Getting There & Buying Tickets

Tokyo Disneyland and its neighboring park, DisneySea, are located in the city of Urayasu in the western suburbs of Tokyo. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the Maihama station on the Disney Resort Line, or you can opt for buses or resort shuttles to get dropped off even closer.

To avoid wasting any time waiting in ticket lines on the day of, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance online through the Tokyo Disney website or via an authorized third-party vendor. Not only can you select your desired park and date, but you can also buy bundles that include things like parking, PhotoPass, special FastPass options and Disney hotel packages. The time savings alone is worth it.

The Park’s Incredible Theming

What immediately struck me upon walking through the front gates of Tokyo Disneyland was just how incredibly themed and detailed every single aspect is. From the gorgeous, flower-lined paths to the Broadway-caliber costumes on cast members to themed snack carts spread throughout, you are completely transported into an alternate Disney reality. Everything is impeccably manicured and maintained too. Not a single trash can or directional sign looks out of place.

A quintessential photo stop is Partners Statue in the World Bazaar area right after the main entrance. Here you’ll find an iconic bronze sculpture of Mickey Mouse joyfully greeting visitors along with other classic Disney characters clustered around him. It’s one of the park’s most popular photo spots, especially with Cinderella’s castle majestically looming in the background.

The park’s seven themed lands include standards like Adventureland, Westernland (Frontierland), Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, along with some unique-to-Tokyo areas like Critter Country full of Winnie the Pooh and friends. Another highlight is the World Bazaar with all its whimsical shops, street performances and two mirrored “Main Street” corridors leading into and out of the park.

Classic Rides with a Twist
While you’ll find plenty of classic Disney rides and attractions like Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, It’s A Small World, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and more, Tokyo takes these familiar experiences to new heights with superior technology, incredible detailed enhancements, and its own distinct Tokyo Disneyland twists.

One of my favorite examples was the Star Tours ride in Tomorrowland, which is trackless and features incredible visuals that sync up the motion seamlessly with the space flight sequences. I had to experience it multiple times!

You’ll also find exclusive-to-Tokyo rides and shows like Monsters Inc Ride & Go Seek, the Broadway-caliber One Man’s Dream II show celebrating Disney films, Horsedroid Roundup in Toyville Toontown, and the mind-blowing Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast dark ride. Be sure to consult ride wait times and grab a park map to plan your day.

Dining and Snacking
No Disney experience is complete without indulging in plenty of theme park snacks and treats. From the iconic Mickey Mouse premium ice cream bars to the incredible Disney character and animation themed popcorn flavors and buckets, you’ll find some of the most creative and Instagram-worthy snacks here.

Other iconic Tokyo Disneyland treats include the Chandu Tail Bread (an adorable panda-shaped sweet bread loaf) found in Fantasyland, colorful Mickey-shaped churros, cream-filled Mickey Mouse mousse domes, and flavorful kakigori shaved ice desserts.

For full-service sit-down dining, can’t miss restaurants include the Polynesian Terrace in Adventureland serving Tiki cocktails and wild West-inspired dishes at Cowboy Cookhouse Barbecue in Westernland. You’ll want to grab hard-to-get advance reservations for any character dining experiences like the beloved Cape Cod-style restaurant Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square.

Park Entertainment
In true Disney fashion, Tokyo Disneyland features no shortage of incredible live entertainment to round out your visit. From the magnificent daytime parade, Dreaming Up!, to the immersive nighttime spectacular Once Upon a Time fireworks show projected across the castle, these are visual extravaganzas not to miss.

Other must-see shows include the colorful New! Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular fusing live characters and stunts with cutting-edge projection mapping, water effects and pyrotechnics on the Rivers of Fantasy. You can catch some of the resident Disney characters up close grooving in the afternoon dance parties on the World Bazaar main stage too.

Planning Your Strategy
Like most Disney parks, Tokyo Disneyland has plenty of seasonal events, entertainment, snacks and merchandise that rotate regularly throughout the year. I personally loved visiting in the autumn when the park was decked out in gorgeous fall decor and offered special Halloween offerings.

No matter when you plan to visit though, I’d recommend purchasing a 2-day pass if possible in order to fully experience both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea without feeling rushed. Use a crowd calendar and plan to visit on lower crowd days for shorter wait times. Be sure to take advantage of the free FastPass system, which allows you to reserve ride times for the most popular attractions in advance. Arrive early, stay late, and prepare to be swept up in the exceptional Disney magic!

From its unbeatably spotless park grounds and incredible efficiency to its world-class attractions fusing cutting-edge technology with nostalgic charm, a trip to Tokyo Disneyland is truly a next-level Disney vacation experience. Whether you’re a longtime Disney fan or just looking for a fun-filled family getaway, this should absolutely be on your bucket list when visiting Japan. Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself never wanting to leave thanks to Tokyo Disney’s pure enchantment!

The post Autumn in Hokkaido & Tokyo 2018 – Day 7 (Tokyo Disneyland) appeared first on Mums Travels.

Our first stop was the iconic Sapporo TV Tower, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Dating back to 1957, this soaring 147.2-meter tower offers sweeping panoramic views from the observation decks. As we took the elevator up to the highest deck, we admired Sapporo’s modern skyline and surrounding mountains transitioning into brilliant fall hues in every direction. The beaming autumn sunshine illuminated everything in a warm golden glow.

Next up was exploring the Odori Park area, Sapporo’s centrally located landmark green space. This 1.5km long park area divides the city’s main downtown into north and south sections. During our relaxing stroll down Odori Park’s tree-lined promenades, we instantly fell in love with Sapporo’s crisp natural beauty. Verdant lawns punctuated by vibrant maple trees bursting with red, orange and yellow foliage made for incredibly scenic surroundings. We stopped at the intriguing Sapporo TV Tower Fountain, which combines musical choreography with water jets shooting up choreographed streams mesmerizingly.

After soaking in Odori Park’s serene autumnal atmosphere, we satisfied our growing appetites by sampling some of Sapporo’s most beloved street food snacks. From freshly grilled Hokkaido scallops to savory meat-filled buns and piping hot potato croquettes, the street vendors near Odori Station did not disappoint. A seasonal favorite was the amazingly fresh and sweet local Tsurunoko Yokan – a smooth, dense jellied sweet potato confection. Eating these traditional snacks couldn’t have been more perfect for experiencing Sapporo’s local flavors on this postcard-worthy fall day.

Refueled and energized, our next stop took us just a couple blocks northwest to the Sapporo Beer Garden, home of Japan’s oldest beer producer – Sapporo Breweries. At the expansive red-brick brewery grounds and gardens, we learned all about the origins of Sapporo’s beer making traditions dating back to 1876. We toured historic beer cellars, saw towering brewing equipment up close, and even witnessed workers crafting iconic beer mugs and bottles by hand. Of course, no visit is complete without sampling freshly brewed Sapporo Classic in the garden’s charming beer hall!

After our brewery adventure, we decided to experience one of Sapporo’s most quintessential foodie destinations by visiting the city’s famous Nijo Market (Curb Market). Established in 1903, this long shotengai district contains hundreds of shops selling fresh seafood, produce as well as snacks and restaurants. We weaved through the tightly packed, lively lanes gawking at stalls overflowing with the most succulent cuts of salmon, tuna, scallops, crab and more. The sights, sounds and smells of the bustling market were utterly intoxicating.

For dinner, we treated ourselves to world-famous Sapporo ramen at Sumikyo, a no-frills ramen institution that kept winning us over with its pork-bone tonkotsu broth and thick, chewy noodles. The rich, soulful broth had such incredible depth of flavor and the springy, fresh noodles held up to the last slurp. Authentic ramen like this is something we’ll forever crave after returning home.

As night fell, we ended our incredible first day in Sapporo at the beautifully illuminated Sapporo White Illumination. This nightly lighting display transforms the buildings and trees lining the pedestrian walkways around Sapporo Station into a romantic spectacle of dazzling white lights and fall foliage. Wandering through these peaceful illuminated lanes while sipping hot drinks made the perfect tranquil ending to our autumn adventures in Sapporo.

Tomorrow we leave the city behind to explore more of Hokkaido’s pristine nature as brilliant fall colors continue to unfold. But tonight, we rest our feet while reminiscing about Sapporo’s flawless amalgamation of modern city energy, local cuisine, seasonal beauty and autumn traditions we were able to experience today. Hokkaido is exceeding our autumnal expectations with every encounter!

The post Autumn in Hokkaido & Tokyo 2018 – Day 2 (Sapporo) appeared first on Mums Travels.

1. Takashimaya Department Store

Our hotel is opposite Takashimaya Department Store.  As usual, producing a foreign passport here will entitle you to a Hello Kitty card which is a 5% discount card but there is exclusion with some of the designer stands including Hermes and Bao Bao.

Foreigners can also claim tax refund.  However, pls note that Takashimaya can be quite sticky in this aspect.  The name on your credit card used to pay for your purchase must match exactly that of your passport.  Otherwise you may run the risk of your claims being rejected.  I notice that it is less sticky at some other stores.  Also you do not get the full 8% tax refund here.  Takashimaya charges a 1.1% service fee.  (Note that some department stores do not charge any service charge, eg Keio).   The standard rule is that tax refund needs to be claimed on the same day of purchase and refund is in cash only.  To be eligible for tax refund, you need to spend a minimum of ¥5000 (exc tax).

I went to check out the Bao Bao boutique even though I was not planning to buy anything.  It was mid morning when I went and they still had lots of bags on display.  The craze of some years back when you need to queue up before the store opens to get your much awaited back seems a thing of the past.  But the price difference between the price I have to pay in Japan compared to in Singapore seems to have narrowed.   This could also be the reason why there is less of a rush now.  Otherwise, maybe I was just lucky that day.  Since the 5% Taka Tourist discount does not apply to Bao Bao, it is probably better to buy Bao Bao at the standalone boutique as members get a 5% rebate usable for the next purchase.  It is easy to apply for a members card if like me, you are a regular Issey Miyake shopper.

There is a Me by Issey Miyake counter at Takashimaya, and I bought a blouse and a skirt.  I was able to get a 5% discount with the Taka tourist discount card here.  There is no Pleats Please counter at Takashimaya.  So on this trip I satisfied my Pleats Please by Issey Miyake shopping at their Omotesando shop when we went there for dinner one of the evenings.

Didn’t buy much stuff here except a Rilakuma soft toy for DD, Pokémon Nanoblocks for my kids who are collectors and my Cle de Peau cosmetics.  They have more Pokémon nanoblock choices in Japan and they are cheaper than Singapore.  I checked out Hermes but the price was similar to the Singapore boutique.  So I did not get anything.

On our last day, we did drop by to buy Japanese peaches and Kyoho grapes to bring home.  They packed the fruits in a box for us and added lots of stuffings to prevent bruises.  Our fruits arrived home in great shape! Yay!

2. Keio Department Store

At Keio, there was no across the board foreigner discount card or coupon like in Takashimaya. But Union Pay card members get a 5% discount coupon in store and some dining coupons.  We used the dining coupon for free coffee and beer when we lunched at Saboten.  On this trip, we found that there were lots of places that were offering discount only for Union Pay card members.  Such is the power of the Chinese dollar.  As I travel regularly to China, I have a Union Pay card too and so I also benefited.  My friend was lamenting her misfortune for not having a Union Pay card.

There is also difference in tax refunds at different department stores.   Unlike Takashimaya which charges a 1.1% service charge and so you do not get the full 8% refund, Keio does not charge any service charge.  So you get your full 8% back at Keio.  This can be significant for big item purchases.   I noticed significantly more tourists here especially those who hail for China, compared to at Takashimaya.  With the 5% Union Pay discount coupon, it is overall cheaper to shop at Keio than at Takashimaya.   If you do not have a Union Pay card, then buying at Takashimaya will be cheaper even with the 1.1% service charge if you use the tourist discount card.

As mentioned in my earlier posts, I’m not one who like to browse around shops and hope to find things to buy.  I normally have an objective and target before I visit particular places. If I wonder aimlessly I normally end up buying nothing.  One of my favourite snacks from Japan is Goiter de Roi from Gateau Rusk.  Gateau Rusk only has counters at selected department stores in Tokyo. One of which is Keio. So this is the main reason why I went to Keio.

Gouter de Roi is made from French baguette by a confectionery in Gumma prefecture. The crunchy sugar-coated pieces of toasted bread is quite a simple snack and is nothing new.   But it is very popular among Japanese and is frequently used as gifts during festive seasons. There is always a queue (mainly locals and not foreigners) at its counters, and on this occasion it was no exception.   Having been introduced to it by my Japanese staff, I now love it too!  It goes very well with coffee.  They happen to have a festive Halloween packaging at the time I went and so I bought 6 packs! This festive packaging is cheaper than its standard metal box package.

I bought some “cigar” cookes from Yoku Moku too.  Yoku Moku is available at most departments but since I was at Keio, I just bought mine here.

Since there was time, I browsed the department store and for once came across a white gold Akoya pearl necklace that I liked from Tasaki, a well known jeweler in Japan who also has its own pearl research facilities.  The necklace also comes with a certificate of authenticity.  I had a 5% discount here for my necklace using my Union Pay discount coupon.  I almost did not get to complete the purchase as Keio seems to only accept credit cards using the magnetic strip while my cards normally operate on the smart chip only when overseas for security purposes. In the end, only my Union Pay card worked.  This is the first time it has happened to me when shopping in Japan.  I was able to claim the full 8% tax free refund here.

3. Muji 

There is a Muji Store in Shinjuku too.  I like the clean cut look of Muji but they are so expensive in Singapore.  I could not find the pajamas that I like here as they were changing seasons and those on sale were for more for late autumn/winter and not suitable for Singapore.  But I did buy bedsheets for my boys.  They were about 30% cheaper than Singapore and since we had lots of luggage space and we decided to get them.

I also bought the white chocolate coated strawberry snacks for DD.  They are her favourite but as not also available in the store in Singapore.  Before I could take photos of them, DD finished the 6 packs that I bought. ?

We could get tax refund here.

4. Uniqlo

The Uniqlo store at Shinjuku is liked to the BIC store.  Since DH wanted to check out the new Nikon D850 camera, we went to BIC and thus Uniqlo too.  I bought some ladies legging ankle jeans for DD as they are on sale and were really cheap at JPY950 per piece.  We could get tax refund too.

There were lots of winter wear options but since we did not need any, I did not check them out seriously.

5. BIC

BIC is where we normally go to to get our local SIM card previously.  But nowadays with Singtel’s roaming data plan of SGD20 for 1GB data for 30 days, we no longer bother to get the local SIM.

But we still went to BIC because DH was interested in the new Nikon D850 camera what was only launched in recently.  The price in Japan is some SGD500 cheaper than Singapore.  But unfortunately it is sold out at BIC.  We subsequently checked out a few other camera shops including Yodobashi Camera, and all were out of stock. ?

But we did get some Nintendo Switch accessories for the kids.  The carrying case here is JPY2,000 (SGD24) compared to Singapore’s SGD42.  The extra controller cost JPY6,630 (SGD80) vs about SGD100 in Singapore.  We also had tax refund here.

The post Tokyo & Hakone, Sep 2017 – Shopping in Shinjuku appeared first on Mums Travels.

Nagoya Station is a major transportation center, serving bullet train (shinkansen) lines, regular JR trains, Meitetsu trains, Kintetsu trains, and a subway station. Following lunch in the form of ekiben bento trays, we boarded the JR Chuo Main Line’s Shinano limited express. During this picturesque 2.5-hour journey, we traversed the majestic Kiso Valley and descended into the Japanese Alps.

As soon as we arrived at Kiso-Fukushima, a hot spring village in Nagano Prefecture, it had just begun to snow. We reached our traditional ryokan inn following a brief taxi ride. After completing the check-in process, we donned yukata garments and unwinded in the onsen springs, which were brimming with minerals, prior to indulging in a kaiseki dinner featuring regional specialties.

Day 2 Hiking the Nakasendo Trail

After indulging in a sumptuous breakfast prepared in the traditional Japanese manner at our ryokan, we mounted a portion of the renowned Nakasendo route for a stroll. During the Edo period, a trade route existed between Kyoto and Edo (present-day Tokyo) that traversed the Alps. A popular activity in the Kiso Valley is traversing the hills along the original stone pathways that traverse the hills, which are in close proximity to the remarkably preserved villages of Tsumago and Magome.

Following a twenty-minute journey from Kiso-Fukushima to Nakatsugawa Station via the JR Chuo Main Line, we boarded a local bus and arrived in the village of Magome after thirty minutes of meandering bus travel. After conducting an investigation of the historic wooden edifices that have been converted into shops and inns in Magome, we proceeded to Tsumago village via a 5-mile segment of the Nakasendo trail.

Amidst the chirping of birds and the sole sound of our own footfall the woodland stroll was serene. Decades-old stone inscriptions delineated the pathway. Three hours later, we descended into Tsumago, pausing en route to admire shrines and breathtaking vistas. Featuring its pristine thatched-roof structures and conspicuously absent electricity lines, this picturesque village is even more fortified against intrusion than Magome.

After purchasing steaming green tea and some snacks at a small shop we boarded another bus and returned to Nagiso Station via the JR Chuo Main Line in fifteen minutes. From Kiso-Fukushima where we collected our belongings we took a limited express to Matsumoto a castle town located beneath the Japan Alps.

From Matsumoto to Karuizawa on Day 3

The magnificent old samurai stronghold referred to as “Crow Castle” is the source of Matsumoto’s notoriety. We spent the morning observing Matsumoto Castle, which was situated amidst snow-capped mountains, with its striking crimson bridge and imposing black walls serving as our focal points. The castle’s moon-viewing chamber provides sweeping vistas.

Lunch was enjoyed at Matsumoto’s Nawate-dori, a riverfront thoroughfare flanked by restaurants and shops that were once historically significant structures. Sanzokuyaki, which consists of chicken marinade and skewered barbecue, is the regional specialty. We visited vendors selling handicrafts and mementos prior to assembling our possessions and boarding the Shinano, a limited express train, at Matsumoto Station.

We traveled by train for an additional scenic half-hour to reach the upscale mountain resort of Karuizawa. We rented bicycles for the purpose of exploration after settling into our lodging in close proximity to the station. The tree-lined alleyways of Karuizawa are lined with boutiques, cafés, and galleries. While perusing the shops, we took pleasure in the crisp mountain air.

That evening, we dined at a neighborhood restaurant serving shinshu soba, which are buckwheat noodles served chilled with dipping sauce or heated in broth with tempura. Following that, we indulged in a beverage in the hotel lobby and a hot spring bath to conclude the evening.

Kusatsu Onsen and Karuizawa Outlet Mall on Day 4

We commenced the day by boarding a bus from Karuizawa Station to Kusatsu Onsen, a renowned hot spring resort in Japan. After a 30-minute mountainous journey, one arrives at the medieval settlement encircling mineral-rich volcanic springs. The primary hot spring area, Yubatake, contains a substantial timber structure that chills the spring water for use in bathing.

The streets of Kusatsu, which are lined with traditional inns, bathhouses, and souvenir stores, were ours to explore in the morning. We traveled to the Netsunoyu Bathhouse in order to fully experience the therapeutic waters. We then enjoyed lunch consisting of regional specialties such as sansai mountain vegetable tempura and onsen tamago eggs, which are cooked gently in springs.

We proceeded to Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, one of the largest outlet complexes in Japan with over 200 stores, upon our afternoon bus return to the city. We strolled through the establishments stocked with discounted products by brands including Adidas, Burberry, Beams, and Shiseido.

We dined at a neighborhood izakaya tavern in the heart of Karuizawa. We conversed while enjoying sake and yakitori skewers regarding the subsequent phase of our journey: the bullet train to Tokyo the following morning.

Tokyo by Bullet Train on Day 5

Prior to packing and departing, we indulged in one final plunge in the hotel’s onsen. We enjoyed ekiben bento dishes on the train and yaki-manju buns stuffed with red bean paste at Karuizawa Station for dessert.

Using our Japan Rail Passes, we rode the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train on the Nagano Shinkansen line. Accelerating to a maximum of 160 mph, the pristine white train swiftly propelled us across the picturesque landscape and out of the mountains.

We embarked on a 1.5-hour journey, transferred to the Joetsu Shinkansen at Takasaki, and spent an additional hour in Tokyo. We made our way through the throngs of passengers at Tokyo Station to the Marunouchi exit, where we signaled for a taxi to our Shinjuku hotel.

Shinjuku, the principal commercial and entertainment district of Tokyo, is adorned with colossal edifices and brilliant neon signs, upon which we fixed our gaze that evening. Warm sake and sashimi were passed to us via conveyor belt. We were extremely satisfied with our wintertime excursion throughout the heart of Japan, and we were looking forward to exploring Tokyo’s shops, monuments, and cuisine for the next few days. I hope you like this Winter 2014 Central Japan & Tokyo by Trains & Buses, Day …

The post Winter 2014 Central Japan & Tokyo by Trains & Buses, Day … appeared first on Mums Travels.

With so many culinary delights packed into Shinjuku’s relatively small footprint, it can be overwhelming for visitors to decide where to eat. So let’s start our edible exploration with the most important meal of the day: breakfast and morning fuel-ups like coffee and pastries.

Rise and Shine in Shinjuku

There’s no better way to kick off a day of adventuring around Shinjuku than with a hearty, restorative Japanese breakfast. Despite the area’s frenetic pace, you’ll find plenty of serene traditional eateries and charming cafes tucked away serving up satisfying morning meals.

One such sanctuary is Kagetsuan, a quaint shop dating back over 100 years. Step inside this converted wooden machiya townhouse, and you’re transported to an oasis of calm with sweet-voiced servers gliding between tatami mat rooms. Their iconic Tokyo-style breakfast set includes impeccably grilled salted salmon, perfectly cooked rice, a sampling of seasonal tsukemono pickles, miso soup, and complementary sides that change daily.

Another classic choice for a traditional Japanese morning feast is Shinjuku Nakamuraza. This bustling basement operation has been dishing up soul-warming fare since 1966. It’s culinary time travel, with low wood-beamed ceilings and servers manning rowboat-styled counters to ferry plates of pristine sashimi, grilled fish, pickles, rice and savory eggs to hungry patrons. It’s boisterous, convivial and the perfect intro to Japanese breakfast culture.

For a more modern morning meal with Western flair, Shinjuku has incredible bakeries, patisseries and trendy cafés to satisfy any craving. Fu-ku Baguette Bakery, an offshoot of the Michelin-starred restaurant, crafts crusty baguettes and decadent pastries that will have you wondering if you teleported to a Parisian café.

Rambling Dessert Bars

If you’re not interested in a full sit-down breakfast, Shinjuku’s dessert scene has plenty to keep your energy levels topped up. Sweet fiends won’t want to miss Shinjuku Mylord, a food mecca dedicated to all things sugary and decadent.

The basement of this seven-floor cake and pastry paradise is where you’ll find many of Japan’s most legendary dessert temples like Dominique Ansel Bakery, Lady M, and Harbs. Pop into Ansel’s Tokyo outpost for gravity-defying croissants in flavors like shoku pan (Japanese milk bread) or matcha. Then swing by Lady M for a thick slice of their signature mille crêpe cake – delicate handmade crepes layered with ethereally light pastry cream. Complete the indulgent trifecta with a German-style baumkuchen cake swirled with chocolate at Harbs.

If you have a sweet tooth but are looking for more unique treats, Shinjuku offers a dizzying array of edible novelties. Go full kawaii with adorable animal-shaped donuts or cream puffs at Floresta Nature Donuts, where the baked goods are technically edible art. Or pick up premium-grade matcha, dorayaki pancake sandwiches and seasonal Japanese sweets at Kinseiken Yoko-cho, a picturesque confectionery shop straight out of a storybook.

Exceptional Coffee Craft

For those in need of a morning caffeine buzz, Shinjuku delivers. The craft coffee scene in Tokyo is legendary, and this dynamic neighborhood has your java fix on lockdown.

Tucked down a quiet alley, Streamer Coffee is a world-class micro-roaster and tasting room serving impeccable cups of single origin coffee. Pull up a stool at their sleek wooden tasting bar and watch the masters meticulously weigh, grind, and hand-brew each pour over in temperature-controlled vessels with reverential precision. You’ll taste nuances you never knew existed in your daily cup.

The sprawling NEWoMan complex is also home to an impressive concentration of exceptional coffee shops like Unlimited Coffee Bar, Roof Caffè Tokyo, and Valley Coffee Roasters. Cult classics like these regularly make global lists of Tokyo’s best cafes, renowned for sourcing and roasting premium direct-trade beans.

If you prefer your java with ambiance and people watching, look no further than Omotesando Koffee. This Omotesando Hills icon occupies a cavernous domed room with soaring ceilings and dual spiral staircases that are a prime roost for sipping single origin pour overs while gazing out over the Shibuya skyline.

Day-Stopping Shinjuku Sweets

After maxing out on coffees and pastries during your morning adventures, the sugar rush may start to wear off by mid-afternoon. That’s when you’ll want to beeline for some of Shinjuku’s most over-the-top sweet shops for a decadent pick-me-up.

Japanese-French patisserie Sadaharu Aoki is renowned for precision in both flavor and visuals. You’ll find seasonal fruit tarts and entremets (layered mousse cakes) as beautiful as fine art behind the dazzling displays here, each creation demonstrating Aoki’s mastery of European technique and reverence for high-quality Japanese ingredients like Kyoho grapes and Shizuoka matcha. Don’t leave without trying their legendary “bites” – miniature dome-shaped cakes like macha, sesame noir or fromage blanc.

Another local legend specializing in mashups of French and Japanese pastry traditions: Année Patisserie. This modern-day confectionary conjures otherworldly hybrid sweets like Basque tart muffins with cherries, Funabara choux pastries sandwiched with matcha cream, and featherweight French baked cheesecakes infused with flavors like sweet potato or oolong tea. Take a number and get ready to be dazzled by whatever dreamworlds in pastry form the patissiers have whipped up that day.

If amid all the decadence you find yourself craving something lighter, make your way to artisanal shaved ice haven Tsujiri. Opened in 1860, it’s one of Japan’s oldest purveyors of iced treats like kakigōri (shaved ice drenched in syrups and toppings). But the highlight is their exquisite matcha soft serve parfaits layered with matcha azuki (red bean), matcha mochi, matcha powder, and sometimes even matcha espresso jelly if you need an extra jolt.

Whether enjoying an elegant tea house breakfast or sampling rare coffee varietals and cutting-edge pastry artistry, Shinjuku has your morning meal and midday sugar fix covered. From old-world charm to avant-garde creativity, this dazzling district offers endless appetite-whetting ways to start your day in Tokyo. I hope this Eating in Shinjuku (I) – Breakfast, Coffee & Dessert post helps you.

The post Eating in Shinjuku (I) – Breakfast, Coffee & Dessert appeared first on Mums Travels.

The post 15 Days Central Japan & Tokyo by Trains & Buses, Winter 2014 appeared first on Mums Travels.

I needed to make a business trip to Tokyo in the first week of Nov in 2015.  Since it was also perfect time for seeing autumn foliage, DH decided to join me over the weekend after my meetings so that we can head to Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes.  Incidentally, it was also as long weekend holiday that week for us.  So perfect!

During my trip, I had a fair share of fining dining at dinner time and quick eats during lunch as my meeting schedules were very packed.  I discovered many cheap and good places around Tokyo Station where my office was located.

1. Kamatake Udon

There is a Kitchen Street at Tokyo Station which has many cheap eating places catering to the office crowd.  Kamatake Udon is one such eating place at the Kitchen Street and its service was fast and efficient.  We left our office punctually at 12 noon so that we won’t have to be in the queue.  Kamatake Udon is my colleague’s favourite udon place.  He missed the udon there since he came to Singapore, so he suggested it for lunch.  I had the tempura udon with minced tuna belly rice set which costs a little over JPY1000 (if I remember correctly).  It was cheap and good!  Udon was smooth and the soup was tasty.  The minced tuna belly rice was yummy too.  It was really excellent value for money.

Tempura udon & minced tuna belly rice set @ Kamatake Udon

2. Yamato

Yamato is a small counter restaurant along one of the side lanes opposite the traffic light in front of the building housing Daimaru at Tokyo Station.  It is just 2 mins walk from the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station.  I was told by my Japanese colleagues that Yamato serves expensive Kaiseki dinner at night.  However, during lunch time they offer value for money lunch set.  I had the Hidagyu-don (wagyu from Hida region on rice).  The beef was lightly seared to perfection.  So tender and melts in your mouth. Hidagyu or Hida beef has been my favourite Japanese wagyu ever since I first tried it in the Hida region (central Japan), my other favourite is of course, Kobe beef or Kobegyu.  The lunch set came with salad, pickles, a braised chicken accompaniment, miso soup and fruits for dessert,.  All this for only JPY1500!!

Hidagyu-don @ Yamato

3. Kiyobashi Senbikiya

If you are looking for healthy, good and cheap breakfast around Toyko Station, you must go to Kiyobashi Senbikiya.  Kiyobashi Senbikiya is actually a high end fruit store in Tokyo.  They sell high quality fruits, cakes and pastries.  For breakfast, they serve simple and healthy breakfast sets. I had the set with waffles, fruit yogurt, salad and Japanese yubari melon.  This set which comes with coffee or tea is only JPY600!  The melon was so sweet!  But do note that only the breakfast set is cheap.  Its cakes and fruits are quite expensive.  So normally there is a queue for breakfast. Everytime I want to eat there and don’t want to queue, I always make sure I get there just as it opens at 8am.  I have bought their cakes many times as takeaway to enjoy back in my hotel room.  They are all filled with fresh fruits and are light and delicious.

Fruits based healthy breakfast @ Kiyobashi Senbikiya

5. Kajitsuen

This is not really a cheap eat but food quality is good.  Kajitsuen is a similar fruit stand in Tokyo Station like Kiyobashi Senbikiya.  It sells fresh fruits, cakes with fruits and freshly squeezed fruit juice etc. I had previously bought takeaway cakes from them because I cannot resist the  tempting cakes.  Typical of Japanese cakes, their cakes are light and the fruits in them are so good. This trip DH and I decided to wait for a table on a Saturday afternoon.  It was a short wait. Besides the cake, I ordered the fresh kiwi juice.   It was concentrated and I could taste the fresh kiwi fruit.  But as I said earlier, like Kiyobashi Senbikiya, its cakes are not cheap at JPY1000 per slice. You do get quality, though.  In terms of cafe ambience, however, Kiyobashi Senbikiya is much much nicer.  This place is more cramp.  Cake quality at both cafes are similar.

Afternoon tea at Kajitsuen

6. Sushi Iwase

In a small lane behind Takashimaya at Shinjuku is a small and sophisticated sushi restaurant.   Dinner here can easily set you back by JPY18,000 per person.  But during lunch time, if you can snag yourself a bowl of their Chirashi Sushi, you will be treating yourself to good quality fresh raw fish on top of sushi rice of excellent consistency . As the chef is very particular about quality, there are only 10 bowls of Chirashi Sushi available each day during lunch time.   These coveted bowls cost only JPY1,700 each and is excellent value for money for the quality that you get.  If you have a bigger appetite, you can go for a large bowl at a slightly higher price.  I had the small bowl while DH had the large one.  The fish they served us were not leftover chopped up pieces, but carefully cut and sliced in our presence.  We made our reservation for lunch at 11.30am on our last day in Tokyo before our 1600 plus flight home.  They open for lunch from 11.30am – 1.30pm.  But I advise going early since they stop selling once their 10 bowls are sold.

Sushi Iwase @ Shinjuku Youth Building. “PAX” 6F,4-1-9 Shinjuku

Update : 13 Nov 2017

I visited Tokyo again recently and Sushi Iwase has moved to 3 Chome 3-4-1 Nishi-Shinjuku. In its old location at Shinjuku Youth Building is now an excellent Yakiniku restaurant, Hanomonya.

Next up : Fine Dining in Tokyo……..

The post Cheap Eats in Tokyo appeared first on Mums Travels.

When it comes to shopping I am very specific about what I want to buy in each country.  I am not really one who will browse department stores looking to see if there is something to buy.  I always end up buying nothing.

In Japan, I zoom in on Japanese designer Issey Miyake.  You can find his trademark Pleats Please at most major department stores or standalone stores at malls like Tokyo Skytree.  When shopping Issey Miyake in Japan, apply for a member’s card for free.  This will give you credits with each purchase which you can use to offset your next purchase.  And after this discount, you will still get your VAT refund.  This membership card is only valid at the standalone stores.  At department stores like Takashimaya and Daimaru, foreigners can go to the customer service counter to either get a discount card (Takashimaya) or discount vouchers (Daimaru).  And again you get VAT refund on top of these discounts.

Unlike Pleats Please which is readily available, Bao Bao bags by Issey Miyake can be elusive to unfamiliar shoppers.  At department stores like Takashimaya in Shinjuku (same for Takashimaya in Osaka), you need to be there before the store opens to get in the queue for a lucky draw.  Lucky shopper will get a number which determines your priority to choose a bag to buy!  Eg if you get 1, then you will be the first and 10 means you will be the 10th.  If there are more in the queue than the number of bags they have that day, you could end up with a blank piece of paper.

Bao Bao has a standalone boutique near Tokyo Station.  When I went past it on Saturday morning, there was already a long queue of tourists.  Here it is first come first serve basis.

I headed for the Issey Miyake store slightly further at Marunouchi.  On weekday evenings when I went, they still had stock and there was no queue.  But when I went by this store on a Saturday morning, there was a queue here too.  Well these bags in the evenings could be leftovers from the morning crowd, but who cares!  So long as I get my bag.  Each person is only entitled to buy 2 pieces per day.  If you want to buy more like me, either come back again or bring a friend with you. I suggest checking through the  Issey Miyake Store listing to decide which store is more convenient for you before starting your shopping adventure. 

Bao Bao by Issey Miyake – My loot from this trip

These Bao Bao bags cost about 40% cheaper than if I were to buy them in Singapore and they have much more variety and choices in Japan.  I find them to be great casual bags.

Another must buy for me in Japan is cosmetics from Cle de Peau.  I love their loose powder and powder foundation.  Somehow their color suits me.  And they cost again half the price of what I need to pay in Singapore.  I always stock up my supply during each trip as cosmetics have a long shelf life.

Shopping at the Airport:

We flew back from Haneda airport this trip.  Our last trip out from Narita in Dec 2014, we were able to get our favorite Potato Farm potato sticks.  But this trip, it was sold out at Haneda.  Incidentally it was the same at Osaka airport when we were there several months back.  It seems the Chinese are carting them away in cartons!  Anyway, since I couldn’t get the potato sticks, I bought some of their potato chips instead.  But I still like the sticks better.

Fortunately, another of our must buy, the Hokkaido White Lovers Chocolate was available.  Yippee!  The White Lovers Chocolate is only a fraction of the price we pay in Singapore.  Another good chocolate to buy is Royce.  I normally buy them too, but did not this trip.

One unexpected good buy at the airport this trip is the Beats headsets for our boys.  We paid around JPY30,000 for the Beats Studio which was about SGD100 cheaper than if we were to buy them in Singapore.  For that price, we can only buy the lower end Beats Solo in Singapore.

Our purchases from the airport

Flight Home:

We were flying Business, so I had made used of SQ’s Book a Cook to pre-order my meal.  I was dying to try their Chirashi Sushi.  The Japanese bento I had from my flight from Singapore to Tokyo was only so so.  But I figured for flights out of Tokyo, they must be better.  The Chirashi Sushi did not disappoint.  This is going to be my choice meal out of Tokyo from now on!

Chirashi Sushi, SQ Business Class Book-A-Cook meal

 


8/11/2017 -Update:

For a 2017 update on shopping for Bao Bao bags, pls refer to my updated post: Tokyo & Hakone, Sept 2017 – Shopping in Shinjuku. 

The post Tokyo Shopping & our Flight Home – Bao Bao & More! appeared first on Mums Travels.

Today, I have planned a whole day of Anime, Manga and J-Pop for DS and DD. This was their day.

Breakfast @ Tsukiji Sushisei, Tokyo Station

We had booked our rooms at the Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi without breakfast as there are many cheap and good breakfast options at Tokyo Station.

This morning, we planned to eat at Tsukiji Sushisei (aka Tsukiji Sushisay). There are 2 Tsukiji Sushisei outlets at Tokyo Station – one inside the toll gates and one outside. The one outside only opens at 11am. We went to the one inside the toll gates at B1 of Gransta as it opens as early as 7am and serves breakfast. We needed to take a train to Mitaka to visit Ghibli Museum that morning so it worked for us. You need train ticket to get into this area.

This is a small restaurant will limited seating places. There are about 3 tables and some counter seats. At breakfast they serve 4 choices only each ranging from ¥700-¥900.

DS and I had the Ochazuke with seabream sashimi in sesame dressing (¥700) while DH and DD had the Kaisendon (¥850). Ochazuke is a bowl of rice with toppings such as seafood or pickles that is then drenched with tea or a mix of dashi and tea. DS and I loved our Ochazuke. The sesame dressing gave this dish an extra flavour. It was delicious! DH said that the fish on his kaisendon was really fresh too and both he and DD were also very satisfied with their choice of breakfast.

Gransta @ Tokyo Station

After breakfast, as we still had some time, we browsed the shops at Gransta. There were so many interesting and appetizing bentos for those who wanted to grab and go. There was so many variety for the commuter to choose from!

Ghibli Museum

Our train ride from Tokyo Station to Mitaka cost ¥390 and took half an hour. From Mitaka station, we could take a bus or taxi to Ghibli Museum. As there were 4 of us, we decided to take a taxi. It cost ¥570 and took less than 10 mins. Bus would have cost ¥210 for one way or ¥320 for return trip per adult and child at half that price. So for 4 of us, taxi was more worth it and faster. Our return taxi fare cost a little more at ¥730.

When we arrived at the museum, there was already a queue at the entrance. The tickets have a fixed entry time and you need to enter within half an hour of your entry time. There were a few timing options, 10am, 12pm, 2pm or 4pm. We picked the 10am option. We were greeted by the iconic Totoro at the entrance of the museum.

Ghibli tickets are inexpensive at ¥1000 per adult, but it is very difficult to get as it sells out once they are released. For the various ways to get Ghibli tickets, you can refer to their website. We checked out JTB in Singapore and they could sell us the tickets if we book at leave one night accommodation in Tokyo with them or buy the Ghibli Museum tour which included visit to some other places. However, the price JTB quoted for the hotels we wanted was much higher than what I could get. We were also not interested in their tour as it would have been a waste of time visiting places we were not interested in. In the end, I decided to pay a Tokyo travel agent ¥3500 for each ticket. The extra ¥2500 per ticket was the service fee they charged. Yes it was a lot more expensive than if I were to try to camp myself in front of my computer when ticket sale opens every month to try to buy the tickets myself. But I can’t even be sure of getting those tickets I want even if I camp in front of my computer and this was a must visit place high on the priority of DS and DD. Paying someone else to do it was much simpler. The travel agent couriered the tickets to our hotel and they were there waiting for us when we checked in.

Each person was entitled to watch a short animation film in the museum. The films run at 15mins, 35mins and 55mins pass the hour, every hour from opening. Many visitors tend to go for the film when they enter the museum as the theatre is on the ground floor, so the queue for the short film was long when we first entered the museum and the guy managing the entry said that some people had to sit on the steps rather than on the proper seats. So we decided to explore the exhibits first and went back for the 10.55am screening. It worked out just right and we were able to settle down comfortably. This animation film was great! Very enjoyable. So don’t miss it if you visit the museum.

The museum itself was not big. The different rooms show you how traditional animation was made. The concept drawings of the animations made by the Studio were also on display. It was very interesting. So much works goes into producing an animation. Kudos to all the animators!

There was a huge sculpture at the roof of the museum. Not sure what it represented though. But since everyone was taking a photo of it, so I took one too!

The gift shop of the museum was very crowded when we went there at the end of our visit. I suppose it is the last stop for everyone. But do not miss it! It had lots of cute stuff from the Studio Ghibli animations and was a heaven for fans of the Ghibli animations. We spend quite a lot here. We also wanted to check out the onsite cafe. But as it was full, we gave it a miss.

Nakano Sunmall & Lunch @ Aoba

We took the train from Mitaka to Nakano which was one stop before Shinjuku. At Nakano Station we exited from the North exit and right in front of us was Nakano Sunmall. Nakano Broadway was at the end of this shopping street.

But we did not go straight to Nakano Broadway. Instead we went in search of Aoba a well known ramen shop which was just of a side street from Nakano Sunmall. Walking down Nakano Sunmall towards Nakano Broadway, we came to until a MacDonald’s, and from there, turned right into a side street. Walking down this side street and we came to Aoba.

Aoba was a small ramen restaurant with only counter seats. It was the kind of place where you eat and go and don’t linger. We placed our order and paid at a machine. The machine was all in Japanese, but it was not difficult to figure out.

We gave our coupon to the lady behind the counter and took our seats. They were very efficient and the noodles came quickly. The standard was without egg. We all went for the special that came with half a soft yolk egg. DH, DD and I had the Special Ramen. DD and I had the regular size (¥900) while DH had the large (¥1000). DS had the large size Special Tsukemen (¥1050).

The ramen was excellent. The noodles were not like the regular we normally have but were tricker and chewy. The slices of pork were so tender and the broth was oh so tasty! DS loved his tsukemen. Now that we are home, he still keeps raving about it. Tsukemen is a ramen whereby the broth is served separately from the noodles and you dip your noodles into the broth before you eat. DS said the the broth was very very good! Tsukemen broth are generally thicker than ramen broth. It was a very satisfying meal for all of us.

Nakano Broadway

After lunch we headed down Nakano Sunmall and got to Nakano Broadway. Nakano Broadway was an old shopping complex famous for its many stores selling anime and manga collectibles. You will find several Mandarake stores here, each specializing in different stuff.. This was a shopping haven for DS and DD. They said that the manga and anime items here were very extensive and cheaper than in Singapore. They spent their pocket money here.  We find in much easier to shop here than at Akihabara as everything was in one complex.

A surprise find here was collectors and branded watch shops. There were several shops here selling branded watches and all much cheaper than the regular retail price in Tokyo and definitely cheaper than in Singapore. These shops carry both used and new watches and these were clearly labeled. One well known shop here was Kamekichi. They have been established at Nakano Broadway for a long time and are well known for their good price. So while the kids checked out the anime and manga shops, DH and I checked out the watch shops! And yes, I bought a watch. It was something I had wanted for a while. I got it for 22% cheaper than the list price in Singapore! So happy! . In Singapore the max discount given is around 12% or maybe up to 15% if you know the retailer really well as the prices are controlled. So it was really a steal! But it sure burnt a big big whole in my pocket . The good thing about buying here was that that it was a tax free shop for foreigners, so you don’t have to pay then claim back the tax later like in Europe. When I showed my purchase to my friends back in Singapore, they were envious of the price I paid.

After getting my watch, I was dead broke so all shopping stopped (for the day) for me and DH and I went to the cafe on the ground floor to have a coffee and cakes while waiting for the kids.

Before we left Nakano Broadway, the kids went to the basement to get the famous 8 flavours soft serve ice cream for ¥550. You can’t come to Nakano Broadway and not try this. It was huge! The 8 flavours included coffee, chocolate, vanilla, grape, matcha, strawberry, bubble gum and banana.

For the less adventurous, you can always go for a smaller single flavoured optiono.

Tokyo Character Street

After Nakano Broadway, we went back to Tokyo Station, originally intending to rest in our hotel before heading out to dinner. Instead, we ended up at the Tokyo Character Street at Tokyo Station. You can find a Jump shop, Studio Ghibli shop, Pokémon Store, Hello Kitty Shop, NHK character shop, Rilakkuma shop among others.

In the end we didn’t go back to our hotel and headed out to Ginza for our dinner after shopping. Only DH went back to deposit some of our loot for the day.

Snacks from Tokyo Station

We bought more snacks from Tokyo station. DS’s friends from the army requested that he brings back some Tokyo Banana. It is sponge cake filled with banana cream and made into the shape of a banana. You can find it in most souvenir snack shops. But there is a Tokyo Banana Specialty Shop at Tokyo Station that had more options in terms of flavours and also packaging sizes. We bought ours here. Personally I am not a fan of Tokyo Banana as I find it a little too sweet, and also because I just don’t like banana flavoured stuff.

Another snack that we bought was the Yoku Moku cookies. Yoku Moku is famous for its cigarette cookies. They are expensive in Japan, but in Singapore they are even more expensive. So I will buy some whenever I am in Japan.

Yoku Moku’s store at Tokyo Station has another exclusive item – honey comb cookies. These cookies are exclusive to the Tokyo Station Store only. I decided to get one box to try. Didn’t get more as I was concerned that it may be too sweet for our liking. But no, it was not too sweet. Just nice. It has the taste of raw honey, but without the extra sweetness that you normally get from honey flavoured stuff. This is a hard type of cookie, different from its cigarette cookies. It is quite nice too. Something different for a change.

Teppanyaki @ Colza, Ginza

We like the teppanyaki at Colza so much that it has become a must eat every time we are in Tokyo. This, however, is the first time the kids are eating here. As usual, we went for the complete course with Japanese Wagyu, except that DD skip the abalone while DS skip the foie gras. All of us went for the 100g wagyu except DS who went for a larger 150g wagyu.

First came the 2 seasonal appetizer. (1) Marinated sea bream with grain mustard sauce and port wine flavored vinaigrette (2) Ajillo of mushroom. There were 3 types of mushroom, Porcini, shiitake and button.

Next up we had our clams, abalone and foie gras. It was fun watching the chef cook our meal in front of us. He was so skilled in the cutting and slicing and was forever keeping his work space extremely clean.

Then came a salads followed by our wagyu. We had the choice to have our wagyu done teppanyaki or grill. DH, DD and I went for teppanyaki while DS asked for half and half. DS said both were good, not distinctly different.

For our staple, we had a choice of garlic fried rice or rice ball. Rice ball comes in a clear soup. I had always had the rice ball on my previous visits here so this time I chose the garlic fried rice, and so did DD and DH. DS went for the rice ball.

Dessert was teppanyaki ice cream. Dessert is always such a show here. Liquor is poured on the ice cream which are on the hot plate. Then they switch off the lights and light a match over the ice cream. Boom! You have it!

This ended another satisfying and delicious meal at Colza. This meal definitely did not come cheap. Our total bill came up to ¥74,628 for the 4 of us. DS who normally does not take peppers actually ate his in his salad this time because he said the meal was so expensive he cannot leave a morsel behind !

Next up: Day 9 – Pokémon Cafe & Eating around Tokyo Station.

The post Autumn in Hokkaido & Tokyo 2018 – Day 8 (Ghibli Museum, Nakano Broadway & Tokyo Character Street) appeared first on Mums Travels.

My staff and colleagues know that I love Japanese food.  So they took me to some nice places for dinner when I was in Tokyo.  I had also made some dining reservations for DH and I during the weekend.

1. Yanmo – Kaiseki

On my second evening in Tokyo, a colleague brought me to Yanmo at Shin Tokyo Building in Marunouchi for dinner.  He had wanted to take me to the Omatesando outlet which he said had a better ambience, but it was full so we came here instead.  Incidentally, there is a Hermes shop in this building for those interested.   Our office is at Tokyo Station, so we can walk here.  It was about 10 mins walk from Tokyo Station.  An easy walk on a cool autumn evening.

There were so many courses that I can’t remember what I ate. But I definitely enjoyed my meal.  No foreigners here only locals. I was the odd one out. I am not new to Kaiseki, a multi course meal, but I must say the dishes here were quite unusual.

Kaiseki dinner @ Yanmo, Shin Tokyo Building, Marunouchi

2. Colza – Teppanyaki 

The next night we went to Colza, a teppanyaki restaurant in Ginza.  It was a small and cozy teppanyaki restaurant. With our set, we had the choice 120, 170 or 220gm beef. Usual is 120gm, but as I am a Japanese beef lover, we went for a the 170gm. The next choice was the rice. They had the choice of normal white rice, or rice ball in soup. We chose the rice ball in soup which was their specialty. Dessert was either cake, I think, or ice cream teppanyaki. Again we chose the speciality, ice cream teppanyaki.

The course started with some appetizer, then teppanyaki scallop and prawns, before moving on to the beef. All accompanied by some fried vegetables and salad. Ending with rice and dessert. Then you move to a separate area for your coffee.  If we had not chosen Teppanyaki ice cream, we would have our dessert together with our coffee.

Teppanyaki Dinner @ Colza, Ginza

All in all a wonderful meal. The beef was done perfectly.  We were so full! Actually the 120gm beef would have been just nice in terms of portion. Will definitely come back here again the next time I am in Tokyo. Oh, and I did not see other foreigners. Definitely a local restaurant and not the type catered to tourists.

3. Nadaman – Kaiseki

4th night, Friday night, I had made a reservation at Nadaman, the much talked about Japanese restaurant at the Shangri La Tokyo where I was staying.  We had a late dinner at 8pm as DH was just coming in from Singapore that evening to join me for the long weekend.

Nadaman is located on the 29th floor of Shangri La Tokyo which is at Tokyo Station.  It had a good view of the city. However, if you stay at the Shangrila Tokyo like us, your room would be on a higher floor and could have better view of the city and you don’t have to come here for the view.

We had the set dinner which was the usual Japanese Kaseiki dinner. There was sashimi, beef, tempura etc. I especially enjoyed the foie gras chawamushi. Food was good and so was the service.  But there was definitely a difference between the Kaiseki at Yanmo and Nadaman.  I would say Nadaman was more the usual sashimi, beef, chawamushi, tempura.  Very familiar even to foreigners.  But Yanmo’s dishes was cooked differently, not the usual that you can find outside Japan, much more variety than the usual Japanese food that we are familiar with.  Nonetheless, the food at Nadaman was very good and we enjoyed our dinner.

Kaiseki dinner @ Nadaman, Shangri La Tokyo

4. Musashi, Sky Restaurant 634 – Fusion

We were in Tokyo in Dec 2014  and wanted to go up to Tokyo Skytree. But the queue was horrendous then, so we skipped it. So this trip, we prebooked a lunch at Musashi, the restaurant at the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree, in order to skip the line. Reservation was easy and could be done via the Internet in English.

Upon arrival we were shown the way up to the observation deck. You are asked to arrive an hour before your meal time so that you have time to wonder around the observation deck before your meal.

The meal was fusion, western main with Japanese style appetitser. I thought it was silly that they insisted that everyone at the table select the same priced set meal. They did not allow my husband to pick the expensive set with one more course awhile I took the cheaper and smaller set.

All in all a pleasant visit and skipping the queue to go to the observation deck was great. But food was just average.

Fusion lunch @ Musashi, Sky Restaurant 634, Tokyo Skytree

5. Ukai Tei Ginza

Another dinner reservation DH and I made for the trip was a teppanyaki dinner at the one-Michelin starred restaurant in Ginza, Ukai Tei.  Food was great and service was excellent.

There were 3 sets ( ¥17200++, ¥19440++ or ¥24840++ per pax.) and we chose the middle priced one. Our set had live abalone, beef, sashimi, etc.  Food were well presented and tasted great.  They separate the fatty part of the beef out and I thought the chef was going to throw that away.  However, he let it stay on the hot plate a while longer than the meat and later served it to us.  So sinful but so good!  Service was attentive too.

Dessert was served at a separate area away from the grill. There was also a choice of several dessert, I chose the chestnut cake which was excellent.

I can understand why this is a Michelin star restaurant.

Teppanyaki Dinner @ one-Michelin Star, Ukai Tei Ginza

6. Piacere

Piacere is the Italian Fine Dining Restaurant at the Shangri La Tokyo.  We did not have dinner there but I had a few breakfast there.  This is really as “fine dining” as breakfast can be.  You choose a main course which could be pancakes or eggs.  I love the eggs here.  They have poached eggs served with lobster, bacon or ham or muffin on French toast etc.  I tried the different styles on each of the 3 mornings that I had breakfast there.  All were lovely.  There was a small buffet with some Japanese offerings and some international choices or cold cuts, fruits, pastries, etc.  I enjoyed my breakfasts here.  Much better than the usual hotel buffet breakfast but it comes with a price averaging ¥6000 to ¥7000 depending on the main course you choose!

Poached egg with lobster and miuffin @ Piacere…yummy!

Next  : Kawaguchiko (Mt Fuji) (I)

The post Fine Dining in Tokyo appeared first on Mums Travels.