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!

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Our hotel booking came with complimentary breakfast. Although the selection was not extensive, it was of good quality. There were lots of fresh sashimi and we loved the fact that we can make our own kaisendon with the fresh salmon, ika, ikura and sweet prawns. I also made my own seafood bun. They even served champagne at breakfast! I suppose this also reflects the European influence as Hakodate was one of the first ports in Japan that opened to foreign trade some 150 years ago. For a complimentary breakfast this was excellent!

Goryokaku Tower

After breakfast, we drove to Goryokaku tower. It was a 15 mins drive. Parking was free for 2 hours. Entrance fee to the tower cost ¥900 for adults, ¥680 for juniors aged 12-17 and ¥450 for child aged 6-11.

Goryokaku Tower is a 107m tall tower with an indoor observatory deck at the top which accords visitors a great view of the the star-shaped Goryokaku fort below.

Goryokaku Fort was Japan’s first western-style pentagram castle fort built such because it was supposed to have the least blind spots and so enabled better castle defense. The beautiful fort could be seen clearly from the tower and presented a different colour each season – pink in spring, green in summer, red in autumn and white in winter. We got the green colour as Hakodate is the southern most city in Hokkaido and so vegetation is still green, although some trees have started changing colour.

Incidentally, we had soft serve melon ice cream from the souvenir shop at Goryokaku. I had the melon and vanilla swirl and it was yummy! Photo below was taken after I had already eaten the top of the ice cream

Motomachi

After Goryokaku Fort, we drove back to La Jolie to park our car and took a walk to Motomachi.

When Hakodate opened its port to foreign trades, Motomachi was the first area to flourish back then, thus it had acquired a Western-influenced streetscape.

The area has many western style buildings and used to house many foreign consulate buildings and churches. Below is a photo of the Old Public Hall which we took the night before. We felt it looked better at night than in the day.

As Motomachi is situated at the foot of Mt Hakodate, it has sloping streets offering views of the port.

We came across a shop with the sign “The Second Most Delicious Ice Cream Melon Bread in the World”. DS could not resist getting one to try after seeing the sign. His logic is that no one calls itself second best. It you are so honest, it must be really good….haha. He bought one with DD taking make tasting bites. And their conclusion? They really liked it a lot. The bun is similar to the “bolo” bun that we have in Singapore and HK. Btw, we tried to look out for the store with the most delicious ice cream melon bread but if there was one, we did not find it…..haha !

Lunch @ Hakodate Morning Market

We walked back to our hotel just before lunch to check out as we were flying to Tokyo that evening. We had enquired if we could leave our car in their car park after check out, but because of limited parking space they had, we could only park until 1pm. So we just drove to Hakodate morning market instead of walking as originally planned. Parking at the market cost ¥250 per hour.

We strolled through the market deciding what to eat. The market is opened from 5 or 6am in the morning and closes around lunch time. We were not looking to buy seafood at the market but were looking for good donburi.

We ended up at Uni Murakami’s original Hakodate Store. We loved their uni from our dinner in Sapporo and wanted to have it again.

The menu here was mainly just rice bowls. Among us we ordered a uni rice bowl, uni & ikura rice bowl, hotate and uni rice bowl and hotate, ika and uni rice bowl. DD and I had the small size while DS and DH went for large. We ordered an extra uni tempura to share. The uni was placed on a shiso leaf and deep fried. It was very nice. As usual the uni here was especially sweet. This meal cost us ¥12,796.

This was not all we were going to have. We have read so much about the dancing squid in Hakodate and wanted to check it out. As we strolled along the Market, we came across a stall selling sliced Yubari melon and bought 2 slices to share. As it was near closing time and we did not bargain (we didn’t realize we could) the store owner gave as an extra 3rd slice. The melon was so sweet! Yum yum!

We finally came to Tabiji which is well known for serving the dancing squid. Live squid is killed and prepared for sashimi. But due to chemical reaction when soy sauce is poured on the squid, it starts moving even though it is dead, thus it’s called Dancing Squid. You can see many videos on the internet on this. There is no cruelty here as the squid is dead and it is just a chemical reaction. So it is no different from eating other forms of sashimi. Once the “dancing movement stops” the chef takes back the squid to slice it up (bottom right corner of photo below). The dancing squid is interesting to watch but not nice to eat. It is in fact hard and tough. As we already had our rice bowls earlier, we only ordered the Dancing Squid as sashimi without rice (¥1600). We also ordered a serving of uni (¥1600) and sweet prawns sashimi (¥1100) for the 2 kids.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

Full and satisfied, we left Hakodate Morning Market and drove to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse. Parking at Kanemori was ¥400 per hour but you get 2 hours of free parking if you spend at least ¥1000 at any of its shops.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a row of redeveloped warehouses along the waterfront of the Bay Area. They dated back to the haydays of Hakodate when it was a busy trading port during the Edo Period. Today it is a dining and entertainment complex. The iconic warehouses appear in many a photographs featuring Hakodate.

We browsed the many souvenir shops and in no time spent more then enough to claim for our 2 hours of free parking. The kids had ice cream again. This time it was a scoop of gelato each from Milkissimo.

In between our shopping, we sat down for coffee at the coffee joint next to the Snaffles counter and bought some Snaffles Catchcakes to go with our coffee. We liked it so much that we bought more to bring to Tokyo for our breakfast the next morning as we were going to Tokyo Disneyland and wanted to make an early start.

Snaffles is a well known pastry shop originating from Hakodate. Its Catchcakes are actually very light and fluffy cheesecakes. They have many flavours and need to be kept refrigerated. We bought 3 boxes to bring to Tokyo and were given a free cooler bag with cooler packs which could keep the cheesecake for about 4 hours.

After our tea break, we explored further the other warehouses and came across another cheesecake shop Petite Merveille. The cheesecake here is also very light and has a slight similarity to Le Tao. The advantage of this shop is that it is a proper cafe. If we had come across this earlier, we would have had our tea break here instead. The shop is also all decorated for Halloween. So my suggestion if you are here is to have a nice tea break at Petite Merveille, then buy the Snaffle’s Catchcakes as takeaway. This way, you get the best of both worlds.

From Hakodate to Tokyo

We left Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse around around 4.45pm. The drive to Hakodate airport was about 20mins. We needed to top up our petrol before we returned our car. Nippon Car Rental office was just across the road from Hakodate Airport. The car return was simple and hassle free. After we returned our car, we took the shuttle bus to the airport.

After check in, DH and the 2 kids had a simple early dinner of ramen. While I bought a simple tonkatsu sandwich which I planned to eat on the flight. Our flight was around 7.20pm.

We touched down in Tokyo Haneda Airport around 9pm. Collected our bags and took a taxi to our hotel. It was a bit late for the airport bus as it was nearly 10pm already. The taxi was not too expensive. It cost about ¥6200 to Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi at Tokyo Station. The boot of the regular taxi was quite big and could fit our 2 big bags and 2 cabin bags. Our other luggage and our Studio Ghibli tickets were already waiting for us at the hotel when we checked in. I will write my review of the Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi at the end of this trip report on Day 10.

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Another sumptuous breakfast this morning at Hanayura. Breakfast was served in the dining room. Besides a full Japanese set breakfast, there was also a buffet of Japanese and International fare. There was no difference in the set meal served for the child or adult.

Lake Toya & Usuzan Ropeway

Our first stop today was Lake Toya. Instead of going to the lake itself, we decided to take the Usuzan Ropeway to the top of Mount Usu to get a bird’s eye view of the lake. Parking fee here is ¥500.

The base of the ropeway was at the foot of Showa Shinzan. Showa Shinzan is one of Japan’s youngest mountains. It was created between 1943 and 1945 following some earthquakes. The mountain was named “Showa New Mountain” as it was formed during the reign of Emperor Showa.

The cost of the return ropeway ride was ¥1600 for adult and ¥800 for child. The view of Showa Shinzan and Lake Toya was fantastic on the ropeway. The vegetation on the mountain was already changing colors.

Mount Usu is a volcano which has erupted four times in the past 100 years. Its most recent eruption occurred in the year 2000.

The Usuzan Ropeway brought us close to the volcano’s summit. The view of Lake Toya and Showa Shinzan from the observation deck was breathtaking.

Lake Toya is a volcanic caldera lake which is nearly circular.

Leaving this first observation deck, we made our way to the second observation deck which was a short walk away via a series of steps. From the second observation deck we got views of the ocean and Mount Usu’s largest crater, which was formed in an eruption in 1977.

Lunch @ Lucky Pierrot

Lucky Pierrot is a chain of local fast food restaurant in Hakodate. I have come across it in the internet and it is always highly recommended so I thought we should try. When I first suggested it to the family, they thought I was crazy to want to eat burgers in Japan. But I managed to convince them in the end.

There is a Lucky Pierrot outlet near our next destination, Onuma Park, so we decided to have lunch there. The deco of Lucky Pierrot is eclectic. Its mascot is a clown and every outlet has a different theme. This outlet that we went near Onuma Park has a Botero theme which depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated volume for humor.

The most popular burger here is the Chinese Chicken burger (¥350 for burger only & ¥650 for set) which has been voted as Japan’s “Best Local Burger” in  a Nikkei survey. DS, DD and I decided to have it. DH opted for the same Chinese chicken but with omurice (¥760). We had 2 sets which came with fries and ice oolong tea. The Chinese chicken burger was so good. No wonder it has been voted as best local burger in Japan. . We loved it! DH said that his omurice was good too. The chicken he had was the same was the one in our burger.

We couldn’t resist an ice cream (¥250). So DS, DD and I got a soft serve each. We had a very satisfying meal. One of the best fast food meals we have had. Different from the usual.

Onuma Quasi-National Park

After lunch we went to Onuma Quasi-National Park. This picturesque park, just outside the city of Hakodate, is dotted with lakes and has been stated as a must visit park in autumn for the fall foliage. Onuma Park has also been chosen as one of the three new famous spots in Japan. We were a little early in the season but still decided to check it out.

There are several walking trails within the park and we chose the longest which is about an hour long. It took us across various small bridges to the small islands dotted among the lakes. It was a very beautiful and pleasant walk. And although not peak autumn foliage had nice yellow and red colours nonetheless.

Mount Hakodate

After we left Onuma Park, we drove into Hakodate city and checked into our hotel, La Jolie Motomachi. I booked it due to its good review and proximity to the Hakodate Ropeway which is within walking distance. Unfortunately, I found out subsequently that the ropeway was closed during this low visitor season for maintenance. Oh well, so much for all the plans. During this maintenance period, Mt Hakodate is only assessable by car or bus. However during the peak period in the evening, only public transport like taxis and buses are allowed up. Private vehicles are only allowed during the day or after 9pm or so. The bus to Mt Hakodate starts from the Hakodate station which is a few stops away from La Jolie. We read on the internet that these buses could be crowded by the time it gets to our stop. When we enquired with our hotel, they advised that they could help us get a fixed price taxi for ¥5460. The taxi will take us there, give us half an hour or so at the summit and bring us back. We decided to go for this option.

The taxi came by around 4.45pm to pick us. As it was still a little while before sunset, the driver took us on a drive around the Motomachi area before going up to Mt Hakodate.

When we arrived at the summit, the viewing platform was already packed with visitors trying hard to snap a picture of night view. Our driver brought us instead to both sides of the ropeway station, away from the viewing platform away from the rest of the visitors.

When we first saw the night scene below us, it was a WOW moment. The view was so dramatic! We had an uninterrupted and quiet view of the city and Bay Area. There was hardly anyone around us. DH could even set up his tripod for a proper photo (the photo below was taken by my point and shoot). The view was truly spectacular. This must be the best night scene I have seen so far. This night view from Mt Hakodate is ranked as one of the top 3 night views in Japan. A definite must see!

We were so glad we decided to come by taxi. Without the help of our taxi driver, we would have had to jostle with the crowd for a photo and the whole experience would have been different. Definitely worth the ¥5460 spent.

Our driver even took fantastic photos for our family. He used his touch to shine on us and took our photos without using flash. The photos turned out very nice. Our faces were clear and the background was not affected. Try that yourself next time when taking a photo a night.

Dinner @ Tenya

Our taxi driver gave us a choice of going back to the hotel or to be dropped off anywhere else. DH wanted check out Motomachi after dark and so asked to be dropped near the basilica. Unfortunately the street was not light up so there was really nothing much to see. On hindsight, we should have asked to be dropped off at our dinner place. Instead we took a stroll to Tenya near our hotel for dinner.

Tenya is a simple tempura restaurant. Nothing fancy. It was empty when we arrived around 7pm, but slowly patrons came in after us. They had mainly counter sittings and only 2 tables of low Japanese style. We sat at the table.

The menu was in Japanese only but we somewhat managed to figure out what to order. DS and I went for the mixed (shrimps, fish and vegetable) tendon (¥1200) while DH and DD went for the mixed tempura set which had the same shrimp, fish and vegetables tempura and was the same price too. The difference between tendon and tempura is that tendon has the tempura on the rice and has a sweet sauce over it, but tempura set is serve with the tempura separate from the rice and you use a dipping sauce for the tempura. We also ordered an extra serving of vegetable tempura and tempura squid. Squid is a speciality at Hakodate. It is fresh and not overly chewy.

This was our cheapest dinner on this trip. It was simple tempura but still very good compared to what we get in Singapore. Very reasonably priced too. DS says that he liked it very much.

Staying @ La Jolie Motomachi by WBF

La Jolie Motomachi is a boutique hotel near the Hakodate Ropeway. The hotel has a European deco. The lobby was warm and welcoming with bookshelves and grand piano.

In the evening from 5pm to 9pm daily, it’s happy hours in this lobby lounge and there are free drinks, champagne and wine available. We actually dropped by for a drink when we returned from dinner.

We had booked 2 rooms here. The rooms were spacious and welcoming. The bathrooms had bathtubs too. But if you free something bigger, there is always the family bath (see below) Upon check in we had a choice of toiletries of either Lauren Ashley for the rose fragrance or Loccitance for the citrus fragrance. Each person gets a miniature set and we picked 2 of each.

La Jolie has a private family bath which you can book for your private use for 45mins. We booked ours at 8.30pm, planning to use if after we get back from dinner. It is a nice mini version of regular public bath. Can comfortably accommodate a family of 4. We split the use of the bath between DH and DS and DD and I. It was a relaxing conclusion after the long day.

Although I had read raving reviews on TripAdvisor on this hotel, I was still pleasantly surprised by the room quality and amenities provided. For the price we paid, it was excellent value for excellent quality product. Wait till you see my breakfast review the next day!

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We had an early start this morning as we expected this to be a long day. We ate the donuts and cheesecake we bought from Dr Donut and Le Tao the day before for breakfast. We checked out of our hotel and set off at around 8am in the morning.

Sandantaki Park

The drive to Farm Tomita in Furano was about 2 hours. We took a slightly longer route going up north towards Asahikawa and exit at Iwashima and drive thru the mountains. The mountain drive was beautiful as the higher altitude here meant that the autumn foliage here was at its peak. The advantage of taking this route was that we could make a photo stop at Sandantaki Park. Sandan taki (waterfall), is viewable from the park which was just off the road in the Ashibetsu area. The park was absolutely beautiful in its peak autumn colours! So glad we came by this way.

Farm Tomita, Furano

We visited Farm Tomita on our last trip to Hokkaido about 10 years ago. It was in May and flowers were beautiful although not in full bloom yet as summer comes late in Hokkaido. I was not sure what to expect of this visit as it is already autumn. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at Farm Tomita to find that the flowers in the farm were still in bloom.

Farm Tomita in October was even more beautiful than what I remembered in May. Another advantage of this Oct visit was that it was less busy, thus we could take photos without loads of people in the background. so glad that we came again!

There were no lavender in the farm at this time of the year (you need to come in July to see lavender), but they were still selling lavender ice-cream (¥300 for a cone and ¥250 for a cup). The kids had to have it and said that it was good. I found the taste strange .

Lunch @ Farm Restaurant Chiyoda, Biei

We headed to Farm Restaurant Chiyoda for an early lunch after our Farm Tomita visit. The restaurant was about 30 mins drive from Farm Tomita and we arrived around 11.30am. We were all hungry given that we had very simple breakfast that morning.

We picked this restaurant because it serves Biei wagyu which is suppose to be very good and we wanted to try. We are a family of Wagyu fans. The restaurant serves a special cut wagyu that has limited servings each day. Another reason for coming early was so we get to have this special cut of wagyu. They don’t take reservations so coming early also meant it was easier to get a table.

The special wagyu cut was excellent. It was so unassuming when it was served. You should have seen how DS’s face lit up in surprise at the first bite of his steak. “Oh my God!”, he exclaimed! The steak was so juicy and tender. Juice just oozes out of the steak (maybe I should say fats! ). It literally melts in your mouth! It cost ¥5,180 with either rice or bread. We chose bread and it was so good too……so very soft. So good with butter! . DD had the wagyu stew with bread (¥1,980). It was very tender too. I tasted her stew and it was the most tender beef stew I have ever had. We also ordered a seasonal salad (¥480) which came with a carrot sauce which I liked too.

DS rated this meal as the best meal of the trip because of the special cut wagyu steak. I agree with him. Difficult to find another wagyu steak better than this at this price. It was not a cheap steak, but was cheap for a wagyu steak of that quality.

There was a Farm next to the restaurant so if you have young kids it should be interesting to visit too. Unfortunately my kids were pass the farm animal age so we gave that a miss.

Shikisai-no-Oka, Biei

Shikisai-no-Oka was a flower garden on a hill carpeted with flowers. This feast for the eye features tulips, lupine, lavender, salvia, sunflowers, dahlia and Japanese anemone. The beauty of this flower garden lies in the vast amount of flowers in neat strips across the hill. From afar, it looked like a colourful carpet. Very impressive. Entry to this flower garden is free but they do suggest a ¥200 donation per person for upkeep of the flowers.

One can choose to walk along the pathways or take a tractor trolley ride (¥500 per person) around the hills. Lazy us chose the tractor trolley ride .

This is a must visit farm when in Furano-Biei region. You can see flower farms in many places, but probably not to the extend in terms size and expanse as Shikisai-no-Oka. DH says that this is his favourite flower farm of the 3 we visited that day.

Kanno Farm, Furano

This was the smallest of the 3 flower farms that we visited that day. It was another of the farms that have blooms all the way to October.

It even had flowers grown into a heart shape. Very sweet.

It is a nice stop if you are along the way like us. But as it is very small, it is not likely to be a destination on its own like Farm Tomita or Shikisai-no-Oka.

Melon Ice Cream @ Popura Farm

We made a detour back to Popura Farm which is nearer Farm Tomita after we left Kanno Farm. We cannot forget the wonderful melon iced cream we had there 10 years ago, and had to go back for it that afternoon.

You have a choice of a quarter or half melon, vanilla or melon ice cream. We decided to give ourselves a treat and ordered half a melon each and all with melon ice cream. It was as good as we remembered. The Yubari melon was so sweet and the melon ice cream so very refreshing. It made a good mid afternoon snack. It cost ¥1500 for half a melon with ice cream and ¥800 for a quarter melon with ice cream.

Blue Pond, Biei

After our ice cream, we headed northwards again towards the Blue Pond. We had intentionally timed the visit of Blue Bond in the later afternoon as we wanted to catch the soft evening light, just before sunset. We were not disappointed. The sight that welcomed us was amazing!

Blue Pond is a man-made pond feature which resulted from works on the Biei River carried out after the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi, to protect the town of Biei from volcanic mudflows. The blue colour is thought to result from the presence of aluminum in the water. Sulphur and lime brought down by the nearby waterfall also caused bleaching and whitening of the rocks at the base of the pond, thus accentuating the blue colour of the pond.

Another aspect that add to the beauty of this pond must be the withered tree branches rising from the pond. The once-living Japanese larch and silver birch trees in the area became submerged when the pond was created. In combination with the mysterious blue, the dead trees are now a part of the scenery that is so beautiful but some what sad in some aspects.

Stay @ Mori-no-Ryotei, Biei

Most of the accommodations in Biei are Pensions (western style homestay). We wanted a proper ryokan and it seems the best option was Mori-no-Ryotei, so we went for it. But it was on the pricy side especially since we wanted in-room private onsen. The private onsen rooms in Mori-no-Ryotei can accommodate max 3 pax only. So we booked 2 rooms with private onsen.

Upon arrival we were served cookie and tea at the lobby. The lounge area was cosy and decorated with little wood carved artifacts. In fact we found out later that these wooden knick knacks that can be found all over the ryokan are for sale as well.

Mori-no-Ryotei is probably the best accommodation that you can get in Biei. Many well known Japanese personalities from anime artist to baseball players have stayed here and have left their autograph.

Our was a typical ryokan room with a sleeping area and a sitting area. Simple and minimalist. The only difference was that it has proper mattresses rather than uses futon. That was why it was described as a western style Japanese room. I suppose it just makes it easier for the chamber maids who then don’t have to lay out and keep the futons daily. If there are 3 to the room, the third bed will be a futon. The mini fridge was filled with 2 cans of calpis drinks and 2 grape jelly which was free. The yukatas were in the cupboards as expected too.

Our room came with private outdoor onsen. The bath and dressing area was a mini version of what you will find in large onsen. I couldn’t wait to use it. DD and I used the private onsen only while DH and DS also used the public onsen during our stay. The advantage of a private onsen was that one can go for a quick soak in the morning before breakfast without the hassle of leaving the room! Onsen are very addictive and are a must for us whenever we visit Japan these days.

Dinner that night was served in the dining room. We had a sumptuous 10 course dinner consisting of:

1. Salmon roe, small fish, salmon sushi, sweet rice, seaweed
2. Tofu baked with sea urchin
3. Clear scallop soup
4. Assorted aashimi consisting of tuna, red snapper, flounder
5. Steam pork with taro
6. Snow crab with fried potato in vinegrette
7. Shabu Shabu of Biei wagyu dip in sesame sauce
8. Assorted tempura which came with an unusual item – rice tempura! It was like pop corn.
9. Rice with black soy bean with miso soup and pickles
10. Dessert was pudding

It was a wonderful dinner. Very satisfying!

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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.

This is the last post of our Siem Reap trip. Our lunches were mainly simple fare arranged by Beyond Unique Escape at a eating place near the sites, or tingkat which Lin has brought along for us. After the tiring days exploring the temples, DH and I decided that we wanted to treat ourselves to nice relaxing dinners. So besides the first night when we ate at Grill Steak Cake at our hotel Memoire d’Angkor, the rest of our 3 nights we went to 3 other different restaurants in Siem Reap.

Cafe Indochine

After our very long tiring day at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, we decided to eat somewhere nearby. Cafe Indochine was just a short walk from our hotel and the exterior of the restaurant looks nice. So we decided to check it out.

We order the set menu for 2 which included a Pomelo Salad, a lobster soup, stir fried chicken with Kampot Black Pepper, Traditional Amok Fish, and all these served with white rice. Dessert was mango ice cream with an apple liqueur.

The set meal was at USD17 per person and together with our drinks of a coke and a local draft beer, our total bill came to USD42. I did not really like the food. The dishes were too salty too.

Pou Restaurant

After our dismay experience at Cafe Indochine, we asked Alan if he had any place to recommend for a good dinner and he recommend a small restaurant called Pou Restaurant. Alan says that the chef and owner at Pou has won cooking competitions and had gone around several cities within South East Asia to experience the food and has incorporated these flavourful into his dishes. So we decided to check it out. It was a little further from our hotel so we took a Tuk Tuk.

Pou is a small restaurant. There is no air conditioning what they had fan to cool the place. We started our meal with some drinks. As usual, DH had a beer while I decided on an Ice Lime Soda. The soda was very refreshing and was just what I needed to this hot evening.

We had the garlic and chili beef for our appetizer. It was grilled beef marinated with crushed garlic and chili and served with green mango salad. We loved it!

For my main course, I decided on the special for the day, the Grilled Chicken served with curry and sweet potato. This was so good too. The curry was served at the side for dipping. So not your usual curry chicken.

DH went for the Pork Belly Noodle. It was a similar to our noodles that we have in Singapore. He said it was nice but nothing special. Unlike my chicken

I couldn’t decide what to have for dessert, and Chef Mengly recommenced that I try the Ginger pudding. It was ginger with sago (tapioca pearl balls) in milk, cream & palm sugar. It was very nice. I loved it. First time I have eaten such dessert with ginger. It is usual with in South East Asia to have sago dessert in cream and palm sugar, but never have I had it with ginger tooZ

It was definitely a wonderful meal. So much enjoyed after our dismay experience at Cafe Indochine the night before. Our bill came up to only USD24.25. And that is after DH added a glass of red wine. This was really value for money and such an enjoyable meal with interesting flavors. High recommended. A must try when in Siew Reap!

Chef Mengly was so kind as to pose for a photo for me too!

Damnak Lounge

On our last night in Siew Reap, we decided to treat ourselves to fine dining. We had our hotel help us make a reservation at Damnak Lounge, at the Lotus Blanc Resort. The restaurant actually provides complimentary pick up for us at our hotel. Well, it is all in the price we are going to pay for dinner, I suppose .

We decided to go for the degustation menu. DH took the one with wine pairing (USD45), while I went within wine (USD35).

As with all fine dining, we were served with a small complimentary starter, Amuse Bouche.

First course was Beef Carpaccio, served with a light salad, lemon oil, shaved Parmesan and capers.

Next came the soup. It was an asparagus soup with crab meat ravioli, vegetables and herbs.

For our main course, we had a choice of sea bass or beef. DH and I both went for the beef medallions served with a zucchini lasagna, garlic roasted potatoes and topped with a pot wine sauce. The beef was done nicely medium rare and very tender.

And finally dessert. It was tiramisu served with a fruit salad. So sinful but so good!

Service throughout the evening was excellent. The waiter was fun and attentive. At the end of our meal, Damnak Longe arranged for us a complimentary Tuk Tuk ride back to our hotel too.

It was definitely the most expensive meal we had in Siem Reap, but we would not have been able to have such a dinner at this price back home. It was the last night of our vacation and so worth the splurge.

That’s the end of my sharing of our Siew Reap trip. Sorry again for the long lapse between the first post and the rest. Stay tuned for our next trip report tomorrow on our autumn trip to Hokkaido and Tokyo! Yes, we are back to Japan again!

The post Siem Reap Photographic Journey VIII – Eating in Siem Reap appeared first on Mums Travels.

The Ambiance at PS Cafe
Stepping through the doors of the elegant Palais Renaissance building, you’re immediately transported to a charming oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cafe’s dining room features soaring ceilings, intricate latticed wood trellises, lush hanging greenery and a soothing neutral color palette. It’s the perfect bright and airy setting to begin the year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The vibe at PS Cafe on New Year’s Day was lively yet laidback, filled with groups of friends and families leisurely enjoying their brunch spreads together. An energetic soundtrack of upbeat pop tunes played as efficient servers glided between tables keeping drinks topped up and dishes arriving promptly.

Beautiful Brunch Fare
While PS Cafe’s all-day brunch menu features both sweet and savory fare, I decided to go with one of their signature dishes – the Black Truffle Scrambled Eggs (S$28). A visually stunning plate arrived piled high with creamy, truffle-infused scrambled eggs, a sunny side-up organic egg, slices of sourdough toast, sauteed mushrooms, and balsamic-dressed arugula.

The rich, earthy flavors of the black truffle complemented the velvety egg so well, while the peppery arugula added a fresh, palate-cleansing element. I savored every decadent bite alongside sips of a refreshing Elderflower Spritz mocktail (S$10) – a bubbly, slightly tart blend of elderflower, mint and lime that awoke my senses.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with one of PS Cafe’s signature tantalizing tarts or gateaux. The Lemon Meringue Tart (S$11) featured a thick, punchy lemon custard cradled in a buttery tart shell, adorned with pillowy soft meringue peaks. It struck the perfect balance between sweet and tart in each delightful bite.

If you’re truly craving an indulgent way to start the year, the Chocolate Overload Cake (S$15 per slice) takes the cake. A magnificent slab of moist chocolate cake dripping with rich chocolate ganache, crunchy pearls and feuillantine flakes is a chocolate lover’s dream come true.

Iconic Merlion Spotting
With my appetite for brunch satisfied, I decided to walk off some of those indulgent bites with a 10-minute stroll through the lush surroundings of the Merlion Park located right along the Singapore River. This park’s centerpiece is the iconic 8.6-meter tall Merlion statue – a mythical creature with a lion’s head and fish body that has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Singapore.

While entrance to the park and up-close views of the Merlion are free, I decided to purchase the SGD $8 admission to climb up to the observation deck inside the beast’s open mouth. From this unique vantage point, I was treated to unbeatable panoramic views of the glistening Marina Bay scenery, including the famous Marina Bay Sands resort, Singapore Flyer, and Esplanade theaters.

Talk about a scenic start to the new year! As the Merlion’s mouth periodically spouts water out into the bay to the “oohs and ahhs” of tourists, it’s easy to appreciate the incredible craftsmanship and iconic status this statue holds. I made sure to snap some quintessential Merlion selfies to commemorate the experience before heading back down.

The Merlion Park also offers splendid views of the famous Singapore skyline, as well as great people watching opportunities as myriad visitors stop along the riverfront to admire the sights and snap their own photos. It was a perfect way to walk off my indulgent brunch while taking in some top attractions.

More to Explore
After working up an appetite again from that scenic waterfront stroll, I headed back in the direction of PS Cafe, which is conveniently located right along the start of the popular Orchard Road shopping boulevard.

If you find yourself in that neighborhood with more time to spare, Orchard Road’s 2.2 kilometers of road are an attraction in itself, lined with high-end malls, restaurants, hotels and fantastic examples of heritage architecture like the colonial-era Houses of Tan Yeok Nee. Shopping fanatics could easily spend an entire day exploring all the retail options here.

Just across the road from PS Cafe is also Palais Renaissance, a historic Renaissance-style palace that once housed Singapore’s principal royal family. It’s currently the site of The Cathay cineplex as well as several restaurants and bars – perfect for either catching a new film release or evening drink after your brunch.

Whether you’re a local or visitor to Singapore, ringing in the new year with a delicious brunch at the beautiful PS Cafe followed by sightseeing at the iconic Merlion Park is a sublime way to start the year. You’ll get delectable food, relaxing ambiance, and picture-perfect views all in one leisurely Singapore morning. Here’s to making more memorable experiences like this in the year ahead! I hope you like reading this New Year Day’s Lunch @ PS Cafe & Brief Visit to Merlion Park post.

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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.

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What is a Tomahawk Steak?

The tomahawk steak gets its distinct name from the unique shape – a classic ribeye cut with the entire rib bone dramatically left in, resembling a Native American tomahawk axe. At around 2-3 inches thick and weighing in at a belly-busting 1.2-1.6kg depending on size, this impressive cut is definitely not for the faint of heart (or small appetites!).

Leaving the protruding rib bone on not only makes for an Instagram-worthy prehistoric presentation, but it also enhances flavor by allowing the meat surrounding the bone to absorb even more of those rich, beefy essences during the dry-aging process. The marbling from the ribeye cut also ensures you’re getting meltingly tender, full-flavored bites from every angle.

Bedrock’s Blackmore Wagyu Tomahawk
At Bedrock, they take the tomahawk steak concept to lofty new heights by using only the most premium Australian Blackmore Wagyu beef graded between marbling scores of 6-9. For context, that puts it in the same elite stratosphere as genuine Kobe/Ozaki beef from Japan in terms of supreme marbling and buttery texture.

The massive wagyu tomahawk (S$198++ for the 1kg size) is inevitably the star of Bedrock’s menu. First, it undergoes a specialized 28-day dry-aging process during which it’s meticulously dried, tenderized and develops a sublime nutty, funky aroma courtesy of good ole’ fashioned mold growth. This ages the beefy flavor to intense new heights.

Once prepared for service, the prehistoric-looking tomahawk is carefully heated using a special charcoal oven to bring out those coveted charred, smoky notes. The final experience combines a punchy charred crust giving way to stunningly marbled, rich, and tender wagyu inside that is utterly sublime.

Your server portions out the tomahawk and presents it to you on a dramatic wooden platter, with the enormous prehistoric rib bone handle still attached. It’s an immersive, multi-sensory dining experience unlike any other “steak” you’ve had. Definitely not for the faint of appetite!

Sides to Share
While the wagyu tomahawk is undeniably the showstopper at Bedrock, it’s well worth complementing your caveman feast with some shareworthy sides as well. You’ll likely need a few friends or family members to help you conquer the massive tomahawk together!

Start with some signature starters like the sizzling loaded bacon and cheddar tots or the jumbo smoked chicken & avocado wedge salad to kick things off. Then round out your mains with some quintessential steakhouse sides like rosemary garlic fries, baked truffle mac & cheese, roasted balsamic Brussels sprouts, or creamy jalapeño cheddar grits. The truffle parmesan mushroom medley is another standout flavor bomb to complete your primal feast.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the famous Mason jar red velvet bread pudding with cream cheese frosting. It’s meant to be shared…if you have any room left after conquering that massive tomahawk!

Drinks, Vibes, and More
Bedrock Bar & Grill fully leans into its rock’n’roll, badass biker aesthetic through its dark wood and industrial chic decor, blaring classic rock soundtrack, and edgy neon signage. It feels like the kind of place Metallica might hang out for an epic, beer-fueled steak feast.

The bar lives up to its name too, with an impressive list of whiskeys, bourbons and creative craft cocktails designed to knock you back a few pegs while you let that tomahawk digest. The signature Smoke on the Blvd cocktail with smoked Laphroaig, maple, and bacon is the perfect dangerously boozy sipper to complement that rich, primal wagyu experience. Be sure to order up some craft brews or wines to wash it all down too.

If you’re looking for a bit of entertainment along with your over-the-top Flintstone-sized feast, Bedrock hosts live music and DJ sets most nights to keep the party atmosphere going into the late hours.

Whether you go with a group of fellow carnivorous friends or just want to see if you can slay the mighty tomahawk yourself, Bedrock and its 1kg+ wagyu tomahawk are a must for any meat lovers visiting Singapore. Just come with a primal appetite, a dull blade to tackle that massive bone-in beef slab, and a rocker’s spirit to match the intense vibes! I hope you like reading this Eating in Singapore – Wagyu Tomahawk @ Bedrock Bar & Grill post.

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Location and Arrival
Ideally situated along the prestigious Jalan Imam Bonjol in Jakarta’s main commercial hub, the Kempinski hotel soars 60 floors above the bustling streets below. Its central location provides incredibly easy access to many of Jakarta’s top attractions, shops, restaurants and businesses.

From the moment I arrived in the curved driveway entrance, the Kempinski’s attentive staff was at the ready to greet me and swiftly take care of my luggage and parking. Stepping through the doors into the soaring marble lobby, I was met with a palpable sense of refined European luxury and hospitality.

The Grand Deluxe Room
I stayed in one of the Kempinski’s beautifully-appointed 58 sq m Grand Deluxe Rooms on the 51st floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across an entire wall, offering incredible panoramic views of Jakarta’s iconic skyline from this bird’s-eye vantage point. The room’s modern European design struck a perfect balance between timeless elegance and contemporary amenities.

A plush king bed appointed with luxuriously soft linens, plump pillows and a faux fur accented duvet took centerstage, facing a large wall-mounted flat screen TV. Tucked in one corner was a stylish chaise lounge – the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy the views with a afternoon coffee or cocktail in hand.

The bathroom rivaled that of a world-class spa, featuring a large soaking tub, separate walk-in rainfall shower, double vanity sinks and upscale toiletries that lent a wonderfully aromatic ambiance. Premium touches like cozy slippers and plush bathrobes made it feel like home.

The Grand Deluxe Room also featured a large work desk with an ergonomic chair and conveniently placed outlets and USB ports for staying connected. In-room WiFi, tea/coffee maker, minibar, in-room safe and climate controls completed the modern amenities.

Dining at Kempi Deli and OKU
With nine distinctive restaurants, lounges and bars located within the hotel complex, guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining and nightlife at the Kempinski Jakarta.

My personal favorite stop was the chic and casual Kempi Deli, a European-style cafe that channels a contemporary Viennese coffee house vibe. It was the perfect spot to enjoy an elegant yet laidback breakfast or afternoon treat. I indulged in a frothy Swiss Missio cappuccino and an assortment of mouthwatering Danish pastries and mini desserts from the deli case.

For dinner, I had the opportunity to sample the acclaimed Japanese tasting menu at OKU, the Kempinski’s award-winning Japanese restaurant. The artfully-plated 8-course kaiseki menu included delicacies like a beautiful sashimi trio, succulent Wagyu ishiyaki stone grill courses, and delicate mochi and matcha desserts. Each meticulously-prepared dish was a masterpiece of flavor and visual presentation. The chic and intimate dining room coupled with gracious service enhanced the overall experience.

Other dining choices within the hotel included the Chefs Table for innovative fusion cuisine, Paulaner Bräuhaus for German beers and bites, and the Kempi Lounge for tapas, craft cocktails and DJ entertainment.

Pool, Spa & Fitness Amenities
No urban getaway would be complete without plenty of opportunities to stay fit and pampered. The Kempinski’s incredible 5-star Kempi Spa featured a full-service salon, spacious treatment rooms providing everything from relaxing massages to beauty treatments, and a luxurious Spa Suite with its own jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

A sleek indoor infinity pool with comfortable lounge areas offered a refreshing place to cool off from Jakarta’s tropical heat or enjoy a cocktail poolside. Avid fitness enthusiasts will also appreciate the Kempinski’s well-equipped fitness center with all the latest cardio machines and weight training equipment.

Other Notable Amenities
Some other first-class amenities and features of the Kempinski Jakarta included:

– A large sundeck on the 8th floor featuring a pool bar, cabanas, and impressive views
– Daily turndown service
– 24-hour room service and butler service
– Pillow menu and customized aromatherapy available
– Spacious meeting/event spaces and a Grand Ballroom
– Luxury shops and boutiques within the hotel
– Limo/car rental services

Whether you’re visiting Jakarta for business or leisure travel, the Kempinski Hotel offers an unparalleled luxury experience with its exceptional service, elegant accommodations and array of upscale amenities. From the refined decor to the gourmet dining options to the pampering facilities, every aspect of my stay at this iconic Jakarta hotel was memorable from start to finish. It’s no wonder it ranks among the top hotels in Indonesia’s capital city. I hope this One Night in Jakarta 2017 (I) – Kempinski Hotel post helps you.

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