Tokyo part 1 - The life changing Ramen

Hello!! Happy New Year to you all!!

How did u spent ur Christmas/New Year Holiday? Me? I just stay at the house, watching movie and listening to fireworks noise. Super lame. I know. I guess New Year party is only for the young.

Without any further ado let's continue the Tokyo story...

We check out from the hotel early in the morning to catch the morning Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Tokyo Station (using our JR Pass of course). Our hotel was in Sakura Hotel Hatagaya which located 2 stops from Shunjuku Station.

Shinjuku Station is the most bustling station I've ever been to. So many routes. It's so huge. It also connected to several mall. It's very easy to get lost here.

See the signage, indicating different lines. You got what I mean?

So here's our route :
Ishiyama -- (Biwako Line)  --  Kyoto -- (Shinkansen) -- Tokyo -- (JR line) -- Shinjuku -- (Keio New Line) -- Hatagaya  -- walk 5 mins to Hotel

Bento Shop at Kyoto Station. Must buy and eat on the train later.

Total journey took around 3hrs. It was a bit troublesome carrying our luggage because the train station in Japan is super huge with many lines. And the lift sometimes is located very far from the platform where you alight. And there're so many people. And some more the lift is super tiny. In a worst case scenario, the lift is located at the opposite track, and you have to carry the luggage through stairs.

Here's the hotel room:

This is how tiny the hotel room. Even smaller then our hotel at Kyoto. The toilet is at the right, just opposite the luggages.

Luckily we're slim enough to fit in that "un-standard" size bed. Dunno what size is that. Bigger than super single but smaller than queen.

kindly ignore what's inside the luggage. The worst part is, we can hear the snore from the other room. Dunno whether if the wall is too thin or he just snore too loud.

First thing we do after we check-in to the hotel is this:

Sukiya Beef Bowl, which located near our Hotel. There're several eating shops near the Hotel.

Mine is with Kimchi

The Menu. Can't read. Just point what you want. All very cheap eh? Compared to Yoshinoya in Singapore

Because the main purpose my husband go to Tokyo is to buy Gachapon so we decided to go to Akihabara. With our printed map we tried to find the shop. But we couldn't make it. So we asked people around and they're all willing to help. It was raining some more, so I didn't take photos, at all. This geeky thingy really not my point of interest at all.

Turned out the shop was disappointing. Their collection is not massive. The one that he's looking for is not available. So we just continue our day to hunt the best ramen in Tokyo. We decided to go to Shibuya branch. Because the location is the easiest to find. "Just walk straight from Hachiko Statue".

It's not difficult to find the Hachiko Exit. A lot of signage will guide you. When you come out the station, first thing you'll see is the famous Shibuya Crossing. No wonder it's so famous. It's multi-diagonal crossing. People can come from any direction but in a manner.

The famous Shibuya Crossing

Found the Hachiko Statue. It's the most famous meeting point in Tokyo. You already know the story, rite?

 The problem is, from Hachiko Exit we have to walk straight to which direction? There're so many possibilities. So We just go with our gut. Apparently it's opposite Zara. Just look for Zara sign and walk towards it, without making and crossing. And you'll reach...

Here it is! I cannot read Japanese, but I recognize the logo. It must be read as "Ichiran"

It's located at the basement. When We arrived there'we no queue. But not long after people start coming and the queue is beginning from this stair.

You have to order first via ordering machine. It's all in Japanese. No english provided, but there're pictures!! Just press the button what do u want to order then when you're done put in the money. The machine will produce tickets and change. After that proceed to the waiting area and an attendant will give you a piece of paper looks like feed back form. I haven't eaten yet, how can I give you score.. Turn out there's an english version and it's not a feedback form. But a customization form how do you want your ramen to be cooked. You can choose the noddle's firmness, green onions quantity, spiciness level, garlic level, etc. Wow, i never felt this confused just to eating a Ramen.Just thick medium/normal in everything.

Then the attendant let us in. I'm in a culture shock. What kind of restaurant it is. Why the seating arrangement is so different than any restaurant I've ever been. You'll be seated individually and there's partition between each diner. It's like a Voting Box. Lol

There's a window in front of every cubicle. It only will be opened when the Ramen being served. I peeked inside. It's just a narrow passage to the kitchen.

here's the visual

No caption needed. Just a regular man staring at his bowl of ramen.
Oh, you see that stacked of cup on the left, that's for a free flow iced water.
 I think only in Indonesia restaurant doesn't serve free water.

Here I am. Waiting for my personalized Ramen in my cubicle.

Looks plain and normal. But it tasted damn good. Life changing Ramen. The best ramen i've ever eaten.

So I was eating my ramen in full concentration. No distraction. And it tasted damn good... The broth is light yet very rich in flavour. I ordered additional egg. Should've order additional meat though. They only give you 2 super thin slices. The noddle is cooked to perfection. They used thin noddle, which my favourite. Once really is not enough. Should come back again next time.

The price is also not so expensive. If i'm not wrong, a bowl of standard ramen only 800JPY which is S$10. I'm sure they will open a branch in Singapore pretty soon. 

After our tummy is full, we just spend our time snapping photos at the famous Shibuya crossing. It was still drizzling. But i don't care. Hahaha...

Not my best hair day

So that's all about our first day in Tokyo. We went to bed early. Around 9pm. Have to rest for tomorrow.

Here're the list of what imma write, so I won't forget too :p
- Harajuku and Shibuya
- Hakone
- Doraemon Museum
- The life changing egg-tart

Till next time.... Stay tune...