17th May 2009 – Headed off to Harakuju for our last day of sightseeing and shopping in Japan. JR Harajuku station in the photo above.
First Stop – Meiji Shrine which is just a short distance away from JR Harajuku station. Majestic torii at the entrance to the Meiji-Jingu. Admission is free.
Taking a short and lovely stroll towards Meiji Jingu. The morning air is especially fresh here.
Barrels of wine offered by Bourgogne wineries in France to be consecrate at Meiji Jingu.
Barrels of sake. I wonder whether these are donated as well.
The Chōzuya (stone wash basin) at the entrance of Meiji Shrine. The procedure for cleansing can found here where I blog about Hokkaido Shrine.
A team of student baseball players coming for prayers too? 🙂
A traditional wedding being held at Meiji Shrine. This is the second time I have the privilege of seeing it.
Another couple going through the traditional wedding. Third time of seeing it then. Ha Ha!
Folks heading towards the shrine to perform their prayers. Procedure for prayers can be found at the blog post on Hokkaido Shrine.
Wishes written by worshipers and visitors.
The crowd coming here consists of both local and foreigners.
At Harajuku bridge, as it was still early, the majority of the cosplayers are still not out yet.
View from the top of the bridge. Many young people gather here to socialize.
Shops near Harajuku bridge. There seems to be a long queue when we were walking by.
Kyushu Jangara Ramen (with all the add-on toppings) ¥1000. The tonkotsu (pork bone stock) broth is thick and tasty! Yummy!!!
Extra Spicy Set ¥750.
Entrance of Kyushu Jangara Ramen at Harajuku.
Takeshita Street – a popular shopping area for the young and it’s also lined up with a wide selection of food.
Crowded street with many young shoppers.
Marion Crepes – one of the popular crepes shops in Harajuku. We didn’t try any of them as was full from eating Kyushu Jangara. He he!
Daiso (100 Yen shop) Harajuku in Takeshita Dori (street) is one of the largest in Tokyo.
Banana milk drink from Daiso at ¥105.
Nail clippers from Daiso at ¥105. This nail clipper have a compartment that trap cut nails so that it won’t scatter around. To remove the cut nails, just need to slide the nail clipper out and pour away the nails from the compartment.
Harajuku costume shop with various different styles for selection.
Cafe Crepe Blueberry House – another crepe shop in Harajuku and queue seems to be long too! Is the lady smiling at the camera? Ha Ha!
This is one long queue. Out of curiousity, we walk towards the start of it to find out.
The long queue is actually for the grand opening of “Forever 21” in Harajuku.
Cafe Crepe Strawberry House. 😛
Harajuku Zenmall – I love the “King Kong” display on the roof.
From Harajuku, we took a short to Omotesando Hills to stroll around.
Omotesando Hills Entrance.
Louis Vuitton boutique at Omotesando Hills area.
Next stop is Akihabara – a shopping district for electronics, computers, anime, games, etc.
Well, we have to explore Kanda Shrine first. Had some difficulty in locating the shrine as we forgot to print the map. 🙁
Mikoshi – A portable Shinto shrine.
Photos of past Kanda festival (Kanda matsuri).
Kanda Matsuri is one of the three major Shinto festivals in Tokyo.
Kanda Shrine honden.
Chōzuya Pavilion – the water is coming out from the mouth of a dragon sculpture.
Entrance to Kanda Shrine – the gate is two storey high.
Torii gate leading to Kanda Shrine.
Back to Akihabara for Otaku shopping time!
Nissan 180SX (a popular car used for drifting) – I used to drive one in Singapore. Brings back the memories…….
Akihabara is a really big shopping paradise for electronics, computers, anime, games, etc. So much larger and more selection than Singapore!
Akiba Usagi – torii gate design in front of entrance.
MOS Burger – Teriyaki Chicken Burger Set.
MOS Burger – Fish Burger Set. Total ¥1280 for the 2 set.
Club Sega – an arcade in heart of Akihabara.
Many signboards on with games or anime design.
Animate – the largest retailer of anime, games, and manga in Japan.
Yodobashi Camera – a 9 storey building that sell from toys, watches, anime, games, laptops, cameras, etc. Large enough to spend many hours here! Wanted to get a few Gundam and Macross figures but didn’t have enough time.
Back at Ameya Yokocho (Ueno) to grab last minutes food stuffs to bring back to Singapore.
Bought Tokyo Banana (8 qty) from JR Ueno Station at ¥1050.
Our breakfast for tomorrow from Bagel & Bagel.
Bagel & Bagel. ¥300 for 2.
Cheers to Nihon (Japan)! I will be back again very soon!
Last check on our Keisei Skyliner ticket to Narita Airport – 7.57am. Each ticket is ¥1920 for reserved sitting.
18th May 2009 – Reached Keisei Ueno Station around 7.30am as we did not want to miss our skyliner train.
Entry through the gates will take you to the platform area for the Skyliner.
Interior of the Keisei Skyliner. Comfortable and plenty of leg room.
At Narita Airport Terminal 1, walking towards our boarding gate area.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. This is the flight that we are taking back to Singapore.
Flight number SQ637 departing at 11:30am (GMT+9).
Our seats are on the upper deck of Airbus A380.
The screen that I will be hooked on for the next 6 hours and 40 minutes. 🙂
Leg room is still fine for me.
Leg rest – step on it to bring it down. We had an enjoyable and unforgettable trip. We will be back soon! Bye Japan!
五月十七日- 最后一天的观光和购物我们到原宿。 这是JR原宿站的照片。
第一站 – 从JR原宿站走一小段路就到的明治神宮。 雄伟的鳥居是明治神宮的正门。入场免费。
漫步走向明治神宫。早晨的空气特别清晰。
一桶桶清酒。不知是否也是捐赠的。
在明治神宫正门前的手水舍（石洗手盆）。清洗的程序可以在关于北海道神宮的博客找到。
一群打棒球的学生也来祈求？
明治神宫正在举行传统的婚礼. 我们幸运看到了两次。
另一对夫妇举行传统婚礼。这是第三次了。哈哈!
人们走向神宫祈祷。祈祷的程序可以在关于北海道神宮的博客找到。
信徒和游客的愿望。
来这里包括日本和外国人。
在原宿桥， 时间还早大多数的角色扮演者还没出现。
从桥上拍得景色。许多年轻人喜欢聚集在这里。
从桥上拍得景色。许多年轻人喜欢聚集在这里。
Kyshu Jangara 拉面（加了料）1000日元。Tonkotsu（猪肉骨汤）肉汤浓而且很美味！
加辣套暂750日元。
在原宿的Kyushu Jangara Ramen的大门。
竹下通 – 年轻人最喜欢的购物区也有各种各样的食物。
许多年轻的消费者在拥挤的街道。
Marion 可丽饼 – 在原宿最受欢迎的可丽饼店。我们没有尝试因为早餐吃Kyushu Jangara吃得太饱。哈哈!
大创百货 （100日元点）原宿在竹下通是日本最大的一间。
大创百货的香蕉牛奶 105日元。
大创百货的指甲刀105日元。有隔间这样剪掉的指甲才不会乱飞。要去除指甲只需滑动指甲钳和倒掉指甲。
原宿服饰店有各种不同风格任你选择。
Café Crepe 蓝莓之家 – 原宿的另一间可丽饼店人龙似乎太长了吧！ 那女孩是对着相机笑骂? 哈哈!
又有体条人龙。出于好奇心，我们走向它看个究竟。
人龙其实是为了Forever 21 在原宿的隆重开幕。
Café Crepe草莓屋。
原宿 Zenmall- 我喜欢屋顶上金刚的显示板。
从原宿，我们漫步到表參道Hills 走走。
表參道Hills大门。
在表參道Hills附近的路易威登店。
下一站是秋叶原 – 电子，计算机，动漫，游戏等的购物区。
我们必须到神田明神先。有一些困难因为我太太忘了打印地图。 🙁
Mikoshi – 移动式神社。
以往神田祭的照片。
神田祭是东京三大神道节日之一。
神田神社建築 。
手水舍馆 – 水是从龙雕塑出来的。
神田神社入口 -大门有两层高。
前往神田神社的鳥居牌坊。
回到秋叶原御宅族的购物时间！
Nissan 180SX（用来漂移的车）- 我以前在新加坡也有一辆。勾起我的回忆。
秋叶原是电子， 电脑，动漫，游戏等的购物天堂。比新加坡更多选择！
Akiba Usagi – 鳥居设计的入口处。
摩斯漢堡 – 红烧鸡肉汉堡套餐。
摩斯漢堡 – 鱼汉堡套餐。两个套餐共计1280日元.
Club Sega – 在秋叶原中心的游乐场。
许多动画设计和游戏的显示牌。
友都八喜 – 9层楼的商场专门卖玩，手表，动漫，游戏，笔记本电脑，照相机等。足够让你花上几个小时！本想买几个鋼彈系列作品和Macross塑像可是没有时间。其实有太太跟着很难买男生的东西。LOL！
回到Ameya Yokocho（上野）购买食品带回新加坡。
在JR上野駅买了Tokyo Banana （八个）1050日元。
我们明天的早餐Bagel & Bagel。
Bagel & Bagel。 两个300日元。
为日本干杯！我很快会回来！
最后检查我们京成Skyliner到成田机场的车票 – 7.57 am. 预定的座位每张票是1920日元。
五月十八日 – 因为不想错过京成Skyliner车我们7.30 am就到了京成上野駅。,
通过出入口就回到Skyliner的平台。
京成Skyliner的内部。舒适和足够的腿部空间。
在成田第一机场， 走向我们的登机口区。
新加坡航空空中巴士A380。 这是我们乘坐飞回新加坡的飞机。
航班号SQ637出发时间上午11:30（GMT+9）。
我们的座位在空中巴士A380的上层。
接下来的六个小时又四十分钟我将会对这银幕着迷。
腿部空间对我来讲还好。
腿部休息板- 踩一下就能把它推下来。我们有个愉快而难忘的旅行。我们将马上回来！日本再见！