Travel with Blueginger: March 2020

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes memory.”

The previous blog where we talked about Mount Fuji where we spent the greatest 5 days of our lives, getting up close and personal with Fuji and strolling through the creepy notorious Aokigahara Sucide Forest.

Now we are in Tokyo which is 2hr bus ride from Mt Fuji station.

Tokyo is a well known city to everyone which do not requires any introduction. Needless to introduce, who does not know about Tokyo ? In fact we been in Tokyo for several times, so we will not go too deep in it. In fact for these 3 days here, we will cover the much quieter side of Tokyo like Ueno (this is where I visited for Sakura.), the forever busy Shibuya and a day trip to Kawasaki for the Doraemon Museum, BF is a die hard fan since he was a child!

As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to skip this city at first but I accidentally booked this hotel by mistake - FlexStay Inn Iidabashi

Address: 3-26, Shin-Ogawa-cho, Shinjuku-ku,, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan 162-0814

8 min walk from Exit B1 of Iidabashi Station

The nearest train station is Iidabashi station, which is the west end of Shinjuku, this building looks like apartment. The room is pretty well furnished.

There are many tourist staying here as well. Afterall it is rather cozy for us.

After we had settled down with our room, our first stop is to fill our tummies.

Ichiran - Ueno Branch

Address : Japan, 〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 7 Chome−1−1 アトレ上野 - located right under Ueno train station.

Glad that there is a branch here where I can buy the ready made soba for shabu shabu with my family.

This meal is long waited for, we had it last year in Hiroshima and it is the most unforgettable ramen I ever had. Worth the queue!

I think this is a smart seating system for the host waitress outside who is managing the long queue of customers.

Buy your preferred ramen here at the kiosk.

This is your personalised order chit for your preferred noodle texture, soup base etc..

We are entering the famous Ameyoko shopping street which is just opposite of Ueno train station.

Not the first time to visit here, like the previous trip this place is still ass busy as before. The feeling I have here is so differnt from the other shopping street I been to. Most of the crowd here is locals though the number of tourist seem more than my previous trip. Well, we are tourist too!! 😄

There are many cheap shops selling local products, snacks and souviniers.

Takeya Departmental Store

Address : 4-33-2, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0016

This is the every largest discount store in Tokyo since 1947. Huge purple 8-buildings discount retail offering apparel, accessories, furniture, home goods & more. Everything that you could possibly need, you’ll find in Takeya. This collective of iconic purple buildings in Ueno is a one-stop shopping destination for food, medicine, cosmetics, health food, household goods, electronics, watches, accessories, designer fashion, clothing, and furniture at discount prices. Tourist shoppers get an extra incentive, too, as it also offers duty-free shopping too.

With such services as a Duty-Free counters and free Wi-Fi, this is truly a traveller's best shopping. There are a lot to customers from Thailand, the shops are full of Thai translation and Thai speaking staffs. That is not a problem to me as I love visiting Thailand too and I have planning to visit Bangkok soon.

Proud to admit, I bought a lot of things here. But due to we are busy with shopping and carrying heavy shopping bags,. Most importantly is we are rushing back to hotel to keep our shopping then we are heading out again for supper - the famous WARASHIBE Gyoza - Thus we did not manage to snap any photos, here are the photos I got from goggle.

WARASHIBE Gyoza

Address: 1 Chome-14 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0041, Japan

Opening Hours : 1700 - 2330 8min walk from Ochanomizu Station.

Sad to say.. it is closed today due to New Years Holiday. What's so famous about this ? They serve gyoza with cheese dips!!!!

If I have the chance to come Tokyo again, I will come back here.
Here is a picture I grabbed from google.

See the sad back view of Boss... 🙁

We are left with no choice and we are hungry and we saw the nearest restaurant -
Nakau Sudachō shop

Address: Japan,101-0041 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Sudacho, 1 Chome−28 アクア神田ビル

Similar like Matsuya but totally different menu. Cheap and delicious and we feel happy to end the night.

Breakfast at Dennys to start our 8th Day. Glad that it is located minute walk from Lidabashi station.

Address: 2 Chome-3-11 Fujimi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-0071, Japan

It is a tradition for the locals to visit shrines during New Year's days. Since we are here, we should follow what the locals does..

We came across this interesting shrine here. This shrines us specially for devotees who are looking for a chance for a promotion at work.

Atago Shrine(愛宕神社)

Address: 1-5-3 Atago, Minato-ku (6 minutes walk from Kamiyacho station)

The shrine is situated on the top of Mt Atago, therefore we must conquer a flight of steep ancient stone staircase before reaching to the main hall of the shrine.

There is another interesting name for this long staircase.. it is called the "staircase to promotion" or "stairways to success.

"Success is no accident. It is perseverance and sacrifice. And the most important of all is the love and passion you have for what you are doing and learning. "

Though we visited Tokyo a few times but we have not come to this place before : Tokyo Station.

Tokyo station is a huge transportation terminal that links numerous train lines that lead to just about every corner of Japan. Here you can find the popular Shinkansen (Bullet trains), the JR Yamanote Line and other JR Lines, as well as the Tokyo Metro subways. It’s the perfect place to start your journey through the many Tokyo attractions and sightseeing tours.

The well known beautiful Marunouchi building, has a retro red brick exterior and an elegant interior is the home of a mini shopping town in the basement as well as numerous shopping malls within the vicinity.

Massive shops, restaurants, offices and exhibition spaces, are spreading from the station building to several new skyscrapers that are directly connected to the station through passageways.

Here we are at the street level where we took a stroll at the Marunouchi area of the station.

We turned our heads and see the whole station building here. .. Wow !!

Our Lunch - Dompierre Express Curry Tokyo Station

Address: Japan, 〒100-0005 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−9−1

We went to Shibuya in the late afternoon, the place is still as busy as ever.

Here BF took a photo with Hachiko who is wearing a Shimekazari.

This is 5 years ago and 5 year later today.

The main reason for us to come to Shibuya is for - Kipposhi(吉法師) - Blue Ramen

Address : 150-0041, Shibuya City 102, Jinnan, 1 Chome−11−5, Tokyo Japan - 5min walk from Shibuya
Station.

Not only is the soup blue, even the ramen is also blue, well what makes it blue is a kept secret but it
is natural blue with no chemicals.

I read on the internet before that it is actually extracted from spirulina algae which is good for body.
BUT it is closed for New Year! Here is a picture I grabbed from google.

Well Boss found this interesting restaurant instead : 串家物語渋谷店

Address : Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawacho, 23−3 渋谷第一勧銀共同ビル7F

Seeing the way they cooking or frying the food, I really wonder if they are here to play or to eat.

Our shot on Shibuya Crossing before we heading back to rest and pack up for next town tomorrow.

We start our 9th day at Becker's Cafe.

Address: 4 Chome-10-1 Iidabashi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-0072, Japan

Here we are at Noborito Station (登戸駅)

This station sound familiar ? Sound like Nobito ? That Doraemon?

Yes we are at Kawasaki, Kanagawa now and we are going to Doraemon Museum which is called Fujiko F Fujio Museum.

At Noborito JR station, look out for signs that lead you to the bus stop to the museum.

The Noborito JR station is located at 2nd floor thus, take an escalator down to the street level where the bus stop is. Per trip cost JPY230 for 5 minutes bus ride.

Everything is about Doraemon on the bus. Even the bus bell is with Doraemon's print. The seats covers are printed base on Doraemon's chest bell.

Here we are now at Fujiko F Fujio Museum

Address: 2 Chome-8-1 Nagao, Tama Ward , Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-0023 Japan - 30 minute train ride from Shinjuku station.

The museum requires reservation so that every guest could thoroughly enjoy the museum. Each day, entrance time is divided into quarterly time-schedule.(1)10:00 (2)12:00 (3)14:00 (4)16:00.

There is no ticketing booth at the museum so please get it before hand. Per adult ticket at JPY1000.

Audio guide in few languages is available for visitors to have a better understanding on the exhibits.

Fujiko F Fujio - his original name is Hiroshi Fujimoto , he is the original writer for this famous manga. Here display his original working desk, his original works as well but we cannot take any photos here. In total, there are 3 levels for this museum. Level 1 consist on the exhibition on the writer's original art works which no photograph taking allowed.

Do you know what is this ?

This basket is a baby cot, mummies can place their baby here while they can take a rest beside.

Level 2 consist of an indoor and outdoor open space where there is a library of the manga, a small cinema and Nobito's house.

The outdoor space where the folks are with the creator - Mr Fujiko. It means the folks are expressing their heartfelt thanks and friendship with Mr Fujiko.

The boys are with the big bully - Takeshi Goda.

Resting time at the indoor.

Here is the house model that makes everyone went crazy about.

We are so lucky to able to get all 4 limited edition collectible from the coin slot machine - all at first tries.

Level 3 is where the cafe is and an out-door park where most people got crazy about it. There is also a small souvenir shop here. And the main souvenir shop is located near to the exit at level 1. Here we are at the theme cafe, personally I feel the food are very pretty for photographing only.

This bread brought back alot of great memories. According to the manga, Nobita is very weak for his Maths subjects and a test is coming. Fearing to get a big scolding from his mum, he seek Doraemon for help. Doraemon gave him this bread to eat where he really got a good results to impress his mum.

So now BF ate it, his maths will have a great improvement too.

There is a big open park here outside of the cafe and we really were so excited about it. We were in the manga!!

The playground where the folks gathered to have fun or to bully around.

The Anywhere Door!

His Pet Dino!

At the other corner of this outdoor park we have...

This is Doraemon's younger sister - Dorami who lives in the 22nd century..

If you notice well, she comes with a pair of ears but Doraemon's ears are missing. Why ? It is because his ears were eaten by mouse that is why he fear of mouse in the manga.

About mid noon, we return back to Iidabashi to get our luggage to ready to move to Chiba which is the last city of our trip. Direct train ride from here is JPY730 per person and it will be an hr ride.

We have come to the end of this Blog on Tokyo, please stay tune to the coming Blog on Chiba where we visited the Legendary Kameiwa Cave, Nissan Skyline Shop and Aeronautical Science Museum.

Dear Readers,

Many thanks for your time for visiting. Kindly please like & follow my Facebaook & Instagram page : Followblueginger & Instagram Page followblueginger.

Japan is our most favourite country in the Asia. Whether is the weather, the culture, the people, the food or even the toilets, Japan won us over thoroughly for the past few years, scattering our footprints embalmed with sweet memories. If you are keen to know more about them, you are most welcome to visit further blogs of my travel to the Land of Rising Sun :