Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step inside of your favourite comic book (or manga?). Wonder no further because now you can do just that at Tokyo’s new 2D Cafe!
Setting & Atmosphere
alling all boba and manga fans alike – have we got a fun-filled cafe experience for you!
For those that don’t know, comic book culture or “manga” is intensely popular in Japan and, given Tokyo’s penchant for all things novelty, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when we found out a 2D Cafe had opened up in Tokyo just before our trip! Hooray!
Located in Shin-Okubo aka Tokyo’s Korea Town, the 2D Cafe first opened its doors in August 2019. Stepping inside this cafe is like stepping into the pages of a manga. Everything inside, from the furniture to the walls, is painted white and outlined with black, hand-drawn sketch lines, making for both a trippy and extremely believable manga experience. Not to mention it’s incredibly Instagrammable.
Given the cafe’s novelty and instagrammable-ness, it’s not surprising that the crowd here is rather international with tourists from Europe, South-East Asia, America, Instagrammers (hey they really are a breed of their own), and of course, us Aussies ;) In fact, I think there was only one table of Japanese girls! Despite this, the cafe was fairly empty when we arrived around noon, which made for a pleasant experience and allowed for some playful photo opportunities. With the comic book setting of our surroundings, choosing to wear bright colourful clothing really made our photos pop.
You might be wondering, ‘if this cafe is so mind-blowing, why didn’t it get a perfect 5 star score?’ That my friends is an excellent question that has to do with Tokyo’s 2D Cafe predecessor, Cafe Yeonnam-dong 239-20 located in Seoul. But first, enjoy pictures from Tokyo’s 2D Cafe:
Tokyo’s 2D Cafe VS. Cafe Yeonnam-dong 2339-20 (Greem Cafe)
There’s a lot of confusion online between Tokyo’s 2D Cafe and its famous predecessor; Cafe Yeonnam-dong 239-20 (now called Greem Cafe). Pictures of Greem Cafe will often appear in blog posts about Tokyo’s 2D cafe, and I’m here to set the record straight. There are some key differences between the two cafes which makes Tokyo’s version score just a little less than its Korean competitor.
Put simply, Greem Cafe steps it up a notch. Unlike Tokyo’s 2D cafe, where the floors are simple white tiles, Greem Cafe goes the extra mile with hand sketched floorboards and serves all food and drinks using sketched outlined plates, cups, mugs and yes – even cutlery. This attention to detail helps to elevate the 2D effect immensely and in comparison I couldn’t give Tokyo’s 2D Cafe a perfect score.
e gotta be honest with you. This score is solely based on our boba tea experience. Bubble tea has been in Sydney for quite some time, even before the recent viral trend taking over at the moment, so I have to say we’re quite the connoisseurs.
Apparently, the boba obsession is also the latest trend in Japan and to cater for this, Tokyo’s 2D Cafe is primarily a bubble tea cafe while also offering a selection of fruit juices, coffees and shaved ice desserts (Kakigori) and cake as the only food options. If you’re looking for a hearty meal or something savoury this is not the place. In saying this, the vivid colours of the fruity kakigori’s look stunning against the stark white and black backdrop of the cafe and are a great way to add more fun to your photos!
But back to the boba tea. I ordered the 2D Black Sugar Assam Bubble Milk Tea and Siree ordered a Cappucino.
Let’s start with the bubble tea. If you happen to take a gander at the menu below, you’ll see there is only ONE milk tea that has “2D” in the title. So naturally Siree and I were like ‘oooh, why is this called 2D? Maybe they serve this tea all special in a 2D looking mug or cup’ and we ordered it. To our disappointment, we received a regular looking bubble tea that looked exactly like all the others. Why the hell is it called ‘2D’ when it doesn’t have anything special about it???? We we’re kinda bummed.
While the flavours of the bubble tea were really nice, the pearls were unfortunately hard, which is a big no when it comes to bubble tea. Pearls are supposed to be sticky, chewy and almost gooey balls of pure joy (lol). Siree’s Cappucino was well received and had the ‘barista quality’ taste she misses from Sydney. Apparently a lot of Japanese cafes, particularly the chains, sell coffee similar to the instant coffee you buy in supermarkets and she very much enjoyed her coffee here.
Service
he 2D Cafe does not have table service, so there is very little interaction with the staff except for when you order. Staff were friendly and after you pay for your order, you are given a pager.
When the pager buzzes, you pick up your order from a separate counter.
The best thing about the cafe is that you’re never made to feel rushed out, you can stay as long as you like and just enjoy.
Value For Money
have to say, I think the prices here are pretty pricey compared to bubble tea prices in Sydney. But I’m told that in general, bubble tea is a little more experience in Tokyo with prices starting from 500 yen. The 2D Cafe has bubble teas starting from 600 yen, with the Assam Sugar Teas starting from 650 yen. It is also an additional 50 yen to add toppings.
With the quality of our bubble tea not being great, we deem this UNJUSTIFIABLE!!! haha.
The Cappuccino however was served in a large sized mug, which at 550yen was very good value for money, especially since coffee sizes are usually quite small in Japan.
oted in the top 10 most precarious buildings by Time magazine, the “tea house built too high” known as Takasugi-an is a Dr Seuss-esque tea house built overlooking the surrounding mountain range of Chino, Nagano. It sounds like the place for the perfect cup of tea – if only it didn’t sway so easily in the wind!
Actually there are a total of three impractical tree houses in Chino each uniquely unusual – Takasugi-an, Hikusugi-an and the Flying Mud Boat.
The most famous of the three, Takasugi-an, looks dainty and fragile as it expertly balances off the ground on top of two slender looking chestnut tree trunks. In contrast, its neighbour Hikusugi-an which literally translates to “the too-low tea house” is so hysterically close to the ground it looks more like a tent rather than a tea house. Last but not least, the death defying Flying Mud Boat located towards the front uses only cables and is suspend in midair like a hovering wooden space ship.
That’s just the kind of mind bending thinking that led to the creation of these impressive funky structures by architect Fujimori Terunobu. They are part of an art installation exploring unconventional ways to create small spaces that challenges traditional design and ideas of comfort.
So how can you step inside these quirky spaces? Unfortunately there’s not a lot of information online but here’s everything you need to know about visiting this off-the-grid attraction.
Who is Fujimori Terunobu?
o understand why these tea houses exist, we must first understand the man who created them.
Fujimori grew up in Chino. In fact, the site where the tea houses are built on is his family owned plot of land, which overlooks his first work “Jinchōkan Moriya Historical Museum” – a historical museum that showcases Chino’s neighbouring city Suwa’s ancient religious roots and connection with the prestigious Moriya family clan. Bonus fact: If you are a fan of the popular anime film “Your Name,” Suwa is heavily referenced in the film’s setting through Mitsuha’s character.
His approach to architecture is defined as being eccentric and humorous due of his experimental use of natural materials and his subversion of traditional tea house building techniques. He also mentions that his works are intentionally medieval in style, wanting to go back to a time before the Bronze Age to create ‘an international style in the Neolithic Age.” Simply put, imagine a Flintstones-esque Stone Age with a Japanese sensibility to design and the imagination of a Studio Ghibli film. This video shares more about his intentions behind Takasugi-an and The Flying Mud Boat.
Besides architecture, Fujimori is quite famous in Japan as a cultural commentator, author and television host and represented Japan in the 2006 Venice Biennale.
What to expect inside
esides the general descriptions found in many online art articles, it was quite hard to find any information on what these structures actually look like on the inside.
Although we weren’t able to go inside ourselves – we talk about this later on – from our research we were able to gather some sense of what each interior space has to offer.
Takasugi-an’s incredibly tiny, measuring only 2.2 meters on each side but this relaxing fort-like interior with attachable ladder to climb to the entrance is the treehouse happy childhood dreams are made of. Inside, the use of nature such as light reflecting from the gold leaf sky line during the day and moonlight shining from the bamboo shutters makes it a soothing experience to be inside. The Flying Mud Boat tea house is like a cozy wooden cabin ready to fly off on a Treasure Island inspired adventure and though we aren’t sure why Hikusugi-an’s tea house roof can completely open like a Babushka doll, the interior’s use of white and wooden paneling sure is hypnotic when the roof is closed.
All three works explore Fujimori’s experiment with tiny spaces. Whilst planning, he mentions he wasn’t interested in creating the smallest space possible, rather prioritising the sense of comfort that small spaces offer.
The structures also break conventions in Japanese tea house design and traditional architecture as well. The Flying Mud Boat’s suspension system is so unique it’s the only suspension structure in the world to run cables under its base foundation like a hammock. Takasugi-an and Hikusugi-an’s tea house designs both offer views of the outside world as oppose to traditional Japanese tea houses that insulate the guest to concentrate on the tea. In addition, the windows of Takasugi-an have another design advantage in that it replaces the traditional picture scrollor kakejiku found in many Japanese houses with the changing nature outside acting like a real-time artwork. Kakejiku is normally a painting or calligraphy that represents the time of year.
In retrospect, these citations of artistic insight aren’t necessarily known by the average tourist which is why visiting the structures using a guided tour would no doubt enrich your experience of seeing these peculiar buildings.
hile you can view the tea houses from the street, the only way inside is to join a tour through ChinoTabi.
ChinoTabi’s Fujimori Terunobu Tea House Tour is a three hour tour that will give you better context into Fujimori’s philosophy of design. It also includes a casual Japanese tea ceremony experience inside Hikusugi-an which we really
wanted to do but unfortunately, we inquired too late for a booking. You will also get to visit one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrine complexes, Suwa Taisha during the tour.
If you wish to join, it’s best to inquire for reservations at least 3 months in advance to secure a spot as group numbers are limited to 8 people per tour. Tours are also closed during the winter season.
Seeing inside Takasugi-an during the ChinoTabi tour
Be aware that the bikes must be returned daily before 5pm and can be hired throughout the year except for the winter months.
Driving only takes 10 minutes, though, it is still an extra 11 minutes walk from the free parking at the Kamisha Honmiya Parking Lot to reach the houses.
Feel free to use our interactive map to help plan your trip.
Seasonality: When to Visit
f you have your heart set on doing the tour and having the full experience, we recommend visiting during spring, summer, and autumn as the tours are not operational during the winter.
However, if you don’t mind seeing the houses from the outside seeing Fujimori’s tea houses and the Chino area during any season has great sightseeing opportunities all-year-round for travellers.
To list a few attractions nature, hiking and scenic drives are some of the main draws to the area. In fact, Chino is a popular destination during the summer for mountain
hiking as the cool summer temperature averages around 27 degrees making it a perfect getaway from the heat. Many people flock to the Kurumayama Kogen highland area to see the wild flowers bloom and the deep greens of the fairy tale-like Moss Forest for exploring.
For autumn, the view of Yokoya Gorge with its impressionist autumn leaves is breathtaking at the observatory point Yokoya Kannon and Choen-ji temple’s picturesque fiery red autumn leaves are a must see in the area. The winter months have everyone head into the Alps to the snow resorts for exciting ski activities and plenty of hot springs to enjoy.
gainst a rich, sky blue backdrop stands a pristine white shrine overlooking a sea of clouds. In the background the breath taking Mount Fuji is surrounded by the Yatsugatake, Southern, Central and Northern Alps.
This describes perfectly the photograph I saw which instantly had me add “Sunrise hike up Mount Kurumayama,” to our list of things to do on The Hidden Thimble’s upcoming Japan trip.
In Japan, the phenomenon of ‘unkai’ or ‘sea of clouds’ is a popular sight to see, especially in the early mornings from Autumn to early Spring. Unkai describes the mystical experience of being above the clouds or overlooking a sea of clouds, usually when standing on the peak of a mountain. The clouds typically form a blanket that covers the valleys and cities below.
Starting your day with a sunrise hike while on vacation is tough on a summer’s day. Doing it on a freezing cold November morning with little sleep the night before? Nearly impossible.
Nearly.
We hit snooze once…annnnd ended up leaving just before it started getting light outside. But, this actually worked in our favour because, long story short, being unfamiliar with the area made it extremely difficult to find the starting points of the hiking trails…imagine us trying to do it in the darkness of the night?
So you can get the most out of a sunrise hike to Mount Kurumayama – even in the black of night – we’re sharing allll our knowledge in this handy blog post:
Hiking To Mount Kurumayama Summit and Shrine
o let’s be real, the goal of a sunrise hike is to be able to get the most sleep possible, while still being able to hike to the summit of a mountain with enough time to catch the sunrise. Therefore, you need to know the shortest route out of the many different ways to hike to Mount Kurumayama’s summit.
We believe the shortest route begins at the Kurumayama SKYPARK carpark. The start of the hiking trail can be found behind the Kurumayama Sky Plaza building, where you will find a sign pointing towards the correct trail. In total, the walk is only 3kms which should take you roughly 40mins. Remember to take a torch with you. It will be dark as night when you start.
While the signage is great at the very beginning of the hike, it does disappear after some time and knowing which way to go can be difficult. Being unfamiliar with the area, we went the wrong way a couple of times, but were able to use google to walk in the right direction and find our way back on track. The hike is very gentle and easy, and begins with wooden steps that transition into a flat pebbled path.
The path does veer off into different directions at times and there’s often no signage pointing which way to go, please refer to the map below for the correct route.
If you would like to visit Yashima Marsh, you can do so by taking a left off the track and following the signs.
As you get closer to the summit, you will begin walking up stoney steps. This is probably the steepest and toughest part of the hike, but still easy overall. Once you reach the summit, the shrine is literally right in front of you. All that’s left to do is enjoy the view and take some photos! There are a few seats at the top too so you can have a picnic. Beware. It is absolutely freezing. Painfully so in autumn when we visited, but temperatures are also known to be below 10 degrees even in summer.
We unfortunately didn’t get the right conditions to experience the unkai overlooking the valley with Mount Fuji in the background. We were however, able to experience the full unkai effect overlooking the valleys on the opposite side of the mountain. If your goal is to see unkai, make sure to check the weather conditions ahead of time.
Signage can be found at the Kurumayama Kogen SKYPARK, behind the Sky Plaza Building
This is what the start of the hiking trail looks like.
View of Mount Fuji
Veer right off the main path to hike to Yashima Marsh.
Ema are wooden tablets you can use at Japanese shrines to write down any prayers or wishes. This is a traditional way to send prayers and wishes to the gods.
Unkai/Sea of Clouds viewed from Mount Kurumayama
Chairlift to Mount Kurumayama Summit
Hiking not your thing? Every Sunday from May to early November you can take a 15minute sunrise chairlift to the summit.
Enjoy your sleep in ;)
Seasonality: The Best Time to Visit Kurumayama Kogen
e visited Kurumayama Kogen during the month of November, which is off-peak season. There was literally no one in the area which made the experience very peaceful and finding places to park the car easy and stress free. The downside was there weren’t a whole lot of places open for dinner. In fact, we resorted to convenience store dinners, which in Japan is actually pretty great haha.
In autumn you can enjoy golden pampas grasslands and landscapes shifting colour from yellow to orange to red – beautiful against the blue sky. The crisp autumn air makes it the perfect time to get a clear view of Mount Fuji from the summit of Mount Kurumayama.
The downside? The lifts weren’t in operation, so if you’re relying on the lifts take that into consideration. It’s also very, very cold!
In winter the SKYPARK is transformed into a snow covered wonderland. This is the mountain’s most popular season and is filled with winter sport enthusiasts. Snow trekking to the summit is also possible in winter.
Spring and Summer is Kurumayama’s green season. The grasslands are transformed into luscious green fields filled with mountain blooms. Enjoy the nikko kisuge (yellow daylilies), Dwarf Pincushion Flowers and the Japanese Azalea.
Siree and I were doing a mini roadtrip around the Gifu area, so we decided to hire a car from Toyama Airport as we needed to return there to catch a plane to Miyazaki for the second half of our trip. From Toyama Airport, it was a 3.5 hour drive which was really easy to navigate using Google Maps.
For those travelling from Tokyo, it’s just a 3 hour drive.
Parking in the area is great and free 24 hours a day! There are 5 parking areas with a capacity of approximately 1500 vehicles. Some of the carparks can be quite far away from the SKYPARK, so on busy days a shuttle bus is available for transport to the SKYPARK.
By Public Transport
No matter where you are traveling from, the easiest way to travel to Kurumayama Kogen SKYPARK is from Chino station which can be reached from most stations in Japan. Once at Chino Station, you need to take the “ALPICO Highland Express Bus” from Stand 3. The bus needs to say “車山高原行” and the stop is “車山高原”.
There unfortunately is not a lot of English information on traveling to Kurumayama via public transport and any information you find on official tourist sites is incredibly vague. The best we can do for you is provide this Japanese link, which has a map that shows where bus stand 3 is: Chino to Kurumayama Bus Information
iree and I stayed at Petit Hotel Kanan, which is only a 10 minute walk from Kurumayama Kogen Ski Resort or a 2 minute drive. We stayed in a twin room with a private bathroom. Water was hot, the room was warm and amenities were great. The hotel provides soap, shampoo, slippers and a hairdryer and there’s free wifi inside the rooms. The hotel also has a full restaurant and sometimes hosts local jazz performances.
Nearby, Lake Shirakaba is only a 15minute drive.
Guests are free to come and go at any time, so we were able to leave early in the morning to do our sunrise hike.
y intense, albeit short adventure to the global city of Singapore was everything one would imagine from the luxurious film set of “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Touching down into the “Lion City” awaited an exciting modern oasis balancing impressive futuristic architecture against the stunning tropical landscape. Its unique history and fusion of Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, Arab and English cultures echos everywhere you walk. Though the humidity might melt your face off, the vibrant street colours, glitzy multi-complexes and culturally rich enclaves are exciting exploring grounds to discover on foot.
This 24-hour itinerary will give you the best of the touristy essentials mixed with some local finds to entice you back for another visit. Oh, and satisfy your fatty foodie soul with the tastiest grub in town!
Start with a Local's Breakfast
Ya Kun Kaya Toast Family Café or Chee Kei in Changi Airport Terminal 2
efore leaving the airport, kick start the first of your many food adventures with a traditional Singapore breakfast staple at Ya Kun Kaya Toast.
Kaya toast is toasted bread filled with butter and a jam called, kaya. Kaya is made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves. The dish is dipped in and eaten with a soft boiled egg and either hot coffee or tea is served together.
At first, the idea of a cold butter sandwich dipped in egg sounded quite bizarre and admittedly heart attack inducing but the combination is surprisingly delicious.
An alternative is a bowl of good old Cantonese comfort food – wonton noodle soup. At the famous Chee Kei noodle shop grab some noodles with a serving of radish or, if you have two stomachs, the Braised Beef Tendon and Brisket with Rice is not to be missed.
Above: Ya Kun Kaya Toast Family Café’s Set A – Kaya Butter Toast with a Soft Boiled Egg, Kaya Butter Toast and Coffee or Tea.
Right: Chee Kei’s Shrimp Noodle Soup, Braised Beef Tendon and Brisket with Rice and Radish (side dish).
See The Gardens by the Bay Early
ingapore has arguably the most well maintained public gardens I have ever been in any country. Rightly so, given its reputation and committed vision to being a “City in a Garden.”
It is the site for the beautiful Supertree Grove that scenically towers over the surrounding botanical gardens and is a very popular tourist spot.
If you plan to walk along the OCBC Skybridge, I suggest getting there as early as possible to enjoy a somewhat uncrowded vantage point to overlook the beautiful botanical gardens below and local area.
Within the Gardens by the Bay are a number of other attractions with the two most popular being the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.
Head to Brunch at CHIJMES
The Glasshouse Specialty Coffee and Toast Bar
Chijmes, 30 Victoria Street, #01-03 Singapore 187996
estled inside the gorgeous CHIJMES building, The Glasshouse brings us the delights of specialty coffee and artisan sourdough bread surrounded by giant leafy houseplants as if a greenhouse and coffee shop had merged.
Out of all their open sandwiches I tried, the Classic Salmon Sandwich was the winner with it’s salty salmon slices and tart pickled radish on herby cream cheese spread. The Hummus and Bread Bowl was worth it to try out their delicious homemade hummus but maybe their Avocado and Dukkah Sandwich would have been the better choice to change up the taste experience while eating.
For coffee, I chose the interesting White Coffee since it is a popular local coffee style plus I added oat milk just to be a little extra.
After brunch, it’s also worth exploring the CHIJMES building itself. It’s a beautiful reconverted old Catholic convent with open hallways and cloistered courtyards.
The beautiful Neo-Classical style makes it a showstopper for wedding photos and the gorgeous interiors of the other diners are perfect for Instagram-worthy outings.
Left: The Hummus and Bread Bowl and White Coffee.
Right: Classic Salmon Sandwich with Avocado Slices (Extra).
Browse and Window Shop at Haji Street
f you like eccentric art and a place that is bustling with activity both day and night, you will no doubt enjoy a stop over to this charismatic neighborhood.
Haji Street is a trendy joint full of independent shop houses and eateries. You can find an exciting mix of interesting hobby and fashion stores matched with tasty international food and quirky bars – all sandwiched next to each other in perfect harmony.
Experience Chinatown
istorically the area where Chinese immigrants settled during British ruled Singapore, the red and gold coloured streets of Chinatown is a vital cultural enclave for visitors to experience Chinese culture and heritage.
Though a longer stay would include a thorough visit to the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and NUS Baba House, here is a sample of Chinatown’s famous eateries and sights.
Follow the Mural Art Trail
Dotted around various locations within small back alleys or between shopfronts on the main road, the street art created by Singapore’s creative artists will take your breath away with their depictions of the past to more modern inspirations.
The murals painted by artist Yip Yew Chong are my particular favourite for their detailed scenes of times gone by in old Chinatown. Try to pose just right for that perfect shot and turn those stills into living artwork. Check out here for street art locations.
Dine at the World’s Cheapest Michelin-starred Restaurant
Hawker Chan Chinatown Restaurant
78 Smith St, Singapore 058972
Hawker Chan Chinatown Complex Branch
335 #02-126 Smith St, Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Start your Michelin-starred studded food trek with a visit to the first Hawker to be awarded one star, Hawker Chan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle.
For those unfamiliar with Cantonese food, soy sauce chicken is a popular dish in Hong Kong that requires meat to be braised and marinated multiple times while roasting in an oven or open fire. The result is a mouth watering caramelized outer layer with a juicy and moist inside that’s so tender you’ll wonder how it could only cost under SGD$4 at Hawker Chan.
If the original Hawker store is too crowded or you arrive later in the day (the stall closes at 3:30PM and Sundays), the restaurant version located a few steps away is a more comfortable alternative with air conditioning and longer operating hours. Though, this restaurant establishment version only received a Bib Gourmand award, the large tables and ample seating make this alternative worth visiting for a taste.
Soya Sauce Chicken Rice
Char Siew Noodle
Find the Best Cheap Grub at Maxwell Road
Maxwell Road Hawker Centre
1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
Hawker Centres are large food courts housing many individual food vendors dishing out no-frills meals with maximum flavour for dirt cheap.
Singapore’s Chinatown is abundant in hawker centres but the clear stand out the local’s swear by is Maxwell Road Hawker Centre.
Maxwell Road Hawker Centre has been featured on many television programs and is home to the nation’s most famous chicken rice hawker stall Tian Tian and their rival Ah Tai.
No visit to Singapore would be complete without a taste of Tian Tian’s Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Tian Tian has a high reputation within Singapore and around the world, having been awarded the Bib Gourmand award by The Michelin Guide, praised by Anthony Bourdain whose poster hangs proudly in their store and even winning against Gordon Ramsey in a culinary showdown on Singtel’s Hawker Heroes Challenge.
A few stalls down is another well-to-do establishment called Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice. The owner, who also shares the same name, actually is a former staff of Tian Tian. From storefront design to food menu options Ah Tai shares some dare I say “similarities” to their famous neighbour’s chicken rice. However, one taste and you’ll soon realise that there’s something deeper going on in its flavour that makes it it’s own.
So, which is better?
It might sound like a cop-out but they are both so identical in quality it’s hard to tell. They are both really good. What is different is the slight taste experience happening in your mouth when tasting both.
I guess one can argue that it simply comes down to the dining experience. Ah Tai offers complimentary soup and a shorter wait while Tian Tian offers that yummy stock rice that just can’t be beaten.
If you are keen to know more I suggest visiting hungrygowhere for a deep dive into what you can expect from both places.
Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Take a Tea Break
Tea Chapter
9 Neil Road, Singapore 088808
hile in Chinatown, a stop at the Tea Chapter is a must. It has an impressive reputation within Singapore and was even visited by Queen Elizabeth II!
The tea shop on street level is a great place for buying high-quality tea but climb the wooden stairs to reach the tea salon above you’ll find a fascinating place for some traditional refreshments.
Upon arrival, you can choose your favourite tea room setting before sitting down and glancing through their hand bond menus.
As to expect, there were many black, white, green and red teas on offer but we chose the recommended Queen’s tea called “Imperial Golden Cassia.” We also asked the staff for a tea serving demonstration before attempting the steps ourselves.
The experience at Tea Chapter was a great eye-opener to the appreciation of Chinese tea culture. It was one of the highlights of my trip! I loved the authentic and educational insight the staff provided while being able to relax and enjoy chatting with company.
“Imperial Golden Cassia” is the same tea Queen Elizabeth II was served on her visit here.
View the Night Scene with the Merlion
Marina Bay Area
here’s nothing quite like a romantic nightly stroll along the waterfront to soak up the city lights and at the Marina Bay area, there are three places that look amazing light up under the dark sky: the SuperTree Grove (again, haha), Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion.
If you are following this 24 hour guide in order, I would recommend to visit the SuperTree Grove first, than take the footbridge that connects to the Marina Bay Sands resort complex to see the nightly free SPECTRA – Light & Water Show at the Marina Bay Sands waterfront before walking along the harbour to see the Merlion on the other end.
This will make for shorter travel time to the next activity, eating chilli crab at JUMBO Seafood!
The SPECTRA – Light & Water Show at the Marina Bay Sands waterfront is at 8PM and 9PM on Sundays to Thursdays while on Fridays and Saturdays it will be changed to 9PM and 10PM.
There is also a light and sound show called Garden Rhapsody at the SuperTree Grove held at 7:45pm and 8:45pm daily.
The SuperTree Groves lit up during the night.
The Marina Bay Sands on the opposite side of the waterfront.
The Merlion lit up at night.
Dine on Singapore's Famous Crab
JUMBO Seafood Restaurant – Riverside Port
30 Merchant Road #01-01/02, Riverside Point, Singapore 058282
nother signature dish to try in Singapore before leaving is, of course, the infamous chilli crab.
Singaporean chilli crab is so good it was listed 35 on the World’s 50 most delicious foods list by CNN Go. Its a deliciously cooked crab in a sweet-savoury tomato chilli based sauce.
If I could recommend a place, JUMBO Seafood is a great chain restaurant and the Riverside Point location makes for a modern and stylish dining experience. Although chilli crab isn’t supposed to a spicy dish despite its name, the spice level at JUMBO Seafood seems to have been made spicier when I visited in October this year (2019).
I would confirm with the waiter if they can make the sauce milder if you are not the best with spicy food.
They also offer packets of their special chilli crab sauce for sale should you want to buy one as a souvenir.
As it is one of their most popular locations, I suggest booking in advance if you are lusting to get your mud crab fix without waiting forever in line.
Singapore Chilli Crab
Ginger and Spring Onion Crab
See the Jewel
f time permits before flying out of Singapore, a stop at the newly opened Jewel is another must-do.
Jewel located in Terminal 1 is a nature-themed entertainment area in Changi Airport where you can see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, Rain Vortex and enjoy recreational activities on the higher levels of the canopy garden.
Even if you are only able to enjoy the Rain Vortex’s light show, it’s a great way to close off your trip.
olourful, unique and pretty things have always attracted me. Call me vain but I can’t help but be attracted to them. So, when a last minute schedule change to my Italian holiday now included Venice, it also meant that Burano was within reach.
Yes! The island of Burano! Recognised internationally as one of the 10 most colourful cities in the world (although really, it’s more like a village). For those that don’t know, Burano is a picturesque fishing island located in the Northern Venetian lagoon and is part of an archipelago of four islands connected by footbridges.
Burano is small enough for a half day trip, or make it a full day trip by visiting nearby islands. Here are my top 5 highlights when visiting Burano.
Sample Burano's locally caught Seafood
urano is a fishing village and fishing villages usually mean amazingly, fantastic seafood. Burano is no exception, in fact I had my most delicious meal in all of Italy right here.
What many tourists don’t realise is that majority of the food sold in Venice isn’t actually Venetian. That’s why a venture to Venice’s islands is worthwhile, especially if you want to try true Venetian food – it’ll taste better and cost you less that anything you’ll find on the Venice main island.
As a fan of Jamie Oliver, I remembered that in one of his TV episodes he visited Burano restaurant ‘Trattoria al Gatto Nero da Ruggero‘, where he met the ‘Risotto king of Venice’ and was taught how to make the perfect cuttlefish risotto. Naturally, the foodie inside me really wanted to eat there but the place was completely booked out by the time I arrived on the island.
Hoping I’d find a restaurant just as delicious, I stumbled across ‘Trattoria de Primo e Paolo‘. Just like Trattoria al Gatto Nero, the restaurant is a family business.
The family catches their own seafood from the lagoon every morning and it is then also prepared by the family in the restaurant.The waitstaff were so friendly and could speak English well. Unsure of what to eat, I was recommended the “antipasto misto di pescetti vari” which featured a variety of locally caught seafood prepared traditionally. Although an entrée, I was assured it would be large enough to keep me full.
I can’t say enough about the service, everyone I spoke to was really nice and the waiter took the time to explain the dish to me when it arrived. The best way to experience this dish is by starting at the bottom row and working your way up, row by row. The bottom row is all about enjoying natural seafood flavours as they are. The flavours get more and more pronounced as you work your way up the dish. The top row was where Venetian cuisine came alive and the Italians showed off their finesse for flavour combinations.
I absolutely loved it and it was worth the expensive 25 euros. Yes, pricey for a budget traveller like me, but so worth it!
Bottom: Sea Bass, Octopus, Abalone, Fish, Seabass
Middle: Prawn, octopus, octopus, prawn
Top: Mussel, Soft shell crab, shrimp, tuna
Stroll Burano's multi-coloured streets
he main reason people visit Burano is to set their eyes on the brightly coloured houses that line the canals. With so much colour, I wondered if even the grumpiest person would feel a slice of happiness here.
And you know what? Yes they would, because the locals not only have houses that are every colour of the rainbow BUT they also coordinate the washing they hang up to match their houses. Therefore I conclude that this town is the happiest town alive, especially if the locals take the effort to colour coordinate the way they hang up their washing just to put a smile on the probablydefinitely annoying tourists that visit daily.
Turns out though, the coloured houses exist for a reason. Some say it was to help the local fishermen find their houses after fishing in the foggy winter mornings. Another source says the houses were painted the same colour as the fishermen’s boats, so if something happened to them out at sea, they would know which house to contact.
Today though, likely because of tourism, you’ll notice the houses in Burano follow a colour scheme. This is because, in order to paint your house in Burano, you need to officially request to do so from the government. If they agree, they will also let you know which colour you are allowed to paint it.
I wasn’t lying about the colour coordinated washing!
The main street on the island is the Via Galuppi and it’s where you’ll find most restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and stores selling Italian snacks and food.
Wandering away from the main streets, you’ll find a tonne of colourful alleyways that are much quieter – some are even free of tourists during peak hour. This makes a little wandering great for finding a quiet place to take photos if you were unable to beat the crowds by arriving early in the morning.
Other notable landmarks include the leaning bell tower and the Church of San Martino.
Arrive Early and Use the Afternoon to Explore Surrounding Islands
et me start with saying, you’ve been lied to. All those articles you read about Burano being “Venice’s best kept secret” with little to no tourists is a big. Fat. Lie. At least nowadays it is. Burano is overflowing with tourists from 11:30am, so if you can make an effort to catch one of the first Vaporetto from Venice! You’ll skip the tourists for a couple of hours and could probably also score a booking at the restaurant of your choice for lunch.
One thing I enjoyed about Burano was that it’s really small, which was great because it doesn’t take up a whole day on your probably already short travel itinerary. Burano is perfect for a half day trip, meaning you have the afternoon to visit surrounding islands in the Venetian lagoon, such as Murano, popular for its glass making or Mazzorbo which is connected to Burano by a wooden walk bridge. Mazzorbo is rich in history and beauty offering vineyards, traditional food, artichoke fields and fruit trees. Find about more in this small guide to Mazzorbo island, Italy.
Early mornings in Burano
Experience the Tradition of Burano Lacemaking
urano’s close connection to lace goes back to its early history where, in the 1500s, Burano was becoming increasingly known for its intricate and delicate handmade lace. The fashion of the time created a high demand for lace across Europe and this continued to the late 1800s.
While tourism is the island’s biggest industry today, there are a small few that have carried on the tradition of lacemaking in Burano. For tourists looking to purchase real Burano lace it doesn’t come cheap, with small items costing 45+ euros. Burano lace can take months or even years to craft, so any cheap lace is likely Chinese imitations.
At the Museo del Merletto you can learn about the history of the craft and view 16th, 17th, and 18th century lace pieces crafted in Burano. You’ll also find beautiful gowns worn by Queen Marghertia and Jackie Kennedy that are embellished with Burano lace.
Lace making was traditionally undertaken by women together with the friends and relatives at their houses and today some of the more traditional lace shops in Burano, still have woman inside crafting up their latest creations.
Get a Closer Look at True Venetian Culture
f you happen to venture to Burano during a Wednesday morning, you can enjoy Burano’s fresh fish market which features fresh seafood from the Venice lagoon. All seafood is locally caught by the fisherman of Burano – what better way to sample Venice’s fresh produce.
If you’re only in Venice for a short time and didn’t have the chance to check out Murano and its history in traditional glass making, you can also watch the Murano glass work at the New Arte Fuga a small shop and glass factory located in Burano.
Lastly, consider staying overnight in Burano and you’ll be treated its heartwarming, authentic side. As the crowds begin to leave the islands for their hotels in Venice, a stunning sunset awaits. Watch as Burano is illuminated with the shimmering lights reflecting on the canal waters as the residents come out of their homes to catch up with one another or play cards and listen to music in the streets.
Getting to Burano from Venice
etting to Burano from Venice is super easy and will set you back around 40 – 45minutes.
Simply take Vaporetti (water bus) #12 from the Fondamente Nove Piere. The vaporetti also stops at Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano, Treporti and Punta Sabbioni, making a day trip to a couple of these islands super easy.
As a quick tip, water bus tickets in Venice are only valid for a certain time frame. A single ticket (one way) is only valid for 75minutes. So if you plan to go to Burano, but stop off and spend time at other islands first, you will need to buy another ticket to get to Burano. Therefore, if you plan to stop off at numerous places during the day, it might be smarter to buy a 24, 48 or 72 hour ticket.
If however, you just plan to go to Burano, a return trip to costs 15 Euro, which is expensive….but this is Venice!
have never experienced traveling to the north region of Japan before, that is until I found out about a magical wonderland dedicated to foxes among the peaceful green forest overlooking the peaceful countryside in the Miyagi prefecture.
On my first venture to the Tohoku area, I commemorated my visit with a mandatory stopover at the famed Zao Fox Village – an outdoor zoo where you can see cute red and white fox fluff balls up close and personal!
There is no denying that Japan has some of the most unique experiences to enjoy the company of adorable animals with plenty of animal cafes and animal islands to fill this deprived writer’s existence and the Fox Village is the most exotic in my opinion.
Located high up in the mountains of Shiroishi, Miyagi, here’s how I enjoyed my time with these mischievous furry friends.
FEATURES OF ZAO FOX VILLAGE
The Open Enclosure
fter entering the main area of the fox village, you are immediately greeted by curious foxes interested in your presence.
It was a pleasant shock to be able to get so close to these usually wild creatures and the enclosure space is large and wide enough that the foxes are free to run and walk around you. As foxes are nocturnal by nature, not all of them are the active type. Most seem to enjoy being tucked up in their tails and napping among the many tree stumps and burrows.
Though there is a paved pathway to make it easier to navigate, you can also walk freely on the unpaved nature areas where the piles of winter white snow provided a
lovely sight in contrast with their fiery red or jet black fur.
Being able to walk freely alongside these animals with little to no staff supervision was an added perk of the experience but it is also important to note their curiosity can get the better of them. The foxes are known to tug on bags for food or even pee on guests’ legs!
Before entering, the staff will give you a behaviour briefing with tips to make you feel more at ease. Also, the fox village does not allow visitors to touch the foxes in the open enclosure and you will need to pay to be able to touch and hold one which might be a bummer to know for some.
The Feeding station
n order to feed the foxes, you must purchase a small food bag at the register before entering the enclosure and only feed the foxes once inside the Feeding Station.
Getting inside the Feeding Station wasn’t quite as simple as I thought. These foxes were so darn smart they tried to be sneaky and enter the Feeding Station after me where they weren’t allowed! When opening the doors, make sure you look around you and move quickly as once the foxes see you about to enter, they will approach you understanding you are about to give them food. It took me a few tries to avoid their attention but I managed to “Mission Impossible” myself by walking backwards using my body as a “shield” to slither through the gap I created. Phew!
When you look over the edge, you’ll see the little critters amass towards the side eagerly awaiting a treat. Simply throw the feed towards them and watch them eat it below.
arked by a trail of red torii gates at the north of the enclosure was a shrine dedicated to foxes.
At first I thought this was a lovely feature to have at the zoo but after looking around I slowly found it to be unimpressive.
Along the trail of torii gates, a majority of them looked a bit shabby with the paint extensively peeled off to expose the wood underneath hinting to the fact that they
haven’t been maintained in a while. The shrine itself was also very basic – a small hut surrounded by a fence in the signature red vermilion colour.
In all fairness, I assume this was done intentionally as anything fancier would be ruined by the curious foxes but I felt it could have been enhanced to be educational. A few more signs dedicated to a more historical look at foxes in Japan perhaps would be more pleasant to see rather than the numerous warning signs you’ll find around the enclosure and something I would be keen to know more about.
It seems recently they have upgraded more torii gates since my visit.
The Petting Zoo
nother feature of the fox village is the petting zoo area filled with small farm animals like guinea pigs, goats, Patagonian Maras (a small type of Capybara) and, you guessed it, more foxes. The petting zoo area is also where you can experience holding and touching a fox for a small fee. Springtime is cub season so you can expect to see many cute baby foxes
being born and they also offer a “hug a baby fox” experience too.
As farm animals seemed a little lackluster compared to the foxes, I skipped them to look at the foxes in the caged area located just ahead. This section acts like a hospital of sorts and is used to house the juvenile young foxes, the sick, injured or currently breeding foxes. You can also find the exotic arctic fox here if you are lucky.
Here’s a price list of all the fees for general admission and experiences (as of 2019):
GENERAL ENTRY
FOX FEED
FOX HOLDING EXPERIENCE
Here is some helpful general information for Zao Fox Village.
TIPS TO KNOW
s the saying goes: “You never know until it happens to you.”
Visiting Zao Fox Village was my first experience of Japan’s interesting animal haven spots and traveling through a new part of rural Japan was a welcome breath of fresh air away from the hustle of busy Tokyo life.
Though I am still new at traveling domestically here within Japan, there is always something to be learnt and I hope I can share with you some helpful tips and tricks to better prepare you on your journey.
Here are some helpful notes when preparing for your visit to Zao Fox Village:
Ethics
here are a few articles online that comment on the unethical nature of the foxes living at Zao Fox Village which I wanted to explore here. Unfortunately, there are no official details in English or Japanese about why the Zao Fox Village was started online that I could find at least. However, there are facts that the staff do explain during your briefing and some kind bloggers who were able to translate.
All foxes in the village are domestically bred and tamed. As they are all vaccinated, there is no fear of Echinococcus infection from being spread which allows a safe interaction between humans and animals.
One of the main problems I believe is the assumptions that can be stemmed from the misinterpretation of the word “sanctuary.” The original foxes at Zao Fox Village were actually rescued from the fur trade and they don’t sell any of the animals born in their care which makes it sound like an animal sanctuary of sorts. But, like a wonderland attraction, I would not call it an “animal sanctuary” in the sense of endangered species conservation. To me, it’s a themed zoo selling the image of a “fox heaven” experience.
Another issue was the animals kept in cages. There are a number of reasons explained as to why an animal had to be put in a cage. This could be due to sickness and preventing cross infection, being overly aggressive and needing to be isolated from the others or people, or during the breeding season. Regardless, animals kept in cages is an ethical dilemma that will always face heavy criticism. Unfortunately, in many Asian countries including Japan, views on pet and animal ownership can be very polarising especially from a Western perspective.
For me, the animals did seem fine in their cages and did not seem to be in distress or crying. That being said though, I do think the cages look shabby and would like to see them change its layout and structure.
Also, I think they should not leash the animals especially the farm goats. I speculate they did this in fear they would jump their pen and risk heading into an area they shouldn’t be in. I would rather see them make a more secure space for the farm animals or exclude them for safety reasons as an ideal situation.
Some people are concerned about the fox feed that the staff provides for the feeding station thinking it’s too similar to a cat or dog food. Foxes are well adapted to human environments and they also can enjoy eating pet food as written here.
I try to keep an open mind and I do believe that the staff are doing their best to take care of all their animals. The animals all seem happy, well looked after and healthy though, I do think there should be improvements to the cages and more information on processes for transparency and education.
My two cents is this, if you hate zoos or animal enclosure environments, I highly suggest you do not visit Zao Fox Village. If you love animals, are looking to have a unique experience with them in an open free space and have an open mind, then I do recommend going to Zao Fox Village for the experience.
The easiest way to get to Zao Fox Village from Tokyo is via bullet train (shinkansen). With the bullet train at Tokyo station or Ueno station, take the JR Tohoku bullet train called Yamabiko – やまびこ Sendai all the way to Shiroishi-Zao station. Be careful as there is another stop also called Shiroishi station which is further away.
Getting to Zao Fox Village from Shiroishi-Zao station:
After arriving at Shiroishi-Zao station, you will need to take a bus or a taxi to get to the Zao Fox Village. I highly recommend the taxi as it is the most convenient method.
For going to Zao Fox Village, there should be taxis waiting outside the station but the tourist information center can call one for you. When going back to the station, the staff at the Fox Village can call a taxi for you.
Using the bus to get to Zao Fox Village from Shiroishi-Zao station is the cheapest way but incredibly limiting.
The local Castle Kun bus runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from Shiroishi Station to Kawarago Dam, at 7:58am and 1:35pm. You must ask the driver to let you off at Zao Fox Village, as it is not a regular stop and also confirm the time and where to wait for the return bus to pick you up. To be honest with all this hassle, it’s not worth it but if you do decide to take this route, it is probably best to take the first bus and take a taxi back.
Arriving By Bus:
A cheaper method is to take a highway bus to Sendai however you will still need to catch a local train to Shiroishi Station.
Arriving By CAR:
If you have a Japanese or the international driver license you can rent a car and enjoy the freedom of traveling at your own pace.
Run by two travel and lifestyle bloggers, The Hidden Thimble focus’ on creating truthful and in-depth travel guides, food & beauty reviews. Enjoy drool-worthy photography from around the world!
