Day 1 - Tokyo/Hokkaido Trip

It's bf time. Our 2nd meal on board the plan. Touched down at Haneda Airport at 6am and encountered some hiccup  at the custom. I tried clearing the custom alone and was stopped by the custom officer. Showed me a photo asking if I carried all those stuff (drugs) with me. Wa damn degrading lor. Told him No and he requested to check my hand luggage. ZZzzzzz

Took Keikyu Airport limited from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku. Haneda Airport is so much nearer to downtown Tokyo as compared to Narita.Airport and also much cheaper. Reached Shinjuku in less than 30mins and cost less than $10.

All the shops were not opened as we were early. Not much to see. Only thing to see is commuters rushing to take train to go to work.  Bf at a Cafe near Shinjuku. Super tired after an overnight flight. Kennie was having a terrible headache. 

Designed by Veona. Daddy taking care of sick Mummy. I rushed out of the cafe to look for Hot Chocolate drink for Kennie. as this cafe only sells Coffee and Tea.

Window shopping at Takashimaya Time Square. Things are still very ex despite the falling yen. Lunch at Katsukura. A must visit Tonkatsu restaurant whenever we were in Tokyo. Katsukura is one of the premium Tonkatsu restaurant in Japan,The place still looks the same after our last visit. This is something I like about other countries. They do not waste money renovating their restaurants and shops unlike Singapore. For Sg, they will renovate every 2 years and consumers are made to bear such cost i.e they will charge more for the food.

My plan was to go to Harajuku to shop but was too ambitious. We were too tired after the flight and it's very troublesome to pull the luggage around, made worse by my back pain. So we decided to try our luck if w can check in early. Will be staying at Toyoko Inn Asakusabashi (East exit of Asakusabashi station on JR sobu line). It's one of the cheapest around Tokyo. $140+ for a family room with breakfast. Too bad they dont allow us to check in earlier. Can only check in at 3pm for Toyoko Inn member. 

Walked around Asakusabashi area. Nothing much there as the district is known for its large stores selling traditional Japanese dolls and beads stores. 

Visit to Sensoji Shrine and Nakamise shopping street. 

The famous Kaminari-mon Gate (Thunder Gate) that is seen on many postcard.

Nakamise is a lively shopping street lined up with small shops selling enormous selection of traditional local snacks such as rice biscuits, instance red bean cakes, edible seaweed and a huge array of sourvenirs including kimono, T-shirts, keychain, cell-phone straps, fans, toys and etc. Dating back to the eighteenth century, the Nakamise dori shopping arcade is a beautiful narrow lane spanning approximately 250 meters in length that includes around 89 shops in total.

Sensoji Temple. It is also known as Asakusa Kannon which is the oldest temple in Tokyo.

The trip to Asakusa is never complete without trying their famous Tempura and the best is at 大黑家 Daikokuya Tempura. Daikokuya is best known for their large sized prawn tempura on a bowl of rice with their specially formulated soy sauce, Mamma Mia! It's the best Tempura we have ever eaten.