Deluxe Tour Japan Winter 2016 (Part Four: YOKOHAMA, Day Three)

(*This blog entry was written a few weeks after the trip, but I changed the post-date for organizational reasons~ ^^)

December 24th, Day Three, YOKOHAMA

Today started off early, but we took our time actually getting ready and leaving the Guest House. On the way to the station we stopped at Lawson's for breakfast. (No ice cream this time! haha) We grabbed a few onigiri, breads and tea. There was also a flavor of Cheetos that I had never seen before, Garlic Butter; sounds delicious right? So we grabbed them as well.

We ate our onigiri and sampled the Cheetos (delicious as expected) as we walked to Kamata Station. The weather was great. There was no sign of rain or even a cloud in the sky.  From Kamata Station we took the JR Line to Sakuragicho Station. Now we were in Yokohama, the port city. I just remember being taken back by all the blue! The sky, the ocean - it was a perfect day. Shout out to the lone guy chilling and just reading his newspaper on the grass. Why not?

Today's main destination was the Cup Noodles Museum. Not only is it a museum that presents the full history of what we know today as "Cup Noodles", starting with its creation during the War, but there is also a hands-on Cup Noodles Factory.

I'm not going to lie, with all the hype about Cup Noodles, and all the innovation that has stemmed from it, I was expecting the exterior of the Museum itself to be more... eye-catching. There's modern art for you, simple.

So the outside wasn't much to look at. However, the entire inside of the museum was covered with Cup Noodle mascots and modern art. Everything was a strong white and red motif, very simple, very clean. And not surprisingly crowded. We purchased our entry tickets, 500 yen each and received our time slot for the "MY CUP NOODLES" Factory. The bulk of the people were gathered on the 3rd floor, constructing their own Cup Noodle, or waiting in the cue. Our time slot was 11:00~11:30.

There are actually two working areas on the 3rd floor. One is the MY CUP NOODLES Factory and the other is the Chicken Ramen Factory. At the Chicken Ramen Factory you experience making your own Noodles from scratch. However, you cannot just arrive on the day and decide to participate. Most reservations for the Chicken Ramen Factory are taken 3-months in advance.

For a good 10 minutes we were waiting at the front of the cue line that started at 11 o'clock. All the while watching people move into the other line towards the MY CUP NOODLES. Turns out, yes, we were in the wrong cue, so we quickly slipped over and got into the correct line. (My fault for not properly observing the situation and posting pictures to Facebook, I know.)

In any case, at the MY CUP NOODLES Factory you purchase your cup for 300 yen and then your group is guided to a table. With your blank, empty cup, you now have time to decorate it with the markers provided. Get creative! Just remember to stay within the red lines and mark the date!

Now you have a personally designed cup! It's time to put in the noodles and toppings. The noodles are placed on a belt and the cup is placed over them so they fit perfectly. No crooked noodles here. That orange and blue mess is my cup.... It wasn't half bad BEFORE I added to much blue and there was no going back. (And I'm the art major *shakes head*)

Once the noodles are in your cup(s) then it's time to choose your flavorings! One soup stock and four toppings per cup. There are four soups to choose from, including the regular Chicken Ramen, Chili, Tomato, and Curry. There are also twelve toppings in total, such as shrimp, egg, chicken, cheese, garlic, kimchi, green onion, corn... and so on.

All of us surprisingly chose shrimp! The color palettes are relatively the same too.

After your toppings are all set, it's time to seal the cup. You get the official paper lid, and then the cup is put into a plastic which will vacuum seal itself as it goes through an oven.

 The rest is up to you! Grab your cup, a balloon bag and a string and make yourself a nice souvenir to take home. They recommend eating it within a month, but I have a feeling most people preserve it forever. (I have decided to enjoy mine as I write this blog. Chili cheese garlic shrimp for the win!)

By this time it was nearly noon. We finished walking around the rest of the museum, which included a short animation about Cup Noodles history, and while it would have been interesting to have lunch at the Cup Noodle Bazaar on the 4th floor (featuring noodles from around the world), we were not willing to line up at the time. I actually had a different idea in mind for our lunch.

We left the museum and started to head back towards the city, passing the famous Red Brick Warehouses on the way. It's another nice location for a day out at the port, but that was not where we would have our lunch. We continued walking and soon found our way to Yokohama's other popular attraction - Chinatown.

As much as I hope to avoid crowded places, I can't help the fact that all the "tourist" spots are always crowded. Chinatown was no exception. Far from it. The streets were so packed that navigating was a chore, especially with full backpacks. I noticed that most people were lined up for nikuman, which is a meat but usually made with pork. None of us eat pork, so that was off the menu. I was sure that there was another option somewhere.

We first found these sesame donuts with anko, red bean paste inside. It was a good snack, but we needed something more.

Aside from the meat buns, we did find some shrimp dumplings, but I was still determined there was more. I have had all beef meat buns before and they were so good!! Unfortunately, we didn't come across any beef meat buns, but there was a place that had coconut buns. Hmm, that sounds tasty. So for only 250 yen each we grabbed a coconut bun and a "peach" bun (disclaimer, peach buns are still only filled with anko, they are called peach buns because the outside is colored pink to look like a peach).

It just so happened that the place we bought our buns from was right across from a BEEF and CHEESE Gyoza place! Score!! We ordered one set, 4 pieces, to try them out. If you like burgers, you can imagine the taste I bet. I would definitely get them again, but not to share! We shared all the food we bought, so we didn't really eat properly, but it was great to try all the different treats. I recommend sharing food on trips, and don't be afraid to get seconds!

It was sometime after 2 p.m. when we left Chinatown.  I reserved a bus to take us back to Nagoya, so we had to be at Shinjuku Station by 5:45. On our way to the station we remembered the Cheetos we bought that morning. Did we finish eating them? As we tried to remember what happened, my brother's eyes widened, "Um, I think I threw them out with the garbage." Noooo! No more Cheetos...

We rode the JR Line to Tokyo Station and went to grab our luggage (which was when I realized it was not a one-time charge, but 600 yen per day). Once we had our luggage with us, we headed straight to Shinjuku with time to spare.

I'm glad we had that extra time because Shinjuku Station is just huge and confusing.  First we tried to find a restaurant to chill at and eat to wait out the two hours, but everywhere we wanted to go was either full, or could not accommodate us and our luggage. Eventually we decided to grab food from the nearest convenient store, which surprisingly wasn't so near, and we waited at the bus station. The sign of the station looks like a zombie film to me haha.

It had been nice, almost warm weather all day, but when evening fell, so did the temperature. Our bus ended up being late due to traffic and we had to wait in the cold. However, we were able to finally relax on the bus as it drove us back to Nagoya.

By the time we arrived at Nagoya station it was almost midnight, so we caught the last train to my place.   I live in a simple 1K, so I didn't have much to offer. Thankfully, my friend lent me his air mattress, and I had bought an extra bed set for myself before the trip. One brother passed out right away, while the other kept me company as I unpacked the goods they brought for me from home.

No surprise, tomorrow is another early day. I was glad to be home, even for just the night.

<<PART THREE: TOKYO, DAY TWO                PART FIVE: OKAZAKI, DAY FOUR>>

Deluxe Tour Japan Winter 2016 (Part Three: TOKYO, Day Two)

(*This blog was written a few weeks after the trip, but I changed the post-date for organizational reasons~ ^^)

December 23rd, Day Two, TOKYO

We woke up well-rested in the comfy hotel beds at about 7 a.m. (I actually didn't sleep so pleasantly, but that's nothing for you to worry about). For breakfast, we decided to stop at the nearby supermarket around the corner, which was a small AEON (store chain).  I was pointing out various foods and snacks that my brothers would have to try during their trip, and their logic was, why not now?

What could have been a healthy breakfast was now... a 3 piece onigiri set, chocolate chip melon bread, yukimi daifuku (ice cream wrapped in mochi), yakipurin (similar to a custard), anman (a bun filled with sweet azuki beans), and Gari Gari Kun (a soda flavored popsicle, yes more ice cream). This was shared by my two brothers, while I (who had bowel issues in the morning) opted for the aojiru (green smoothie) mixed with soy milk.

After breakfast, which was quickly dealt with in our room, using a spare chair as a table, we packed up and headed for the station at around 8:30. I knew, based on my super plan, that we would be going ALL-AROUND Tokyo today. It would normally cost a lot to jump on the subway for every commute, but given the distances we would be traveling it was not feasible to walk.

Tokyo Travel Advice #1, Get a rail pass!!
There are 24-, 36- and 72-hour passes available for the Tokyo Metro, the TOEI Line (the other subway), or a combination of both. And 24-hour doesn't mean one day, it means from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. the next day, so it's actually a really good deal if you time it right! AND a 24-hour pass on the Tokyo Metro is only 600 yen (most trips on the subway range from 170-240 yen, depending on the distance).

Tokyo Travel Advice #2, Luggage Lockers!!
If you're not staying at the same hotel for the duration of your stay, then you want to put your heavy luggage somewhere safe, but also convenient. Depending on the size of the locker, it will cost 300 to 600 yen. Over-sized luggage can also be claimed at the Travel Service Counters located in Tokyo and Shinjuku stations, at 600 yen a piece.  You can keep your luggage stored away for up to 3 days in the lockers, but you will have to claim it before closing if you drop it off at a service counter. For the record, the locker price is per day.

Almost all stations have lockers, and any of the bigger stations are usually accommodating for large luggage as well. I also recommend that you plan which station you want to use so that you don't end up making extra trips. It was my first time, so I didn't realize that there was a surplus of lockers. We left ours in Tokyo, but I later realized that Shinjuku (where we would depart from by bus) would have been more convenient.

Now, it's just past 9 a.m. and our sightseeing officially starts with a trip to...

BUNKYO CIVIC CENTER, Korakuen Station, Marunouchi Line

Using our Metro Pass, we hopped on the Marunouchi Line from Tokyo station to Korakuen. It's not a very well known stop, but if you do your research you'll find that the station is right next to the Bunkyo Civic Center. Again, maybe you haven't heard of it. However, it is one of the few locations in Tokyo that has a FREE observation deck. Just take the elevator up to the 52nd floor and get a 270 degree panorama view of the city, including the new SkyTree. On a clear day, and with a very nice zoom lens, you can also see Mt. Fuji to the west between the skyscrapers.

We didn't spend long at the observatory because you can only take so many pictures! There was still much to see... We went down to the basement floor and hopped on the Metro, once again riding the Marunouchi  Line to Ikebukuro Station.

POKEMON CENTER MEGA, Ikebukuro Station, Marunouchi Line

Ikebukuro - the first place that I had truly visited on my first trip to Japan in 2011. The name brought back many memories for me, but unfortunately we wouldn't be walking down memory lane. I had a particular destination in mind to appease our inner child.

Who doesn't love Pokemon? There are Pokemon Centers located all over Japan, but the one located in Ikebukuro is currently the largest! We had to check it out for ourselves.

From the station you will walk through Sunshine City, which is a nice little area filled with mostly restaurants and shops. Then after you pass under the highway there is a large hotel and department store that looks too expensive to even step inside to. You really want to enter from the eastern side of the building if you want to avoid walking through the hotel lobby. Once you're safe in the world of the common people, take the escalator up to the third floor. You'll know you're in the right area.

 Pokeballs line the escalator nearest the store!! I told my brother to look excited, haha.

It was PACKED. The 23rd also happened to be a public holiday, so everyone and their brother decided to come to this store. The line literally wrapped around the store, so I'm sure the cue would have taken over an hour.

It was my first trip to a Pokemon Center in a long time, so I did not know about these adorable new Pikachu designs!!! I wanted them so bad, but did I want to wait in that line? No. I would wait for the next Pokemon Center...

I'm going to take a leap and say that the mascot for the POKEMON CENTER MEGA is Charizard.

Despite all of Tokyo's Pokemon Lovers gathering in the store and making it impossible for us to comfortably browse, it gave us an idea of what to look forward to.  As the clock was nearing noon, we left the department store and headed back to the station.

Our next destination would be the well-known Harajuku.

HARAJUKU & MEIJI SHRINE, Meiji Jingu Mae, Fukutoshin Line

From one big crowd to another, that's the city for you. Now, there are a couple lines that will take you from Ikebukuro to the Harajuku area, the most immediate would be the JR Yamanote Line. (If you have a Japan Rail Pass, then you should be taking all the JRs!!) However, we had the Metro Pass, so we took the Fukutoshin Line to Meiji Jingu Mae Station.

Leaving the station, we were still a good ways from Harajuku station but the streets were packed. We actually approached the famous Takeshita Dori from the opposite side. Sometimes I wonder why I brought them to Harajuku because it is known for its quirky fashions and popularity with the youth. None of us had any interest in fashion, so we kinda of just walked up the street acknowledging the various shops.

Well, there was one other thing that Harajuku was famous for... crepes!

Actually you can get crepes anywhere, but... It was lunch time! There are not only dessert crepes, like Macha Chocolate Brownie, but also more savory options such as Tuna and Cheese or Teriyaki Chicken. We actually ordered these three, but can you guess who got what? :)

Once we finished walking up the street, we finally saw the main entrance. They are always changing the design, and I think this one is my favorite because it's a dinosaur~

This is the actual Harajuku Station. You can see how crowded it is already, but the station itself is a pretty cool, old-style design.  Thankfully, we would not be going into that station. We walked down the street towards our next destination, but the single crepe wasn't a satisfying lunch. All the delicious smells of lunch on the street led me to GinDako, a famous Takoyaki chain. (Takoyaki is fried dough balls with a piece of tako, octopus inside).

You can get a variety of toppings nowadays, but since it was my brother's first time, I stuck with the original - sauce, mayo and bonito flakes. Delicious!

With full bellies, we literally crossed the street and the scenery went from concrete jungle to peaceful forest. Meiji Shrine, settled in the heart of Tokyo's Metropolitan is like another world. A nice, quiet, peaceful, and less crowded world.

Once again, this was another nostalgic trip for me because I had visited the Meiji Shrine with my classmates from University in 2011. I was ready to just chill and enjoy the nature and take pictures... when we were approached by some University students. They were offering to be guides at the shrine so they could practice their English (apparently this is a thing their school club does). I didn't need a guide, but I saw the chance for my brothers to meet and talk with Japanese people their age, so I accepted their offer.

The students were nice, but still a little shy. Often I had to point out different parts of the shrine and suggest they 'guide us' about it. So much for me kicking back, haha. They were very informative, they just needed a little push.

They stayed with us through the main part of the shrine and into the courtyard. My absolute favorite piece is the giant tree that sits just to the right of the shrine stairs. It is surrounded by ema, which are (usually) wooden plaques on which people write their wishes. I had never done so before, nor would I probably have a chance (or reason) to do so again. It seemed like now was the time. My brothers and I all bought a plaque, wrote our messages and hung them around the tree. (I took too long writing mine, so I have no idea what my brothers wrote, or where they put them!!)

It was a nice new experience for an otherwise 'guided' walk down memory lane. Overall, it was a good way to spend lunch and get away from the bustle of the city. (You can probably guess, I'm not a fan of big cities).

From there, we left the peace of the shrine and also the over-populated Harajuku area, and then took the Metro towards Tokyo Tower.

TOKYO TOWER, Kamiyacho Station, Chiyoda & Hibiya Line

Again, we wanted to use our Metro Pass, so we took the Chiyoda Line from Meiji Jingu Mae, and changed to the Hibiya Line at Kasumigaseki. We got off at Kamiyacho and walked towards Tokyo Tower, which was easy to find because it was poking out behind the buildings.

What I did not expect to find that day was some sort of Mario Kart Parade? I couldn't whip my camera out fast enough, but we turned the corner just before Tokyo Tower to see half a dozen people in Go-Karts, decked out like Mario characters, going down the street. Only Tokyo.

Tokyo Tower wasn't as populated as I remembered it, thankfully. I assume that's because people were now visiting the Tokyo Skytree instead. We would have gone up to the observatory, but duiue to motion sickness still lingering with one of our members, we opted out.

Instead we went down the road a little to a park nearby the tower. Despite it being December, fall colors were still prominent on the trees and on the ground.

From the park, I also managed to take this shot of Tokyo Tower. You rarely see it from this point of view, but there is something really romantic about the red of the tower and the black silhouettes of the trees. Very proud of this picture.

We took some more pictures and rested our legs a little at the park. To be honest, I needed to adjust my plans. We were ahead of schedule, but we of course hadn't really rested since we left our hotel. Not only that, but my battery was running low from taking so many pictures. I rerouted us to Asakusa, via the Ginza Line and we took refuge in the McDonald's for about an hour.

ASAKUSA - SENSOJI TEMPLE, Asakusa Station, Hibiya & Ginza Line

After chilling at McDonald's with some fries and melon soda we stepped out to visit the Sensoji Temple, most well-known for its large red gates. Again, I had visited this location before in 2011, but this was the first time I saw it at night. I recommend it!! The lighting with the red gates and architecture makes a real impact. I loved taking pictures here.

If you ever have the chance to visit Asakusa, go at night! It's also less crowded~

By the time we left Asakusa it was about 5:30 p.m. We had done everything there was to do on my list, and we all agreed it was a full day - we were tired and getting hungry.

Our next stop would take us just outside of the Tokyo Metro area, so we couldn't use our passes. We took the JR Line down to Keikyu Kamata, and sought out the guesthouse that I had booked for the night.

Tokyo Travel Advice #3, Stay at guesthouses!!
On this trip I had booked our first night at the Best Western Hotel very early on while my plans were still in the works. I figured it would be nice for my brothers to get some real rest after the 13+ hour flight. I don't regret it either, BUT I wish I had also checked the guesthouse for that night. The guesthouse we chose in Kamata was not only closer to the airport, but we could have booked it for two nights and stored our luggage there. Lesson learned.

Most guesthouses are actually really nice, and very affordable. Our room was only 2500 yen per person, and the beds were super comfy. It had three beds altogether, perfect for us!

Guesthouse Kamata is also conveniently located about a 12 minute walk from the station and lots of restaurants! My friend who was living in the area was able to meet us for dinner at Hamazushi. Brothers first conveyor belt sushi - I think they enjoyed it, even though one brother isn't so fond of fish. There's more than just fish! There's also chicken, beef and egg, as well as side dishes and dessert. So, if you don't like fish, you can still enjoy the experience and some cheap food :)

That was all for the first real full-day of the Deluxe Tour. Tomorrow will be another adventure~

<<PART TWO: TOKYO, DAY ONE                   PART FOUR: YOKOHAMA, DAY THREE>>