Pre-Tokyo Travel (March 2008)

A: Kansai Airport
B: JR Kyoto Station
C: JR Kanazawa Station
D: Shirakawa-gou
E: JR Takayama Station
F: JR Matsumoto Station
G,I: JR Nagano Station
H: Yudanaka Station
J: JR Karuizawa Station
K: JR Ikebukuro Station

980 km – about 17 hours 20 mins

Package from Narita!

Received my package that I had to hastily send from Narita Airport (excess baggage) on 10 August - pleasantly surprised that it took 3 weeks (it was supposed to take one month). Have forgotten most of what I stuffed inside the cardboard box last minute, so will go unpack some of it.

Back to school, where the days are long (terrible timetable this semester) and the food ain't good.

Don't know if I should change the name of this blog or just leave it (which I'd probably do, judging by my laziness). On hindsight, I should have tried my best to blog as much as I could when I was away - it was just too difficult to pin down my thoughts and upload the photos so often.

Back home

Okay so this blog wasn't updated as frequently as I thought it would be (or as it should be), but I'm back home!

Arrived early Monday morning, took a nap before heading to school for the Placement Test and bumping into alvin/wanwei/junyan despite not having a phone (I need one sooon!).

Things do feel a *little* different - English signs everywhere, people *not* standing on the left side of the escalator, people blasting the cellphones and talking out loud in the trains... but I'm happy to be back - food, friends, family!

Hanabi!

Japan's summers are hot - but there're fireworks festivals （花火大会）held nearly every other day in late July and August all over Japan - and this is the REAL deal. They last from one to two HOURS (Singapore's rarely go beyond 10 minutes -_-) with all kinds and colours of fireworks that never fail to draw gasps from the crowds.

It's also the perfect excuse to walk around in your yukata (summer robe?), just like the people of the old used to do when they watched fireworks a century ago.

Wish I could upload them all (they're too big), but here's one of the more spectacular single shots I've seen - this one at Enoshima on Tuesday. (we were seated right in front of the waves at the beach!)

Do it at the beach.

Japan is full of "persuasive" posters - there are few signs that say "No Eating" or "No rushing for trains" - instead we get things like "Do at at the beach" (above). Which is hilarious. Maybe such soft approaches do work. Probably not in Singapore though.

Final week

I have no excuse for not updating the blog but... it's my last week in Japan!

Just got back from Osaka (on a 7 hour overnight bus)... which wasn't the most comfortable but still it was good. This time I completely forgot to bring my camera charger (baka da ne..) so there really aren't any pics (until I get some from the others).

Things I did there:

1. Some (final?) shopping at Shinsaibashi/Namba/Umeda
2. Watched fantastic fireworks in Tondabayashi
3. Checked out Kobe, Himeji and a bit of Nara
4. Spent good time with friends
5. Ate 100 yen (for eight!) takoyaki
6. Sweated it out (it was hot hot hot!)

Exams begin tomorrow

After a VERY hot weekend (maybe 32 degrees?), it got refreshing cooler today with some drizzle. Air-con temperature in my room at the moment.

Some of the little things that make Japan (Tokyo?) the place it is.

May I place this chair here for you, sir?

Was at Starbucks today sipping my Matcha Frapp and reading up my Kanji for tomorrow when a staff member brought a stool over for a guy sitting opposite me, studying. My first thought: it's the tea time crowd - there isn't enough space and someone's going to squeeze in with that stool.

Yet, this is Japan, and things are different. The staff member actually brought the stool for the guy to put his bags and belongings on (!), probably to free up space that they were occupying on the seat. The staff then apologised for the inconvenience before going back downstairs (this was the top floor of the three-storey Ikebukuro outlet).

Crowded trains

Trains are impossibly-packed every morning and evening - you probably have to experience it for yourself to believe it. Space is always made even when there doesn't seem to be anymore for those who want to board.
The first few times that we exchange students were in packed shoulder-to-shoulder trains, we naturally didn't think so. S0 the train arrives at the next station and we see people queueing up, prepping themselves to get in. Before we could begin to think "these poor peeps will have to wait for the next train", they have already squeezed their way on board and the doors have shut. You may be rendered immobile for the remainder of the journey, but the train chugs along towards Ikebukuro. Repeat at the next station.

Ootoya & Mister Donut

It drizzled the entire day today (and it has yet to stop), but that didn't stop me from getting lunch opposite my dorm at Ootoya - quick Japanese meals at reasonable prices, with many branches all over the Kanto region.

I just had to have their 750yen (just under S$10) black vinegar pork and scallops set (熟成豚ロースと陸奥湾産ホタテの黒酢あん定食), forgot to take a picture but here's grabbed one tiny one from their site. It's so warming and appetising (to me at least) that I could actually have it for dinner again!

Of course it also comes with pickles, rice and miso soup.

I also bought two delightful donuts from Mister Donut for later.

Chocolate-something-Danish (147yen) and Strawberry Shuu (80yen!)
[which I just polished off in 5 minutes]

Singapore desperately needs Ootoya and Mister Donut.

Ikebukuro

The second busiest train station in the world

2.71 million passengers on an average weekday

Two of the world's largest department stores - side-by-side

Commuting to and fro Ikebukuro station every day, I can't help but feel I'm just a tiny statistic lost in a sea of people - more than half of Singapore's population pass through the gates of the station alone - and it's not difficult to imagine as jam-packed trains pull into the station every minute during the morning rush - unloading thousands at a go (myself included). Of course just minutes away Shinjuku station is even more utilised (3.5 million a day). This has got to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Overwhelming.

First "thunderstorm"... and Kanazawa

Yes it said "thunderstorm" on the weather forecast today, although I didn't hear any thunder. There was, however, heavy rain with strong winds - you'd be better off without an umbrella since it would be blown out of shape anyway. Thankfully I was already near Ikebukuro station so I only had to sprint a few steps before reaching shelter. It's stopped by now though.

I've been so lazy, but finally did a post on my pre-Tokyo travels - here's one on Kanazawa.

Akihabara Stabbing

A crazed man killed 7 people and wounded many others in busy, anime-heaven Akihabara today. Chilling, considering the number of people (including many students) who would go there during the weekend, especially on Sunday when the main street is closed to cars.

http://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUST27752620080608

Here's hoping all the injured recover quickly.
Which makes me wonder - how long must the police have taken to bring this man (who I think is not unlike a suicide bomber) who killed without any regard at all. Such cases are, sadly not entirely surprising in Japan.

Yurakucho

Was walking back from school today after the free lunch kindly prepared by members of the Rikkyo alumni when we saw 20 yen ($0.30) CDs on sale! They were all singles, but some were really recent (EXILE, Yui, Mr Children). Grabbed five rather random ones for 100 yen (which was much less than what everyone else grabbed), considering how little Japanese music I actually listen to.

Then we met a few of Clarence's visiting friends from HK before heading to Yurakucho and Ginza to get a feel of some up-class shopping.

That fancy-looking, cute castle tower structure with a pretty white pyramid roof? A kouban (police box). Police help people who lose their way in Japan. Probably people will be attracted by cute buildings when lost?

Krispy Kreme - so sweet (or so I heard) yet so crowded. They hand out free donuts to those in line if the queue goes beyond 30 minutes (which definitely was the case yesterday).

As a side note, from June 14 it will be possible to take a through-train all the way from my dorm to Shinjuku/Harajuku area and Shibuya (at the moment I have to change to the Yamanote at Ikebukuro)! Amazing how the train systems keep improving and developing here, despite how heavily-build up Tokyo already seems to be.

MTV VMAJ!

I must have yet to mention this, but my Saturday class involves a fortnightly "tour" around one part of Tokyo - where we're supposed to get a real feel of the city and try to gauge its past by walking through certain places of interest.

Last Saturday we were around the Tokyo station area, walking past Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace Gardens in the unrelenting drizzle that made what should be a pleasant stroll a rather uncomfortably cold one (it turned out to be one of the coldest days last month).


Our rendezvous point (Marunouchi Bldg Starbucks)


Umbrellas up





Sakuradamon Gate


Delicious burger set lunch (added the pineapple - much to everyone's horror) ~1150yen


Meidi-Ya at Marunouchi Bldg! Didn't really see one anywhere else so far


Then it was time to leave for the Saitama Super Arena for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan! Got the tickets through a friend who had an account to bid at Yahoo Auctions. Poor pictures because picture/video taking was prohibited (of course), and Japan is a place where (almost) everyone abides with the rules.

Pity I didn't know most of the Japanese stars that appeared (EXILE won 3 awards though, while Mariah and Fergie took one each).


The futuristic-looking Saitama Shintoshin station




Queueing up patiently in the rain - there must have been 10000 people with standing tickets (of which we held two)


Saitama Super Arena


Waiting to enter




Finally our number was called


Inside


Blur shot of Mariah Carey in her opening performance (which was really good!)

Simple Plan


Bono!




Waiting to exit



Two little videos:

1) Waiting for our number to be called to be let into the arena

2) Mariah appearing


Back to finish my homework.

Okutama

Sorry I haven't been blogging.


Haagen-Dazs had a 500yen ($6.50) for three scoops on a cone the other weekend but I didn't manage to try it.

Have had Rum Raisin (260yen) mini-cups from the 24-hour supermarket next to the dorm though. Ice cream should be eaten *even* in the cold. I was also recalling how little ice cream I actually have back in hot sunny humid Singapore.

Went on another nature trail to escape from the bustle of the city - this time in Okutama - where a 10km route ends at a large, dammed lake with a moutainous scenery that everyone remarked looked like somewhere in China (even I felt the same despite never having stepped foot in China).

Some pictures from the hike - sorry if they bore you - too lazy to type captions so guess for yourselves what they are =)






wasabi shu!

Finally, yes I have heard of the terrible, terrible earthquake that hit China - it's on the news every day here with live footage of people crying for help and sorrowful exclamations. Very sad - hope these people can return to their normal lives as soon as possible.

...

It's another cold day in what is already mid-May (!) - drizzled all day. Train was delayed by a few minutes (which is a big deal here), which led me to be a few minutes late for class this morning despite brisk walking through the underpasses from the station to the school (to escape the rain and the morning chill).

Wanted to upload some pictures so that I could talk about them but for some reason my laptop's not reading the SD card. Will try again tomorrow.

Thursdays are my short days! =)

Mitake Hike (Golden Week)

Just when we all thought it was getting warmer (it did), it's suddenly getting colder over the next few days again (tomorrow's high is a chilly 14 degrees). Japan has to count as one of those places where the weather changes quickly even within a day.

Golden week flew by faster than I could say "休み！"

Saturday: Mori Tower (Roppongi Hills), Dinner
Sunday: Mitake Hike (pics below)
Monday: Shinrinkoen (Cycling)
Tuesday: Akihabara, Harajuku, Ikebukuro

Sunday and Monday wore us out so decided to sleep in late on Tuesday and do *some* work before going downtown in the evening.

Mitake Hike (4 May)

"Mount Mitake (Mitakesan) is one of the many highlights of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which covers more than 1250 square kilometers of forested mountains, hills, gorges and some rural towns in the prefectures of Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano and Tokyo.
Besides a popular shrine, Mount Mitake offers various walking and hiking opportunities in virtually unspoiled nature. Located in the Okutama region, the westernmost part of Tokyo, the mountain can be reached in less than two hours from central Tokyo, and is accordingly popular among people looking for a break from the city. "

Had planned to go to Meiji Shrine but it was hard to pass on a chance to finally get out of the city (but not exactly escape the crowd) for some fresh, mountain air! With other Singaporeans and their friends.

Some parts got quite steep and slippery but children and old folks thronged the place anyway too with their walking sticks and backpacks - so it shouldn't have been too much of a problem for us young people (right?).



About 2 hours' journey from Asakadai.






Cable car - a short but really steep ride that looked more like a rollercoaster ride

More like a densha than cable car


Climb, climb



20 minutes of steep downhill steps (and later back uphill) to reach this small waterfall


The climb back










Group pic before the hike - most of the smiles would have been replaced by tired faces by the end of it all