Japan Trip Day 3

Japan Trip Day 3
(20-10-2008)

世界上色情业最发达的国家是日本，而歌舞伎町一番街则是这个国家的最大的红灯区之一。

Japan has a huge variety of vending machines that practically sell anything. The most common ones are of course drinks and cigarette.

St. James

He don't smoke.

Colourful background

Our tour leader, Daniel Chan. He was born in Hong Kong, but currently working in Japan.

McDonald, everywhere and anywhere.

Ninja in New York

King Kong

Halloween in Japan

Fishy fishy fishy~

Fat pigeon as compared to the ones in Singapore.

Next, we proceed to take the cruise across Tokyo Bay to the most popular leisure destination in Tokyo - Odaiba Park.

This is the headquarters of Fuji Television, one of Japan's private, nationwide TV stations.

Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) is a communications tower located Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At exactly 332.6 meters (1,091 ft), this orange and white latticer tower is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world, the tallest artificial structure in Japan and is the 20th tallest tower in the world. Built in 1958, this Eiffel Tower-like structure supports an antenna that broadcasts television and radio signals for important Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji Tv. In recent years, the tower has been instrumental in furthering Japan's push to switch from an analog signal to digital signal.

The one and only child in our tour group.

Different views of the bridge.

Connecting the Tokyo waterfront with Odaiba, this bridge carries an expressway, a regular road, the rails of the Yurikamome Line and a pedestrian walkway. It takes about 30 min to walk across the bridge.

In Japan, the French Statue of Liberty came to Odaiba, the beach area of Tokyo since April 1998 until May 1999 in commemoration of "The French year in Japan". Because of its popularity, in 2000, a replica of the French Statue of Liberty was erected at the same place. Also in Japan, a small Statue of Liberty is in the Amerika-mura (American Village) shopping district in Osaka, Japan.

Venus Fort was opened in 1999 and is designed to look like 17th century Europe, there even is an artificial sky painted on the roof that transforms the sky from day to night regularly. It's not only the decor that Venus Fort has similarities with Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace for Venus Fort also features a casino.

Part of Palette Town, this 115 meter tall ferris wheel is one of the world's largest and offers nice views of the bay area.

Burberry, Blue Label

My blue label wallet. Super excellent customer service experience, something you'll not get in Singapore!

Dear got his vintage Mini Cooper diecast from Hideaway.

On the second and third floors of West Mall is the extraordinary Venus Fort, which simulates the experience of walking around an 18th century town in southern Europe.

Pinky girl couture

Mega Web Toyota City Showcase.

Part of Palette Town, Mega Web is a Toyota showroom, where we can view and touch Toyota's newest models and car accessories, test drive a real car ("Ride One") or ride an automatic, electric vehicle ("E-com Ride"). Historic cars are exhibited in the "History Garage".

Yummy food

Palette Town entrance

Palette Town is a multi-faceted entertainment and shopping experience like no other.

Our lunch

The Kaminarimon 雷門 is the outer of two large entrance gates that ultimately leads to the Senso-Ji (the inner being the Hozomon) in Asakusa, Tokyo. Known as the face of Asakusa, the gate sports an ornate lantern and statues, and as a result it is extremely popular with tourists. It stands 11.7 m tall, 11.4 m wide and covers and area of 69.3 m2.

After we pass the massive gate, we come to a long narrow street called Nakamise Avenue leading to Japan finest temple. There is a outdoor arcade of shops selling touristy trinkets, traditional snacks, and other souvenirs.

Blueberry and Coffee Ice-cream

Ice-cream in Japan is creaming, icing but not very sweet.

After which, we were transfer to hotel Lake Kawaguchi at Mt. Fuji for a well deserves rest.

In most of the service area of expressway, this special vending machine sells Starbucks-style capped coffee with music and moving picture which will show us the process of making of coffee. The music played on this vending machine is “Coffee Rumba” which is the worldwide hits by Hugo Blanco, Sachiko Nishida, or Julio Iglesias.

Lake Kawaguchi

We were clad in the typical Japanese Yukata (Kimono).

Group photo at the hotel lobby.

Our traditional cultural Japanese Nabe (steamboat) dinner.

After our dinner, we enjoyed a session of hot spring bath. And yes, I have to be totally naked with the other females.

Natural hot springs (onsen) are numerous and highly popular across Japan. Every region of the country has its share of hot springs and resort towns. There are many types of hot springs, distinguished by the minerals dissolved in the water. Different minerals provide different health benefits, and all hot springs are supposed to have a relaxing effect on your body and mind.

Hot spring baths come in many varieties, indoors and outdoors, gender separated and mixed, developed and undeveloped. Many hot spring baths belong to a ryokan, while others are public bath houses. An overnight stay at a hot spring ryokan is a highly recommended experience to any visitor of Japan.

Hot and spicy potato chips with Tatami mat as background.

Tatami is a mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Since the Muromachi period (1338-1573) tatami have been made of a thick base of straw covered with a soft surface of woven rush. A single tatami usually measures 1.91 by 0.95 meters (6.3 by 3.1 feet). In Japan the size of rooms, Western and Japanese-style alike, are often measured in terms of "mats of tatami." Tatami flooring is cool in the summer and warm in the winter and remains fresher than carpet during Japan's humid months.

Our favourite C.C. Lemon drink. It is a Japanese soft drink created by Suntory. It is the third most popular soft drink in Japan behind Coca-Cola and Pepsi. It is known for its lemony taste and for its commercial advertisements featuring characters from the popular American cartoon The Simpsons.

Coming up next...

Japan Trip Day 4