Work In Progress.

Coming up next : Lake Toya / Fish Market

HOKKAIDO : Sapporo

Sapporo : 5°C Raining on and off!

After breakfast, bought a 1-day railpass ¥500 for unlimited trips because it's Sunday!

Going to the Chocolate Factory.

The exterior.

The interior.

Sugar.

Ice cream.

Didn't pay for the tour at Chocolate factory as we are more interested in the food rather than the making. Hehe.. After this, we went Sapporo Brewery.

The Sapporo Beer Museum.

An unguided free tour. They don't speak English, self explanatory anyway.

The making.

I like this one.

Preparing our drinks.

Next is the Odori Park, before night fall.
The time is 4.18pm, as shown on the TV Tower.

I'll always take a photo of it's leg, so can gauge the size of it.

Dinner time! Susukino again... LOL..

Bought a persimmon for supper..
I think it's call a Fuji Persimmon.

HOKKAIDO : Otaru

Otaru : 6°C Raining for the whole day!!

We are not done with Sapporo yet, but let's go Otaru for Sashimi first! Train ride from Sapporo to Otaru is around 35 mins by express, 1 way cost ¥620.

Had our lunch at 大和家

The whole set includes crab, shellfish, sashimi, sushi, cold soba, miso soup, tempura, salad, green tea.

We travel on foot within the whole of Otaru.

A lotsa interesting shops along the street, selling ice-cream, seafood, live crabs, souvenirs, glasswares, handicrafts, accessories, soft toys, bla bla bla.. i wish i could visit everyone of them...

Grill for you on the spot.

So cute the Marimos! The biggest at 8.5cm is selling at ¥42,000 = SGD672.
I bought a baby twin home, introduce them to you next time.

The so called "动物园" labeled in the map.

At this junction, 10,320km away from Dunedin - where I used to study & play like nobody's business! LOL!

It's getting dark, we turned back and headed to Otaru Canal.

Everything in Otaru is so nice, only the canal is a bit hmm... Maybe we expect too much... Hahaha..

I think you can skip these 一番街 as it seems a bit o~piang, just like those 狸小路 in Sapporo.

We headed back to Sapporo and had a simple dinner. Tuna on top.

HOKKAIDO : Sapporo

Sapporo : -1°C to 6°C Rainy

On our way to Sapporo, Hokkaido

Took train from Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station, 40 mins.

Our hotel is just next to the station.
However, dragging luggages along is no easy task.

Take train to Susukino for dinner. (just 2 stations away and cost ¥200)
Train fare is cheaper in Tokyo, Taxi fare is cheaper in Hokkaido.

This is the Ramen Yokocho.

Crab Ramen!

This one of the 狸小路 (There are a total of ten 狸小路).
But I prefer the underground shopping.

Shop along the street, all the way back to the hotel.

Discovered another Ramen zone, maybe try another day.

Underground shopping. =D

Supper!

TOKYO : Roppongi

Tokyo : 12°C Windy

Temperature dropped to as low as 12 degree with strong wind. After our second visit to the GranTokyo, we walked to the Otemachi. We saw parade near the Imperial Palace as the Japanese are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the enthronement of the Majesty.

Took train to Roppongi, Darl wanted to introduce me to a giant spider!

People queueing up for MJ46 Japantour - An exhibition showcasing Michael Jackson's belongings.

Saw a Singapore Restaurant!

Tokyo Tower.

Tight security everywhere and even the vending machine at the train station has been sealed due to Obama's visit.

TOKYO : Tokyo Station | Akihabara

Tokyo : 18°C Rainy

Took a train to Tokyo Station.

Women Only Cabin, but only valid from the first train of the day till 9.30am.

The train is very similar to Singapore's MRT, except that some are much longer with more cabins, all their seats are cushioned, most with rack above the seats for you to put your things. People are quite well mannered as there's no handphone ringing or loud talking in the train. I've once seen people eating biscuit and I asked Darl how come they can eat in the train, he says there's no sign saying no food in train. True also.

From 40th floor of GranTokyo.

We went Tokyo Station to look for Darl's colleagues, they thought he was here for business trip, still asked him where he was seated. It was raining heavily so we came again the following day for the above view, can see rainbow bridge on the far left. =D

Had lunch with Darl's colleague @ Tokyo Station.

The fish bone has been removed so it's much easier to eat.

Underground shopping, a lotsa cartoon character shops!

So cute can't help it and we brought 4 home. Hahaha..

This is call Smoking Room. Always seen crowded.

Next is Akihabara, Darl's favourite.
Nearly got squeezed out of the itinery, only visited on the 5th day in Tokyo. Haha.. too many places to go. Yodobashi, Labi & Big Camera all are his favourite and they have so many storeys! Scary!

Bought supper from Mitsukoshi, a shopping mall where all their staffs bow to you when you walk out... really a rare sight...

¥157 = SGD2.50 for this banana.
Sorry la suddenly the craving...

TOKYO : Shibuya

Tokyo : 20°C

Shibuya Scrambled Crossing
One of the world's busiest crossing.



Here is a short clip taken @ 6pm on Tuesday.

Wanted to shoot the morning crowd here but didn't make it, maybe next time.

In the midst of the crossing.

One of the shopping alley.

Had Ramen for dinner, a very tasty side dish. LOL..
The mixture of spring onion, thinly sliced ginger and fragrant oil made it very unique.

Saw this at the supermarket, ¥7,928 = SGD127

Above the shelf, the honey dew is selling at ¥10,000 each = SGD160.
Unbelievable!

Saw these along the street, ¥4,500 = SGD72 each!!!

Our supper.

YOKOHAMA : Chinatown | Yamashita Park | Minato Mirai 21

Yokohama : 18°C Sunny

Yokohama is located 25 minutes train ride south of Tokyo Station.
Arrived at Yokohama Station at 11.30am, finding our way out.

Every turn is full of surprises - like there's no end to it..

Yokohama has the Japan's largest Chinatown.

Is that really Ginseng??!!

You will see things you hardly see elsewhere in Japan such as bubble tea, steam bun, sharkfin, chilli, cheongsum, lanterns, roasted chestnut.. etc..
By the way, this giant bun is ¥2,100 = SGD33

Had sharkfin at one of the restaurants, the sharkfin is very big, but the way they prepare it doesn't suit my taste.

After lunch, go for a walk along the Yamashita Park.

Walking towards Minato Mirai 21, the seaside urban area.

Reached the Cosmo World Ferris Wheel.
Only 4.37pm and the sky is dark.

Took express train back to Shibuya from Minatomirai, 29 mins.

Continue on Shibuya in the next blog...

TOKYO : Ginza | Asakusa | Ueno

Tokyo : 18°C Sunny

Going to Ginza for Yakitori today!

Spotted a flower shop along the street, so lovely!

¥5,000 per bauquet. That's about SGD80

Isehiro is somewhere on the second storey of this street.

Obviously, we are here for lunch!

After the satisfying lunch, the next stop is Asakusa.

Buddha encounter.
By the way, the temple is under renovation.

The green tea ice-cream is superb! ¥250 = SGD4

Proceed to Ueno, a place with lotsa cultural attractions such as museum, temple, zoo, lake etc... but I always target the market only.. haha..

A lotsa Pachinko here, but I haven't figure out how to play.

Ameyoko - a good place for souvenirs and tidbits.
Railway track on the left, above the stalls.

Things are cheaper here.

All kinda sea creatures!

Back to Ueno Station at 6pm.

Very nice dessert! But expensive SGD8.

Bought some supper at Mitsukoshi on our way back to the hotel.
These are deep fried oyster.

Very juicy grapes!

TOKYO : Omotesando | Harajuku | Shimbashi | Odaiba

Tokyo : 16°C Sunny

Had our breakfast at the hotel, and headed down to Omotesando.
It's an up-market shopping avenue of 1km long, with all the branded stores such as LV, Prada, Bvlgari, Burberry etc etc.. along the street.

Emporio Armani

Omotesando Hills

Most of the shops are not opened yet. We saw people cycling and jogging along the street. Some walking their dogs or vice versa.

Have decided to skip Meiji Shrine as we have been there the last round. We walked straight to Takeshita Street @ Harajuku Station. Very crowded during weekends.

After this, we went Odaiba via Yurikamome line @ SHIMBASHI STA.!!!
Must highlight that... zzz... The last time, over the phone I heard 新桥 as 京桥 so we both waiting for each other at 2 different stations!! Grrr..

On the track towards the rainbow bridge

Rainbow Bridge

Crossing the bridge

Aqua City & Fuji TV Headquarter

Lunch time! Odaiba Ramen Stadium is a must go & must eat!

So nice!!! Dunno how to describe... blurp~

After some shopping inside Aqua City, it's time to capture sunset by the beach.

Rainbow Bridge

Next post on Ginza / Asakusa / Ueno...

TOKYO : Shinjuku

Singapore : 26°C

Tokyo : 17°C

Reached airport at 6am to catch a flight to Tokyo.

Meal in flight.

7-hour flight.
Sleeping, eating, drinking, snacking, gaming, movie watching, photo taking, sightseeing!

Reached Narita Airport at 4.45pm (Japan time), sky dark dark already.

Checked in to the hotel.

Yeah! Let's go cheOng!
First destination : Shinjuku

Tokyo Metro Subway

Before I proceed further, let me show you how the Tokyo Metro Subway looks like, compare to Singapore MRT&LRT Track, as below. It's not really that complicated as it may seems but expect lotsa walking as some stations are really BIG!

Singapore MRT&LRT

Tell you more of Tokyo in the next post!

恭喜警长与小苹果妹妹订婚快乐。。

表妹订婚了，寄了订婚糖给我。 我告诉她我的信箱很大的， 只要不大过电话簿的包裹都塞的进。

可是不知何故还是得去邮政局一趟，可能是 via Poslaju 的缘故吧。

我以为邮政局的大婶会臭骂我一顿，这么久才来拿，害得到处都是蚂蚁。
幸好没有，她找了一会还说找不到，问我是不是文件之类的。。
突然。。。“我找到了！” 好像寻宝似的。 还跟我说以为是很大样的东西。

回到家里，打开包裹。 哇？什么糖RM26？
不对啊。。 为什么是面膜？ 原来不一定要送糖？？！

哈哈！原来里面才是主角，对不起，我还是第一次收到订婚糖。
好可爱哦的包装。。 里面是 Nougat 两颗。谢谢你们。

恭喜警长与小苹果妹妹订婚快乐。。

ION, Orchard

Wedding Lunch & Orchard Walk

Attended a wedding lunch today, good to catch up with old friends!

Cold Dishes

Herbal Prawn - very tasty!

Go Orchard for a walk to digest the food.. LOL..
Levi's Promo @ Taka - Trade-in old Jeans to offset new purchase.
Skip this, as I'm not here to shop today.

Street performance along Orchard Road.

Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge starts today.
1 out of the 400 contestants will get to drive the car home!
The record last year was 81 hrs 32 mins.
[http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/subaru2009/]

一脸无奈的样子。

Then it rained, the street suddenly became so empty.



And the rain got heavier, pity the Subaru Contestants.
For those who have not heard Singapore's power thunder, here it goes..
A few Ang Mo got frightened by it & sprinted back into the mall..

Since it's raining, let's move indoor.
Went Kino to collect a book I ordered.
A meet-the-author session, dunno who..

Went Plaza Sing for dinner.

INQ roadshow. Who is Dai Yang Tian? anyway... enough for today!