Day 6 mark the last day of our Tokyo trip. Today we plan on a leisure trip to a more quiet destination, Shibamata. It's less crowded and kind of relax for a family with kids.
There are so many things you can do and so much to explore in Tokyo city, I could not finish everything in Tokyo city itself. However, how many of you are willing to miss your Ginza and Shinjuku itenieries to spare a day for a quiet town that is not as bust as Tokyo itself? Because travelling is not a matter of just buying. Exploring and seeing your family members in "relax state" is priceless, I will.
We had our breakfast in the hotel before heading out. After your breakfast you need to clear your own tray in the "tray returning area". We urge the 2 to return their own trays. Everyone is doing and they have no complain.
From our hotel, we have to walk some distance to reach Nippori station. We walk because we want to check how long time is required to walk from our hotel as the next morning, we have to go to Nippori station to take Kisei Express SkyLiner to Narita Airport. It's a only a station walk but took us about 10mins without luggage. Along the way there were many places to explore, but we will leave it for next time.
Approaching the station, there are lots of environmental friendly posters. Tokyo is doing well to conserve energy and saving earth!
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| Love our Earth |
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| Nippori station. 1 station away from Uguisudani station |
We are at Nippori station, check out where is Shibamata station? Yes! You have to change train at Takasago station in order to reach Shibamata. Colours represent the kind of train. Some stop at every stations, other went though like express train or stop on some major stations only. The only different is the time to reach your destination. For our case, any type of train (Normal, Rapid, Express, Commuter..) going to Takasago is OK, the journey is not that long.
Since Normal train came by, we board rather than waiting as the journey is not that long. It might take another 30 mins for express or rapid, so it's not worth waiting for the next.
Taking train in Japan is really up to how you plan. Sometimes we have to jump from train to train to save time. As tourist we might not be able to gauge what time or what type is the next time train unless you got hold of the timetable. Sometimes it takes abit of gut and feel, and with kids on tow, planning ahead (punctuality) is quite important. Train will arrive punctually.
This is Shibamata station. We reached our destination and will explore a more layback town.
Shibamata and Tora san has close relationship and story to tell. Here I will not elaborate
because I am not so good at writing, so please google if you would like
to find out more.
Upon reaching the station and outside the station, you will be greeted by this statue of Tora san leaving his home. He wore nice jacket with a suitcase but he was wearing slippers.
Then "welcome" gate like this can be seen as you walk inward. It will lead you to the temple. Mainly we were here to explore the street and temple and then if time permit, to walk to the river.
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| Near the station |
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| Follow this gate, walk towards the temple |
Found an olden day shop (retro shop?) and decided to walk in. So classic and nostalgic. Look at the things they sell. Almost as what we ate in SG during our childhood days as well.
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| Standing outside retro shops |
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| Jelly O |
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| 2 "men" watching each others! They look like brothers. | | |
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After leaving the "80s", we continue to walk down the street, along line with other shops selling biscults, mochi sticks, senbei etc... Remember to try Kusa-dango as this is a famous snack in Shibamata which Japanese will buy if they are bringing them back home.
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| This is a famous stall selling the green colour kusa-dango. The grass they say, is a kind of herb. They mix it into the rice cake and make into this green colour kusa-dango with akazuki (red bean paste) |
Upon reaching this red Yubin (postbox), you will reach the gate of the temple right in front. Take a rest before going in.
As usual, wash your hand and mouth before entering the main hall. The kids just enjoy what they were doing. On the external they were merely cleaning. The main idea or essence of this act is to purify one's body, speech and mind. Both busy with "bathing" and cleaning the statue, I wonder do they understand the meaning behind? Have to explain to them!
The walk continues after visiting the temple and the surrounding. We are walking to a tea house. Then we will go to the river. Can't figure out how to get to the river because the walking journey will take about 30 mins. With 2 kids, it's not easy to explore with wrong directions as they will not be able to walk that far.
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| Walking to a teahouse |
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| Abit off track as they were just walking and walking without caring where they head |
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| Nevertheless, we came to the entrance of the teahouse |
We went into the teahouse but there was a tea ceremony, so we decided to just mingle outside the teahouse garden without disturbing the rest inside.
Decided to take a turn back instead of going to the river as it will take another 30 mins. So then we decided to take the walk on the other side of the street, then back to the temple and back to the station. Along the way, we could see many kinds of Japanese housing estate. Different kinds of flowers, ginko leaves and red leaves due to season changing.
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| Japanese housing estate |
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| Jumping around at the carpark |
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| Ginko leaves |
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| Is this maple leave? |
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| The other side of the street |
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| Back to the temple from the right side |
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| Back to the area where Shibamata station is, a small shrine of Ksitigabha |
We walked back to the station and decided to explore the other end of the street, but a snack stall caught our eyes. Takoyaki!!!
Opposite the takoyaki stall, was another stall selling sushi. They were calling out for promotion and we went to take a look. The sushi looks great and we decided to get a box. We actually bought another box of another type later on but did not take any pictures.
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| That's how far the street can go, no time to explore further |
Was getting dark soon (winter time, sky turn dark quite early). Decided to leave Shibamata and get to Ueno and Tokyo station to take a last look at the busy city.
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| Running for train |
We head back towards Nippori station but decided to go to Ueno Park. When we get out of the station it was already dark, despite the time was still about 5.30pm. Anyway we walked a small part of Ueno Park and decided not to walk in further as we might miss the way back.
The kids were kicking the ginko leaves like nobody business. We decided to head back to the train and went to Tokyo station instead.
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| Do you know that Ueno Park is a hot place to view Sakura in spring? There is no sakura in winter but alot of fallen ginko leaves |
We reached Tokyo station, We looked at the ruin red bricks of the station inside, and then we look around the outside. Business tower and high skyscrappers surrounding the BIG station. Ginza!
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| Look at the faces! |
Tokyo station is beautiful in the night too! Look at the amount of light! So many still doing OT up in the business towers.
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| Tokyo station at night |
After the beautiful view of Tokyo station and around, we decided to go back to the hotel. Was indeed a beautiful night. I even could capture the crescent moon between the 2 high buildings!!!
We went back to the noodle stall near to our hotel (Fuji-soba) once again to have our dinner-cum-supper since it was the last day to spend in Tokyo.
The next day it was very early checkout. Lucky for us the Kisei Skyliner to Narita AP was very near to our hotel we stayed.
Depending on where you stay. If you stay near Ueno area, I recommend you to use Kisei Skyliner. If you stay in Tokyo or Shinjuku area, I recommend you to use NEX.
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| We went to Nippori station and use Kisei Skyliner to Airport |
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| wake up too early, very tired |
Onboard our flight Home, transfering at KL.
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| Long time never taste curry!!! Even curry in Japan in sweet... |
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| Child's meal baked rice with chesse |
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| Hanging around the lounge in KL before transiting back to SG |
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| Eat and drink. Mini buffet, ice cream and free soda |
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| Waiting for that seat next to the window, but those people just never go away!!! |
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| Ice cream, soda, snacks and cake at the lounge |
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| Finally we are on the transit flight back to SG, as always, complimentary PEANUTS, eat till sian liao... |
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| 7 days loot from Tokyo. Not alot hor. Some finished liao. What I was shcoked was... went to Tokyo but forgot about Tokyo Banana as part of the omiyage!!! |
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Thank you for reading my blog to Tokyo in Dec 2013. Apologies for my English command. Some of the blog were in a mess, pictures were not properly arrange :D. Apologies for taking so long to complete too. Find it quite difficult to arrnage them. Earlier I always use the email-in method to update my blog. Now I am typing them online instead, but I need the time.
If you have any questions and comments, do write to me to ask or tell me about it ok.
Car is most convenient but via bus or MRT is still viable within few minutes walk. We reach by bus 180, walking from Lakeside MRT, the walkway is partically sheltared until you reach the first entrance.
