Personal vacation as opposed to family vacation - you don't go with your entire family, no children in tow, just hubby and you. Hmm.. maybe an intimate vacation is more appropriate! (:
However, hubby's not in Japan for vacation but for work purpose; so it's just my vacation, not his.
Hubby had me in tow to Japan on his work trip ==> My Intimate Vacation to Japan !!
It was a lil' tough to decide to actually accompany him on this trip although I have been playfully telling everyone since the beginning of the year, that I would surely stick to him if he were to go Japan for business! Reason being I have a performance coming up immediately upon my return, and I really am in no position to skip any rehearsals especially those important ones just before performance. My fate was sealed however when Vic proposed that we go renew our determination once again at the Hall of Great Vow this time when we visit Tokyo!!
This was my second time tagging along Vic on his work trip; a year ago we went Sydney and Melbourne, an English-speaking country. Frankly speaking I was not comfortable at all moving around by myself in Japan despite spending our family vacations here consecutively for two years. I have always depended on Vic to navigate the complex train system to get us from point A to point B. And he has almost never failed us, with his self-proclaimed-but-also-proven-right-most-of-the-time acute sense of direction. Worst case scenario, I am prepared to just read book and chant daimoku when Vic is at work! But fortunately I am saved because of technology, because of smart phone, because of GPS - the Maps app!! (^_^)
*** *** ***
Tokyo
Decked out in our formal best, we went to the Hall of Great Vow once again on our very first morning in Tokyo!! Ok, Laogong forgot to bring a tie...😜
Still we were much better dressed than another group from Singapore who were in jeans and windbreakers!
After registering for the morning gongyo meeting and completed the briefing, we looked around the SGI HQ once again.
Without the entire family in tow, we went to explore Shinanomachi again and took many pictures using our tripod!
I was ambitious. Having went to the hotel gym once whilst in Melbourne, I thought I could do the same in Japan. After all we always read how celebrities or very busy people on business hit the gym and work out despite hectic schedule, didn't we? So, even if I don't belong to that category, guess I could at least pretend to be while on vacation, ha? (^_-) Well, I brought my sports attire and running shoes!
But no chance in Tokyo.. too distracted and preoccupied with sights and new things-to-do & things-to-buy!! Moreover, Vic only worked for ONE day in Tokyo.. Arrgh!
Oh yes, I must talk about my most fruitful buys in Tokyo!! For the very first time in my life, I was somehow into sneakers but didn't know where or what to get.. However, I read that sneakers has always been very big in Japan, and especially Tolyo, can arguably be the sneaker capital of the world!!? With eyes wide open, I really saw the truth and almost everyone regardless of age and size and style could be seen putting on sneakers in the train, on the streets, almost anywhere in Japan!! Well, I got myself 2 pairs of adidas sneakers, a black and a white, on 2 separate occasions!!
This black pair had even Qi & Xuan drooling over it!! 😄😄😄
My to-do list for that one short day included..
- catch rare Pokemon in the birthland of Pokemon
- venture to downtown Shibuya/Harajuku for window-shopping
- hit Uniqlo's changing room to pick up some buys for either the girls or myself
Preferring to hit the park than the mall for my solo Pokemon excursion, I ventured to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by foot. Easy peasy.. It wasn't too fruitful in the Pokemon department. I didn't even see Pikachu or any other lesser-seen monsters on my sightings. That afternoon days ago with Vic at Ueno was far far far more exciting, but no regrets tho!! The Shinjuku Gyoen was a beautiful place - big, spacious, lots of trees and plants, and lots of kids too!!
Next, I have to find my way to Shibuya/Harajuku; it's a place too far to walk. By then, I realized Google Maps isn't my friend; either it cannot understand me or I cannot understand it.. I simply cannot rely on it to get me from A to B!! Luckily I still have good ole' reliable Maps, whom I've nurtured and cultivated our relationship for more than enough since in Singapore! Maps took me to the train station I need to go to take the train to Shibuya; thank goodness I've Maps..
However, after I gobbled up the entire thing, i regretted. I would not the crepe again another time; it's much too sweet & with the entire inside filled with whipped cream, it made my stomach a lil' sick!!
OMG.. my cinnamon roll was so so so heavenly and satisfying!! 😋😋😋 After taking the first few bites and deciding that its my most delicious ever cinnamon roll, my next thought was, "If only Laogong and the girls can taste this too....."
Hey!! This is actually a tourist attraction with a long history - the Utsunomiya Futarasan Shrine. I spent a good half an hour or so walking around!
I read subsequently that this current shrine building actually dated back to 1877 and had been burnt down 4 times in the past!!
Much as I would prefer to spend more time in Tokyo, Laogong had to spend more days working in Utsunomiya.
Oh yes!! I met and caught a Snorlax!! Not a very high CP one (1637), but high enough for me to keep and be proud of...
Touristy Weekend
The most interesting part of my Tokyo trip this time must be our visit to an owl cafe!!
On My Own
I was ambitious. Having went to the hotel gym once whilst in Melbourne, I thought I could do the same in Japan. After all we always read how celebrities or very busy people on business hit the gym and work out despite hectic schedule, didn't we? So, even if I don't belong to that category, guess I could at least pretend to be while on vacation, ha? (^_-) Well, I brought my sports attire and running shoes!
But no chance in Tokyo.. too distracted and preoccupied with sights and new things-to-do & things-to-buy!! Moreover, Vic only worked for ONE day in Tokyo.. Arrgh!
Oh yes, I must talk about my most fruitful buys in Tokyo!! For the very first time in my life, I was somehow into sneakers but didn't know where or what to get.. However, I read that sneakers has always been very big in Japan, and especially Tolyo, can arguably be the sneaker capital of the world!!? With eyes wide open, I really saw the truth and almost everyone regardless of age and size and style could be seen putting on sneakers in the train, on the streets, almost anywhere in Japan!! Well, I got myself 2 pairs of adidas sneakers, a black and a white, on 2 separate occasions!!
My to-do list for that one short day included..
- catch rare Pokemon in the birthland of Pokemon
- venture to downtown Shibuya/Harajuku for window-shopping
- hit Uniqlo's changing room to pick up some buys for either the girls or myself
Preferring to hit the park than the mall for my solo Pokemon excursion, I ventured to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden by foot. Easy peasy.. It wasn't too fruitful in the Pokemon department. I didn't even see Pikachu or any other lesser-seen monsters on my sightings. That afternoon days ago with Vic at Ueno was far far far more exciting, but no regrets tho!! The Shinjuku Gyoen was a beautiful place - big, spacious, lots of trees and plants, and lots of kids too!!
Next, I have to find my way to Shibuya/Harajuku; it's a place too far to walk. By then, I realized Google Maps isn't my friend; either it cannot understand me or I cannot understand it.. I simply cannot rely on it to get me from A to B!! Luckily I still have good ole' reliable Maps, whom I've nurtured and cultivated our relationship for more than enough since in Singapore! Maps took me to the train station I need to go to take the train to Shibuya; thank goodness I've Maps..
I walked the entire stretch of Takeshita Street and decided that I should try out the much-famed crepe.
Before long it's time to return to the hotel. While hunting for an alternative route to the train station, I walked past whole streets of stores selling second-hand goods, from apparel to handbags. They're interesting but I wasn't there to shop, so I just looked. Apparently, the way back to the train station was best reached if I were just to retrace my steps backward, but I realized it too late and was almost at the next train station.
Then I saw something that really made me excited - a café that sold cinnamon rolls!! Much as I would love to sit down and savour the treat with a coffee, I juz asked for a takeaway..😌
Although it's juz a takeaway and by the time I took it out to eat -- after I returned to the hotel, brought out our luggage, handed them to the concierge, and ventured out on the streets again -- the box was no longer warm. I seated myself on a stone bench in front of a university.. On the next bench, there's a guy smoking and on another bench, another man was eating a sandwich.
I was pleasantly surprised.. The cinnamon roll was huge and juicy!! The frosting was generous and the cinnamon sugar on the underside was delish and plentiful.
OMG.. my cinnamon roll was so so so heavenly and satisfying!! 😋😋😋 After taking the first few bites and deciding that its my most delicious ever cinnamon roll, my next thought was, "If only Laogong and the girls can taste this too....."
*** *** ***
Utsunomiya
The hotel a stone throw away from the train station was a very basic hotel; no pool, no gym. I would really need to wander around town for 2 whole days as Victor worked.
Much as I would like to visit Utsunomiya's parks or gardens, these were all rather far away and almost impossible to reach by foot. Hence I decided to venture to Orion-dori, a pedestrian mall instead, by foot.
Interestingly, I noticed many parking spaces, parking lots and parking complexes. Also the cars in Utsunomiya were all pretty new! Car ownership seemed to be very high. Vic's Japanese colleague confirmed it, he said it's almost like every adult in Utsunomiya owned a car!
Another interesting sight was the many active senior citizens walking and cycling on the roads. The aged population was definitely very visible and there were many goods in the shops catering to them, like comfortable walking shoes and apparel.
At long last, I reached my destination!
It began to drizzle as I juz made my way into the sheltered walkway. Many of the shops weren't open yet there's enough to window shop.. I bought a gigantic sweet potato to munch on (the munch lasted 3 days!!), two tops for Ma; a striped wooly hoodie vest for whoever wants it. Oh yes, I bought a bubble tea too.
On my way back, I stopped by Parco, a large atas departmental store.
Something i noticed before I stepped into the mall, was that the seats at the bus stops were all facing inwards. Guess it's safer for passengers? And also helped to block the passengers from breathing in too much polluted air?
Time to return to the hotel.... Upon waiting for the traffic light to cross the road, I saw a structure across the traffic junction!!
Much as I would prefer to spend more time in Tokyo, Laogong had to spend more days working in Utsunomiya.
On day 2 in Utsunomiya, I had planned a long walk to a place passing through an area of many schools. However, after I got near my destination, I realized I had keyed in the wrong address. Nonetheless, I had a most fruitful long walk to see this lil' 'school town'!!
Subsequently I decided to find my way to Matsugamine Church, the oldest and largest surviving building made of Ohya Stone, indigenous stones only found in this area!
After some walking, I finally found the church and even happier that I could just walk in to explore!!
Many parts of the 84-year-old church were built using Ohya stone and appreciating the fact that this is one of the very few Ohya buildings left, I can only silently exclaim and sigh over being able to witness this beauty..
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