East Japan 2013 Day 7: Around Yokohama

Day 7: November 7, 2013
Yokohama Bay and Chinatown

We had a day of rest after 6 days of non-stop walking around Tokyo and Yokohama. We decided to chillax and have to take our day slow since we will be travelling to Hakone the next day and it will be our 7th anniversary.

First glimpse of Autumn in Yokohama

Our day started a little late and since I am sort of sick and I am still adapting to the cold winds (and its drizzling every afternoon, I did not use umbrella at all). I need comfort food so what better way to end my sickness is to find a restaurant that offers all day breakfast. Being a researcher myself, I am prepared to such thing and I've seen that the famous Hawaii restaurant - Eggs and Things can be found in Yokohama. :) And well, we have an itinerary today!

Eggs and Things is located in Star Hotel in Yokohama, about 20 minutes away from Louie's apartment.

Eggs and Things famous door. We were seated at the patio,
which I loved since I got to do people-watching. 

I was too late to take the picture, the whipped cream stumbled already. This is a 5-pc pancake set with bananas,
nuts and whipped cream on top (cost about Php 400.00)

Strawberry, Vanilla and Honey-Maple syrup. 

YOKOHAMA'S CHINATOWN

Just like many of the countries I have been to, one of their major common denominator is having their Chinatown. I think, these Chinese was able to conquer some of these Asian countries.

After grabbing brunch from Eggs and Things, we walked towards Chinatown (about 10 minute walk from the restaurant). Yokohama Chinatown is the largest in Japan and all of Asia, and is one of the largest in the world. It is surrounded by 4 major gates and five more gates can be found within the area.


One of the gates in Chinatown. 

Walking further down the road, you will see one of the temples in Chinatown and probably the biggest of them all - Kanteibyo Temple. This temple was built in 18th century by the Chinese immigrants themselves.

Kanteibyo Temple. (That's me, by the way!)

Inside the temple grounds. 

Scriptures at the gate. 

After passing by the Temple, we decided to walk farther more down the road and saw very interesting things:

Japanese school backpacks, for real! :) I was tempted to bring back one in the Philippines, but realized I am too old to use this. It really looks good on Japanese school girls! 

Panda stores - we passed by three of the Panda stores along Chinatown. What better way to present the fusion of two
countries than Hello Kitty wearing a Panda suit. :) (Or is it, Panda eating Hello Kitty?)

One of the alleys in Chinaatown. 

Just like many of the Chinatowns I have been to, food is the main attraction in Yokohama Chinatown. Sadly, coming from a big brunch few minutes before, we weren't able to taste some of them. I promised to go back and have a taste (di ba, Louie?).

Walking and sort-of-getting lost in Chinatown, we decided to end the day by meeting some of Louie's officemates for dinner. It was a slow-paced kind of day, since tomorrow will be another walkathon.

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 2013 Day 1: Arrival and Night Walk in Yokohama

Day 1: November 1, 2014
Arrival in Narita Airport and Transfers to Yokohama

Its been 6 months since my Japan trip and I might be coming back (if money permits) by the 3rd quarter of this year. The pressure is on, as I am taking a break from all the wedding preps I am doing in the past 6 months.

As previously mentioned, this trip was far different from my trip in the past, since I have done this alone and I didn't plan any of the itineraries. My then-boyfriend (now fiance) planned everything, with me having very little participation.


DEPARTURE IN MANILA, ARRIVAL IN NARITA

I managed to grab sale seats in Jetstar bound for Japan for about Php 23,000.00 (round trip with 15kgs check in baggage). Our flight was delayed for about 40 minutes but we managed to arrive in Narita at our scheduled time. Since I am worried with Louie looking for me, I wasn't able to take good pictures from the airport.

After meeting up with my travel buddy for the next 11 days, we bought our Suica+NEX tickets right before you leave Narita Airport. This ticket served as our roundtrip tickets from and to Narita Airport via Narita Express Train, valid for 15 days and 2,000 worth of credits for Suica - just like the octopus card in Hong Kong and MRT cards in Singapore. (as of posting - Suica+NEX tickets are discontinued.)

Suica + NEX tickets (value: 5,500 Yen)

TRAVEL FROM NARITA TO YOKOHAMA

Louie lives in Yokohama, which will be our base for the next 11 days. From Narita airport, we took Narita Express trains bound for Tokyo and Yokohama which took us about an hour. Arriving in Yokohama station, we transferred trains bound for Koganecho (red trains) and a walkathon to Louie's house.

First glimpse of Tokyo Tower

We arrived a little after 3 in the afternoon, after all the transfers and travels. It was a tiring day.


NIGHT WALK IN ISEZAKI MALL

We decided to end our first day with a dinner in Isezaki near Louie's place. Here are pictures of our walking tour.

Isezaki walk way

Cool bikes at the walkway

Yokohama skyline from Sakuragicho

Huge crab! :)

Our next day adventure: Ueno Zoo, Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower