East Japan 2013 Day 4 (Part 2): Fujiko F. Fujio Museum and Shinyokohama Raumen Museum

Day 4, November 4, 2014
Doraemon Museum and Ramen Museum

It started to rain when we finished our Cup Noodles museum trip and we went directly to Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, also known as Doraemon Museum. I am a fan of Doraemon, sino ba naman ang hindi magkakagusto sa alien na yun. I love his bulsa, kasya lahat! :)

FUJIKO F. FUJIO MUSEUM

Doraemon museum is located in Kawasaki City, a city outside of Tokyo. You can go to the museum by Odakyu or JR Nanbu line, get off at Noborito station and grab the shuttle bus service from the station to the museum.

You must must buy your tickets prior to your visit and due to the small area of the museum, tickets are limited per museum time. There are four schedules in a day - 10:00 in the morning, 12 at noon, 2 in the afternoon and last at 4 in the afternoon. Upon ticket purchase at Lawson, you must indicate your visit schedule.

The museum presents the life of Fujiko F. Fujio, the artist and animator behind Doraemon, Mojako and many of the little aliens cartoons in Japan. It also houses some of the original works of Fujio, his materials and some of the never released Doraemon stories.

Similarly, it has a mini theater that shows Doraemon and the Space Alien movie, never released in the Philippines. It has also a mini park that has different Doraemon and Fujio's other characters.

You won't miss the shuttle bus to the museum, it's screaming "Doraemon!"

Cool museum attendants. Japanese autumn uniforms!

Doraemon and the Dinosaur and the Famous Pink Door. 

Fujiko Theater wall design

at the park. :) Perman and Booby. 

Me and Doraemon

Umbrella package counter. High tech sa Japan! Umbrellas will have their own codes.
Kailangan ito sa UP Diliman Main Library! 

RAMEN MUSEUM

I wasn't a fan of noodles, but I like the ramen soup. So we decided to take a visit to the famous ramen museum in Tokyo, which houses different ramen shops - a one-stop shop for all ramen enthusiasts.

Located in the other part of Yokohama, one can access the museum by making one's way to Shin Yokohama station and walk towards the museum, about 10 minutes walk.

One of the corridors at the Ramen Museum. It replicates the old Japan. 

Inside the Ramen Museum

Ramen Vendo. After all, Japan is known to be the vendo country.

Some of the souvenir items available at the shop. 

Laddles and Soup pans are also available for purchase. 

Breads and ramen toppings. 

The rain didn't stop for the night and we decided to call it off since we have to be early for tomorrow's itinerary.

MUSEUM INFORMATION

Fujiko F. Fujio Museum

Entrance tickets: 1,000 yen
Schedule: 10:00am, 12:00nn, 2:00pm and 4:00pm
Website: http://fujiko-museum.com/english/

Shinyokohama Raumen Museum

Entrance tickets: 300 yen
Opening hours: 10:00am to 9:00pm
Webiste: http://www.raumen.co.jp/english/

East Japan 2013 Day 4 (Part 1): Minato Mirai and Cup Noodles Museum

Day 4, November 4, 2013
Minato Mirai and Cup Noodles Museum

What I love in Japan is how accurate their weather is. Today wasn't a good day, it predicted that it would be a cloudy day, so Louie and I decided to take our museum tour. I am really a fan of indoor activities and museum trips are one of them. Yes, the inner kid in me. :)

Despite being in Yokohama for the last 5 years, Louie wasn't the trip guy, so I really appreciated that some of our trips are also his first time.

MINATO MIRAI

Minato mirai, or MM is the central business district of Yokohama. Its like the Makati of Metro Manila, where almost all businesses- local and international companies are located. It is situated near Yokohama Bay. Isipin mo na lang, nilipat mo ang Makati near Manila Bay - minus all the smell. :)

Landmark Tower is the most famous and tallest building in Minato Mirai as it gives you 360 degrees view of Yokohama and Tokyo at the top of it. In clear days, it also gives you a view of Mount Fuji. :) It looks good in the evening with all the lights on, we decided not to take the trip due to cloudy weather predictions.

Minato Mirai also houses the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel - formerly the tallest ferris wheel in the world, Cosmo Amusement Park, Pacifico Yokohama and Osanbashi Pier where ships often dock.

Moku-moku Waku-waku Yokohama Yoyo by Hisayuki Mogami

Sala set sa Landmark area

One of the old shipping docks in Yokohama

Osanbashi Pier

Me at the Landmark Tower

CUP NOODLES MUSEUM

Before my stint in a liquor company, one of my major clients in the research agency is Monde Nissin - makers of Lucky Me noodles. :) Though I am not a fan of instant noodles, I would like to know how these pamatid-gutom express meals came about. Good thing, the Cup Noodles Museum is just in Minato mirai so we decided to drop by.

According to the history, instant noodles are the invention of Momofuku Ando, known as the Father of Instant Ramen. By the age of 48, Momofuku invented the Chicken Ramen, founded the Nissin company and then after introduced the cup noodles that what we have today and the "space ramen" - instant noodles that astronauts can eat while they are in space. Cool, ano?

The Museum is composed of 3 floors - the first floor which serves as the ticket booth and souvenir shop, second floor as the museum of all the cup noodles in the world, an auditorium that shows Momofuku's life and a replica of Momofuku's home where it all started and the last floor which is the activity area or the My Instant Noodles Factory and Chicken Ramen Factory.

A tip though, make-your-own-noodles have a certain schedule and limited number of guests to be entertained, so once you get inside the museum, proceed to the third floor and get your guest time and just come back.

Line outside the Cup Noodles Museum

One of the Cup Noodles attendants

Inside the Momofuku Theater

The Cup Noodles Wall. May Lucky Me Pancit Canton and Chicken Mami! :) 

Cup Noodles designs made by us, mine at the top, Louie's at the bottom pic.

Making your own noodles. (Top) instant noodles are inserted
to your own cup. (Middle) You select your own ingredients.
(Bottom) And this is how you pack your own noodles!

Chicken Ramen noodles factory

Me and Momofuku and many of the more inventors. 

We managed to get out of the museum before the rain poured down. We had two more museums to visit. Off to see Doraemon and eat ramen!

East Japan Day 3: Kamakura and Sushi Night

Day 3, November 3, 2013
Kamakura

Kamakura is about an hour away from Tokyo and about an hour and a half from Yokohama. It was dubbed as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, as it offers various temples and shrines.

Sadly, I was really feeling bad on our Kamakura trip and Louie started to worry that I might end up staying in bed for the rest of our trip. I still managed to get up (hello! Sanay ako sa init, at walang change of seasons sa Pinas!) and I didn't want to ruin our trip. Berocca (instant plugging!) saved my health.

DAIBUTSU: GREAT BUDDHA of KAMAKURA

After several running to get into the trains (its our day 3, nasanay na akong tumatakbo) and about 10 minute walk from Kamakura Station, we arrived at the famous Great Buddha, which is our first stop for the day. You need to pay for the entrance, and as you pass by one of the gates or torii, the large Buddha statue will appear right in  front of your eyes. Since this is a shrine, visitors are expected to conduct proper decorum as sign of respect to those who are praying.

Old trains of Kamakura giving that provincial feel. 

Visitors are expected to wash their hands from the well. 

Daibutsu and the inside of it. 

Oldies praying in front of the Great Buddha

Katanas. (Bawal iuwi) Inside one of the souvenir shops along Kamakura road. 

Ceecon daily! Reminds me to take my Vitamin C so I won't get sick.
One of the many finds in Kamakura souvenir shops

Sadly, we were not able to visit some other temples in Kamakura because we have to go back to Yokohama and attend the Sunday mass at Sueyoshi church - Louie's Sunday family.

SUSHI NIGHT

We decided to take a rest after the mass and by 6:00 in the evening, we were bound for our next stop for the day - Sushi dinner. Louie has a huge stomach, a big space to fill in. I am up for the challenge, so he treated me to one of the famous sushi houses in Tokyo - Sushiro. This sushi house is famous for its rotating belt that serves as your access to the different kinds of sushi, sashimi and makis. :)

Our order screen. High tech! :) 

The conveyor belt. Pick up your choice. Yellow plate: Sushi with wasabi (spicy) and
white plates are those without wasabi. 

Not a fan of wasabi, so I take the white plates. 

My choices. I got to take the yellow plates when I am in the mood for spicy. Dinadaan ko na lang sa tubig. :)

Our plates for the night. May dessert pa. :)

This is how they measure your plates. :) Bill depends on how many plates your table has. :)

By the end of the day, I felt better already but since Louie is still afraid that I might get worse, we decided to call our third day a night by 9pm.

East Japan 2013: Day 2 at Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower

Day 2: November 2, 2013
Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower

After a 5 hour zoo visit, we were bound for Asakusa. It was a bit drizzling as we walk towards the Asakusa Street and the Sensoji Temple, but nothing can stop us from going on.

Asakusa Street is a famous street for anything Japanese souvenirs - from Katakana (swords), plastic umbrellas (that I am very fond of), Japanese parasols and masks to various house items such as ceramic statues, plates and chopsticks. Though it was already raining, visitors are still all over and since we haven't had a "true" lunch - rice and viand (just like many of the Pinoys), we stopped to grab food before going in the temple. Rice is available, but we decided to take okonomiyaki - Japanese style pancakes or pizza.

Nakamise Street finds

Chocolate covered bananas

Asakusa temple more fondly called as the Asakusa Kannon or Sensoji temple, is one of the many Buddhist temple in Tokyo. It is the oldest, built around 645. Prior to entering the actual temple ground, visitors pass by the Kaminarimon or the Thunder Gate which houses a very large Japanese lantern - the symbol of Asakusa and Tokyo.

The thunder gate - with huge woven slippers

With the giant lantern (and a photobomber). 

GETTING OUR LUCK

Slightly similar to what first time visitors do in churches in the Philippines which is wishing, visitors in Asakusa temple determine their fortune. In determining one's Omikuji or your written luck, one must pray as they shake the metal box few times and draw the stick that comes out. Remember your number and bring the stick back to the metal box. From the wooden drawers in front of you, look for the drawer with your corresponding number on it. Take out a sheet and read what's your fortune.

Sadly, not all fortune are good. Those who had bad fortune can counter this by tying your fortune sheet to one of the wooden sampayans or clothesline and pray to your heart's content.

I got a Best fortune, Louie got the not so good one, so he tied it up. 

ASAKUSA GROUNDS

The temple is huge and many of the Buddhists are praying and since we want to respect them, Louie and I just roam around the area looking for interesting subjects. It was quite raining hard that time so we decided to stay inside the temple waiting for the rain to stop.

Yukata and Plastic umbrellas, and Geishas. 

Ang sarap may photographer! :)

AKIHABARA

Being a techie myself, I really wanted to see Akihabara - the famous techie street in Tokyo. Though I do not plan to buy something there, I just wanted to roam around and look what Aki has to offer. It didn't disappoint.

As we exited the Akihabara station, the first building that I saw is the Sega building. We didn't enter and just decided to walk around. Streets are even more interesting.

Welcome to Aki!

Sega building and lights along Akihabara. 

Not to miss the maids. :) I asked Louie if he wanted to have one, but he declined. Sayang! :(

Gundam cafe in Akihabara. This is one of the two I have seen in Tokyo. Didn't get any chance to eat here though.
Line's too long. 

TOKYO TOWER

It was a little late in the evening when we walked towards Tokyo Tower. It was raining the whole afternoon so we decided not to go up but just take pictures below the tower. It was the closest thing to the Eiffel tower (since as of the moment, we do not have budget to do a Europe trip), the long walk from the station was all worth it.

Looks like Eiffel tower. Feels like one too!

We decided to grab dinner from the nearest combini or convenience store, my feet were killing me after about 12 hours of walking. Tomorrow is another day, it was less jam-packed as today.


Asakusa: Free entrance. Area is open 24/7.
Akihabara: No fees unless you want to try the maids cafe.
Tokyo Tower: Main Observatory - 820 yen; Special Observatory - 600 yen,
                       Main +Special Observatory - 1,420yen

Tokyo Tower: http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/eng/secret/index.html