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So, its our 3rd time to Japan!! Yes I just love Japan!
This time round, its a super impromptu trip as we manage to get cheap flight tixs at $350/pax(with baggage all in) from Scoot!! So, we decided to just go ahead to book for a “short getaway”. Hence, this time we are just gona hang in Tokyo instead of running around like the previous trips.
Before we start, here are some tips:
- As mentioned in the previous Japan post here, if you’re just intending to travel around in Tokyo area, you DO NOT need to get the JR pass as the metro between stations cost only about 200yen each. JR are recommended only if you intend to travel out of Tokyo to Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya etc.
- Try to go Tsujiki Market on a Thursday– there are way lesser crowd. We manage to have Sushi Dawa this trip!
- If you are intending to try catching a baseball game like we did this trip, buy your tickets there (Shibuya 109- I forgot which level but you can check with the Tourism Van right infront of the Hachiko Statue) cause its WAY cheaper than to purchase online! I remembered its around sgd80++/pax online but if you were to purchase there its only sgd20++/pax?!?!
Now, this post consist mainly of yummy food you can find in Tokyo cause we have ALOT of time to explore. Hope those who are heading to Japan will benefit from this post!
Day 01
Touched down in Tokyo and off to our airbnb straight. This trip, we stayed in Nakano (I tried to find apartments along the same JR line as the town area- Shibuya and Shinjuku so we dont have to keep change trains like the previous trip) and I was pretty amazed by the accessibility there. We have our own shopping street with lots of food along the way. It also has the BBQ SEAFOOD restaurant which I recommended in my previous trip!!!
But of course, if you can afford then it will be best to rent an apartment in Shinjuku and Shibuya area so you can literally walk home after shopping/bars.
Met up with Thye’s friends(as they happened to be there too) after checking in to our Airbnb and they brought us to an awesome dinner place! Note this is only for beef lovers and its a MUST- TRY!! Google Gyu Motomura Shibuya and follow the GPS. According to them, normally there will be a super long queue but I think cause we went around 4pm-5pm, there is totally no queue at all.
Omg, the food is really SO good its one of the best beef I ever had no kidding! It literally melts in your mouth and you can cook your own doneness.
The shop can only hold about 8-10 pax each time which also explains the queue.
Went to some bar to chill after that before calling it a night.
Day 02
Woke up early in the morning cause we are going… to Tsujiki Market! In the previous trip, we din manage to try Sushi Dai or Sushi Dawa due to the long queue and they closed the queue so this trip, we decided to head there even earlier (reach around 7am). Also, as I think its a Thursday, there is so much lesser people and although Sushi Dai still has a long queue but its already consider shorter than usual. I think its only about a 2hrs wait? But, we decided to go for Sushi Dawa instead cause there is no queue?!
We finally had our omakase at one of the 2 famous Sushi Restaurant! The sushi are pretty goood, but I will still want to try Sushi Dai one day since its supposed to be the “original outlet”.
Explore the market for more food after that. I think I gained 10kg after this trip..
We walked to Ginza after that cause its supposed to be “nearby”- one subway stop actually. But note that its about a 15mins walk if you will like to walk.
Shopping around the area + Ueno area since we will be around the area later in the night.
MARIO GO-KART IN THE NIGHT! If you play the mario kart game, this is like a real-life minus all the “weapons throwing” of course. You get to drive a Go-Kart in the middle of Tokyo Street! But, kindly note that you MUST possess a driving license and apply for IDP(International Driving Permit) if you want to try this.
You may click on the link to find out more: https://maricar.com/ I will recommend 2hrs are more than sufficient as we took the 2.5hrs tour and by the end of the ride, our arms and butt are aching. But, its really damn fun and a good experience!!!
Ichiran for dinner after that before meeting Thye’s friend for bar-hopping again. There are actually lots of “bar” in Shinjuku and Shibuya area whereby you can just sit down for some beer and skewers.
Day 03
We are pretty lucky this trip as Thye’s friend frequent Tokyo so often that they know where are all the good places for food! Met them again for breakfast and they brought us to this yummy Tendon Kohaku place. So sorry I din manage to get the restaurant name! But its like a fast food shop whereby you can just stop to dine.
Shopping day at Harajuku and Shibuya after that. You can literally spend the entire day shopping if you are into street wears like Nike, Adidas, Neighbourhood etc etc.
Went to RedRock(once again much thanks to Thye’s friends) for lunch and OMG, I CANT BELIEVE I DIDNT KNOW OF THIS PLACE BEFORE! The beef don are soooo good! Yes recommended for beef lovers again.
This is somewhere along the main road, meaning instead of entering 2nd “harajuku street”, turn left and walk straight all the way you will see this. But just to be safe, do use google map if you can!
More shopping after that before having our dinner at Thye’s fav Standing Sushi Bar again. Today is just shopping day as our itinerary was pretty much packed the next few days. Also, its the first time we can actually explore the whole of Harajuku and Shibuya for the entire day. The past 2 trips were just like a hurry shop and go kind of thing for 2-3 hours.
Day 04
Was looking forward to this day cause…. its Picnic + Baseball game day!
Went to Dominique Ansel Bakery(likewise, didnt manage to try this the previous trip!) to grab some breads, CRONUTS and the famous FROZEN SMORES before heading to Shinjuku goyen a.k.a Shinjuku Garden for picnic! It will be way better if its the sakura season but, the serene and calm surrounding is really relaxing from the busy SG city life.
After picnic, Thye felt like he had not shopped enough so we went Harajuku again. But this time round, we walked from Harajuku to Shibuya station. Tried Luke’s lobster roll and I would say, only seafood lovers will love it else others may find it way too fishy. For me, its a good to go!
We walked all the wayyyy from Shibuya to Meji station after that as firstly, we have time to kill and secondly….. we were catching the baseball game at Jingu Stadium in the night!
Although we were pretty stuffed from all the food earlier on, ITS STILL A MUST TO TRY SHAKE-SHACK as we had heard lots of good reviews for it and everyone is asking us to try this when we told them we were going Japan!
Initially, I thought its just another burger like the Omakase Burger we had in Singapore but hell I was wrong! Now I understand why its a MUST, its one of the best burgers I ever tasted! The beef were sooo juicy(non-beef lover fret not, they do have chicken patty too) its just so yums!
Whatsmore, they are just located right outside the Jingu Stadium!
Had our first ever experience of catching a baseball game live but, its kinda boring cause the narrations were all in Japanese and we know nuts about the game. We only got excited when they are hitting a home run but else than that, it can be real draggy as it takes quite a few games to strike or change the next pitcher/catcher. We left 3/4 of the game. Thank god I bought the sgd20++ tickets instead of the sgd80++ ones! So, its just like buying an experience whew!
Wanted to head to Shinjuku for the Funji-Q ramen which I didnt manage to try the previous trip too but…… its closed on the day shucks 🙁 So, I was googling what else for dinner and chanced upon this “fishing” restaurant along Shinjuku too. Its a place whereby you get to fish for your own dinner and the chef will prepare whatever you caught!! There are fish, oysters, clams, mussels, crabs etc!
We manage to caught a sea-bass and get the Chef to prepare it 2-way. One sashimi and one fried! Food were so-so for its price but I will say its a pretty good experience!
Our catch of the day!!
Met Thye’s friends again for KTV(NOT CHEAP) in the night cause its their last night in Tokyo. Home sweet home after that.
Day 05
Our last full day in Tokyo! Decided to take a train all the way to Yokohama cause I have been wanting to try the Ramen museum and Comos World and omg, I love it there! The place is not so congested as compared to Tokyo and its near the sea so the views are gorgeous!
There is also a Marine Walk whereby there are cafes and lots of people brought their dogs along. It reminds me of something like Quayside Isle in Sentosa.
Made our own “Thyeleen” cup noodles and learnt the history of cup noodles at the Ramen Museum. Oh yes, I wont recommend you to eat at the ramen food place there cause all the ramen are so-so only. I rather you save your stomach space and try one of the cafes at the Marine Walk.
Comos World for some roller coaster rides after that!
Yes you buy your own cup noodles “cup” at the vending machine!
Choosing our own ingredients!
COSMOS WORLD THEME PARK!
Back to Shibuya after that cause its the last day and Thye wanted to do more shopping. I think he shopped way more than me this trip!!
Dined like a local at a Thai cafe after that and surprisingly, the food were good!!! The shop is just located somewhere further down Luke’s Lobster in Shibuya. Just look out for the red tables and go try if you can!
Went Don Quijote Shibuya and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND?! The recently famous Michelin cup noodles!! Yes, grabbed all these back for families and friends lol..
Back to our apartment to pack after that and its back to SG the next day!
Day 06
Breakfast at the BBQ Seafood restaurant (A MUST WHENEVER IM IN JAPAN) and there is an outlet in the neighbourhood that we are staying in. The best thing is…… THEY ARE OPEN 24HRS SO WOOOO!
Yes, people said we were crazy having BBQ seafood at 8am in the morning but no regrets!
Our loots from Tokyo!
If you like or are keen to explore the places we had been to, do feel free to download my itinerary below:
DOWNLOAD TOKYO 6D5N ITINERARY HERE
[…] travelling to Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo. If you are planning to just stay in Tokyo (refer to another post here) then there is no need for the JR Pass as its only worth for long distance. You can also purchase […]