The mini carpark zone beside the hotel entrance!
Notice how we were all snuggling our hands into the pockets of our winter coats? That morning was indeed our first experience with Tokyo's cold morning wind!
As we had decided to do away with visiting the Fuji Five lakes due to its time-consuming transportation process, we have thus altered Day 3's itinery!
So the first stop is...
YANAKA!
Arriving at Yanaka, we were amazed and surprised by how Yanaka is so different from Tokyo's city areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku. It is a town seemingly untouched by rapid urbanisation and has a slow peaceful pace of life. It is so serene, so beautiful, so relaxing. It is so authentic Japanese.
Us strolling through the cemetry where the trees were washed with beautiful autumn colours.
What was amazing and different about this cemetry is that it is located amongst the houses of the locals. And locals often pass through this cemetry, visit it and even have morning jogs through it. Comparing this to Singapore, our cemetrys are located away from the residential areas (e.g. Lim Chu Kang) and are usually only visited during the Qing Ming Festival.
An elderly couple visiting the cemetry.
After the relaxing scenic stroll through the cemetry, we came across this beautiful buddhist temple. It so serene and had a strong zen feeling.
The view after entering the temple.
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It is Japanese custom for us to cleanse ourselves before proceeding into the temple for prayers.
The amazing scenic view just outside the temple. Seems like those kind of views only seen in dramas!
Bidding farewell to the temple, we continued to find our way to the Yanaka Food Street using a cute kiddish simplified map we got from the train station.
Cheryl and I!
The Japanese houses along the streets.
Finally! After asking around for directions and trying to work with our overly simplified map, we finally got a glimpse of the food street!
Tadaa! The food street! Lunch, here we come~!
The food street was a really localised and less urbanised place. The food there were relatively cheaper compared to the urbanised parts of Tokyo.
Our Lunch!! Bento Set~!! It costs only 250Yen!
Yummy looking donuts sold!! Sadly, someone lost all the donuts we've bought so we didn't get to taste them.
This yummy cat bread sticks are really worth a try! Even Yamapi had once come to try these lovely treats! ^^
After exploring the food street and getting our bento sets, we needed to find a place to settle down for lunch. The only available spot was the garden shown in the simplified map. Off we went on a LONG search for this garden. Finally, with the assistance of a kind lady, we arrived at the small but relaxing garden.
The clock at the entrance of the garden.
Everyone sitting down on the empty patch, enjoying an impromtu Bento Lunch Picnic! ^^
After lunch, we left Yanaka with lingering hearts for its nature, its beauty and its authenticity. We made our way to Shinjuku! Shinjuku, apart from Harajuku and Shibuya, is a shopping district. It is akin to Singapore's Orchard road.
A busy cross junction at Shinjuku! (Notice how they not only have vertical and horizontal zebra cossings but also diagonal ones!)
While we were in Shinjuku, we entered this mall intending to observe the shopping behaviour and consumer culture in Japan. To make learning more fun and interactive, we decided to play an impromptu "Running Man Discover Japan!"
To play this, within 30 mins, the boys were reqiured to find 6 shop staffs (3 per level of the 2 Men's clothings levels) individually (min. one male staff) and request to take a photo with them. During this mission, the girls will search and catch the guys!
After 30 mins, the boys and the girls will switch roles!
The exciting video will be uploaded soon! ^^
Want to know if the girls emerged victory or the boys own the day?
Watch the video!! ^^
Watch the video!! ^^
After a fun, enriching and heart etching learning experience in Shinjuku's mall, we left for Shimokitazawa. Shimokitazawa is like Singapore's Haji Lane and is a favourite of Japan's youths. It is filled with many "shop houses" and cafes along the streets. Not aware that Shimokitazawa was a place with mainly cafes rather than restaurants, we were searching for a restaurant for us to have dinner. What more we arrived after 6PM, the sky was already dark and as the crowd had mostly cleared. After walking and asking around with our growling stomachs, we finally arrived at a restaurant recommended by a boutique shop keeper. Upon reaching the restaurant, seeing the price of the food to be average 1000Yen per set, we were quite reluctant to spend. However, as everyone was already tired and hungry, plus it would take us more time just to find another restaurant, we decided to just settle down for dinner there.
Entering the restaurant, we were caught by many surprises! First, we were required to take off our shoes. Then we were led up this narrow and steep staircase. At that point of time, it felt kind of scary as we had no knowledge of this restaurant! Upon reaching the second level, we saw a small display of T-shirts. Seems like the restaurant was a restaurant-boutique? Then we were led into this small cosy Japanese style room where we get to sit on the tatami floors to eat our dinner.
What surprised us even more was the menu after Samuel translated it. Names of sides dishes like fertilised egg, fox meat etc. We were all taken aback! However, we later find out that there was no fox meat, it was just a literal direct translation only.. What a scare! Hahaha.. We also find out later that the ingredients for the food were are made from organic ingredients. Ultimately, we realised that the restaurant was one that advocated the use of organic ingredients, even the T-shirts we saw previously carried slogans to promote this cause. :D
Another amazing fact we learnt about the restaurant was that it does not have a fixed menu, rather, its menu changes regularly! ^^ What a cool way for customers to enjoy variety from normal ingredients!
One of the 3 different set meals which was available that day! ^^ The food was really delicious and worth its price!
After a satisfying dinner in Japanese style, we took a quick walk around Shimokitazawa. As it was already rather late, the shops were already starting to close. So, there was nothing much for us to really see. But the whole Shimokitazawa town was really pretty with all its shops built in their own individual unique style and the streets lit up with pretty lights. Maybe next time we can come here again to experience how the day time would be like! :)
Finally leaving our last destination, Shimokitazawa, we headed back to the hotel. Along the way, we passed by a Beard Papa stall in one of the train stations. Who can resist the widely famous, super delicious cream puffs from Beard Papa! ^^
TADAA!! The awesome cream puffs for ourselves! ^^
With these lovely cream puffs, we headed back to our hotel for our last night in Tokyo.
We will miss Tokyo a lot! <3
Osaka & Kyoto, here we come! ^^
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