Japan 2013: Traditional Meets Modern Art

Nee-chan took care of almost everything for our trip but I contributed a few must-see places myself and Tokyo Trick Art Museum (TTAM) was one of them. I've been to Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae (South Korea) last year and had so much fun. I wanted my family to experience it as well so I made sure to include TTAM in our itinerary.

We've been to Odaiba once for Miraikan, Gundam and Toyota MegaWeb. But you see, one day is simply not enough to see all the sights and attractions Odaiba has to offer.

Odaiba day 2!

TTAM is located at Decks Tokyo Beach, a mall divided into two areas: Sea Side Mall and Island Mall. If it isn't obvious enough, it's a beach-themed mall - two of my favorite places in one! So if you're a beach lover like me, you'll fall in love with it's calming interiors too.

Japan 2013: Visiting My Neighbor Totoro

Animation has always been a part of my life as I grew up watching cartoons as a kid, anime as a teenager and animated films from childhood up to now. So imagine my excitement upon visiting a museum entirely dedicated to one of my favorite animation studios - Studio Ghibli.

My Neighbor Totoro

Tonari no Totoro (となりのトトロ) or My Neighbor Totoro was the first Ghibli film I've ever seen and I just fell in love with Studio Ghibli right then and there, especially Hayao Miyazaki's work. So being surrounded by everything Ghibli is a dream come true for me. It's the closest thing to seeing the animated films I've grown to love come to life.

Admission to the Ghibli Museum is limited per day and tickets should be purchased prior to your visit. Chances of walk-in visits are absolutely slim as tickets run out fast. You see, tickets come with an appointed entry time to avoid crowds. But even with the scheduling, the place was still pretty packed even on a weekday! I guess everyone's crazy about Ghibli.

How to get to Ghibli Museum

To get to the museum, you can either walk or take the community bus from Mitaka Station. We availed the round trip tickets for only 300円 each. You can easily spot the community bus even from afar as it's painted yellow and has Ghibli written all over it. I got all excited upon getting on the bus as it might be the closest thing I'll ever get to riding the nekobasu (cat bus).

Museum tickets are already as good as souvenirs.

Upon arriving at the museum, we exchanged our Lawson-bought paper tickets to the real museum tickets which were something much more magical - a film strip with frames from your favorite Ghibli films. Lucky I got a Ponyo one!

The entire place screams Ghibli from the lush greenery to the outdoor fixtures to the museum's layout to the furniture inside. It's like being transported to another world especially created for you by the creative and magical minds behind Studio Ghibli.

Welcome to Ghibli Museum!

Before going into any of the exhibits, we decided to catch the featured film at the Saturn Theater. I had no idea what to expect so I squealed a little upon seeing Mei! I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE SHOWING AN EPILOGUE OF TOTORO!!!! :(( If you've seen Tonari no Totoro or any Ghibli film, you know how they don't really end films. Sure, there's a conclusion but you always end up guessing what might've happened afterwards which is what I actually love since it makes you invested in the story. Of course, I won't spoil the short for you but it was a relief to see the characters again. And I love how you don't need to be fluent in Japanese  to understand the story as it had little dialogue. That's the beauty of Ghibli films. Who needs words when they can make you fall in love with characters who don't even speak? Instead of speaking through words, the characters speak through their emotions.

Look, it's the susuwatari (house sprites that look like dust bunnies)!

Being in the museum itself is a wonderful experience. It's like walking inside a storybook so taking photos, videos or even the use of mobile phones are prohibited inside the museum. Instead of looking through lenses and viewfinders, the museum encourages the visitors to completely immerse themselves in the exhibits by experiencing it first-hand. The only souvenirs you'll need are the memories you create in the museum and those available at the shop.

From what I remember, there were four indoor exhibits. The first exhibit showcased different Ghibli films where I fell in love with all the installations. However, two especially stood out. The first one being the circular display of what seemed like ordinary (c'mon who are we kidding, this is Ghibli we're talking about!) figurines of Totoro characters in different poses. When the wheel that the figurines stand on spins fast, it makes the characters come alive right before your eyes. It's like watching an old school animation, only this one's in 3D. Too cool! And my other favorite is the mini animation studio where you can watch how animated films are made - from hand-drawn drawings to the screen. I literally spent minutes watching the whole process over and over again. Not to mention crying a little from the short. I love how every Ghibli film tugs at your heartstrings which goes to show how passionate these animators are in their craft.

Love their attention to detail!

The second exhibit showcased Hayao Miyazaki's early works. From mere sketches to full-blown storyboards to movie stills. Photographs of locations that inspired the films were also on display. You can actually flip through some of his work and I noticed how every Ghibli fan handled the books with care and respect as if they're leafing through a historical artifact or a holy book.

The third exhibit featured Japan's animation history and showcased different styles of drawings which was awesome. But compared to the other exhibits, this one seems just alright. And the last exhibit is both my favorite and least favorite among the indoor exhibits. I love it because it features a huge furry nekobasu (cat bus) and at the same time, I hate it because only school children and younger are allowed to play in it. So unfair!!!! :((

With the robot and command cube from Laputa.

After hoarding tons of Ghibli merch (both for omiyage and personal use) from the souvenir shop, we went on to explore the vicinity of the museum where photos are highly encouraged. I was ecstatic upon seeing this life-size robot from Laputa (pronounced La-pew-tuh and not la puta haha) or Castle in the Sky. And they even have the command cube hidden somewhere in the garden!

♫ Tonari no Totoro, Totoro! ♫

Of course, a trip to the Ghibli Museum wouldn't be complete without meeting the famous Totoro! It was quite difficult to locate him but after a thorough search, we were able to find him sitting in this ticket booth. Too cute! And he really is huge. I wish I could've hugged him though.

Goodbye, Ghibli Museum!

After getting our dose of Ghibli magic, we went back to the bus stop and waited for the community bus to take us back to Mitaka Station. We were already starving but the Straw Hat Cafe was packed so we just had a quick lunch at the nearest McDonald's and ordered happy meals. Haha After lunch, we were ready to head back to Odaiba for more adventures.


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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), Sera, and Ariel
Travel date: April 17, 2013 [Day 8]
Photo credits: Karl

Japan 2013: Kitty Love

Just when I thought I've been to the happiest place on earth, here comes Sanrio Puroland to provide more happiness! This seriously comes close to being the happiest place on earth. Okay, maybe the most kawaii place on earth.

I wanted to go to the park the last time we were in Japan but we ran out of time. So this time, there's no turning back. Especially since we plan on hoarding a couple of Meiji Milk Cream spreads in the grocery store nearby. Haha Daddy had to pass though since he badly needed a day off to rest his aching feet. Note: boat shoes are not walking shoes. :p

Stocking up on Meiji goodness.

First stop: grocery store at Tama Center. Nee-chan studied for a year in Chuo University as a foreign exchange student and she used to do her grocery shopping here. This is where she discovered our oh-so-favorite Meiji Milk Cream spread. It goes with absolutely everything. You can even eat it on its own! Before my Peanut Butter & Co./Cookie Butter/Biscoff spread addiction, there was Meiji Milk Cream. We bought four tubs each of milk and chocolate variety. Why only four each you ask? Well, those were the only ones remaining on the shelf that's why! Haha We also bought some chocolate and custard-filled bread (which became another favorite) and some KitKat green tea.

Welcome to the cutest place on earth!

Then we started walking towards Sanrio Puroland. I love how Kitty-chan can be seen on every street sign. Too adorable! It's like living in a fantasy town. And we haven't even gotten inside the park yet. Since Sanrio Puroland is targeted towards a younger audience, we didn't bother buying Passport Tickets and just opted for the Welcome Tickets (good for entrance and all shows).

With Pokopon

Upon entering the gates, you will immediately feel the warmth of the place. All the staff are smiling and there are characters already waiting to welcome you. We immediately went up to them to get our pictures taken. I love how Pokopon acted a bit alarmed after seeing the faux fur on my jacket. Haha He kept stroking it as if it were alive.

Sugarbunnies

Since we were still lugging our groceries around, we decided to go to the lockers first before going back for more pictures. Luckily, the characters were still there mingling with the visitors when we got back. I especially love these two - Kirousa and Shirousa. Aren't they the cutest? I wonder how the people inside manage to move around in these costumes though. How can they see?? Or are they midgets?

With Kuromi

Here we are with Kuromi before going inside the park. Who says Sanrio Puroland is only for kids and girls? Look how Karly and Ayel seemed more excited than Nee-chan and I in these photos!

Inside Sanrio Puroland

We were having so much fun already even though we're still at the lobby! Haha When we got inside, the park looked like something that came straight out of a storybook. Very Hundred Acre Wood ang feel!

A Night With The Piano Guys

Last night was one of the best concerts I've been to in my life and I've been to quite a lot. Seeing The Piano Guys perform live is definitely one of the highlights of my 2013. And who knew they had a great sense of humor? They should consider changing their name to The Funny Guys. Okay, seriously though, I was alternating between laughter and tears the entire time.

I've seen a couple videos on their YouTube channel before but it wasn't until recently that I was reminded of their awesomeness thanks to Erin's obsession with them. And then suddenly, we were hearing news that they're coming to Manila. Wow agad-agad! Of course, I'm always game for a night of good music so I was just waiting for my concert buddies to buy tickets and I'll just pay whenever. In the end though, it was just me and my ultimate concert buddy, Mabel, who got to catch the show. I feel bad for the others really because The Piano Guys put on a great show. Thank goodness, Mabel and I pushed through with the plan. We ain't no Pocahontases that's for sure.

Aia de Leon of Imago opened up the show. She was so nervous, she messed up the group's name but that's alright. Haha It's been years since I last saw her perform live so it was nostalgic when she sang a few Imago hits. I especially love that she chose Rainsong as her last song which is my favorite Imago song of all time. And probably the only Imago song I know the lyrics to by heart because I'm a sucker for anything that has a cultural feel to it. And come on, who could resist such creative and witty lyrics? Funny how Karly and I were even singing Rainsong on the way to MOA hoping that Aia would sing it. The chances were slim but hey, she did perform it and I was one happy girl. Trivia: It's been 15 years since she wrote the song. Gah, I feel old!

Then The Piano Guys came on stage starting with Adele's Rolling in the Deep and the crowd came alive. They performed covers of other several hits like Coldplay's Viva la Vida (which gave me goosebumps), Taylor Swift's Love Story (which made the crowd sing), and Christina Perri's A Thousand Years (which made Mabel and I cry. Crying buddies for life!). I have to say that it was after seeing their A Thousand Years cover on YouTube that I fell in love with their music. But hearing it live was something else. #mycreys

They also performed their popular mash-ups of classical and modern music like David Guetta's Titanium vs Faure's Pavane, Code Name Vivaldi (Bourne Soundtrack vs Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto), Beethoven's 5 Secrets (OneRepublic's Secrets vs Beethoven's 5th Symphony) and Michael Meets Mozart which has 1 piano track and 100 cello tracks. How cool is that?! Steve (yes, I know their names na haha) even showed us how he does multiple cello tracks at once by recording himself and then playing that track later on throughout the song. With all that musical complexities, who would've thought it'll be just the two of them making all that sweet music on stage? I at least expected to see some touring members but no, all they need are their piano and cello. AMA-ZING!

Steve even introduced his cellos to us. Would you believe the guy owns fifteen (15) cellos?? Crazy! He only brought three (3) with him though - Boris, Carmen F-something (who is a Carbon Fiber cello) and Bruce Lee (who is a badass-looking custom-made cello). Oh and he has another cello that looks similar to Bruce Lee, only it's painted white and he named it Chuck Norris. According to Steve, Chuck Norris is so badass, he plays him. Haha

The Piano Guys may be famous for their covers and mixes but they also compose original tunes. Jon performed Waterfall, an original composition he wrote when he was 17 that got him the cutest girl in school. Aww. ♥ It only lasted two weeks though. Haha The piece was so beautifully played, it brought me to tears. Seeing Jon play the piano with such passion made me miss playing the piano. I loved the classes and the music but I hated the constant need to practice over and over again before I get to play a piece flawlessly. But I must say, the joy that comes from playing the piano is priceless. Hay my naive HS self, why did you give it up??

They even did a little improv on U2's With or Without You and it was awesome. I love Bono but in this case, words are optional when you have the cello singing for you.

Remember how I said they could change their name to The Funny Guys? Well, Steve demonstrated his cello prowess by imitating animal sounds and it was just too funny as they used it to attract some cows during a video shoot. They even played a silly song by combining The Phantom of the Opera and one happy song that I forgot because I was too busy laughing from the weird combination that could pass for a psycho-thriller theme.

They also performed their amazing remixes like Charlie Brown Medley (which was really fun to watch as the video of old people dancing played), Rockelbel's Canon (which was hilarious as Steve pretended to doze off while playing the same 8 notes over and over again. I couldn't help but laugh as he reminded me so much of Mr. Bean! Oh not to mention Jon's weird dance moves as they upped the tempo), Peponi (which gave a cultural twist to Coldplay's Paradise and gave me chills), and One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful. They brought out the rest of The Piano Guys to help them out on their last song and it was pure entertainment.

As they left the stage, the people started shouting a mix of "Encore!" and "We want more!" and I couldn't blame them. I want to hear more! So Jon came out first and told a lame joke but we laughed anyway as we waited for Steve to come back from the bathroom. Haha They performed Can't Help Falling in Love as they expressed their love for the Manila crowd. I especially love how they made the crowd sing along and it would've been a great end to a great night. But the Manila crowd was insatiable and started asking for another encore. To our surprise, they came back out again!

I was actually clueless as to what they're going to perform this time when Jon suddenly announced that they're going to play a piece from Les Mis and I just completely lost it. Define spoiled! First, Rainsong now this?? You see, I went through a Les Mis phase (actually I'm not even sure if I'm over it haha) and Bring Him Home is hands down my favorite Les Mis song after watching the 25th anniversary special where 4 Valjeans came together to sing the very emotional piece. I was singing and crying the entire time. Too beautiful. When the song ended, everyone was just clapping and standing. No more encore calls. That was simply enough. Or maybe everyone was just too emotional to even speak.

I went home that night feeling inspired and blessed by their music. How often is it that you get to enjoy music as it is without having to jump up and down or dance around? I don't think I'll get over this soon enough. So here, I'll leave you with Ramin Karimloo singing Bring Him Home beautifully. Wait, did I just post 3 consecutive Bring Him Home renditions?? Whatever. You're more than welcome to cry again anyway. :)

Japan 2013: Sea of Happiness

A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting one of the Disney Parks. We've already been to Tokyo Disneyland so it's about time we visit DisneySea whose attractions are for older kids if I may say. It was a warm and sunny day so it's a perfect time to stroll around the park.

Unlike Tokyo Disneyland, you need to take the Disney monorail to get to DisneySea. So the Disney experience starts even before you reach the park. Being Disney babies, we were all ecstatic upon hopping on the mouse-themed train. Everything was so cute, I wanted to take the whole thing back home with me! Well, you actually can. At least the mouse-shaped handholds as they are available at the souvenir shop. Why not buy one so you will never have to worry about hygiene when taking the MRT or bus? Haha

All aboard!

After buying our park tickets, we went straight to the newest and obviously the most popular attraction in the park - Toy Story Mania! at American Waterfront. The queue was already crazy when we got there. And it's only for the fast pass! You see, Disney Parks offer fast passes to the most popular attractions so you don't have to waste your time waiting in line. It's like an advance booking to your preferred ride. Once you get a fast pass with a time schedule on it, you can try other rides and then go back to your scheduled time so as to avoid long queues. Pretty brilliant, eh?

While Nee-chan, Ayel and Daddy were waiting in line, Karly and I decided to go queue up for the StormRider at Port Discovery to save time. On our way there, Karly and I noticed that almost everyone had a particular teddybear hanging on their bags or clothes. There's even one whole store dedicated to this bear. Crazy! But more on that later.

Upon reaching the StormRider, we were surprised that there was no line at all so we decided to go back out to wait for the others. It was a funny scene since we didn't want to look like we chickened out so we asked for the nearest bathroom as an excuse to get out of there. Haha

With Mr. Incredible

When we got outside, we saw some people gathering around so we decided to check out what's going on. To our surprise, it was Mr. Incredible! Of course, I had to take a picture with him. I love how we didn't have to fight off other people just to get a decent photo. That's the Japanese for you. They'll patiently wait for their turn without photo-bombing other people.

After meeting up with the rest of the group, we went in to try out the StormRider. It was an Atlantis-themed ride so expect to get a little wet. We realized that a little too late. So in short, we got wet on our first ride in the park. Haha

Japan 2013: Of Mobile Suits and Fast Cars

As if geeking out at Miraikan wasn't enough, we went out to search for more geekiness. Next up: Gundam Front Tokyo. As we walked away from Miraikan, we couldn't help but notice the abundance of cosplayers around the area. Karly and Ariel wanted to take pictures with them but the cosplayers seem too engrossed in their own world (having photo ops with the lovely tulips haha) so they let it slide.

Cosplayers love Odaiba too!

We also passed by a vintage car show in one of the parking lots at Diver City. It was already over by the time we arrived but we were still able to see some of the cool cars pass by.

Cool cars.

We've gotten accustomed to the chilly spring breeze but this row of bikes just proved today's wind is even more stronger than yesterday.

Nope, not windy at all.

As we made our way to Gundam Front Tokyo, we passed by an authentic J-pop gig in front of Gundam Cafe. The band was being flocked by fangirls but even in crazy situations like this, the Japanese manage to be polite and keep their distance. I didn't know who the band was but thinking about it now, I should've fangirled just for the sake of experiencing it. In Japan.

Japanese fangirls.

Finally, we went up close with the famous mobile suit. It was so surreal standing in front of it. Gundam Wing was probably the first anime I truly loved (not watched obviously) so being in front of a 60-foot Gundam model definitely made my day. Believe it or not, I used to dream of being a Gundam pilot back when I was still in grade school. It may be because I love the anime too much or maybe because aside from Noin, there were no other female pilots so it made me want it even more. Of course, there was no way that dream was coming true but seeing a life-size Gundam model was the closest thing.

The 60-foot tall Gundam model.

The mobile suit looks like the real deal. I felt like I was transported into the future where Gundam Wing, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dual! Parallel Universe, Rahxephon, and other mecha anime* took place. It was awesome. My otaku self was absolutely delighted by just being there.

Feeling pilots.

Before we moved on to our next destination, we stopped by Gundam Cafe for some snacks and souvenirs. We hoarded a bunch of Gundam merch but our favorites were the surprise Gundam model magnets. Like the usual Gundam toys, you have to assemble them but I love how they are flexible so you can actually position them to create your own battle scenes. Sugoi! And since they come in surprise boxes, we spent quite a while shaking the boxes as we all wanted the heavy ones which simply meant they had wings or bigger weapons. Thank goodness for patient and really helpful staff!

Happy otakus at the Gundam Cafe.

Gundam Cafe is famous for their Gundam-themed food obviously. However, not all beverages come with Gundam art so Nee-chan and I specifically ordered Haro Latte just for the coffee art. Haha I also ordered a strawberry Beam Churros while Karly ordered a custard Gunpla-yaki (Gundam taiyaki). Yup, we're suckers for adorable edibles. And apparently, adorably dressed staff. Haha Karly may have been too shy to approach the cosplayers but we pushed him this time to take a picture with one of the Gundam Cafe staff and she happily obliged. Kawaiii~!

Cars galore!

After satisfying our otaku needs, it's time to satisfy our dad's love for cars as we made our way to MEGA WEB at Palette Town (yes, the place actually exists outside of Pokemon). MEGA WEB is a theme park that boasts of a "see, ride and feel" experience for their visitors. First up, we checked out the Toyota City Showcase where you can see Toyota's newest models. They encourage trying out the cars for yourself so feel free to jump in any of your dream cars. I love how the staff are so accommodating as if you're actually there to buy a car. As Tokyo Tokyo would say, so Japanice!

Japan 2013: Looking into the future...

...and even experiencing some of it! Where else but at The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation or simply, Miraikan. The name may sound intimidating but if you're a fan of museums and new technology, you'll definitely enjoy this place just like I did.

Miraikan is a museum in Odaiba that showcases a lot of new technology that is being developed in Japan. If Kyoto is my favorite Japanese city because of its rich cultural heritage and overall traditional feel, Odaiba comes next because of its advance technology and all the geekiness in it. Just the island itself is pure genius as it's a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan initially built for defensive purposes which now serves as a major commercial, residential and leisure area.

The first thing that caught our eyes upon arriving at Odaiba were the bicycle stations. We wanted to rent some but we couldn't figure out how. So Nee-chan and I went back to the train station and asked one of the personnel to which he responded politely by inquiring if we were residents. HAHAHA It turns out, free bicycle use is one of the perks of being an Odaiba resident. Residential ID cards allow them them to access the bikes. How cool is that!

Konnichiwa!

Good thing we got there early as Miraikan is composed of seven floors of awesomeness. Pretty big huh? The main exhibits can be seen on the 1st, 3rd and 5th levels while the 6th level housed the Dome Theater and the 7th level housed the conference rooms and halls.

Our first stop was the InterRobot display where visitors can speak through pipes and the robots will respond to you. I failed to make it work the first time but after realizing my mistake (of speaking in English), I tried speaking in Japanese and the robots came to life. Sugoi!

Songs of Anagura

Then we went to Songs of Anagura where all kinds of recognition (eye, voice, fingerprint, movement, etc) were utilized. Imagine my excitement upon realizing this! It's like seeing all different kinds of SPs at work in the form of a human-sized board game where the computer keeps track of your movements by giving you your own avatar or circle underneath your feet. An arrow will appear to point you where you need to go next. Be careful not to get too close to other people though or you'll lose your avatar. But you can re-register any time in case that happens. I won't spoil the fun for you but this is definitely a must-try!

Only plugged in to save rock and roll.

Some bands are worth seeing once. Others, twice. But with Fall Out Boy, I don't even have to think twice. I'll never stop seeing them as long as they keep coming back. I love this band so much, I'd even go to a show alone if I have to and I did.* After all, you're never really alone in a concert. I enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed their last two shows here. Or maybe even more.

This time, Typecast opened up for FOB (2007: Chicosci, 2009: Hey Monday). Funny how I've seen Typecast multiple times now because they always seem to open up for my favorite bands. The crowd was chanting "F! O! B!" while the vocalist was introducing themselves and I couldn't help but laugh as he teasingly said, "Kayo talaga ha!" HAHAHA Kids. I guess local bands are used to that by now but still, they deserve a little respect too.

But enough about that, let's move on to my favorite moments from Fall Out Boy's third time in Manila. Just excuse the crappy photos, okay?

1.1. The band opened up with Thriller, bringing us back to the last time they were here. Honestly, I was hoping they'd start the show with The Phoenix and it's hair-raising intro but I'm glad they stuck to Thriller. It was the perfect opening song then and it remains to be the perfect opening song now especially for a band who came back after an indefinite hiatus to save rock and roll. After all, it has always been about the kids. "Crowds are won and lost and won again but our hearts beat for the die-hards. So long live the car crash hearts!"

Japan 2013: Pandamonium at Ueno Zoo

After our hearty lunch, we went out for a walk as we made our way to the zoo.  Ueno Zoo (or Ueno Zoological Gardens) was founded in 1882 and is the oldest zoo in Japan. Unlike most of the zoos I've been to, Ueno Zoo is located within a park where families and friends can hold picnics under cherry blossom trees. It's a perfect hanami spot during spring. Too bad, there were only a few fully bloomed trees left when we got there. Nevertheless, people were still enjoying the spring breeze under the shade of trees.

Ueno Zoo

Since it was a beautiful spring weekend, a lot of people also thought it was a good idea to visit the zoo. After all, tickets only cost 600 円 per adult. And because the Yagis treated us for lunch, we couldn't possibly let them pay for the zoo entrance so we treated them this time. After all, they will be accompanying us, not the other way around. Oh and as if our party of seven ain't big enough, we'll be meeting up with Shelou and her beau, Mikey, too. So today, the Japanese-speaking bunch outnumbers the non-Japanese speakers. Fun!

Uhh where's the panda?

Located near the entrance are the stars of the zoo - the Giant Pandas! Duh. There was already a long line leading to its shelter so we queued along. After all, seeing the pandas is what we came here for!

Japan 2013: Up in the Air at Tokyo Skytree

After taking the rest of the day off yesterday, our real Tokyo adventure begins now. We woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on Tokyo. But first, we have to meet up with Ariel who's arriving from Osaka today. Nee-chan and I were still getting ready when Ariel arrived at our hotel with his cousin, Shelou (who's studying/working in Tokyo), so Karly picked him up at the lobby. We didn't book a room for Ariel thinking he could just stay in Daddy and Karly's room. Everything was going well until they decided to talk loudly in the hallway. Hay, Pinoy nga naman. :| To make the long story short, we weren't able to sneak in Ariel but at least he was able to leave his luggage in our room.

Today's itinerary consists of a trip to Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Skytree which is Japan's newest attraction. We're no strangers to visiting the world's tallest and most famous towers so we thought it's best if we buy tickets to Tokyo Skytree first thing in the morning since queues can get crazy. After getting tickets, we could visit Ueno Zoo then just go back in the afternoon for the viewing. But our plans quickly changed after buying our tickets. Since the line for the tickets goes straight to the elevators leading to the tower, we might as well go to the observation deck already.

Tokyo Skytree

Towering at 634m, Tokyo Skytree replaced Tokyo Tower (333m) as the tallest structure in Japan. It is currently the tallest tower in the world beating Canton Tower (600m), and is also the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.8m). Pretty neat, eh?

Tokyo by day.

We bought tickets to the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck (350m) which cost ¥2,000 each. For an additional ¥1,000, you can also visit the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Galleria (450m) which we passed up.

A comparison of the tallest structures in the world.

The observation deck was pretty packed but we still got a good view of the Tokyo skyline. It's amazing how many tall buildings there are in Tokyo. It took me back to my anime addiction days where almost every anime featured a trip to Tokyo Tower and I could only dream of seeing the Tokyo skyline in person. During our first Japan trip, we skipped Tokyo Tower and went up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck instead where gazing at the Tokyo skyline is free of charge. But now, I'm actually in Tokyo Skytree, the new Tokyo Tower if I may say. Good job, my otaku* self!

Walking through the glass floor.

What makes Tokyo Skytree unique from other tallest buildings in the world is their glass floor. Okay, before you freak out, the observation deck's floor is not entirely made of glass. There's just a section that allows you to experience looking directly through the Tokyo cityscape at 350m above the ground. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. Ariel couldn't do it but he did manage to smile for the camera without looking below. If you have a fear of heights, I think it's the perfect place to face that fear. I myself am terrified of heights but I do have faith in the Japanese's quality of workmanship and safety so I managed to walk across the glass floor without my knees buckling in fear.

Bye bye, Tokyo Skytree!

What I love about visiting new touristy attractions is the fascination in the faces of local tourists.
 It makes me feel less of a foreigner. We even saw a group of locals taking pictures while holding up a framed photo of a friend/family member/colleague. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Very Eiga Sai** material.

After going through the observation deck multiple times, we headed to The Skytree Shop for omiyage-hoarding. Just like the deck, the place was packed as well but if you're a fairly quick shopper, you'll have no trouble getting out of there in no time. That is if you're no impulsive buyer. #oops

Next on our itinerary is Ueno Zoo but first, we met up with Nee-chan's Japanese friend, Kenta, for lunch. Kenta used to be an exchange student in UP Diliman who loves isaw. Would you believe he used to eat 20 sticks of isaw in a day?? He loves isaw so much, he even thought of bringing it in Japan and setting up his own isaw stand. Haha Now he's back in Japan and is married to his lovely wife, Junko. The tofu restaurant we we're supposed to visit was fully-booked so we opted for another Japanese restaurant nearby. Kenta and Junko both speak fluent English so conversation was easy. Now that I think about it, it seems more Japanese are becoming comfortable in speaking English compared to our last visit. Lunch was wonderful and we even got to see their lovely traditional wedding photos in Kyoto. Aww~ ♥

Since it was a weekend, Kenta and Junko gladly joined us in our trip to the zoo. They rarely go out on weekends so it was a perfect way to spend a beautiful spring day. Junko was talking to us as we wrapped up lunch and it was only when we were walking away from the restaurant that we realized we haven't paid for lunch yet! It turns out, Kenta settled the bill without our knowledge. Aww talk about having gracious hosts! We kept teasing him that's the reason why he works until 11:00 PM every day. Yes, define workaholic! But if you get OT pay, I think you would want to earn that extra cash. After thanking them multiple times, we promised to buy them unlimited isaw when they visit the Philippines. Sounds pretty fair, right?


* Otaku (おたく/オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly (but not limited to) anime and manga.

** Eiga Sai is a an annual Japanese film festival held by The Japan Foundation, Manila as part of the month-long activities of the Philippines-Japan Friendship celebration.

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), Sera, Ariel, Kenta, and Junko
Travel date: April 13, 2013 [Day 4]
Photo credits: Karl

Japan 2013: Ohayou, Tokyo!

We were so exhausted from our Kyoto adventure, we were already in Shinjuku by the time we opened our eyes. I can't believe we didn't even get a chance to eat our McDonald's dinner! Remember I've said time and time again how the Japanese are punctual with everything? Well, we arrived at our stop at exactly 6:20 AM. I have no words for their punctuality. I wish us Filipinos could be like them in valuing time, even if just a little bit. I would be so happy when that happens.

Ohayou, Tokyo!

At 6:20 AM, our eyes had a difficult time adjusting to the sun's rays. And our legs were still feeling weak from all the sleeping but we still have to walk and look for our hotel. Funny how we had a hard time locating our hotel's street when we were just standing across the street sign. Haha Anlalayo kasi ng tingin e!

I love how we got a cheap hotel in Shinjuku that's right across two station exits. See, booking hotels early really pays off! Since check-in isn't until 2:00 PM, we asked the receptionist if we could just leave our luggage while we look around the city. They obliged and tagged all our stuff with our hotel room number. And since we haven't had any dinner nor breakfast, we asked if we could eat our McDonald's meals in the hotel's lobby where breakfast is being served. They agreed and we even took advantage of their free wifi. Lucky!

Shinjuku Gyoen

We were running low on yen so we asked the receptionist where the nearest money changers are. They were kind enough to print out a map for us with all the money changers encircled. Ugh I love the quality of Japanese customer service! So good~!

Japan 2013: Kyoto Revisited

Tired as we all are, we still managed to get out of our comfy beds and got ready to leave for Kyoto. I love how checking-out was as easy as checking-in. Talk about hassle-free! We even asked for a couple more laundry bags to keep our Sesame Street plushies safe. Hihi

Bye-bye Hotel Universal Port!

I'm honestly going to miss being pampered in our cozy hotel room. Of course, we couldn't leave without taking pictures at the hotel's amusing outdoor decorations. Yes, even with luggage in tow.

Mug shots at the USJ seal of approval.

Hole in a wall. Literally.

We then sprinted as we crossed the street to get to Universal City station. Today was extremely cold, even the Japanese were complaining!

KYOU, SAMUI!!!!*

After struggling to fit our luggage into 2 huge coin lockers, we're finally ready to leave Osaka. At least for now. Today, we're going back to Kyoto! We've been there before but you just don't run out of things to do in Japan, you know.

Hooray, it's my favorite train again!

I got giddy after seeing the HP train again. It ain't no Hogwarts Express but that will have to do for now. So yay, I finally had my picture taken with Ron. Oh the perks of being a tourist! Haha

All aboard the double decker train.

Just when I thought I've seen the most amazing train ever, here comes our ride to Kyoto - a double decker train!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! Sorry for being from a third world country but this is all so fascinating to me. I couldn't stop gushing about it, I was actually relieved nobody could understand me except for my family. Haha Wait, what is it with me and my new found love with trains. Am I turning into a geek??

Hello, Kyoto!

Unlike in Singapore and South Korea where I can easily find my way through their subway, I am absolutely clueless when it comes to Japan's railway system. Sure, I can read Hiragana and Katakana but there's no way I'm going to survive in their crazy big railway system! Karly, Daddy and I literally followed Nee-chan around like little ducklings.

At Fushimiinari-taisha Shrine.

It's no secret how much I love Japan but Kyoto has got to be my favorite city in the country. In contrast to the fast-paced and modern Tokyo, being in Kyoto takes you back in time to traditional Japan. It's oozing with culture and I love basking myself in it. Just seeing people in traditional clothing brings a smile to my face. And being in the midst of traditional infrastructures brings a calmness in me. Call me a geek for loving cultural tours but I do. I feel closer to the people of the nation I'm visiting by revisiting their past and learning about what made them what they are today.

Before the hike.

I absolutely had no idea what to expect in Fushimiinari-taisha Shrine since Nee-chan created our itinerary. All I know is they shot a scene for Memoirs of a Geisha here. But upon seeing the main torii**, I was immediately in awe. I was literally seeing vermillion everywhere! Who knew we were going to spend the next couple hours hiking up a mountain? In a dress. Haha Had I known, I would've worn the proper attire!

Channeling our inner Chiyo (from Memoirs of a Geisha).

So let me give you a bit of a background here. Fushimiinari-taisha is an Inari shrine. According to Wiki, Inari is the kami (god) of foxes, of fertility, rice, tea and Sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success, and one of the principal kami of Shinto. Basically, Inari represents success in any possible way you can think of. Typically, an Inari shrine has a lot of torii which are donated as gratitude by successful individuals or businesses.

So the bigger the torii, the more expensive its construction is. The smallest and cheapest torii costs 175,000 円 (roughly Php 76,423.90). Not cheap at all, eh? The biggest and most expensive costs as much as 1,302,000 円 (roughly Php 568,593.82). Whew pretty steep, right? Well, I guess if you have that much money to spare then you definitely have something pretty major to be thankful for.

Break please!!!

Fushimiinari-taisha alone has thousands of torii. Walking through them was definitely a spectacular experience. I was already satisfied with what I've already seen so far but Karly and Daddy were still up for a challenge. We agreed to walk for a few more minutes until we reach the main shrine or until we get tired. But after walking and walking, we still couldn't find it until we reached a resting spot. I immediately bought some water since I'm already tired from all the hiking. Nee-chan was asking for directions when Daddy saw a sign leading to the Top of the Mountain. Gaaahh!! I was already thinking of just staying behind but they all wanted to go see the Top of the Mountain since we're already there. Huhuhu I reluctantly agreed and took out my onigiri*** from our backpack to motivate me.

WE SURVIVED!

After what seemed like hours, we finally reached the Top of the Mountain!!! And I finally ate my onigiri as a reward. I didn't care who saw me, I just need to regain my energy for the walk back. Haha After resting up a bit, we were off for a long walk. Again. At least, it's downhill this time so it was easier.

Omamori**** in all shapes and sizes.

Along the torii-lined trail are several sweets shops and souvenir shops. Wishes lined up the walls near the shops and omamori can be found in all shapes and sizes. And there's one for any situation you can think of. I love looking through their descriptions as Engrish can almost always be funny. Here are my favorites:

• Migawarimamori - When you met a bad happen, this will save you.
• Enmusubimamori - This will hope that you will make have a boyfriend or girlfriend or marry.

Seems legit, eh? I wanted to buy the second one for a friend but decided not to and just leave it to fate. Chos!

These men got skillz!

As we made our way back, we were lucky enough to see workers in action. One was repairing a torii while another was painting the inscriptions onto a new one. Pretty cool!

More photo ops!

To make the long walk back interesting, we occasionally stopped for photo ops and for quick breaks as well.

Daddy proud of what he achieved.

So how far did we have to walk/hike to get to the Top of the Mountain? Let Daddy show you! The map says 233m but I have no idea which distance that covers because what we walked through definitely felt more than that. Whew!

Taiyaki!

On our way to the exit, we passed by a taiyaki stand and I just had to buy some. Hey, we deserve some reward after all that cardio! Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped pastry with sweet filling. We ordered one custard and one red bean taiyaki. They were both warm and tasty - perfect for a cool spring day. South Korea also has a similar snack, bungeoppang, which is equally yummy but unlike in Japan, I think it only comes in red bean paste with or without ice cream. The Japanese obviously likes variety so they offer taiyaki in different flavors. After all, they're the ones who introduced the snack to South Korea.

Goodbye, Fushimiinari-taisha!

We went to Kawaramachi next to check out the shops and to find a place to eat. Nee-chan was so hungry, she wanted to eat at the first restaurant we saw which was First Kitchen but the three of us declined. We were so tired from our activity, we wanted to have rice (again) for lunch. Daddy and Karly dropped by a 100 yen shop to buy gloves (yes, it was that cold) but they ended up buying more than they wanted to. Nee-chan and I got impatient so we went ahead but not without hoarding some Kitkat green tea at the nearby store. When Daddy and Karly finally caught up with us, we still haven't decided where to eat until we reached the end of the street. Tempers were already rising when we spotted a restaurant right across the street. The sign was in Japanese but I had a good feeling they serve rice there so we crossed the street and found ourselves in Matsuya - one of the three largest gyudon-ya chains along with Yoshinoya and Sukiya. HALLELUJAH! It was a cafeteria-style restaurant where you select and pay for your food via an interactive menu. We ordered three bowls of gyumeshi (gyudon meal that comes with miso soup) for as low as 350 円 each. After punching in your orders, the cook will prepare your meals for you as the server sits you at a table and offers you complimentary tea and hot towels. Ahh~ this is the life! When our bowls arrived, we wolfed it down without hesitation. I think I burned my tongue a little from eating way too fast. It was definitely the best gyudon I ever had in my entire life! Yes, maybe even better than authentic Yoshinoya. *tears*

Sakura overload!

Next stop: Philosopher's Path (哲学の道). We got a bit stranded on our way there because of the rain. We didn't have an umbrella and it was pouring pretty hard so we waited for the rain to stop. When the rain turned to a mere drizzle, we decided to go ahead. Now Philosopher's Path is a popular spot during spring. People go there for hanami or sakura-watching as the entire street and nearby stream is lined up beautifully with sakura trees in full bloom. But since it rained a lot the weekend before we arrived, only a few sakura trees were still in bloom. Nevertheless, they were breathtaking. How I wish we were able to see the sakura-filled street and stream. :(

Kimono everywhere!

We then went to Higashiyama to look for our favorite Japanese treat - yatsuhashi! We couldn't remember where we bought the strawberry-flavored yatsuhashi with chocolate filling so we spent quite a lot of time walking along the streets of Kyoto. We even went back to Kiyomizudera to check but came back empty handed. Since it was already starting to get dark, we just settled for the shops along the street where we found Nishio, a cute little shop selling chocolate-flavored yatsuhashi. They've been around for years and their samples were good. I also love the complimentary hot tea to fight off the cool night breeze. After hoarding a bunch, we went to the station to catch the train back to Universal City.

We were running a little late when we got back in Osaka. Since we have a night bus to Tokyo to catch, we made a game plan. We sent Daddy and Karly out to buy some McDonald's dinner while Nee-chan and I looked for the Willer Express Terminal at Hotel Kintetsu. After successfully locating it (after several failed attempts), we finally found one of the bus operator's crew and confirmed our reservation. Daddy and Karly made it to the terminal even before the bus arrived. We didn't have time to eat though when the bus set out for departure. It's an 8-hour ride to Tokyo so it's going to be a long night. Eating is prohibited in vehicles in Japan so we planned on eating during one of the stops. However, we slept all throughout the trip as we were all beat from our Kyoto adventure. By the time we woke up, we were already in Tokyo which means it's time for another adventure!


* Kyou, samui (今日、さむい) - a casual way of saying, "It's cold today!"
** A torii (鳥居, lit. bird abode, /ˈtɔəri.iː/) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred.
*** Onigiri (おにぎり) are triangular rice balls wrapped in nori (seaweed) which may or may not contain a filling. **** Omamaori (御守 or お守り) are Japanese good luck charms usually sold at shrines.

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), and Sera
Travel date: April 11, 2013 [Day 2]
Photo credits: Karl