So, it was cold, very cool, and confusing.

It was cold and confusing but also very, very cool.

We were excited for our first trip to Japan but also nervous about how many places we would be able to check off from our wishlist. We stayed for just four days and managed to visit some interesting (both classic and eccentric) tourist destinations in Tokyo and nearby. From Tokyo Tower, Neon Manga District, Shinto Shrine to the famous Mount Fuji and more.

We are sharing our stories below on our first trip in Japan and Tokyo autumn experience.

First day —  Getting to Japan and around the Nihonbashi Neighborhood

We flew Malaysian airlines, leaving the warmth of Indonesia for the autumn chill of Japan , with a quick layover in Kuala Lumpur. The MAS Golden Lounge in Kuala Lumpur is a relaxing place to spend time waiting for boarding and they have some good food too. Though it’s only for Business & First Class passengers it was almost packed by the time we got there.

Touched down in Narita Airport and passed through the immigration smoothly and swiftly.

Then, we decided to take a train to the area where our hotel is located.

We stayed at Nihonbashi Saibo Hotel in central Tokyo. Our room was very clean and pretty compact, but regular-size for Japan. They provide “grab-as-you-like” toiletries and other room complementaries, even face-masks and beauty serum, in the lobby.

Each room has a cutting-edge toilet, that can spray from many angles (surprisingly, most place in Japan have them) and a free mobile phone with unlimited internet that you can take out from the hotel. This is very, very handy when you are in Japan since they are not big on providing “free wifi” in most public areas.

We dropped off our luggage and took a walk to get some bites since it was already lunch time.

Right away, we found a ramen house with an English menu and helpful photos of yummy ramen presentation in the window. We ordered a ramen noodle with Tan-Tan dipping sauce (minced pork spicy red sauce), instead of a traditional broth soup Ramen

After our savory and delicious lunch, we went back to the hotel to nap and recover from our many long hours of travel.

When we woke up, we left for another adventure to find dinner. We decided we wanted something other than noodles for dinner and came across a highly-recommended Tonkatsu that was quite nearby. So we decided to walk over and explore the city on foot.

A detailed-painting on the rolling door of a shop on the way.

First in line after queuing for 15 minutes! Well worth the wait–there’s a reason people are lining up to eat here 😋

They had an English menu (thank God!) and we ordered the pork loin-tonkatsu and the katsudon.  Both were very tasty!

The Tonkatsu was served together with some shredded-green cabbage and pickles.

The Katsudon had pork cutlet, fried in eggs, over rice with some condiments and pickles.

What we loved: They had three different sauces inside buckets and jars placed on each table (see photo below) so customer can spill them to their dishes as they desire. The sauces vary from sweet, salty and slightly sour.

Suzuki Tonkatsu $$

1-9-1 Marunouchi| 1F Kitchen Street, Chiyoda 100-0005, Tokyo prefecture

We walked back to the hotel, very full, and that ended our first day of adventures in Tokyo.

Second Day Trip – From Tokyo “Sky Tree” Tower to Tokyo Imperial Palace

The next day we bought tickets for a hop-on hop-off bus tour that started at 9am.

We walked to the meeting point, which actually pretty far from the hotel, and were relieved we reached it on-time.

Above photo: “Beware of Godzilla!” (just joking! it’s just some poster on the way to hop-on hop-off meeting point.)

So, we took a yellow route bus tour that goes to Tokyo “Sky tree”, Ueno park, Asakusa area and Akihabara (photos will be available on the next post).

We then took a walk in Tokyo Imperial Palace.

On the way back from Tokyo Imperial Palace, we were stunned with the Tokyo Central Station. Stood so grand and contrast with its surroundings.

Super Marios were crossing in front of the Tokyo Central Station. Surreal!

And then, in the afternoon, we took the purple route from the Hop-on Hop-off bus that goes from Tokyo Tower, Roppongi, Odaiba and Ginza.

Oh, and about Ginza, it’s just like another Fifth Avenue, New York–a High End shopping arcade but more crowded. There’s also the Tsukiji Fish Market that you can visit but it’s better early in the morning when it just opened, and it was already late when we started our second bus trip.

So, we walked back home, 30 minutes, planning and excited for the next day’s adventures.

Stay tuned! I will publish part two Japan Trip soon!.

Please feel free to drop us message or comment or advices for our trip in Japan.

Thank you and stay grateful.

#autumninJapan #discoverTokyo #travelmode

The post First trip in Japan, and Tokyo Autumn Experience – Part One appeared first on My Grateful Journal.