Duration: 5 Days 5 Nights (May 18~May 22, 2014)
Day 2: Alone in Little Edo
After a rough night with electricity interruption, I was
really lazy to climb out of the big bed so I only managed to pull myself up at
8.30am++. I was so pumped up with anticipation when I open my window blind
expecting to see Sakura right outside my window but that was not the case.
There was NO SAKURA anymore! I was too late… *sob*
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| This is the Sakura near The Prince Tower in Website |
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| This is the view from my room - NO SAKURA! |
It was a ‘rest day’ due to yesterday’s whole day flight
so I was planning to go for Kawagoe – the little Edo as they call it. Thus I
grabbed a quick sandwich from 7-11 on the way to the Shinagawa station before
setting out my hour long journey to Kawagoe.
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| The View outside the Hotel - NO SAKURA either!!! |
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| My Favourite Food in Japan - 7-11 Sandwiches! |
Kawagoe is known as Little Edo as it is one of the most
well preserved cities with traditional building which is just 1 hour away from
Tokyo. In fact, it is said that it’s like a miniature Kyoto. Thanks to Hyperdia
(www.hyperdia.com) – the Japan railroad BIBLE, I took the following route with my Suica card (Japanese Prepaid train
card).
Shinagawa (JR
Yamanote line) -> Ikebukuro (Tobu Toju Line) -> Kawagoe
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| Going to Kawagoe!!! |
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| My Breakfast from 7-11 |
Once I reached Kawagoe station at around 10.30am, it was
apparent to me that I needed to get on the Co-Edo Loop Bus which cost only 500
Yen for day pass. For those who prefer to walk, it’s advised that you take the
train until Kawagoeshi station instead as it’s nearer to the town area. I was
looking for a ticket booth to get the day pass and failed to locate one. So I
just followed the instruction on the banner to walk out of the station at my
left exit. The Vintage bus arrived and apparently the ticket was to be bought
from the bus itself. They would also provide you a map from the bus. =)
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| Arriving at Kawagoe Station |
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| A View outside the Kawagoe Station |
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| OMG!!! Look at these kids!!! |
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| The Co-Edo Loop Bus Banner |
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| Here is the Bus!!! |
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| Sammy is on board! |
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| Japanese, English & Chinese Recording on the Bus |
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| Here we are.... |
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| Before the Entrance |
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| Here is the Entrance! |
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| Yet another Entrance.. >.< |
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| The 540 Buddhas |
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| A Close Up! |
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| More Buildings in the area |
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| Kita-in Temple |
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| Selfie! FAILED! |
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| Sammy Looks better in Selfie! |
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| More Shrine |
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| A Close Up! |
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| Walking around... |
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| Wash your hand first! |
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| Something Colorful! |
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| Make a Wish! |
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| Another Temple in the Area |
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| Bridge & Stream... |
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| Yet another Temple... |
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| Bye Bye |
My next stop was the “Honmaru Goten” – the remaining part
of an Edo Castle. It was basically an old building which we could see from
outside. Further down the road was another shrine which was significantly
smaller than Kita-in Temple.
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| Where are we?! |
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| Finally found it! |
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| Sammy & the Building |
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| Honmaru Goten |
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| Hardly Anyone there... |
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| Finally! A MAP!!! |
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| Another Shrine near Honmaru Goten |
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| Walking towards the back |
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| A walk in the park? |
Since there would be a long wait for the bus, I walked to
a site called “Fujimi Turret Ruins” which was basically a small hill to climb
up with steep stairs with some ruins which I had no idea what exactly to look
for since I never planned this. I skipped the highest platform as the stairs
was really steep and I would not want to fall down without anyone knowing. Only
after came back that I realized there was a small memorial on top. Oops!
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| It's quite a long walk.. |
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| Finally reach the sign... |
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| More signboard but i have no idea what it says.. >.<|| |
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| A lot of stairs! |
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| This was as far as i went.. Oops!!! |
I took the bus again at the City Museum & Art Museum
station but both museums were closed on Monday. So don’t go to Kawagoe if you
are a museum buffs. =P
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| City Art Museum |
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| City Museum - Closed! |
Hikawa Shrine was the next stop and it was a typical
Japanese Shrine. They did have a wonderful wishing tunnel though. =)
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| Sammy at Hikawa Shrine |
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| Around the Area |
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| Look at all the wishing boards |
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| A Selfie! |
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| Somewhere to pay respect? |
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| Sammy in the Tunnel |
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| So cute!!! |
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| Or you can use paper! |
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| Trying to take a picture of the shrine inside |
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| I have no idea what this is |
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| The Giant Gate |
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| Giant Tree! |
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| Not sure what this means though |
After all the shrine & temple, it was time to romp in
town so I took the bus to Kura no Machi – warehouse district. There were lots
of traditional Japanese buildings with the bell toll being the town’s most
prominent building.
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| Dorayaki! |
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| Edo Style Building |
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| The Bell Tower! |
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| Shrine near the Tower |
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| More Wishes! |
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| At Kura no Machi |
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| AKA Warehouse District |
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| Looks like Building in Kyoto |
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| Fire Pipe? |
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| Walking down the Street |
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| Looks like Building in old Japanese movie? |
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| The Bank! |
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| Saw this at the Roadside |
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| Hello Kitty!!! |
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| More Temple... >.< |
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| Kids want to see the view too! |
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| Some old streets |
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| The Warehouse District Main Street! |
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| Time for a Dorayaki |
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| With Red Bean |
There was also Kashiya Yokocho – Candy Store Street which
is lined with old style Japanese candy stores. Unfortunately more than half of
them were closed though – what is it with Monday in Kawagoe? Is it a non-working
day?
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| At Kashiya Yokocho |
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| Lots of Food Stuffs |
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| Or Candies? |
My last destination in Kawagoe was their Festival Museum which
only cost 300 Yen and happened to be located right at the Kura no Machi Station.
There were all these giant festival floats which stood at 2 stories high. I was
not sure whether camera was allowed but no one was taking picture inside.
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| Festive Museum |
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| Going in.. |
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| Miniature Festival Floats |
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| Waiting for the Bus |
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| Cute Giraffe |
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| Girls in Kimono! |
This ended my day at Kawagoe and I got back to Shinagawa
at the same route to check some outstanding issues online before going out around
the hotel and Shinagawa station area. One of the malls was having a renovation
there and I realized the west side had nothing much to see. So there it is! My
adventure alone in Kawagoe! =)
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| Bought some Stocks from Convi Store! YUM YUM! |
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| Shinagawa Station at Night |
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| At 'Wing' opposite the Station |
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| FOOD!!! |
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| PIES!!!! |
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| Video Game Stores |
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| A Shrine right at the Main Street |
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| Here it is! |
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| This looks Alluring! |
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| *Drool* |
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