Christmas Part 1 - Boat Ride (Asakusa to Odaiba)

I decided to split my one day trip to check out how Xmas is like in Tokyo into different posts since I went to many places. So have fun checking out the tons of pictures.

My friend suggested Odaiba and so I made my way there. I decided to take the boat even though it cost alot more. Just wanted to try it....

Lots of pictures of bridges and buildings...what else do you want?











I thought it will take me to direct to Odaiba, but it ended up at the opposite side, so I have to take an additional train.

Merry Xmas 2007 from Tokyo

Merry Christmas everyone. Just a small greeting first, will tell you more about Xmas over here in Japan.

Ikebukuro

I went to Ikebukuro to check it out, but it was raining. I hate to get my sneakers wet, so I had to hide in the buildings. From the short walk, the surroundings are alittle like Shibuya (Street shopping and food) with many shopping malls.
Sunshin City is a huge place with convention halls, theater, shopping, amusement park and aquarium etc...you get the point how big is it.


I ate Macs, something you don't get in Singapore - McPork. I still prefer the beef though.

It was really too bad that the rain spoiled my mood for walking around. This place should be pretty interesting if I got the chance to walk.

Tetsu (Iron) Ramen

Along the way to the Cat Town at NishiNippori. I found a pretty famous ramen place called Tetsu Ramen.

We almost gave up finding the place as I did not check where it was. I had to search on my handphone for a vague address and use my sense to get us there. We finally saw the queue and decided to wait even though it was freezing. I think the reason the queue is always there because there are only 10 seats inside.

The broth is thick and delicious. Very different from what you get elsewhere.

The noodles are chewy and really helps with the flavour. You dunk it into the thick broth and then slurp it.

When you are done, you can ask for the metal ball (hence the name of the shop), you drop the hot metal into the soup and heat up the broth. I recommend you add a little water from a kettle provided as the soup is pretty thick. Wait for the sizzling to stop and you have a hot bowl of wholesome goodness.

Dinner with Sensei

The MAN always has a minimum of 2 women! hahaha!


I start with the desserts....colourful, but decent only.

The oh so tasty soup with a jelly looking thing. I cannot remember what is that, but it makes the soup really good.

Buffet style with many choices. Yum yum.

The main dish which I was trick thinking it was a buffet. Check out the meat....GLORY!!!!
Shabu Shabu!

My first Xmas present from my Japanese teacher! Thank you for everything!

Comfort Food

Xmas is coming and since I am alone, I decided to buy some stuff to celebrate Xmas.

I think the Japs call this Mont Blanc. It is everywhere in Japan. Pretty tasty.

Costly Strawberries - $6 for about 15 peices. But once you tasted it, I swear you will never turn back to those you have in Singapore.

Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum

I went to the Ramen Musuem at ShinYokohama near to my training area. This place took us some time to find. But we finally found it and was greeted with a weird looking puppet.

It brings you back to old Japan which in my opinon looks alittle like old Singapore from my History books.



We even get to enter the girls bath...to some creepy looking stairs. It's fake, we don't do such hentai stuff. We are all gentlemen.


Looking for some bad dude, strangly it looks like zorro.





Old school ciggies which you can buy. My friend got it and was pretty worried he might die after smoking it.

Old school entertainment before the time they had computer.



I found this shop selling old toys and sweets. Some of those are what we had in my childhood, damn...am I that old?





And what is a Ramen Museum without the ramen. Alittle more expensive then outside, but the meat is really thick. The broth has a nice garlic touch to it. There are other shops around and my advise is actually to walk around in the first level to check out what shops are around and then decide what you want to eat.