a room, they call it 'refresh room', for those who wish to get proper rest, or sleep, comfortably. It costs 1000 yen per hour, and my mum paid for 5 hours. As for me, I tried to sleep on the chairs at the common area but I just could not sleep. There is free internet access as well, so I spent my night staring on my Blackberry screen, Facebooking and...I do not know what else. 

The coolest thing about this airport, it has automated toilets, with choices of water flow and drier. Awesome!!

Day 2 : Harajuku

After a long night with a little discomfort, the dawn has finally begun. Mum woke up fresher and we started the day by making our way to JGH Tokyo Hostel. We first purchase the Monorail and 4 days Tokunai Pass at a price of 3000 yen, which means we can ride all JR trains within Tokyo city limits for 4 days, and of course, return transfer of monorail from Haneda International Airport and Hamamatsucho station. From Hamamatsucho, we took the JR Blue Line (Keihin-Tohoku line) to Akabane, and from Akabane, we need to buy 150 yen ticket as our pass did not cover stations after Akabane. That was quite troublesome but at least we saved A LOT for this trips. And it did not matter at all because of the high frequencies of trains. 

With the help of a map, we walked to get to JGH Tokyo Hostel and it was pretty easy and near to Nishi-Kawaguchi station. When we arrived JGH Tokyo Hostel, well...it was really Japanese type of accommodation, a home turned into a hostel creatively and really tiny even for us Asians. But logic is that, there is no need for such a huge room when one just need a room to sleep, to change clothes or other personal business. So, to ensure I have all the energy I need for today's plan, I got some sleep and mum too.

Around 11.30, we prepared ourselves and got ready to see Tokyo. Before that, I studied the JR train map so that we would not get blurred. So we decided to drop by at Harajuku to check out the bazaar where they (bloggers, travel website respondents etc) say there are varieties of souvenirs can be purchased here. When arriving Harajuku, we passed the entrance of a shrine, i.e. Meiji-Jingu Shrine. So mum suggested that we have a look at this shrine.  

MEIJI JINGU or MEIJI SHRINE

To be honest, I am not good in telling the history or other information of the palaces, shrines, temples or anything alike, which I have visited. But my mum is really good about because she can remember facts that well and fast. But one good thing of having information board at each attraction is that, it can be photographed and the pictures can be retained for future reading. OK, enough with the self-destroying statement. For good readings about this shrine, feel free to click this link : Meiji Jingu and Meiji Shrine (Wikipedia)

There are huge trees and shrubs lining the walkway to the shrine. It was so cooling and everything seemed to be quite though with the tourists going in and coming out of the shrine. That is the reason why they call this place as serene shrine. 

Mum with the barrels of sake (nihonshu) donated to the shrine previously

Barrels used to store wines

Typical archway (torii in Japanese) to shrines

Lovely carvings

Hundreds of peonies were on display along the walkway to the shrine.

After the pleasant visit to Meiji shrine, I told mum to drop-by at Oriental Bazaar which is very close to the shrine. Though with the closeness, we went to the wrong direction because of the misleading map I got from the internet. 

ORIENTAL BAZAR HARAJUKU

After walking through a sea of people, we finally reached Oriental Bazaar. Mum complained that her feet was aching. But when we entered the bazaar, it seems that the aching temporarily disappeared. Haha....

I kind of like this place because it sells every single souvenirs which tourists might want to have when visiting Japan, ranging from small chopstick rests to porcelains and kimonos. I brought myself several fridge magnets ranging from 160 yen to 400 yen (RM6.40 to RM16), key-chains (the cheapest is 350 yen) and cute paper ornaments. I wanted to get a decorative saucer but even the cheapest and smallest really froze my hair, around 1500 yen (RM60). It is indeed true that everything is expensive in Japan, but I think if the currency exchange rate is much lower, say 100 yen for RM2.50, it would not be that horrible. As according to Japaneses I met, everything sold in Japan, especially in Tokyo, is indeed expensive for them. HOWEVER, if a traveler does not care about buying this and that, except for food, there is nothing much to regret.

Oriental Bazaar, souvenirs heaven. 

When we got what we wanted and satisfied with our catch today, I told mum that we need to go to Shinjuku station to book for day trip to Mt. Fuji. So we took another JR train to Shinjuk which is exactly the next station after Harajuku.

Unfortunately, we could not locate Odakyu Rail information counter though we asked from the staff at the information counter of Shunjuku station. Since mum seriously could not walk any longer, I gave up and head back to Nishi-Kawaguchi. It was almost dark and we arrived our accommodation around 6 pm. We had breads, tunas, biscuits and porridge for our dinner, washed ourselves and went to bed. It was really a tiring, walking day. 

Day 3: Asakusa, Ueno & Tokyo

We woke fresher today for having lengthy sleep last night, which was good for both of us. We had cereals, instant noodles, mushroom soup and bread for our breakfast. We purposely ate more than usual so that we would not feel hungry easily during the outing around Tokyo. I studied the map for couple of times to ensure we will not lost on our way. We managed to get to Asakusa, Ueno and Tokyo, but of course I was hoping to go to many other places but I have to think of my mum's condition as well. And today we started earlier than the day before, around 9.30, after all Japaneses were already in their offices or working places, and the train station was less crowded and less people running here and there.

At Nishi-Kawaguchi station, be bought the 130 yen ticket to Ueno, but when passing the exit gate, we used the 4 days pass ticket. From Ueno, we took the subway for 160 yen and disembark at the last station, Asakusa. It was pretty easy to get to the Sensoji Temple, but need some lucky guess though.

ASAKUSA - Nakamise Street

Before getting to temple, we passed the infamous Nakamise Street where various souvenir items are sold here. I just wished I have bundles of yens in my possession so that I can but more cute stuff from this street. From the internet, those who have visited this place would say it was a tourist trap but personally I think it is not. I am referring to the souvenir items sold such as key-chains, fridge magnets and other ornaments bought from Harajuku Oriental Bazaar and Nakamise Street, where the prices are just the same. I am not so sure if bargaining is allowed here because I do not see tourists make any attempt to bargain. Price range for the most famous souvenirs ie, fridge magnets and key-chains are just the same with what found at Harajuku Oriental Bazaar, 200 yen to 500 yen.

When approaching the grand archway  of Sensoji Temple, there is a spot where one can see the Tokyo Skytree clearly and with proper lighting, it can be a good photography subject. Unfortunately, it was dull and grey when we reached Asakusa so it was not really a pleasant day for photography. Maybe it is not a problem for photography experts. 

Some information to read about Sensoji Temple

The sign says it all

Various interesting, cute and unique souvenirs sold here, and lovely environment too.

View of Tokyo Skytree from Nakamise Street

Almost empty street opposite Nakamise Street arch

ASAKUSA - Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple is a Buddhist temple which has its own history and being the most important culture and religious centre in Japan. The initiation of the temple began in year 628 where the headman of a village by Sumida River, Haji Nakamoto, became a devout believer of Bodhisattva Kannon. It was all started when Haji Nakamoto heard from the Hinokuma brothers (Hanamari and Takenari) that they caught a golden statue Bodhisattva Kannon on their net while netting. So, Haji Nakamoto started to practice his life as a Buddhist and became a Buddhist priest. He even turned his home into a temple and this was the beginning of the Sensoji Temple history.

A gate heading to the main hall of Sensoji Temple

A pagoda, or a tower perhaps?

Lanterns which carry certain messages

Nice mini landscape with lovely flowers

While looking around, it was raining heavily without any indication and everybody was rushing for shelters. So my word of advice, when the sky is grey, just get ready to run to avoid being wet. Check the weather and bring an umbrella too.

It was time to leave Asakusa and we embarked the subway to Ueno. At first, I thought of going straight to Tokyo but I decided to deviate when I saw the sign Ueno Park. And it was time for lunch and before my mum complain, it was best to sit and have our lunch. 

UENO - Ueno Park

I packed a flask or Barley tea prepared by the hostel's staff, some breads and biscuits and had them with tuna. It was nice to sit at the park, have light lunch and enjoy the refreshing, cooling air (at least much cooler than in Malaysia). Ueno Park is really huge but we did not bother to walk around given the weather was not so inviting for such purpose. 

Having lunch under the tree

After lunch, we headed to the Ueno JR train station which is just across the park, and headed to Tokyo. 

TOKYO - Tokyo City

Tokyo station never stops receiving thousands of passengers everyday. It was the largest station and is the main station of the bullet-train (Shinkansen) services. If exiting the station at the Central East exit, it leads us to the infamous Imperial Palace and the center where all the high-rise buildings are located. At times, I felt like I was in New York, and mum said it was like in California. The arrangement of the buildings are so neat and of course, it was so clean (of course it is clean everywhere, every time in Tokyo). Many people were standing outside the exit and photographing 'something'. When we walked further from the exit, then only we realized that they were photographing the station building, which is also the Tokyo Station Hotel. It looks so Victorian and grand too.

The daughter

The mother

Tokyo Station Hotel

Flower bed which made me crazy

Lovely floral arrangement

When we were done with the modern buildings, we walked for another 600 meters towards Imperial Palace. It was only 3.30 pm but the day was dull and dark, no sunshine. But the walking was considerably pleasant given the fresh air without smoke or smog and the temperature was just nice. There was lines of trees which has started to change color, giving the greenish-yellow appearance and at least uplifted the environment a bit from the dull, grey sky.

We wasted time heading to the wrong direction when we were supposed to go to the main entrance for visitors on the opposite direction. Later we were told that the main entrance is at the other side and by the time we reached there, the officer was closing the door. Which means, we missed to see the view of the bridge and the main palace building.

Disappointed, we returned to the Tokyo station and embarked the train to Shinjuku. This is the last chance for us to book a trip or tickets to Mt. Fuji. he day before, I read properly from the in internet on the location of the Odakyu service information counter. We managed to locate it which is at 3rd floor, Western exit of Shinjuku station.  We consulted the staff at the counter, a young sweet girl who speaks English well, with a little bit of American slang.

We have 2 options, either to go to Hakone with the Hakone Free Pass (5000 yen) or take a return bus to Kawaguchi Station (3400 yen). I was eyeing for the Hakone Free Pass from the very beginning because with this pass, we get to visit Owakudani  where one can purchase the black-egg, Lake Ashi for the Mt. Fuji view and comes with unlimited use of local public transportation around Hakone. But taking a bus to Kawaguchi Station is a good option where the view of Mt. Fuji is much clearer and bigger, except that we have to pay for local transportation there.

Taking into consideration on my mum's limited walking distance, we decided to take the return bus to Kawaguchi Station. Once done with the booking, we went back to the hostel. And guess what, it was exactly the peak hour where people started to make their way home. It was crowded at the station, the trains were compact with passengers, but at least no dizzying, nauseating unpleasant smile on-board. This is absolutely different situation compared to my lovely country home.