Wandering Fel

Showing posts with label Shinjuku station. Show all posts

10D9N Spring Japan Trip: Airport Limousine Bus to Haneda Airport

If you are looking for a convenient and yet, affordable, way of transportation between Shinjuku and Haneda Airport, you may want to check out the airport limousine bus provided by www.limousinebus.co.jp. They offer a lot of picking up points in Shinjuku (complete list here). We chose the one nearest to our hotel, Shinjuku Station West Exit.

The reason of why we chose to go to the Shinjuku Station West Exit is because the ticket counter for the airport limousine is situated right opposite the picking up location. In order to avoid disappointment, we bought our tickets the day before. We did not have to pay when we made our reservation but we need to reserve the pick up timing. The ticket costs JPY 1,230.

Airport Limousine Bus from Shinjuku to Haneda Airport Ticket

Once the bus has arrived, you need to show the airport limousine ticket to the driver. The driver will then help you to keep your luggage at the luggage compartment under the bus. He will give you a ticket with number for baggage collection. Once he has done keeping all the luggages, he will then collect the payment from you and you can board the bus. The travel time between Shinjuku Station and Haneda Airport is more or less 30 minutes.

Baggage Tag for Airport Limousine from Shinjuku to Haneda Airport

Welcome to Haneda Airport. We were pretty much tired and felt a bit sad when we reached Haneda Airport because that means we were leaving Japan in a bit. But nonetheless, we were pretty relieved that we managed to reach the airport and settle the check-in without any hassle.

But wait, don't go pass the immigration just yet because there are chocolates waiting for you to buy. Japanese airports are the best places to buy Japanese chocolates like Royce and Kitkat since there is no GST charged here. Yeah!

Royce chocolates at Haneda Airport Japan

The variety of Kitkat sold at Haneda Airport is pretty huge. The rum and raisin taste so yummy. Do note that the flavour offered here may change time to time depends on the season.

Assorted Japanese Kitkat in Haneda Airport Japan

10D9N Spring Japan Trip: Hokuo Bakery, Shinjuku

One thing that makes me enjoying my stay in Japan is the unlimited choices of bakeries. There are so many Japanese bakeries and most of them are not that big in sizes and situated near major train stations. However, these Japanese bakeries sell a lot of variety of Japanese breads and patisseries. In a way, it kinda reminds me of the anime, Yakitate Japan. Hahaha.

This time, my choice fell on Hokuo Bakery which is situated at Shinjuku Station.

Hokuo is apparently a Scandinavian bakery and it provides a lot of European breads.

Hokuo, a Scandinavian Bakery in Shinjuku Japan

However, Hokuo also provides my favourite bread, Melon Pan. There are two varieties of the melon pan. One is plain (which I think is the original melon pan) while the other is mixed with chocolate chip.

Melon Pan at Hokuo Bakery Shinjuku Japan

There are other Japanese favorite buns too like the fried curry bun and the maple bread. If you come during spring, some of these bakeries serve limited edition bread like sakura matcha bread.

I stick to my original melon pan and yum, it is really good.

10D9N Spring Japan Trip: Dean & Deluca, Shinjuku Station

I know that we have Dean & Deluca back here in Singapore, but, there is something different about the one that they have in Tokyo. To be honest with you, I was quite surprised when I found out that these pretty pastries are sold by Dean & Deluca. I guess I did not visit Dean & Deluca that often back in Singapore. Hahaha.

Dean & Deluca is located inside Shinjuku Station and it is super popular with the Japanese customers. I can't blame them because all the breads that Dean & Deluca sells look pretty delightful to my eyes.

Red Velvet Bread at Dean & Deluca Shinjuku Station

Strawberry Meringue Roll? The name itself has exuded the yummy vibe.

Strawberry Meringue Roll at Dean & Deluca Singapore

Dean & Deluca also sells a thank you gift which is filled with homemade jam.

Dean & Deluca Thank You Gift Shinjuku Station

Gonna end this post with something totally random. We visited 7-11 after we have bought breads at Dean & Deluca and that's when we spotted an edible Gudetama. Will eating them make me as unmotivated as Gudetama? XD

10D9N Spring Japan Trip: Hokkaido Bake Cheese Tart, Shinjuku Station

If you have not heard about the latest three-hours queue in ION Orchard in Singapore, maybe you should really come out to town once in a while. This is latest craze in Singapore (apart from salted egg craze I guess) and the high price (SGD 3.50 a piece) does not seem to deter the customers from queuing for that long. If you happen to be in Tokyo or plan to visit Tokyo, you should buy them in Tokyo instead. The same Hokkaido Bake Cheese Tart is situated at Shinjuku Station and despite the need to queue, you can reach the counter within 15 minutes, and not three hours.

There is a limit of how many cheese tarts each customer can buy though. One person can only buy maximum of 12 pieces I think. My friend wanted to buy 24 pieces so she asked my help.

Hokkaido Bake Cheese Tart at Shinjuku Tokyo

But in the middle of our way back to hotel, I saw Starbucks and it seems that they are having limited edition coffee that time. So I asked my friend to try the Coffee & Cream out.

What is a coffee break without a snack, so I took one tart from my friend's stash. She could not help but doing the same, so she left with 22 pieces. I hope that's enough for her whole family. LOL.

The cheese tart is really good, I kinda understand why people is willing to queue for three hours for this tart. But, I still don't think I want to do that though. Thankfully I've tried them before in Japan. Hehe. The cheese tart stall in Shinjuku Station is located at the exit near to Tokyo Soup Stock.

10D9N Spring Japan Trip: Make Your Own Okonomiyaki at Shinjuku, Tokyo

If you go to Japan, you must give an okonomiyaki (re: Japanese pancake) a try. It's not only because it is delicious, but you will enjoy a unique experience in an okonomiyaki restaurant in Japan. We randomly spotted one at Shinjuku Station.

We were quite surprised when we saw that we have to make our own okonomiyaki. To be honest with you, we don't really cook back at home. My landlord has a no-cooking policy for all her tenants so yeah, no cooking for me at all in Singapore.

Instruction is provided for reference. It comes with picture too.

Cook your own okonomiyaki instruction in Japan

However, looking at our amazement (and confusion), the waitress immediately came to our rescue and helped us cooking the okonomiyaki while my friend immediately went into recording mode. Hahaha. I guess basically, you have to fry the cabbages + bacon first. Then, you have to mix the rest of the ingredients with the egg, whip it fast and pour all of them onto the frying platform.

Cooking okonomiyaki in Shinjuku Tokyo Japan

Cover the whole thing until the okonomiyaki's color changes.

Into this nice brown color. And flip to the other side and repeat the same procedure.

Japanese savoury pancake okonomiyaki Shinjuku Japan

After both sides of the okonomiyaki is properly cooked, it is time to do some decoration. At least we can do this part without a lot of help from the waitress. All you have to do is to take the mayonaisse bottle and do a zigzag spray. In addition, do the same with the Japanese sauce. Last but not least, put a lot of bonito flakes and the greenish leaves (coriander? not very sure though). Voila, our okonomiyaki is done.

Ready to eat okonomiyaki in Shinjuku Tokyo Japan

We also order a portion of yakisoba (re: Japanese fried noodle) which do not need participation from us whatsoever in preparation. Hahaha.

The yakisoba is so so but the okonomiyaki is pretty tasty. Do give them a try when you are staying near Shinjuku station. After all, not everywhere you can cook your own okonomiyaki.

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