Tag Archives: tokyo

Japan, Travel

A Spring Guide to Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

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UPDATE: Due to the 2020 coronavirus, some of the festivities and events for Japan’s cherry blossom season have been cancelled. 

See Tokyo’s World-Famous Cherry Blossoms

e’re finally at winter’s end here in Japan and it’s time for another annual event – the season of cherry blossoms!

Each year Japan celebrates the calling of spring with the anticipation of its cherry blossoms blooming. Everywhere you look there’s a fresh lineup of local events to attend, and of course, a variety of limited edition food items and goods for sale to really get you into the spirit of the season. 

As the symbol of spring, Japan’s cherry blossoms have always amassed fascination and admiration from locals and travelers making it the must-see event of the season. 

But don’t just see it through the lens of a tourist passing by simply because you’re traveling. Why not make it a little more special by enjoying a little R&R and treat yourself to a day of picnics, sunshine and festival hopping just like the locals do!

Here, we’ll introduce you to the seasonal event of cherry blossom viewing in Japan and how to get the best out of the experience!

When does Cherry Blossom Season Begin

ust like checking the weather forecast before heading out, Japan’s meteorological corporation has a national cherry blossom blooming forecast based on the standard pale pink cherry blossom with five small petals.

Although the meteorological corporation’s starting dates are a great help to plan your plane flight, it’s also important to know their predictions can be, at times, misleading. If you arrive too early, you’ll see more closed buds than flowers but wait too late and you’ll see more green leaves than flowers. For me, more importantly, 

their date predictions on when trees will be in full bloom will guarantee you an unforgettable sight of the cherry blossoms and take out the guessing work.

Also, take note that the first month of spring still brings strong winds and the rare typhoon which can spoil the blooming season’s longevity. But don’t fret! There are other kinds of cherry blossoms with varying shapes and intensities in colour which bloom later to enjoy should you miss the early blooming time.  See this article for more details.

Image Credit: Japan Wireless

Arriving too early

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Photo by Takemaru Hirai on Unsplash

Arriving too late

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Photo by Lizzie on Unsplash

5 MUST-SEE CHERRY BLOSSOM SPOTS IN TOKYO

1. Ueno

eno Park during cherry blossoms season brings big crowds of people setting up their picnic spot but don’t let that discourage you!

Ueno offers a nice glimpse into Tokyo living and also a peek at the gorgeous spreads salarymen companies prepare for their workers. During the evening, the park lights

up their trees with lanterns to continue the festivities into the night.

You can also take advantage of the nearby attractions such as Ueno Zoo, Ameyoko, and other shopping streets, the local temples for some sightseeing and it’s also an easy stroll to Akihabara.

Access: Next to Ueno Station.

2. Nakameguro

little bit of Kyoto in Tokyo, Nakameguro is beautiful during cherry blossom season as you can see rows of overflowing cherry blossoms growing along the riverside. Nakameguro is not only pretty during the day but the night as well when the trees are lit up and the local nightlife begins.

Take advantage of what’s in Nakameguro and enjoy the boutique shopping, international food scene, and great bars.

Access: Ikejiri-Ohashi, Meguro, or Naka-Meguro Station.

3. SHINJUKU GYOEN

he “Manhattan Central Park” of Shinjuku you could say, this spacious and peaceful oasis in the middle of Tokyo’s liveliest business district has around 1,100 cherry blossom trees.

Entrance to Shinjuku Gyoen is ¥200 and offers a unique opportunity to get up close and personal as their cherry blossom varieties “Weeping Cherry” and “Tokyo Cherry”

are so large, their branches span wide and touch the ground. It’s a great photo spot and you can move freely around the branches making it feel like you’re intertwined in its flowers.

Access: A short walk from Shinjukugyoenmae Station, Sendagaya Station or Shinjuku-sanchōme Station

Photo by Banter Snaps on Unsplash

Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

4. INOKASHIRA PARK

oving a little further from Central Tokyo’s CBD, Inokashira Park is located in the ever cool neighbourhood of Kichijoji. The park is quite big and large enough to fit a pond, a petting zoo, and an aquarium within the grounds!

The crowds, especially young couples, during cherry blossom particularly enjoy the swan boat and boat rides but be warned. Local legend has it that the jealous goddess 

Benzaiten curses couples who ride the boats to break up soon after.

Regardless of the tale, Inokashira Park is a great location for a cozy weekend. Enjoy the live street performances, artist market and it’s also a short walk to the Ghibli Museum.

Access: A short walk from Kichijoji Station.

 

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5. NAKANO

lthough not an overly touristy location, Nakano has many cherry blossoms which line the main street which leads conveniently to the ward’s locally run sakura festival at Arai Yakushi Temple.

The sakura festival is a must visit since it’s a great way to experience a typical Japanese matsuri-style festival that mainly occurs in the summer. You’ll see lots of people dressed in yukata and the food and entertainment are great for those casual

evenings out.

The area is also a nice mixture of laid back old school charm mixed with an Akihabara otaku vibe since Nakano is home to Nakano Broadway, a hobby enthusiast’s paradise.

Access: A short walk from Nakano Station.

What to do During the Season

1. Sakura Festival

robably my favourite thing to do during cherry blossom season, there’s nothing like the sound and energy of a festival to get you into the spirit of things and sakura festivals offer great entertainment both traditional and modern.

During sakura festivals, and depending on where you visit, there are many types of performances to see other than the usual live music and dance acts. Venturing to

more local neighbourhood areas like Nakano, you can enjoy local fanfare like carnival games and see local talent shows while more international areas like Nakameguro have a more western vibe and offers foreign treats like mulled wine, sangria, German beers, and sausages to enjoy mixed with traditional performances such as buyō (a traditional performing art similar to kabuki theatre).

Playing traditional matsuri games at Nakano Sakura Festival

Tasty treats at Nakameguro Sakura Festival

 

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2. Hanami Party

pend a unique day enjoying the local scene by setting up your blue tarp mat having a picnic under the shadow of a billowing flower tree. Hanami or “flower viewing” is a popular picnic event where people enjoy eating and drinking while viewing flowers. Although there are no “rules” to doing hanami right, there are a few staples to the activity which every local seems to follow:

The Essentials for Hanami

  • THE FOOD: Lunch Boxes, Side Dishes, Snacks, and Yes, Alcohol

Wondering what a typical hanami spread looks like?

Although homemade obento boxes are popular, hanami food is generally store-bought for convenience. The food (even obento boxes) are shared amongst everyone and include extra sweet or savoury snacks as some hanami parties can last until the evening if planned.

Some popular food ideas include karaage, lunch boxes, sandwiches, onigiri (rice balls), takoyaki, yakisoba, hanami dango, sakura mochi, and fruit. 

Another fun thing to do is to cheers the arrival of spring with a drink in hand. During the festivities, it is legal to drink alcohol openly in public areas and you can also find drink stands that sell chilled cans of beer should you forget yours. So grab your chuhai, beer or wine and kanpai!

Where to Purchase: convenience stores and local supermarkets like Maruetsu, Peacock or Seiyu.

  • FOR SITTING: Picnic sheets and sitting cushions

With the chaos of multiple hanami parties happening around you, space will get very tight fast.

Forget about setting up the tables and chairs and do as many other people do and simply spread out a tarpaulin mat on the ground to enjoy your picnic party.

Unfortunately, the ground may be hard and uneven, so I recommend buying inexpensive sitting cushions from the 100 yen store to help feel more comfortable.

Also, don’t forget to take your shoes off before sitting down! The no-dirty-shoes-allowed rule also applies here too.

Where to Purchase: convenience stores, local supermarkets, and 100 yen stores. 

  • FOR EATING: Paper Plates, Disposable Cutlery, and Tissues

Just like with any other party having extra plates and cutlery will come in handy especially with bigger groups. Another pro tip is to bring some wet wipes or “oshibori” for when it’s hard to locate a convenient way to wash your hands or clean up spills.

Where to Purchase: convenience stores, local supermarkets, and 100 yen stores. 

  • FOR FUN: GAMES

Looking at flowers all day is nice and all but you can really liven up a party with some games to play as well.

Simple party card games can be found at the 100 yen stores and offer an interesting insight to the childhood of Japanese locals or, something more familiar like Cards Against Humanity or Uno and you’ll ensure everyone has a riot for hours on end. 

Where to Purchase: 100 yen stores, Bic Camera, Yellow Submarine and Don Quixote.

  • THE CLEAN UP: Garbage Bags

Just as pretty as the cherry blossoms are on the tree, keeping the environment clean and tidy is also expected of everyone as much as possible.

Do the right thing and trash your garbage responsibly by saving time and effort and separate bottles, burnable garbage, and non-burnable garbage in bags before taking them to the designated garbage area.

A stylish homemade picnic obento

 

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A special cherry blossom beer

 

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3. Enjoy Spring with Cherry Blossom Flavoured Treats

id you know that cherry blossoms are also edible?

Although I am not the greatest fan of the taste as I think it’s too similar to a soap fragrance many cherry blossom foodstuffs mixes fruit flavours like strawberry, peach or cherry to sweeten its flavour.

The most popular limited edition item to get would be the Starbucks sakura edition frappuccino or latte that’s only available in Japan but do venture around to taste all the shops have to offer.

You can also buy cherry blossom tea, chocolates, and alcohol that’ll make great souvenirs.

4. Night Illuminations (Yozakura)

eeing flowers during the day is not the only time the locals go to see these pretty flowers. Yozakura or “night cherry blossom” is a common nighttime event for locals to enjoy the sight of these flowers lit up like glowing clouds.

The best places to head for yozakura are Chidorigafuchi Park, Rikugien Garden, Nakameguro and Ueno for their impressive displays.

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Night

Ueno Park at Night

Nakameguro at Night

Photo by Sora Sagano on Unsplash

Chidorigafuchi Park During the Day

 

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Chidorigafuchi Park Day at Night

 

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Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Japan, Japan Food Guide

Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Pokémon Cafe

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The Verdict
  • Setting & Atmosphere
  • Food
  • Service
  • Value For Money
3.4

OVERALL SUMMARY

Pokéfood ironically isn’t the very best… ( ♪ like no one ever was…)

Eager to dine inside one of the world’s most beloved animes in real life?

If you were (or still are) excited about how great Pokémon Go was, Tokyo’s new Pokémon Cafe now gives you the opportunity to transform those childhood dreams into reality. Hey, a Pokémon trainer has got to eat somewhere amirite? With a menu that is both fun and eye-catching these Pokéfood creations are sure to win over hearts, but, can it prove super effective on the tastebuds? Let’s step in to find out!

SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE

okémon’s story is all about adventure in the great outdoors and so, it seems only fitting to create an interior that simulates the same kind of environment – a woodland-inspired scheme with cozy wooden furnishings, pockets of shrubbery to mimic being amongst nature and lots of space. Who would have known a real-life Pokémon Centre would look this chic!

The thing I appreciated the most during the dining experience was that the staff

encouraged customers to walk around and explore freely, letting us take as many photos as we wanted. Especially since in Japan, some theme restaurants discourage photography.

With lots of different seating options, photo spots with prop toys, TV screens playing and merchandise areas to enjoy, it’s a calm, friendly, and lively environment with excited customers old and young.  Like a small theme park, the restaurant is combined with a Pokemon Center Store right next door!

Food

hile the food was terribly cute to look at, the taste was definitely more suited to a kid’s palate. On the menu expect simple burger and fries combos, a limited variety of veggies and plenty of carbs and meat – the kind of things we all know kids love.

With no descriptions on the menu, you will need to ask the staff what is inside each dish should you have any dietary needs. Something I also noticed was that the food wasn’t served very hot and gets cold quickly if you leave it for more than a few minutes (most likely for little stomachs and mouths to handle). My Eevee Burger bun wasn’t even toasted! A burger with no toasted bun? What child-safe hell is this?! Due to the lackluster flavour of most dishes, I would only recommend the curry rice or 

carbonara for mains if you care for at least a decent dinner.

Dessert, unfortunately, didn’t get any better.  The Jigglypuff Cheesecake had no real cheese taste and had that “rubbery” gelatine texture you find when eating cheap cheesecake or pudding in Japan. The Eevee Pancakes were dry, at room temperature, and lacked any sort of taste alone or with the accompanying toppings. Imagine a store-bought pikelet, served untoasted with no jam or syrup to liven it up. This is what they tasted like and it was as sad as it sounds. 

The only saving grace it seemed was the drink menu, which had a decent number of winners. Gengar’s “Suspicious-Looking Light Smoothie” was an absolute must-try. It was so creamy and the grape flavour tasted out of this world!

pokemon cafe food

pokemon cafe food

Greedy Pikachu Plate – A mixed plate of tomato spaghetti, hamburg patty, Pikachu themed omurice and salad | 1,706 yen

pokemon cafe food

Energetic Pikachu Curry – Pikachu turmeric flavoured rice with star-shaped vegetables and meat curry sauce | 1,598 yen

pokemon cafe food

Hide and Seek Pikachu Carbonara – Pikachu’s “butt” peeking out of a salad bush haha! It’s an omelette covering a creamy carbonara pasta underneath  | 1,598 yen

pokemon cafe food

Eevee Burger – A teriyaki chicken burger with bitter chocolate nachos ears served with minestrone soup and chips | 1,706 yen

pokemon cafe food

Gengar’s Suspicious-Looking Light Smoothie – A creamy grape frozen smoothie with a glowing red ice cube | 864 yen

pokemon cafe food

L to R: Float Drink (Jolteon Version) | 918 yen, Gengar’s Suspicious-Looking Light Smoothie | 864 yen, Iced Oolong Tea

pokemon cafe food

Pokemon Cafe Fruit Pancake (Eevee Limited Edition) – A Pokemon Cafe original pancake served with fruit and whipped cream | 1,706 yen

pokemon cafe food

Jigglypuff Sings Cheesecake – A strawberry rare cheesecake shaped like Jigglypuff | 1,166 yen

SERVICE

he experience of being at the Pokemon Cafe really shines because of the staff. I found that all the staff were friendly and extremely smiley even for the last session of the evening. The majority of the waiters are bilingual and always ask if you need language assistance while they serve you.

Since the staff help guide you through the experience of being there, it was nice to feel like you were being taken care of during your stay. An example of this is the bonus “mini-games” you get to play with your waiter. When you are seated at your table, the staff will treat you to a little game to reveal your lucky character placemat which you get to take home as a souvenir. Should you want a specific character or

another placemat you can buy another one for a small charge.

Another fun activity is all guests who order a drink get to play a roulette game to win a special character coaster. None of these mini-games are advertised on the menu so it’s a nice touch to commemorate your time there. 

Also, before the end of your session, a cute Pokemon mascot will come out to greet guests for photos before your time comes to an end. The character changes but we were lucky to see the very new Eevee mascot for the soon to be released “Pokemon Let’s Go!” games which was fun to see and touch its fluffy fur!

VALUE FOR MONEY

lthough I think the drinks are decently priced, the food is expensive AF!

Seriously that pancake cost 1,706 yen and I felt I could make a better version with maple syrup and more fruit for less.

Not to mention the portion sizes of the food were more suited for lunchtime rather

than dinner. You might find you’ll have to order more dishes to satisfy your hunger if you’re feeling particularly hungry when you visit.

It’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience but somewhere you wouldn’t want to visit without a good reason to blow all that cash for a sub-par meal.

Japan, Travel

teamLab Borderless – An Instagram Guide

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teamLab’s BORDERLESS will officially end on Aug 31, 2022.
See teamLab’s website for current art exhibitions.
Updated: April 2022

 AN INSTAGRAM GUIDE TO TEAMLAB’s BORDERLESS

tep into Tokyo’s most photogenic art experience!

A not-so-big secret about myself is, I am a big fan of surrealism. I love the way it releases the mind by surrendering the senses to the creative potential of the unconscious. It’s like diving into a brand new world of possibility that’s not so far from our own, yet, we can see the beauty of our reality and dreams in uncanny ways that challenge logical reasoning.

That is the exact feeling you’ll discover immersing yourself inside teamLab’s Borderless – a maze of light, projection mapping and sounds – all interactive and very Instagrammably artsy.

But, after experiencing the digital art museum for myself, I realised my impression of this place being the ultimate Instagrammer’s dream was not completely true as advertised. There are artworks worthy of being snapped and others which were better to just put the camera away and enjoy playing in.

For this photography guide, we’ll share how to play and take photos amongst these breathtaking moving artworks.

How to get that perfect shot

t is important to remember that because Borderless is still an art exhibition, there are some rules visitors will need to obey by (see their Notice to Visitors section).

No tripods, selfie sticks, and bags are allowed during your time inside – that means no long exposure shots! So, coming prepared will ensure you are set with your best equipment to still enjoy photo-taking with only your pockets as storage.

The challenges of shooting inside Borderless are, of course, working in complete pitch darkness and photographing digital screens that produce anti-aliasing problems when up-close. You will need to adapt your camera gear and settings that allows a big aperture and a slow enough shutter speed so you can capture enough light but not too slow that it causes blurring without a tripod.

As a starting point, here are the camera specs and  equipment I used:

My camera specs are:

  • Camera: FUJIFILM X-T1
  • Lens: 18mm – 55mm
  • ISO: 800+
  • f-stop: f/1.4 – f2.0
  • Shutter speed: 1/30

My phone specs are:

  • Phone: Samsung S9+
  • Camera: Rear camera only
  • Settings: Live Focus, Auto/Pro

What to wear

ou might not have given too much thought into picking your outfit for just an exhibition but because of the low light and darkness of the art space, I would suggest the following to ensure visibility when taking photos:

  • Clothes that are minimalist in style and have very little to no patterns.
  • Clothes that’ll give you a great silhouette profile. Think about different structures and fabrics like sheer chiffon or long bell sleeves.
  • Colours that work best, in my opinion, are white, black and bright clothes like yellow, light pink etc.  I found these colours don’t interfere with the projections.
  • No mini skirts but long skirts are ok.  There are mirrored floors people.
  • No high heels (trust me, I made that mistake). The floor in some spaces are uneven.

Top 4 Places to take the best shots

crolling through Instagram and online photos, there are many beautifully shot pictures of the Borderless exhibit that you might have wanted to replicate for yourself.

With its cutting-edge digital art and mesmerising visuals, Borderless is perfect to capture one of a kind photos to share online. With 470 projectors projecting various

changing artworks, you’d be mistaken in thinking you can capture every single moment through the lens in that ‘perfect’ Instagrammable way.

So without the luxury of a media pass and crowd-free exhibition space, I’m going to share my top tips on the best spots to spend your time to capture amazing photographic memories.

1. Wander through the Crystal World

Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★

Definitely, the easiest installation to capture an amazing shot, “The Way of the Sea in the Crystal World – Colors of Life” takes you through a maze of flickering LED lights with ambient music forming your path as you navigate between rooms.

Rooms you say?  Well, there are two main rooms to find in this section: “Flutter of Butterflies Beyond Borders in the Crystal World” and “The Way of the Sea in the

Crystal World – Colors of Life.”

Photography Tips: Side poses and back shots work best to get that perfect silhouette!

Explore Tips: In this room, play with the panels.  Every time you touch them, it changes the colours and lights of the entire room!

Expectations

 

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Reality

 

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Final shot with editing – not too shabby when you compare with Taramilktea’s right? Oh, and by the way, the colourful lighting in both photos is due to some slight editing as the colours don’t really get like that in the exhibition.

2. FOREST OF FLOWERS AND PEOPLE: LOST, IMMERSED AND REBORN

Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★

My second favourite installation for photos, Forest of Flowers and People explores the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.  Here flowers grow from empty spaces spreading and thriving until the gradual changing of the seasons.

Photography Tips: For poses, try sitting down and use the mirrors to create interesting back-to-back shots.

Explore Tips: The butterflies will, umm, “die” when you hit them.

3. A UNIVERSE OF WATER PARTICLES ON A ROCK WHERE PEOPLE GATHER

Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★★

Okay, real talk.  Where getting to the pointy end of achievable photos. In this installation, water flows from the  “Athletics Forest, Graffiti Nature – High Mountains and Deep Valleys” installations, and accumulate into the waterfall of the Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather installation.

When the light particles hit the “rock” at the base of the waterfall, they disperse in different directions, creating the illusion of real water. The fun part is, you can climb onto the rock and as the particles hit you, you also change the direction of the water flow, just as if you were a rock in the water’s path.  This means every visual artwork is

unique and no formation of water can ever be replicated or reoccur.

In the same room, the “Born From the Darkness a Loving, and Beautiful World” projection controls the room’s climate by catching words that represent different weather patterns as they fall from the sky.

Photography Tips: The best position to capture a photo is at the centre of the rock so try to wait until most people have left to sneak a photo (if you can – we couldn’t). For posing, I think sitting shots look nice, but also side and back profiles look great.

Explore Tips: The falling kanji on the wall changes the entire room’s animation.

Floating Kanji on the right

Expectations

 

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Reality

 

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4. FOREST OF RESONATING LAMPS

Difficulty Level For That Perfect Shot: ★★★★★

In this installation, light is emitted from one source and travels to another. As it spreads all lamps shine brightly in unison before returning back to its original source.

Although the most iconic room in the teamLab exhibition, it is, in my opinion, the hardest room to capture a great photo in.

First of all, entry to this exhibit is limited to specific session times and to avoid overcrowding during those session times, there’s also a limited duration of stay. If you plan to go inside please be aware of the session times to not miss out.  I, unfortunately, missed out on going inside the room because of this.

Secondly, the advertised images of this space by your favourite Instagrammers is a

bit of a stretch for the normal ticket goer. For example, we absolutely love taramilktea’s curated image (below) but it was simply not achievable from my personal experience due to crowds and the fact that the room was closed. Whether you go early or go late to Borderless, Tokyo is just a super busy city that I can’t imagine you would be able to get an empty or even partially empty room for yourself.

Photography Tips: My suggestion is to make your photos work on a smaller level. No wide far away camera shots.  Instead, more close up shots to avoid bumping into the lamps and to limit background interference. Or, you can fake a wide shot by posing at the window outside as I have (see below).

Explore Tips: Touching the lamps will change their colour.

Expectations

 

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Reality

Because the room was closed, this was shot from the window looking into the room. That’s the only reason why there’s no one in the background!

Top 3 places to explore

hile you’re exploring each room to the fullest, you will eventually make your way to the “Athletics Forest” – a space designed as a giant projected playground. The world is fully interactive and the floor dips and peaks like valleys and hills to challenge your body and understanding of the projected world in a 3D sense.

I personally feel these places are best for playing in rather than photo taking but you can still capture some fun Instagram Stories or Boomerang loop clips to upload to your social media.

1. WEIGHTLESS FOREST OF RESONATING LIFE

deconstructed jumping castle experience with oversized “balloons” that balance air and light. These balloons are inflated yet can stand upright or stay suspended in mid-air defying gravity and the laws of physics.

Explore Tips: I was surprised that the balloons are actually heavier than they look. Have fun headbutting, hugging and touching them but no punching!

2. Graffiti Nature - High Mountains and Deep Valleys

hand-drawn ecosystem were animals and plants co-exist. Animals will increase their numbers from eating other animals in the food chain. Flowers will bloom if you stand still and disperse when you walk around. Learn how to create and play here.

Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)

Explore Tips: The ground is like a giant hopscotch were you can try everything from hopping, skipping and jumping on similar animals and see how they “explode” with colour! Let your inner child out and stomp to your heart’s content!

Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)

3. Sketch Aquarium

ithin the Athletics Forest is another world called “Future Park” – a creative world to teach and learn about ecosystems in a digital environment. Enjoy creating your own sea animal to live in the digital aquarium and watch how your creation comes alive and interacts with other digital sea creatures. Learn how to play here.

Photo Credit: borderless.teamlab.art (Website)

Explore Tips: It’s like digital sea monkeys meets a tamagochi, you can watch your “shy” creature start making friends and slowly cluster together with its own family. You can also touch the bags to release “food” for your fish friends to eat.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PRICE

  • Adults (15 years old and older) – JPY 3,200
  • Child (4 to 14 years old) – JPY 1,000

OPENING HOURS

  • Regular Hours
    Monday – Thursday, Sunday and Holidays 10:00- 19:00
    Friday, Saturday and Holiday Eve 10:00- 21:00 *Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month

FACILITIES

  • Lockers are available for JPY 100 (refundable) to put your belongings in.
  • Sneaker hire available on the 4th floor if you have unstable footwear like heels or clogs.
  • To avoid looking up your skirt, cover wrap skirts are available for visitors to use in areas with mirrors on the floor.
  • Inside drink vending machines and rest areas are located near the restrooms.
  • Wheelchair friendly exhibition, however, wheelchairs cannot enter the Athletic Area.
  • You can find more about the site, how to access and where to buy tickets here.
Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Japan, Japan Food Guide

V-Day Girl’s Day at the Alice in Wonderland Restaurant, Shibuya

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You’re Late for Tea!

It seems that Valentine’s Day is a bit upside down here in Japan.

Rather than being all about the girls (let’s be honest), here, all the chocolate and hearts go to the fellows. If you happened to have walked around Shibuya on Sunday you might have spotted some lone hearted guys holding signs saying “Free Hugs” and “Chocolate please.”

Being in single town myself, I turned V Day into Galentine’s Day and went to the Alice in Wonderland theme restaurant for a girl’s day out. Girl Parties or 女子会/joshikai in Japanese is a pretty popular social gathering activity for gal pals here in Japan with hotels and venue restaurants offering lunch, dinner or dessert courses for some Sex and the City female bonding. But don’t worry boys! You have your own 男子会/danshikai version as well here!

Technically this restaurant chain is called Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant and each location has its own “version” on the Alice in Wonderland theme eg. Alice in a Labyrinth, Alice in a Fantasy Book and so on. The one in Shibuya is called Alice in a Dancing Land – 舞踏の国のアリス – and has a cute as hell carousel right in the middle of the restaurant where you can sit surrounded by lights and porcelain ornaments with a giant chandelier dangling from the center.

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Pretty right?! Everywhere you looked each ceiling panel or even the fabric used for the chairs remind you of a character or page from Alice in Wonderland. Even the floor staff waitresses wore Alice’s signature blue dress with at least one girl wearing bunny ears for the March Hare and the waiter at the front wore an outfit similar to the Mad Hatter. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take any photos of the staff but if you visit their Facebook page, you can see some photos of their staff :D

But I digress, to the food!

To mark the special day the restaurant offered a special event course at ¥2500 (roughly $25) per person which includes 2x entrees, 2x mains, and dessert. Considering it was also an all-you-can-drink with unlimited juice, coffee and tea it was a great price!

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Look at all these tea types! I tried to make it my personal mission to drink each and every one of these tea flavours but could only drink three: maple, chocolate, and grape kyoho black tea.  Although at a lot of places these types of layouts usually mean lackluster and bad quality teas, all the ones I tasted were really delicious and tasted exactly as they said. I especially liked the maple flavoured tea!

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The first course was a small amuse-bouche which was I believe some kind of cream cheese spread with “rose” shaped smoked ham and toast.

The waitress explained that the dish represented the scene where Alice finds the “eat me” cookies.

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The next dish was a salad with a cute avocado face for the Caterpillar in his “garden” which was a Caesar Salad.

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On to mains, the first was a pasta dish with a simple tomato style sauce with cute mozzarella cheese cut into a spade, club, diamond, and heart. The second was a consommé/nabe style soup filled with veggies, chicken, and sausage with some tasty bread and mustard for the sausage. I love the clock plate for the soup! It’s unfortunate that this restaurant doesn’t have a gift shop on site to buy souvenirs as I’m sure there will be many people who would love to buy some of the items here.

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Finally, the last dish was these cute blueberry mousse tarts desserts shaped like bunnies! The taste was quite interesting as it was sweet but also a bit tart, I liked it a lot!

One of the girls has food allergies and we were unsure if she could eat the planned dessert so she ordered the Cheshire Cat Parfait off the menu which was equally adorable!

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The main menu at this Alice in Wonderland is actually different from the food we ate off the planned course meal but the food quality was quite nice and somewhat affordable. I believe there is an entry fee of ¥500 or so which was included in our course price. If you do decide to come I recommend coming a bit earlier for lunch as the place can be quite busy but if you come after the rush hour after 2 PM, you’ll find it’s a bit quieter and you might get a better seat.

I definitely recommend coming here if you want to have a unique experience with your friends for afternoon tea.

The Details

Where: Zero gate B1, 16-9, Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0042

Opening Hours:

Monday – Sunday

Lunch  11:00am – 2:00pm (last order 3:30pm)

Dinner  4:00pm – 11:30pm (last order 11:00pm)

Website | Facebook

Until Next Time!

Xx

Siree

Japan, Travel

Going to the Studio Ghibli Museum, Tokyo

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Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Studio Ghibli Museum

Escaping into a Fairytale

It may not have flashy gates or a mascot roaming around to greet every guest but the Studio Ghibli Museum is such a beautiful site nestled in nature you feel like you have stepped into a fairytale that only the signature creative minds behind Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away could imagine out of thin air!

Definitely, a must go if you are an animation or anime fan, the inside not only displays the works of Studio Ghibli over the years but also acts as a teaching ground for animation principals with interactive giant zoetropes, projectors and hand painted dioramas. My favourite had to be the animator’s workspace layout with every nook and cranny filled with illustrations, model airplanes, book, etc. It felt just like the scene where you see Howl or Arrietty’s bedroom for the first time. Everything was so eye catching and had a child-like spirit to it, it was definitely inspiring! Unfortunately, the museum has a no photography policy inside, but luckily the outside patio areas were photo friendly should you feel the urge to savor the moment on camera.

 

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Ok I lied, there is a big Totoro ready to greet you at the entrance haha

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Studio Ghibli Museum

If you start to feel hungry, there’s the cafe on site but since it was the only place to get a proper meal, the line was so long and had people constantly lining up I couldn’t be bothered waiting and went to the side which sold hot dogs, ice cream and soup. The best finds were the Studio Ghibli ale beer and the hot apple cider drink! I took the beer bottle home as a souvenir since the label was so nice! But I definitely recommend bring some bento or onigiri if you plan to come.

Food at Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Studio Ghibli Beer, Studio Ghibli Museum


Studio Ghibli Museum

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

The whole site had such attention to detail! I want a cat tap now!

Laputa at Studio Ghibli Museum

 

At the rooftop garden stands the full-sized robot or “BFG” as I like to call him from the film Laputa: Castle in the Sky which makes for a cool photo before heading to the gift shop for some final gifts and finally an ice cream… or two haha

Studio Ghibli Museum

 

The loot of the day! The cute little dog is from their in-house short film “Goro’s Big Walk” which is a cute story of a puppy (Goro) who escapes his house to follow his owner (a little girl) but gets lost on the way. The souvenir goods were a little expensive at the gift shop so I ended up getting only a Kiki’s Delivery Service card and the postcards of the museum’s courtyard, the animator’s work station and the Museum building drawn in true Studio Ghibli style!

If you plan to visit the museum, you will have to purchase a ticket in advance as they don’t sell tickets on site.

You can check out where you can buy a ticket in your country via their official website.

Souvenirs from Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Souvenirs from Studio Ghibli Museum

 

Souvenirs from Studio Ghibli Museum

The Details:

Where:  〒 181-0013, 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo

Website

Until Next Time!

Xx

Siree

Japan, Travel

Akiba Fukurou – Owl Cafe

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Owls for Muggles!

I’m pretty sure everyone has heard by now, Japan has some pretty exciting and interesting cafe culture in the form of animal themed cafes. While cat, rabbit and dog cafes are some of the well known types, I always wanted to go to an owl cafe! Before coming to Japan, I never thought owls could be kept as a pet so what a treat to see one up close and personal!

Just a few minutes walk from Akihabara Station is “Akiba Fukurou,” a super cute owl cafe with 28 owls inside!

While researching on what owl cafe to choose, I found that most owl cafe services require you to order a drink as the minimum “entry fee” with the food area being divided by a glass window in which on the other side, is where the owls are kept. An extra fee is charged to go into the owl room and the experience is around a 10 minute session to hold and take photos with your feathery friend. When I did the math, it ended up being a bit too pricey and since I had my sister and her bf joining me, I wanted them to experience “being” with an owl rather than just being able to “see” an owl through a glass panel. The difference with Akiba Fukurou is that it’s not your usual owl cafe experience as it’s more of an aviary in the form of a stylish cafe. There is no drink or food menu and the whole time you are there (around 1 hour) you get to experience bonding with the owls in the room. You can walk around freely, pat and hold as many owls as you want! Woohoo!


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Aren’t they the cutest?! Even the biggest owl was so sweet when you gently stroked its face haha. The owls are very well trained and the staff are also knowledgable and skilled at handling them should you have any problems. The staff will give you an intro on how to hold the owls as well as which owls you can hold or touch etc.

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The owl I picked was called “Charles Xavier,” a Black-Banded Owl. Such a looker, I liked him the most haha!

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At the end of the session, you get a photo as a souvenir which was really nice! If you are looking into a owl cafe to visit in Tokyo, I definitely recommend this place!

The Details

Where: 〒101-0022 67, Neribeicho, Kanda, Chiyodaku, Tokyo

Website

Until Next Time!

Xx

Siree