Adventure at Ginza

Last week there was a public holiday (体育の日 to commemorate Tokyo Olympic 1964) which falls on Monday, so I've decided to explore one of the famous places in Tokyo, Ginza (銀座).

Back in early May when we're having the Golden Week holiday I went to the nearby Imperial Palace and actually planned to visit Ginza during that evening (since both are within walking distance), but had to cancel the plan as I wasn't feeling well that time.

In case you didn't heard much bout Ginza, it is the prominent shopping district in Tokyo where many international brands set up their flagship stores over the area. In other words, this is the place for the rich to plunge their money in as a form of entertainment.

Going to Ginza isn't that hard, I just took the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line to one of the station close to the Imperial Palace, and walk towards Ginza. Ticket cost 190 yen btw.

Just after I get out from the station, spotted this monstrous limousine.
Maybach 62S.


As expected from rich Japanese, their ride equates their wealth.

Checking the map to make sure that I'm walking on the correct direction.


When you can see the big neon billboard advertisements on top of the buildings, you're pretty much sure that you're stepping closer into the commercial area.


Read it as GIN5ZA, or GINZA 5?


Blue sky and white clouds, perfect weather for outing!


First stop, Sony's HQ building.


Looking closer, advertising Michael Jackson's "This Is It" movie, which will be released on Oct 28.


Inside the Sony building, spotted these trendy jeans which are made from recycled banner ads.

You can see the process of making the jeans here.

Sony VAIO X series. Slim and lightweight!


Sony VAIO L series. Touchscreen desktop.


Testing out the new Sony Walkman A840 MP3 player. Was deeply impressed by it and tempted to get it heh..... aiming for the biggest 64GB capacity (filled up my 16GB relatively fast).


Testing out one of the King of Pop's songs, Black Or White.


Comparison with my current Walkman...


Self-portrait while testing the MDR-NC600D noise-canceling headphone.


I've spent quite some time inside the Sony building and have to force myself out of the building as there're still a lot more to see in Ginza lol.

Sony building shots from the outside.



I can't believe that such cool-looking foreigner is actually working part-time to pass out tissue papers!


Nikon House, dedicated to those who love Nikon cameras.


Moving towards the centre of Ginza with heavy traffic.


Wako department store, one of the landmark building in Ginza. More of it's photos will be posted later.


Japanese in traditional cloths.


RICOH's HQ in the centre.


Crossing the road at the centre of Ginza....


Pedestrians' Paradise. Motorbikes & cars are prohibited to travel across the main street during certain hours for the sake of the shoppers.


The crowd.





Ginza & me.


Was disappointed that this Nissan Gallery Ginza only hosted 2 cars, the Cube & Skyline Crossover. No GT-R though..

The Nissan Skyline Crossover.


The Wako department store.



It was around 3:15pm and I happened to stumbled upon the underground restaurants. I haven't take my lunch, so yeah, give it a shot. Lunch at Ginza lol.

The menu.


My set, 伊達鶏と茄子の味噌照り焼き丼 (Miso Teriyaki Grill Chicken & Eggplant rice). Cost 1,000 yen.


One of the better rice don I had so far.

After the lunch had more energy to explore Ginza. Yeah!

Mitsukoshi department store.


Uniqlo at Ginza 5-chome.


Tiffany & Co.


H&M. Heard just opened not so long ago.


Godiva at Ginza.


Mont Blanc.


Lots of people lining up outside the Matsuzakaya to buy some snacks.


A photographer and his pet dog.


Lots of ladies waiting outside the bookstore for the autograph session with an author named Daigo, if I'm not mistaken.


Matsuya Ginza.


Louis Vuitton!


Apple's flagship store at Ginza.


Time display at Ginza 2-chome.


Nice clock outside Ginza Diamond Shiraishi.


Limited edition tumblers from Starbucks.


Colourful Vitamin water! Cost 200 yen each though...


Bentley Continental.


Mercedes Benz CLS unloading stuffs.


Some sort of politician giving a speech where nobody listens..


Typical Japanese right-winged activist's vehicle.


Briefly went inside a local Bic Camera store to check out something. When I step out of the shop it's already getting dark.
The Ginza in the daylight is very different than the Ginza under the moonlight, so decided to walk back to discover more hidden gems in Ginza that surface itself in the dark.



Sony building shines with colours!


Bustling streets of Ginza in the evening.


Mitsukodshi shines in the dark as well!


Shines....


Wako department store again, but different time.



A random department store.


One of the many entrance to the Tokyo Metro Ginza station.


Notice the picture inside the picture.


Tokyo Olympic 2016 banner. Unfortunately they didn't made it.


Heading towards the Tokyo station where I'll be catching the metro back to my hostel. Decided to walk a little more distance to another station rather than taking the one I came earlier.

Tokyo station is kinda huge, but too bad it's currently under renovation so many parts of the station are being sealed up.


Giant Meiji chocolate hahah.


Menu for the bento set meals. More expensive compared to other places due to it's prime location.



Walking in the underground pedestrian walk towards the Tokyo Metro line station.


Was kinda worn out from walking all around Ginza, but there're still parts which I did not covered yet. Might plan to go there again some other time....

OK, so here's what I've purchased in Bic Camera.
Camera pouch. 980 yen.


Audio Technica ATH-ANC3 noise canceling earphone. 5,980 yen from the original 9,980 yen.

Youtube account suspended. :(

Am quite upset that my Youtube account has been suspended due to a video I posted some time ago. Sigh....



I actually posted the Joe Hisaishi video that landed the trouble some months ago here, but who knows I was only suspended like half a year later now. Sweat.... (-__-")

Sigh.... all the vids that I've posted are gone. Luckily still got backup in the external HDD, and I shall be reupload 'em to the substitute account I created some time ago too.


P/S: Shall continue the Ginza post tomorrow, now writing half-way.

The Day When Typhoon Struck

I woke up around 0730, before the alarm rang on Thursday morning, the fateful day when the Typhoon Melor struck. Was excited and nervous at the same time, peeked out from the closed window how is things going on out there. Surprisingly, it was quite sunny and a little breeze.

Took this video showing the little drizzle and unpredictable wind. Wasn't sure what kind of weather it'll turn out to be.... Was avoiding the rain splashes heh.


Took my morning shower, noticed it the weather is warmer than the past few days. Since I dunno what will going to happen with the situation outside, decided to took the train at 8am.

The Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line was running as usual but more packed. Am lucky managed to squeeze into it. When I reached Nishi-Nippori station, noticed there're crowds building up on the 1st and 2nd floor of the station. Read the notice only realised that the JR Yamanote line was delayed due to the typhoon, so left many people stranded in the station.

This roughly how how it looks like in the station. Pic credit: Joseph Tame.


I do not plan to wait for the train so decided to walk/run to school as I dislike being late for class.

Received this complimentary ticket for the JR Yamanote line, along with the normal ticket I bought which would brought me to school.


Took from the pedestrian bridge, as you can see the people are jamming up the platform.


It was quite fun to walk + run along the strong wind. Gonna pause for awhile when the wind blows against my direction, and run as fast as I can when it blows from the back, following the path of wind~

Took the usual route I cycle to school, and surprisingly I reached the school by 0845! (class starts at 0910).

Everything seems to be totally opposite from what we expect, terrible weather with strong gust and heavy downpour but no!! It was breezy and sunny!!

You can see how clear the sky is!



Class starts as usual and the our teacher wasn't late either, she barely made it around 9am heh! Well some of the classmates have not turn out due to stuck in the train station or so. Heard that although the weather is extremely good but the strong wind caused many train lines to a standstill.

The weather, can be described as early summer's day, sunny but not too hot, blue sky with a little clouds....
Took this video from my classroom's window. Damn good weather again!


The fallen bicycles. Should I cycled to school that day, mine would be a victim like one of these as well, because of the domino's effect, when one falls, the rest follows.




Taken from Green Court, a complex near the school. The balding tree reminds that currently is actually in early autumn.




The breezy weather is too good to sleep, hard to resist the sleep temptation! :P


On the way walking to the train station. Sunshine wood around 1615.


At the Komagome train station platform, waiting for the JR Yamanote line.


Funny English. View the larger pic here.


Poor tree, getting bald faster thanks to the strong wind and rain. It was the same tree I took from this pic during Spring.


Serene Arakawa neighbourhood.


Collecting egg yolk again, erm I mean sunset.... hahah...





Self-portrait to "commemorate" such meaningful day lol!


Well I wouldn't say that I'm disappointed I didn't get to experience real typhoon, but am thankful that things turned out to be fine. I've watched the news on the destruction the Typhoon Melor caused in the West Japan. Looks horrible with all the high waves and uprooted trees. Am glad that everything's fine here. :)

Pre Typhoon Melor

Hi folks, tomorrow typhoon is gonna struck Tokyo in the morning so things might turn out to be quite messy. Ah well, the "schedule" clashed with my usual commuting hours.

According to the weather forecast, Typhoon Melor (or 台風18号 the Japanese call it) will reach Kanto region (where Tokyo is located) around 9am local time tomorrow (Oct 8).
I've marked the red X on the map, relative to where I am right now.


Anyway, will be taking train to school tomorrow because I heard riding bicycle there seems to be a crazy idea, as wind speed can achieve up to 100km/h or even more, which is quite scary.

On the good side, it seems that the weather will be recovering in the afternoon, and by night it should be over.
The weather forecast for the next few days stated cloudy or sunny, which is way better than the gale & torrential rain brought by the typhoon.

Will update more when I come back from school tomorrow. Unlikely to take any pic as I don't plan to bring my camera, but maybe with my phone camera.

'til then, take care people, and I'll be taking care of myself too lol.

Quick Photo Update

Sorry, it's been awhile since I last update this blog. Been busy with classes lately, and didn't really went to anywhere besides school & hostel.

Lately it's been raining for the past few days, heard a typhoon's getting closer, and Thursday will have a windstorm. Hopefully by the weekend the storm will resides and return with the autumn sunshine~ (which is rather weak).

OK pics now....

Was quite hungry the other day, headed to the local 7-11 to grab some futomaki sushi... cost 270 yen.


Teriyaki sausage onigiri on the left, Salmon sushi on the right.


Kakashi keychains. The current and the teenage versions.


Free eggyolk during 5pm++. Sunset~


First time trying to fry yakisoba. Turn out to be not bad!


Bought some tempuras from local supermarket to 加料!　


One of the best drink on Earth!! MILO!!! :D


Actually the beginning of this month marks the 6th months I've staying here in Tokyo. Should be writing a more in-depth post bout that this weekend, as next Monday is a public holiday.

'til then.