[Trip Report] Ibaraki and Tokyo (8 Nov - 22 Nov 2013)

[evilerniex]

Itinerary
8 Nov (Nil) - SIN -> KUL -> NRT
9 Nov (Tokyo) - Ueno, Tokyo Tower
10 Nov (Tokyo) - Harajuku, Shinjuku
11 Nov (Nikko) - World Heritage
12 Nov (Nikko) - Lake Chuzenji
13 Nov (Mito) - Mito city
14 Nov (Hitachi Daigo) - Ryujin Suspension Bridge, Fukuroda Falls
15 Nov (Mito) - Tsuki Machi Falls, Hananuki Gorge
16 Nov (Tsuchiura) - Hitachi Seaside Park, Oarai
17 Nov (Tsuchiura) - Mount Tsukuba
18 Nov (Tokyo) - Tsuchiura
19 Nov (Tokyo) - Tsukiji Market, Odaiba
20 Nov (Tokyo) - Asakusa, Ginza, Tokyo station
21 Nov (Tokyo) - Akihabara, Bunkyo Civic Centre
22 Nov (Nil) - NRT -> KUL -> SIN

(xxxx) refers to my accommodation for that night

Accommodation
Tokyo: Super Hotel Ueno Iriyaguchi (12980yen per night triple share. breakfast included)
Nikko: Nikko Park Lodge Mountain Side (6800yen per night triple share)
Mito: Kamoshita (3900yen for single, 7500yen for twin per night. breakfast included)
Hitachi Daigo: Yamizo (11650yen per pax per night. apple onsen. breakfast and dinner included)
Tsuchiura: Bell's Inn (9900yen per night triple share. breakfast included)

Transport
Malaysia Airline: $541
Car rental in Mito: 14000yen (Mazda Demio for 14-16 Nov)
Car rental in Tsuchiura: 9500yen (Mazda Demio for 17-18 Nov)

Expenses
- Airfare: $541
- Accommodation: 56543yen
- Car rental: 7833yen
- Others (food, shopping, train fare, petrol etc): 56735yen
Total expenses: 56543yen + 7833yen + 56735yen + $541
= 121111yen ($1571) + $541 = $2112

 

[evilerniex]

Tokyo

first time taking malaysia airline, heard many horror stories of missed connections and luggage delay. luckily for us, nothing happened. my 9.20pm flight departed on time from changi airport, and the 1hr transit time in KL was more than enough. arrived at narita terminal 2 at 7+am in the moring

touchdown in Narita terminal 2. havent been to tokyo in years!

took Keisei Main line to Ueno. not in a rush, so save some money by not taking the faster Skyliner

 

[ShinigamiX]

haha... ya i took the access express(1200yen 1 way). the express is double the price.

i took 2 nippori need 2 transfer at aoto.... not too bad

 

[evilerniex]

left our luggage at Super Hotel Ueno Iriyaguchi then walked around Ameyoko. Super Hotel is quite a distance from Keisei-Ueno station. even from JR Ueno station, it is a good 5min walk from Iriya exit, or 10min from the main exit.

spotted Rilakkuma outside Yamashiroya, a shop sellling lots anime and cute stuff just opposite Ueno station

lunch at Ichiran ramen in Ueno station

my bowl of Tonkotsu ramen

yummy! *burp*

 

[evilerniex]

after walking around Ueno, we went back hotel for check-in, the went to meet my fren's japanese ex-colleague for dinner. had dinner at an Izakuya

 

[evilerniex]

dinner wasnt filling coz izakaya are meant for drinking, with some small snacks. so we went for desserts after that

red bean dessert

red bean ice cream... japanese really loves red bean

 

[evilerniex]

headed to Tokyo Tower next. wanted to see what the Diamond Veil illumination is like. Diamond Veil illumination from 8-10pm every weekends and on special occasions. basically, instead of the normal orange-red colour, the tower is lit up in other colours

 

[evilerniex]

some christmas decorations outside Tokyo Tower

 

[evilerniex]

Harajuku

scrolled around Yoyogi park in the morning. Yoyogi park is a nice place for a relaxed morning, where u can observe the locals engaging in various activities. joggers, youngsters practising dance moves, older folks doing taichi, models having photo shoots, artist doing sketches etc etc

beautiful row of trees just outside Yoyogi park

rose bud in Yoyogi park

 

[evilerniex]

went to Meiji shrine after Yoyogi park. they are having 7-5-3 festival, so lots of kids all dress up for ceremony and photo taking

 

[evilerniex]

Meiji shrine is crowded as usual, but this is considered not too bad already

 

[evilerniex]

hardly see any cosplayers in Harajuku even though it is a sunday. didnt see the free-hug sailor uniform guy also. but saw this guy with an interesting sign. he gamely posed for me when he saw me taking photos

go Harajuku of coz must visit Takesh!ta-dori for crepes

Omotesando

 

[evilerniex]

beautiful christmas display in the mall. the animation above the xmas tree changes

nice little coffee place at a corner of the street. they have small stools for sitting around a heater

snoopy town. was helping my fren find a particular snoopy calendar, but cant find

 

[evilerniex]

Shinjuku

heading for Metropolitan Government Building obervatory for sunset and night view. came out from the wrong Shnjuku exit i think. ended up in a long empty tunnel to the building. i remember the correct one have travelator, dun have to walk so much one.

sun setting already.. 4+pm only

 

[evilerniex]

huge dark cloud covered the sun.. cant see sunset liao

 

[evilerniex]

waited a bit or the sky to be dark for some night shots

Krispy Kreme at Shinjuku. hardly any queue, unlike the one is sg

 

[evilerniex]

Nikko

bought All-Nikko pass at Asakusa station and took the 8+am train from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko station. train ride is 2+hrs. there are faster options to get to Nikko, such as the ltd express train, but it is not covered by the All-Nikko pass. got the All-Nikko pass coz i planned to cover Lake Chuzenji as well. there is also a 2-day nikko pass, but it doesnt cover buses to Lake Chuzenji

arrived at Tobu-Nikko station

explored the area around the station and had lunch first before heading to the world heritage temples and shrines. hot soba for a cold day in Nikko.... shiok!

 

[evilerniex]

started raining, sianz liao

 

[evilerniex]

Futarasan shrine

for a lasting relationship, u are suppose to hold hands with other half and walk through this loop 3 times

this shrine is all about love and relationship

 

[evilerniex]

beautiful red leaves!