Japan: Part 5 - Osaka

Osaka castle


It’s not worth going into Osaka castle, which is actually a museum. It’s quite cramped, and I went at the same time as busloads of tourists and trainloads of students.


View from the top of Osaka castle. After walking up eight storeys.


I recommend just wandering the lovely grounds and taking photos of the moat and the castle.

Umeda


There are lots of departments stores in this area e.g. Han Kyu, Daimaru, Hep 5.


Hep 5 is one of the more fashionable shopping centers. It has a ferris wheel as well. The Japanese really love ferris wheels!

Namba



Namba is lovely!! There’s this glorious stretch of covered walkway, the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade (which leads to the Eibsubashi) that covers several streets. Along the stretch of shops are restaurants, cafes, accessories shops, clothes shops, Daimaru, Agnes B, Tokyu Hands etc etc.


The kitchen stretch where they sell gorgeous bowls, chopsticks etc.


H&M at Namba!


The ferris wheel is at Don Quijote, a discount chain store that sells everything. But I went to both this and the Tokyo outlet and I didn’t really like it. Found it to be too squashy and not that cheap. They sell cosplay outfits though, if you’re interested.


Luxury stores at Namba.


America Mura (America Village) at Namba… I don’t really like it…it’s full of hip-hop music and guys wearing their pants super low.


Namba Parks, a shopping center.

Japan: Part 4 - Transportation

Taxi

Don’t ever get in one. A 10 minutes ride cost me S$40.

Train

Most people buy the Japan Rail Pass if they are traveling from Tokyo to Osaka and back again. My crazy sister took the train from Tokyo to Hokkaido… and back again. You can find out more information about the pass at http://www.japanrailpass.net. However, I am extremely cheap and did not want to spend S$200 on a one-way train ride when I can spend it on an Agnes b bag instead. Hence, I took the bus (see below).

I did take the train from Osaka to Kyoto though. It’s quite cheap, JPY 540 yen for a 30 – 50 mins journey, depending on whether you’re on a normal/ fast train. Hence, if you want to save some money, you can consider staying in Osaka instead of Kyoto.

Bus

As I mentioned, I found the train too expensive and decided to take the bus from Tokyo to Osaka. There are a couple of companies running the overnight Tokyo- Osaka route, but I chose the most foreigner-friendly one – Willer Express. Tickets are cheaper if you book in advance at http://willerexpress.com. Tickets start from around S$50, but I chose the slightly more expensive Relax option at S$75, which came with a practically horizontal seat, hood for privacy and a blanket. The Japanese are extremely polite, and not a single person snored during the journey... I think they would have died of shame if they snored :D The journey took around 9 hours, from 10pm to 7am, inclusive of two rest stops, where the toilets were spotlessly clean. There was also food available for hungry people.

Subway - Tokyo

If you are in Tokyo for more than a few days, it may be more convenient to buy the PASMO/ Suica card, which works like the Singapore ez-link card, rather than buying numerous single trip tickets. When you transfer to a different line, you may have to go out of the station. When that happens, remember to tap out through the orange gates, so that you will get the discount when you tap in again at the other station.

The subway may look confusing at first, but it’s actually quite easy to figure out. In addition, most of the tourist attractions lay on the JR Yamanote line, so just figure out how to get from your hotel's train station to that line.

Subway – Osaka

The equivalent of the PASMO/ Suica card is the Icoca card. If you can figure out the Tokyo subway, you will definitely be able to figure out the Osaka subway.

Subway & Bus– Kyoto

The subway is easy to figure out, but unfortunately, it doesn’t reach a lot of the attractions in Kyoto. Most people take buses, which originate from Kyoto Station. Please check the timing when you take the bus, as some buses only come once every hour.

Japan: Brands to look out for

Burberry Blue Label

ONLY Japan has Burberry Blue Label, so it is a MUST GO. Not really a must buy though, as it depends on the collection. It's cheaper than the normal Burberry, and tends to be girlier in designs, with pastel pinks and blues.

Standalone outlet in Tokyo: Ginza and Harajuku. Standalone outlets tend to be bigger and have a wider selection than those in department stores e.g. Isetan, Takashimaya.

Agnes b

This brand is really, really worth the money, because the bags are around 50% cheaper compared to Singapore's prices!^^

I recommend buying more unique designs, compared to the ubiquitous (and often pirated) canvas designs. I bought a super pretty black patent leather bag for only $200, and discovered it was $450 in the Singapore boutique! *HAPPY*

Standalone outlet in Tokyo: Omotesando area
Standalone outlet in Osaka: Along the stretch of shops at Shinsaibashi

Fancl

Brides-to-be can stock up on Fancl Tense Up. Everything else tends to be around 20-30% cheaper than in Singapore. I bought quite a bit of stuff, but actually I don't really like it. I recommend checking out the prices at http://www.fancl.com.sg first, and then going crazy at the Japan outlets :)

DHC

I'm not very familiar with DHC products, but I also bought stuff from the shop in Japan. Think it's around 20% cheaper than Singapore.

Sparkling Korea: Jeju

Jeju is very pretty, but it's very hard to travel around by yourself, as the sights are all far apart, and there's only a bus network.

Hence, I recommend signing up with a tour group e.g. Yeha Tour. http://www.yehatour.com. I did both their East Course and West Course. You can either stay at their guesthouse or ask for pickup at another hotel. And at the end of the tour, you can request to be dropped off at the Teddy Bear Museum or any other places. The tour was quite good, and they don't bring you to any jade/ tea factories. Instead, they really just bring you to pretty places, give you sufficient time to wander about and take photos. And the tour guides buy you ice-cream! So cute! Haha.

I just checked the website and it's about KRW80,000 for a day tour (either East or West Course). Prices have increased! When I went on the tour 1 year ago, I think it was only about KRW50,000.



The old Yeha guesthouse was really pretty! A bungalow set in a very pretty garden, with swings! This photo was taken on a super rainy last day, where flights out of Jeju were cancelled. Luckily mine was in the late afternoon and didn't get cancelled. The Yeha guesthouse has since moved to a town area, which has both pros and cons. Pro is that it's much more accessible (the old one was REALLY ulu). Con is that it doesn't have the pretty garden anymore.

Some sights on the tour...





The "All in" house, I think. I didn't watch the series...

Japan: Part 3 - Sightseeing Tokyo

Shinjuku


I didn't really like the shopping here, though there's both Takashimaya and Isetan here. Hence, Shinjuku is placed under "Sightseeing" instead of "Shopping". In fact, there's quite a no. of sights here!

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings

After walking past rows of skyscrapers housing banks, MNCs etc, you will reach the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, which offer awesome (and free!) views from the 45th floor.


There's a north and south tower, so I recommend going to both, and going once in the daytime and once at nightime. It's good to make this trip earlier as there's a tourism office on the 1st floor, with lots of information on different areas within Tokyo.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Before your trip, go to the website https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html and apply for a permit one to two months in advance. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo only offers Japanese tours, but there's an English audio guide available.


Modern palace inside the grounds.


The Imperial East Gardens are next to the palace. Entry is free and there's no need to apply for a permit.

Senso-ji temple
Location: Asakusa station



The path to the temple is lined with traditional shops, selling lots of traditional food and charms... love charms,good luck charms, health charms etc. The amulets being sold in the temple are quite expensive. Bought amulets for good health at JPY500 each for my parents.

Meiji-jinju
Location: Harajuku station


I recommend going to the temple in the morning, while waiting for shops at Takeshita-dori to open. It’s quite a nice, leafy stroll to the temple.


I saw a wedding there! So pretty!

Odaiba

This is the prettiest place in Tokyo! Go to Shimbashi station to buy a one-day pass for the Yurikamome Line, which functions like a monorail.



Palette Town has Venus Fort (see "Shopping" for more details) and the huge Ferris Wheel which changes colour at night!


Tokyo Decks, with a well-utilised beach… there’s shopping centers Aqua City and Seaside mall just above the beach.


Famous Fuji TV building.


Tokyo Big Sight, an exhibition center. There's a 100 yen shop there too.


Gorgeous Rainbow Bridge at night.

Swallowtail – a butlers’ café



Located near Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, this was my BEST experience in Japan. Imagine, gorgeous boys dressed up as butlers, all ready to wait on you hand and foot. For example, a princess's hands are too delicate to pour her own tea from the teapot. Hence, if any strenuous tea-pouring activity was required, you would ring your own adorable antique bell, and your butler would come running. Of course, the experience is even better if you know Japanese, but they are very kind to tourists. Reservations need to be made weeks in advance, especially if you have more than one person in your party. Photographs are not allowed inside, but don't worry, your memories will be more than sufficient to justify the costs.

Gorgeous perfect anime-style butler: "I hope you'll have a good time here, my princess."
Me: *massive internal squeeing* "Thank you, I will!"

Japan: Part 2 - Shopping! My favourite shops!

The BEST invention in Japan are the fixed price shops! Besides the ubiquitous 100 yen shops, there are the even more fabulous 300 yen shops!! Seriously, everytime you see a 300 yen fixed price shop, walk in!!! It’s so so so fun, and filled with things that are super value-for-money, and which you never realized you needed until you saw it there^^.

Note: There's 5% tax, so a 100 yen item will cost 105 yen, while a 300 yen item will cost 315 yen etc etc.

3 Coins


This has quite a number of branches, all over Japan. I saw it in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto... aaaaaah, I bought so many things from them, pretty crayon-esque chopsticks, gorgeous mirrors, foldable trolley bag with wheels, flower hairbands, pretty ruffled umbrellas etc etc. Each shop may carry slightly different stuff, so go into each one you see!

Smart life market


Carries similar stuff as 3 Coins, has a few outlets, one of which is in Tokyo Station.

Paris Kids

Lots of sparkly, pretty accessories e.g. necklaces, hairbands, hair extensions etc. Doesn’t have a lot of standalone shops, but a lot of fixed-price shops carry their products. There's an outlet at Takeshita-dori, bursting with Japanese schoolgirls cooing over their products.

One Price- You You

I spotted this shop in Shinjuku. It has quite nice, girly stuff.

Japan: Part 2 - Shopping Tokyo! Places that your wallet will thank you for

Ueno- Ameyochoko


Underneath the railway tracks are rows of shops and eateries. I finally found my elusive unagi speciality shop here! There’s lots of shops selling branded toiletries at cheap prices, secondhand branded bags and watches, sports stuff and clothes (mostly for men though!).


You may also want to pop by Ueno Park, which is located next to the subway as well. There's a huge pond, a zoo, lots of greenery etc.

Akihabara


Lots of electronics stores, with lots of men gawking at the kawaii girls advertising for the maid cafes. For girls who are not that techy (ie. me), I recommend just going into a major brand e.g. Yodabashi Camera, which is right at the subway exit. It’s 8 stories high and carries everything, from cameras to mp3 players to televisions. My sister made me buy limited-edition Audio-technica earphones for her, which was around 50% cheaper compared to shops in Singapore.

Ikebukuro


Ooh, this area is fun! Full of pachinko parlours, and afforable shopping. I scored lovely, pretty hats here for around JPY 1,000. There’s also a major mid-priced complex - Sunshine City, which houses an indoor theme park "Namco Namja Town".

Japan: Part 2 - Shopping Tokyo! Places to bring your credit card^^

Roppongi

Roppongi Hills is a giant shopping and eating complex, full of shiny, expensive shops. It's also next to the Grand Hyatt that was the filming scene for "Lost in Translation".


There's a famous spider sculpture there. I've seen the spider sculptures in a few other countries too. Have no idea why shopping centers like it so much.


When I was there, there was a Japanese singer recording a performance at the outdoor stage. There were tons of her fans, all dressed like mini versions of her. Even Japanese kids have amazing fashion sense!

Ginza



Another place to see and be seen. Lots of sparkly luxury stores line the streets. There’s a H&M there too.

Venus Fort


Located at Odaiba… look under the “Sightseeing in Tokyo” section for more directions and attractions. Venus Fort is sooooooo pretty! A Venice-themed, women-focused mall, with fountains and an artificial sky that changes from morning to night! It has a few outlet stores (including Coach and Levi) … can get some good bargains.

Japan: Part 2 - Shopping Tokyo!

Shop from Omote-sando to Shibuya ^^


Pretty Prada near Omote-sando station! Award-winning building ok!


Omote-sando hills. Full of expensive things… *itchy fingers*


Oriental Bazaar has lots of souvenirs… but I didn’t really like the shop. Kiddyland is next to it, with cuteness overload. Girls who have a penchant for naming their soft toys (you know who you are!) will probably really enjoy it.


La Foret… similar to Shibuya 109.


Uniqlo at Shibuya… there’s Uniqlo everywhere, about the same price as Singapore but with bigger variety.


Tokyu Hands! See the green hand sign near the tree? That’s the symbol of Tokyu Hands. It’s quite a fun multi-storied building… sells everything from trolley bags to pretty stationary to watches to fun toiletries stuff. Girls can head straight for the toiletries floor, and then to the stationary floor ^^.


Loft is similar to Tokyu Hands.


ranking ranQueen! Fun shop at Shibuya station, which ranks all the items in terms of popularity e.g. best bb cream, best lip balm, best chips.


The iconic Shibuya 109 is worth a stroll… the salesgirls are all super pretty and fashionable! But the main affordable shopping is at Takeshita-dori in Harajuku.


Pretty Harajuku subway station leading to Takeshita-dori. Lined with clothes and accessories shops, it also houses a multi-storeyed Daiso. Ooh, must jostle with the schoolgirls at Paris Kids to buy pretty accessories at 315 yen!


H&M and F21 at Shibuya! Super excited to see H&M but in the end only bought one top.


And finally, must go visit Hachiko at Shibuya!