Tokyo Day 2

October 15, 2015

I woke up early today with full of excitement. Why? Cause it's my birthday!!!
This is also the first time I am celebrating my birthday abroad, and in Tokyo, nonetheless.

So I just ate at Kai Hostel, where they offer free breakfast, coffee, juice and milk. I even got a banana for dessert. I ate a lot because I know it will be a long day for me.

Before you go around Tokyo, my tip for you is to get this tourist leaflet, which is available on train stations, just go the nearest JR Station. Tokyo's rail system is impressively systematic, making it easy for one to go around the largest city in the world (in terms of population, which is at 37 million).

The Tokyo Travel Map is so easy to use! I survived Tokyo without WiFi access. It lists down all the top tourist spots in the city and tells you which train station to get off.

Also, get a one-day pass for the MRT for 1,000 yen (400 pesos), if you plan to get around a lot! The shortest distance costs around 270 yen, so I think the one-day pass is already a good deal.

The first tourist spot I wanted to see was the Imperial Palace, which is located at the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo.

The Imperial Palace is like a fortress surrounded by an artificial body of water similar to that of traditional castles

The entrance gate to the Imperial Palace grounds

Upon entry, tourists are greeted by an even bigger gate

Inside the palace grounds are serene traditional Japanese gardens

Next stop: Tokyo Sky Tree

At 2,080 feet, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan, and the second tallest structure in the world, after Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 

At the grounds of the Tokyo Skytree

 The view from the top is just breathtaking! 

2,000 feet off the ground! whew!

Next stop: Asakusa

This is the Senso-ji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo

It's rare to see a traditional Japanese house at the heart of Tokyo. I think they converted this one into a restaurant. It's located in one of the surrounding alleys in Asakusa.

Last stop for Day 2: Tokyo Dome City

I don't have a clear photo of Tokyo Dome but this is what it looks like: 

Photo credits to: Voltasone (YouTube)

Located at Bunkyo, Tokyo Dome City is an entertainment complex that houses an amusement park, a shopping mall, a spa, and a 43-story hotel.

Photo credits: Tokyo Dome City

The boutique mall here has plenty of gift shops, souvenir stalls and fashion brands. It also has an ABC Store, a famous apparel department store in Japan, where I got my nice pair of Nike Kaishi, which is similar to the more popular Nike Roshe, but with a hint of Japanese. It was on sale, I got it only for 6,000 yen (2,650 pesos).

End of Day 2 in Tokyo

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