After a couple hours in immigration, we
should be out of Narita Airport by 11 AM. The time to check into our hotel is
2pm, so we’ll have some time to spare. Taking our luggage, we will take the JR Yamanote
line to Shinjuku where we’ll be staying during the first couple days in Tokyo.
If I were to compare New York to Tokyo,
Shinjuku would be like Manhattan. It’s
filled with the skyscrapers and neon signs.
One of the main reasons we want to stay in Shinjuku, is that it appeared
in a lot of movies, manga and anime we’ve read and watched like Death note (One
of our all time favourite!)
Once reaching Shinjuku, we’ll get off
the North South exit at Sinjuku Station, and take a short walk to Sinjuku
Gyoen. Since its around late March to
mid April, it’s Cherry Blossom season, and the Sinjuku Gyoen is one of the most popular
and pleasant hanami spots to view the blossoms in Tokyo. At the beginning of April, the blooming of
sakura blossoms is quite an event for tourists, as well as for locals. The word hanami, is translated to ‘to see
flowers,’ so a hanami spot is a spot to allow individuals to sit and gaze at
the cherry blossom trees.
At the station, before heading to
Shinjuku Gyoen, we’ll pick up a bento.
When settled in our hanami spot, we’ll dig this Japanese take-out meal. Bento is a ready-made lunch box sold at
almost every convience store and train station In Japan. A typical bento conists of rice, fish or meat
and vegetables.
After finishing our lunch, we’ll leave
the park for our Hotel: the Best Western Sinjuku Astina Hotel. One 2 twin bedroom is 127.54 dollars per
night (this is one of the most affordable hotels!), and it’s a 5 minute walk
from the west entrance of Shinjuku station.
This will make it much easier to get along in the city.
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| Top Section: Traditional Bento, Odaiba Ferris Wheel, Shinjuku Gyoen and examples of hanami spots Bottom Section: Rainbow bridge at night, Venus fort shopping center, Fuji TV building |
After settling into our hotel, we’ll take a trip
to Odaiba which is known for its futuristic entertainment. The JR Saikyo line, will take use directly to Odiaba from Shinjuku. To get in and out of the area, we’ll need to go
over the rainbow bridge, which is a really beautiful site at night. Another attraction we’ll head to is Odaiba’s
ferris wheel, the largest in the country, standing at 115 metres tall. All four us will be able to ride together,
since one cart holds 6 passengers.
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| Odaiba Jump Shop |
The next place is Fuji TV Building and the Dragon Ball and One Piece Museum. This will be our first anime/manga experience in Japan, and what place better to go to then the building that broadcast Dragon Ball Z and now One Piece (the current longest running manga series). In the building is a museum where we can buy merchandising from both series as well as other series Fuji TV broadcasts. Close to the Fuji TV building is the jump store. For people who may not know, Jump is the current most popular manga magazine that contains the most popular Shonen manga series (i.e Naruto, Bleach, One Piece). We all are jump fans, since our favourite series are distributed by it, and it’s a great place to buy some items from these shonen jump series.
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| Hello Kitty Amusement Park in Odaiba: I know I'll be almost 30 if I go to Japan as planned.....but it's a Hello Kitty Amusement Park! |
Another reason why we want to go see the
Fuji building, is that it was the area in which Digimon (a popular anime), used
as a setting place in Seasons 1 and 2. Knowing what Odaiba looks like with the help of one of my favourite childhood anime, gives a greater meaning to the
city.
Odaiba Source
Images: Google Images
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| Anime series Digimon, and its various scenes with the Fuji TV building: Oh the childhood memories are already coming back!! |
Images: Google Images
10:22 PM |
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