Tokyo - Day 1 (Tokyo Station - Shinjuku - Harajuku - Shibuya)

Japan has always been on our bucket list on where to travel. I've been to Japan once for business trip back in 2005. Since it's a business trip, I didn't get to travel much. Kagoshima was the only place that I've been and it's located on the island of Kyushu. So last two month, all of a sudden my partner said let's go to Tokyo, Japan. There's direct flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Narita International Airport via MAS and without much hesitation he bought the ticket (RM 1,759 return ticket for one person). Three weeks later we're in Tokyo, Japan! We decided to make it a relaxing trip as I hardly have time to prepare the travel itinerary.

We took the midnight flight that depart late at night and arrive early in the morning. Our flight departed at 1.15am and we reached Narita International Airport Terminal 2 at 7.15am (Tokyo time) Tokyo is one hour ahead of Malaysia. It was a tiring 5 hours flight journey because both of us can't sleep on the plane! Well, look on the bright side at least I saw sunrise from the plane window around 6.25am. :)  It was a cold Monday morning as temperature at Narita Airport was 1℃ when we arrived.

My in flight meal

Cheapest way to get to Tokyo from Narita International Airport is by Keisei Shuttle Bus. Adult one way fare is ¥1,000. We managed to catch the 8.20am Keisei Shuttle Bus to Tokyo Station right after we came out from the airport. There's a small counter selling Keisei bus ticket in front of the arrival hall. We arrived Tokyo Station around 9.30am and first thing we did was to look for Ramen Street.

There's many ramen shops but we choose Rokurinsha because it has the longest queue. The queue was long but it's fast moving. We ordered our food from a food ticket vending machine. Just select your menu, insert money and you will get a ticket. Give that ticket to the waiter and wait for your table.

We ordered their special dip noodles and special ramen with pork broth. Both were nice. This is the first time I had dipping noodles. The noodles were cold and tasteless. Basically you need to dip the noodles in your broth and slurp it into your mouth. The broth is a bit salty for my liking. Due to the cold weather, it gets cold quickly. No wonder people were slurping their noodles as quickly as they can. I prefer their special ramen with pork broth. It is served with slices of pork, spring onions, bamboo shoots and seaweed. They served cold drinking water too and it's so refreshing as we got so thirsty after our meal.

(Total bill: ¥2,000)

Ramen street

Rokurinsha

Ordering food via vending machine

Our meal ticket - ¥1,080 & ¥920

Complimentary cold drinking water

Special dip noodle - ¥1,080 

Special dip noodle

Special ramen with pork broth - ¥920

Address:

Rokurinsha

Tokyo Ramen Street

B1 First Avenue Tokyo Station,

1-9-1 Marunouchi,

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005

After brunch, we took a subway (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line) from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station (¥200 per person). We checked in to APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower at 12pm. We did an early check in as we were too tired to wait until 3pm. There's additional charges of ¥1,000 per hour for early check in. Right after checked in, we took a long nap until 5pm.

Marunouchi line

Subway ticket

Subway

Shinjuku

We had our dinner at Wagyu Yakiniku Black Hole just 6 minutes (400m) walking distance from APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower. We ordered wagyu course for 1 person comes with salad, 4 slices of wagyu ribs, 4 slices of wagyu loins, 2 spiced chicken, 1 thick sliced pork, grilled vegetables, rice, Miso soup, sausage and 1 drink. I ordered white peach soda recommended by the waiter and it's nice. Our dinner was good. Wagyu basically melts in your mouth and we love the salad with sesame dressing not forgetting the Miso soup as well.

(Total bill: ¥7,370)

Wagyu Yakiniku Black Hole

Restaurant ambience

Salad with dressing

White peach soda - ¥400

Grill pan

Wagyu course for 1 person - ¥6,000

Salad, rice and Miso soup

Grill yakiniku

Address:

Wagyu Yakiniku Black Hole

1 Chome-2-5, Kabukichio,

Shinjuku City,

160-0021 Tokyo

After dinner we took a train (Yamanote Line) from Shinjuku Station to Harajuku Station (¥140 per person) We follow the Takeshita exit and came out to Takeshita Street. We managed to reach Zakuzaku before 8pm (they close shop at 8pm) but their crispy cream puff already sold out. They only left 3pcs of crispy puff with caramel cream and chocolate. So, we ordered one and bought one soft serve with cookie crunch as well. I prefer their soft serve ice cream. It's smooth and creamy. It's great to eat ice cream when the weather is so cold and eating ice cream makes me feel so happy. :)

Train

Harajuku - Takeshita Street

Croquant Chou Zakuzaku

Soft serve with cookie crunch - ¥450 & crispy puff with caramel cream and chocolate - ¥290

Address:

Croquant Chou Zakuzaku

Cute Cube Harajuku 1F,

1-7-1, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku,

Tokyo 150-0001

Opening hours: 10am to 8pm

Harajuku - Takeshita Street

Female toilet

Harajuku

Harajuku

We walked to Cat Street from Harajuku Street which took us around 7 minutes (550m). It was drizzling and all the shop were closed. We then walked to Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya, the largest Don Quijote in Tokyo. Both of us are not shopping freak. We ended up with a bottle of mineral water and Vaseline lip balm. 

Cat Street

Shibuya

Mega Don Quijote Shibuya

Shibuya Crossing is just 4 minutes (280m) walking distance from Mega Don Quijote. It's famous for being the busiest crossing in the world. Hachiko Statue is just 1 minute (55m) from Shibuya Crossing. This statue was built to honor the most loyal dog in Japan. 

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing

Hachiko Statue

We randomly walked into a ramen shop in Shibuya and ordered a bowl of soy sauce based soup special. The broth was good and the noodles texture was just perfect. After our late night supper, we took a train back from Shibuya to Shinjuku (¥160 per person) and dropped by at Family Mart to buy some junk food before we head back to our hotel room.

Note: ¥1 = RM 0.039

Ramen shop at Shibuya

Restaurant ambience

Cold drinking water

Soy sauce based soup special - ¥900

Mineral water, juice and cookies from Family Mart - ¥437