Posts filed under ‘Japan’
<3 Koreans
Why Koreans are the most godly nationality on the planet:
1) StarCraft
2) Nam Hyun Joon:
3) So Nyeo Shi Dae (SNSD):
CFA begins
I just gots my CFA material delivered the other day. It’s like a book-mountain.
This box is heavier than it looks
I count... 4000 pages. sexy.
This is what the Archmage reads in his spare time, when he gets bored at the Arcane Sanctuary in the magical kingdom of Dalaran.
Plane crazy
I totalled 9 plane rides over the entire trip. So did I get sick of it? not really.
1) Japan Airlines – JL1619
Aircraft: Airbus A300-600
Route: Tokyo Haneda – Hiroshima
Japan Airlines terminal at Haneda Airport
Taking off from Tokyo Haneda Airport:
Landing at Hiroshima Airport:
I wish CityRail would hire that Jap flight attendant lady to do their announcements, ❤
Cathay Pacific – CX110
Aircraft: A330-300
Route: Sydney – Hong Kong
Flight CX110 at Sydney Airport
Take off from Sydney:
Landing at Hong Kong:
Cathay Pacific – CX504
Aircraft: B747-400
Route: Hong Kong – Tokyo Narita
CX504 at HKIA
Kobe
Kobe is a cute little city located west of (and overshadowed by) the much larger Osaka city. It’s touristy-free and very hip.
JR Kobe Station
We had to walk through several interconnected underground malls from Kobe Station (Zoe naturally took the opportunity to do some shopping), before we could reach Kobe Bay. We timed it for sunset but the clouds ruined our plans. It was still very nice and relaxing to be away from Osaka.
Kobe Bay at dusk
We mucked around and stayed in the same spot for quite a while before moving along. It felt almost like I was in Darling Harbour in Sydney again.
Along the water of Kobe Bay was a very hip and trendy “playground” called Mosaic Garden with shopping, restaurants, arcades and a mini amusement park with a ferris wheel (which is compulsory for every self respecting city in Japan).
Entrance to Mosaic Garden
Cutesy shopping in Kobe
I couldn’t believe it, but there was a Snoopy shop in Kobe… (Theres another Snoopy Town Tokyo posted separately)
Suction-cup Snoopy ¥1490
We picked up 2 cute suction-cup Snoopy’s to stick on my mums car windscreen (it’s a navy blue Honda Jazz) as a present.
The shopping arcade soon ended but we continued to walk along the water and through the CBD.
The entire Kobe CBD consists of 3 buildings
A memorial to the Kobe Earthquake that killed 6,400 people in 1995
Kyu-kyoryuchi (旧居留地) district features 19th century Western-style architecture where foreign consulates and banks built their offices.
Chinatown Kobe, selling jap-influenced (i.e. bland tasting) Shanghai buns, dumplings and dim sims.
On the train back to Osaka ( But it wasn't just the train that I wanted to take a photo of though... )
Takoyaki? Food in Osaka
Osaka is the perfect place in Japan to pig out. Street food heaven. Beats any district in Tokyo for taste, variety and price. Also better than China or Hong Kong (and don’t have to worry about food poisoning afterwards 🙂 )
Where to begin?
1. Okonomiyaki & Yakisoba @ Okonomiyaki Sakura (JR Umeda)
Osaka-style okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) & soba noodles cooked live on the table hot plate. Smothered in Japanese mayonnaise and BBQ sauce. Mind-blowingly delicious.
Okonomiyaki Sakura
Pork Okonomiyaki ¥750, $12.50
Squid Yakisoba ¥700, $11.50
Random jap guy
Food – 5 / 5
Environment – 3 / 5
Value for Yen – 4 / 5
2. Takoyaki @ street stall in Umeda
Freshly made takoyaki (たこ焼き) – grilled octopus balls. Then covered with dried bonito shavings and mayonnaise.
Hot takoyaki action
Takoyaki 6pc ¥350, $5.80
Food – 4 / 5
Environment – 3/5
Value for Yen – 4 / 5
3. Sushi combo lunch @ Dotonbori, Namba Osaka
sashimi ingredients bar
I ticked off another “to do” item for Japan: eat some whale. With all the Japanese whaling controversy in the media, I wanted to see first hand just how great the whale tasted especially since the crazy Japanese refuse to give it up.
Zoe tried the Puffer fish sushi. Also notoriously famous for being poisonous if not properly prepared at the hands of a skilled sushi chef
Whale sushi (left) and Puffer sushi (right) side by side
I only recently discovered my camera had a “macro close-up zoom” function when I took these photos:
Body of Whale Tail Sushi ￥525, $8.75
Puffer Sushi ￥315, $5.25
The whale sushi wasn’t exactly delicious. It was very, very meaty, and came with a chewy texture. Served cold (and raw). The whale itself probably came out from Australian waters 🙂
In addition to our special sushi treat, we also ordered off the standard lunch menu
Sushi Set ￥714, $12
Tempura Shrimp ￥780, $13
Dotonbori in Namba Osaka during lunchtime
Food – 4 / 5
Atmosphere – 3 / 5
Value for Yen – 4 / 5
4. Sushi Train @ Nipponichi (Nankai)
Cheapest sushi in the area. Definitely one of the best, judging by the size of the queue that snaked out the door.
Every plate on the conveyor belt was ￥130, or $2!! Seriously, there’s not much in life that you can buy for 2 bucks. Ok maybe a cheeseburger.
Entrance to Nipponichi Sushi Train
Outside sushi display
yummyyyy
Zoe eyeing off the sushi
Unagi Sushi (Roast Eel) ¥130, $2
Shrimp Sushi ¥130, $2
Raw fatty belly of salmon
Sea Urchin Eggs ¥130, $2
Salmon Roe ¥130, $2
One slice of honeydew melon ¥130, $2 (targetted at foreigners starved of fruit)
the remains of our piggy-ness
We weren’t finished there. I stepped outside the restaurant and caught a scent of takoyaki nearby. So naturally I helped myself to another 6 pack, while zoe bought a red bean fish custard from next door
6pcs takoyaki ¥500, $8
Red bean fish custard (¥200, $3.50). Zoe already chewed off the head, but I was too busy eating to take a photo.
Dotonbori in Namba, Osaka during night time
That’s it for the food photos in Osaka. Basically our last day in Japan was spent restaurant-hopping (and street stall hopping) around the Namba area of Osaka until we were stuffed senseless. If only I had taken more photos…
Asahi Beer vending machine in our hostel
Osaka - Home of the Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd.
(There is also the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka. One of the highlights in Japan. My visit is posted here: https://stepyou.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/the-momofuku-ando-instant-ramen-museum-osaka/)
The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum Osaka
“Instant noodles, Instant fun” – is how I would describe the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (インスタントラーメン発明記念館) in Osaka. It is easily one of the most worthwhile visits in Japan, and best of all, free.
The museum bit is no joke – it is dedicated to the history and achievements of the universal Cup Noodle and to it’s inventor, Mr. Momofuku Ando, a minor legend in Japan and the founder of the Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd that we all know and love.
At the entrance to the museum is a statue of Momofuku Ando himself standing on top of a giant Cup Noodle holding a packet of instant ramen in Chairman Mao pose.
#1 Instant Noodle fanboy
Lets go inside the museum
It all began here in his makeshift laboratory in his backyard shed in 1958 (replica). After seeing so many people that were left hungry from the food shortages after WW2, Mr Ando dedicated himself to make a food that could be eaten "anytime, anywhere".
The revolving giant Cup Noodle. The Cup Noodle has been eaten over 100 billion times (says Nissin).
Nissin & NASA: Instant Noodles in Space. Instant noodles were created to be eaten easily and safely in zero gravity
We then take a step back through time to the best exhibit yet: The Instant Ramen Tunnel with “more flavours than could fill any supermarket aisle”.
The entire catalogue of every Nissin Instant Noodle ever produced.
1958: Chicken Instant Ramen
1968: The first ever 出前一丁, now my staple diet when running low on cash
1971: The first ever Cup Noodle
2009: Nissin products on sale in domestic Japan
In the next room is a workshop “My Cup Noodle Factory” where little kids get to decorate a blank Cup, then it gets packaged with real instant noodle inside and shrink-packaged forever to keep as a souvenir.
Finally, the tour of the museum ends in a “lunch room” where Nissin Cup Noodles are dispensed from a vending machine, and visitors get to sample unique flavours of noodles that don’t make it to the supermarket. The lunch room also features a TV that will continuously be blaring out Nissin advertisements on very high rotation.
The lunch room
tough decisions: tofu puff or egg?
We used the hot water dispenser, then bought a can of coke, and that was lunch. And it was also the end of the tour of the museum.
Momofuku Ando: “Human Beings are Noodle Beings”.
Kyoto – New Years Day 2009
Going to the temple first thing on new years’ day is a tradition for most Japanese families, to pray for the new year. We followed the hordes of Japanese (and tourists) climing the steep alleyway to Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺 – pure water temple).
Because it was a new year, there were many young Japanese girls in their traditional kimono gear – flowery dress, funky hair, white socks and sandals. I just had to take a photo (see below) because of the nice purple-and-pink fluffy kimono and awesome hair. Her dad did the picture-taking.
After the brief photo stop, it was another 20mins before we reached the entrance of the temple
collection of temple "lucky charm" on sale
temple grounds
It was about 3.30pm which meant time for the sunset. The great thing about climbing uphill for so long to reach the temple is that from where we were standing, we had a great view over Kyoto city.
sunset over Kyoto city
Zoe takes a drink from the temple’s “pure water” which came from the waterfall nearby. All the visitors drank from the little tin cups.
A last glance at the temple on our way out
For dinner we headed to the district of Gion, famous for being the hometown of the Geisha. We did prow the streets and back alleyways for a little while, but didnt see any (damn). We gave up and went window shopping instead.
some dark alleyway in Gion
mini kimono sandals
cutesy mini sushi embroidery ¥150, $2.50
cute puffy cake slice ¥300, $5
puffy vegetable pieces (¥300, $5)
All this food reminded me of dinner, so we went to a nearby cheap eatery that specialised in Kyoto style okonomiyaki
okonomiyaki store entrance
whats cookin - fresh batch all ready for us to eat
Zoe was so hungry, she actually couldn't wait for me to take a photo
After dinner we went back to our not-so-spectacular budget hotel accommodation. Apart from the very nice and friendly husband-and-wife team who run the family business, this place is very run down and definitely not recommended. It is called Station Ryokan Seiki.
Station Ryokan Seiki
Tokyo – Shinjuku
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Apart from the gargantuan size of this building, there was almost nothing else that was interesteing.
The next time we came back to Shinjuku was at night (the area really comes alive), when all the students and couples roam the streets for dinner, shopping, karoake, games, etc
Shinjuku station east
piggy noodle house
McPork (¥120, $2)
It was in Shinjuku maccas that I discovered the wonderful McPork burger. One fillet of pork, plus lettuce and a touch of marinade…. so, so yummy. For $2, it beats a cheeseburger anyday. In fact, the McPork was so good and cheap that it became my staple diet for several days.
Kabukicho entrance
The district of Kabukicho (歌舞伎町) in Shinjuku is Tokyo’s notorious red-light district. Zoe let me “walk alone” for a little bit, and almost straight away I began to get harrassed by hustlers inviting me inside (in broken english). I thought there were meant to be girls in mini skirts??
Anyway, in Kabukicho they let you pre-choose a scenario that you want the girl to role-play before you enter. So much choice – there were the usual suspects like schoolgirl, business woman, etc. wow. I told the dude that I wanted “nurse” scenario 😉
“Noo proo-bo-blemu, only ¥7000 ($116) for FORTY min-uto, you can touch here”. Then he grabbed his own nipple. I think he was suggesting that any bb action was pre-packaged in the price, hahaha.
The last piece of Shinjuku worth mentioning was our hotel “Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku”. Brand new building, perfect location. Very comfy bed. Much recommended.
Tokyo – Ginza
Ginza oozes snob appeal with its many upscale fashion brands and restaurants, which line the immaculately maintained sidewalks of Chuo-dori and Harumi-dori.
Tokyo Metro sign w/ Japanese flag. Patriotic...
It was window-shopping delight as we stood outside the perfectly polished displays from Cartier, Chanel, Swarovski, etc. going “oooooh…shiny”
so..so..shiny
Apple store Ginza, housed in a pearly white cube
The prestigious Wako department store
Very cute Chinese cow-year stationery from Tokyo Kyuukyodo (東京鳩居堂）
Even the local Hello Kitty store, was unbelievably posh. At the entrance, we were greeted by:
Hello Kitty with bling (¥682500, $11375)
It’s head was about the size of a soccer ball. Covered in diamonds.
Hello Kitty neck-ties (¥2000, $33)
I bought the blue Hello Kitty tie on the far right. And I have no problems with my masculinity, really.
To prove my manhood, I will also upload these photos of some cars that I took from the Nissan Gallery in Ginza. Don’t ask me what model though, I have no idea.
New Years Eve – Tokyo 2008
Our New Years Eve night began at about 7pm in Shibuya. In fact it started in Shibuya Crossing, where the population density fluctuates between – crowded, extremely crowded and unbearably crowded. Shibuya is also home to more two-storey TVs than any other area in the world.
Shibuya Crossing
7pm: Zoe and I then had our last dinner/meal for 2008 – soup ramen is unbeatable when it’s close to zero degrees outside.
Miso Ramen
Miso Ramen w/ egg
Bar seating only. At least everyone looks warm and happy
Shibuya got boring after a while (all the shops were closed), so we headed towards the clubbing paradise Roppongi. By Japanese standards, Roppongi hass a slightly dangerous reputation. But it’s still safer than pretty much every area in Sydney. Zoe and I followed advice and stayed away from drunken fights and dodgy African hustlers.
10pm: The main street Gaien-higashi-dōri (外苑東通り is where everything starts – clubs, clubs and more clubs. And I walked past all of them. I actually saw Tokyo Tower in the distance and wanted to spend NYE there instead (last minute change of plan). Strangely, we visited Tokyo Tower just earlier that afternoon from Hamamatsuchō
Tokyo Tower (from Hamamatsuchō side)
Tokyo Tower again from Hamamatsuchō side
It was Japan’s answer to Paris’ Eiffel Tower – just a bit more modern looking and also 13m taller. Its not very practical – mainly used as a tourist trap, and also gives Godzilla something to destroy every now and then.
Tokyo Tower from Roppongi side (11pm)
11pm: We joined the massive queue for tickets to go up to the main observatory. The place was swarming with Japanese couples and tourists everywhere.
Main entrance
11.30pm: Outside the lifts
The wait was all worth it in the end. We arrived at the top observatory at about 11.30pm, just in time to secure a window spot.
11.45pm: looking back at Roppongi
Countdown party
We did our New Year’s countdown right there, on top of Tokyo Tower, along with everyone on the dimly lit podium. Strangely enough, the countdown was done English, not Japanese. That was great, because counting backwards from 10 would really test my Japanese skillz.
1am: Tokyo Tower 2009
A Happy New Year
It was about 2am when Zoe and I were like, “Well dude, where to next?”. We didn’t have a hotel room for that night which means we were homeless. So we went back to Roppongi to bum around.
Gaien higashi dōri, Roppongi
The entire Tokyo police force must have been on that street, in proportion to the population of rowdy drunk foreigners.
2am: We were pretty hungry (and sleepy too, but more hungry than sleepy). There is only one place to go at 2am for food, and that is of course –
2am: McDonald's + Starbucks
Thats right, no prizes for getting that right. We shared a shake shaka chicken (¥120, $2), a McPork burger (¥120, $2) and white chocolate (¥460, $7.50). mmmm yum…..
4am: After supper we went to Manga Hiroba, which is a 24 hour comic library + internet cafe. For ¥600 ($10) for 3 hours, I was given this:
4am: My bed for the night
Amazingly comfy leather seat for reading, Internet, or sleeping/crashing. I planned my time perfectly for 1 episode of prison break, then a 2 hour nap session. Zoe spent the whole night on facebook, or at least thats what she said…
6am: Surprisingly it wasn’t too hard to wake up at 6am, maybe because I got used to it from CompSci assignments. We looked pretty terrible though, as we went to catch the morning trains, big puffy eye-bags and all.
Outside Roppongi station at 6am
So that became our NYE and last night in Tokyo. We took the bullet train out after that.
ayumieeee 