Introduction

Day 1 - Tokyo

SF's Studio Apartment in the heart of Tokyo City (Near Roppongi)

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SF is really nice to me, as he gave the whole studio apartment for me to use, and he and his parents (who happened to visit Japan also) were staying at his girlfriend (who was out of town) studio apartment in the same building.

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While the studio apartment is not big, it has all the necessary things. It is only 3mins walk away from the nearest metro station, and it has the view of Tokyo tower. It was nice to see Tokyo Tower lighted up in the night. And the best thing I like about the apartment:

Toilet Bowl!!!

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The Seat is always warm (felt great sitting on it in a cold climate) and it has different kind of spray for cleaning. You can try different combinations like Soft Spray & Oscillating, Bidet & Pulsating, or Spray & Oscillating & Pulsating. You got what I mean. Lastly, after all that spraying, there is a power deodorizer AND a dryer feature! 

Amazing!!

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What more can you ask for?

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My first meal in Japan

Home-cooked Noodle prepared by SF's parents.

=)

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Tokyo Metro Building

Free view at 45th Story, however, it was foggy on that day.

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I decided to wander on the street without knowing where I was going.

Just wanted to get away from the crowd... then, I chanced upon some beautiful houses...

Rustic and Natural in Tokyo City!

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Simply Beautiful...

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After the slow and carefree stroll, I decided to go Shibuya.

World Famous Shibuya Crossing

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Cool!!!

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 There are alot of things I like about Japan:

Recycle Bins outside every convenient store.

They are so GREEN! Love it!

No Dustbin on the Street, but the Street is still very clean.

Impressive.

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No smoking on the walkway.

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Vending Machines in the Metro Station (Selling Ice-cream, Coffees & other Drinks).

And the train is still very clean. Impressive!

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Uniquely Japan Innovation

Petrol Kiosk with the pumping-pistol hanging in the air.

To save space in the land-scarce Tokyo.

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As the next day was a holiday, SF brought me to join his colleagues gathering: 

German Bar @ Roppongi Area.

It was a cosy bar, and the German owner has been operating for 20-30 years. The crowd was the expatriates living in Tokyo (did not hear anybody speaking Japanese). Being a German Bar, the food served was German Sausages and Steak, and there was only one vegetarian item on the menu.

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My initial thought was it would be those boiled and bland vege dish, but it turned out to be very nice. I was pleasantly surprised that the owner took effort to add different spices to different veges. It was DELICIOUS!

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After the dinner and some beers, I played "Liar's Dice" with SF's Colleagues - Traders armed with Phd from MIT, Harvard etc...  I must say that I enjoyed the game very much, and it was great to play with brilliant minds.

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After the German Bar, we went Club-hopping in Roppongi Roppongi:

Club-hopping in Tokyo

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One of the Clubs entrance fee was 3,500 Yen (S$52), and it was supposedly a place where the Japanese Models would meet the hedge fund managers to get hooked up. The guys were all in suits, and my outfit was totally wrong. Haha...  The music was contemporary and good, and the crowd was good too.

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Enjoyed my first night thoroughly.

=)

Day 2 - Tokyo

Initially, I thought that Japan Metro was confusing, but later I found it quite easy. The metro-network is definitely the most complex in the world, but the signs are easy to understand. I did not need to take another other form of public transport.

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And Japanese queue-up in 2 orderly lines. Something that is missing in many countries.

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ASAKUSA

Rather touristy place with lotsa food offerings.

Not bad, but definitely not the best Tokyo has to offer.

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Big Red Lantern

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Sensoji Temple

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More lanterns

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Pagoda

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More Lanterns

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Wishes....

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Shinto Temple

I like the fact that Japan despite being the 2nd largest economy in the world, is able to retain its strong culture and heritage. That's very special.

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Jumping Monkey!

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More Lanterns again

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Spring Time

=)

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UENO

Ueno is quite a nice place selling more affordable things. The shops are under the train-track, hence, you would hear train noise quite often, which is quite different from the conventional shopping area. That's the attraction for me. 

Ameyoko Street

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Street Food

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Another thing I like about Japan - people do their work with pride just like this pancake chef who prepared the pancakes with pride & energy. You seldom see people walking and eating at the same time. I followed the locals and finished my food before continuing my shopping.

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PACHINKO

This is uniquely Japanese.

Extremely Colourful and Noisy!!!

It is a form of gambling like slot machine.

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Photography was not allowed in the premise. :P

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Young Gal in Manga Costume approached by an old man.

That's uniquely Japanese again.

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A colourful Buddhist Temple in Ueno Shopping Area.

Sometimes, I found it hard to identify whether it is a Buddhist or Shinto Temple, as I could find the element of both religions in the same worship place.

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UENO ONSHI PARK

Sunset & Reflection

Having a nice park in the city is always nice. =)

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Lake

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Spring time

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AKIHABARA

This is the Electric City of Tokyo, where you can find many shops selling electronic products as well as Manga (comics) related products - including theme cafes. It is a must-go place, as it is uniquely Japanese again. I found the whole nation obsession with Manga to be incredible, when I was on the subway, I could see OLD MAN reading comics.

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I still could not comprehend the attraction of Manga - it is like people is always living in the fantasy world. The current world is already very interesting, why do you need to go to another world?

Akihabara

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Theme Cafe with pretty gals dressed in High-School Uniforms.

There is a huge fantasy about girls in school uniforms.

Interesting! =)

Day 3 - Kyoto, Osaka

 

Taking Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo to Kyoto

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On Shinkansen

Taking time off to think about my life...

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Kyoto Train Station & Kyoto Tower

It is huge!

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OSAKA

Making a day-trip to the 2nd largest city in Japan

Umeda Sky Building

The most iconic building in Osaka

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Pretty Manhole Cover

Only in Japan

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Desserts

One of the yummiest Cream Puffs I ever tasted.

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Takeshi Kaneshiro, 金城武

Nice Poster, Bad Message

This is one of the few things I dislike about Japan - the availability of cigarettes through vending machines and cigarettes advertisement (keep sending the message that smoking is cool).

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Totally Elegant and Beautiful!

Poster promoting Nara

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Even the vending machine is competing for attention.

Japan is a very competitive society.

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Restaurant @ Dotombori

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Street of Dotombori

Full of neon and mechanized signages competing for attention.

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Cute

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Dotombori Canal

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Colourful Street!

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Dotombori by the Night

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The Glico sign has been there for ages!!!

It's so Iconic.