Tokyo For 5 Consecutive Years

"Once You've Been To Japan, You Will Feel Like Going Back Every Year" - I never thought this applies to me. 

#1: Back to my favourite country - Japan

For the past 4 years, I've been visiting Tokyo every year since 2015 to 2018. Just when I thought this year I might not be going back, something came unexpectedly and here I am again back to Tokyo for the 6th time. Probably it's a sign I need to go Tokyo every year. 

My Previous Posts on Tokyo:

2015 Tokyo

2016 Tokyo

2017 Tokyo

2018 Tokyo

It was indeed another impromptu trip where I was informed about my trip to Tokyo a day before I was about to leave to Maldives. Everything was done and booked at the very last minute; from airticket to hotels. And for the first time ever, I have no well-prepared itinerary on hand since I've been to Tokyo several times before. It sounds like I'm so confident, right?

Here's a quick recap of my recent trip to Tokyo:


#2: If I was given option, of course I prefer to fly directly from Kota Kinabalu to Tokyo but as I need to fly with my guest, so I need to fly to Kuala Lumpur first before flying to Tokyo.


#3: Coincidentally, my handphone casing match this trip


#4: Tot it's last minute but luckily I managed to find a hotel within the budget given. Plus, the location is smack right in the middle of Shinjuku - hotspot area.
In total, I experienced staying in 1 Japanese inn, 1 capsule, 1 hostel, 1 AirBnB and 5 different hotels out from my 6 trips to Tokyo.


#5: Godzilla in Shinjuku area - Finally I spotted you


#6: My trip to Japan is incomplete without savouring their scrumptious ramen


#7: At last I got to see the Great Buddha in Kamakura, less than an hour south of Tokyo. Another wishlist ticked off


#8: Mount Takao, less than an hour from Shinjuku is an easily hikeable 599m mountain - but we cheat, by taking cable car.


#9: Onsen with a stunning view. Just that Mount Fuji seems to be shy shy when we're in Kawaguchiko.

Oh boy! I really wish I have more time to catch up and blog all my backlogs especially for my Japan travelogues, cause my upcoming trip is coming soon. Very soon! 

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Foodie Friday: Nakiryu - Tokyo's Second Michelin Starred Ramen Restaurant

#nonhalalpost

So for my trip to Tokyo this year, not just one but then, I managed to experience two distinctive ramen restaurants that are awarded with a prestigious Michelin Star. The first one is Tsuta (click here) and the second one is this one - Nakiryu, which I am going to elaborate further in this post. 

#1: Nakiryu - World's Second Michelin Starred Ramen Restaurant

Frankly speaking, I know nothing about Nakiryu until my travel partner brought me here. He does the planning, and I just follow cause I'm not the type of traveler that will roaming further just for the sake of food adventures, unless I happen to be in the nearby neighbourhood. And because of its location sat on the non-touristic area, no surprise I wasn't aware of this ramen restaurant at all.

So which dish of Nakiryu causing it to receive the coveter French honor? It's their signature "Tantanmee", a kind of noodle inspired from Chinese Sichuan served in spicy broth and yet, it's so delicious and rich in flavours. And guess what, a bowl of this signature Tantanmee cost only 850 yen (approx. to RM31) which is slightly cheaper than the famous chain restaurant of Ichiran, or even Ippudo.  

#2: Open kitchen with 10-seater bar

Similar to Tsuta, Nakiryu is a typical small Japanese restaurant houses with 10-seater bar. When we went for the very first time, luck wasn't on our side cause we're late and it closed. Hence, we decided to come back again during the dinner time. We arrived 30 minutes earlier before its opening time at 6pm and glad that we're among the first batch to get into the restaurant. The process of ordering ramen is alike most regular ramen shops - purchase a ticket from the vending machine inside the shop. However, I encounter difficulty when ordering it as there is no English menu available but with the help of the boyfriend, I told him my ultimate choice would be none other than the signature menu which is the "Tantanmee".

#3: The signature "Tantanmee" in a spicy broth topped with minced pork (850 yen)

#4: Also the signature "Tantanmee" but with additional topping - charshu (braised pork) - cost 1,050 yen

My choice - Tsuta or Nakiryu? I choose the latter one - okay, I have to be honest I'm biased cause I love spicy food more. Although Nakiryu is famed for its spicy noodle, the boyfriend who has lower tolerance to spicy food, he approved this ramen and turns out to be his favourite one too. The  texture of the handmade thin noodles are so chewy and springy at the right level. And with its spicy broth mixed with peanuts (do take note if you are allergic to nuts) making it is undeniably creamy, rich and packed with flavours, oh boy - this is the real definition of a perfect bowl of happiness. 

Unfortunately, each patron is only allowed to order one bowl of ramen for the convenience of other customers who are in the queue. But don't worry cause you are allowed to add noodle (kaedama). 

#5: Nakiryu instant noodle - available in any 7-eleven. But of course, dining at the restaurant itself would be better. 

HOW TO GET TO NAKIRYU

The most closest station is Otsuka under JR Yamanote Loop Line and 5 minutes walk on the south exit of the station; or
Under Tokyo Metro Line, alight at Shin-Otsuka Station and get off Exit 1. Walk until you see the traffic light and across it to MiniStop convenience store. Keep walking and turn left for first junction and Nakiryu at the end of the building. 

Opening Hours: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm 

                           6:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

Be sure to get there at least an hour before the opening time cause I came across someone ranted that they waited for almost 2 hours.

READ ALSO: Tsuta - World's First Michelin Starred Ramen Restaurant

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(Japan Sep 2018) Day 2: Visit Harajuku and Shinjuku.

 Day 2 (16 Sep 2018) : Visit Harajuku and Shinjuku.  Stay at Tokyo. 

 This is the 1st out of a total of 3 visits to Harajuku during this entire trip.

Why so many visits? Well, that's because both of us wanted to visit the Johnny's Shop (official shop of Jpop Johnny's groups such as Arashi, Kinki Kids, Hey! Say! JUMP...etc...) at Harajuku.  

On this 1st visit, we arrived Harajuku too late and all of the queue tickets to enter the shop on this day have already been issued.  

 On our 2nd Harajuku visit, we were issued a 4pm admission queue ticket, even though we arrived before 10am, and so we left because we already had plans for later that day.

On our 3rd visit, we were issued a 3pm admission queue ticket, and we finally entered the shop close to 4pm, but inside the shop, the queue for the cashiers takes another 3 hours!!  

So we left without buying anything...  sigh...

Since most of the shops weren't even open yet by the time we arrived at Harajuku, so we went in search for breakfast.

Happened to come across this cafe in an alley between Takeshita dori and Omotesando, and I LOVED THEIR PANCAKES!!

Since we were early, there weren't a queue when we arrived, although a long queue had already formed by the time we were done with our breakfast. 

Our breakfast.

 After breakfast, we went to Kiddyland along Omotesando.

Kiddyland is a large toy store that spans across a few levels. 

Disney characters, Snoopy, Sanrio, Miffy, Totoro...and many more!

After Kiddyland, we headed back to Takeshita Dori opposite Harajuku station.

There's no way I am visiting Harajuku again on a weekend again!!

IT WAS SOOOOO CROWDED!!

We were so tired of the crowd (and also in need of a restroom that doesn't involve super long queue) by this time, so we stopped by a cafe in an alley off Takeshita Dori for a nice glass of Iced Cocoa.

After taking a 1 hour break at the cafe, it's time for us to head back out to join the crazy crowd again.

This time, the crowd seemed to get even worse (if possible)!  

There were even police in the crowd using loud hailers to try to divert the crowd off Takeshita Dori!

Harajuku station.

Hello NEWS! (another Japan idol group)

 There's a limited-time promotional cafe at Shinjuku that features Winnie the Pooh.  

We didn't eat at the cafe, but we did spent some time doing some Winnie the Pooh merchandise shopping though.  Hehe.

Check out all these cute items!!

Even though this is just the 1st full day of our trip, but we were both really tired out by this time (thanks to Harajuku) as well as really famished.

So, we splurged a little on our dinner at a Tonkatsu restaurant before returning back to our capsule hotel at Shinjuku for the night.

Shinjuku on a weekend evening.

 Go to Sep 2018 Japan trip's main page.

Go back to Day 1: Singapore to Tokyo.

Go next to Day 3: Visit Kichijoji and Overnight bus to Sendai

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