Tokyo, Japan | 5 Days 4 Nights. What did we do? Part 1
- Apr 27, 2017
- 5 min read
This trip was planned just one month or so after we came back from Taiwan trip with friends. This time we are going to Japan. This was a very tight to plan trip I would say, as I had my final year project for my degree course till late apr and Kenneth was going to enlist in mid may as well as my graduation show. Thankful that everything went as planned, no delays or things to settle from school side. This trip would not have been possible without parental support financially from both side, (as I have spent most of my savings for taiwan trip) truly thankful.
Day 1 - SG to Tokyo, check-in and Ichiran Ramen
Alright, we departed from Singapore in the morning and arrive Haneda airport in the evening. For the next 5 days 4 nights, we stayed in Shinjuku Granbell Hotel. Airbnb would probably be cheaper option but weighing out cost and convenience for daily traveling to nearest station we chose the Hotel instead. It was such a pleasant stay at Shinjuku Granbell, the staff were helpful and able to converse in English, there were racks of brochure for nearby food recommendations and ways to get to certain main attractions such as disneyland or skytree from the hotel. Vending machines of all sorts of snacks, soda, tea and even beer available near the lobby. What's more the nearest station Higashi Shinjuku is just 5 mins walk away.
The next few days of transportation was solely on trains. Booking a 72 hrs metro ticket from klook helped us to travel around tokyo easily. All you need is to book from klook and print out a copy to collect the ticket at the airport when you arrive in Japan, and let the sales lady know which day would you like to start using the ticket. It's better to have a rough idea which days you will be spending the whole day on traveling so that you would not waste ticket. Click on the image with the tickets below for direct link and more information.
Since we didn't want to waste our ticket for the evening ride to the hotel, we started the ticket the next day instead. First meal since we landed - Ichiran Ramen, the queue for dinner time was an hour or more of wait, it was definitely worth the wait. That is till we realised the shop opens 24hrs, could have ate at some odd timing to avoid the queue.
Shinjuku Granbell Hotel
Address : 2 Chome-14-5 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0021, Japan
Ichiran Ramen
Address : Japan, 〒160-0022 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−34−11, ピースビル
Opening hours : 24 hrs
Queuing time : 30 mins to 1.5hrs
Day 2 - Imperial Palace, Tsukiji outer market, Roppongi Hedgehog cafe, Harajuku-Rescue Squad Store, ZAUO Fishing Restaurant
With the 3 day metro pass, we were about to explore 5-6 places a day without worrying about train fares.
Things to take note, to enter the Imperial Palace you need advance booking through the Imperial Household Agency but same-day registration before the start of the tours are also possible at Kikyomon Gate. The tours take about 75 minutes and are held in Japanese daily at 10:00 and 13:30 except on Sundays and Mondays. Unfortunately, we didn't know about the advance booking needed, oh well.
Head over to Tsujiki outer market for early lunch, there were so many sushi stalls to choose from but we went for Sushizanmai as Singaporeans you see long queue you join the queue without knowing it's good or not right. Turns out the food were really good, service is great as well. You get freshly prepared sushi right in front of you definitely worth the wait.
Afternoon activities was arranged by Kenneth. He brought me to Harry Hedgehog Cafe, a charming double floor cafe home to cute creatures like hedgehogs, chinchillas, rabbits. We did not had reservation hence had to wait outside for a while. (shorttttt while) Would be safer to reserve slots on their website especially for weekends or public holidays or if you plan to stay for an hour.
30min / 1,400yen
60 min /2800 yen〜 (reservation plan)
hedgehog snack(30min / 1,630yen)
Extra Hedgehog snack(540yen)
After a prescribed period of time elapses, a fee of 1,400 yen is will be charged.
Do note that there is a certain amount of mins for each animal you are able to cuddle and touch. 10-15 mins usually then pick another friend to cuddle.
After Harry Hedgehog Cafe we head to Harajuku for Rescue Squad Store. Along the way, this shop 'croquant chou zakuzaku' caught our attention with the crowd and we knew we had to try (typical Singaporean). Much regrets we couldn't find another such stall after that day, it was sooooooo goooood! okay back to rescue squad.
Two years back during my school trip to Japan I happen to chance upon this rescue squad store and got us a matching shirt. That shirt had since then became our adventure shirt till someone lost his. Back then there were only 3-4 designs, now there were so many to choose from, certain designs are even able to change colour under sunlight. Shirts price are 3000 yen and above which is about 36 SGD, the material is really good though.
To end the day, Kenneth did his research (good job ya) recommended ZAUO fishing Restaurant. What's better than sitting on a ship to have sashimi while fishing are swimming below you. Interesting experience, the restaurant is bit of a walk from the station but the food is worth the walk.
How ZAUO works? as stated it's a fishing restaurant which means you get to fish for your dinner!
If you catch the fish yourself, it’s cheaper. Example, the regular price of a red-snapper is ¥3,360, but if caught it can be eaten for only ¥2,499.(Cook however way you like it, sashimi, grill, fried etc). Simply purchase some bait from their staff for ¥100-200, fishing rods can be rented for free. You start fishing! Let the staff know what fish you would like to catch. If you are having a difficult time catching a fish, you can ask the staff and they will give you some advice, or if you're lazy like me just order from the menu.
Imperial Palace
Address : Japan, 〒100-8111 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Chiyoda, 1−１
Nearest station : Otemachi (C 11)
Tsukiji outer market
Nearest station : Tsukiji (H 10)
Sushizanmai
Address : 4 Chome-5-12 Tsukiji, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to 104-0045, Japan
Opening hours : 11am - 5am
Harry Hedgehog Cafe
Address : Japan, 〒106-0032 Tokyo, Minato, Roppongi, 6 Chome−7−2, 岩堀 ビル
Website : http://www.harinezumi-cafe.com/english/
Opening hours : 12 - 8 pm
Nearest station : Roppongi (H 4) exit 3.
Harajuku
Nearest station : Harajuku
Rescue Squad
Address : 4 Chome-31-3 Jingumae, 渋谷区 Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Website : rescue99.com
Opening hours : 11am - 8pm
ZAUO Fishing Restaurant
Address : 3 Chome-2-9 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Website : http://www.zauo.com/en/
Opening hours : 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm.
Nearest station : Shinjuku
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