Japan Winter 2011 Trip - Week 3 (1/2/2012-1/5/2012)
01/02/2012 (Monday)
It was cold and lightly drizzled a couple times during the night. We switched off going to the conbini a few times, and I napped and played my DS. The guys in front of us spoke in Cantonese, while the people behind us spoke in Mandarin, lol. Finally around 6-7am, M-san came to join us and brought McDonalds breakfast! =9 Nice and warm. We got the tickets around the same time and were let in around 8am to make purchases. None of us got the really good ones, but we all got:
-headphones
-security camera
-8GB iPod Touch
-iPod Touch cover case
-charger keyholder
-original New Year's pins
-original New Year's t-shirt
-gray Porter bag
Yoshi and I returned to the apartment to nap for a couple hours, and then met up with M-san again in the afternoon to go to Asakusa for more hatsumode. Met up with Christie there to get the Ishino books with No.6 roughs, and we all went to the temple for festival food and hatsumode. Sadly, no grilled squid on a stick. =(
Afterwards, we three parted from Christie and met up with Lindsay and Heidi in Shinjuku for karaoke.
01/03/2012 (Tuesday)
I met up with Okikuta-san and Tachibana-san to go to the Dragon Quest Luida's Bar in Roppongi. We weren't able to get a phone reservation, but managed to get a spot when we went to line up at 1:30pm. The service time was limited, so we had 90 minutes inside. I tried to pay, but basically Okikuta-san treated me. Thank you! We then walked Tachibana-san back to the station and saw her off, and then the two of us went to Nakano Broadway. I managed to find a bus that took me back to the station one over from my stop.
Luida's Bar: Dragon Quest signs shot 1
Luida's Bar: Dragon Quest signs shot 2
Our drinks: yuzu (mine), kiwi (Okikuta-san's), ginger ale (Tachibana-san's)
Grilled pork
Glamour shot
Omurice
Slime Anman and Nikuman, dessert
Grapefruit juice+lychee flavored blue ice cubes+touch of alcohol
In the evening, Yoshi and I went to his uncle's place in Hatsudai to have dinner. It was my first time meeting these relatives on Yoshi's father's side. They know more English so it was easier to talk to them. Yoshi played Modern Warfare 3 with one of his cousins, and I ended up napping while watching them play, lol.
01/04/2012 (Wednesday)
I started sorting stuff to pack and mail off. Lunch was at Freshness Burger in Ikebukuro, and then straight to the theater by Tokyu Hands for the Inazuma Eleven GO movie in 3D. A lot of the movie was so overly dramatic. XD According to my reactions, from what Yoshi said, my favorite part was when the old group steps in for a bit. XDb But good thing I watched up to where I did in the series, no spoilers for me! OH! And the trailer for Gyakuten Saiban movie, OMG! It looks like it combines all of the first 3 games, I'M SO EXCITED!
After the movie, we tried going to several stores so I could get Air Gear v.33... why was it so hard to find! When we stopped in the Tora no Ana in Ikebukuro, I thought I saw someone a recognized. It was the bright colored jacket and the studded beanie especially that attracted my eye. Hamamoto-san! XD I didn't call out to him, but lightly tapped him on the arm instead, just in case I was mistaken. But I wasn't. =D I introduced Yoshi to him and we chatted briefly before going back to shopping/browsing.
Eventually, I found v.33 at the Kinokuniya in Shinjuku. They also have an Animate in Shinjuku now. =O
For dinner, we had yakitori, and then crepe outside. Then we returned to the apartment, and I continued packing until 3am.
Oden at yakitori place
Yakitori dishes
Rolled cabbage
Crepes
01/05/2012 (Thursday)
In the morning, I saw Yoshi off to work, and then finished up with my packing. I met Okikuta-san at the post office, and sent off some packages. She gave me omiyage and helped me call a taxi to the apartment and saw me off. The taxi driver knew some English and apparently lived in Florida for 2.5 years, working at a sushi restaurant. He also commented that my Japanese intonation was good, lol.
Once I was on the Narita Express, I was basically set. I met a girl from Australia at the airport and hung out with her until I had to go through security. I got upgraded to Executive class because the Premium Economy section was crowded... (I had no idea that it was Executive class until I got home!) I also checked out the Sakura Lounge briefly, so much bigger than the International Lounge at LAX. Would have check it out longer if I had more time. Flight was delayed 15 minutes.
More than half the food I had during the flight... I had no idea what I was eating. ^^;;
Dinner appetizers
Japanese style main dishes (other option was Western style)
Rice and miso soup
Dessert with black sesame
Chair controller
Western style breakfast
Week 1
Week 2
It was cold and lightly drizzled a couple times during the night. We switched off going to the conbini a few times, and I napped and played my DS. The guys in front of us spoke in Cantonese, while the people behind us spoke in Mandarin, lol. Finally around 6-7am, M-san came to join us and brought McDonalds breakfast! =9 Nice and warm. We got the tickets around the same time and were let in around 8am to make purchases. None of us got the really good ones, but we all got:
-headphones
-security camera
-8GB iPod Touch
-iPod Touch cover case
-charger keyholder
-original New Year's pins
-original New Year's t-shirt
-gray Porter bag
Yoshi and I returned to the apartment to nap for a couple hours, and then met up with M-san again in the afternoon to go to Asakusa for more hatsumode. Met up with Christie there to get the Ishino books with No.6 roughs, and we all went to the temple for festival food and hatsumode. Sadly, no grilled squid on a stick. =(
Afterwards, we three parted from Christie and met up with Lindsay and Heidi in Shinjuku for karaoke.
01/03/2012 (Tuesday)
I met up with Okikuta-san and Tachibana-san to go to the Dragon Quest Luida's Bar in Roppongi. We weren't able to get a phone reservation, but managed to get a spot when we went to line up at 1:30pm. The service time was limited, so we had 90 minutes inside. I tried to pay, but basically Okikuta-san treated me. Thank you! We then walked Tachibana-san back to the station and saw her off, and then the two of us went to Nakano Broadway. I managed to find a bus that took me back to the station one over from my stop.
Luida's Bar: Dragon Quest signs shot 1
Luida's Bar: Dragon Quest signs shot 2
Our drinks: yuzu (mine), kiwi (Okikuta-san's), ginger ale (Tachibana-san's)
Grilled pork
Glamour shot
Omurice
Slime Anman and Nikuman, dessert
Grapefruit juice+lychee flavored blue ice cubes+touch of alcohol
In the evening, Yoshi and I went to his uncle's place in Hatsudai to have dinner. It was my first time meeting these relatives on Yoshi's father's side. They know more English so it was easier to talk to them. Yoshi played Modern Warfare 3 with one of his cousins, and I ended up napping while watching them play, lol.
01/04/2012 (Wednesday)
I started sorting stuff to pack and mail off. Lunch was at Freshness Burger in Ikebukuro, and then straight to the theater by Tokyu Hands for the Inazuma Eleven GO movie in 3D. A lot of the movie was so overly dramatic. XD According to my reactions, from what Yoshi said, my favorite part was when the old group steps in for a bit. XDb But good thing I watched up to where I did in the series, no spoilers for me! OH! And the trailer for Gyakuten Saiban movie, OMG! It looks like it combines all of the first 3 games, I'M SO EXCITED!
After the movie, we tried going to several stores so I could get Air Gear v.33... why was it so hard to find! When we stopped in the Tora no Ana in Ikebukuro, I thought I saw someone a recognized. It was the bright colored jacket and the studded beanie especially that attracted my eye. Hamamoto-san! XD I didn't call out to him, but lightly tapped him on the arm instead, just in case I was mistaken. But I wasn't. =D I introduced Yoshi to him and we chatted briefly before going back to shopping/browsing.
Eventually, I found v.33 at the Kinokuniya in Shinjuku. They also have an Animate in Shinjuku now. =O
For dinner, we had yakitori, and then crepe outside. Then we returned to the apartment, and I continued packing until 3am.
Oden at yakitori place
Yakitori dishes
Rolled cabbage
Crepes
01/05/2012 (Thursday)
In the morning, I saw Yoshi off to work, and then finished up with my packing. I met Okikuta-san at the post office, and sent off some packages. She gave me omiyage and helped me call a taxi to the apartment and saw me off. The taxi driver knew some English and apparently lived in Florida for 2.5 years, working at a sushi restaurant. He also commented that my Japanese intonation was good, lol.
Once I was on the Narita Express, I was basically set. I met a girl from Australia at the airport and hung out with her until I had to go through security. I got upgraded to Executive class because the Premium Economy section was crowded... (I had no idea that it was Executive class until I got home!) I also checked out the Sakura Lounge briefly, so much bigger than the International Lounge at LAX. Would have check it out longer if I had more time. Flight was delayed 15 minutes.
More than half the food I had during the flight... I had no idea what I was eating. ^^;;
Dinner appetizers
Japanese style main dishes (other option was Western style)
Rice and miso soup
Dessert with black sesame
Chair controller
Western style breakfast
Week 1
Week 2