Interesting Japanese Signage/Stuff

I have been told by so many that when I visit Japan, I should check out their signages and stuff, cause they have the most interesting/unique/weirdest stuff. I took note of that and begin signage hunting.

While downloading all these pic for this entry, I was watching National Geography on Japan Tsunami. Sigh.... certainly brought back some memories as it happens 2 days after I depart Japan to Hong Kong; basically missing it by 2 days - LUCKY ME!. I will tell the story in the next entry.

OK, let's check out the few signages & stuff I manage to captured.

I was fascinated with this, the pump is hanging from top and NO! We don't have this in Malaysia.

Japan most famous game - Pachinko! Pachinko (パチンコ^?) is a Japanese gaming device used for amusement and gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but with no flippers and a large number of relatively small balls.

Pachinko parlors share the reputation of slot machine dens and casinos the world over.

I find this interesting, in most part of the world that I have visited, one are NOT ALLOWED to eat in public transport vehicle, BUT for Japan its the opposite!!!! No loud cell phone sound, and in general NO loud speaking folks. I think the idea is that one are to respect the others' privacy.

Hello Kitty originated from Japan and highly appreciated by everyone and everything!

"Please do not smoke while walking", how considerate is that?! Respecting other pedestrian!

Yup! Doreamon NOT to get drench! Thoughtful!

Ice-cream vending machine? Hemm....

Women! Feel the low & respect!

Impressive huh! Systematic rubbish collection schedule. By-day and by-waste...

Creativity doesn't stop on shop signage, it can go as high up as the roof top.

THIS IS the Japanese paper ie wrapping paper. Kalau kain cotton kan ke BEST! Isk isk isk...

More interesting. Switch off if you are near the Courtesy Seat!

What is Courtesy Seat? Well... check this out!

Cute way of educating people on the danger of putting hand near train door.

Even the Hardest Rock in the world BOWS to a CAT!

Believe me now?

Perhaps these?

I was wondering what is this, then I realized; DRY ICE! Hey Baskin Robbin, learn this!

Jeng jeng jeng.... Kid you not! I manage to track it down!

It's not as messy as Jalan TAR hor...

Platform ZERO in Ueno! And we thought the train master was pulling our leg.

Platform ZERO??? Hemm.... Serious?!?!?

Even for ciggy??? I heard slippers & disposable undies too but unable to locate.

Well, I guess I need to go visit the country again then. *wink wink*

Hyperlink credit : Wikipedia

Strolling at Ueno Park

Day 5 (7 March 2011). Last day in Tokyo…
... kinda sad as I have grew to like Tokyo after spending 4 days here (Yup! 4 days ONLY).


Tomorrow morning at 5:30am I will hop on the train to Haneda Airport and head to Hong Kong… so dreaded this. Doesn’t help when you fell in love with the country so much.

Since mother nature gave herself a full force rain to welcome my stay here in Tokyo (to a point that it snowed slightly, felt the love!), I thought; today I shall maximise the daylight… and sunlight (despite the rain) to where else but ….. Jeng jeng jeng…. PARK & URBAN ZOO. My favourite places…. Hehehhe… and Andrea have no choice but to come along. MUAHHAHHAHAHA….*note the evil laugh*

Don’t underestimate this entry as you going to learn VALUABLE things (on animal) soon :p

As usual, we took the train to the park, stopped by Hard Rock Ueno to get meself a short glass and a shirt for my collections. Then we head out to Ueno Park which is located just outside the station (by the way, the station has a MALL underneath - uber cool! [just learned this new word - UBER]). We proceed to the park looking for the lake (as most of the blog and friends pics somehow have a lake pic when it comes to Ueno visit, thus I must too lar kan).

Walk we did and “wah laaah….” we saw the lake from afar… apa lagi, we quicken our step and cross the lane and head straight to the lake/park (not sure how you visualise this street, just play along with me kay). Oh! I think I should share one thing first, the UENO Park is SUPER DUPER HUGE, it has lake, park, museums (note the “S” in museum, its PLURAL), boat ride, park train, zoo etc etc etc…. basically, 1 full day at the park shall be well utilized.
Am not so “on” on boat rides as they just gonna give me a sampan, and I am to row it myself, no big deal lor and too tiring (malas more like it).

First thing first :- snap pics of the pathway, the leafless trees (my current passion in pic taking) and birds. Of cause as I walk, I saw temples that soon became my subject matter. Hehheh…. The red added colours to the leafless tree I figure.
The stroll was pleasant, the crowd was low, the weather was accommodating us; PERFECT. It kinda got a little bit boring lar pulak soon after… and fortunately that is when I bump into the zoo. Pretended surprise and shrieked “Look! There’s a ZOO!” (Yeah! Right!).

I knew all the while there’s a zoo here but of cause I wouldn’t know which part and the entry point to the park doesn’t have a counter where I can easily grab a map either, thus I need to rely on my “SMARTbrain” (didn’t get Smartphone yet then). I don’t mean to brag, apparently this cutie does come with smart brain. Hahahah…. For those in doubt, please re-think.

Those with families and DIY tourist, tix purchase is done via a vending machine (I thought it was cool!) and no worries parents with small kids - as strollers are prepared here with nominal rental (told you they thought of everything! Believe me now?!?). Anyway, just to set the expectation clear, it’s a small urban zoo, hence don’t lar expect something fancy shmancy here. Hahhaha…. Nevertheless, am thrilled to find a zoo right smack in this urban concrete jungle.

Few things that fascinated me there (then again, am easily fascinated), that they don’t have the normal animal (well, maybe some of them) but there were plenty of “foreign” animals to me. Really…. Well, to some of you might be common lor…

Lesson 1 :P The okapi is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe. And they have nothing to do with horse… hem…

The Giant Anteater is the largest species of anteater (and we shall doubt this!). It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina. It feeds mainly on ants and termites, sometimes up to 30,000 insects in a single day. I need one in my house, REALLY!

The Small Japanese Field Mouse is a species of rodent in the Muridae family. It is found only in Japan. Hemm…. Can you see the pic? I know it’s not that clear but basically it’s my THUMB size - a tiny winy itsy bitsy Japanese Filed Mousy!!!! Of cause, there were more but… let’s not give all a boring zoology blog entry huh.

Oh! They even have penguins. Hahhahha….

Lesson 2

My greatest fascination - Alcohol sold in Zoo! Hemm….. Is it common is some country :p mind my ignorant here. Hahhah…

Pet dustbin incase you wanna get rid of them…. Really! *wink wink* Wanna guess what is it for? It took a while for us to decipher too… :p

Hanging monorail…? Never seen one as cute! Told you I am easily pleased and fascinated.

We calling it a day… but before we headed back to our tiny hotel, we stop by….. Update you next entry. *wink wink*

CITY DWELLER in ASAKUSA, GINZA, ROPPONGI & HARAJUKU

Day 4 (6 March 2011). Our day started with Senso-ji temple in Asakusa.



I heard rain pouring the night before and I prayed that it will stop when sun comes out in the morning. I guess I did not pray hard enough, sigh...

When morning comes and yet still hearing the rain drops, I got abit worried. Thus, I peep thru the window (facing tightly another building wall), guess what? Tokyo is experiencing LIGHT SNOW in spring, kid you not! (again LILY?!??!).

We changed our original plan of covering Shibuya and Ueno, but visit Senso-ji temple in Asakusa instead as it is a walking distance of 7 mins walk from our hotel. Good choice I thought as I managed to experience a wet day in Tokyo.

Clueless of what the shop is saying, but one thing I know for sure is that "I like the feel, the mist, the sight, the crowd, the umbrellas, the wet morning.... I LIKE Japan!"

The whole Senso-ji complex is very vast, there's a kindergarden just outside the compound whereby parents come and go to pick ups their kids. The kids dress in cute grey uniform with their tiny umbrella that I couldn't resist but taking a pic. By the way, the school puts a big signage saying "no picture taking at school compound". OPS!

I noticed the good thing in Japan is, regardless whether you are a male or female, you dress as per what you like, regardless of colours. 'I will wear an orange tight with green jacket if I LIKE IT!' And no one judge you on this. Love the SELF-CONFIDENCE!

How could you resist not taking this pic right? KIDS - no worries in the world!

From Wikipedia :

Dedicated to Buddhist, the first temple was built on the site in 645, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo. Dominating the entrance to the temple is the Kaminarimon or "Thunder Gate". This imposing Buddhist structure features a massive paper lantern dramatically painted in vivid red-and-black tones to suggest thunderclouds and lightning.

Before I travel, I have a habit of googling the places and find out how or which angle to take good pics. Good tips for traveler as it save a lot of time looking for good spot.

I walked everywhere looking for this, due to the rain or should I say snow, not many people visited the temple.

Gawking Lily in Tokyo.... this pic! And the best thing is, EVERYONE actually obeys this rule, hence they don't need to hire many cleaners. They call it - discipline! When will Malaysia be like this I wonder.

UMBRELLA holder!!! With lock! They thought of EVERYTHING!!!! I felt in love with Japan and couldn't shout enough.

When to Roppongi to get Hard Rock Cafe shirt and shotglass as souvenirs... cool huh, just like Eiffel Tower in Paris.

I remembered clearly in Fast & Furious - Tokyo Drift, the parking scene in Tokyo was really COOL, so was the Kei-cars. Anyway, when I bumped into one, what else right?! Take a pic like lar kan.

Can you figure out how this parking works? Why not you guess and tell me instead.... heehehehhe...

Later, we promised to meet Andrea's cousin at Ginza to check out and "feel" the ambiance, the result? I never felt this POOR before this.... sigh..

We were here for like.... 30mins, 20 mins waiting for Andrea's cousin walking 100 mtrs to check out whether we can afford ANYTHING on this street. And the answer = NO!!!!!

Just check out Armani, they even have casa (which I think it meant house), spa, boutique and goodness what else... SUPER WOW

Next stop for us, HARAJUKU!

We reached Harajuku very late, some shops has closed *sob sob*, so I didn't manage to get a glimpse of those pretty cosplay youngster. That's the highlight of Harajuku for those wondering still and I actually missed them. Can you believe that!?!

And at that point, in my mind.... I want so much to revisit Japan this year end (I even planned the next itinerary in my mind)....Sigh... now, I doubt I can visit Japan any time sooner.

We ate Japanese CREPE for dinner, Andrea and her cousin chosen ice-cream version, and moi?? Salmon!!! And amazingly, its YUMMY! A great surprise to me.

Call me silly, but seriously! Ice-cream vending machine?? Apparently, in some places in Japan; even flip flop/disposable undies/etc can be purchased via vending machine as well.... Beat that WORLD!

Hyperlink credit : Wikipedia