A 77W affair (SIN-TYO-BKK with SQ and TG J)

[CarbonMan]

Thanks, SilverChris, for the TR. It's great to re-visit Japan virtually. Looking forward to the rest, especially the food!

[SilverChris]

Shinjuku
Tokyo's infamous red-light district, and home to the world's busiest train station.





Skyscraper district


Dinner time!


Japanese fast food - literally. Your food comes 60 seconds after ordering (I counted). ¥440 for everything on the tray.


Shinjuku station is best described as daunting for the infrequent visitor. There are more platforms than you can count with your fingers, and some have different train services departing at different times. The massive crowds don't help either. English is written on all important signs, but you still need to know exactly where you're heading to beforehand.

[SilverChris]

Kabukicho - Japan's largest red light district features countless restaurants, bars, nightclubs and pachinko parlors




It was freezing on my first night - temperatures dipped to 2°C! Not entirely surprising as it even snowed the morning I arrived.


And I thought the Uniqlo in KUL was large

[SilverChris]

Harajuku
From Shinjuku station, it's a quick ride on the Yamanote Line to Harajuku.














People, people everywhere


Needless to say.....

[SQ218]

Nice trip report SilverChris. 2 more weeks for me and I'll be back in Japan. Can't wait.

[sushiinSYD]

Shinjuku

Shinjuku station is best described as daunting for the infrequent visitor. There are more platforms than you can count with your fingers, and some have different train services departing at different times. The massive crowds don't help either. English is written on all important signs, but you still need to know exactly where you're heading to beforehand.

I agree. But I kind or think Ikebukuro station is worse...

[FlyingDan]

Shinjuku

Some three years ago I was supposed to meet my friend at the station.. took me 20 minutes to find her through the maze that is Shinjuku stn

[SilverChris]

We eventually found a restaurant with a long queue, and decided to find out what all the fuss was about

You purchase your coupons before entering


Once you're in, you're given a sheet of paper to indicate your preferences. Luckily, they had an English version as well


You're then escorted to your "table". Only cold water was available, which is ridiculous in winter. Didn't notice anyone else having hot tea, so I guess I wasn't missing out on it.


Your food is then delivered to you by a waiter who's on the other side of the wall


It's easy to understand why nobody spends more than 10 minutes in here...

[soarbeyond]

We eventually found a restaurant with a long queue, and decided to find out what all the fuss was about



Your food is then delivered to you by a waiter who's on the other side of the wall

This is Ichiran Ramen right!?

[SilverChris]

This is Ichiran Ramen right!?

I'm not sure, to be honest! But one thing I do know is that it was delicious

[SQ218]

I'm not sure, to be honest! But one thing I do know is that it was delicious

Looking at the ordering system, it looks like Ichiran Ramen indeed. And matching photos in this blog http://crunchybottoms.wordpress.com/...ichiran-ramen/

[SilverChris]

Sensonji Temple
Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, built in AD645

The Kaminari Gate, with a distinctive paper lantern.




The street leading to the temple proper








In front of the pagoda sits a pot where incense is burnt. The locals tell me that by inhaling the smoke, you will return someday in the future!


A fountain for cleansing one's hands


The interior of the pagoda is a dark place that was filled with people, so this is the only shot worth posting (sorry )


Behind the pagoda lies a beautiful traditional Japanese garden

[SilverChris]

The Tokyo Skytree is clearly visible here (more on that in a while)


More shopping behind the temple


Next stop: Ginza!


Three Japanese ladies in traditional outfits


Ginza
Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs and cafes.

One square meter of land in the district's center is worth over ten million yen, making it one of the most expensive real estate in Japan. It is where you can find the infamous $10 cups of coffee and where virtually every leading brand name in fashion and cosmetics has a presence.

[SilverChris]

Imperial Palace (sort of)

We hadn't done our proper research, so it wasn't entirely clear to us which was the "main" gate of the palace. In the end we just exited from the station recommended by our hotel and walked towards the beautiful gardens.







From the first few words in blue on the right I could roughly make out the words "Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace". At least we were heading the right way.


One might argue that it's still autumn, but it's winter alright. Unless 5°C isn't cold enough to be considered so.




We found an umistakably Japanese gate with guards adorning the entrance. There were only a handful of tourists there, so we couldn't be at the main gate.


We were there just in time to witness the changing of guards.

[SilverChris]

Tokyo Skytree
This futuristic-looking structure is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010 and reached its full height of 634m in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (830m)





The queue for tickets was as long as Suvarnabhumi immigration, but didn't take more than 20 mins to reach the front


There are two observation desks - one at 350m and the other at 450m. To save a bit of money we went with the former, as there wasn't that much to see in the evening.


After a quick security check, guests were ushered into one of the lifts. Typically Japanese, the queue minders did an excellent job in organizing the crowds. And of course, they bowed every time the lift doors closed!

Once the lights are dimmed after doors are closed, you might for a second think that you're being transported to another universe or something as the impressive LED lights and sound effects kept visitors distracted during the minute-long (if even) ride.


There wasn't much to see up there, and the crowds made it close to impossible to get a nice look out of the window