Thursday 19 June 2014

The Tokyo Trip


Senso-ji Temple at Asakusa

I have planned this since the beginning of this year and was glad that I finally visited Tokyo with my family on June this year. My wife and I have been fascinated by Japan when we visited it a decade ago. We were impressed by the Japaneses' politeness and service level, great food and marvelous shrines and temples. Being on a guided tour, we did not bother to do any homework and follow blindly where the tour bus brought us to. I remembered I was totally awed and confused when the tour guide showed us the complicated train network at a train station. I was silently relieved then that I did not need to navigate the dense transport network. My role then was to enjoy the good food and scenery at the Land of the Rising Sun.

Toriis at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
10 years down the road, the "complicated train network" nightmare came to haunt me when we planned to re-visit Tokyo on a free and easy trip. The same "awed and confused" feeling struck me again when I scanned through train map. Terms like "Yamanote Line, Fukutoshin Line, Saikyo Line Rapid,  Keio Line Express,   Marunouchi Line,  Tobu Tojo Line Semi-Express etc" were like Japan secret codes to me. It was a struggle at first but after deciphering and understanding how the train network operated, it became plain sailing. I am not going too much into this but will be sharing some of my tips at traveling in Tokyo at a later blog.

Full bloom flowers at Hase-dera Temple at Kamakura

My 11 days trip in Tokyo would take us to the following area:

(For a detailed itinerary, please Like our Facebook page and contact me by Email)

Day 1: Arrived at Tokyo
Day 2: Harajuku-Meiji Shrine, Togo Shrine, Takeshita Dori Street
Day 3: Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty Land)
Day 4: Asakusa-Senso-ji,Temple Nakamise Dori Street, Sumida River,
            Tokyo Skytree
Day 5: Kamakura-Komachi Dori Street ,Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine
           Hasedera Temple, Kotokuin Temple(Daibutsu), Inamuragasaki beach
Day 6: Tokyo Disneysea
Day 7: Tsukiji Market, Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple
            Imperial Palace
Day 8: Ikebukero
Day 9: Ueno -Ueno Park and Zoo,Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple, Benten-do, 
            Shinobazu pond, Ameyoko Dori Street        
Day 10: Kawagoe-Kurazukuri zone (Old Storehouse Zone)
Day 11: Back to Singapore 

Family photo with Sumida River, Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Hall

Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo does not changed much since my last visit. But do not get me wrong, it's charm still remains. This trip has helped me uncovered more of Tokyo and to savour authentic Japanese food at will. My family (especially my wife!) enjoyed great shopping experience that we must always resist  the urge to grab everything from the shops' displays and shelves!

Do follow my later blogs as I share my delightful experience at the different parts of Tokyo.

See you soon! 

Related Posts: Meiji Jingu Shrine-Tokyo, Japan;Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty Land); Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple; The Tokyo Skytree and Sumida River; Day Trip at Kamakura (Part 1)-The Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine; Day Trip at Kamakura (Part 2)- The Hase-dera Temple; Day Trip at Kamakura (Part 3)-The Daibutsu, Great Buddha of Kamakura; Day Trip at Kamakura (Part 4)-The Inamuragasaki Beach

Daibutsu at Kamakura

For Your Pinning

29 comments:

  1. sounds like a great trip! will be looking forward to your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, just came across your blog and it made for an interesting read. Especially, I could so well relate with your Japan posts, since I had been to the country myself on a visit recently and the experience was overwhelming. I have been also traveling quite a bit around the world, but nothing could egg me to pen down my experiences as much as Japan.
    Would love to share my experience with you. Do visit if you are free:
    http://wanderlustgnome.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi dwaita, thanks for your visit! Yep, Japan is always a place one would never forget after visiting.

      Delete
  3. I am dying to go to Japan. I had a layover there last year but it was only for two hours. I wanted so bad to run outside. I love looking at pictures of it. The temples are all so colorful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jennifer, you shall visit Japan. I never get tired of their temples and shrines and not to mention that their foods are always so unforgettable :-)

      Delete
  4. Wow! Thanks for sharing. We'll be heading in November, can't wait enough! :) May I know what camera/lens did you used during these trips? thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi 117raptor, thanks for the visit. I used a Canon EOS 550D camera and 2 canon lenses (EFS 18-55mm & EFS 55-250mm). Wishing you a great and memorable trip in Tokyo :-)!

      Delete
  5. Loved Tokyo!
    Too bad I missed out on that beautiful temple in Asakusa...
    Seems like you've traveled a lot around in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Japan is a beautiful country. I hope to visit it very soon again.

      Delete
  6. this is realy nice post thanks for shearing it we also offer Japan Travel at affordable price Contact Now!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I visit Tokyo almost every other year & I'm still very confused with the train system. Even my Japanese friends said the same thing, so we're not alone. Sometimes they take the wrong train too. Lol! Your post makes me wanna book another trip right now! Happy holidays, Paul! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Complicated and Convenient-that's my conclusion on Japan Train System haha...Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  8. absolutely wonderful post about hunting,
    Bezoar ibex hunting

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have gone through and found your blog very helpful for getting information about the traveling,.
    Dubai Desert Safari

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great post! The fact that you means someone is reading and liking it! Congrats!That’s great advice.
    group tours tokyo

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like your article about Travel Bugs seems quite interesting.
    Do visit our website for more tourism packages: http://www.travelojapan.com

    Japan Tour Operator | Japan Travel Agent | Japan Travel Agency

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers except this post is truly a pleasant post, keep it up.

    ac repair dubai
    ac maintenance dubai

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your personalty very best and best place visit... quad biking dubai

    ReplyDelete
  14. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.

    visit : swimming pool maintenance dubai

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nice blog !!
    I appreciate this article ,it give the information about the travling bugs.Japan Cherry Blossom Tours

    ReplyDelete
  16. Very update blog, i will follow next time, thanks for this good idea

    ReplyDelete
  17. Amazing Your vacation with family is very fun, lots of new things you get there huh. Thank you for sharing your vacation experiences and knowledge. theapartmentsubud.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. There's no doubt that Tokyo has many amazing places to explore for travellers.
    protect your home while you're on trip

    ReplyDelete
  19. incredible information.
    Thanks admin.
    do you ever visit pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Majorca holiday seasons : Majorca or perhaps Mallorca will be paradise. I am right now there me personally. Using a radiant nightlife and also awesome beautiful opinions and also shorelines, this kind of greatest of most Speaking spanish tropical isle clothes Speaking spanish getaway chart together with above 3 hundred, 000 month to month looks for Majorca on your own. When you are looking for a celebration spot or perhaps a way to take the particular calm ornamented of course, Majorca can be your finest guess.Checkout uzbekistan things to do

    ReplyDelete
  21. Essentially the most exceptional spots that is known, economic crisis holiday to The island of oahu is usually a little bit complicated as well as confusing. Ok, i'll consider a few moments of their time plus talk about most of one of the best elements along with many of the tips I've acquired for you to strike the land running-it's expensive to come to Hawaii islands, also check out Snorkeling big island of hawaii pricey to keep here. Within these tight global financial periods an individual might as well enjoy your journey expense when you're a tad prepared. Ok, i'll help to make some suggestions with regards to browsing Explore realistically in addition to correctly, in order to optimize your fun.

    ReplyDelete