From famed heritage sites like Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine to the electronic mecca of Akihabara in Tokyo, this accessible adventure perfectly captured Japan’s one-of-a-kind blend of tranquil ancient beauty and vibrant futuristic innovation, all while keeping warm indoors! Join me as I recap an unforgettable expedition across central Japan to the sprawling capital city during one of its most magical seasons.

Stopping at Historic & Scenic Spots Along the Way

My wintry trip commenced in Osaka where I marveled at historic Osaka Castle dressed in glittering white snow before catching a local train bound for Kyoto. This ancient city overflowing with temples and shrines was even more breathtaking dusted in delicate flakes. I strolled along quiet paths surrounded by vermilion-colored torii gateways in Fushimi Inari Shrine, the evening light casting an ethereal glow.

After warming my numb fingers over green matcha tea in a tiny cafe along the Kamogawa River lined with weeping willows, I departed Kyoto on an evening bullet train to Matsumoto in the Japan Alps. Emerging from Matsumoto Station before sunrise the next morning, the regal bright white facade of Matsumoto Castle set against the navy wintry sky took my breath away. Later that day when I journeyed deeper into the mountains, I was awestruck by snow-capped jagged peaks stretching as far as the eye could see while riding through the Norikura Highlands on a local bus.

Cityscapes Blanketed in White – Tokyo & Beyond

Catching the limited express Super Azusa service, I was whisked back through the countryside to Tokyo in just over 3 hours. Stepping off at Tokyo Station, I emerged from the basement into a chilly winter night with the glimmering red Tokyo Tower visible in the distance. I made my way to my cozy hotel in Asakusa, eager to explore this district oozing with traditional charm and history in the morning.

As fat snowflakes tumbled from the steel gray skies, I strolled past ancient temples like the 7th-century Sensoji Temple with little shops and restaurants beckoning from narrow alleys along the way. I stopped into small galleries tucked away on side streets and sampled freshly made wagashi, ornate Japanese confections sculpted to look like seasonal flowers and scenery.

No trip to Tokyo is complete without a pilgrimage to the famous Shibuya Crossing, and it certainly didn’t disappoint on a brisk Saturday just before New Year’s Eve. Joining the orchestrated chaos of pedestrians crisscrossing what is often cited as the world’s busiest intersection, I gazed up in awe at giant video screens on dizzyingly tall buildings all competing for attention. That evening, I reveled in the infectious energy of Shinjuku’s bustling izakaya pubs where I toasted to new adventures and unforgettable winter memories over piping hot sake with new friends.

Before this magical journey came to an end, I dedicated an entire day to wandering the fascinating subcultures of Tokyo by rail, from the anime wonderland of Akihabara to cat cafe-lined alleys in Asakusa. I’ll never forget watching the sun set over the city skyline from the Tokyo Skytree on my last evening, the sprawling metropolis sprinkled with the first gentle snowfall of the year as trains connecting neighborhoods zoomed below.

Key Takeaways from Central Japan & Tokyo by Train & Bus

Transport – Seamless rail and bus networks make traversing central Honshu and Tokyo surprisingly simple, especially with the Japan Rail Pass. From the shinkansen bullet train to local lines, rely on public transportation to maximize time and experiences.

Clothing – Dress in warm layers with waterproof shoes and bring a lightweight down coat. Temperatures hover around freezing with wind, snow or rain likely during winter. Masks are recommended too as the Japanese tend to mask up when ill.

Accommodation – For urban stays, central hotels near train stations provide convenience while ryokans, traditional inns, in countryside locations offer cultural immersion. Capsule hotels are budget-friendly options in cities.

Food – Indulge in winter season specialties like nabe hot pots, ramen, and decadent wagashi sweets. Convenience stores carry budget-friendly ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and hot drinks for on-the-go needs.

Packing – In addition to cold weather apparel, bring durable shoes for walking, portable chargers, credit/debit cards usable abroad, and copies of passport/travel documents. Travel light between destinations via train and bus with a carry-on size bag.

Conclusion

Japan dazzles year-round but I’m utterly smitten by its understated wintry beauty. Crisp skies juxtapose exquisitely with rich culture and heritage, from sacred ancient sites to the excitement of Tokyo’s city streets. Seamless public transit enables adventure-packed days that end under cozy kotatsu tables in traditional inns. I can’t wait to return to central Japan and Tokyo soon to explore more wondrous travel destinations across its islands – by bullet train and local bus, of course! I hope you enjoyed this Winter 2014 Central Japan & Tokyo by Trains & Buses, Day post.

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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 …

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We woke up early and went to for a walk before the first ferry brings the day trippers.  The morning was peaceful and the walk was pleasant.  This morning the tide was higher and the shrine and torii gate both look like they are floating on the water.

Morning in Miyajima

Then it was back to our ryokan for breakfast.  Breakfast was served in the dining room.  It was standard Japanese breakfast, ie rice served with fish, pickles and a few other dishes.  I must say the breakfast here is nothing to shout about.  Very basic.  Most other ryokans we stayed at previously served much better breakfast.

Simple Japanese breakfast @ Kinsuikan

After breakfast, we ventured out again.  We wanted to take the ropeway to get to the top of Mt Mizen.  DH wanted to take from photos from the top of Mt Mizen.  Along the way we noticed the winds were very strong and we actually witnessed a Hanafubuki (Flower Snow Storm).  It was like falling snow flakes!  So beautiful!

Hanafubuk (Flower Snow Storm)

Unfortunately, when we got to the ropeway, we found out it was closed because of strong winds and impending rain.  So we walked around and found ourselves at Daigan-ji.  This temple was originally responsible for the repair of the Itsukushima Shrine and the Torii gate prior to the Shinto-Buddhism separation during the Meiji period.

Daigan-ji Temple, Miyajima

The sky was threatening to rain and since we couldn’t get to Mt Mizen, we decided to leave the island and get back to Hiroshima earlier than planned.  After check out, the ryokan dropped us off at the ferry terminal.

We took the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi and caught the local train back to Hiroshima.  Went to reserve our tickets on the Shinkansen to Fukuyama before we went in search for lunch.  We had originally wanted to spend more time in Miyajima and to just get a bento lunch to eat on the train.  Since we left Miyajima earlier, we went in search for the Okonomiyaki restaurant that we spotted the day before.  We wanted to try the Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki which comes with noodles.  It is different from the Osaka style which we are used to.  Oh, and I had to have those oysters croquettes!!

Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

After lunch we took the Shinkansen to Fukuyama.  It took about 40 mins.  From the Shinkansen platform at Fukuyama, you get a great view of Fukuyama castle.

Fukuyama Castle – View from the JR Shinkansen platform

We had arranged for a pickup at the train station by the ryokan at 1.40pm.  As we had some time before our shuttle pick up, we went to UCC for some dessert and coffee. I love Japanese dessert!

Dessert @ UCC at Fukuyama Station

We were not exactly sure where to wait or what type of vehicle we were waiting for. We had expected to see a vehicle with the ryokan name or for someone to hold a card with our name or ryokan name. But it is actually a vehicle which is taking picking up pax for many hotels in Fukuyama. We actually missed it and called the hotel and the bus turned back to pick us.

Upon arrival at our ryokan,  Keishokan Sazanamitei, we were served a welcome tea and snack before being shown to our room.

Welcome tea & snack @ Keishokan Sazanamitei

The ryokan is located by the sea. Unfortunately, it was raining the day we arrived and so the sky was grey. I’m sure it would have been beautiful if the sky was blue.  Our room was facing the sea and had an attached outdoor onsen. We had paid more for this luxury and had no regrets. It was lovely

Our room with private outdoor onsen @ Keishokan Sazanamitei

We took the 1.40 pm shuttle, it took almost an hour to get to the hotel after they dropped off of various pax at different hotels. On hindsight, we should have taken a taxi and not be restricted by the shuttle time, and can arrive earlier. By the time we checked in and go out for a walk, it was after 3pm and even though it was a weekday (Friday), the shops close around 4pm. We were lucky that we got to the Ota residence which was nearby before it closed. My suggestion is to take a taxi and arrive early if you want to walk around the old town. We only had time to browse a few shops before all the shutters went down.

Tomonoura Old Town was the site for one of the scenes in Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.  It’s old wooden architecture buildings preserves the look of an old Japanese town.  It was very rustic and pretty.  We walked to the waterfront but the sky was so grey and we could not get good photos.  We decided to come back early the next morning to try our luck.

Tomonoura Old Town

Tomonoura is well known for its herbal wine, Honmeishu.  The Ota Residence belonged to a family that started brewing this wine with the 17th century.  Visitors can view the various tatami rooms, tea rooms and Honmeishu storehouses.

Kaiseki dinner @ Keishokan Sazanamitei

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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.

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This morning we checked out of Sanga before we went about our sightseeing.  We were changing to Matsui Honkan, another ryokan nearby that night.  We were late in our booking and many ryokans were already fully booked.  Sanga was only available for 2 night.  We had to book another ryokan for the third night.  But while surfing the net subsequently, Matsui Honkan became available.  It had good reviews so we switched.  Later on a cheaper room at Sanga became available for the third night too.  But we decided to stick with Matsui Honkan since it had better reviews than Sanga.

We took a taxi to Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). As mentioned in my last post, Ginkakuji is modeled after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion).  My Japanese friend tells me that the Japanese prefer Ginkakuji as it is simple and less opulent.  Despite its name, Ginkakuji is not covered with silver.  One of the many sayings is that moonlight reflecting on the temple’s exterior when it was previously covered in lacquer gave it a silvery appearance.

Ginkakuji, The Silver Pavilion

While Kinkakuji has a pond garden in front of it, Ginkakuji has a rock garden.

Rock Garden of Ginkukuki

Just outside Ginkakuji is the beginning of the well known Philosopher’s Walk.  The cherry blossom here was beautiful despite heavy rain the day before causing many flowers to drop.  The ground was full of fallen flowers.  I can imagine how impressive it must have been when the trees were filled with the flowers.  The path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees.  This is another one of the city’s most popular hanami spots.

Along the canal along the Philosopher’s Walk  there were side lanes which one can venture to explore the smaller temples.  We did not do that as we already had a long day planned ahead.

Philosopher’s Walk

At the other end the Philosopher’s Walk which is about 2km long is Nanzenji.  Nanzenji is a huge temple complex with many sub-temples.  Nanzenji is also one of the most important Zen temple in Japan.

Nanzenji & its subtemples

The Hojo is the former head priest’s residence and Nanzenji’s main hall.  It is famous for its rock garden.  Also highly regarded are the paintings on the sliding door.

Hojo, Nanzanji

At the back of Nanzenji is an Auaduct.  We went up the aqueduct and took a left.  Walking to the end of the aqueduct, a trail leads off to the right to the Keage Incline.

Aquaduct, Nanzenji

The Keage Incline is another popular hanami spot in Kyoto.   We were greeted by a stunning row of cherry trees lining an abandoned railway track.  There were many couples in traditional wedding garb taking their photos there.  They looked beautiful in their kimono with the cherry blossoms as a backdrop.

Keage Incline, a popular Hanami spot

Walking along the bottom on the Keage incline along the canal brought us to a giant tori gate. Walking through it we arrived at the Heian Shrine.  The back garden of Heian Shrine has a grove of late blooming cherry trees.  When we were there, the flowers were still buds and not fully bloomed yet.  By this time, I was really hungry and tired and not really interested in the sightseeing.  I want my food!

Heian Shrine

Leaving Heian Shrine. I ran into the first cafe I saw.  I didn’t care if it was just simple curry rice and udon!  I want to eat.  But I must say the dessert here was pretty good!

Lunch at a café outside Heian Shrine

After the quick lunch we continued walking to Yasaka Shrine through Maruyama Park.  We walked pass the giant weeping willow which we saw on our first night in Kyoto.  By now, 2 days and a heavy downpour later, the tree is almost bear.  So glad we came that first night.  Yasaka shrine was small and many people were praying and making their wishes.  We just lingered for a while and head off to Kodaiji which has a rock garden consisting of a large field of raked gravel meant to represent the vast ocean.

Kodaiji

By now I am a little templed and gardened out!  Yet another rock garden and I am starting to not be able to tell them apart!  But I must say the best was still the rock garden at Ryoanji we saw the day before.

Exiting Kodaji, we headed towards the streets of Higashiyama.  Just when we walked several meters down the busy street, I spotted a Hello Kitty Cafe on the right!  I must go,  I am so tired and lunch did not fully satisfy me and hey it’s cute Hello Kitty!  I am not really a Hello Kitty fan, but hey, I’m in Japan!

Traditional Kyoto sweets and tea & Hello Kitty Saryo

Hello Kitty Saryo serves Japanese sweets and teas in addition to proper meals for lunch and dinner. It is like a combination of traditional Japanese teahouse and Hello Kitty.  I am so happy to be able to have my afternoon tea of traditional kyoto dessert and tea. All orders came with touches of Hello Kitty or Dear Daniel.  Several large Hello Kitty dolls were seated at the tables between guests and “accompany” us during our meal. The cafe has large full length glass windows that look into a Zen garden decorated with Hello Kitty garden ornaments. Really cute.

I enjoyed my tea break here tremendously. A truly cutesy way to take an afternoon break and enjoy the Japanese sweets and dessert that Kyoto is great for. After this break, I was re-energized and ready to take another temple, Kiyomizudera, our last temple of the day.

The shopping street of Higashimaya was really interesting. I had to stop to browse and DH had to hurry me along so that we get to Kiyomizudera before they close for the day. I told myself we will come back after the temple visit.

Streets of Higashiyama

Streets of Higashiyama

Kiyomizudera is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. It’s name literally means Pure Water Temple. This temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kiyomizudera

Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The main hall and stage of Kiyomizudera was built without nails. The stage affords visitors view of the numerous cherry trees and maple trees below. During Sakura season and autumn, when the hills are covered in Autumn colours, Kiyomizudera is opened at night for spring or autumn illunination. The set photos of Kiyomizudera is taken from across the stage. Kiyomizudera is under renovation by stages. We were lucky that the wooden stage was not affected at the time of our visit. So before you visit, do check the status of the renovation to avoid disappointment.

The wooden stage of Kiyomizudera

Behind Kiyomizudera’s main halls is the Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. Devotees write this wishes on wooden plates and hang them up.

Jishu Shrine, Kiyomizudera

The Otowa Waterfall at the best of the main hall is considered lucky. There are 3 streams for different wishes and devotees and believers drink from it. I did not try as there was quite a crowd.

After we left the temple, we walked back to the streets of Higashiyama. But at that time, the temple has closed to day visitors and the Visitors coming for the night time illumination was coming in. I felt like I was swimming against the tide. There were so many people in the streets, we just hopped onto the nearest taxi to escape back to our ryokan.

We went back to Sanga to collect our backs and walked about 5 mins to our next ryokan, Matsui Honkan. Upon arrival at Matsui Honkan, we were served a welcome tea and snack before being shown to our room. We were told that their a a public bath on the ground floor. Not a hotspring bath through. This is a small hotel style ryokan rather than family style. Thus less personal.

Welcome tea & cake @ Matsui Honkan

Our room was small but adequate and our little balcony had a pretty decorated zen garden. Even the bathroom has a window opening to a mini zen rock garden. Very nice touch. Bathroom came with a tub for Japanese style bath. I was too lazy and tired to get to the public bath and decided to soak in the tub in our room instead. It was heaven after all the walking that day.

Room with mini zen garden in the balcony @ Matsui Honkan

Dinner was served in our room. It was of course any multi-course Kaiseki dinner. Food was good and quite refine as I would expect of kyoto style Kaiseki. Not disappointed. After dinner they came to clear the table and set up our futons. They were very thoughtful and left an origami bird on each of our pillows. I slept so well that night.

Kaiseki dinner at Matsui Honkan

The post South West Japan Sakura Trip, Day 5 (Kyoto) appeared first on Mums Travels.

We woke up early again to go to the water front.  We had better luck that morning and had some blue sky.  Tomonoura was an old fishing port.   Up to today, it is an operating port town.  It is situated at a bay facing the Seto Inland Sea.  It is still an endearing old fashioned fishing townscape.

Tomonoura

The symbol of Tomonoura is Joyato Lighthouse which was built during the Edo Period.  The eleven meter structure stands prominently at the waterfront directly south of the town center.

Tomonoura.
Bottom right : Joyato Lighthouse

Then it was back to the ryokan for breakfast.  It was as usual, Japanese breakfast.  I love the dry seasoned fish that they served.  You heat it up over an open fire pot.  Yummy!  Since Tomonoura is a fishing port, they served a lot of dried and fresh seafood in their meals in Keishokan Sazanamitei.

Seasoned dried fish for breakfast @ Keishokan Sazanamitei

After breakfast, we took the first shuttle bus out to Fukuyama.  We had reserved our Shinkansen ticket from Fukuyama to Okayama the day before.  The Shinkansen ride to Okayama was about 20 mins.  At Okayama station, we deposited our bags in the coin locker and took the Higashiyama tram to Korakuen.  Tram ride was about 5 mins.  There is a short walk from the tram stop to the entrance of the garden.

Korakuen is one of the top 3 gardens of Japan.  Korakuen is a beautiful landscape garden and Okayama’s main attraction.  Sakura was at its peak in the garden that day.  It was a Saturday and we saw many young couples taking their wedding photos.  They were very sporting and even posed for us.

Couples taking their wedding photos under the Sakura trees

From Korakuen garden, you can see Okayama castle.  The scene with the castle in the background and cherry blossoms in the foreground was awesome!

Okayama Castle, View with Korakuen

Weather was beautiful and flowers in full bloom.  Many people were picnicking in the garden that day.  I chanced upon a lovely elderly couple having a picnic under the cherry blossoms.  I hope that DH and I will also have such opportunities to share such quiet moments when we grow old.  Aren’t they sweet?

An elderly couple enjoying Hanami @ Korakuen

Outside Korakuen there is a canal and the cherry blossoms along the canal were beautiful too.  Many people who did not want to pay the entrance ticket to the garden were picnicking along the beautiful canal.

Along the canal outside Korakuen

After the garden visit we went back to the train station to take our train to Himeji.  There was a queue to reserve the seats on the Shinkansen.  We should have reserved our tickets from Himeji to Kyoto later that afternoon too, but we forgot to do that and had to queue an hour later at Himeji station to do that.  The trains from Okayama to Himeji were so full that DH and I had to be seated in different carriages.

The train ride from Okayama to Himeji was about 30 mins.  We bought ekibento from the station and ate our lunch on the train.  Every Shinkansen station in Japan sells Ekibento which you can buy to eat on the train and each station normally has a special bento that is only available in that station. Okayama was the place of the folklore of the Momotaro Peach Boy.  So the special ekibento at Okayama station is in a peach shaped box.

Okayama’s special Ekibento in a peach shaped box

Upon arrival at Himeji, we deposited our bag at the locker in the train station.  We needed to move away from the entrance of the Shinkansen exit to find an available locker.  The lockers near the Shinkansen exit were all full.  As we forgot to reserve our late afternoon tickets to Kyoto earlier, we had to do it here.  Himeji was so busy, we waited up to an hour to do that.  I kicked myself for not doing it earlier and having to waste a precious hour here.  Our JR pass allowed us to take the Sanyo Shinkansen only.  That line stops at Osaka.  From Osaka to Kyoto, it is the Tokaido Shinkansen line.  So if we wanted to go on to Kyoto on our free pass, we need to change to the local trains at Osaka.  We didn’t feel like doing that, so we topped up for a Shinkansen ride from Osaka to Kyoto.  It cost about SGD70 for both of us (~¥3000 each) for that short section! I felt so good to have utilized my free pass these few days and having made my monies worth.  Without the JR pass, transportation cost would have been horrendous.  Anyway, after we have settled our tickets, we took a taxi to Himeji castle.  We did not fancy the 20mins walk up slope.
It was the first weekend that Himeji castle was opened to the public after it was closed for extensive renovation.  So the whole place was very crowded and full of people.  It was an amazing sight to see such a huge sea of people at the open space in front of the castle having their cherry blossom picnic that Saturday.  Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The queue to go into the main castle keep was very very long.  We must have spent more than in hour queuing to get in.  Frankly there is nothing much inside and I don’t think it is worth the time spent.  The garden of Himeji is very beautiful and I would have been better off spending more time there.  There are some side halls where there are no queues.  I suggest going there to have a look at the garden through the windows of those rooms.

Himeji Castle in Spring

After our visit we decided to walk back to the train station.  It was an easy downslope walk.  Probably faster to walk than take a bus or taxi as traffic was terrible.

At the station we bought a box of strawberries wrapped with mochi for snack on our ride to Kyoto.  The Shinkansen ride to Kyoto took less than 1 hour.

Strawberries wrapping in Mochi

At Kyoto station, we decided to take a taxi to our ryokan, Sanga.  This was our most expensive ryokan, but not the best.  We paid JPY56,0000 per night for room and dinner and breakfast.   It was one of the ryokans with rooms left when we searched and is located near a subway station, review was decent so we took it.  It turned out ok and good was quite good but definitely not worth JPY56,000.

And in case you are wondering, yes, our bags arrived at Sanga earlier that day before us and the ryokan owner had put it aside for us.  Luggage transfer service in Japan is really fantastic.  By the way, the owner of Sanga does not really speak English but makes an attempt to communicate with a translation app on his mobile.  But we managed somehow.  The young lady who served us during meals spoke decent English.

We probably paid for the most expensive room in the ryokan. That was probably why it was still available when we booked. It is on the second second floor and is not just one room but comes with a smaller ante room for dressing.  Our meals were not served in our room, but in a private room on the ground floor overlooking the garden.  Dinner was again Kaiseki.  It was good, but not as refine as what we had at Kinsuikan.

Kaiseki dinner @ Sanga, Kyoto

After dinner we decided to head out to Maruyama Park for the night time illumination.  Maruyama Park is a public park in the Higashiyama district well known for its giant weeping cherry tree.  The weatherman had forecasted rain the next 2 days so we wanted to go that night when weather was still good.

Giant Weeping Cherry Tree, Maruyama Park, Kyoto

Maruyama Park is one of Kyoto’s most popular Hanami sites during the Sakura season.  There are food stalls set up in the park where you can just get a snack and eat along the way.

Food stalls in Maruyama Park, Kyoto

For those wanting a sit down meal, they even have make shift “restaurants” with tables set under the cherry trees for you to enjoy your meal or drinks. Due to the popularity of the place, there is a min spent required.  The place is packed, but with some patience and watchful eye, we managed to snag a table and was able to enjoy our sake leisurely under the cherry trees.

Nighttime Hanami @ Maruyama Park, Kyoto

After our sake, we left Maruyama Park and took a short walk to the nearby Gion, hoping to catch some Geisha in action.  But alas, no such luck!  The Geishas were all probably at their parties already by then.  After a short stroll,, we caught a cab back to our ryokan.  We were dead tired after the long day.

Gion @ Night

The post South West Japan Sakura Trip, Day 3 (Okayama, Himeji & Kyoto) appeared first on Mums Travels.

Breakfast this morning was served in the same private room by the pretty Zen garden.  The usual items you find at breakfast, namely grilled fish, tofu, eggs and some pickles.  I like Japanese breakfast!

Breakfast @ Sanga

After breakfast we took a taxi to Kinkakuji.  We could have taken the train and bus but that would have taken us almost 40 mins.  As we have little time in Kyoto, we did not want to spend our precious time commuting.  Taxi cost was reasonable and we got to Kinkakuji in a jiffy.  Taking a taxi also ensured that we arrived early before the crowds.

Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavillon, is a zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top 2 floors are covered in gold leaf.  It used to be the retirement villa of the shogan Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will became a zen temple after his death in 1408.  It is also the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga, Yoshimasa.

Kinkakuji is an impressive structure overlooking a pond.  You immediately take a left when you enter the garden to have the best view of the pavilion from across the pond.

Kinkakuji, The Golden Pavilion, Northern Kyoto

We strolled around the compound for a while and then left.  We took bus 59 from opposite the entrance of Kinkakuji to Ryoanji.  The ride was just about 5 mins or so.

Ryoanji is the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. It was an aristocrat’s villa before its conversion to a Zen temple.  The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles, surrounded by low earthern walls with 15 rocks laid out in small groups on patches of moss.  An interesting feature of this garden is that from any vintage point, at least one rock is hidden from the viewer.  It would have been a perfect place to meditate here if not for the constant stream of unending visitors.

Rock Garden in Ryoanji

We explored the grounds of Ryoanji and found it beautiful with the cherry tress in bloom.  There is a pond at the back with a center island which has a cherry tree is full bloom.  So don’t just leave after visiting the rock garden.

Ryoanji’s Temple Grounds

A few hundred meters from Ryoanji is Ninnaji.  Ninnaji is one of the many great temples of Kyoto and is listed as a UNESCO World Heriitage site.  The temple is also famous for a grove of late blooming cherry trees.  So it you visit a few days after the peak cherry blossom season, you can try your luck at Ninnaji.  Oh, and there were so many ladies walking around in beautiful kimono, I just had to take some pictures of them!

The grounds of Ninnaji, Northern Kyoto

The highlight of Ninnaji is the Goten, the former residence of the head priest.  Built in the style of an imperial palace, the graceful buildings are connected with each other by covered corridors and are surrounded by beautiful rock and pond gardens.  By now, I’m sure you will realise that I was attracted more to the the gardens than to the interiors of the temples and residences.  Somehow I find the interior of the residences very bare (typical of Japanese style).  I have poor imagination and can never imagine what it was like.

The rock and pond gardens of Ninnaji, viewed from the corridor of the former head priest’s residence.

From the nearby Onuro-Ninnaji Station, we could have taken the train to Arashiyama.  But again, lazy us decided to take a taxi to save time.  So we took a taxi directly to Tenryuji in Arashiyama.  It was near lunch time when we arrived at Tenryuji and by then it had started to rain quite heavily.  So we decided to get a simple lunch of Tempura udon and Tempura soba at a small eatery opposite the temple, hoping that the rain will stop by the time we are done.

Tempura soba and tempura udon for lunch @ Arashiyama

Luckily by the time we were done with lunch, the rain had stopped.  So we went to Tenryuji.

Tenryuji is the most important temple in the Arashiyama district.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The temple buildings of Tenryuji were destroyed by fires over the centuries, but its garden is still in its original form.

The gardens of Tenryuji

The north entrance of Tenryuji leads directly to the well known bamboo grove of Arashiyama.  The whole place is covered with bamboos growing close together.  Very pretty.

Bamboo Grive, Arashiyama

We took a short walk to the end of the bamboo grove, then doubled back in the direction of Tenryuji and Arashiyama station.  We walked along the main street of Arashiyama towards Togetsukyo bridge, and browsed the shops along the way.

Main Street of Arashiyama

Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama’s most iconis landmark.  It is beautiful during the cheery blossom week.

Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama

The riverside park next to the bridge had dozens of cherry trees.  Absolutely charming.  We stopped by a coffee shop for a cup of coffee before moving over to sit on one of the benches under the cherry trees along the river bank.

Chilling under the cherry trees @ Arashiyama

There were many rickshaw riders at Arashiyama.  DH was initially uncomfortable taking rickshaw rides as it seems cruel to be pulled by a fellow human being.  The rickshaw riders at Arashiyama seems to be mainly young men.  We were approached by many to take a ride.  In the end, it seems their way of making a living and they don’t seem to be forced to do the job, so we took it.  We did a short round along the side streets.  The side streets had quaint buildings and were full of pretty cherry trees too.  We ended our ride at the Arashiyama train station.

Rickshaw ride along the streets of Arashiyama

From the train station, we took the Arashiyama train and changed to the subway to get back to our ryokan.

Back at our ryokan, after a short rest, we were served our dinner in the private garden room.  That night, we had beef sukiyaki for dinner.  We were served sashimi as appetiser before our  beef sukiyaki.  The sukiyaki was delicious.  Beef was very tender.  I had never liked sukiyaki in Singapore where you just put your beef in a sauce pot to cook.  But here, it was done very differently.  The beef are fried over a hot plate and then the sauce which is slightly thick is poured into it.  Not too much, but just enough to flavour the beef.  The cooked beef is then dipped in a bowl of beaten raw egg before you eat it.  Now I know what authentic sukiyaki is!

Beef Sukiyaki for dinner @ Sanga, Kyoto

The post South West Japan Sakura Trip, Day 4 (Kyoto) appeared first on Mums Travels.

Breakfast @ Rokurinsha

Rokurinsha is a well known ramen shop in Tokyo Station serving tsukemen. It is located outside the fare gate at the Tokyo Station Ramen Street. You can’t miss it as there will always be people queuing outside the restaurant.

We queued for 30mins to get our seats. As decided to split up 2-2 and sat separately at the counter rather than wait for a table. Again here you place your order and make payment at the machine, then give your tickets to the staff.

We went for the special needles with shredded pork and a whole soft yolk egg which was ¥850 for 330g of noodles. If you prefer the original version without the pork it was ¥740. And for those who want extra noodles, it’s ¥100 for 50% more. Frankly there is no need to upsize. The regular size is very substantial. After you are done with your tsukemen, you can add water to the broth and drink the soup. And remember to add the yuzu powder. It tastes good!

Some say Rokurinsha serves the best tsukemen, but DS said that while it is good, the tsukemen at Aoba which he ate the day before was even better. I didn’t try the one at Aoba and so cannot compare. But I enjoyed both my noodles at Aoba and Rokurinsha.

Takashimaya & Pokémon Center Tokyo DX

Takashimaya Nihombashi Store is about 10mins walk from Tokyo Station. We headed there at mid morning for shopping. Must buys for me when in Japan are Cle de Peau cosmetics and Issey Miyake. As usual, first thing when I arrived at Takashimaya is to get the tourist “Hello Kitty Card” which give foreign visitors a 5% discount.

The kids headed directly to the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX which is located at level 5 of the East Building of Takashimaya. At the entrance, you are greeted by a giant Snorlax. On one side of Snorlax is the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX, and on the opposite side is Pokémon Cafe.

There are so many cosplay soft toy pikachu here that are so cute. I was so tempted to get one for myself . Btw, the Hello Kitty Card cannot be used here and tax free has to be done at the store rather than the Takashimaya Tax refund counter.

Pokémon Cafe

We had a 12.30pm lunch reservation at Pokémon Cafe. Each reservation had a 90min dining time only, so you need to be punctual. The 90min starts from your reservation time, not your arrival time. If you come late, you will have less time.

Pokémon Cafe does not accept walk-in patrons so if you want to eat here, prior reservation made via the internet is a must. Our reservation did not come easy. While it is not difficult to get a reservation on weekdays, weekends, especially during lunch time gets booked out minutes after the reservation window opens. Reservations open one month earlier at 6pm Tokyo time. Maximum 4 pax per reservation. So if you are more than 4, you need 2 reservations and may not get to sit together. I had camped myself in front of my computer to go in exactly at 6pm Tokyo time to make my reservation. After I was done, I went in again and found that most of the brunch and lunch slots for 4 pax were gone. So if you want to eat here, either come on a weekday or if you must come on a weekend, then you need to be like me and put some effort in making the reservation.

Also there are some limited items that are only available with pre-order when you make your reservations. They have the chef and waitress pikachu mascots with chains (¥1620 each) and plastic folders. The plastic folders come in a set of 3 (¥756). These items are available only to those who dine at the cafe and pre-ordered when making online reservations. You can’t buy them at the cafe.

There is discount if you preorder the donuts as a package with these limited items. A set of mascots and folders together with a box of 4 donuts cost ¥5,184. So we ordered 2 of these sets and another set of keychains and folders as all three kids including DS1 who could not join us for this trip wanted them too. And the donuts were not only cute, but were yummy too! If you buy the donuts as take out they cost ¥2592.

You are advised to arrive 15mins before your dining time. For our 12.30pm booking there was already a queue at 12.15pm. Upon entry to the restaurant we were first greeted by a row of plants shaped like Pokeballs.

We were booked for area A. Different dining slots get different areas. Area C is a long table which is shared (see photo below). Our area A are individual tables for 4 by the window. There is another section on the inside with no windows separated by the shelves in the photo below from Area C.. I think that section maybe Area B.

We sat down at our table and saw the 2 large pikachu below. I couldn’t resist taking a photo before ordering our food

Our preordered souvenirs and donuts were already prepacked and on our table when we were seated. Love this Japanese efficiency! On our table each person gets a paper table mat that you get to bring home. So to prevent dirtying it, we kept them immediately! . The menu is a red tablet.

I had the Halloween themed Not-so-scary pikachu plate (¥1706) which consist of omurice, and steak patty. If you want the plate, you can order the meal with the plate to take home (¥2894).

DH and DS both had the pikachu curry rice (¥1598)

DD has the Halloween themed Gastly menchi katsu (minced meat patty) burger which came with fries and a cup of soup. (¥1,706).

We each ordered a drink. You only get a plastic coaster (which you can bring home) if you order a drink. So we were entitled to 4 coasters. We had a choice of the special Halloween coaster or regular specific Pokémon coasters. We decided to have 2 of each. You can’t choose the specific Pokémon’s. It’s by chance. We got a Pikachu and a Jolteon which evolves from Eevee.

DH had a hot Eevee latte, DS and I each had a Pikachu ice latte. We bought our coffee with the mug/glass as the kids wanted them. The coffee cost ¥756 without the mug/glass and ¥1836 with mug/glass.

DD had the Ditto’s Ombré Fruit Tea (¥918). This was an interesting drink. There is a light on which the glass sits on which changes colour and that got reflected onto the drink. DD says that this Pokémon changes colour so it is so apt for the drink to do so too.

Only DD had a dessert. And she went for the Mimikyu Chocolate Banana Crepe. She loves Mimikyu, the Pokémon that did not feel loved and crave to be loved and so try to dress up like Pikachu. The chocolate and banana crepe was lovely. And the dessert looked so cute too. How not to love this dessert and this character?

After our meal, a friend came to visit! Yes! It’s Eevee! The fella was so cute! It makes me smile just to think of it now. Yes, we did not understand what the host was saying, but heck! What does it matter? Eevee came round to all the tables to shake hands and take photos. But you need to be quick. I was a little too slow and did not get a good picture of Eevee and the kids. Well another excuse to come again next time!

This was truely an enjoyable experience. The food were decent on the palate for a themed restaurants. And they were definitely so cute. The whole experience was great! Highly recommended for Pokémon fans!

BTW, they gave us new mug and glasses rather than the ones we used. We also bought additional plastic folders of a different design from what we preordered. A set of 3 cost ¥756. We bought 3 sets for the kids including DS1 who could not join us on this trip.

Shopping & Afternoon Tea @ Daimaru, Tokyo Station

By the time we left Pokémon Cafe, it was time for DS to head back to the hotel to pick up his stuff to go to the airport. DS is still doing his National Service and he was a last minute addition to our trip. He could only be away for 9 days (5 days plus 2 weekends) from the army, but we had already booked a 10 days trip. So he was leaving a day earlier than the 3 of us. DH accompanied him to Haneda airport while DD and I continued our shopping and eating.

We went to Daimaru at Tokyo Station and shopped until we were so tired we needed an afternoon tea break. We finally found a cafe within Daimaru which did not have a long queue called Burdigala. DD had the creme brûlée and ice coffee set (¥1188) while I had the mont blanc and ice coffee set (¥1350). I have fallen in love with mont blancs recently. DH got joined us for a coffee (¥680) when he came back from the airport. So nice to be able to rest our feet and enjoy so sweets in the mid afternoon.

Dinner @ Numazu Uogashizushi, Tokyo Station

We went to Numazu Uogashizushi at Kitchen Street in Tokyo Station for dinner. There is a large sushi counter which greets you as soon as you enter. It was full when we arrived at 7.15pm.

There were tables beside the counter top. But it felt cramped here. As we had made reservations, we were shown to the back of the restaurant given one of the low tables inside. It was nice and private here. Very cosy. We picked this based on reviews that it is reasonably priced and good. I was looking forward to good sushi here.

DD and I decided to have the Minati Mori Komachi set (¥2,660). It came with 6 pieces of bite size sushi (chutoro, sea urchin, salmon roe, shrimp, and shellfish) and 3 types of sashimi (Horse Mackerel, Tuna and white fish). Every item was so fresh. The bite size sushi was just right for me. My favorite was the horse mackerel sashimi. DH pinch on my sashimi because it was so good!

DH went for the Uogashi Nigiri set (¥2480). It had 11 pieces of sushi, and one of which was a whole conger eel. The rest of the 10 were chutoro, maguro, egg, shrimp,squid, uni, salmon roe, salmon and 2 types of white fish. These were full sized sushi. This set came with a salad.

DH couldn’t resist getting a sake(¥1140), and so he did.

The sushi here were really fresh and good and so reasonably priced too. This is going to be on my list of must eat places in Tokyo from now on!

Next up: Day 10 – Around Tokyo Station

The post Autumn in Hokkaido & Tokyo 2018 – Day 9 (Pokémon Cafe & Eating around Tokyo Station) appeared first on Mums Travels.