Ginza, Imperial Palace, and Yokohama in a Day

Ginza, Tokyo, Yokohama in a Day!

We started our day a bit early for a change. We went to have lunch first at Ginza area, at Carne Station for eat all you can yakiniku! Lunch time is cheap for meals since restaurants that are not fastfood category have more expensive dinner menus.

I love yakiniku! The trick here is to choose cuts of meat that you want to try. The part called karubi (カルビ) is the softest part, and it is so good! As with beef steak, it is best not to cook it completely through, so that it stays soft and juicy. Naturally, chicken and pork should be cooked thoroughly.

The place is huge and people line up for this sometimes, best to come early, even as early as opening time of 11am! Last entry for lunch is 2 pm. The lunch eat all you can is good for 60 minutes only.

But for us 60 minutes was enough as we filled our tummies with beef, pork, squid, chicken, yakisoba, yakimeshi, edamame, tamagoyaki, mabo tofu, softdrinks, fruits, kimchi, jellies... Everything! All for 1200 yen for weekend lunch! On weekdays you have the option of eating without drinks, at 1000. Dinner is around 3000!

So with our bellies full, we walked along Ginza right beside it. I enjoyed Abercrombie and Fitch! It was such a hype in Japan to have really hot model looking guys as staff, to lure in customers. And the store smells of perfume and sounds and looks like a club. Aside from that, most branded goods can be found here! Even cheaper ones like H&M and Forever 21 at around 5+ floors each!

On weekends, the entire street at the main shopping area is closed to cars, so that people can freely shop around. When we finished the end of the closed street, we turned left using our trusty map and headed off to Tokyo Imperial Palace area. It was a pleasant walk so 20 min is no big deal. It was to digest our full bellies.

The Imperial Palace, unless you book a tour, is not open to walk-in tourists. So, we were just able to take a picture of the Nijubashi (bridge). The East Gardens, open for free, is a pretty Japanese garden! It must be very pretty during the sakura season and also for the autumn foliage.

Next stop was Tokyo station to board the train for Yokohama. Tokyo station is big and looks western, with its red exterior. People were all taking pictures of it. Apparently it was newly renovated.

So we boarded the JR train bound for Yokohama. We got off at Kannai just to check out the China town. It wasn't anything new for me so I don't suggest it as a must. Although, the fried xiao long bao was heaven!

And so we walked to the Yamashita Park area to view Yokohama bay. It is a very pretty view! Walking around Yokohama Minato Mirai is very entertaining as well because there are a lot of happenings on the street! It is very lively and full of surprises here and there.

Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree in a day

A day in Asakusa and Skytree

Asakusa is a lovely tourist destination in Tokyo that still holds traditional Japanese charm. It is home to the well photographed Kaminarimon, well part of the Sensoji temple complex. It is easily reachable via the Ginza line and the Asakusa Line. Just follow the people, or your trusty map, and in less than 5 minutes you will find yourself along Nakamise-dori, where all the affordable Japanese trinkets are available for tourists both foreign and local.

I have here pictures of the souvenirs you can buy. These are the pics of the cheaper ones. Take note so you won't feel stupid buying the same item for a higher price!
Tshirts at 980

At the farther end of Nakamise dori are food stalls selling yakitori, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, some sweets, all of which you can eat while walking or sitting prettily on provided snack areas.

When you enter the temple, don't forget to cleanse yourself by washing your hands and mouth!

Strolling around at 9 in the morning, we needed to have breakfast. We saw a ramen shop just around the corner! And so we went in. My companion had char shu ramen (520yen), while I had miso ramen (420yen). Huge and tasty! Nothing beats hot ramen on a cool morning and then walking around the old-fashioned streets of Asakusa!

After Asakusa, you can easily go to Tokyo skytree through the Tobu Skytree line, or, just walk in its direction by walking over the bridge crossing Sumidagawa River. People do it to save themselves 140 yen.

Skytree is a nice tourist spot with more expensive merchandise inside the huge Solamachi mall compared to Asakusa. There is the east and the west part of the mall. If you don't want to spend money going up Skytree but still want to see a view, get to the East side, and look for the elevator going up the 30/31 st floor. The elevator going up can only be found on the first floor so don't waste time looking for it in other floors. The 30th floor has more free viewing areas than the 31st!

The view at night is very nice! And free! It's not crowded much since people know that Skytree would be full of hence they avoid it these days. The first picture below is taken from an apartment building 2 blocks away, while the picture of the view is from the 30th floor from Solamachi East wing.

There are tons of restaurants in Skytree, but for those saving up, the second floor of the West side is a huge Japanese style food market where you can buy everything from cooked food to salads and desserts! It is a joy in itself to look around! Then just have your food at the upper floor, where they provide seats and tables.

Interested in shopping? Skytree has Uniqlo, Loft, Zara, a Ghibli store, and many other Japanese brands. Have fun!



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Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen is a huge park with a beautiful Japanese garden and an equally pretty French garden. The many times I've been to Japan, I didn't have the liberty to go to parks, so on a Saturday weekend, I decided to take a stroll there.

We went there from Shinjuku station. It was a long walk going to the park, around 15 minutes with my slow pace. It's called Shinjuku Gyoen, but the stations nearest it are: Shinjukugyoenmae (meaning "in front of Shinjuku Gyoen"), JR Sendagaya, Kokuritsu something just beside Sendagaya. But Shinjuku and Yoyogi stations are definitely walking distance.

The park gets full during the Sakura season in April and the autumn koyo season in November, that's why I didn't put it on my list of places to see. There are other free parks like Ueno and Yoyogi anyway. Buy I decided to give it a try.

The entrance fee when I was there around October 2012 was 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children.

Entering from the Shinjuku entrance, I thought it was like a tiny forest in the middle of Shinjuku with its tall trees.

The Japanese garden is expansive. I really love Japanese gardens, with its ponds, bridges and lamps. And then you see some of Shinjuku's skyscrapers in the background. Isn't it nice?

So we walk around more and as I said, it is one huge park, but there are seats, and it is a pretty park, so it's nice for a stroll.

When we got to the Western style area of the park, I was pleasantly surprised at the French garden! The leaves were already yellow, what an early autumn treat! And the rose garden was in bloom as well.

The other parts of the park, I imagined would be so beautiful during spring and autumn! I couldn't keep track of the maple trees and sakura trees we found on the way.

We also chanced upon a program that day, so we got to see some Japanese dances and songs.

So all in all, it makes for a lovely stroll on a clear day! The park is very pretty. Would I put it on my list for a must do in Japan? Maybe no, since there are other free parks with a lot of sakura, and some ponds, and then for autumn you don't really have to go there specifically. But when you're going to Tokyo for the nth time already, so give it a try!



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