Tokyo, Japan 2015: Shinjuku (Part 13)

Day 5 (2nd stop): 

Shinjuku. May 15, 2015. 

It's shopping time! We're off to Shinjuku-Harajuku-Shibuya for our last hurrah in Tokyo. This post features some of the stores and products we encountered in Shinjuku. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Ueno (Part 12)

Day 5 (1st stop): 

Ueno. May 15, 2015. 

It's the fifth day of our jam-packed Tokyo tour! We're getting accustomed to the area and what better way to spend the morning than to explore Ueno to the max for its affordable markets? I swear, this place has a traditional touch with temples and traditional shops along the street. 

It houses four main temples and shrines, namely, Kaneiji Temple, Kiyomizu Kannon Temple, Toshogu Shrine, and Bentendo and five museums, namely, the Tokyo National Museum, the National Science Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Shitamachi Museum, making it a must-go if you're into culture. Not to mention Ueno Park and Zoo.

Aside from the cultural aspect, Ueno is also a top commercial area which showcases a slightly less modern shopping district than central Tokyo called Okachimachi and Ameyayokocho. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Tokyo Disney Sea (Part 11)

Day 4 (2nd stop): 

Tokyo Disney Sea. May 14, 2015. 

Tokyo Disney Sea, unique to Asia and the entire Disney theme park chain for its nautical theme, is now on its 15th year of operation. When we came there in May, the whole theme park was decorated for Easter with tons of Disney Easter eggs! 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Tokyo Gransta (Part 10)

Day 4 (1st stop):

Tokyo Gransta. May 14, 2015.

It's our fourth day going all over the place so now we have to reload our cards. We're in for a long subway ride this time because the destination is Tokyo Disney Sea, which is located in Uruyasu, Chiba, outside the metropolitan borders of Tokyo. But first, we spend some time in Tokyo Gransta, the largest in-station shopping area (ekinaka) beneath Tokyo Station. It houses more than 60 sixty stores that offer a wide selection of on-the-go food, travel necessities, and even gifts! 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Shibuya (Part 9)

Day 3 (4th stop):

Shibuya. May 13, 2015.

I left the Minato Observation Deck (my fave!) with a reluctant heart because I didn't want to leave yet huhu, but Shibuya was our next stop. I was excited to see Shibuya Crossing for myself and maybe to go shopping too. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Minato (Part 8)

Day 3 (3rd stop): 

Minato Observation Deck. May 13, 2015.

This is my favourite stop out of our entire six-day trip. 

It felt as if I had all of Tokyo in arm's length. 

From the street market, Ameyayokocho, we took some time to go back to the hotel to rest and freshen up for our sunset to evening tour of Minato-Ku and Shibuya (to be posted). I never expected that the view of the city could be so mesmerising! We stayed at an observation deck for a good two hours or so and I still didn't want to leave. 

The observation deck is located at Minato-Ku, which houses several embassies and domestic companies such as Honda and Fujitsu. Although Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower are the most famous observation decks in Tokyo, this one is lesser known, but provides the same magnificent overlooking view of the city with less crowds. 

From its 360 view, you can see the romantic red tower as it lights up at night and on a clear, sunny day, you can even see Mt. Fuji from there! 

Tokyo Skytree is farther from the deck than the Tower, but you can also see it. I was just unable to get a good shot of it because I was only equipped with a cellphone for all the documentation I did haha!

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Ameyayokocho (Part 7)

Day 3 (2nd stop): 

Ameyayokocho. May 13, 2015. 

From Yamashiroya that morning, it's finally shopping time! Ameyayokocho is a street market located alongside the Yamanote Railway Line. Ameyayokocho (Ameya Alley) is a long street selling all kinds of goods from bags, shoes, and food! 

The name "Ameyayokocho" stems from two origins, the first one is that it means "candy alley" for the rows of shops selling traditional candies in the past. Secondly, the "Ame" comes from "America" because it used to famous for selling American products when World War II ended in 1945 and the United States earned rulership over Japan after the horrific Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Yamashiroya (Part 6)

Day 3: Yamashiroya, Ameyayokocho, Minato, Shibuya

May 13, 2015. 

The first stop for our third day in Tokyo was a visit to Yamashiroya Toy Store because we couldn't get enough of toys from last night's trip to Akihabara.

Yamashiroya is a 5-storey toy store filled with all kinds of Japanese and Western pop culture merchandises. It's small, but jam-packed with goodies for any otaku, regular mainstream geek, or hobbyist. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Akihabara (Part 5)

Day 2 (4th stop): 

Akihabara. May 12, 2015. 

I swear, my legs were killing me by then, but what does it matter? From Tokyo Skytree, Akihabara a.k.a. anime and electronics central was the next stop. 

I've been hearing about the place since I was a child and I'm finally there! 

Akihabara is Tokyo's otaku hub with displays of recognizable anime characters and merchandise, video game shops, maid cafes, manga stores, and electronic goods everywhere.  Cosplayers can be seen and various anime cafes such as Gundam Cafe and Naruto Cafe are all located in this area. Japanese girl group, AKB48, even has a shop there!

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Tokyo Skytree (Part 4)

Day 2 (3rd stop):

Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa. May 12, 2015. 

From Sensoji Temple earlier that day, we can see the iconic Tokyo Skytree looming in the background. Plus, that's my mom, dad, and bro in the pic below too. 

And that's where we're headed next. 

For Day 1 (Arrival) click here

For Day 2 (Ueno Zoo & Park) click here

For Day 2 (Sensoji Temple) click here

The Tokyo Skytree, along with Tokyo Tower, the red tower similar to France's Eiffel, are the two most famous viewing decks in Tokyo, although there are dozens of other lesser known buildings scattered around which all offer a magnificent view of Tokyo city from above. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: Sensoji Temple (Part 3)

Day 2 (2nd stop):

Sensoji Temple. May 12, 2015. 

For Day 1 (Arrival) click here

For Day 2 (Ueno Park & Zoo) click here

Legend says that two men brought a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, but the statue returned to the river afterwards. In remembrance of the incident, Sensoji temple was built in honor of Kannon, which is why it is also known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple. It is the oldest temple in Tokyo. 

Tokyo, Japan 2015: A Morning in the Park (Part 2)

Day 2: Ueno Park and Zoo, Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, and Akihabara. 

First up: Ueno Park & Zoo.

Hurray for clear skies and sunny weather! 

If you recall, in our first night at Tokyo, it was raining really hard. It was so cold too. We were relieved to wake up the next day with no sign of the storm at all. Thank God!

My family and I decided to spend our first morning in a nearby park since we've been city-dwellers in Manila all this time. 

This was one of the places we passed by on the way there. I'll never forget the sight of it.

Tokyo, Japan: All Things Kawaii and Sugoi (Part One)

What started out as a spur of the moment decision boiled down to six days of absolute kawaii and sugoi adventures in Tokyo.

I didn't even feel the excitement yet as the days rolled closer and closer to our flight date because of the extremely busy schedule for everyone in the family. Missing a weekend trip to Pampanga with one-half of the fam bam and Adam Young a.k.a. Owl City play live for free in Bonificio Global City was worth the rest before flying off!