After experiencing the hassle of getting to Shinjuku from Kasai, all the more we should do today in this order. It's also to ensure that we do not end up being stuck in Shinjuku for the whole day.
9am - Out of the Bed
Today was another day of taking things slow. We were going to cover a few shopping belts. One day can never be enough, but that's all we have :( Had to leave Shibuya out also. Next time perhaps.
While having breakfast, Brother checked-in for our flight home. Yup, it's already the second last day of the trip. Blues now~
Nice weather today, not too cold at 17°C.
11.15am - Nihombashi Station 日本橋駅
We took the Metro to Nihombashi to change to the Ginza Line. There's a barrier-free route, just that it was quite a distance. It didn't help when we were just trying to confirm the direction with a staff behind a counter, but his English sucks. So anyway, we managed to find our way and in another 16min, we arrived at our destination.
11.44am - Omotesando 表参道
参道 means the road to worship. There used to be a shrine in Omotesando, but now, the shrine is gone. However, people still come here to worship - international brands, that is!
Colorful doughnut shop, easily convertable to a candy shop.
Walking down Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, a tree-lined broad street with stuff that we can't afford to buy.
3M shop! 3M got shop one meh? Let's go see! It's more like a showcase for its innovations. In the middle of the showroom was a small hatchback with its original paintwork replaced by carpaper (think "wallpaper"). Then there's a private audio "bubble", forgot how it was like, but it's similar to the records store's hood where you can hear the music when you are under it. Customize iPhone covers! Flipped through the sample booklet with squares of materials you can feel for yourself. Got LV one?
Gucci was just a few steps away. Let's go take a look... hopefully Japanese sales assistants will be polite enough to hide their dirty looks from us! Looked at their new bags... still find them too
Waa... the chocolate shop looks like jewellery shop lor..
A real jewellery shop, with crystal Christmas tree to boot.
5-storied LV ahead! Didn't go inside this one :\
12.25pm - Harajuku 原宿
Things getting more colorful, dazzling, affordable and crowd getting bigger and younger... no mistake, welcome to Harajuku!
Drugstore? Sister went in to hunt for that elusive body exfoliant again while Brother and I just browsed around.
Yummylicious hair dye! I hope it smells as sweet as its packaging.
Gap store opposite the Harajuku station. Discount? Let's check it out! The stuff were borderline affordable after discount... not bad. The price range was wide too - the best bargain was a t-shirt for just ￥300, or S$4.50! You can't even find this in Singapore! I was also looking to replace my turtle-neck top and found a really nice dark blue leopard-print (dark blue as I didn't want to look like a leopard) merino for about ￥3000 I think? I never imagined being able find anything in Gap as I was under the impression that it's priced beyond my reach... not true at all! And it's the only place that I actually bought clothes from in Japan... because they were the only ones selling off-season clothes. Sister was stuck in the shop for ages... even I was getting bored people-watching outside. If only she could just shop faster... zzz... how to get to Shinjuku like that?
We must have been there for more than 1hr lor! Finally we can move on! Aiyah... late already lor, we haven't had lunch yet. Spend more time at Harajuku, or go to Shinjuku already? The highlight of Harajuku was the cosplayers but we could be too late for that. Nothing that we would very much want to see here now. so walk to Shinjuku lor. So we walked and walked... the streets were steep sometimes, many shops were located upstairs and lots of Western fusion food seen, which we were uninterested in. We came to what looked like the end of the row of the road, like we could not proceed further... huh? So cannot walk to Shinjuku? But from the map, thought can ley? Or we could walk through the Meiji Shrine although from the outside, it seemed that the leaves were still very green. But actually, Shinjuku was 2 stops away from Harajuku, not exactly near lor. Aiyah turn back and take train lah.
Oddly-dressed teenagers.
竹下通り, the famous street where teenagers flood on weekends. If a terrorists wants to destroy Japan's future, this is the place to attack.
JR Harajuku station, absolutely handicapped-unfriendly. Staff didn't offer help too. Hopeless. Don't ride here unless you really have to.
The entrance of the Meiji Shrine.
We looked up and guess what, it's a sparkling-new lift encased in a glass shaft, belonging to Metro!
2.25pm - Meiji-Jingumae(Harajuku) Station 明治神宮前〈原宿〉駅
It's the Meiji-Jingumae(Harajuku) Station! What a life-saver! JR confirm has the worst barrier-free facilities around! Honestly, I never knew that this station is in Harajuku. Must be because it's better known as Meiji-Jingumae, without the brackets.
Studying the routemap, it was possible to get to Shinjuku from here. We confirmed with a friendly staff and after a toilet break, we were on the newest Metro line, the Fukutoshin Line 副都心線 towards Shinjuku-Sanchome Station 新宿三丁目駅.
3.06pm - Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square 新宿高島屋タイムズスクエア
I had wanted to go to Isetan as I assumed it would surely be linked to the station, but alas, it was not. Stairs only :(
So we took a random exit. First stop, Takashimaya!
No, it's different...
Even the lift buttons were special.
And the lift skipped floors like our office lifts.
Cut the crap. Actually we were just going for lunch. The same old headache of wondering what to eat at the restaurant floor. It's very late already, the time when restaurants rest if they have split hours. I'm worrying about dinner already.
3.20pm - Akasaka Fukinuki 赤坂 ふきぬき
Unagi rice all look the same, so here's a sample. Served with pickles and clear soup. The clear soup was something new for the trip.
Too much rice for me as usual, only finished the colored portion.
Sitting near the window, enjoying the overcast and hazy view of Shinjuku from the 14th storey.
Time to consolidate our purchase. Photo of our sole branded paper bag before it ended its journey with us by joining the dustbin.
4.15pm - Tokyu Hands 東急ハンズ
We had heard of this well-known department store back home, which stocks floors of goods and quirky finds. We couldn't wait to see for ourselves!
Starting from the 2nd storey, Bags and Accessories. No Agnes B Voyage here :| Porter available here. M asked me to buy him a Porter bag, but of course I wouldn't when he hadn't given me any model to grab. The bags looked very normal and plain ley, nice meh? Why are men going gaga over them?
New bag for me? Didn't spot anything suitable. Nevermind, just looking.
Next! I never thought toothbrushes could come in so many designs.
Some kind of toe sock.
O gosh, a whole wall of leather!
I have been looking for a belt buckle for my thin Daiso belt... found a small buckle, but I had no idea if it would fit. Nevermind, buy... Must be siao lor, impulse purchase.
Beauty section. I looked for loose powder foundation, but seemed like compact powder was more popular. Hey got Ettusais! At this time, Sister had a stomachache attack and left me to browse the section. Wa the refill pack for compact powder so cheap, like <$30! I was about to get one when she returned, then I saw that it was the price for the case only. Bloody hell, who buys a case for <$30!
I don't know if Japanese cosmetics were indeed cheaper there, but generally, they were still not cheaper than Loreal and the like in Singapore. Maybe I'm expecting too much haha! But hey, I only use them a few times a year!
Needless to say, Sister was still on the hunt for her body exfoliator. Still don't have! The sales assistant suggested another similar item. She tested and found it ok... and bought it reluctantly, because it's like the second last day of the trip liao. Can work can liao mah... so I guess Japan changes their products regularly. Like how the fizzy Kasugai candies couldn't be found at all...
Checking out more novelty goods... Sister had another stomachache attack :|
Checked out the Takashimaya department store. Waa expensive lor. The boots were also out of budget, needless to say. 看看就算. We came out empty-handed.
Before leaving the building, answer the call of nature first. Love the spacious barrier-free toilet! When I was stepping aside from the toilet bowl, I kicked something and almost fell over.
We went downstairs to the entrance where we first entered from to wait for Brother. Waited and waited... still no sign of him. Very cold when the door opened ley! Very rare of him to be late hmm. Didn't get our page? Lost his way? Nevermind, go for a spin around those expensive shops hehe. Just keeping warm only!
Finally, Brother showed up. I think we waited for a long time, for real this time! Here's what Brother saw on his adventure.
Another branch of Yodobashi Camera. Many branches in Shinjuku alone.
ABC Mart selling cheap footwear.
Ancient game.
Multi-storied arcade.
Yet another Yodobashi Camera.
Distinctive architecture.
Cool Christmas deco. Reminded me of Disneyland.
This street resembled Ximending.
This is one lonely-looking theatre. Pathetic ley, still can survive?
Orhhh... of course it can... enough cheekopehs to provide life support! And probably thriving!
Err... UFO made out of plastic bottles?
The Isetan in Shinjuku is a massive store with a few blocks. But stepping out of Takashimaya, I was instantly lost. So which direction? Brother said he knew, as he ventured rather far. Ok let's go.
Taking in the sights of Shinjuku at night. Looking out for dinner at the same time, but still not hungry from the late lunch, what's more with rice!
7.06pm - Isetan Shinjuku 伊勢丹 新宿店本館
Here it is!
This branch is famous for its dazzling variety of desserts at the basement. Shall go check it out later!
Lesson learned after visiting so many department stores in Japan - check the building and floor guide to ensure that your target department is here. Ladies' Fashion and Accessories, check. Go!
Straight up to the Accessories. Found Agnes B Voyage! You see, I have had the same wallet for 7yrs and it's still not showing any sign of aging. The only blemish was transparency ink tattooed from a choir concert ticket when it was just a few months old. I'm bored! With this reasoning, I'm entitled!
While browsing through the collection, I encountered 2 Singaporean ladies who came to browse around for a few seconds, inquire the price and walk away, commenting how Burberry Blue Label and Agnes B are must-buys and generally cheaper here (the giveaway). Alamak, they were here to scout prices only!
Found The One. Not too expensive and not too plain.
8pm liao. The place was starting to close, but we weren't leaving yet. Dinnertime~ to the basement. Lots of yummy-looking food again, but 立食 was really not for me. So we just checked out the desserts. How could we leave Japan without trying their desserts?
Sister was looking for daifuku but again, they didn't look like they were made on the spot. Guess what, we saw a Toraya outlet here! Why her colleague make it sound so rare huh, now we were seeing it everywhere?? One thing was true though, the Roppongi outlet had a cafe while this one was only takeaway.
The crowd was thinning rapidly but we still wouldn't call it quits. Until a guy who seemed like a manager came and told us politely that shopping hours were over. So when they say business hours is till 8pm, they mean business. Refused to do our business already boohoo. 赶我们走了呜呜 T_T.
Ok... so shops were already shuttered at this hour. Want to go other places? Kabukicho 歌舞伎町 should be open at this hour, just that it would be sleazy hehe. The things to see were mostly upstairs, so not much for me actually. And we ought to pack today. Let's go back then.
Aha, we knew our way back very well. We went to change train at Otemachi, like we did on the day we returned from Kawaguchiko. You can imagine how deserted the street was when we were changing lines. Same as Shenton Way, nobody wanted to set foot there on a non-working day.
We went to the area with lots of food at Kasai that Brother spoke of. However, at 9.30pm, most of them were already closed. The small provision shops, some eateries, including the cheap booze shop.
9.40pm - Misozen みそ膳 葛西店
Ah this was still open. Brother had it last time and it was not bad.
This is a ramen chain. We bought our food vouchers and the friendly waiter showed us to our seat.
After dinner, time for late-night SHOPPING!
10.20pm - Y's Mart ワイズマート 葛西店
Ok, here's the deal. GRAB ALL WE WANT, SPEND ALL OUR YEN NOW! Whee!!
So we were buying one of each of the cup noodles and packet instant noodles. I bought sweets~ Sister bought cookies. We must have made the locals do a double take on the weather report to ensure they hadn't missed some typhoon alert. Brother bought beer (what's new). We came out smiling big big with arms full. Yay happy! Even happier than buying Agnes B! Oops...
Final take on our vicinity. The McDonald's that we never went. No McPork what. Not accessible anyway.
10.50pm - Back in Hotel
Here's all the yummies we bought for the day.
You! Pastry with chestnut cream from Isetan basement.
Then, the daifuku.
Every night, we had been brainwashed by the advertisement shouting "CREAMYYYY...!" that we had to buy it on our last night. Indeed, it lived up to its name by foaming immediately upon popping the can.
We compressed and stuffed where we could, threw out excess packaging... ready for check-out tomorrow morning!
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