Sights Of Yokohama

On Sunday fourth January, I went to Yokohama to meet my friend after my Imperial Palace tour. The train ride takes about forty minutes from Tokyo to Yokohama. And it is a direct service, I do not need to change at any other station. I was a little early, so I did a bit of exploring. The train station is underground, so I saw a number of nice shops in Yokohama station itself, namely Queen’s Isetan, and Takashimaya!

I went to a little café for coffee while waiting for my friend. Then around half past one, I called her and she told me to meet her in Takashimaya. I went to the eighth floor, where there was a big kimono sale going on. I wanted to see if I could get a kimono but the prices are too high, even at a sale! I already have a yukata which I wore to sleep throughout this trip, but a yukata can never be compared to a kimono in terms of beauty and design.

Then there was a section selling children’s clothes. The prices there are rather reasonable, so I bought a cute T-shirt for my cousin’s son who just turned two. Then I sat outside the row of dining places to wait for my friend, and she recognized me when she arrived. She gave me a gift. I felt so bad because I did not prepare anything for her!

Honestly, the things that can be found where I live is nothing compared to the nice things available in Japan! So I thought to just buy her a meal, then she told me she came with her parents and her son. Her son is so cute! I was so surprised!

Her parents then brought me to eat very delicious soba! I learnt a bit more about their customs. The cold noodles come in a dish, together with two sauce bottles and an empty cup. One of the sauce bottles contains sweet sauce, the other one contains salty sauce. Taste the sauce to determine which one I like, then empty the whole bottle into the empty cup.

After that, scoop up a bit of the noodles and dip them into the cup filled with the sauce I have chosen. Then we take the chopsticks and eat the noodles dipped in the sauce direct from the cup. A slurping sound while eating the noodles may turn many people off, but it is the Japanese way of indicating they are enjoying the food.

I showed them my photos, played with her son and took photos of them and with them. She even paid for my meal, which made me feel even worse, but to them, because I am a guest and I came all the way to see them, it is only right for them to be hospitable. Well, true in a way. I would have done exactly the same if she comes here!

After that, we explored Yokohama, which is a lot like Tokyo actually. Full of shopping malls and tall buildings and narrow alleys of shopping streets. But then, we did not go out of the central area, mainly around the vicinity of Yokohama station, so I did not get to explore the entire place that thoroughly.

She apologized that she could not bring me around because her son is still young, but the next time I go over, she would show me around. We spent almost the whole afternoon together, then she had to go as her son needed to rest. For that, we bade farewell and promised to keep in touch. For sure I will send her all the photos I took together with her and hopefully to see her again some time soon!

In front of a department store in Yokohama

In front of Yokohama Station

The Tokyo Express

There is a reason why Northwest tickets are so cheap. There is hardly any service at all! That is not to say cheap airlines are lousy. I have taken cheap flights that are pretty good too! But Northwest Airlines is really lacking in service! Beverages are only offered once on the almost seven-hour flight, and even then, it was around the beginning of the flight! Meals are only offered once!

I took the plane at six in the morning. Around seven, drinks were being offered. Around eight, breakfast was served, but I must say, this is one of the worst airline food I have taken. Then there was no more drinks or lunch even though the plane touched down around two in the afternoon.

The pilot was nice though. Where I was sitting in the plane, I could not see the sunrise as it was on the other side. But I was able to see Mount Fuji amongst the clouds. The pilot pointed it out to us, saying the formation coming out of the clouds was Mount Fuji. Spectacular! Needless to say, I took as many pictures as I could before it disappeared!

I did not manage to explore Tokyo on my first day, as I was in the train most of the time. In any case, the skies darkened quite fast after I reached, so there was hardly any opportunity to explore the place. I just joined my friends for dinner and then a night’s stay at their hotel.

View of Mount Fuji in the clouds

A statue of Tokyo Station

The room in Villa Fontaine where I crashed for the night

Awaiting the bus to Haneda Airport outside Tokyo Station

Sights of Tokyo en route to Haneda Airport

Flying towards Hokkaido

I managed to explore more of the place when I came back from Sapporo. I took the train back on the third of January. Almost ten hours journey with almost no seats! By the time I reached Tokyo, my bum and back was aching! So I just checked into my hotel and crashed for the night.

The next day, I took the opportunity to explore Tokyo on my own. I went down to the Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor. The Imperial Palace is not as foreboding as the Forbidden Palace. In fact, it looks like a modern residence. But then, the ancient palace is in Kyoto, not Tokyo, since Kyoto was the old capital before Tokyo.

The grounds and lakes are lovely though. I took many pictures of the lovely grounds. There was an alcove above the garden where one could just sit there and rest, so I sat there for a while and just mulled over things. Then I proceeded to walk down and out of the grounds. The plaza opposite the Palace is great too! So is the Palace Hotel. The plaza consists of a small bridge with fountains and small lakes. Even in winter, there are still green plants and flowers! There is also a café which is not opened that early in the morning.

Then I went around more of Tokyo before going to Yokohama. After coming back from Yokohama, I went down to the Shinjuku district. It is a great place to shop with many skyscrapers. However, the skies were completely dark so I did not explore the place that much. All I did was to go to the clock tower and then looked at a few things.

Jimbocho district where my hotel is situated

In front of the Imperial Palace

Entrance to the Imperial Palace

Grounds of the Imperial Palace

Palace Hotel

Imperial Palace Plaza

A map showing the site of the Imperial Palace

Shelter for People Who Cannot Go Back Home?!

Part of the Shinjuku District

Clock Tower of Shinjuku

After that, I took the train down to the Shibuya district. Shibuya is another nice place to shop with tall buildings. Alright, this is Tokyo, everywhere is a nice place to shop! Everywhere there are skyscrapers and tall buildings! Where Shinjuku has more narrow lanes and alleys, Shibuya has more hip shops selling more urban wear. There is a long bridge linking all the shopping malls and buildings together. I stood in the middle of the bridge and just captured the scenery (whatever I could capture).

Part of the Shibuya District

Example of the Tokyo Subway Map

The next day, my last day in Japan, I decided to go down to the Ginza district. Ginza is an upmarket district with designer brands. There is a Chanel building, a Gucci building, a Louis Vuitton building, a Tiffany & Co, even Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani. The only thing I did not see is Prada! Needless to say, the things there are expensive! I went into the shops just to look see, but I did not buy a single thing as everything costs so much!

I had breakfast at a little café overlooking the crossroads, and even then, the breakfast of hot cocoa and Belgian Chocolate brownie costs me almost S$10.00! However, I did get a good deal! This was where I bought my iPod Shuffle, for a steal! So it was not a totally uneventful trip! The Nissan showroom was having a promotion on their new convertibles, the Z-Lady, perfect car for a lady! I went in to take a few shots, together with the girl who was promoting the car. Think my friend will be thrilled, since he was gushing about car shows with the pretty girls inside!

Ginza District

A very nice Chiffon Cheesecake

Last breakfast in Japan

My own iPod at last!

The Nissan Showroom

After that, I took the train back to my hotel, collected my luggage and went to the airport. Hence, concludes my Japan trip! The next time I make a trip there, I will want to explore Nagoya and Kyoto, where there are better things to see. Tokyo is just too cosmopolitan. Where Hokkaido is laid-back and traditional with more sceneries, Tokyo is just full of buildings after buildings. A good place to go for a weekend, but not for the whole week!

En route to Narita Airport - Bye bye Japan!