DAY 9-Tokyo

Today, we will explore the old Tokyo by starting at Asakusa. We will visit the Sensoji Temple (aka kannon temple) and the nearby shopping street called Nakamise where souvenirs and local traditional snacks are sold.

It is very crowded at the temple today, it seems that everyone in Tokyo are all here. It feels like a carnival as there are many rows of shop set up to sell gifts and food. Some are items that may supposedly bring you better luck for the New Tiger Year.

Although, it may be crowded but it a orderly chaos. If you know what i mean, the Japanese are so well mannered.






Look at the number of food stands here, so much food and they all look so yummy.

Guess, what are they doing? They are making Mochi!

After all that chaos, we finally found a small Kiosk selling Ramen. It is really interesting, you select your order at the vending machine, make payment and wait for your receipt. Pass the receipt to the service staff to exchange for your noodle.


Next, we proceed to Odaiba (man-made Island) where we will be able to see the Fuji-Tv Building and walk on the Rainbow Bridge. We didn't know that everything look so futuristic on the island!


This is the Rainbow bridge, we actually decided to walk on the bridge to get on to the island instead of take the train. It was took us about 40 mins to reach there and it is free.

Fuji-Tv Station

After the long walk, we were happy that we saw this vending machine! Ice-cream!


Can you imagine we actually walk the entire bridge?

We actually manage to catch a glimpse of the sunset Mt Fuji. We saw a huge group of people standing around with their camera phone, and when we look closer we realise that mount Fuji was there. It is never easily to see it, but i guess we were very lucky.

testing

Day 8- Hakone/Tokyo

This morning, we will be checking out of the hotel and before we do that we just had to visit the Onsen again! It feels really nice, with the cool cold breeze and the hot spring water it is really relaxing. We love open air Onsen!


There are many things that one can do at Hakone but you will need at least 2 days to see everything. As we did'nt had much time we just choose to cruise on the lake Ashi. Btw, we did'nt really enjoy the cruise, feel that it was a little too expensive. It just go around half the lake that all.But if you were to get the Hakone Pass, i am sure it will be alot more fun and affordable.

Hakone Free Pass (5000/ 3900yen)

• It allows you to circle the region with 5 different transport



• Cruise the Lake Ashi



• Take the Hakone Ropeway to get views of Mt Fuji and to visit Owakudani (crater); you can boiled eggs at the hot water and apparently it will turn black! Suppose to make you leave longer too.



• Includes trains and bus rides too.
  

Time to depart for Tokyo, and as today is the New Year Eve many Japanese will be doing the hatsumode- visiting temples and shrines.

Once we arrive at Tokyo, we immediately check into our hostel and proceed to visit Japan was famous Shinto shrine- Meji Shrine. There be alot of people lining up to pray at the temple especially before midnight. Its tradition is pretty much the same at chinese, to visit the temple on the day New year day to get some good luck for the next year.

It is located near to Harajuku Station and of course also famous for its cosplay but it is better to visit it on sunday. But we still manage to see some while walking through the streets and also visit the the biggest Daiso shop (100yen shop).

There are some sites around to visit if you are there,

1. Yoyogi park - Tokyo largest park

2. Omatesando road- Tokyo Champs-elysees
   
3. Takeshita Dori- Cosplay
   
   
   Our Hostel

Shinjuku

Harajuku

Meji Shrine, it is really beautiful with all the lanterns light up all the way into the shrine.

We were there around 10 pm and there were some Japanese already there wishing for good luck for the next year by throwing coins over the barrier. We spoke to a Japanese journalist and he told us that the crowd will get larger and larger ever hour.

We saw a huge crowd just opposite the Meiji Shrine and soon realise the Ayumi Hamazaki was having a concert!

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Day 7- Hakone/Mt Fuji/ Lake Ashi

Depart for scenic Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is a collection of villages in the mountains near Mt Fuji.

Our pick-up from our hotel Prince Hakone was at 4 pm at Odawara Station, we manage to get a very good deal on their website for approximately $85 for a night. Prince Hakone is located right at Lake Ashi and it is the best place to view Mt Fuji.

The station was so crowded with Japanese, Hakone is also one of their favourite destination for holiday.

We arrived from Hiroshima at Odawara Station around 3pm and hence we had some time to walk around before our pick up. There is a mall right outside the station so we took the opportunity shop a little. Mainly a food mall, with supermarket and foodcourts.

As we had not taken our lunch, we bought some bento back to the hotel. Most of the time will be spent in the hotel and it's compound as there is nothing outside the hotel. What we are looking forward to is the hot spring!

These photos are taken in the basement of the food mall,

After a 45mins ride, we finally reach our Hotel.

We immediately change and went to the hot spring, as we were so tired after travelling for almost the whole day. It is our first experience to have such pampering, the hotel provides you with a set of sleep wear, a set of day wear for walking around the hotel and a coat for you if your are going outdoor. You practically don't have to bring any clothes! And everyone in the hotel dresses the same attire!

The entrance of the hot Spring (Open:6-10am/12-11pm)

This is the attire that we were provided, and yes it includes the outdoor slippers as well!

After the hot spring, it is good to relax back at our rooms and have a good night sleep. The hotel is very proud of their mattress because it is specially make for them by sealy.

If it is your first time going to an Onsen (hot bath) you may be feeling a little intimidated and lost at what you should do, these are the steps:

1. Put your slippers and clothes away in the locker or basket provided
2. Take the small towel that they provide you into the bath area
3. At the bath area, there are usually small cubicles for you to sit and bath yourself. You should be facing the wall while showering. Shampoo, conditioner and shower foam are provided.
4. After you have wash yourself clean, wipe your self dry with the small towel.
5. Proceed to the Onsen, at this point it is really up to you. You may walk to the Onsen without covering yourself or you may hold the small towel in a vertical manner that will nicely cover the front of your body.
6. Once you are inside the Onsen and if you are comfortable you may want to bundle up your hair with the towel.
7. When you are ready to leave, proceed back to the bath area and clean your self again before going into the changing room.
8. Everything is provided at the changing room, there will be dressing table filled with body lotion, toner,moisturiser, hair dryer and brushes.
9. You do need to bring anything to the Onsen except for your self. just remember not to dirty the water so dun put on any hair lotion before going down to the Onsen.
10. Also note that if you have tattoo, you are not allow to go into the Onsen.