Vietnam and Japan 2017 Part 2

We were both looking forward to Japan, and after a four hour flight in economy class from Ho Chi Minh city we arrived at Narita Airport to a very efficient customs and immigration system. After we looked at options to get to Tokyo city centre, we decided to take the cheapest option. This was the frequent coach taking 90 minutes depending on traffic to Tokyo centre costing 1000 yen per person, compared to the train which was 3000 yen per person.

From Tokyo centre we had to take two subway trains, which was easy once we had a subway map. We finally arrived at our hotel - Ritz Carlton which is linked to a shopping centre. The hotel lobby is on the 45th floor, and every room has a great view of the city.

We were greeted by reception staff with a friendly smile and a hot towel and drink. We had arranged a meeting with Desiree Overhage, the International Sales Manager, for a tour round the hotel. We were really impressed with the hotel’s facilities. During our tour we saw Azure, one of the top Michelin star French restaurants in Tokyo. After our inspection, we went to our room where we had a lovely surprise of chocolate eggs plus a hand-written message from Desiree and the general manager welcoming us to the hotel. We were very touched by this personal service of hand written letters welcoming us to the hotel.

We had another surprise from Desiree as she upgraded us to Club lounge facilities which was lovely as it includes continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and light meal and snacks plus unlimited drinks. We think this would be a good option as the usual cost is around $200 per room per day and food and drinks can be expensive in Japan. The staff were friendly in the lounge and gave us tips of where to see and go whilst in Tokyo which was handy.

Breakfast in the main restaurant was buffet option with hot and cold dishes with bakery choices too, plus a la carte. The breakfast room had great views of the city. Our room had a view of Mount Fuji on a clear day, plus city view of Tokyo. We had the following facilities in our room - Marble bathroom with deep relaxing tub, individual rain-shower, double sinks, TV in bathroom, laptop-compatible in-room safe, TV with CD/DVD player, complimentary wired and wireless Internet in guest rooms, fully stocked refreshment bar, complimentary bottled water at the evening turndown with twice-daily housekeeping attention.

During our three-day stay in Tokyo we managed to get to Ginza, a place where they made silver coins for the Tokugawa shogunal government in the 17th century. Today, Ginza is a place where people enjoy shopping as the most established area in Japan. You will find authentic Japanese shops such as kimono, pearls, stationery, sweets and more.

Our tip is to visit the basement floor of the department stores which is dedicated only to food both from the country and the world, it’s at the famous intersection outside Shibuya Station. On sunny afternoons or clear evenings, the surrounding area is packed with shoppers, students, young couples and commuters. When the lights turn red at this busy junction, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. Traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides, like marbles spilling out of a box. You can observe this moment of organised chaos from the second-story window of the Starbucks in the Tsutaya building on the crossing's north side. After experiencing the "scramble", follow the trendy teens into Shibuya 109, a big shiny mall with more than 100 boutiques, for a look at the latest in disposable fashion. Or duck back into Shibuya Station and down to the bustling Tokyu Food Show for an elegant array of gourmet eats and an education in local tastes: grilled eel, fried pork, tiny fish salad, octopus on a stick, seafood-and-rice seaweed wraps and much more.

My wife also visited VR Park Tokyo, a virtual reality entertainment space, and Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. The oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji Temple is located in the heart of downtown Tokyo. The shopping street of over 200 metres, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Besides typical Japanese souvenirs such as kimono cloths and folding fans, a variety of traditional local snacks such as rice crackers, sponge cake with sweet bean paste, are sold along the Nakamise street.

Tsukiji Fish Market is one of the largest fish markets in the world famous for the Tuna auction. By visiting in the morning, you will get to see a vibrant market with many buyers. Stroll around the inner and outer markets to see more than 1,000 specialty shops with fish, seaweed, dried beans, vegetables, Japanese kitchen utensils and more. You can also try one of the freshest sushi ever for a light morning snack. Our tip is that, due to regulations at the market, it is required to be on line for 30 - 45 minutes to get admission for the tuna auction with your guide. Admission is not guaranteed, first-comes and first-serves basis.

We also went to Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the established Shinto shrines in Japan dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It is surrounded by vast woods located in the centre of the city, and visitors can enjoy the sacred atmosphere.

After our three-day trip, we returned to Vietnam.