Aloha guys,

Sorry for taking quite some time to post this. I'm catching up with reality. Here's few things to share about my trip.

Group count : 4 person, all male.
Duration of the trip: 25/09/2009 - 05/10/2009 (11 days, 10 nights)
Flight : JAL (RM1580 return, bought from J-Horizons)
Overall itinerary budget : RM4500

Day 0 - 24/09/2009 Friday ------- Flight from KLIA
- We are all damn anxious for the trip. Celcom mobile phone lines was down. 3 of us are using Celcom, could not call each other.
- Our group split to two, 3 and 1. So, we couldn't contact the last guy.
- Happens to be he couldn't board the flight because of PTPTN problem.
- I almost miss my flight because I run back to the Immigration counter, to ask them about him.
- Flight was delayed for 15 minutes, probably because his luggage was checked-in.
- In the flight it, all of us are puzzled of what just happen. But determine to make the best of this dream trip.
- JAL flight is awesome.

Day 1 - 25/09/2009 Friday ------- Mitaka + Roppongi
- Arrived sharp at 7.00am in the morning.
- We were questioned by patrol police at the airport, after 15 minutes trying to make phone call to Malaysia at the phone booth.
- Took Keisei Oshiage Line + Toei Asakusa line to Asakusabashi. Took around 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Drop our luggage at Khaosan Tokyo Ninja.
- Straight to Mitaka, for Studio Ghibli. First floor is like a heaven. Super duper awesome, a must for all tourist who watch anime.
- Head back to Akabanebashi for Tokyo Tower. We just took pictures underneath Tokyo Tower.
- Walk to Roppongi. Asked for some direction. A girl was asking are we really sure want to walk to Roppongi, because it is not exactly that near. lol.
- Shop at Don Quijote. 2 of us bought Softbank keitai for 16K Yen (with 6K prepaid) with passport only. It took like 2 hours to get it done, a lot of customers.
- Walk around Roppongi area. Took pictures at tourist spots.
- We went for Tokyo City View at Mori Tower. Awesome view, but we missed the Sky Deck view.

Day 2 - 26/09/2009 Saturday ------- Nakano + Akihabara
- Too tired and woke up pretty late, we changed plan.
- Nakano Broadway for the old school Akiba-like place. Specific shop we went is Trio 2.
- At night we went to Akiba, and was surprised that most shops closed around 7-8pm.

Day 3 - 27/09/2009 Sunday ------- Chiba
- Tokyo Game Show day.
- We arrived at Makuhari Messe around 8.00am and queue and manage to enter the halls at 10am.
- That's when we realize the 'queuing while standing' prowess among Japanese people.
- Awesome event, we bought a lot of t-shirts and get 1 for free from Ubisoft, for queuing up for their new games.
- Found out that Japanese with roller bags are mostly cosplayers.

Day 4 - 28/09/2009 Monday ------- Ueno + Asakusa
- Take pictures at Kaminarimon Gate and Sensoji Temple.
- There's a lot of Japanese school kids visitors as well.
- Asakusa is a tourist trap. Bought a lot of Japanese clothings, kimono, yukata, jinbei, haori and etc.
- Good place to buy souvenirs, a lot of choices.
- Next we went to Ueno Park, took pictures.
- Walk to Tokyo University, (Todai) and took pictures there.
- Went to Tokyo Dome City, but it was 1 hour before closing, so, we postponed it in another day.

Day 5 - 29/09/2009 Tuesday ------- Odaiba
- We went to Tsukiji Fish Market.
- Although we missed the first train. Thankfully there are not that many tourist for the tuna auction session.
- We had our breakfast at Umai Sushikan. The staffs do speak some English.
- Awesome experience, a must for all tourist japanese food lovers.
- Next is to Odaiba island area.
- First stop is Panasonic Center Tokyo (RiSuPia). Very cool and innovative museum/center.
- Went to Toyota Mega Web, Palette Town, Odaiba Decks and etc.
- Last but not least is Sega Joypolis. Awesome arcade experience, a must for gamers. Most attractions are meant for pairs.

Day 6 - 30/09/2009 Wednesday ------- Shibuya + Harajuku
- Today we start to be nomad travellers, hopping from 1 accomodation to another. Bad choice, as our loots are getting heavier daily.
- Thankfully, a friend of mine who lives nearby Yoyogi area helped us by allowing us to drop our luggage at his house.
- Walk around Harajuku area, Omotesando and also Shibuya.
- We stay somewhere in Dogenzaka street, a rabuho called Hotel Laurel.

Day 7 - 01/10/2009 Thursday ------- Akihabara
- Another change of plan, as we have a tour guide from my friend who frequents Akiba quite a bit.
- Get into an arcade building and spent around 2 hours there.
- Shop at Messe Sanoh, for doujin stuffs.
- Shop at Animate, Mandarake, and etc.
- Check-in to Siesta Capsule Hotel in Ebisu.

Day 8 - 02/10/2009 Friday ------- Akihabara + Tokyo Dome City
- Another round of shopping session at Akiba.
- At night we manage to go to Tokyo Dome City.
- Although it was drizzling, thankfully the attractions are not closed down.
- We took Thunder Dolphin 2 times, super awesome. Note : 2nd time for a better picture.
- We stayed at Ryokan Kangetsu in Chidoricho.

Day 9 - 03/10/2009 Friday ------- Nakano + Shinjuku + Akihabara
- We actually queue up before Trio 2 at Nakano Broadway opens their shop. With like-minded Japanese people.
- Then we head straight to Shinjuku.
- We went to Japanese Sword Museum, very small, awesome but cannot take pictures.
- Take pictures at LOVE sculpture and walk around Shinjuku.
- Then, we head to Akiba for some maid-cafe experience at @Home 7th floor.
- We stayed at Andon Ryokan in Minowa.

Day 10 - 04/10/2009 Friday ------- Ikebukuro + Yokosuka + Shinjuku
- We had lunch at Malaychan in Ikebukuro, seems to be pretty popular with the locals there.
- Then we went to Morning Musume Nine Smile Concert at Yokosuka. Super duper awesome!
- We stayed at an internet cafe in Shinjuku.

Day 11 - 04/10/2009 Saturday ------- Flight from Narita
- We almost missed our flight again, had to run to the furthest gate in Narita Airport Terminal 2. Gate 77.

Group in Tokyo : 3 person
Total money spent : RM8000
Pictures taken : 3606 files (14.8GB)
Videos taken : 81 files (13.6GB)

AWESOME trip!!!

*Specific reviews for accomodation, trivia points coming up later.

Not inclusive flight tickets. That's another RM1.5K.

Thankfully, we check-in the bags together, else mine would probably exceed the weight limits.

Awesome experience, will definitely go again. I have videos of them too. More female audience than what I was expecting.

Funny thing is that, he did check it 1 month before the flight while doing his passport, and from what he said, he was barred a week before the flight date.

Ouch, without tax. SGD528 is around RM1320, still cheap, but definitely as good as the past JAL promo at RM1350 departing from KLIA instead of Singapore.

RM8000 is inclusive of accom,flight,food and shopping eh? anyone exceed the weight limit?
how was the concert? did you see any bunch of group perform warmup for the concert?

hm...your friend with PTPTN problem, that's too bad. should be a checklist for those planning to fly. Tanoshi, please on the mainpage!

@erictan,
the flight ticket price is impressive....Current MAS - SIN to NRT promo is from SGD398 for travelling now until June 2010.... i searched for
depart : 23 FEB
SIN - KUL - TOKYO : SGD131

return : 1st March
NRT - KUL - SIN : SGD131

but, price with tax : SGD528. but
if u take flight from KUL - NRT and NRT - KUL, flight cost is RM2518.00. wtff.....       

try to check other date, sure can get sgd398 nett( include taxes). i got my ticket dep: 21/12,rtn: 4/01.

if you got this sgd 398, dont need to check any other airline......guarantee is the cheapest........
and it is MAS, not budget air.

---

Added on November 2, 2009, 4:49 pmactually for those intend to go tokyo, try to surf some japan web site, you can get a hotel room with attached bathroom below 6000yen per room ( for 2 persons )......much better than those b & b or hostel.

---

Added on November 2, 2009, 4:49 pmactually for those intend to go tokyo, try to surf some japan web site, you can get a hotel room with attached bathroom below 6000yen per room ( for 2 persons )......much better than those b & b or hostel.

try to check other date, sure can get sgd398 nett( include taxes). i got my ticket dep: 21/12,rtn: 4/01.

if you got this sgd 398, dont need to check any other airline......guarantee is the cheapest........
and it is MAS, not budget air.

---

Added on November 2, 2009, 4:49 pmactually for those intend to go tokyo, try to surf some japan web site, you can get a hotel room with attached bathroom below 6000yen per room ( for 2 persons )......much better than those b & b or hostel.

Nice review there heterosapiens !!

You've made my hands itchy, digging my wallet for next year's trip  Right, keii-kun ? 

well, it is cheap, but how do we take flight from SIN-KUL-NRT? are we allowed to take the plane @ KUL instead? if yes, i guess i should be planning another trip soon next year!   

there are hotel cheaper...with ensuite bathroom for two, i.e
koiwa sky court hotel - but a little out of town.
oak hotel : JPY7500 - from instantworldbooking

but i've yet to found any hotel (not ryokan/b&b/dormitories) with JPY6000 for two pax.

Nice review there heterosapiens !!

You've made my hands itchy, digging my wallet for next year's trip  Right, keii-kun ? 

Hi heterosapiens,

You are my man...damn good review on the staying part...at least now...i feel like going to Japan again....and stay on those places u have mention. Very informative indeed.

Thanks again...

Us : Sumimasen, sannin ok?
Receptionist : Otoko onna?
Us : Sannin otoko
Receptionist : Dame!!! (Crossing their hands as the sign)
Us : Sumimasen (T_T).... ＿|￣|○

Here's a few trivia points :

1. In Tokyo, you can hardly find garbage bin, like seriously. Japanese bring home their garbage home and dispose it there. You can only find garbage bins at some vending machine, most konbini (convenience store) and probably your accommodation place. TRUE
2. Do not ask for direction from regular Japanese people, unless you want them to bring you there. Because they will take it as responsibility and a mission to accomplished. It is very hard to say it is ok/nevermind (daijobu), when they can't help it or they want to bring you there. Ask the police officers is a better choice. TRUE
3. It is very hard to find Japanese people who speak understandable English, except those who work in tourism industries. TRUE
4. Konbini in Tokyo will never run out small change, not like our beloved Malaysia. "No small change is it?" Soooo TRUE
5. Boxed fruit juice is the only product that I find it cheaper than Malaysia. Around 100 Yen or RM 3.90. at konbini, yes. but if you to depato, fresh milk, choc milk is much cheaper. even cheaper than mineral water!
6. Japanese drinks do not have as much sugar as Malaysian drinks, except probably for Coca Cola.
7. The only foreign brand soft drink that is available at konbinis is Coca Cola.
8. There are a lot of school kids outside school area during school days.
9. A lot of shops do not allow you to take pictures in their premise. You need to ninja'em.
10. Japanese people probably have 3 hobbies, standing while queueing, mistook your umbrella as theirs at konbini and dragging trolley bag for their cosplay attire.