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~!

Since the money changers don't open until 10:00 AM, we decided to stroll around and found ourselves in Shinjuku Gyoen. Now this garden is popular during spring as more than 400 somei yoshino trees blossom which makes it perfect for hanami. It's even considered as the most beautiful garden in Tokyo and made it to Time's 10 Things to Do in Tokyo list. Amazing, right? I found out too late though and now I regret not paying the 200 円 entrance fee. Zannen!* ~_~

Daddy and his love of bicycles.

Our stinginess may have gotten the best of us but fret not! You won't run out of free things to do in Japan so yeah, the adventure continues! We explored the streets of Shinjuku while waiting for the money changers to open and chanced upon several bicycle parking slots. Daddy was obviously amazed and inspired. He loves bicycles so a trip to Japan is always interesting for him as bicycles dominate the streets instead of cars.

OIOI

Shinjuku is one of the numerous shopping districts in Tokyo. The place could get a bit overwhelming but if you love shopping like I do, I'm sure you'll easily find your way through its busy streets. We passed by one of our favorite shops and we couldn't help but laugh as we recalled our reactions the first time we saw it back in 2009.

Karl: Ate, ano yung oioi?
Me: Anong oioi? Hindi ba 0101 basa dun?
Nee-chan: Ha? *looks at the shop* MARUI MARUI yun. =.=

So remember, OIOI = MARUI MARUI. How did that happen you ask? Well, O stands for maru or "circle" in Japanese plus "i" which makes it marui. Yay, you learned something from my blog! Haha You're welcome. No need to sound like a typical Pinoy or typical software engineer  when you pass by a OIOI shop. And believe me, you'll pass by one as it's a pretty popular brand.

Smoking room

Moving on. We went back to the train station to get to our next stop which is First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Eki Ichibangai). I love how train stations have smoking rooms to keep smokers in one place and away from non-smokers. Hay Japan, you keep making me fall in love with you.

Tokyo Character Street

First Avenue Tokyo Station is a three-floor commercial and retail establishment that is connected directly to the Yaesu exits of Tokyo Station. We first checked out Tokyo Character Street which has around 20 stores that carry merchandise from popular Japanese characters like JUMP Shop, Rilakkuma Store, NHK Character Shop, Ultraman World, Lego Clickbrick, Snoopy, etc. As usual, we ended up buying more than we need (especially omiyage**) from almost every store. It's an otaku's paradise!

Tokyo Okashi Land

Next stop: Tokyo Okashi Land. True to it's name, this is a sweets paradise! Tokyo Okashi Land is Japan's first confectionery-themed retail zone. Stores operated by three of Japan's top confectionery makers can be found here, namely Glico Ya Kitchen, Morinaga no Okashi na Okashiyasan, and Calbee Plus. If you're a fan of Japanese snacks, you know these names well. Aside from their regular products, they also carry limited edition snacks which I absolutely love! The stores also offer freshly-made products prepared in their in-store kitchens. We shared a potechi bowl from Calbee covered with Royce' chocolate. YUM!

Fakkin restaurant!

Time sure flies when you're having fun hoarding Japanese treats. Our tummies were rumbling by the time we finished shopping and we need to find food fast. Since it's already lunch time and Tokyo is a busy station, almost every restaurant was full with salary men. We decided to just head back to our home station and look for a restaurant when we passed by First Kitchen. Since we rejected Nee-chan's suggestion yesterday, we decided to give it a go this time. Fun fact: First Kitchen is colloquially abbreviated as "Fakkin" (ファッキン) in Japan. I know, I couldn't stop laughing either. So yeah, we basically had lunch at a Fakkin restaurant. Hihi

I've mentioned once how I love the Japanese's sense of personal space but sometimes they can go overboard. Like in restaurants for example, tables with only a single chair are a common sight to see. In Filipino culture, long tables are expected when eating out since family ties are pretty tight. But in Japan, sometimes I feel like I'm in an examination room or something as chairs are pretty distant from each other. One seat apart ang peg! So it was pretty awkward as we like sharing food. But what was even more awkward was eating with a stranger in front of you. Especially when that stranger is crying in front of you. O_O I don't know what his deal was. At first we thought he was passed out but when he lifted his head, his eyes were so red, it was obvious he's been crying for a while. We don't know if he broke up with his girlfriend or got fired from his job (he was wearing an apron but not a Fakkin one) but that didn't make it less weirder. Maybe he realized that too and decided to go away. Whew! Contrary to the emo fellow, two elderly ladies were beside him talking about travel plans. Now, we don't mean to eavesdrop (technically, only Nee-chan did) but you just can't help it when it's about something you love. They were talking casually about visiting several countries and it made us smile when they talked about wanting to visit the Philippines soon. Here we are Filipinos visiting Japan and here they were talking about our country. So cool! Nakaka-proud din. :)

Shinjuku by day.

After filling our tummies, we were all ready to take a nap. Good thing, it was already past 2:00 PM so we can go back to our hotel and check-in. As usual, checking-in was a breeze. City Hotel Lonestar is a small hotel so instead of booking a family room, we booked two single deluxe rooms instead. We agreed to just take a short nap but eventually decided on scrapping off everything in our itinerary for today and just rest. After all, it's been a long trip from Osaka to Tokyo.

Arashi, Kame and Bikkuro (Big Camera + Uniqlo) - some of the Japanese things I love.

By the time we woke up, it was almost dinner time. So we washed up and braved the streets of Shinjuku at night in search of Rakeru. Strolling the streets of Tokyo at night is always interesting. The city lights look beautiful and I love seeing familiar faces on billboards and shop windows. Hello, Arashi and Kame! You guys take me back to my HS fangirling days. How nostalgic!

New favorite restaurant!

After successfully finding Rakeru, I was immediately delighted upon seeing their menu. Notice how Nee-chan and I can't stop smiling while the server suggested best sellers. Yes, that's not scripted at all. It's simply a delight eating in Japanese restaurants as their staff are probably the best in the world. There's absolutely no pressure in making up your mind quickly. I especially love that they use electronic devices instead of order slips. Very eco-friendly!

Omurice!

Rakeru is an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant specializing in omurice or omelet rice. The basic omurice has fried rice (usually tomato-based) wrapped in an omelet then topped with catsup. Pretty simple, right? Omurice is a favorite among children so you can think of it as a nostalgic dish as it will take you back to your childhood. Well, except for us of course as it was our first time eating omurice. I forgot our specific orders but I vividly remember how great they all tasted. The serving was huge but I couldn't stop eating. I finished everything off my plate except for the baked potato. Their freshly-baked roll was exceptionally good too! If not for the expiration date, I would've hoarded a bunch. Basically, Rakeru made my omurice dreams come true. It made me so happy, I feel like crying because I really want one right now. :((((( I'm definitely coming back for you, Rakeru!

Shinjuku at night.

Since we were all feeling full, we thought it would be a good idea to stroll around for a bit before going back to the hotel. We checked out a Don Quixote*** (for cheap Kitkat okay!!!111) branch but quickly left upon seeing the long queue. We looked at a couple of street shops too as Karly was looking for Onitsuka Tiger shoes. We even passed by Kabukicho, an entertainment and red-light district, but didn't even dare go in. Especially not with Daddy around. Haha You know those pesky sales people asking if you have a credit card in malls? Imagine those same people wearing suits with their hair made up, eyebrows shaped even better than yours, handing you a card to their hosto kurabu. Yes, as in host club. Haha If you're a girl wandering the streets of Shinjuku at night, be wary of dolled up men in suits! You might go home penniless if you show even just a little interest in them. Haha So yeah, don't make eye contact if your resisting power is weak.

Aaaand that sums up our first day in Tokyo! Tomorrow, we'll be visiting Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Sky Tree. :)


* Zannen! is an expression used to convey regret similar to "How unfortunate!" or "Too bad."

** Omiyage is the Japanese term for "souvenir", only better. The Japanese take gift-giving seriously so an omiyage is something bought especially for family, friends or co-workers. A store personnel will often ask, "Omiyage?" so they can wrap it beautifully for you or give you individual (even extra) packaging.

*** Don Quixote is a shop that sells all kinds of things. You know the weird stuff you see on the internet? Yup, they probably have that. They sell home items, electronic goods, grocery items, bags, shoes, beauty products, clothes, cosplay outfits, and even some naughty stuff (that's why I'm so defensive haha) all in reasonable prices!

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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), and Sera
Travel date: April 12, 2013 [Day 3]
Photo credits: Karl