Tag: Tokyo 2023

Tokyo 2023: WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR TOKYO – THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER, HIE SHRINE, HARAJUKU & OMOTESANDŌ Photoblog [October 2023]

Last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo for a little over a week. We went around the city and visited the usual and not-so-usual places. We have been to Tokyo in 2015 and individually in the following years, so we did not aim to see everything this time. We carefully planned our itinerary, but we also kept it open and flexible.

In the last few weeks, I shared with you under the Tokyo 2023 blogs the places we visited for this trip: Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, Shinjuku, Odaiba, and Tokyo Disneyland. I also shared with you how we completed a do-it-yourself day trip to Fujikawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji from Chureito Pagoda, Kawaguchiko Station, and Lake Kawaguchiko.

Today, I will share with you details and photos of the remaining places we have been to on this trip to Tokyo. I hope you can look forward to photos of the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Hie Shrine, Harajuku, and Omotesandō.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I scored ₱1 base fare ticket to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale in March 2023. We got our tickets for ₱7,116.72 roundtrip each. We got the fare bundle, including a complimentary standard seat and 20 kilograms of checked luggage.

I wrote about our Cebu Pacific Air flights to and from Tokyo: 5J 5056 Manila to Tokyo Narita and 5J 5055 Tokyo Narita to Manila. I hope you can find time to read these flight posts.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed for all 10 nights at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. We got a private twin room with toilet and bath for the first night and eventually transferred to a 6-bed mixed dormitory when another friend joined us.

I elaborated on Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in one of the recent hostel of the day features. I hope you can check out that hostel feature and find out why this instantly became my new favorite Tokyo hostel.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be intimidating and challenging, given its complicated metro and subway system. Subway and train lines normally overlap, and train stations have an unending number of exits. My friends and I overcame the city’s confusing train system and managed to reach our planned destinations and go back to our hostel every single day.

We did not avail of any subway or metro passes. Instead, we used our IC cards on every train ride. With the help of Google Maps, we took either the fastest or the most economical route on every journey.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter

 

Opened in June 2023, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter walks you through behind the scenes of the Harry Potter series. It features iconic movie sets like those of The Great Hall, Platform 9 ¾, Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest, and The Ministry of Magic. It also has interactive areas like the Quidditch, the moving stairs, the living portraits, and the spell areas. Lastly, the tour also features real props and materials used, as well as original costumes worn by the cast during filming.

My friends and I got our tickets three months in advance from Klook and paid ₱2,270.25 each after discounts. We took our time and finished the whole walkthrough experience in a little over 4 hours.

Nearest Train Station: Toshimaen Station (Seibu Ikebukuro Line and Oedo Subway Line)

Hie Shrine

Hie Shrine is a tree-covered Shinto shrine located on top of a hill in Nagatachō district. The shrine is the starting point of Sannō Matsuri, a famous summer festival in Tokyo.

 

Nearest Train Stations: Tameike-sannō Station (Ginza and Namboku Subway Lines) and Akasaka-mitsuke Station (Ginza and Marunouchi Subway Lines)

Harajuku

Harajuku is a famous fashion and colorful youth shopping and entertainment area in Shibuya Ward. The area’s main street, Takeshita Street, is full of vintage shops, unique cafes and stores, cosplay shops, and dessert places.

Nearest Train Stations: Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Subway Lines)

Omotesandō

Omotesandō is one of Tokyo’s upscale and luxury shopping districts. The area has several fashion flagship stores and beautifully designed architectural buildings. It is also a vintage shopping hotspot where you can find small local vintage and artisan shops. The area also has small bars, restaurants, and cafes. Omotesandō is one of the best places for retail therapy when in Tokyo.

Nearest Train Stations: Omote-sando Station (Chiyoda, Ginza, and Hanzomon Subway Lines) and Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Subway Lines)

This wraps up our Tokyo 2023 trip! It was all good memories, tired feet and crying wallets. Nevertheless, my friends and I will never get tired of visiting Tokyo.

Have you been to Tokyo or to the places shown above? How was your trip or experience? Do you see yourself going back to Tokyo in the future? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about Tokyo or anything mentioned above? You may send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in this Tokyo 2023 series. We have been to a lot in this trip and we still have a lot left to see! I hope you can look forward to more Japan content in this website in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: ODAIBA, TEAMLAB PLANETS TOKYO & TOKYO DISNEYLAND Photoblog [October 2023]

Many months ago, my friends and I visited Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around Tokyo as a group since 2015. We have also been around the city individually in the following years. We carefully decided to choose the places we wanted to go. We did not aim to see everything. In fact, we kept our itinerary open and flexible.

In the previous Tokyo 2023 blogs, I shared with you details and photos of our experiences in Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, and Shinjuku. I also shared a detailed do-it-yourself blog about our Fujikawaguchiko day tour. Today, I will share bits and pieces about our visit to Odaiba, teamLab Planets, and Tokyo Disneyland.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I scored our tickets from Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare anniversary sale in March 2023. We got our return Tokyo tickets for ₱7,116.72 per person, including 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage, 20 kilograms of checked luggage, and a complimentary standard seat per sector.

In the last few weeks, I shared my flight experiences with Cebu Pacific Air on flights to and from Tokyo. I hope you can check out these flight reports: Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5056 Manila to Tokyo Narita and Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5055 Tokyo Narita to Manila.

Accommodation

My friends and I only chose one accommodation for the whole trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, a budget-friendly and excellent hostel on the quiet side of Ginza. We stayed in their private twin rooms and six-bed mixed dormitory rooms.

I featured Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in one of the recent hostel of the day posts. I hope you can check out that feature and review here.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

Odaiba

Odaiba is an entertainment and shopping hub on the man-made islands of Tokyo Bay.

My friend and I went to see the Statue of Liberty and the Odaiba Seaside Park from its observation deck. We went to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, had lunch, and saw the life-sized Unicorn Gundam. We came back to DiverCity to have dinner and check out the place at night.

Nearest Train Station: Daiba Station (Yurikamome Line)

TeamLab Planets Tokyo

teamLab Planets Tokyo is a museum that lets people walk through water, be one with the flowers, and become one with the world. Everyone goes in barefoot to feel the elements and enhance the experience.

We pre-booked our timed tickets via Klook and paid ₱1,392.13 each after promotions and discounts. The teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills was yet to open during our October 2023 visit.

Nearest Train Station: Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)

Tokyo Disneyland

Who does not know Disneyland? Tokyo has its own Disneyland and the world’s only Disney Sea. My friends and I enjoyed a full day of rides, shows, and experiences.

We pre-booked our tickets via Klook (again) and paid ₱3,076.63 each after discounts and promotions. We went there during the theme park opening, stayed the whole day, and left after the disappointing fireworks display. We still had a nice day at the theme park.

Nearest Train Station: Maihama Station (JR East Keiyō Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-related content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: SHINJUKU, ASAKUSA & UENO Photoblog [October 2023]

Late last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around the city as a group in 2015 and individually in the following years, so we did not aim to see everything. We took things easy, kept our itinerary open, and enjoyed the city’s vibe.

So far, we have been to Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, and Ginza, as per the previous posts. Today, allow me to share with you some details and many photos of our visit to selected places in Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Ueno.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I got ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale last March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I wrote flight reports about our flights from Manila to Tokyo Narita on Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5056 and Tokyo Narita to Manila on Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5055. I hope you can check both.

Accommodation

We stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this trip to Tokyo. We initially got a private room with a toilet, then transferred to the 6-bed mixed dormitory a few days later. We found the hostel to be quiet, wallet-friendly, and amazing.

I wrote about this beautiful hostel in one of the newest hostel of the day features. I hope you can read the hostel feature here.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is a bustling commercial, entertainment, and administrative district of Tokyo. The city houses Shinjuku Station, one of Tokyo’s biggest and busiest train stations.

My friend and I first checked the three-dimensional cat billboard and then walked towards Godzilla Head above the TOHO Cinemas Building. We had dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura and eventually walked around the adult-oriented nightlife area of Kabukicho. We went out of the nightlife hotspot and walked our way back to the retail/shopping area.

Nearest Train Stations: Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, Seibu-Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station, and many more.

Asakusa

Asakusa is one of the few areas in Tokyo that retains its old and traditional vibe. You will see a lot of traditional buildings, craft shops, and food stalls in this famous district.

We got off Asakusa Station and walked near the Sumida River. We talked about the famous ancient Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple). We walked along Nakamise-dori Street and tried some local delicacies.

Nearest Train Station: Asakusa Station (Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, and Tobu Railway)

Ueno

Ueno is famous for its museums and the spring-favorite destination, Ueno Park. It also has temples, shrines, and monuments that showcase the rich history of Japan.

My friends and I went to Ueno Park back in 2015, so we visited Ameyoko Shopping Street during this trip. We walked around and checked out different shops. We also had one of the best (and cheapest) takoyaki during this trip.

Tip: Ameyoko Shopping Street is one of the best places to buy chocolates and souvenirs. The prices here are relatively cheaper compared to the prices in other parts of Tokyo.

Nearest Train Stations: Okachimachi Station (JR Yamanote Line and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) or Ueno-Okachimachi Station (Oedo Subway Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: TSUKIJI OUTER MARKET, GOTOKUJI & GINZA Photoblog [October 2023]

In October 2023, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, to rediscover the city. We were around Tokyo in 2015, but we only visited selected places due to limited time. We were new travelers back then.

In the next few weeks, I will share with you the places we visited. Please note that we did not aim to see everything on this trip. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go to and took our time going around. We also kept our itinerary open and flexible for possible last-minute discoveries and changes.

Today, I will show snippets from our visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, Gotokuji, and Ginza. Prior to visiting these places, I, together with my friends, had been to Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.

In case you missed it, we were in Tokyo back in October 2015. Check out this post to learn more about that trip.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I booked ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I previously wrote about both Manila to Tokyo Narita (5J 5056) and Tokyo Narita to Manila (5J 5055) flights under the Flight Reports section. I hope you can check them out.

Accommodation

My friends and I booked only one accommodation for this trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, an amazing and budget-friendly hostel on the quiet side of Ginza.

I wrote about our stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in the previous hostel of the day feature. I hope you can read here why I consider this hostel to be my new favorite property in Tokyo.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Outer Market is one of Tokyo’s food havens. It has a wide range of food stalls, restaurants, retail, and wholesale shops that locals and visitors can enjoy. The central wholesale market used to be in this area until the Tokyo government recently transferred it to Toyosu.

We went to and walked around the outer market around lunchtime. We saw long lines at food stalls and restaurants. My friend and I ended up having high-quality Japanese beef skewers for lunch.

Nearest Stations: Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Subway Line) or Tsukiji Shijo Station (Oedo Subway Line)

Gotokuji

Gotokuji Temple is Tokyo’s lucky cat temple. The famous Buddhist temple, located in Setagaya Ward, is home to thousands of luck-inviting cat figurines.

We went to Gotokuji after Tsukiji Outer Market and spent some time around the temple complex.

Nearest Station: Gotokuji Station (Odakyu Odawara Line)

Ginza

Ginza is one of Tokyo’s upscale shopping districts. It is home to numerous department stores, luxury brand boutiques, art galleries, and fine-dining restaurants. It is one of the best places to go shopping. Name a shop or a brand, and you will find it here.

It was one of the nearest shopping districts to our hostel. My friends and I walked around Ginza a few times during this trip.

Nearest Stations: Ginza Station (Hibiya, Marunouchi and Ginza Subway Lines) & Yurakucho Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and Yurakucho Subway Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: ROPPONGI, YOKOHAMA & SHIBUYA Photoblog [October 2023]

In October 2023, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, for a few days. We have been around the city since 2015 and on separate trips a few years ago, but we wanted to re-visit the beautiful Japanese capital.

Over the next few weeks, I will share with you bits and pieces of the places we visited and things we did around the city. My friends and I did not aim to check out everything about the city. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go and kept our daily itineraries open for last-minute discoveries and changes.

Today, I will share with you snippets of our trip around Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.

In case you missed it, we were in Tokyo back in October 2015. Check out this post to learn more about that trip.

Flights

My friends and I scored ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I wrote about both Manila to Tokyo (5J 5056) and Tokyo to Manila (5J 5055) flights. I hope you can check out both flight reports.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed at the Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this Tokyo trip. We decided to base ourselves in this comfortable and valuable hostel near Ginza shopping district and Outer Tsukiji Market for a little over a week.

I wrote about our stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in the previous hostel of the day feature. I hope you can read here why I consider this hostel to be my new favorite property in Tokyo.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Roppongi

We visited the bustling neighborhood of Roppongi. We started our day with a Sunday mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center (Roppongi Catholic Church). We had an early lunch at Matsuya, then we walked towards Roppongi Hills to check out some shops. We initially planned on visiting Mori Art Museum, but we were told that the museum had just closed for an exhibition change.

Yokohama

After Roppongi, we took the train to Yokohama, the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture. We walked around Queen’s Square Yokohama, walked towards the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, and walked towards Cosmo World. We also tried our luck with the Cup Noodle Museum, but we did not find entry slots that fit our schedule. We ended up walking to Yokohama World Porters and trying the famous Hawaiian snack, malasadas (fried dough), from Leonard’s Bakery.

Afterwards, we took the train and went to the famous Yokohama Chinatown. We lined up for freshly-fried xiao long bao and bought snacks and drinks that we liked. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the vibrant neighborhood.

Shibuya

After Yokohoma, we took the train back to Tokyo and headed over to Shibuya. We passed by the Hachiko Statue and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked around the area and checked out some shops and restaurants. We also checked out the nearest Don Quijote branch. We ended our day with a dinner at Yoshinoya.

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.