Sorry for not updating after quite some time. Gomenasai :D I was busy with my 3rd semester. Luckily, it's semester break for a month! Today's entry is about my family trip to Japan during winter. Let me tell you some backpacking tips which can be useful for your upcoming trip to Japan :3
My family members had booked the air plane tickets a year ago. If I am not mistaken , RM950 per person via air asia. You should always check the lowest fare before booking. Another tips for you : the tickets are usually cheaper during winter , if you choose to go during spring, it might cost a lot because Sakura is a popular attraction among tourists. However, it depends on you whether you want to pay a visit during summer (Natsu), autumn, spring or winter. If you're planning a lower budget trip, I suggest you to go during winter.
WHY?
1. Low fares air plane
2. Recycle your clothes ( Wear the same clothes for 2 days)
3. Experience a longer night
4. Less perspiration
5. Enjoy snow
We stayed there for 5 days & 4 nights at a home stay. Just google any home stays that are convenient for you which are near to your dream places. As for us, we stayed at Shibuya, Tokyo.
Make your reservation as early as you can :) Do some research and study maps or train lines before departing. This will ensure a smooth sailing journey :D Plan your itinerary. Stick to it once you're travelling.
TSUKUSHI'S ITINERARY (18 - 22 Jan 2016)
1st day, 18 Jan 2016
We arrived Haneda Airport at 10.30 pm (Japan time) which is 1 hour early than Malaysia. For your information, the journey took 6 hours. You can either choose to use train, bus or cabs to reach your accommodation. It was 10 degree celcius at that time which made me shivered down my spine. We were very tired and couldn't help to shut our eyes. When we were at the home stay, we immediately prepared to sleep to regain energy before starting our journey on the next day. Here are some photos of us :
Before departing. Venue : Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, Malaysia
In the air plane
Safely arrived home stay at 12 a.m
Snow :D
2nd day, 19 Jan 2016
Ohaiyo gozaimasu! Good morning! A view from the balcony of the home stay :3
Walking is the best way to explore therefore, you need to refer to Google Maps to navigate directions. A recommendation for you to use data roaming social pass RM20 for 3 days in Japan offered by Maxis. There will be free Whatsapps, Facebook and Twitter & 200mb is given too. We went to Yoyogi Station. Walked for a few minutes and bought each of us a Suica Card which can be used to pay train tickets,groceries at 7 eleven and convenient stores and even to buy beverages at the vending machines. This is how it looks like :
This card can be refund at any train stations too :) We continued our journey by taking train to Harajuku Station. A lot of shops can be found such as Daiso Harajuku, Kiddy Land and etc at Harajuku Street. Check out some cool pictures :
Salmon crepe is only for 500 yen :)
Oishyi = Delicious hot takoyaki with a price of 580 yen
Abah wrote something as a remembrance at the Takoyaki Shop
My eldest sister with husband, son & dad
For Muslim tourists, there is a Halal Kebab Store where you can try too! You can try takoyaki because the filling is squid and even the salmon crepe too with no worries.(no sake/alcohol) We went back to the home stay and perform jamak prayer. Then , we were ready to meet the loyal doggy, Hachiko at Shibuya :3 Again we walked to Yoyogi Station and took the JR Yamanote Line. We alighted at Shibuya Station. Search for the Hachiko Exit and tadaaaaa :
Hachiko Statue, Shibuya
Along & Abah
I was photobombing my freaky sisters, Kak Yang & Kak Cik
at Shibuya Crossing :D hahahaha
Disney Store :3
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
who is the prettiest sister among them all ?
The side corner of Wendy's little room
We had dinner at a Halal Restaurant which is a famous Yakiniku / Grill Beef at Tanden Yoyogi Branch. It was super delicious!!! Highly recommended because once the beef is in your mouth, it melts! It is a mouth watering dish!!! the price is 4500 yen per person. You will be served with different parts of meat such as kalbi, rib eye etc, with a bowl of rice, sauce, salad & a glass of beverage (can be refilled). Check this out :
A picture with the hardworking waiter :)
3rd day, 20 Jan 2016
Breakfast of the day
Kak Yang & Kak Cik are the food committees
who cooked these can meals brought from Malaysia
From Shinjuku Station we alighted at Ueno. Here, we strolled along the streets surrounded with a lot of shops. We tried Halal Fried Chicken at Chicken Man stall run by a Nepal man who lives in Japan for quite a long time. He even promoted his stall by decorating some pictures of Malaysians who had been to his stall before such as Fizo Omar & his wife, Mawar & Zizan Razak. The owner is quite fluent in Bahasa Melayu too :)
Along & his daughter, Opa
Then we went to Masjid As Salam to perform jamak prayer.
My niece, Opa & nephew, Fateh are having a great time :D
The journey continued as we went to Asakusa. You can buy souvenirs for your family & friends with affordable prices. I saw some Japanese men & women wore Kimono too. I bought a t-shirt with 1200 yen, Goukaku = pass in exam head band for 300 yen.
Some Japanese people are wearing Kimono
My T-Shirt & Head Band which are 1500 yen worth!
That night, we had dinner at NARITAYA Ramen Shop. Halal & tasty! The prices are affordable. You can choose any Ramen sets that you want. The price is between the range of 750 - 1500 yen for each set. I love Karage which is known as boneless chicken :3 Yummy!
My big family :D
I loveeeee this!!! :3
Naritaya Ramen Shop
4th day, 21 Jan 2016
1/2 of the day was spent at Disney Sea. We bought the tickets online which is much easier than queuing. The Disney Sea ticket is approximately 6500 yen per adult which is around RM 250.
If you are a Muslim, don't be shy to ask the employees where to find a meditation place to pray. Japanese people are very polite & kind. They will definitely assist you to a room so that you can perform prayer. As for us, they brought us to a VVIP room. The room was comfy & we were so relieved.
My favorite photo with my niece,
Opa Chan :3
Touring around Disney Sea with
Kak Cik & Kak Yang
Wonderful blooming tulips :)
Nice view isn't it?
Just wearing this Minnie Band :D
Cause Opa doesn't want to wear it.LOL
We brought along Onigiri which were bought at 7eleven (salmon & tuna) & ate before entering Disney Sea. Food & drinks from the outside are prohibited. I am not sure whether there are Halal restaurants inside but we didn't had our lunch here.
5th day, 22 Jan 2016
The last day for us spending time in Japan. We were split into 2 groups. Along, Abah, Kak Long, Opa & me went to Ueno & had lunch there. While the others went to Doraemon Museum & Skytree. Before going, we checked out & went to Shinjuku Station to keep our belongings in coin lockers.
Use your suica card to pay :)
After performing jamak prayer, Along & I went to Akihabara together leaving Abah, Kak Long & Opa behind at Masjid As Salam. Akihabara is a famous place where we can find gadgets & anime items! It is a must for an otaku = anime lover like me to pay a visit.
Welcome to Akihabara ^_^
Gundam Cafe :D
Along
My anime collection! I love that
Haikyuu files, KageHina :D Yeay!
My cute Kitty bank Nyanko Sensei :3
All of us met back at Shinjuku West Station & took our luggage kept in the coin lockers. At around 7 pm, we ride a bus to Haneda Airport. There we perform jamak prayers & wait for the time to departure back to Malaysia. I hope you can gain some tips from my experience. I would like to go to Japan again someday because I love the culture & the people very much. I think I have fallen in love with their attitudes ;) So, Sayonara Tokyo! Till we meet again in Shaa Allah :)
Yours sincerely,
Autumn Tears
-Badik Chan :D
