My Travel & Food Esperienza: Snippets of Tokyo, Japan 2016 #LCinJapan

It has been nearly 5 years since I visited Japan (not counting transits at NRT airport) and I'm happy to be back for a short trip!

Day 1

Lunch on board SQ from Singapore to Tokyo

Haneda Airport Train Station

APA Hotel Keikyu Kamata-Ekimae
Address: 4-18-24 Kamata Ota-ku, Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan 144-0052
Website: http://www.apahotel.com.e.ju.hp.transer.com/language/shutoken/19_keikyu-kamata-ekimae.html

APA Hotel is a business hotel chain in Japan. Though the rooms are small, they have everything you need - especially free WIFI access.

I would say that the room is comfortable and the size is just right for 1 person. The hotel is a few minutes walk away from Keikyū-Kamata station.

炭火焼鳥とりじ Tori-ji
Address: 4 Chome-19-14 Kamata Ōta-ku, Tōkyō-to 144-0052 (東京都大田区蒲田4-19-14)
Contact: +81 3-6424-5191

Best izakaya bar in this whole trip! They have great yakitori and drinks!

Food Menu

Drinks Menu

Sitting right in front of the chef

My first Hot Sake! It's good!

My first Chūhai

I am in love with this small, neighbourhood izakaya bar! With awesome ambience where the table opposite us sits a group of working men in suits, food served right from the grill, drinks and traditional Japanese lively music in the background, there's nothing short of a great experience for my first night in Tokyo!

Day 2

Very first taxi ride in Japan!!! SGD 50++ for a half an hour ride! Gosh.

Walking around Kamata area

Finally settled down at a restaurant located on the second floor with unique cave-like rooms.

きざみ蒲田店ダイニングバー (Kizami Kamata)
Address: Japan, 〒144-0052 Tokyo, Ota, 5−16−5, 金時ビル2F
Contact :+81 3-3730-3385

As usual, hot towels were served when we got to our table. There were hangers on the wall for us to hang our coats. The menus were all in Japanese and it was good that both SB and I can read Hiragana and Katakana. Haha

I LOVE THIS DRINK!! It's called 雨後の月, I couldn't find it anywhere else.

Next, "Vintage" Izakaya Bar in Kamata! I don't know what this place is called, though the food was average, the ambience was very Japanese. In this small bar, you will see different types of Japanese. One guy was reading manga albeit the vibrant and noisy surrounding, two guys were drunk with their face hot-red sitting opposite us and two cute obasans serving the food and drinks.

Thank you for the great night out! ありがとうございました!

Day 3

増上寺, Zōjōji, is the head temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism in the Kanto Region. It's located next to Tokyo Tower.

Sangedatsumon Gate

Hitler Cat!!

We passed by a Kindergarten (明德幼稚园) and saw many mums (mostly) and dads picking up their kids. The mums are so pretty!! And the kids are super ADORABLE!! <3 This gave me some aspiration to be a hot mum with adorable kids in the future hahaha.

THIS BOY IS SO CUTE!!!!

Sakura spotted!!!

Can't believe that we actually spotted Sakura out of nowhere in Tokyo!! Sakura season is supposed to be late March in Tokyo! We were so lucky!!!!!

Lunch was at a random Ramen stall with vending machine menu. We both had the same Cha Shu Ramen and it was SO DELICIOUS!!! Both the broth and noodles were fantastic!

麺家いし川 Menya Ishikawa
Address: Japan, Tokyo, Minato, Nishishinbashi, 2 Chome−23−2, 日比谷パークビル 1F
Contact: +81 3-3432-0230

<3 <3

Spotting more blooming trees as we walked.

Dinner time!

Sake, more sake

Avocado sashimi

Soy ice cream with matcha powder - Nice!

We moved from Keikyu-Kamata to Akihabara so that it would be more convenient for us to travel to Narita airport for our return flight to Singapore. Also, a change of environment is always good for exploration.

Akihabara Washington Hotel
Address: 1-8-3 Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0025, Japan
Contact: +81 3-3255-3311

Similar to our previous accommodation at APA Hotel, Washington Hotel is also a hotel for business travellers with everything a businessman/woman need in a room.

Last night in Tokyo! We headed out to roam around Akihabara. Sadly, many shops in Akihabara were closed early. =/

Quite an empty street

Beware of this kind of shop in Akihabara, the 2nd floor sells sex tapes.....

Cinderella Legend シンデレラレジェンド
Address: 東京都千代田区外神田4-4-2 共益外神田第一ビル７階 (Japan, 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda, Sotokanda, 4 Chome−4−2, 共益外神田第一ビル 7F)
Website: https://moeten.info/maidcafe/?m=s&id=1871&d=access

Akihabara is famous for their maid's cafes. SB and I were searching different buildings for a maid cafe that is still open at night. We found Cinderella Legend at the 7th floor of a building. Upon entering, the enthusiastic girls will welcome you and usher you to your seat.

One of the girls 'knelt' down with one knee next to our table, telling us that she's Cinderella, I am the Princess and SB is the Prince in this cafe. LOL?! We found it very amusing. As I'm the princess, I didn't have to pay the cover charge! Yay. =D

Different girls will rotate around to talk to the Princes and Princesses (a.k.a. Customers), I guessed this is one of the entertainment which explains a higher price tag of the drinks in the menu.

Petit macaron served with a glass shoe

Love their toilet rolls!

Onward to Ueno for some late night food and drinks!

磯丸水産｜さかな(貝)加工センター上野御徒町南口店
Address: 東京都台東区上野５-25-1　遠藤ビル1.2F (Japan, 〒110-0005 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Ueno, 5 Chome−25 遠藤ビル)
Website: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ001111344/map/

Seafood restaurant that stays open for 24 hours!

Cute toilet sign made up of circles and triangles

My first Rickey

Day 4

Time to go home!

Taking the Skyliner to Narita Airport

Sushi Kyotatsu Narita Airport すし京辰成田空港第１ターミナル制限区域内店
Address: Japan, 〒282-0004 千葉県成田市三里塚字御料牧場１番１第１ターミナル第３サテライト (Next to Gate 34)

Back to my favorite sushi place at Narita Airport!