Tokyo Day 1

Have you been following my updates on my Facebook and Twitter?

I have been trying my very best to give live updates during my trip

Note: This entry may take awhile to load as it contains many photographs.

 

Currently, I’m at Shanghai but I’m still updating my blog to keep you entertained!

Do drop by often as I’m holding GIVEAWAYS!

 

Date: 17 April 2012

Time check: 1245am

On the plane to Tokyo! Took All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight!

All set to take off!

My last picture before leaving Singapore.

 

 

Touched down in the morning, around 8am Tokyo time (after 6hours+ of flying time).

Felt really happy to FINALLY step onto JAPAN! I have always been looking forward to visit Tokyo!

It’s one of the places that I have listed down onto “my MUST GO places”.

I’m extremely lucky to be given this golden opportunity by Majolica Majorca Singapore and also, I’m so honored to be there as Singapore’s Evangelist.

 

The first thing I saw was none other than cherry blossom trees along the airport!

Pardon me for being such a “mountain tortoise”, it’s very first time looking at the real Sakura.

Then, we grabbed a cab to the hotel from the airport.

(It’s the most expensive cab in my life! Cost roughly about S$400 for an hour ride.)

I’ve heard so much about their cab fare and now I can tell you, it’s all-TRUE!

Please just take the limousine bus or even the local trains instead. Save your pockets for the ultimate shopping pleasure in Japan (and the food!!)

 

Checked into an awesome hotel located at Ginza area

Royal Park Shiodome Hotel

Located right NEXT to Shiseido Office tower where the Majolica Majorca Japan team works at.

 

Rows of rose display along the lobby caught my attention instantly.

One row of red roses, followed by one row of white roses.

I find them interesting & artistic as it exudes some sort of mysterious feeling yet elegance like the paintings we see at art exhibitions.

Personally, I like it very much.

 

What about you? Do you feel the same way too?

Luggage bags of Majo bird (left, bright pink) and myself (right, bright orange).

It is extremely light, the wheels are very smooth, not forgetting the eye catching bright colours that makes it so trendy and chic!

 

Though I packed loads of outerwear to prep myself for the cold weather, my Prismo wasn’t overweight (13.6kg). In fact, after all the buying, shopping and souvenirs packed in – I still DID NOT hit the maximum weight for checked in luggage (20.8kg!!).  You’d get to see what’s my shopping haul like in the next few posts… but in the meantime, two thumbs up for Amercian Tourister Prismo – It’s just perfect for trendy jetsetters.

 

Comfy corner

View from my room

Awesome much? Imagine having Tokyo Tower view in the comfort of your hotel room. Albeit different but still so pretty!

 

Comfy sleeping nest through out my trip

 

Bathroom

I like the toilet bowl! It has really cool functions. You can never imagine how blissful you’d be after a day out in the cold but come back to have a warm toilet seat.

 

 

ANDDD SURPRISE!!! I found this on the desk!

They have prepared this in advance and they are expecting me!

Though I have yet to meet them in person, I felt the warmth and love from the thoughtful and well-prepared staff.

I love it so much so that I didn’t use the door knob hanger, as I was afraid of passerby “stealing” it. Haha.. I know I sound a little paranoid/extreme, but I didn’t wanna take any risk of losing it (cos I wanted to bring it back to Singapore).

It’s simply too KAWAII and special to me. I am the first Singaporean to own it!

 

First thing in the morning that I can never forget is none other than BRUSHING TEETH!!

It has become a habit to brush teeth before everything else!

My electronic toothbrush from Panasonic! It has become my travel necessity!

Looks so pretty and it’s so handy.

Spotted them at a shop at Narita aiport!

Awww… the rest of the colours are so lovely too!

 

Anyway, I was lucky that I had a full day FREE!

First on my checklist- Taste the real authentic Japanese food!

My friends have always been telling me how fantastic the food would taste in Japan; I thought that they are exaggerating it…

 

But I was wrong.

Was famished hence we went into a cute little curry place in the Shiodome/Shimbashi underground station. They have an array of eateries like this for busy business man to grab a quick lunch.

 

There you go! Served differently and it taste so much better than what we have here! Look good and taste even better; nothing comes quite comparable here in Singapore. Yum Yum!

 

Then I met my Japanese friend Haru-San whom was nice enough to show me around. You’ve got him to thank for all the travel experiences that I’m sharing. All the signs and Japanese words had gotten soooooo much easier with Haru-san.

Unfortunately, another Japanese friend was out of town. Was really looking forward to see her though!

 

Machines for purchasing train ticket and topping up of Suica/Pasmo cards.

This is the Shimbashi JR station.

The train line look really complicated! I’m sure I would be lost without Haru-San.

There’s Japan Railway and Tokyo Metro and they’re both serving DIFFERENTLY. And there’s so much interchangeable lines in Tokyo… yamanote line, hamzoumon line, ueno line etc etc.

Thank god for Haru-san!

 

Bought the train ticket!

 

Train platform with vending machines selling snacks and drinks + train conductors, a scene that Singapore will never have. And yet, you’d never see any litter around. Says a lot about the culture doesn’t it?

 

On the train~

Do I look like a tourist? (Please disregard my camera)

 

There are 17 lines going on in 1 station.

How did all the Japanese locals manage to get around everywhere on time (and not lost?!)

 

Tried a random apple red tea off the vending machine and it looks so nice!

The mini bottle looks so CUTE!

I brought one back to Singapore and I’m gonna use it as my water bottle.

(Please don’t kill me for sounding insane)

 

 

 

First stop- Ueno Park

I was hoping to see something like this:

But I guess I was a tad too late L

End up seeing this..

Err…  a little disappointed. Not much Sakura left for my viewing pleasure. Haru-san explained that it was because of the rain and wind the week before we visited Ueno Park…

 

Guess we’d still have to make the best out of what’s left!

It’s really really beautiful.

I’m sure it will be superb if all the trees are PINK!

 

I wanna join them too!!!

Looks really fun to picnic under Sakura trees and enjoy the breeze with love ones.

Our weather in Singapore is too unforgiving; we don’t have the privilege to enjoy 4 seasons like them L

 

Even my iphone takes awesome pictures of Sakura!

 

 

Then we move onto next stop within Ueno itself – Ameyoko.

Ameyoko is a busy market street that sells almost everything and anything. It runs parallel against the railway line.

TAKOYAKI! Pippin’ hot and served fresh and is the best comfort food after a long day walking.

 

 

Stop 3: SHIBUYA!

Of course, you’d get to see a touristy photo of me with Hachiko…

The very famous statue, Hachiko, located right outside Shibuya train station.

If you haven’t read the story about the loyal dog, Hachiko, it’s not too late to check it out.

I’ve watched the movie 3 times and never fail to cry every single time.

 

 

Vending machines located along the streets selling Cigarettes!

It’s convenient huh? You no longer have to search high and low for convenience stores.

I heard from the locals that, you have to scan your ID in order to buy them; so as to prevent underage smokers.

Even their cigarettes packaging looks cute too!

Have you seen Pink packaging cigarettes?

 

The famous Shibuya scramble crossing which most says its comparable to the time square intersection in New York.

I think it’s very practical! Why we don’t have it here?

 

109 is a NOT TO MISS location for ladies!

This is the first shop that I wanted to visit!

Love their girly and sweet style!!

Ops! The crazy girl spent almost all her allowance for the trip in this shop.

Another brand that I really adore….

Couldn’t resist the temptation! Bought the top selling bag!

 

 

We went to many shopping malls around the area and I lost track of their names.

Spotted Kpop stars posters in Tokyo!

Left poster- Kara (They are very popular in Japan. Hara is the goddess!)

Right poster- Kim Hyun Joong! (His smile melts my heart)

 

 

Can’t believe that we walked from Shibuya to Harajuku!

It was quite a distance k? I was pretty tired from all the walking (my feet hurts badly from all the walking) , so I gave up on snapping pictures.

That’s when I told myself to wear flats everywhere I go!

Chose comfort over looking good.

 

Here’s my dinner at random store along the street.

Ebi rice bowl with cold soba.

Why does everything taste so good in Japan???

These pictures make me hungry and I miss Japan so much!

 

Passed by a upcoming Tokyu Plaza

The entrance looks so cool, like diamond/ crystal but it was the opening day, entry was strictly by invites only. So… we can’t enter L

 

 

We ended the night pretty early to get sufficient rest for next day.

Was pretty nervous about meeting other evangelist from other countries.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates of my trip!

 

 

Lastly!

This is the important part that you won’t wanna miss!

Lately, I feel like sharing & giving some love to my readers as an appreciation for your loyal support.

Without your support, there won’t be me blogging right now and I know all of you LOVE Majolica Majorca right?

So, I will be holding GIVEAWAYS of Majolica Majorca Products & Japanese goodies for my beloved readers for EVERY SINGLE TOKYO TRIP ENTRY!

(Starting from this entry onwards)

 

Look at the amount of snacks I brought back.

It cost me SGD$200+!

Couldn’t resist the temptation of trying them all…. All look so yummy!!!

 

How to join??

Simply answer a few simple questions in relations to Majolica Majorca Evangelist Trip to Tokyo and keep your fingers and toes crossed to be lucky enough.

 

CLICK CLICK CLICK!

 

Click on the link here to answer them!

(The link will expire within 3 days from posting.)

 

 

Good Luck!

xoxo