Read: Trip to Tokyo Japan
My son and I went first to Sanrio Puroland. We waited for my husband to go back to the hotel so we can go to Shibuya. This would be our (my son and I) first train experience in Japan.
Read: Sanrio Puroland
Travel time to Shibuya is one hour and it was really a long trip since we won’t be staying long. I just wanted to see the Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
I purchased Pasmo Card (2000 yen) day before but we could not figure out how to buy Pasmo Card for the child so we did not buy anymore. We’ve been buying tickets every train ride which is also a good idea so we can use our coins.
I downloaded an app (Navitime for Japan Travel) for directions, it is a good app because it gives you the time, fare and of course direction on how to get to your destination as soon as possible. The only downside is, you need to be online but you can screenshot it before leaving the hotel.
Directions: Walk from Keio Plaza Hotel to Keio Tama Center South Exit. Ride Keio Sagahamira Line for Shinjuku. Get off at Meidai-mae Station and ride Keio Inokashira Line for Shibuya. Get off at Shibuya Central Exit.
Our travel time was more than an hour because we rode the local express train. Japan trains are so complicated, aside from knowing your destination, you need to know if the train is local, rapid, semi-express, express, semi-special express or special express. Yung local, lahat ng stations magstop, so that is 17 stations to Meidai-mae Station. Waah!
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Good thing that Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Scramble Crossing is just outside the train station. So finally, we witnessed the “Scramble” in Shibuya, we did not try to cross since we don’t know where to go naman. We have no plans to explore Shibuya because of limited time.
Hachiko Statue
Then I met Hachiko, a famous dog not only in Japan but in the world. Honestly, I’m not fond of dogs or any pets but this dog made me cry several years ago. I don’t know if it is because of hormones, I was pregnant when I watched the Hachiko movie. The story was really moving, I was just amazed that there is such a dog who is so loyal to his owner.
Just a quick trivia from Wikipedia just in case you are not familiar with Hachiko. Hachikō was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. He is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner which continued for ten years after his owner's death.
Born: November 10, 1923, Akita Prefecture, Japan
Died: March 8, 1935, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Breed: Akita
Owner: Hidesaburō Ueno
Sex: Male
The place was crowded so it is really hard to get a good shot without people also a lot of tourists are taking pictures with the statue so just wait for your turn. After our trip to Tokyo, my husband and son watched the Hachiko movie.
We’re so hungry and finding restaurants was not easy, most of the restaurants we’ve seen in the train station were already full. Then we saw one restaurant that has an available table, I just forgot the name. I will update the post once I remember, hahaha! Anyway, here are photos of the food we ate.
Back to the hotel.
Its totally worth the trip seeing the Hachiko Statue for sure. I've seen the Hachiko Statue on TV only, it was featured once in show called Amazing Race. Great photos Sis, BTW, your dinner looks delicious.
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I've watched that episode too in Amazing Race. :)
DeleteThe Hachiko made me cry buckets as well. Grabe yun! Hehe anyway I'm curious about Shibuya, as I've seen on the web, some people's fashion are kind of unique there. Have you spotted anyone na medyo kakaiba ang fashion sense? :)
ReplyDeleteNot in Shibuya, dahil gabi na kami nandun though marami ko nakita sa Tokyo Disney Sea na kakaiba. hehehe!
DeleteI am a certified dog lover and I love Hachiko. One of my travel goals is to see his statue :)
ReplyDeleteHachiko is one of those movies that made me cry again and again. Such a loyal companion! I would want to see his statue as well, perhaps in the near future when my youngest can walk independently na.
ReplyDeleteJapan, Japan.. This country has been in my bucketlist for a long, long time. The only places I've been in Japan are Narita Airport and Nagoya Airport. :D
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to visit and tour the place one day :)
Next time, make a quick visit. I have friends who always visit Japan if that is their stopover before going back to Philippines.
DeleteJapaaaaan! I'm sure you had a blast! I'm saving this when finally, we'd have our passports renewed. We were thinking of going there this July. Unfortunately, our next appointment pa is on Oct. 29. Aaaargh!
ReplyDeleteI heard that it is hard to renew passports nowadays. I have friends who even went to DFA Lucena just to renew their passports last summer. Walk-in, but you really need to be there ng madaling araw because there is cut-off din.
DeleteSeeing Hachiko's statue is on my bucket list! Here's to hoping I could visit Japan in the near future.
ReplyDeleteJapan will always be one of my most favorite places, especially since it also has the kindest people. The trains can be confusing, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteTrue, people are kind and helpful even there is language barrier. :)
DeleteWow! Japan! Wow Hachiko!!! ♥ Oh, I don't know if we'll ever be able to even visit this wonderful country. :)
ReplyDeleteI regret that we haven't been to Hachiko's statue the times we went to Japan. We've been to Shibuya once and we had one prenup shot there haha.
ReplyDeleteWow, layo ng prenup. hehehe! :)
DeleteAwww ang cute talaga ni Hachiko!!! I love Japan but I haven't been there =(. Someday...someday...haha. I wanna cross in Shibuya Scramble Crossing!
ReplyDeleteI will try that next time too pag marami ng time mag-ikot. :)
DeleteOh wow! There's a lot of train rides to choose from! Bakit tayo isa lang, walang choice. Hahaha! Hachiko! I love that story.. Made me cry..
ReplyDeleteTrue, ok sana yung may train na nagskip ng station para hindi ganun napupuno ang train.
DeleteEverytime I read your post about Japan, I get excited and yearn to go and visit.
ReplyDeleteOh si Hachiko! Pinaiyak ako nyan! What I can remember about Japan are the anime's and always hear about shibuya.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips on the train ride differences and the app. I'll download so we can use it too. Oh, Hachiko, so tear-jerker movie. I learned there's a new Hachiko statue in one of the Universities in Tokyo built just recently. :)
ReplyDeleteUseful yung app and free pa. Mukhang may bago pupuntahan. hehehe!
DeleteThe Shibuya Crossing looks beautiful in your photos! If we were to visit Japan I will also visit that plus Hachiko's statue. I heard though that there is a new statue wherein they reunited Hachiko with his owner.
ReplyDeleteWhat's a good spot for taking pics of the shibuya crossing? Going there next week and this is on our list =) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThey say Starbucks, I took my pictures at train station. Enjoy Japan. :)
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