Japan (2015) Tokyo

Lost in Translation: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Kibune

Japan was such a memorable trip! We are already planning our next trip back. 

The Japanese are amazing. The people is the reason why I love Japan. Everyone we met were so polite, and so NICE! It's like southern hospitality (although I've never experienced southern hospitality and can only assume from what has been repeated). 

After the Japanese people, I love the country itself and the presentation (???) of Japan. Surprisingly, for a country that populated, there were no trash! It's even more astounding when there are no trash bins! The country is so clean! There were no graffiti or litter (maybe the 3 years in prison or the 300,000 yen fine deterred it). 

The subway systems were extremely efficient for the amount of travelers. People get in line to get on/off the trains/bus. There are arrows directing people so everyone can walk without bumping into each other. The country is very automated. 

We seriously need some of these things in the US. 

Lost in Translation Part I: Tokyo

After a very eventful week in Las Vegas (first time in Sin City on a Monday-Thursday), I met up with my hubby at the SFO airport and we boarded our United flight to Japan. We were lucky enough to fly in business class. Being a night flight, the flat beds were very much welcomed.

Hubby and I before take off

We landed in Tokyo Haneda airport at 10:15 pm and managed to somehow find our way to the Park Hyatt Tokyo. We made it just in time for the New York Sky Bar before it closed. The Park Hyatt Hotel was the setting for the movie "Lost in Translation".

I woke up like this - at the PH New York Bar

View from the NY Sky Bar 

I can't help taking this picture on check out day.
Left: Me copying Scarlett Johansson
Right: Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation

First Japanese meal in Japan - breakfast at Park Hyatt Tokyo

Lost in Translation: Tokyo Part II

On our second day in Tokyo, we went to the Japanese Fish Market, Tsukiji, toured the Imperial Palace, and saw a show at Robot Restaurant.

Comparing Tsukiji to Sydney's fish market, I like Sydney's fish market more. Tsukiji was an interesting experience as it's a fish market, and that's where people work. They are not very tolerant of tourists. There were these electrical buggies/cart that they used to transport fish amongst other things, and they WILL RUN YOU OVER! It was a bit of a scary place for me, BUT...we got fresh sushi!

Probably the freshest sushi in the world. Toro, tuna, and salmon

That is toro and tuna

Next up is the Imperial Palace. What is the Imperial Palace? Well, it's where the Emperor lives. It's like going to Washington DC and seeing the white house. Yeah, I was confused too...or maybe I'm the only one confused. I really wanted to see the inside of the Palace, but we only toured the outer portion. The tour was free and we got some pictures of the outside buildings, so I can't really complain. However, the Imperial Palace is not that interesting. 

A compound of some sort.

The grounds of the Imperial Palace

Imperial Palace entrance gate

The most exciting part of our second night in Tokyo (or maybe even the whole trip) was Robot Restaurant. It's a  restaurant show with robots! The robots were not half as interesting as the half naked girls dancing! The setting is like Lisa Frank meets Ed Hardy. It is the most random show. There was no story line, just a bunch of lights, music, fit girls dancing, and quirky props. Highly recommend!

The drink counter is like someone on something.....dot dot dot

Only in Tokyo

Saltiest fries!   

Waiting room

Like I said, Lisa Frank meets Ed Hardy

Waiting room - performers dressed as robots

The show begins with rainbowed colored hair girls playing the bright colorful drums

WTH...dancing panda bear. Maybe we can take him to Kyoto's Bamboo Forest

Intermission - happier because of robot restaurant? Like a reviewer said, "have you ever done LSD? Me neither, at least that's what I thought until I went to Robot Restaurant". This must be how an acid trip feels like.

Yay a robot finally!

The finale for that night was the BEST RAMEN EVER!!! The location was somewhere underground in Shinjuku. There was a machine, in Japanese, with the prices next to it. Press, pay and pray! I couldn't tell you how to get there if you wondered, but believe me, it was GOOD RAMEN!

AWESOME RAMEN! No, I was not drunk nor on LSD or any forms of drugs. Just a Robot Restaurant high.

Goodnight Shinjuku!

Lost in Translation: Tokyo Part III

It rained very hard during our third day in Japan. We made it to Shibuya, only to rush back to the hotel due to the wetness. So we spent the afternoon in our hotel room and then enjoyed the Nagomi Spa. It was a nice spa.

Refreshed, we enjoyed a Wagyu tasting of sorts at Miyagi. Miyagi is a small restaurant on the fifth floor of a building in Shinjuku. The menus were in Japanese only, and the host translated the menu to us, sort of. We managed to figure out what we ordered and it was DELICIOUS! I will have to go back there one day!!! Best meal of the whole trip!

Hachiko - the loyal dog that waited at the station everyday for its owner for nine years after the owner passed away. There is also a movie called "Hachiko" starring Richard Gere. 

Shibuya Crossing before people walking

Shibuya Crossing when people are crossing. I don't know how they manage to not run into each other

In front of the bustling Shibuya Crossing. Shibuya reminded me of Time Square in New York, but cleaner, organized, and way more polite.

Matsuzaka sirloin (left) and "Highest Grade Wagyu" sirloin (right)

"Highest Grade Wagyu" filet

Matsuzaka rump (left) and "Highest Grade Wagyu" rump (right)

Lost in Translation: Tokyo Part IV

Last day in Tokyo *sniff* was roaming round Harajuku, buying souvenirs, and experiencing an earthquake. We did get to try Ippudo Ramen, which was better than any ramen I've ever had in the US, but not as good as that underground place we stumbled upon.

The earthquake was a 7.8, and the epicenter was somewhere in the middle of the ocean. Fortunately, it was about 500 miles deep down so there was no tsunami warning. I freaked out so bad that the hotel's lounge employees were holding my hand and hugging me. My face was also bright red and my hair somehow managed to get frizzy and was standing up everywhere. Thank goodness it did not delay our flight home, and thank goodness Wayne did not take a picture of me!

Ippudo Ramen near Ebisu Station

With extremely long term planning, a bit of luck, some credit card points, and a second career/hobby as a points enthusiast, we managed to score two seats on Japan Airlines First class (Best flight I've ever had the fortune to fly)

BYE BYE JAPAN!!!!

(we'll be back!)