Nippon- Out of the city- Hakone 箱根町

Three weeks ago exactly, I was at Hakone! Time flies... holiday throwback sickness T.T

*** some of the information I was extracted from http://www.hakonenavi.jp/

10 Sep 2016, Sat

Woke up in the early morning at 530am, we were taking Odakyu Limited Express "Romancecar" to Hakone which is just 85 minutes away from our stay at Shinjuku. Well, "Romancecar " isn't something lovey dovey exclusively for couple, it is just a normal express train. One day earlier, we already secured our transportation by paying ¥5,140  2-day Free Pass (traveling around at Hakone) with additional ¥890 for the limited express "Romancecar". Total  ¥6,030 cost approximate MYR241 (i changed my currency at ¥1000~MYR40).

Romance car VSE Bento ¥1,030 a train design bento pacakage :)

Along the way, we can see landed houses which we seldom see at Tokyo city. We were just saying these houses are those we saw in Doremon comics, Nobita's neighbouhood!

As soon as we arrived Hakone-Yumoto station, we boarded on Hakone Tozan train to enjoy the breezy weather and beauty of natural of the mountain area there.

After a retro-style journey, we boarded on Hakone Ropeway (cable car) at Sounzan station. Strolling through sky with an astonishing view of Owakudani (The Great Boiling Valley) with first time experience on volcanic zone.

 

Kuro-Tamago "black egg", local specialty of egg hard-boiled in the hot springs. The boiled eggs turn black and smell slightly sulphuric. (For me, it tasted like normal hot boiled egg) Eating one is said to add seven years to your life. ¥500 for 5 in a pack.

Along the sightseeing ropeway from Owakudani to Togendai station, we managed to spot Mount Fuji thanks to the nice weather! Omo, can you spot?

 

Yeah it is time to be fed again! Reaching Togendai-ko (a connecting point to the Hakone Ropeway and Hakone Sightseeing Cruise) , I had lunch on the best recommended Fluffy Rice Omelette in curry with the impressive lake view! Yummm :p

If you missed the Mount Fuji during the ropeway just now, here it comes the second chance to catch in on Hakone Sightseeing cruise! One of my friends claimed that is the pirate ship from One Piece!

Lake Ashinoko (芦ノ湖, Ashinoko), was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone after the volcano's last eruption 3000 years ago. Today, the lake with Mount Fuji in the background is the symbol of Hakone.

Hakone Shrine (箱根神社, Hakone Jinja) stands at the foot of Mount Hakone along the shores of Lake Ashi. The shrine buildings are hidden in the dense forest, but are well advertised by its hugetorii gates.

Here is the opposite of  Hakone-Yumoto station where we enjoyed the wonderful river view and chilling water experience at Ajisai-bashi.

We found stairs leading down to the river near Ajisai-bashi. There are pathways along the river, which are perfect for strolling on a sunny day, just like the day we went.

After that, we went back to our hostel, K's House Hakone to have a short break and our first outdoor onsen experience! I rented a Yukata (Japanese garment, casual summer kimono) to enjoy fully the Japanese onsen experience. First time, I got naked with my friends for a public onsen experience (*shy*)...

After onsen, we enjoyed the hotpot (steamboat) at a restaurant just few steps away from our hostel. Chilling weather plus hotpot- perfect combo yeah!

The next day, I was the first one woke up among my gang to enjoy the peace of mountain and have a cuppa of hot coffee before the new day started.

The public area of the hostel is crowded at night where people from different countries meeting each other, talking about their trips. I was so happy to make some new friends here, a gang of 3 girls from Shanghai who travel to Japan to explore onsen experience too, a Beijing guy who came to explore and study on Japan rail system which is work related and also a friendly British teacher having a bagpack around Japan after her working contract expired whom contributed a brilliant idea for our next stop of trip! Want to know more? Please wait for my next post about Kyoto! :p

Nippon- Land of Rising Sun- Tokyo part

Finally, my long waited annual oversea trip was realized in Sep 2016! 

After my Aussie trip in May 2015 (opps, I didn’t upload a blog here, definitely a very long time since my blog about Kampar trip in 2014), it was more than a year of waiting time indeed!

*** some of the information I was extracted from Japan Guide website

7 Sep 2016, Wed

We managed to touch down at Tokyo at 11pm. After getting our baggage and pasmo card (equivalent Msia Touch and Go card) we managed to catch on the last train to our airbnb stay at Otaku area which is 15 mins (4 train stations) away from Haneda airport. However, I wouldn’t recommend this stay as the house was so dusty and some of friends who are having sinus problem were having quite a hard time.

8 Sep 2016, Thu

I would call this day as Day 1 of my trip as the tour had just begun!

We shifted to Shinjuku area today. Shinjuku station, according to Wikipedia, it is the largest railway station in the world. It houses interchanges to three subway lines and three privately owned commuter lines, as well as several JR lines. In the morning, we were amazed by the train stations as it was literally a maze! You would easily get lost as there are so MANY exits! One of the interesting facts I observed is the male working crowd are mostly in white shirt and black pant. Seldom very seldom, I can see other colour of working attire other than this mix and match.

After dropping our luggage at the train station (single access to the coin locker cost ¥ 500), our first destination is Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.

Then, we went to have our lunch, Ichiran Ramen!  The first stop entering the restaurant is to get a ticket. Presuming there is no line, before getting seated, we have to pay and select our ramen options (egg or w/o egg? more charsew? extra noodles? green tea?) at the machine in front of the restaurant, then we headed to our sitting. In most Ichiran’s, you sit in your own little booth. I guess this kind of seating arrangement wasn’t  friendly for group sitting as you are being separated from your friends by the little dividers.

OH MY GOD! This is SOOO GOOD!

After filling in our stomachs, we just walking along the streets at Harajuku area and had some snacks around.

The second interesting fact about Japan is the fruits packaging is sooo nicceee, more than a present I would say!

However, the price would cause your jaw drop too! Look at the price PER GRAPE! It is  ¥1080 and I would like to emphasize again it is only ONE GRAPE and it cost us almost MYR40!

9 Sep 2016, Fri

The highlight of the day was Tsukiji Fish Market! (Drum-roll)

Tsukiji Market (築地市場, Tsukiji Shijō) is a large wholesale market for fish, fruits and vegetables in central Tokyo. It is best known as one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day. Along the street, you can see some of the shops are selling fruits, food like one shop selling different kind of tamago (egg) and rice rolls and we finally settled down with one less crowded sushi restaurant.

THIS IS SOO DAMN FRESH AND GOOD! I never take shoyu (soya sause)!

The next stop of the day was Sensoji. Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.

When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of Sensoji Temple and the symbol of Asakusa and the entire city of Tokyo.

A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon.

It is time to be fed again! We moved on to indoor activity at Tokyo Skytree, new landmark of Tokyo which marks the tallest building in the country.

Along the way back to Shinjukum we stopped by Akihabara (秋葉原), a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In recent years, it has emerged as a center of anime culture with a lot of stores specializing in anime, manga, card games, maid cafes etc. Just a step outside the train station, Pablo mini cheese tart is a must stop place!

Y1361 for special come with 6 different flavours started top left withTorokeru Tsubutsubu Ichigo aka Melty Bits Strawberries, chocolate, original and second row left with matcha, mango and plum)

We ended our Tokyo night with an evening stroll on the streets of Shinjuku.

Outside Shinjuku train station, we paid a visit to Hachiko statue. Hachikō (ハチ公, November 10, 1923 – March 8, 1935), is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner which continued for more than nine years after his owner's death.

Look at the main junction of Shinkuju traffic light, when green light is on, people from different directions were moving to their direction.  After deciding your destination, you just have to move towards the direction.