#141 Pokemon Center Tokyo 2016

A few years back I wrote about my rather disappointing experience at the Pokemon Center in Tokyo. However, I went back at the end of last summer (in the height of the Pokemon Go craze!) to the newest Pokemon Center, located at a major attraction, Tokyo SkyTree.

I have to admit, there was a huge improvement. While it's still basically just a shop full of Pokemon goods, the difference was amazing. On my first visit the location in Minato ku, Tokyo, was little obscure (not so close to other attractions) and there were mostly goods from the newer generations of Pokemon aimed at the Japanese market (things like chopstick holders or little napkins to place your lunch on - not something particularly useful in the West!). I found I wanted to spend money, but had nothing worthwhile to spend it on.

Since I was in the neighbuorhood of Tokyo Skytree I found the brand new Pokemon Center, located the "Solamachi" - the big shopping complex at that houses the base of SkyTree. This time, I found I wanted to buy half the shop! There were absolutely tons of the first generation Pokemon found on stationery, soft toys, apparel etc. While the price isn't cheap, there should be something for everyone regardless of budget.

Pokemon, much like Hello Kitty, is one of the many quintessentially Japanese themed things many people think of. While I do think there are better ways to spend your time in Japan, and I whole heartedly recommend you to also check out places like Daiso (dollar stores) for cheap things with Pokemon and various Japanese characters on them, a visit to Skytree is worth it, and since you're in the area you might as well pop in!

#140 Cheap Japanese Souvenirs 2016!

I wrote a short post about this all the way back in October 2012, but since it's now one of my most popular posts on this blog I've decided to write an update here.

Daiso in Harajuku

So, having lived in Japan twice, I can now confirm the absolute best and cheapest place to look for souvenirs is at the Japanese dollar store equivalents - the most popular being Daiso, but there are tons of other chains and smaller stores that can offer other great products too (such as Watts and Seria).

All 100yen store prices are set at 108yen (including tax), with a very small selection of products 216yen or more (but they will be very clearly labelled as such, and the cashier will remind you when you checkout too so there's no surprises).

Maneki Neko (lucky cat)

Some of the great things you can buy here includes chopsticks, lucky cat statues, keyrings, Japanese fans, flags and head ties, green tea sweets, Japanese stickers, Japanese socks, fancy Japanese paper, traditional Japanese games etc. I've gotten so used to some common Japanese household objects that I don't even see them as special anymore so it surprised me when my sister visited and picked out some Japanese household items we don't have in Ireland to take home with her, so I'm sure you'll find something weird too! Some stores have more souvenir type goods and the best place in Tokyo for these is in Daiso in Harajuku, but all stores around the country will have something you can find to take home with you.

Japan is probably the most expensive country in Asia, and pretty far up the list in the world too, so buying souvenirs can really empty your pockets here if you're not careful. Therefore, the worst places you can shop is at any of the main tourist areas - sure they look great and they're better quality, but you will be paying up to ten times the price for similar items. Some of the worst tourist shopping areas in Tokyo are at Akihabara (the electric town) and the narrow street approaching Asakusa Sensoji Temple (the one with the giant lantern). I would say you should shop around at the 100 yen stores first, and if there's an item you absolutely must-have or need then splash out on that item there.

Obviously you are limited with 100 yen stores as you're not going to find a katana sword or kimono clothing or something more spectacular - but then my next piece of advice is to find a recycle store (second hand shop). These places will only take high quality goods so you can be sure of getting something decent, but then it may not be as cheap as some charity/second hand stores you're used to in your country. Another good place to look would be at flea markets, we accidentally found a very good one in Osaka at Shittenoji Temple and got some very cheap kimono (a little old and a little stained but this didn't bother us) but this is unfortunately only held about once a month so you would need to check the dates before you plan your trip.

Green tea Oero

Japanese paper

Japanese masks and flags

Japanese stickers

Japanese traditional games

Special goods for Rio Olympics

#128 Flea Markets in Tokyo/Osaka

There are quite a few flea markets around Japan, you’ll just need to look up the calendars and see what ones are on when you visit. Some are weekly but others are only every month or two months.

Tokyo City Flea Market

This market is located a very short walk from Oi-Keibajo-Mae station on the Tokyo Monorail line. It’s 270yen for the 10min ride from Hamamatsucho JR station, so it’s going to be more expensive and a little more awkward than many of the tourist attractions, but if you have free time it’s worth a look.

Unlike many markets, it seems to happen weekly so there’s a good chance of visiting when you come to Japan. There are reportedly over 600 stalls, but admittedly there were quite a few with just piles of clothes (which we can assume will not fit the average Westerner), but out of a few hundred stalls you can always find one with something you like.

It’s worth pointing out that at Japanese markets there is the usual Japanese-level of polite, and the vendors will probably not shout at you or try pressure you into buying something, but also there’s probably going to be little to no bargaining either once they state their price.

Overall I thought this market was okay, I have been to better but I have also been to worse. Visit if you have time, but if there are other attractions on your list maybe consider them before visiting here.

There's a website with dates here https://trx.jp/static/en/tcf/index.html

Osaka Shitennoji Flea Market

The flea market at Shitennoji in Osaka only happens about once monthly around the 21st and 22nd (or closest weekend), so there’s a fair chance that you’ll miss it, but if you can go it’s a gem! 

There were many stalls with very cheap (but also very old and stained) kimono and crappy little Japanese souvenirs and assorted items. The prices were mostly very reasonable, and since there was so much choice I think it would be easy to find some cheap and quirky souvenir items.

Kimono and Yukata stall at Shitennoji

Since it’s located at Shitennoji temple, a fairly major tourist attraction in Osaka, you won’t have to go out of your way to find it either.

The JNTO has a list of some other temples, but the information section has just phone numbers so useless for most people I think, but could be a good place to start looking. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/shopping/market/antique.html

#123 Tokyo Disney Resort

There are two parks at Tokyo Disney Resort – DisneyLand and DisneySea. I have been to DisneySea twice, and DisneyLand once.

Price

Prices are 7,400 for a one day pass, and you can only enter one park on one day. If you want to go over two days, there are no discounts and you can still only enter one park on each day.

There are many hotels at the resort, but actually it’s less than an hour and about 500yen from Tokyo city so staying elsewhere in the city would not be an issue.

So, my key advice: go on a weekday. It is literally the difference of waiting in line for 10mins and 100mins.

When To Visit

I went to both DisneyLand and DisneySea on weekends during the Christmas season – in late November and early December. Both times it was crazy busy – wait times for everything (including restaurants) and not a hope in hell of getting on all the rides. If a line was less than 2 hours you were doing pretty well. However, I would also argue that Disney at Christmas is even more special and magical than usual so it's a great time to visit - just not on a weekend.

The second time I went to DisneySea I went on a Friday in April – at the start of the school year. It looked busy – but we had time to go on almost every ride and never waited longer than 15mins, and the lines for food seemed short, so evidently it wasn’t busy at all.

As I’ve said in a previous post, DisneySea is sea-themed, but not like a water world or anything. For example, there is an area called ‘Mermaid Lagoon’ with rides based on The Little Mermaid, and the entrance with the shops and restaurants looks like Venice, complete with gondola rides. It is regarded as more of an adult destination with rollercoasters, pretty facades and fancy restaurants.

DisneyLand on the other hand is more for children, with the classic “It’s a Small World”-esque rides and the pink fairy Castle. If you have ever been to DisneyLand in Paris, it is almost the exact same at Tokyo.

Food and Drink

You are allowed bring drinks and snacks into the park, but you’re not allowed full meals (they check bags on the way in, but I’m pretty sure you could get away with a lot of snacks). In restaurants prices are high, portions are small and lines are long, plus the excitement and running around all day can make you pretty hungry. 

The first twice I went I brought snacks with me and then forked over for dinner, but recently I decided to book the buffet. It was expensive (3,000 for 90mins), but they had a good choice of foods (Japanese and Western) and needless to say I was absolutely stuffed. The prices and portions of the regular restaurants and snack stands would add up to close to that and I still wouldn’t be quite satisfied. It was also a relief to know we would just be able to walk in and not worry about lines. While I didn’t regret going, in the future I would probably just bring my own snacks again.

#122 Getting a Chinese Visa in Japan 2016

Japanese nationals don’t need a visa to visit China, so for foreigners in Japan it can be a mess to find out information. But, you will be relieved to know it is a quick and easy process.

In my experience, the lack of information combined with added cost and effort leads to many people visiting only Hong Kong – and while I’m sure it’s a great city, if you want to see the famous Panda Reserve or the Great Wall, then you will need to get a visa for mainland China.

So, here’s the necessary information;

You CAN apply by post, via a travel agency. It seems there was a time that the only way you could apply was going in person to the embassy in Tokyo – a very expensive and inconvenient option for most people, but this is definitely no longer the case.

All you need to apply is a passport, photo, copy of flight and hotel booking.

There are a few travel agencies who deal with visas, and you apply by printing out a form from their website and putting that, your passport, bookings, photo and money in an envelope via registered post. It generally takes less than one week for the passport to be returned to you.

Generally Japanese travel agencies (even big ones like JTB) will not help with a visa unless you buy your flights with them, but there seems to be enough agencies online that it shouldn’t be a problem (the problem is finding the right one for your area!).

If you Google it, the first website you will usually find is RTO, and you will also find a lot of people recommending them. The problem is they only work for those who live in the Southern part of Japan, as they apply through the Nagoya Consulate. Even though I live close to Nagoya, I still had to apply through Tokyo, so this agency isn’t an option for everyone.

I searched more forums and eventually found a company called Weston (wst.co.jp). They have processed visas for me and some of my friends so I can verify they are legitimate, and it should work for people living in the Tokai/Kanto (basically central Japan) area. Just remember to put in a self-addressed return envelope when you send it or you will have to pay another private courier on receipt of your visa.

The cost varies for different countries, for American’s you can get a 10 year visa multiple visit visa for 20,000yen, while I’m Irish and it cost 7,500 for just a one-time entry (Weston said on the website they don’t do multiple entries).

Overall, once you know what company to use it actually is a quick and simple process. While it is an extra cost and a little more effort than just going Hong Kong, the amazing photos of your trip to the Great Wall or backpacking around the many villages will make it more than worth it.


(Also note: I decided to change my hostel booking maybe 2 weeks before the trip. I totally forgot about the visa issue until on the plane when I had to state where I was staying on a form. I panicked and just wrote down the address I used on the visa form, the old hostel I wasn't staying in. I was a little worried there would be issues when I left or whatever, but there were no problems. 
I also met some Germans who intentionally did the same thing - they booked a hotel room for a refundable deposit, filled out the visa form and copy of the booking, then cancelled the hotel booking and stayed elsewhere. While I don't advise you to mess around with the Chinese Government, it's just to let you know it seems to be possible to change plans.....)

#106 One week to Japan

Well, it's actually five days until I depart Ireland, but my first official day there is next Monday.

Here's where I'm at;

Packing
I just finished packing today, after a few trial runs last week. Basically, I threw in the clothes and stuff I wanted to bring and weighed the cases to see roughly how much space I had. I actually had quite a few kg left in each case which was a great surprise, so I gathered more clothes to put in. Earlier today I packed the cases again and the weight is perfect, happy days! Packing four days in advance basically means I can sleep easily for my last few days in Ireland, and spend it hanging out with family and friends instead of panicking and stressing about it the day before.


Flight details
We're flying Dublin - London, then London - Tokyo with British Airways. They have one free 23kg check in bag, carry on hand luggage and then also a handbag or briefcase. I think 23kg check in is a tiny allowance for moving around the world for a year, but thankfully they only charge €75 for another 23kg bag, so I've got 46kg total, plus a carry on bag and a handbag.

As an interesting side, you can check out what the onboard movies, tv shows etc will be on your flight on your airlines website before you travel (I think most airlines do this). For BA, it's here: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/entertainment/in-flight-entertainment

Hamamatsu, Shizuoka

Excited to announce this is the exact place I'm going! It's a city of about 800k people, situated on the bullet train line and halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto, about 1hr 30mins from each. The bullet train is expensive, and I can get a bus to Tokyo for much less but it takes like 4-5 hours. Overall, Hamamatsu seems to be a good location for travelling easily around Japan.

Tying up loose ends

There are things to do before leaving your home for any length of time. I decided to get my laptop fixed - it's been overheating and I felt it was easier to get it sorted before I go. I threw out a lot of clothes I hadn't worn in the past year or so (well, gave them to charity shops). I cleaned my room! I'm meeting up with some old friends this week. I guess it just depends on the person what needs to be done.

#72 One Year Later

So, it has now been just over a year since I first set out on my travels. Writing this, I'm now at home back in Ireland and I've started my final year in college.

It's been an interesting 12 months.

Previously, I had been away from my family for one month at most, and that was within Ireland when I was away at college, surrounded by my friends. Taking the leap to living by myself almost 6,000 miles away for four months is, looking back, utter madness.

No one tried to talk me out of it, and now that I think about it, my mother must have been sick with worry! My sister had previously spent a few months in Finland so she wasn't completely alien to the concept of us living abroad, but she had travelled over there with her when she first moved, and we visited her again while she was there.

I don't think I was really nervous about the whole thing. Well I was nervous, but in an itchy-feet excited way, not an anxious way. I couldn't wait to get to Japan and see all these famous locations and meet lots of new friends. It was an adventure - one I had been looking forward to for nearly four years.

My time in Japan, while amazing, wasn't all a barrel of laughs. Work was terribly annoying sometimes and the severely early mornings are a lot to take every day. For the most part, I was lonely. During the week I went to work by myself and came home by myself, and I spent most weekends exploring Tokyo by myself. That was the worst part - when you see something extraordinary, and turn around to comment on it, but there's no one there to tell.

My time in Sweden was different from what I expected. I was really looking forward to making friends with all these other nationalities, as well as finally having house mates again! When I arrived it was a little different, and I think I expected too much. I had little to no contact with my five house mates, and of the 50 or so people I went to class with and lived beside, I became close with only a handful.

Now I'm home, and I can't wait to go somewhere again. I'm flat broke and surrounded by people who have money saved - but whenever I feel jealous or have to cut back my spending, I just think about the amazing year I've had.

#35 Farewell Japan!

Although I have been home from Japan almost a month, and technically it was last year too, it is only now that I have written about (most of) the things I did there. At only 20 years of age (although I did turn 21 while I was there) I managed to survive four months in a foreign country, about 9500km away from home. Well done me! So this is really just a post to tie up any loose ends I can think of.


Asakusa and Shinjuku, the old and the new, two very different sides of Tokyo.

My Top Tokyo Destinations:
So after living in Tokyo for four months, I managed to see everything I wanted. And there was still a few things I didn't see, such as sumo wrestling. I was disappointed I never got to leave the greater Tokyo area and visit Kyoto and all the wonderful Japanese cities, but I never had the free time, and it would have worked out quite expensive too. Nevertheless, not everyone can say they spent 4 months of their youth living in Tokyo! So I've been thinking about what my number 1 place was and I can't decide, so instead here's a list of a few of my favourite places, in no particular order:

Shibuya
Shinjuku
Harajuku
Akihabara
Odaiba
Minato Mirai 21 (Yokohama)
Skytree
Tokyo Tower
Ueno Zoo
Tama Zoo
Tokyo DisneySea

Living in Tokyo
I would recommend it to anyone! The trains are really only ridiculously overcrowded in the mornings from 7am until 9am, but they do get busy again from around 6pm until maybe 8pm.  Despite what you hear, the chances of you being train-groped are really, really low, so don't worry. Everything (well, most things) in Tokyo are signposted in English, and English information and leaflets are almost always available. The only problem is most people can't speak/understand English good/at all, so a phrase book would be handy if you can't speak any Japanese. The Japanese are very helpful people and do their best to understand what you want, or to get across what they mean. It's not as expensive as they say, but groceries can't be got as cheap as in Ireland or the UK (and probably America). The trains are expensive because you can't get a return ticket, or a monthly ticket that covers you for wherever you go, or a student ticket. . .or basically anything that could make it cheaper. But I think every Japanese company will refund your travel expenses for work, so it's not so bad. For girls, Tokyo has shops like Forever 21 and H&M so it shouldn't be too difficult to find clothing if you're UK size 16 or under. After this it may get a little difficult, the same for shoes, once you're under a UK womens shoe size 6 (can be pushed to a 7) you're fine, but after this it'll cost you a lot in specialist shops. It really is very safe, but at the same time a few months before I went an Irish girl my age was murdered (although by Americans, not Japanese) so just because it's notoriously safe, you shouldn't be foolish about it either. がんばって! (Ganbatte, it means "good luck" or "go for it")



Teaching
I worked as an English teacher and I have realised that I have never addressed it in this blog. But just to sum up for those wondering, my experience was overall good. I had to wake up around 6am, I started work at around 8.30am and I stayed in school until around 3.30pm (times vary a little between schools, as well as how many classes you have, but most people seem to have pretty full days), and then you would have to plan classes outside these hours too if you don't have time in the school day. I worked mostly at an Elementary school, but also at a Junior High School. At times they have an irritatingly low level of English, but you get used to it. In Elementary school you can't help but feel they learn nothing, as they don't get homework and can't read or write English, which often limits your classes to playing card games and chanting words over and over. Junior High School they actually learn things properly and you feel you accomplish something, although the classes you plan need to be more detailed than Elementary school. I can't discuss pay because I was an intern so it's different. I only spent four months teaching and to be honest, at the end of it I was very tired. I'm not sure I could work at it for a year, but at the same time I have no interest in being a teacher, and I find children very annoying! So there. If you want to get to Japan, the only way is teaching English, and although it's not the best of jobs, I would definitely recommend it. It's worth it to spend every weekend and spare minute wandering around Japan! I am planning to go back for a year when I graduate from college. Maybe I'll see you there :)

Welcome to Japan

#34 Ueno and Tama Zoo

I am an animal lover so I was really looking forward to visiting Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. And when I arrived I also discovered another great zoo, Tama Zoo. So naturally I went to both! Here's some information, as well as the obligatory super cute pictures.

Ueno Zoo

This was probably better than Tama Zoo, but both were really great. It's located in Tokyo and costs only 600 yen entrance fee, so there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't go! The highlight is of course the two resident Giant Pandas. Apparently they sleep most of the time, so I was lucky when I went they were sitting up eating bamboo. I was never really into the whole panda thing, but when I saw them I had to concede they are really cute, and everyone should do their part to save them from extinction!

Soooooo cute!

The other highlights included underwater viewing areas for seals and the polar bear, and a petting zoo with goats that just roam free (UPDATE: unfortunately the goats no longer roam any more.).

I had to wait for about 10 minutes to get this photo

Of course they had lions and tigers and bears and gorillas and eagles and kangaroos and pretty much every other animal too, but if I was to start naming them all I would be here for a long time. There is an elevated monorail that costs about 200 yen that takes you from one side of the zoo to the other, but unless you find it difficult to walk I wouldn't recommend wasting your time. It only takes about a minute and is therefore much faster than walking, but there's usually a huge queue, and you can't see any animals or anything special to make it worthwhile really. Also the cafes and restaurants are usually busy and expensive, but there are plenty of benches around so you should bring a packed lunch with you.

Tama Zoo

Tama Zoo is further out from Tokyo than Ueno but it also only costs 600 yen. It has a similar range of animals to Ueno, but it is quite rural and surrounded by hills, making it much more spread out. The highlight of Tama is the Lion Bus, which for only a little extra allows you to get on a bus and be taken into the lion den for an up-close look at the King of the jungle. It's amazing! For cat lovers a trip to Tama is essential just for this alone. They also stick a little meat on the outside of the bus on a hook to attract the lions closer. I thought this would drive them wild, but they're so used to the routine they just wandered lazily over and licked it off.

He was this close. . .it was wild

The Lion Bus. . .zebra coloured but. . .surrounded by lions

The other highlight is the chimpanzees, who climb high above you across some telephone line type ropes. It is too high up for them to crawl down, and they can only crawl down at the end into their glass enclosures. It is still really cool to watch them teetering carelessly above you.

I zoomed in, he was up really high

Tama Zoo also has an Insectarium full of creepy crawlies, as well as a special green house which is home to hundreds (maybe thousands) of insects like butterflies and grasshoppers. It also has a pack of wolves and  some tigers that are separated from you only by a deep ravine, which makes a nice change from the glass and wires that usually obstruct your view. Overall, Tama Zoo is a much more natural enclosure for the animals than the usual zoo, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was pretty too!

#33 Kamakura

Known by many as the only remainder of "old Japan" and also as "mini Kyoto", Kamakura is typical old fashioned lots-of-shrines-and-hills-and-windy-streets Japan. Located about an hour by train from Tokyo, it is again another popular side trip to get away from the ultra modern, Americanized Tokyo. Honestly, I though it was a little boring after awhile, but the girl I went with thought it was the best place ever. Everyone recommends it as the place to go if you're in Tokyo, and I'd heard nothing but good reviews. So I'm going to show you a few reasons why it's immensely popular.

This is Kamakura's best known shrine

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important shrine in Kamakura. The shrine is approached by a big boulevard type street lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, with the highlight being the big red "torii" gates (as seen in the first picture). The shrine is very nice and spacious, set at the foot of some hills. It's very nature orientated, surrounded by trees and ponds etc. I believe the shrine is of religious and historical importance, but I'm afraid if you want to know the details you'll have to research yourself. The day I went there was also a Japanese style wedding going on at the lower part of the shrine, and I managed to get a good picture.

So I may have crashed a wedding in order to get this picture

The other highlight of Kamakura is the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha. It's basically a big bronze statue. The entrance costs 200 yen, and you can actually go inside at the back of the statue for a tiny 20 yen, I'm not sure what's inside though. I didn't really get what was so exciting about it, but it remains a hugely popular attraction. To get to it from the main Kamakura station you have to get another train line that takes about 10 minutes, but what's special is that it's really old and when I went half the train was still a very old fashioned tram, which is cute.

The Daibutsu, or Great Buddha. . .not so great perhaps?

I also visited Zuisenji Temple and another two that I can't remember the names of. They all had their own backstories and were pleasant to see, but I couldn't help but feel that after I'd seen one I had also seen the other four. . .But this is how I feel about most temples and shrines, after being in Japan for a week the excitement had worn off and I wasn't interested anymore. Apologies!

I didn't do quite a lot of things in Kamakura, such as Zeniraria Benten Shrine, where you wash your money in order to make it increase. There's also more shrines and temples and hiking trails and festivals and a host of other things, so I would say research it and find out for yourself, there must be a reason why it is one of the most popular destinations in Japan!

#32 Yokohama

Although it is Japan's second most populated city, Yokohama really doesn't have a lot to offer in comparison to nearby Tokyo, and the main attractions can easily be done in a weekend. The fact that is only about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo makes it a good place to visit. The highlights include Chinatown, a museum about cup noodles, and an amusement park.

Minato Mirai 21

The Cosmoworld Ferris wheel/Clock

Landmark tower (on the left) at night

This is where most of Yokohama's entertainment is to be found. Home to the Landmark Tower, Japan's tallest building (keeping in mind Skytree is a tower!) Minato Mirai 21 is located beside the water which makes it much more spacious and pretty than many of Tokyo's bustling locations. It's also home to two great shopping centres, the Cup Noodles Museum, a large boat and maritime museum, and the Cosmoworld amusement park.

Cup Noodles Museum

It's a good laugh alright

It costs only 500 yen, which is probably the most appealing thing about this museum. The highlight is a workshop in which you design your own cup and pick out the flavours for your own custom made noodles, which costs a further 500 yen. This fills up very quickly and should be booked in advance (I didn't get to do it, sob sob). All of the exhibits are visual and don't require a knowledge of Japanese, plus you get an English leaflet. Honestly, it's not very exciting but I thought it was a good symbol of the quirky Japanese!

 

It was a whole room of every cup noodle ever. . . .there was a lot

Momofuku, the father of cup noodle

Once again the souvenir shop was overpriced and didn't have any interesting goods, so I just bought 2 logo pencils for about 20 yen each. Overall, it's not that exciting and it won't take you awful long to get through it, but it should be worth a visit just to tell your friends!

Cosmoworld

It's fun fun fun!

Cosmoworld is actually split in two, there's the more kiddy entertainment rides on the side with the Landmark tower, and then the rollercoasters and gaming arcades are over the water at the Ferris wheel. You can just walk through it and only pay for the rides you want to go on, which are all about 500 yen - 800 yen each.

There's a cute little street with indoor amusements

The Cosmoworld clock and the 2 rollercoasters

To go on the Cosmoworld Clock/Ferris Wheel (once the world's largest clock) costs 800 yen. It takes about 8 minutes to go around, and when you go in the evening you will be surrounded by cute young Japanese couples, although you will get a carriage to yourself (it fits about 6 people usually I imagine). It gives a good view of Yokohama and once again although it's not very exciting, it was quite pleasant. Also on the Ferriswheel side are some attractions that I didn't go on, so I can't verify if they are very worth the money.

There's a haunted house type thing, you walk through it with a torch (that also measures your scream on an amusing scale from wuss to nerves of steel both in English and Japanese). Outside the attraction were two scary looking doors and buttons that said "push me". My friend dared to push one, and the glass panel at the top of the door was actually a tv screen. They showed a film that made it look like we were looking into the room on the other side, and it was scary as hell (and I don't scare easily, honestly!). It showed a deranged looking girl in a bloody hospital gown and an axe walking steadily towards you, and when she eventually reaches the door, she slams the axe into it, at which point the door actually pushes out a little. Then it's over. We really weren't expecting the door to move and overall it was really scary!

Even with the scary movie outside, my friend and I still assumed it would be not scary like most haunted houses, but actually standing outside we heard horrified screams from inside, and a few minutes later a group of Japanese guys in their late 20s came out laughing hysterically and talking about how scary it was. It is now my biggest regret in life that I did not try out this haunted house, so if anyone dares to try it please let me know!

Chinatown

There's alot of this going on

This Chinatown is the biggest in Asia (apart from actual China perhaps). Basically it's full of streets with restaurants selling Chinese food, especially street vendors selling roasted chestnuts (I think) and the hugely popular Chinese dumplings (gyoza). There's also a lot of colorful Chinese temple-shrine things around, the nicest one I have pictured above. Overall it's a nice day out and I'd recommend a visit but again I didn't think it was the most fantastic thing in the world.

Panda kitty!

So, to recap Yokohama is a good place to visit, and I enjoyed it the few times I went. I haven't mentioned everything there is to do there, there's also a ramen museum, a zoo, an aquarium type theme park, a high class shopping street and a famous park/gardens. So go investigate and maybe you'll find some hidden gems. And to repeat, Yokohama is easily accessible from Tokyo, taking about 30 minutes on the Tokyu Toyoko line (it's the train with the red line on the side). 

I'll finish up with this picture I took of the Cosmoworld Clock at night. It lights up in all these wonderful colors!

Pretty