Japan Diary 12 - 21 MAY 2010
The land of sunrise
The land of sunrise
19 MAY 2010 - 3rd around Tokyo
10:00AM, we go to the current Imperial Palace. it is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. It is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. From the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, visitors can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) for its looks. The bridge in the back was formerly a wooden bridge with two levels, from which the name Nijubashi (Double Bridge) is derived. The inner grounds of the palace are generally not open to the public.
Lunch is rice with beef curry at Matsumotoro Restaurant in Hibiya Park.
In the afternoon, we go to Sony Explora Science. Sony Corporation built a museum not to advertise their products, but to relate and connect science with the new and modern technology that have right now. This is located in Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Different from the usual museums, this museum has prepared hands on activities that are really designed for kids to understand the application of the different basic science principles to the electronic items and entertainment that we are using now such as games, films and music.Sony
Explora Science is divided into four zones and a studio. The price is 500 yen for adults.This museum, photography is not allowed.
First, they have the sound zone. Activities here include the Pitch Switch, Sound Chaos and Cellular Cube. Using voice processing and the different types of sounds. Second is the Light (Imaging) Zone wherein visitors could experience the features of the images through camera and its other applications.
Third zone is the Theater and Workshop zone. In this part, we would be able to see different movie clips in 3D like the 3D Zoo and 3D Aquarium. Lastly zone is the Information and Entertainment zone wherein we would be able to see and experience the latest researches of Sony using the application of light, sound and entertainment.
After that, we go to aqua city department store, Odiba. From here, one can see the rainbow bridge that located at the north of Tokyo bay. It carries three transportation lines on two decks. The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day. We go to Shibuya and have a dinner. Our foods for dinner are Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki. We come back hotel in the rain.
20 MAY 2010 - Yokohama
Because of curfew law in Thailand, we can not come back Thailand today with a night flight. We try to postpone our ticket to May 21st with day flight. For this reason, we have 1 day more to travel. This morning, we go to Kamakura by train, around 1 hour. Kamakura is a small city and a very popular tourist destination. It offers numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments. First, we visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura or Kamakura Daibutsu, a bronze statue of Amida Buddha. It stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, Next, we go to Hase-dera temple. It is most famous for its statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The statue shows Kannon with eleven heads, each representing a characteristic of the goddess. The 9.18 meter tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculpture in Japan.
2:00PM, we go to Shin Yokohama Raumen Museum, The price is 300 yen. It is a unique museum about ramen, a very popular Japanese noodle dish which was originally introduced from China. In a gallery on the first floor, the Ramen Museum presents the history of ramen noodles in Japan, including the big success of instant ramen. It displays the variety of noodles, soups, toppings and bowls used across Japan, and shows how the noodles are made.
On the two basement floors, visitors can explore a 1:1 replica of some streets and houses of Shitamachi, the old town of Tokyo, of around the year 1958, when the popularity of ramen was rapidly increasing. Nine ramen restaurants can be found there, each featuring a ramen dish from a different region of Japan.
For visitors who wish to try multiple ramen dishes, every store offers "mini ramen", a small portion of the feature dish. Tickets for the meals are purchased at vending machines in front of each stores before entering (japan-guide.com). Dinner is Japanese style shabu-shabu. After that, we go to buy something back to Thailand.
21 MAY 2010 - Come back Thailand
6:00AM, we check out from hotel and go to Narita Express station. It takes around 2 hours to airport. We walk around duty-free shop for shopping such as Tokyo banana etc. and finally we come back by JAL to Thailand.
