Japan Trip with Sis

Oishi Japan!

I know I took damn long to blog bout Japan and it's probably not interesting anymore (Even Fiona's back!!) ...

But I was really lazy la!

I still think I didn't rest enough since the trip cuz I worked the next morning upon arrival in Sg (and like at 12 midnight?) and there wasn't much of a "break" despite the May PH... =/

Anyway, just treat it as if I just came back la! =D
Ok, here goes...

*Shouts*
I love Japanese food!!!!

I still don't dare to go anywhere near the weighing scale... =/

Thank goodness, Sis and I did quite an amount of walking and climbing! (lots of stairs!)

Note: This is a food entry... More of other stuff later... =)

Lo and Behold!

Convenience stalls with practically everything!

It was the first convenience store we went... @ Narita Airport

And that tiny shop already got us all excited!

Look at the array of goodies!

ONIGIRI / FAN TUAN!!!

Something very common there and something I really wanna try!

So many shapes, colour, flavour and packaging...

I can eat them everyday~

Unwrapping them on the Narita Express train (NEX)

Sis and her savoury Fan Tuan... Think it's Salmon Mayo or something...

Japan's mayo tastes different I tell you.
Might be just pure prejudice but I swear it taste lighter and feels less oily!

Rating: 6/10 sushi (it's not exactly high cuz I need to be fair to other Jap delicacy!)

Mine is a sweet Fan Tuan with Red beans!

Glad we bought a savoury and a sweet onigiri.
Definitely balances out the taste and non were too "Ni"

Rating: 6/10 sushi ( I enjoyed it nevertheless!)

Some Orange Chocolate coated krispies...
The 1st snack we tried in Japan given by Fiona...

Can taste the orange zest, sweet...

Rating: 5/10 sushi (Nice but not fantastic...)

Fiona brought us to the nearby Supermarket!

Yay~

If a tiny convenience store can get me and Sis all hyped up, imagine what a supermarket can do to us?


Strawberries! All red, fat and juicy!And I thought I will never get to see authentic Japan Strawberries (Those at Isetan don't count)

Cost over 10 bucks for a punnet, probably cheap by Japanese standard.

Salads! and bentos, all displayed neatly on the shelves...

So colourful and appetising!

Oh... I think Jap Eggs look weird...
Cuz their yolks are in a deep orangey shade... Made them look like out salted eggs... (which irks me =/)

Tempura~

Another part of the shelves are trays and trays of tempura~

There's Vege, ebi, tonkatsu etc etc

One thing I love in Japan is that there's shops/eateries everywhere, even within the train stations!
And yes, you are allowed to chew and munch your food openly in the train cabins!

On our way to Meiji Shrine, Sis and I missed our stop, landed at Yoyogi instead of Harajuku and ended up in a ramen stall still within the station.

Somewhere that we have no problem ordering even when we don't speak their language...

All we needed was a Suica Card (their Ez link), decide on what to eat, a touch of the button and there we have it~

An order of a hot and delicious seafood tempura soba~

We were impressed cuz the bowl of noodles tasted fabulous despite the shop being just a small, simple and 不起眼的 ramen shop.

It has a generous serving of seafood and just the right texture of soba - springy and not too soft.

However, we were a tad thirsty after the meal but we hope it's caused by the "slurping" action and sound we made to fit in the crowd...

(and we wished to think it was good old Japanese pork bones or whatever they use which made the soup tasty and not MSG...)

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi (would have rated higher if not for the thirst it caused :( )


Malt tea and Apple vinegar!

Malt Tea: Tea lovers alike are more acceptable to the taste of this, I believe.

It's just brewed tea (without sugar) made cold.

As the name indicates, 麦茶, it taste like diluted 麦片 without the sugar.

Might sound disgusting, but I really like the subtle Malt scent and it's a refreshing beverage minus the calories! =)

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Apple Vinegar: Remembered trying out Shokuodo's Apple Vinegar in Singapore so I was pretty excited to try the authentic ones in Japan... =)

Unlike Singapore's version where we taste more of the Apple juice, the ones in Jap has a tang of vinegar.

Just need a sip to wake you up completely!

Rating: 7/10 sushi

A sneak peak at wad I'm gonna blog about...

0_0

I think I'm quite a McDonalds fan considering that I've been to at least one Mc outlet everytime I'm overseas.

I like trying out items on the menu that we don't see in Singapore, especially items customised to suit local tastes (like macaroni for Mc breakie in Hong Kong, Pork burgers in China)

So, sis and I decided to take a break while walking down Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) in Harajuku.

McWrap, Ice lemon tea and Oreo Green Tea McFlurry.

McWrap: Just like any typical fast food chicken wrap.

Rating: 5/10 sushi (Nothing special)

Ice Lemon Tea: There's ice, plain red tea and a small container of lemon syrup.

For me, this is just not how lemon tea should be made, not with artificial lemon flavour...

I'm glad to say Singapore's Ice Lemon Tea wins hands down!

Rating: 4/10 sushi (Not undrinkable, just doesn't taste the way lemon tea should taste)

Oreo Green Tea McFlurry: I love Japan's milk~
Cuz they make good Mc Flurry! =)

Milky milky! Good combo of oreo with green tea!

I love munching on something so Singapore's version (in collaboration with the movie - Kung Fu Panda... which i don't really see the link with green tea - ok, think i need to read into the film's mise-en-scene) doesn't appeal to me cuz there's no Oreo bits! Just green tea powder and ice cream... =(

Not to mention that Sg's version is smaller and only a few cents cheaper... =/

Rating: 7/10 sushi (I'm refering to Jap's version of course)

Chocolate and cheesecake from the department store near our place. =)

I'm a sucker for the two types of cakes above!

You know how much I love Choc cakes and cheesecakes... Hehe...

Especially moist chocolatey cake that is not too sweet with bitter cocoa powder sprinkled on top and rich, creamy cheesecake baked to perfection.

What more can I say?

Rating: 8/10 sushi =D

That evening, we met Fiona to drop by Tokyo Tower!
Souvenir that caught our attention!

So sweet right?

Strawberry chocolates...

Think there's real strawberry inside...*drools*

Cream Puff!!

Bread Papa alike~

Taste good! As always...

How can Jap cream puffs go wrong?

The 3rd pic shows banana cream filling with slight Chocolate coating.

I prefer the original though as I'm not exactly a fan of bananas but Fiona begs to differ.

She love the banana ones...

So there...

Rating: 8/10 sushi


Ta bao-ed salads, sashimi, tempura and many others back home!
Salad: Oh... Very very good salad!

My sis still has cravings for this...

And that's the egg I'm talking about.... Looks like salted egg to me =/

Glad it doesn't taste like one! ;)

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Sashimi plate!!! Tempura and yakitori.... Meat balls!!! I love balls!!

The sashimi taste as good as normal sushi outlets in Singapore.

And we got this at a reduced price cuz the supermarket was closing! =) Steal!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Ebi Tempura and YakiTori...

Both were re-heated in the Microwave cuz they shouldn't be consumed cold...

Ebi Tempura: Still a tad soggy, well... it was on the self for so many hours so I don't expect much.

Rating: 6/10 sushi

Yaki Tori: Would have been better if there are more sauce!

=/

Rating: 6/10 sushi

I love the Meatballs =)

Big and tasty!

But the same problem, too little sauce!

Wanted to Ta-bao back to Singapore (since it's packed and sealed) but didn't manage to go back to the supermarket :(

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Instant Noodles from Daiso

Just S$1.40 unlike Cold Storage which charges... what $3 , $4???

Rating: 6/10 sushi (similar to Myojo's Char Mee... LOL)

Day 2

Got this for breakfast the next morning!

Red bean cake...

I thought it was those 铜锣烧 but it wasn't...

The texture of the outer layer is a cross between mochi and cake...
That's a piece of preserved sakura on top...

A little salty because of the flower and a little sweet from the red bean paste...

Interesting confectionery!

Rating: 6.5/10 sushi

Ok, here's a peak into what you can get in every kid's favourite place...
Tokyo Disneyland!

In Tokyo Disneyland, it's common to see kids (and also big children like us =P) hang a plastic pot over their necks and these pots carry different flavours of popcorns you find around the park.

Caramel, Salted, Chocolate, Honey and Curry!

Curry Popcorn - the only kind of salted popcorn I eat =P

And of cuz, the curry popcorn cart has the longest queue with people attracted by the strong aroma of curry. =)

I kindna like it, imagine curry seasoning (those u find on twisties and which ever curry flavour snacks) on the corn kennels.

Giam giam, I like!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

The sun was shining on us in the afternoon but we weren't perspiring!

Love the weather cuz the temp was about 10 plus, 20?

Outdoor air-con!

Feels so good not to sweat after walking and running about!

And most importantly, we could enjoy ice-cream!

Apple flavour is Minnie and Orange is Mickey...

I took the Apple one but prefered the taste of orange instead...

Found the latter more refreshing =P

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Love the turkey leg with chunks of meat!

I'm such a carnivore!

Roar!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

I just had to try the Mickey Mouse Pizza!
Didn't get to taste it in Hong Kong Disneyland the other time... =(

Anyway, it was only average. LOL! There are better pizzas out there.

Guess everyone bought it for the shape :P

Rating: 6/10 sushi

Sausage bun and fries.

Food inside Disneyland is overpriced so Sis and I settled for a simple sausage bun for dinner...

Typical American Fast food fare...

Rating: 7/10 sushi (Nothing fantastic)

Day 3

Our Breakfast on the go!

Ate my omu onigiri on board at the train...*slurps*

Definitely doesn't taste as nice as the real Omu rice, this onigiri version is enough to satisfy my craving... =)

Would be better if there's more egg~ Love the tomato rice though...

Goes well with the bottled coffee ;)

Love Japanese vending machines! So many variety!

Hehe

Rating: 6/10 sushi

Just look at these cakes!

Nope, didn't manage to try them but just looking at them makes me hungry...

Looks like dummy cakes huh?

Curry Croquette

Honestly, this taste like purry puffs...
Well, not exactly a bad thing right? Curry puffs are deli~

And these doesn't give you the yucky oily aftertaste
*thumbs*

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Met Fiona near her office @ Meguro

Her very shy colleagues brought us to this restaurant with tasty grilled fish!
Her colleagues were actually very stressed with us around cuz they couldn't speak english...
So much so that they didn't even sit with us...
Only 2 or 3 brave souls sat with us and struggled to communicate with us in Eng...

The menu! All in Jap...

Definitely not somewhere we can go on our own without a Japanese translator!

Fiona's, not mine...

Not too bad, pretty fresh...

The bowl of rice that came together is huge...
Couldn't finish it...

Rating: 8/10 sushi


Quite a popular Ramen store @ Shinjuku...

Customers will sit at the counter and chefs will be preparing the noodles...
They have hangers at back for us to hand our coats/jackets etc...

Japanese are so thoughtful...

Love the texture of the noodles...

QQ one! =)

Generous serving but I was quite concerned about the amount of oil... =(

Most probably cuz of the pork...

Soup was good nevertheless

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Felt a little sickly on the way back...

Had sore throat, cough and we had to braved through the rain...

Was freezing!

Sis tried the soya bean from the vending...
I gave it a miss

Day 4

Felt much better after Fiona's supply of medication.
So, we woke up early and headed to the much anticipated Tsukiji Market!

Decided to fill out stomach first before proceeding to the wet market...

Da He, one of the more popular eatery at Tsukiji Market.

We had to queue for more than 40 mins to get in there, finished in 15 mins and paid about S$50 for 7 pieces of sushi... =/

Our counter seat and the uncle chef behind the bar...

He don't speak English just smiled and ask "Set, ok?"

And we said Ok...

Tuna first! and more came onto the wodden slab...

*Slurps*

The fish are fresh and I especially love the maguro

The chef gave us an additional grilled piece of seafood (just like a tiny lobster!)

Love it!

Different kind of Miso soup...

Not as salty as the ones we have in Singapore~

The little clams add a tinge of sweetness to it

We were really really full but then again.

That's breakfast, Japanese style...

Rice and more rice!

Rating: 8/10 sushi

(would have rated more if it was cheaper and if we didn't have to queue so long... still felt a little cheated)

Couldn't resist getting a punnet of the beautiful bright-red strawberries.

Very very sweet! Even the small ones...
And it cost about S$4+.

That's about the same as a punnet in Singapore!

Rating: 8.5/10 sushi

The Best Mochi I've ever tasted (not like I've tasted alot of mochi but hey! This is heavenly~)

This is served cold, dusted with icing sugar and has a layer of cream, sponge cake and one whole sweet strawberry in it!I don't eat cream but this, I tell you... is so good, I will lick them all up!

It actually tasted like ice cream... *slurps*

Rating: 9/10 sushi (Need I say more?)

Ameyoko Street @ Ueno

We saw this first when we went into Ameyoko Street (we got lost and arrived halfway along the street)

The man was busy tossing these small square mochi-like snack, and we had to take each piece off the grills bare handed...

Looks hot but after seeing a few school kids do that, we just grabbed it off too!

Not too hot! ;)

Made of glutinous rice I believe, it's chewy and very Q!

The seaweed compliments it well giving it a lil crisp.

Was way better than I expected.

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Yummy yummy Okonomoyaki! I like this!

Great eaten hot! Love love the veges in it~

Rating: 8/10 sushi

Supper huge Tako Balls!

And it's Takoyaki not Takopachi...

A pity we didn't try though cuz we were quite full and too broke =(

Fish bento we bought at the train stations...!

Nothing fantastic other than the presentation.. :P

Enjoyed the rice with 3 flavours of seasoning... =) Love Jap rice!

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Egg on toasted bread with cheese and orange jelly in a cup!

I like the bread but it taste a little oily, quite sinful =(

Rating: 7/10 sushi

There's more than just jelly in the cup...

There's orange pulp and you can taste the orange juice...

Very refreshing dessert especially when it's served cold!

Rating: 8/10 sushi


World most delicious rice cracker!

I swear this is the best I've ever tasted... your jaws will drop...

Naughty boy didn't believe me until he took a bite (of the few pathetic pieces I managed to smuggle back) =P

Rating: 9/10 (King of the snacks)

Day 5

The most intesting Tuna sandwich ever!

The fillings are sealed inside so there won't be "leakages" and no mess when you eat!

*thumbs up*

Did I mention I like Jap's mayo?

Btw, this is Fiona's one... I tried mine in Singapore... keke

Rating: 8/10 sushi (more points for added convenience!)

Yakisoba-pan

That's noodles stuffed in bread! Yum!

Like the 口感!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Fish cutlet sandwich and matcha pan

These are not exactly fantastic but good enough for everyday breakie!

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Japanese don't eat on the go...

well, not a common practice to do that at least...

So, they normally have seats or tables beside food stalls where they can sit/stand at a corner to finish up their food.

I also didn't manage to find any foodcourts around...

Their "foodcourt" is apparently made up of a few take-away counters (eg. a pizza stall, sandwich bar, cream puff counter) and a bunch of tables and chairs in the center!

Definitely not our Kopitiam or S11 kind.

Woo.... Ice cream for breakfast?

I know, you think I deserve to be fat right?

Love the combination!

Cake and ice cream... Delicious!

Oh, and they drizzled warm caramel on top...
*drools*

Rating: 8/10 sushi

Mister Donut in Akihabara

Had a little sore throat that day so couldn't try the double chocolate donut which really looks good... =(

I actually liked the strawberry one, as wad Mei mei would say... 外脆内软!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

The interesting bread!

But this is the one with chicken patty...

Would prefer the tuna ones though cuz I believe this will taste better hot...

Rating: 7/10 sushi

Searched for food @ Asakusa after a long night...

It was late and most shops closed...

Luckily, we chanced upon this western-jap fusion restaurant...

Decided to try some Jap pasta... =)

Had seafood spagetti in tomato sauce and clam chowder pasta...

Good stuff (not sure if it was due to our hunger =p)

Thankfully, the clam chowder pasta wasn't too creamy, so we didn't get sick of it after a few mouths. Good!

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

How can we miss out Strawberry shortcake!!!

There's this restaurant with a beautiful display of cakes near our apartment and we drool everytime we walk pass it...

On day 5, we decided to step in to grab a slice before we go back to Singapore with regret...

It didn't disappoint...

Not too sweet, cream wasn't to oily or "ni", strawberries were sweet, not sour...

=D

Little girls like us just can't resist....Wahhahahahaha

Ok, wikipedia-ed this...
The name of this confectionery is Ichigo daifuku!

Fiona bought this for us to try after her Jap colleagues recommended that...

Apparently, very popular with Japanese and tourists...

The mochi was quite tough thou... probably cuz we refrigerated it and ate it straight from the fridge...

Should be better if we ate it freshly made...

Would gladly give this up for the other mochi with strawberry!!!

Rating: 6.5/10 sushi

Day 6

Sadly, our last meal in Japan =(

Decided we should have a good one so we dropped by this conveyor belt sushi restaurant @ Harajuku.

Check out the feast we had!
Fiona, Sis and I...

Green tea, Sashimi don, fish soup, tempura and lots and lots of sushi! (Salmon!!! tuna, fatty tuna~~~~)

So so so good...

I'm craving for some now... =(

Finally ate sushi where there's more fish than rice...

I was so disppointed with Sakae when I returned...

The proportion of rice to fish is....

pathetic is compared to those in jap...

Sigh... I wana go back~~

Rating: 8.5/10 sushi

Glad I managed to try Tako yaki before I fly back!

Just outside Ueno Zoo which was near the Keisei Skyliner train station, we saw this roadside cart!

Risked being late for the train and ordered a box of these lovely stuff...

Bigger than the ones in Singapore with much more ingredients =)

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

Coffee flavoured dessert...

Fiona recommended this so we got it with what's left of our very pathetic amount of yen...

Very strong coffee aroma.. Yum!!

A little too much cream though (and this cream is not the one i loved =( )

Rating: 7.5/10 sushi

So much for what I ate in Japan... Here's just some of the goodies that I brought back...

Love! =)