Destination: Japan
Duration: 5 Days 5 Nights (Oct 22~Oct 26, 2013)
Day 1: A Short Roam in Asakusa
After more than 18 months void of business travel since
San Francisco Sales Conference (link), I’ve finally embarked on a business trip
to Shin-Yokohama, Japan this time. The trip was booked last minute which
actually gave me a scare of having to sleep in the street thanks to
fully-booked hotel due to some Sports event in Shin-Yokohama. Thankfully
everything was solved at last moment and I was booked into a different (and
more expensive) hotel than my boss. Hahaa….
Unlike my previous travel to Japan with SQ, this time the
company has booked MH due to cheaper fare. A red eye flight PG-KL-NRT basically means I
have to endure the much dreaded MH breakfast of Omelette or Nasi Lemak again.
Gosh! Why can’t MH have other types of breakfast according to the destination? SQ
actually offered Salmon rice as breakfast for flight to Japan!
 |
| Sammy has his own seat PG-KL |
 |
| No Seat for him on KL-NRT though... =( |
 |
| Supper on MH |
 |
| The Infamous MH Breakfast... facepalm |
Safely reached Narita Airport in the morning and bought
the Suica NEX card in the airport. A must have according to boss as the card
include 1,500 Yen of JR East credit along with Return ticket on Narita Express
train – total of 5,500 Yen which only available for foreigner. The best thing?
You can claim the 5,500 Yen from company and use the 1,500Yen free credit to
roam around the city. SSSSShhhhhhhhh……..
 |
| Reaching Narita Airport |
 |
| To the Narita Express Platform! |
 |
| Narita Express |
 |
| I love Japan Vending Machine! |
 |
| Sammy is waiting for the Train! |
Trip to Hotel from Airport was uneventful – basically
Narita Express with a transfer of Shinkansen in Shinagawa to Shin-Yokohama. I
love Japan’s Railway system!!! So convenient and get you everywhere. The Prince
Hotel in Shin-Yokohama is basically a 5 minutes’ walk from Shin-Yokohama Train
Station. Unfortunately it’s still not check-in time yet so what I do? Well?
Throw my luggage in the hotel reception and went out to explore of course! I’m
totally not going to sit in the lobby waiting for check in!
 |
| Transfer at Shinagawa |
 |
| Waiting for Shinkansen |
 |
| A Statue outside Shin-Yokohama Train Station |
This is when this website proves to be a GOD – www.hyperdia.com. This website basically
tells you how to go from one station to another station with which train line.
It was AWESOME!!! This time my 1st destination would be the popular
Asakusa district. This is the route given by Hyperdia. Cool eh?
Shin-Yokohama -> Shinkansen Nozomi 8 (Platform
14-19) -> Tokyo Station (Platform 4) -> Akihabara (JR Yamanote Line)
-> Ueno (JR Yamanote Line) -> Asakusa (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
Made a brief stop at Ueno Train Station to grab a
HardRock T-Shirt before continue on to Asakusa. Hahhaaa.. talk about fully
utilize the day! :p
 |
| More Fancy Vending Machine |
 |
| HarkRock @Ueno Eki! |
The 1st thing I noticed after reaching the Kaminarimon
Gate was there were just so many people around there even it was weekday. The bad
news? The gate was under renovation!!! WHAT THE?? =(
 |
| Kaminarimon Gate - under renovation! |
In order to reach Sensoji Temple, you will need to walk
through Nakamise Dori where they sell souvenirs and foods. Got to try out the
some of the snacks there – one of them coated with peanuts powder, one tasted
like intense soy sauce flavor pastry and another deep fried green tea ball
thing.
 |
| Nakamise Dori |
 |
| Pancake-like Pastry with Red Bean Paste inside... |
 |
| The Sticky Thing with Peanut Powder |
 |
| Soy Sauce Pastry Thingy |
 |
| Deep Fried Green Tea Thing |
There was a queue to go into Sensoji Temple doing some
sort of praying. I ended up walking around the area to have a look before
continue to Sumida Park. Apparently Sumida Park is beautiful during cherry
blossom season but unfortunately it’s not the timing for it. Basically you just
walk along the river and you can see Tokyo Skytree from here.
 |
| Sensoji Temple |
 |
| Sammy was there! |
 |
| A Close Up |
 |
| SkyTree at the Background |
 |
| Handwashing Ritual |
 |
| Long Queue for Praying |
 |
| Got my Luck |
 |
| Statue around Sensoji Temple |
 |
| More Old Style Temple |
 |
| Yet Another |
 |
| Wishing Board |
 |
| Sammy at Sumida Park with SkyTree |
 |
| Memorial at Sumida Park |
Since there is still time before my appointment with
boss, I just walk across the river to visit Tokyo Sky Tree. The queue for
Skytree tickets was like a >30mins wait! Gosh! Finally manage to go up the
tower with Tokyo view but the experience somehow felt less satisfying than my
visit to Tokyo Tower 3 years ago. I guess the long queue did get to you.
 |
| Walking across the River |
 |
| Sakura on the floor |
 |
| Tokyo SkyTree |
 |
| OMG!!! Long Queue!!! |
 |
| Display in the building |
 |
| Beautiful Lighting in the Lift |
 |
| On Top of SkyTree |
 |
| Some Views |
 |
| More Views |
 |
| Tokyo Tower from SkyTree |
 |
| High-tech Screen |
 |
| Sammy was making new friends! |
 |
| Another type of display in the lift |
 |
| SkyTree from bottom |
 |
| Some Pictures from Tokyo Tower - 3 years ago |
 |
| Tokyo Tower in Daylight - 3 years ago |
 |
| Tokyo Tower in Dark Sky |
After coming down from the skytree, finally had the 1st
proper meal in Japan in Skytree plaza foodcourt which was not that impressed.
Perhaps I’m choosing the wrong stuffs.
 |
| Foodcourt |
 |
| Udon & some stuffs |
 |
| Lovely Bentos!!! |
The appointment with boss was 8pm thus had to rush back
to Shin-Yokohama before that to check in and met him on time. Apparently there
was some drama on the meeting timing and boss couldn’t reach me via my stupid
iphone which was not working in Japan. DARN. Somehow he thought I was lost in
Japan. *facepalm* Dinner was nice though with some deep fried pork loin in a restaurant
at 9th floor of Shin-Yokohama Station. Yummy!
 |
| Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel Double Deluxe Room |
 |
| Dinner with Boss |
 |
| Delicious Deep Fried Pork Loin - FAT!!! |
Next Day (Shinjuku & Shibuya)
