Best Bakeries Ever!

As we traveled through Ueno Station, we walked up the stairs and found a wonderful bakery filled with so many tantalizing treats.  This pit stop became one of our favorite places to grab a delicious pastry.

It's hard to buy just one!

Unlike Americans, Japanese people do not eat while walking.  You also won't see people eating on the trains or subways. 

So cute and delicious too!  Every bite is a little taste of heaven!

 This was another stand at a train station filled with very cute breads filled with surprises.  We had to bring a turtle and a bunny back to the hotel!

 

They're so cute and hard to eat!

We love the Japanese bread!

On The Move!

It's time to leave Yokohama and move into Tokyo!  I searched Hyperdia leaving Shin-Yokohama and arriving in Asakusa, which is our next destination:

Please note that travel time is 45 minutes long and includes a ride on the Shinkansen, which is Japan's famous bullet train.  Travelers usually take the bullet train when going to Osaka, Hiroshima, etc.  We took a short trek to Ueno station (not Shinagawa) on the Shinkansen.  Then we took the subway to Asakusa Station.  Although we rode the Shinkansen for a short time, it was still a thrilling experience for our kids and for the adults too!

Waiting for the Shinkansen at Shin-Yokohama Train Station.

View of the Shinkansen from our hotel room window.

Before leaving the Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel, we sent our suitcases to our next hotel using the Black Cat service.  We simply asked the front desk, filled out the paperwork and paid a fee for each suitcase.  Please ask the front desk two days before using the Black Cat service.  Sometimes you may have to drop off your bags early in the morning and there are other instances when your bag will arrive the next day.  In that case, you might have to pack your carry-on with enough clothes and necessities to last you one night.

Riding the Shinkansen

Ueno Station

We arrived at Ueno Station and took the subway to Asakusa.  Another exciting adventure begins!

Travel Lightly!

The Japanese people are masters at living in small areas.  Not only do they make their homes in confined spaces, but they also travel very lightly.  Their suitcases are miniature versions of our large American luggage sets.

You'll suddenly notice this on your flight to Tokyo as the loading and unloading process of the plane moves much more quickly than a mainland flight.  The overhead compartments aren't stuffed with huge bags that should've been checked in at the desk.

When searching for hotels, I read many customer reviews complaining about the size of the hotel rooms so I was prepared for close living quarters for our family.  I also discovered that many of the hotels only had the option of booking 2 adults per room.  The hotels we chose allowed up to 3 occupants so we placed one of our kids with my parents.  Chilren over 5 or 6 years old are considered adults.  As you check-in, you must present your passports so the number of people in each room will be monitored.

Here are some tips that have helped us when packing for our Tokyo trip:
1.  Check if the hotel has washing machines and dryers.  Japanese washing machines are small and may only hold up to 2 outfits.
2.  Use the shampoo, conditioner and soap provided by the hotel.  Hotels will also provide many toiletries for travelers.  (toothbrush, razor, cotton, q-tips, hair ties, comb, brush, etc.)
You won't have to pack any of these things!
3.  Hotels also provide kimono style pajamas to sleep in.

Some of the hotels provide shampoo, conditioner and body wash in large pump bottles to avoid more trash from individual containers that people travel with.

Packing for Tokyo requires some thought as you need to have room for the many trinkets, souvenirs and omiyage you will purchase throughout this wonderful city!

Cup Noodles Museum

We've all eaten the famous instant Cup Noodles.  I survived my first year of college eating these quick and easy meals every day!  So imagine my excitement when I found out there was a museum in Yokohama?                        

 http://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/english/

HYPERDIA search:  Shin-Yokohama station to Minatomirai station.  Please note that the Hyperdia search will change as it chooses trains that are leaving closest to the time of your search.  It does give you 5 route options in total.

Shin-Yokohama Station

We arrived at the Minatomirai station and as we took the escalator up, we found ourselves in a huge shopping mall.  This will sometimes happen as train stations are connected to shopping areas.  We went from store to store asking workers for the location of the Cup Noodles museum until finally someone pointed us in the right direction.  When we exited the mall, the museum was just across the street.

The museum offers an interactive experience where you learn about the Cup Noodles founder, Momofuku Ando.  He is also credited for starting the Nissin Food Products Company and is the inventor of the chicken ramen.  The many exhibits found in the museum teach visitors how Momofuku Ando revolutionized the way people eat throughout the world.  

The Nissin food products display

 

Momfuku Ando's work shed where the chicken ramen was first invented

Visitors are able to personalize their very own Cup Noodles.  We sat on tables along with other families.  The room was very loud as there were about a thousand people packed in.

After decorating, you get to choose which toppings you want in your Cup Noodles

before packaging begins. 

Finally, you put your cup in an air bag to help preserve it before eating.  What a memorable experience at the Cup Noodles Museum!

Yoku Wakarimasen

Yes, I am Japanese and no I don't speak the language.  After taking Japanese for 3 years in high school and 2 semesters in college, you would think that I would be somewhat conversational. . . I'm not.  Like many other Americans, I know the basic excuse me, thank you, good afternoon but that's about all.  Yet, I'm able to make my way around Tokyo and function comfortably.

There are many instances where a salesperson or waiter will speak to me in Japanese.  My answer is always, "Yoku Wakarimasen" (I don't understand very well.  Hmmmmmmm, isn't that the line I used when the sensei in high school asked me a question too?)

Their reply is usually, "Yes, Yes," as they hand me an English menu or speak to me in English.  Inside they must be thinking, "How come this Japanese girl can't speak Japanese?"  Most of the workers in the service industry are able to speak in English, but their skills are limited.  Yet, you will somehow find a way to communicate. 

I've mentioned before that many of the Japanese names of places are written using English characters.  So reading, "Shinagawa, Shibuya or Shinjuku" can easily be done.  You will find that many of the signs at stores, bakeries or restaurants use Katakana characters.  Before leaving for Tokyo, I usually practice reading Katakana using an App on my phone.  This was the best advice someone gave me before I visited Japan.

Sushi bar menu
Is that whale bacon?

Yokohama Anpanman Children's Museum and Mall

Next Stop!  Anpanman! When you visit the Yokohama Anpanman Children's Museum and Mall you can enjoy the world of this Japanese children's hero.  The Anpanman animation character is the star of a popular TV show and children’s book.  As you visit Wanpaku town on the 1st floor you'll walk through a museum shop and stage area. The second and third floors have a diorama display, play space, and lots of photo spots. Video and picture taking is allowed in the museum.  You can also go shopping for original Anpanman products at the shopping mall.

https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kanto/yokohama/kanko/237/

We took the train from Shin-Yokohama after looking up the closest station to the museum.

HYPERDIA search: Shin-Yokohama to Kannai Station.  We took the Yokohama Subway for  

Shonandai and exited at Kannai.

After exiting the train station, it was a long walk to the museum.  We knew we were going in the right direction because we were following groups of school children and families the entire way.  When we arrived at the museum, there was a long line to buy tickets.  Many of the children were dressed in their Anpanman clothing or costumes as they excitedly waited for the gates to open.  As we stood in line, we immediately noticed that many of the children were toddlers to about 5 years old.  My first thought was that school was in session for the older kids, but as we walked through the courtyard area and into the museum it became clear that Anpanman targets a younger audience.  Still, we decided to walk through the building and enjoy this Japanese children's hero. 

As you walk through the museum, there are glass cases that hold scenes of the Anpanman character, along with his sidekicks.

It was very loud in the museum as there were a lot of people with excited children.  All of the narration was in Japanese.

Japanese children love Anpanman!

The highlight of the visit was the bakery.  There were many cute anpan pastries!

They were so delicious!

Yokohama China Town

While walking through the lobby at the Prince Hotel, we came across this poster on one of the pillars:

 

 "A China Town in Japan?  That should be a fun place to visit!"  I thought.  My dad mentioned that he wanted to buy scallop powder as he learned that it was the secret to the best tasting saimin.  (Oops, not anymore!)  At home, he watched a TV show where famous chefs shopped at this exact spot to find the special scallop powder.  So we decided that we would catch the train to China Town the next day.  This is another benefit of not being on a tour . . . .

 http://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/chinatown/

Hyperdia search:  Shin-Yokohama Station to Kannai Station.  I looked up Yokohama China Town on the internet and found information that told me what station we would exit.  The site also told me that I would have a 14 minute walk to the area.  As we began to use this information more and more, we learned that when the Japanese say 10 minutes, it usually means 20 minutes.  Bring comfortable walking shoes on your trip.  You'll be walking a lot!

When we got off the subway, we climbed up the stairs and found ourselves on a busy street.  This happened to us many times on the trip as we came out of the station and didn't know what direction to walk next.  Sometimes we used our google maps app, but in most cases we asked someone for help.  In this case, we were lucky enough to start walking in the right direction and knew by the look of the buildings that we were in the right place.

After finding the endless streets of shops and restaurants, we walked around looking through windows as we were there at 9:00am and most businesses opened at 10 or even 11:00am.

When you visit an area like China Town please be sure to make note of where you exited the train station.  When you come up from below ground, there won't be any train station signs so you can lose your sense of direction easily.

Manapua?

 

There are many alleys filled with little shops.

 

There was even a Daiso store in this narrow alley!

My dad was able to find his scallop powder on this street!

We planned to spend half the day at China Town and the other half at a museum, so we left before lunch.  Afterwards, we felt that we should have dedicated a whole day to this area as there was so much to see.  It is definitely a stop that we will revisit on our next trip.