Tokyo, Japan | 5 Days 4 Night. What did we do? Part 2.

Apr 29, 2017
7 min read

Day 3 - Hitachi Seaside Park, Skytree.

Hitachi Seaside Park is not near Tokyo. Getting to there took us about 2.5hrs by public transport from Ueno station, which meant almost 4 hrs from our hotel. The thought of travelling 4 hours just to see flowers was a turn off at first, but Kenneth was really really interested being the uncle soul he is. No regrets for me, the view is really worth 4hrs of travelling.

How to get there?

We took the route in the as shown in the blue diagram above. From Ueno station get on a train from Joban line to Katsuta Station, this would have taken you almost 2hrs. From there, just as you exit the station there would be people with sign boards telling you there's a bus to Hitachi Seaside Park. Just follow the sign and you will see some obasan selling tickets for the bus rides (to and fro) and the park tickets at 1200 yen. Getting tickets from them really saved us time as we didn't need to figure out what buses to take and didn't need to queue for admission tickets once there.

Food and drinks are available inside the park, there are many food trucks and store in the area, do expect long queues for food and beverages as well as washrooms. Don't worry though the public toilets in Japan are soooo clean not kidding. Since travelling to the Park itself took 4 hrs, we spent half a day there 9.30-3+pm, yes we wake up at 5+ cause sunrise was as early as 4+am. Every morning I would jump out of bed thinking it's late we gotta go out and not waste time sleeping then I realised It's just 4.30 am WTS. That said, sunset was early too 5-5.30pm felt like 8pm.

Things to take note : Do check what season flower blooms during your view. For us we went late apr - early may, which was the ending period for cherry blossom, we were lucky to spot a few remaining sakura trees. You can check the flower season from their website I have listed below.

2.5 hrs train and bus ride later, we got back to Ueno station and since Ueno is not far from Skytree, nearest station Oshiage, decided to get a night view of Tokyo. The Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) is a television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo. It is the centerpiece of the Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, not far away from Asakusa. With a height of 634 meters (634 can be read as "Musashi", a historic name of the Tokyo Region), it is the tallest structure in Japan and the second tallest in the world at the time of its completion. A large shopping complex with aquarium is located at its base. The highlight of the Tokyo Skytree is its two observation decks which offer spectacular views out over Tokyo. The two enclosed decks are located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively, making them the highest observation decks in Japan and some of the highest in the world.

Normally, I would not advice bring passport out while exploring the city just lock it up in a safe in the hotel or some thing but okay Japan is safe or at least nothing happened. Good thing about bringing your passport you get to purchase the Fast Skytree Ticket 4000 Yen for both deck (For International Visitors). For a same-day ticket for both deck would be 3090 Yen but you have to queue this very very long snake line.

For Dinner we settled for something near by the sky tree, Skytree Town. We found a shop to satisfy my Okonomiyaki cravings.

Okonomiyaki which literally means ‘grilled as you like it’. Okonomiyaki is a savory version of Japanese pancake, made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, meat/ protein and topped with a variety of condiments.

Fukutaro, one of many restaurants in Skytree Town that have long queue. Every restaurant have really long queues actually, then again everything probably good. Other than Okonomiyaki they serve yakisoba as well and some other sides such as kimchi pork stir fried which is total yum for such cold weather. Skytree is a huge place to explore in a day, we came back the next day as well. It's helpful that they had maps and directory to help us locate and find food and souvenirs.

Hitachi Seaside Park

Address : 字大沼-605-4 Mawatari, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture 312-0012, Japan

Website : http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/information.html

Opening hours : 9:30–17:00 (March 1 – July 20, September 1 – October 31), 9:30–18:00 (July 21 – August 31), 9:30–16:30 (November 1 – end of February)

Park closed on Mondays, Closed on Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday.

Getting there : as stated above.

Tokyo Skytree

Address : 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida, Tokyo 131-0045, Japan

Website : http://lang.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/index.html

Opening hours : 8am to 10pm (entry until 21:00)

Opens all day everyday

Nearest station : Oshiage

Day 4 - Asakusa, Kaminarimon & Sensoji Temple, Melon Pan, Namikiya Soba, Akihabara - Go kart.

What's Tokyo without visiting shrines/temples or even better visit the oldest temple built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa. Getting to the temple you will first pass the Kaminarimon, two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple. The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds. Sensoji ("Senso" is an alternative reading for Asakusa and "ji" means temple) is Tokyo's most famous and popular temple. Built in the 7th century, it is also one of its oldest, although the current buildings are postwar reconstructions.

Lots of food and souvenirs available through the Nakamise Shopping Street which stretches over 250 meters lined with more than 50 shops each offering local specialties. Hours depend on the individual shops; typically daily from 9:00 to 19:00. We searched for what's popular in the area and found that the Melon-pan is a really popular bread and a must-try on websites that recommended it.

Once again MUST-TRY to Kenneth means no matter the queue he's going to queue for it. We started our day early as we had something amazing and exciting planned later in the afternoon(stick around and read to find out).

Asakusa Kagetsudo is a melon-pan store and restaurant that has been in business since 1945 and most famous for their jumbo melon-pan best eaten warm. They also sells variations of melon-pan that come with ice cream fillings and other desserts. The bread were freshly baked, slot into paper bags and sold straight to you. Asakusa Kagetsudo is open from 9am till sold out so do get there early. Other thing, eating and walking in the shopping straight are not recommended (the stall lady reminded us before handing the pan over so I guess they must be really strict about it).

Next we head for proper meal at Namiki Yabusoba, an old restaurant that was established in 1913. Just 5 mins walk away with less crowded street. The fine noodle has been kneaded and served with a rich dipping sauce. As this restaurant is extremely popular with long line of patrons waiting to be seated. We waiting about 45 mins to be seated, since the seats were very limited we had to share a table with another Japanese couple. Not that it was a bad thing cause the menu is in Japanese like Japanese character and stuff there's no way we could read it. One of the waitress obasan seem to notice us lost sheeps trying to order, came and enlighten us and recommended what is popular in the menu in English. Thank you auntie! Since we were sitting with the local couple we sort of just follow what they were doing, adding this pot of water share among us four to the dipping sauce bowl and drinking it. At first, I thought that would be so salty turns out everyone is doing that, so monkey see monkey do. Great meal even though the queue was long and was a bit pricey to me(it's just soba) but delicious enough to come back again in future.

Before we get you all excited driving a Go-kart on the streets of Tokyo, YES YOU NEED DRIVING LICENSE and you NEED to convert your license to international driving license. Go-kart in Singapore is quite pricey, we have tried KF1 Karting in Singapore and per person easily $30 or more for a mere 15 mins of fun. I would say it was fun and all but 15 mins is very short and goes round and round in the same circuit, okay can. With Klook, Go-kart in Akihabara is only $36 for an hour on the streeeeeets not in circuit!

We booked our Street Go Karting Experience in Akihabara (link) weeks before the trip from Klook. Like I have stated you need a driving license for this activity and you need to convert your license to international driving license (IDP). Read more about our Go-kart experience (here)

Dinner, evening walk was nothing much we just walk till we get tired and hungry and went back skytree for supper and pokemon center again. Went pokemon center 3 times in 2 days cause I want to get all the pokemon mini nano blocks. LOL

Sensoji Temple

Address : 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to 111-0032, Japan

Opening hours: 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 October to March) Admission: Free

Nearest station : Asakusa

Asakusa Kagetsudo

Address : Japan, 〒111-0032 Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa, 2 Chome−16−7, 13 ドムール浅草Ⅱ

Opening hours : 9am to sold out (means if you really want it get there early)

Nearest station : Asakusa

Namiki Yabusoba

Address : 2 Chome-11-9 Kaminarimon, Taitō-ku, Tōkyō-to 111-0034, Japan

Opening hours : 11am to 7.30pm

Nearest station : Asakusa

Converting Singapore Driving License to International Driving License.

Address : 51 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #02-02, Singapore 569922 or 535 Kallang Bahru,#01-08, GB Point, Singapore 339351

Website : https://www.aas.com.sg/our-services/international-driving-permit-idp.html

Fees : $20

Opening hours : Do check from their website.

Go-kart

Address : Building Sasage B1F, 2-4-6 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Nearest station : Akihabara

#You will get confirmation email.

Day 5 | Last Day in Tokyo before flight tmr - DisneyLand Tokyo

Honestly, this was what I was waiting for the whole trip. My first time to disneyland I didn't want to go home. Once again we booked our Disney tickets from Klook. (wa feels like I'm doing some advertisement for them sia, but they seriously convenient to get all my tickets from them ah) Print out the confirmation letter in A4 size as you need to scan the QR code on the letter to enter, you get to skip the queue to purchase your tickets. If you were to purchase the tickets there for a one day pass it would be 7400 yen (89.60SGD) getting it from Klook was 91SGD, not much price difference but you get enter right away.

It was a Monday when we went for Disneyland, it was crowded but the queues for rides were quick, 30-40 mins wait the most. We made sure we have our meals at odd timings to avoid the crowd. Do take note when is the parades timing, if you don't mind missing the parades it's the best time to catch those popular rides. We get to cover most of the rides except those really kiddy ones, and made it to 3 parades which Kenneth said was really lucky as the previous time he came he barely sat 4 rides.