Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

I feel like we've been planning this trip forever, but it's finally here.
Well almost... T-5 days.

Mr, Mrs, and toddler GM are having our first crack at an overseas family adventure.

Here's a quick breakdown of flights and some activities. Quite happy to take recommendations on attractions/restaurants/sites of course. Although I don't think we'll be getting to any Michelin star places.

Friday April 21: Departing PER for SIN on SQ Y on the 0110 redeye.
3 nights at the Carlton Hotel. Haven't really given much thought to what we'll do here.

Monday April 24: SQ Y to Tokyo Haneda.

April 24-May 1 - seven nights in an AirBNB apartment at Shinjuku. Hope to go see Yokohama Baystars baseball, and Tokyo FC. Try to visit Yokohama Cosmoworld. Expect to get to Sanrio Puroland for bub. We'll be a little late for blossoms, but may be able to escape for a day trip to Nagano where it's expected they'll still be out. Shibuya, Harajuku, Akihabara are musts obviously. Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Tree as well.

May 1-4 - three nights in a Kanazawa AirBNB. From here I plan to head down to Fukui to visit the Fukui Dinosaur Museum, which should be fantastic. Otherwise we'll simply explore.

May 4-9 - five nights at the Hotel Monterey Granmere Osaka. Will spend a lot of this time in Kyoto probably. Also going to see the Orix Buffaloes baseball team at Kyocera Dome. Maybe the Hanshin Tigers as well if I can convince the wife.

May 9-12 - three nights in a Hiroshima AirBNB right across the river from the Peace Park. Will do some of the usual stuff. Visit Miyajima. Also going to see Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC, and will try to get to the Mazda Museum. Very tempted to do a sidetrip to Shimonoseki (Fugu town) to try the local speciality. We'll see.

May 12-14 - two nights at Canal City Washington Fukuoka. Shopping and general touristness. Plus more food!

May 14 - FKK - SIN - PER in SQ J (Our first international J experience , with a three hour layover in the Silverkris lounge.)

JR passes arrived in the mail last week. Looking forward to some shinkansen fun.

I've been trying to learn some Japanese but it's stalled a bit. I'll just have to make do.
I'll be doing my best to provide a live report as we go, with plenty of pics, thoughts, and recounting of hopefully not too hilarious cross-cultural mishaps.

Made heaps of other notes about places to visit, or eat, or explore. As I say recommendations welcome. Looking forward to gorging on some okonimiyaki especially.
And trying out as many vending machines as possible!

 

[vitagen]

I'm in Japan at the moment with my 9 month old... lots of fun but we are moving really slow! So don't try to fit too much in your itinerary . You will just miss the cherry blossom season unfortunately

 

[LadyC]

The Osaka aquarium could be fun for your toddler. Daimaru food hall at Tokyo Station is great for buying lunches or even dinners when back at your room if the little one is tired. Kiji Okonomiyaki near Tokyo Station is delicious - originally from Osaka so a few outlets there I believe but haven't be been. There is a fugu stall in Nishiki market in Kyoto if you are interested in trying it.

 

[JohnM]

Settling into 1A.

 

[TomVexille]

Settling into 1A.

That's okay, I'm good with 1K

 

[Skyring]

Beginning of the baseball season. You should see some great play.

Sounds like an excellent and well-planned trip. Shinjuku and Shibuya are separated by the Meiji Shrine. Certainly walking distance, though perhaps a toddler might need some wheels. And well worth the effort; it is majestic tranquillity amongst the jumble of urban Tokyo.

The crossing at Shibuya is always fun. I've seen people walking across making home movies of the experience. And there is the dog statue outside the station; perhaps the young'un would like that.

Osaka Castle is hokey fun. A concrete recreation, but still full of history and great views. Kyoto is sublime in parts. The sakura will have left the Philosophers Walk, but it's pleasant enough, and there are oodles of tiny restaurants selling exquisite meals.

Hiroshima can be an emotional slug in the guts. I wasn't expecting it, but the place got to me. Beautifully done, and certainly a place all politicians should visit.

The trains. Japan is a nation where the train set nerds of youth have grown up into positions of influence. Trains of every sort in every direction. Just navigating the Tokyo subway system is a true test, and Osaka is no better.

You'll have a blast!

 

[GarrettM]

That's okay, I'm good with 1K

The best we could do was 11A & C on the flights home. Oh well.

 

[TomVexille]

The best we could do was 11A & C on the flights home. Oh well.

Nothing wrong with that

Sounds like a great trip, baseball and food

 

[VPS]

Looking forward to this - Japan is on my list for next year hopefully

 

[Major]

I hope you enjoy the experience

 

[Melburnian1]

I hope that your JR passes are 'Green' - it's an even better experience. Less crowded is one of the bonuses.

 

[GarrettM]

It begins.
Well actually it began with a dull taxi ride, and a longer than average trek through the check in line.
But we got to see someone try to check in a chainsaw, which was different.
Also someone holding up the line because their passport has left than six months validity.
Oh well.
Can't seem to post pics from my tablet, which is a bugger. Will work to solve that as Igo.

Flight was very average. We had bulkhead seats, so a little extra leg-room. Except my seat wouldn't recline so I was upright most of the way.
Also the hand-held controls for the IFE were jammed into the armrest and would not come out, so didn't even have that to fall back on.
Not sure there's much point sending a message of complaint to SQ about it. Not like I was in a position to switch seats anyway.

We're now sitting waiting for our check in at the Carlton. Seems a nice place. Got another hour or so to go before our room is ready, which is frustrating with a small child. Doing all we can to keep her from going insane.
It's persisting down with rain outside too, so we can't really get out and about. Hopefully later.
I should be able to get some photos going by then as well.

 

[GarrettM]

Progress! The lobby at The Carlton. $7.50 for a latte! Plus 7% GST plus 10% service charge. Won't be drinking here again.
Went for a quick walk to City Hall station to get tourist passe for the MRT. The office was shut. Grrrr.

 

[love_the_life]

Have stayed at the Carlton before - location is very convenient opposite Raffles City. MRT is easy but taxis are very cheap and plentiful. Think we used a combination and just bought ordinary train tickets not passes.

If $7.50 ++ is dear don't have coffee in Tokyo as it's expensive all over, even in the stations, though vending machine is cheaper.

japan is wonderful so hope you have a great time.

 

[LadyC]

Whilst I hate saying this, Starbucks may be your friend in this instance.

 

[GarrettM]

I did just pay $9.80 for a scoop of icecream. Fortunately it was quite nice.
The little one slept on and off on the plane, as did her mother. But she is making us suffer today.
Who'd have thought the person behind this face could be anything but super delightful all the time.

We managed to take her for lunch and then a trip on the MRT, at which point she fell asleep for a while. But when we returned to the hotel our plan fell apart.
The wife and I debated which one of us would sleep and which would take her out again.
I lost, which is how I ended up walking along Victoria Street and getting icecream at Bugis+.
Took a few pics along the way.
St Joseph's Church.

And this grotesque yet intriguing building. Anyone know what it is?


Now we're going to head to the pool for happy hour, and then go for an explore to find some good food and check out Gardens By The Bay perhaps.
All in another attempt to keep this kid mellowed out until bedtime.
I'm going to enjoy a SIngapore Sling or two I think.

 

[love_the_life]

Din Tai Fung are in Raffles City and other locations if you like dumplings. Lots of choices.

 

[GarrettM]

$17.50 for two beers is pretty good in Perth, so can't complain about it here. Good stuff.
Nice swim. Weather is spot on right now.
Off to Makansutra now to find an early meal and then work out the rest of our night from there.

 

[love_the_life]

I did know what the building was but have forgotten! Very Art Deco style.

 

[Cynicor]

Parkview Square. Has a bar and an art gallery. Great place, many $.

I did know what the building was but have forgotten! Very Art Deco style.