Sakura Sakura Tokyo Pt. 2

Do alot of research if it's your first time to Japan and as mentioned earlier, bring kids are really tough.
Be sure you know where you want to go and plan them out. What I did was to referred to some of this websites to get ideas on where to visit in Tokyo and also knowing their subway and rails networks - A MUST for any F&E travellers.

Websites for planning your itinenaries : http://www.japan-guide.com/, http://www.jnto.org.sg/

Ask friends who been there recently as well to get their experiences so you know what to expect. So anyone needs to ask more for their coming Tokyo trips can ask me now :)

Thanks to Gerard especially for the amount of information given to us...., Natalie and Michele too for sharing your experiences.

I always love Japan cute culture, been to Tokyo once in 2004 for honeymood and fell deeper in love.
Our inital intention was to Hong Kong for disneyland before Josh turned 2, like what we do for Cloie but we heard from some friends that Hong kong disneyland have children kidnappers so we decided to go to Tokyo later in April or May after saving some money.

Over a conversation with my mother in law and realised she will be taking a break from work in March so we decided to push forward our trip so kids and grandparents as well as Hui can travel for the first time together.

Our dear Cloie fell sick again before the trip so we hope this trip can perk her up abit, see the magic in Tokyo...

Day 1 - Departure from Changi T1 - We were there at 4am, tight security for flight leaving for US. Yes, our flight to narita is a stopover for passengers going to Minneapolis. Kids were excited though sleepy :)

Arrival @ Narita on early 130pm, we have to catch the 215pm limo bus that leave narita for our hotel in Ikebukuro so we went to Narita gourmet court @ level 4 for lunch.

Blurred picture of me after getting the tickets

The luncheon place with about 5 restuarants - Chinese, Japanese, Italian

We missed our 215pm bus, finally the next one arrived shortly...

75 mins later...

Sunshine City Prince Hotel

It's already near 5pm when we get to our room, so we rest slightly then went to Sunshine City for dinner.

Sunshine City Mall has alot of fashion wears shops, drug store (those cosmetic heaven), even a newly open disney shop and Vivitix giftgate. Also have a mini theme park and aquarium. :) Many eateries and restuarants too.

Wanted to eat anything Japanese in Tokyo...In the ALTA Mall, we chose the Udon specialty restaurant called Marugame. 

No English Menu, and staffs don't speak english so we do the chicken and duck talk with Sat night fever point :p I know a little japanese so simple words I can still interprete.

In this restaurant, when you first walk in, you need to order the type of udon you want. There are a few selection, from soupy to dry or with egg. Then you move forward along the bar counter there are different tempura you can pick up to go with your udon. The price for the tempura are about 130 yen each.

Straight ahead will be cashier where you make your payment.

A self service area, you can get green tea and water free. Also some condiments for your udon, I think chopped spring onions, grinded ginger, tempura crumbs, soy sauce etc.

Shops are usually closed around 8pm, just managed to get to the drug store to get the lychee lens cleaner for my sister, then we went to Family mart to get our bottle drinks. Family mart became our best friend the next few days...

More coming up.