Sunday, June 19, 2011

Good Food Finds in Tokyo, Japan

This trip to Tokyo, I discovered a few restaurants and eateries that I really love.  

AMEYOKO / UENO
One unexpected discovery was found in Ameyoko Market.


We were so tired from whole day of shopping that we just stumbled into a Yakitori restaurant that is situated nearer the Ueno end of the market.


In there, I tasted the best Yakitori I had in Japan so far. The Shitake Mushroom is a must try!! It was simply so juicy and succulent!

The rest of the items we tried in that restaurant tasted really yummilicious too. We ended up eating more than we should even though we were to have a Robatayaki dinner in 2 hour's time.

The Sasami no Ume on the top left of the picture above is really good too. This cozy eatery is run by 2 old ladies and it felt quite quaint to see ladies bosses only in a Yakitori restaurant. 

My Favourite Yakitori Store In Japan

One side of the entrance to the shop looks like this. It's beige in colour; plain and easy to miss. If you pass by it, do step in and try their superb cooking.

We had about 6 sticks of Yakitori and 1 big bottle of beer. All these added up to only 1310JPY. This is definitely one Yakitori restaurant that I am coming back.

SHIMBASHI
And of course, there's my all time favourite Robatayaki store in Shimbashi. I've dedicated one whole post to it here

Musashi

HARAJUKU
We also had the best sweet crepe in Harajuku. It was from a store located right at one end of Takeshita Dori; on the other end from the JR Harajuku Station. 


Maybe it has got to do with the weather. The crepe skin was crisp throughout and it was slightly sugared. It left such a deep impression 0n us (and I am one girl who lacks the sweet tooth) that we went about searching for a nice crepe throughout our stay in Tokyo. 

Sadly, we gain some weight in the process and yet, we didn't find anything that came close to this one. :|


SHINJUKU (West Shinjuku)
We also went back to the same restaurants at Nishi-Shinjuku to have my dry Udon, finally. The last trip, bf added soup unknowingly so we both had the dried ones this time and it was really tasty! We found it much better than the soupy ones.


And of course, we went back to the fresh seafood store by the road at night. The Oyster Sashimi BF had was huge! And the Scallop Sashimi was so fresh and tasty.


Here's a short video that captured the vibrancy of the place. And that's what we love about it; The fresh seafood that they serve up accordingly to the catch of the day and the energy there. 


They even have an English speaking staff that can assist in ordering food.

To find out how to get to these 2 restaurants, you can view my previous post here.

This trip, we also found the elusive Yakitori Alley in Shinjuku also known as Shinjuku Yakitori Yokocho or Piss Alley. I believe there's quite few of these Yakitori Yokocho in Tokyo, besides this one in Shinjuku.

Click here and here for pictures taken by other people.

 Green Signs Mark The Entrance Of The Yakitori Alleys

We did come across this place the last trip but didn't venture in. It's not as hard to find as some may say. Just take the West Exit from JR Shinjuku and walk past Uniqlo. Right after Uniqlo, turn right and walk down a little and turn left into one of the 2 alleys that run along the JR line in Shinjuku.


I've marked it out with a red circle on the map above. From across the road of the big cross junction, you'll see the bright green signage, indicating the entrance to the 2 Shinjuku Yakitori Alleys.


Having read that some of these eateries cater only to regular and discourage tourists by having a cover charge of sort to sit down, we looked out for a friendly invitation before entering the store.


The one we went to was run by Chinese, so we didn't get the authentic feel. But it was way easier to choose our food.

Yakitori Alley is indeed an interesting place to visit after work hours. It is run down, dingy, squeezy and hidden in some small alleys. Yet, this is where many Japanese working man come to unwind after a day of hard work.

For the price, it may not be worth to eat there but it's definitely interesting to go there at least once to experience Piss Alley for yourself!

SHINJUKU (South Shinjuku)
Another place that I enjoyed was Exceisior Cafe which looks like just another coffee house at Shinjuku. 


What I really like about this cafe is the big round table on the 2nd floor. It makes one feel less lonely when enjoying a cuppa alone.

Big Round Table Behind


TSUKIJI MARKET
On the last day, we were still crazily eating away before leaving Tokyo.

We made our way early in the morning to Tsukiji Market and bought some fried Fugu when we spotted this store.

Fried Fugu @ Tsukiji Market

The pieces were rather bony and didn't contain much meat but the batter was really fragrant and it kick started our morning hungry for more food.

Sashimi Breakfast in Tokyo

It is a must to do a Sashimi/Sushi breakfast at Tsukiji so I just went along with it even though the thought wasn't particularly appetizing to me that morning.


We simply ordered a dish without knowing exactly what it was. We only knew it comes with some Tuna Sushi.

Horse Sashimi

But this turned out to be the best sushi bf ever had. On 1 side of the plate is the raw meat sushi and one the other side, the same meat comes slightly cooked. It was very well done with only the top layer cooked and the freshness of the raw meat still well intact at the bottom.

I was kind of shocked when I ate a sushi that tasted like raw red meat. Before bf could ask the chef what meat it was, I gulped it down for fear of confirming that it was raw red meat that I just swallowed. And it was indeed raw horse meat! =O

SHIBUYA
Our last meal in Tokyo was also a fantastic one. It was fantastically mouth-watering and fattening!


The Omelette Rice tasted really creamy because of the cheese and sauce. And it left a lasting impression of our last meal in Tokyo.


I also tried Tokyo Banana for the first time and found it to be overrated. It is nice but there's a lot of other nicer food in Tokyo that's worth a try! I think I simply lack the sweet tooth.

In case you want to know, there's a store inside the JR Shinjuku Station near the South Exit that sells Tokyo Banana. Or you can simply purchase it tax free inside Narita Airport.


I really enjoyed eating in Tokyo this trip! Yumz!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Jiyugaoka (自由が丘), Tokyo: Charming Neighbourhood with Lovely Shops and Cafes


We arrived in Jiyugaoka (自由が丘), Tokyo on a cloudless and sunny morning. To get there, just get off at Jiyugaoka station on the intersection of Tokyu Toyoko Line and Oimachi Lines.

Beautiful Jiyugaoka

This fashionable neighbourhood was recommended by my Japanese friend and there's several nice sweet shops and interesting shopping spots in this area. In fact, I read that Jiyugaoka is ranked in the top 3 spots among young female Tokyolites as the best neighbourhood to live in Tokyo. And it's not hard to see why.

If you can afford to take one day out from your trip to relax and see how Tokyolites spend their time,  Jiyugaoka should be your choice.

Gift Shop With Many Lovely Treasures

There's many cute gifts shops along the streets and also many fashion stores that'll catch your attention.

315 Yen Shop With Many Lovelies




There's even Laura Ashley, Gap, Muji and many more big brands in this cozy residential neighbourhood.




Pet Shop

One Of The Many Sweets Shops Jiyugaoka Is Known For


I Love Alice In Wonderland~~

We randomly stepped into one of the many cafes in Jiyugaoka and I was so happy to see the Alice In Wonderland crockery. We spent more than an hour chilling at this cute cafe and taking shelter from the strong afternoon sun.

See more pictures of this charming restaurant here.

Award Winning Crepe


Now, you can understand too why Jiyugaoka is so loved right? We ended the visit by enjoying a crepe and drinks along the street above, just like the many mothers spending time with their young children there too. I'm glad we visited this trendy neighbourhood.

Here's some more nice pictures of Jiyugaoka from Danny Choo's website.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Musee Platinum Singapore IPL GSS Promotion

I went for my other round of IPL treatment a few days back and want to share the current promotions.

Good news that the $138 Unlimited Underarms Promo is back for now. 

And there's an ongoing June "Get Spoiled in Seoul" promotion as follow:


For those who hav ebeen asking me about the Brazilian IPL, you can check out the rates here. On top of this, you can even get FREE Unlimited Underarms IPL sessions. Such a good deal right??


I looked back and realised it has been a year since I signed up with Musee and I can gladly say that I am a very happy customer so far. And do quote me for your FREE Upper Lip IPL if you intend to sign up with them too: 81005130

For my last session, it was completed very fast in less than 40 mins and I must say that the therapist are getting more experienced in hair removal. Fast and good, I like! =)

Read more (member no.: 81005130):

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Hakone & Mt Fuji & Gotemba Premium Outlets Day Trip with Hakone Free Pass

We have yet to see Mt Fuji so we wanted to view it this trip to Tokyo. Having read that you gotta be pretty lucky for Mt Fuji to show itself to you in Spring and Summer, we decided to visit Hakone (one of the few spots to view Mt Fuji) so that we can enjoy the scenery and visit one of the many Onsens even if the weather let us down on that day.


In case you didn't know, the best times to catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji is during the Autumn and Winter seasons, especially from Dec to Feb when the weather gets drier. Also, visibility tends to be better in the morning so do check the weather forecast before heading to Hakone to view the majestic Mt Fuji.


Anyway, we got our tickets for the 2 days Hakone Free Pass at 5,000JPY each on the 1st day we arrived in Tokyo. Since we were staying in Shinjuku area already, it was very convenient to walk to the West Exit of the JR Shinjuku Station to get more information from the Hakone Sightseeing Service Counter.

Odakyu Sightseeing Service Counter @ Shinjuku

Odakyu Romance Car Ticket Counter

If you prefer, you can also top up 870JPY for a ride in the Romance Car which will bring you to Hakone Yumoto by half an hour faster in 1.5 hours time.

We went for the normal Odakyu Express train, reaching Hakone in 2 hours instead.

Odakyu Line West Ground Gate Entrace @ Shinjuku

To get to the Odakyu Line, just look out for the West Ground Gate which is situated on the ground floor of the JR Shinjuku West Exit. We started our day very early the next morning taking the 7.01am train. To check the trains schedule, just go to www.hyperdia.com as usual.

Shortly after getting on the train, we snoozed all the way to Odawara even though we had a cup of coffee each.

View On Train From Odawara to Hakone Yumoto

You'll need to get off and change train at Odawara to Haknoe Yumoto and this journey is a short 15 mins one.

The journey and rides from here onward are all scenic ones and it was a really enjoyable way to start the day, especially after napping in the first leg of our journey. Hehe...

Hakone Tozan Railway

We took the classic "round course" way up but it wasn't a round course because we didn't take the same way back to Shinjuku, Tokyo. Instead, we were a little more ambitious and headed to Gotemba Premium Outlets after Hakone.


You can refer to the round course and the estimated travel time from here and this is our modified course:
  1. Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto 1150JPY
  2. Hakone-Yumoto to Gora 390JPY (We didn't get off to visit the museum etc. and continue to Sounzan) 
  3. Gora to Sounzan 410JPY
  4. Sozan to Togendai 1330JPY
  5. Togendai to Moto-Hakone (we didn't get off the Pirate Boat at Haakone-machi) 970JPY
  6. Moto-Hakone to Togendai 970JPY
  7. Togendai to Gotemba Premium Outlets
  8. Gotemba Premium Outlets to Shinjuku
The transport cost without using the Hakone Free Pass is in red. Do a fast calculation and you'll realise it's cheaper buying the pass and definitely less of a hassle searching for cash to make payment.

On The Way Up To Gora

Gora Station



View From Hakone Tozan Cablecar

It is indeed a scenic route up to Hakone and I would highly recommend you give this a try instead of taking the bus.

On The Way Up!

Smells of Sulphur Surround Us

Famous Owakudani Black Eggs

There's both half boiled eggs and hard boiled eggs available at Owakudani. These eggs have a slight sulphur smell to them and it's believed that you'll live 7 years more with every eggs you eat.

Buying the Hard Boiled Eggs

View From The Top

After buying the eggs, you can eat them on the spot on the many benches available right in front of the black egg store.


Feeling somewhat overloaded with eggs, we traveled on to take the famous Pirate Boat across Lake Ashi.


By the way, all our transport are covered by the Hakone Free Pass and it takes about 30 mins to cross Lake Ashi. 

Hotel @ Moto-Hakone Pier

We didnt get off at Moto-Hakone and continued by boat onwards to Hakone-Machi. You can also walk to Hakone-machi from Moto-Hakone if you can spare the time. I'm sure it'll be a lovely walk and it takes about 20 to 30 mins only.  

On good days, the magnificent Mt Fuji can be viewed on Lake Ashi but no such luck for us.


As you can see, dark clouds came our way by the time we reached Hakone-machi.


Feeling a little hungry, we had our lunch at one of the many restaurants along the street.


And I have eggs AGAIN for lunch. :S


With a hearty meal, we took our time to stroll along the lake to Hakone Shrine. I think we really enjoyed ourselves that day laughing and just relaxing as we walk along the lake. The air was fresh and the mood was calm. I really had fun!

To get to Hakone Shrine, just walk along the lake after turning left from the pier.


You'll come to a long road leading to the bright orange Hakone Shrine gates. 



Purification Fountain

You can read about how to visit a Japanese shrine here.


The Hakone Shrine is beautiful with its bright orange and red colour and I went shutter crazy.



Chinese Influences

Torii Gates

We read about the Hakone Shrine Torii gates here and this was one of the reasons why we decided to visit the Hakone Shrine. The gates can be seen from the Pirate Boat when approaching Hakone-machi and it's bright and grand.
Lovely Path Leading Back To Pier

Satisfied with all our photo taking, we headed back to Togendai for the bus to Gotemba Premium Outlets. Do note the timing for the last boat out from Hakone-machi. If I remembered correctly, it is 4pm. If you cannot get out in time, you may need to spend an a slow and quiet night at Hakone. ;)



Upon reaching Togendai, just check with the information counter what bus to take to Gotemba Premium Outlets. The bus will take you to Gotemba Station where you're required to change to the free shuttle bus to the premium outlets. This bus is yet again covered by the Hakone Free Pass.

My favourite scenic route in Hakone is actually the ride from Togendai to Gotemba Premium Outlets. It is a pity that it was raining then and everywhere I looked was wet... But the Onsens and numerous Ryokens that was situated along the road was charming!

My Japanese friend told me that we should have stayed overnight or give the Onsen a try because Hakone is one of the best places for hot springs. Some Onsens even have views of Mt Fuji. Hhhhmmmm....bliss! But tattoos are banned in Onsens so no hot springs for us.



Anyway, we arrived in Gotemba while it was still raining and the cheaper umbrellas from the vending machine were sold out by then. To cross over from the East side to the West, I had no choice but to buy a cutesy polka dotted brolly.



Ta-da, it stopped raining after a while and I just had to pose with my new super thin brolly.


We had a quick bite before leaving and Mt Fuji came out to say bye. Although we didn't get to see the magnificent mountain at Lake Ashi, we saw its silhouette when crossing the bridge. And I think you can even make out the snow capped tip from the pic.

A surprise goodbye moment from Hakone.... =)

Do note that the last Odakyu Bus out of Gotemba Station to Shinjuku is the 8pm bus. If you miss the bus, you can take the JR train back to Tokyo too. With the Hakone Free Pass, just top up 850JPY for the journey back to Shinjuku Bus Terminal and you can also reserve your seats in advance at the service counter.

I enjoyed my Hakone day trip and hope you'll have a good time there too!