StarBucks Japan With LCD TV

One would think with Japan being so high tech and having one of the largest electronic stores there - an LCD TV inside Starbucks Japan wouldn’t be a bad idea right?  I had written a comment on one of their comment card many years ago - but i see they didn’t take me seriously at all.  But look out for their flavor of the month for this summer - dark mocha & orange Frappie.  Yums!  And if you are wondering about prices for some starbucks caffeine - check below.

One Short Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥290

One Tall Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥340

One Grande Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥390

Coffee Jelly Frappuccino  (Tall ¥480, Grande ¥530)

One thing about Starbucks anywhere in the world - the employees are all so chic and hip.  Don’t you agree with me?

LaQua

it is free to enter the La Qua at Tokyo Dome city - but you have to pay for the rides and the attractions. Opens from 11am - 9pm daily- the LaQua has many good food places to eat and the largest natural hot spring spa in Tokyo.   You have to check out their specialty stores and many games and rides to go on.  Move aside Disney Land - move aside Sanrio Land - this place is great for both adults and kids.

Tokyo Dome

Never heard of? don’t blame you - neither did i till i lived in Japan for 6 months for work.  Tokyo Dome seats 55,000 people max and home of the Yomiuri Giants.  The NBA, NFL games and other pro wrestling games are held here.  But what one should be interested in is the amusement park LaQua - that will be for another post.  But to get to Tokyo Dome - take the JR line and get off at Suidobashi station.

People’s Bar aka Izakaya

My girlfriends in Tokyo calls it a People’s bar but this well known Izakaya is featured on tv - the internet and all sorts of tourist books and books too find good food in Japan.  I haven’t been in Japan for too long - yet I know this place.  But like all non- Japanese i would have preferred some contemporary coffee tables and don’t let my co-workers hear it because they loved the authentic Izakaya so much - nothing could deter them from coming here every evening.

The one that we so often go to is the one near the Shinjuku line at the Morishita Station - it`s very near to our office and anyone taking the subway - is only 2 mins away.  3 storey high as you can see in this picture - there isn`t very much seating in the entire house.

One of the very famous food we like to order are these skewers - chicken -  Yaki -ton - it goes so well with beer - or any cold drinks - we just can`t stop eating.  But it`s not only the Yaki ton that is good - Yamariki has a huge menu but like any izakaya - you could expect the freshest here.  I heard that because the owner had worked in some good french restaurants before - therefore - one can find some pretty good eats that are not Japanese here.

You see why I say i prefer the contemporary coffee tables?  Yes ! not as cozy eh as one would expect - when these Japanese spends hours after work here.  They also have a loud intercom - that they use to communicate between floors - it gets annoying after an hour.

This dish is called Nikomi - i heard it was cooked with some special sauce aged for 40 yrs - and they also have bbq pick intestines - i didn’t try it but a co - worker who did loved it.   Overall, if you are looking for a authentic japanese dining experience - a Izakaya - or a People’s Bar is the place to be and the Yamariki is well known - try that out yourself.

Okonomiyaki In Tokyo

Everyone I know wants to there Okonomiyaki when they are in Tokyo - I myself wasn’t any different when i first arrived.  Oknonomiyaki is like a pancake with all sorts of ingredient in it and an incredible sauce on top of it.  At the Shibuya district - you can find gret Okonimiyaki restaurant there. If you take a short walk from the Shibuya JR line,  you can find several there - i won’t say anyone is better than the other but it’s pretty good.

Yokohama Cosmo World Night Ride

If you are in Yokohoma which is 45mins by train from Tokyo - one have to try out their Super Ride at Yokohama Cosmo World.  We went there in the night because we figured the lights are  a lot cooler and it’s not as hot in the night as well.   If you are also wondering how Japanese get their thrills - I’m guessing it is these rides that keeps them happy.  But if you want a quick trim, lose some calories or get that heart pumping - try the Cosmo ride - if the ride doesn’t do it - the screaming would at least give your lungs a good workout.  When we were queuing for our turn - everywhere we turned were Japanese and  not as much Westerners as I had predicted.

Cosmo World is located near the harbor and the ferris wheel is once upon a time the largest in the world.  You are gonna be blinded by the thousand lights in different patterns - pretty overwhelming if you asked me.   The diving roller-coaster is not as scarey as it sounds - it passes thru’ an underground thru’ a pond and then back to the surface - it’s just an illusion that there is water coming straight at you.  There are several other rides you can choose to go on - like the new addition of a family ride i heard.  There is no entry fee to Cosmo World but you pay from 100 yen - 700 yen depending on what you care to do when you are there.   I know you will have fun - check out the cool arcade there too and have some popcorn cooked in a arcade machine right in front of you.

5 Must Sees & Do In Japan

Many of my friends would ask me each time they plan to go to Japan - on what they should see or do - or most importantly not missed because of the short trip that they are making.  Of course, they also asked what is the best time to visit Japan too.  But you see - Japan enjoys the 4 seasons too but a lot milder than most parts here in the West.  So here I was doing my dietpill reviews and a neighbor from another store came by and asked me the exact question - so i decided to just write it down and re-direct them to the blog instead.  Why?  because i get so long winded at times.. and I end up talking for so long and not getting my work done.

So here we go - instead of staying in a luxury hotel in Japan - i strongly suggest staying in a traditional Ryokan - what is it..?  A Ryokan is a traveler’s lodge - literally translated, the Ryokan is designed very traditionally and they usually have the tatami mats and traditional bedding.

Mount Fuji is a must not missed - afterall, it was considered one of the wonders in the world if i was not wrong.  If it wasn’t it was pretty wonderful to me.  I strongly suggest you go in August where it isn’t too hot but the weather is clear enough - going during the early spring -  can only disappoint because some of the stations are closed because of the weather.  The most easily accessible is the 5th station - it seems that most tour buses or private cars stop there just for a break.  And in the 5th station - there is also a place to visit -  whereby pregnant woman are advised not to visit - for the life of me - i cannot remember what is the name of the substance - but i will update once i remember.

While one can go to Disneyland just about anywhere in the world these days - you don’t have to waste a trip now to visit.  So if you are in Japan - i strongly suggest you do away with Disneyland but go for Sanrio Puroland instead.  Some may said that they might puke - but it’s a very interesting place especially for the kids and ladies in the family - so it’s not all about you - buddy!

If you are going to Japan - you have to try the sushi there - even if you don’t go to the restaurants near Tsukiji Fish Market - you still have to try something there.  You’ve NOT been to Japan if you don’t try the sushi eh.  I recommend Sushi Bun to anyone out there - you can’t beat Sushi Dai nor Daiwa Sushi - but if you wanna wait like for 2 hrs - you go right ahead eh.  I prefer Sushi Bun because it has a English menu and a good meal cost like only 3,500 - 4,000 yen.  I suggest you order the omakase (chef’s choice) - you let the chef decide for you - but if you are not adventurous enough  - then you order from the menu eh.

Visit a real geisha - many of you are mistaken that a geisha is a prostitute but it is not true because a real geisha is someone who is very talented in instruments, tea making and also in singing.  The present geisha i was told are still around because of the culture in Japan.  There you have it - the 5 things and places I would do and see if I was in Japan only for a few days.  But having said that I’m sure there is the Toyota showroom you want to see - and go take a ride around their newest car.  And the Fuji TV, Akibara, Pachinko and all the electronic stores in Shinbuya. Well, good luck !  i hope you enjoy them.

More Shrines In Japan

There are just so many shrines in Japan - the Japanese can’t get enough of it - it would seems - just like my dear friend with her acne treatments - she gets them treated everytime - while the Japanese goes to the temple or shrine for different purposes.  Different shrines are for different stuff - like you can have one for business and another to get pregnant and another one to find love.

My grandmother used to say that the Japanese are just another breed of people originally from China but branch out to be in Japan and created their own clan - i don’t know how true it is - but the Japanese sure has a lot in common with us the chinese.

This temple is known as the God of Business - so if you are a busines man or anyone who doesn’t want to lose their job - they come pray to Kanda Myojin.  I heard that it was so famous that companies from far and near Tokyo comes here to pray for good business every year.  As we all know - the Asians including myself are very superstitious people - so yes - anything to help the business.

Doll Festival

I was checking out on blac label clothing when i was reminded of a doll show in Tokyo a year ago in Tokyo Trade Center.  Unfortunately for me - i wasn’t able to go - but my best friend in Tokyo was there and i saw the pictures on her Facebook.  I know my daughter would have loved these life-size doll if she was there and maybe - scream to buy one.

The show was a pretty interesting and an extensive one covering all 4 floors of the trade center and since my other friends were heading to Japan this year - i went to check if there was anything similar - so that they can go for the exhibition.  Anyhow - we did miss one that was held in March - the Hina Matsuri Dance Show - not the same - but should be pretty interesting as well.  It is  the Doll & Peach Blossom festival -   an occasion to pray for young girls’ growth & happiness.

An Imperial Tour In Tokyo

I think one of the main reasons why i didn’t go for the imperial tour is because you need to apply to go for the tour.  No private tours from any tour agency can do it - you have to apply on the website of the imperial palace or call - but still you need to let them have your passport details to be checked out.  Security is quite strict - so make sure to allocate them for them to process your application.  Yes, quite a hassle that’s the reason why - most people don’t get to tour the Imperial Palace where the King still resides.  So I went on to www.adipexdietpills.org to check on how to lose weight for a girlfriend who was planning to visit and insisted on visiting the palace.

Imperial Palace Tokyo is built over the site of the former Edo Castle, which dates to the mid-fifteenth century as the residence of the ruling Tokugawa shogun during the end of the Kamakura Shogunate. Imperial Palace history begins when the original Edo Castle was largely destroyed in an 1873 fire, and all that remain of it today are some ramparts, outlying buildings, and elaborate stone walls and foundations. Some lovely traditional Japanese bridges also remain, and several beautiful gardens  are part of the entire park complex. Today the palace complex is a beautiful and tranquil place to visit in the huge metropolis of Tokyo.