Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 7 - Tokyo Tower and Meiji Shrine

Hi all, I just want to wrap up the year with my final photo blog post instalment of my Tokyo trip. Ever since I watched the Japanese drama series Tokyo Tower, I had always wanted to visit it.

It didn't matter that we only got to the Main Observatory as the Special Observatory was closed for maintenance. From Shinjuku, we went on the Tokyo Metro again, this time on the Oedo Line to Akabanebashi. Once there, it was just a five minute walk up the hill from the exit of the subway. It looked pretty awesome from the intersection.

How cute are these little Tokyo Tower lights? They are adorable. I wanted one but it wouldn't have fitted in my suitcase!

Once inside on the main floor, we could see that many people had bought those little wooden card to write down their wishes, hopes and dreams to hang it up. I didn't get one because my dream was already coming true with this trip to Japan. I spend my money on souvenirs instead. My Tokyo Tower soft toy is ever so cute!

You can see Tokyo in 360 degrees, in all directions when you walk around the Main Observatory. In one of my photos, you can see Rainbow Bridge. I imagined a night time view would be pretty spectacular!

Next stop, Meiji Shrine. On our last day we went Harajuku. From the station, we walked to the shrine and then back to Takeshita street for lunch. Just as well we stop there, I found Daiso and went a little berko with buying Japanese stuff. I bought some cutesy Japanese fabric pouches to put my camera lenses in it. Clever, no?

We were lucky enough to see so many Japanese families in traditional outfits visiting the shrine. I love their kimono fabrics. I haven't found any fabric shop yet which was disappointing.

Just after the entrance, a little walk along, we saw the famous sake barrel display. These were donated to the shrine from companies and large corporations. I guessed even big companies need a prayer or two, right?

Along the path, I read and took photos of the storyboard of Empress Shoken. It was quite interesting to read through the boards and I learned that she was truly a Queen of Hearts, loved by her people.

It truly is tranquil here. Emperor Meiji was not wrong. You would not believed that this part of land was still in Tokyo

And how happy was I, standing by those Sake barrels? My Tokyo trip came to an end and so I have to bid Japan, "Sayonara", but I shall return, again and again. After all, I had barely scratched the surface, the wonder of Japan.

Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 6 - Itadakimasu ;)

When I was in Japan, I said "Itadakimasu" lots of times, before my meals. It's like saying grace before you eat, that you humbly received the food with an exclamation of "Let's Eat!!"

I was truly grateful of my being able to visit this wonderful country and to eat the yummiest Japanese food on Earth! In true Japanese settings, you can't get this experience from a Japanese restaurant anywhere else. I ate from street stall, from Gourmet speciality shops and sushi bar and food courts.

Even though I had said it out aloud, in my mind, of course, it would be seconded by a nom nom nom noise! That is how much I appreciated the food there. I hummed after the noms.... it's quite hilarious! Darren would look at me with his horrified look, "Oh God, why is my mum so embarrassing?"



This is the shop at Nakamise Street before the Sensoji Temple. I bought a couple of bags of rice crackers "senbei" here. Definitely much nicer than your average Sakata crackers.

Japan is also vending machine heaven. Every where you go, there is sure to be a vending machine nearby.

Yum!!! Who wants steam buns? There's also freshly made tofu and matcha icecream. Don't even get me started on the Matcha. I was on a permanent Matcha diet. I drank Matcha Frappe, matcha tea, matcha latte, matcha icecream, pancakes with Matcha. I had squid balls with matcha powder flavouring in Arashiyama.

Pretty impressive Ramen for 800 yen, right? I wished I could buy a bowl from the display as a souvenir. Hahahaha. Better catch up to the boy, he has abandoned me as I am being "touristy" again.

These squid paste balls were delicious. OMG! I want some of these for dinner now. I shouldn't have posted this before dinner ;)

I met my Twitter friend Hyuna in Tokyo and we went to a sushi bar in Shinjuku for dinner. It was the best meal ever. I fell in love with Unagi sushi that night. The photo above is two types of green tea, the lighter one is with ground rice, the greener one is just plain matcha. However, there is nothing plain about it. I love matcha tea. I can't get enough of it!

And this is why, someone in Japan, needs to adopt me so I can live there! I am missing out on the best sushi in the world!

And then there was the snacks and the beers, so many different flavour beers and teas, not together of course. And French pastries, Japanese desserts and matcha icecreams... Oh Lordy! It was with a heavy heart and bottom that I had to come home.

Some of my followers on Instagram would have been drooling daily from my uploads. I am sharing a few food photos here. If you like to follow me, I am at:

YummyStuffGoesHere | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram |

Autumn Bliss in Japan Part 1

Hi all, I just got back from a Japan holiday. It was a bit a rush really. I wished I could have stayed for longer. Perhaps better planning, next time around, when I go solo. I have always love Japan, it is a beautiful place and what foodie doesn't like Japanese food, right?

We arrived in the morning and took the Limo Bus from Narita airport to Shinjuku where we were staying. On our first day in Tokyo, we spend the day exploring Shinjuku and went into the stores from floor to floor. I especially loved the food basement shops in Odaikyo, next to Keio store. You can easily go nuts shopping for food in here. There are so many choices and my eyes was bigger than my stomach. I bought bento lunch box, sushi rolls, french pastries and matcha icecream just for that first lunch ;)

On our second day, we brave the world and took on the Tokyo Metro subway system. To be truthful, there's nothing to it. If you don't have the exact change, the machine spits out your change after you insert your Yen note. The Info booth is never too far and someone will always help out if you seemed a bit lost, in translation or otherwise.

The photo above was taken at Sensoji Temple, in Asakusa. We enjoyed our day out strolling at Nakamise Street, just looking at the souvenir shops and cooking stalls. I watched the making of rice crackers and it was sold fresh, unlike your commercially packed "Sakata" crackers from the supermarkets.

After the Sensoji Temple, we took the Tokyo Metro subways again, this time to Daimon. My son had wanted to go to Pokemon Centre, ever since he was little. He is now a grown young adult, and thankfully, he still likes them. Yes, it did take me awhile to save up for this trip, our Australian dollar is now strong and made it possible for this trip.

To be continued ...next post, how to get to Pokemon Centre :) and some foodporn.

For more information about Japan, please visit JNTO. Sensoji Temple is located at Asakusa.