14th May 2009 – Hakodate Morning Market (asa-ichi) in search of breakfast.
Just need to cross the road from hotel and we reached Hakodate Morning Market.
One of the many stalls selling dried products. From one of the stalls, we bought 2 packets of cheese scallops (each 500 grams) and 3 packets of cuttlefish. Total damage is ¥5000.
Another stall that sells seasoning paste used for cooking.
On the left, a store selling clothes. It’s still early and there weren’t much people around.
Beside the dried good area, this portion sells more of the wet stuffs – vegetables, fruits, meat, etc.
The left side are some restaurants.
Seafood galore! This area is round the main Hakodate Morning Market entrance.
Huge selection of Hokkaido crabs at reasonable prices up for grabs.
Our accommodation last night – Hotel New Ohte (opposite Hakodate Morning Market).
Finally decided on a restaurant to have our breakfast – Hakodate’s renowned seafood-topped donburi (rice bowl).
Hakodate’s crab donburi ¥1260.
Hakodate’s signature ika (squid) donburi ¥1890. Fresh live squid on top that will wriggle (dance) when you pour soy sauce over it.
The chef will help you to cut the head portion. My wife squirms with discomfort while I am eating this. LOL!
This is how the squid look like when alive. 
Cloudy skies – seems like it’s going to pour soon. To avoid getting caught in the rain, we hastily went back to hotel to check-out and head towards JR Hakodate Bus Terminal.
The interior of JR Hakodate Station. We didn’t have time to explore fully here.
Doing some shopping in JR Hakodate Station.
Bought the creamy cheesecake soufflé from Pastry Snaffles – A well known Hakodate delicacy ¥1150 for a box of 8. We wanted to buy a box back to Singapore but weren’t able to as the expiry date is rather short and had to be consume in 6 days time.
Taking the Airport Bus (by Hakodate Teisan Bus which operates every 20 minutes) from JR Hakodate Bus Terminal. ¥300 per trip to Hakodate Airport (20 minutes duration).
Entrance of Hakodate Airport.
Check-in counter for our ANA domestic flight to Tokyo.
Observation deck on the 3rd floor.
Hakodate Airport.
Mocha coffee ¥500 at Misuzu Coffee while waiting for our flight.
Departure gate area waiting for boarding.
I noticed a very intuitive feature whereby the folks in the departure area can still talk to people outside. They picked up the phone with the corresponding number (e.g, 3) and start talking away.
The flight from Hakodate to Haneda Airport only takes approximately 1 hr and 20 mins. Waiting for our luggage.
At the basement of Haneda Airport, we took Tokyo Monorail Rapid to Hamamatsucho Station and transfer to JR Yamanote Line to our destination of Ueno Station. ¥630 per person and the journey takes approximately 40 min.
Our cozy hotel in Ueno. 5 min walk from JR Ueno Station.
The bathroom. I like the use of white color rather then the usual cream color. It makes the toilet brighter and look cleaner.
Headed for our late lunch at a nearby Japanese gyudon chain – Matsuya. You will see more of the electronic ordering machines here in Tokyo!
Grilled Beef Set ¥480.
Large Curry Rice Set ¥480.
Shopping at “Ameya Yokocho” (candy store alley) at Ueno. It was traditionally a wholesale market for candy and snacks. Also commonly referred as “Ameyoko”.
Hundreds of stall selling from fishes, crabs, vegetables, clothes, cosmetics, green tea, sport shoes, etc.
Taito Station – Game arcade. Sighting of folks wearing surgical mask is common in Japan – used when they are having cold or prevention against hay fever, etc.
Lord of Vermilion is a fantasy card-based arcade game produced by Square Enix. I am a fan of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series! I stayed glued to view people play even though I don’t understand Japanese. 
A cute game for children whereby they have to jump constantly and turn the handle bar in order to move and steer the character on screen.
Ameya Yokocho is really crowded during the evening time. Maybe working folks have just knock off and was doing some shopping prior to going home.
A stall selling döner kebab – very much well-received by locals.
Discounted sale of clothes and sports apparels.
Look at the crowd.
Tokudaiji Temple. Accidentally chance upon it in the bustle of Ameyoko.
Niki no Kashi (Niki’s Snacks) – a discount snacks and food store that you can grab loads of stuff back to your home country.
Takoyaki stall. Looks popular.
A Kirin Tea Drink ¥150.
Keisei Ueno Station – For taking Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport. We will be taking this in a few days time.
A shop selling crepes and I noted that mostly are girls queuing. Sweet tooth?
Some photos of the buildings around Ueno follows.
Nakacho – seems like rows of restaurants here?
McDonald’s Japan – McPork Set Meal, Teriyaki Chicken Set Meal and Shaka Shaka Chicken ¥1180.
McDonald’s Japan – McPork.
Shaka Shaka Chicken with black pepper. You put the black pepper into the bag and shake it. Once done, open it and consume it!
Anyone game for adult movies?
On our way back, passed by JR Ueno Station – one of the major railway station in Tokyo.
Numerous eateries can be found here.
Tokyo Banana in JR Ueno Station. We noted that we will come back and buy it in the next few days before we leave Tokyo.
Back at the hotel, it’s time for snacks – Snaffles from Hakodate. Note the manufacture and expiry date – 6 days.
Pastry Snaffles that just came out from the refrigerator.
Snaffles – Extremely delicious cheese soufflé.
Not a night goes by without beer! Sapporo beer (cold maturation) ¥197.
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