Thursday, December 15, 2022

12 days Japan trip (December 2022)

 Updated on January 2nd, 2023:


Above are the recorded spent throughout the trip. As many meals were sponsored, hence I would say S$9,000 for a family of 3 is enough for this similar trip.
Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden is simply amazing!
Rainbow welcomed us at Shirakawago!

Our meals:

(1) Tsukiji Sushidai Honkan (TOKYO)

(2) Ajikura Tengoku (TAKAYAMA)

(3) LE MIDI (TAKAYAMA)

(4) Kaiten Zushi Okura Omicho (KANAZAWA)

(5) Gyuytan Yaki Sendai (TOKYO)

(6) Shiseido Parlour (GINZA)

(7) Bunmeido Cafe (GINZA HIGASHIGINZA)

(8) Starbucks Reserve (GINZA)

(9) Sabou Usagi (TAKAYAMA)

(10) 五彩 町家和食 Yasuecho (KANAZAWA)

(11) かじ橋食堂 Shimosannomachi (TAKAYAMA)

(12) Kannonyama Fruit Parlor (OMOTESANDO, TOKYO)

(13) 豐榮莊  Kijitei Hoeiso (HAKONE)

(14) Chalet Shiga (NAGANO)

(15) Kaisendon Marukita Tsukiji (TOKYO)

(16) 一番 (SHIBUYA)

(17) IPPUDO (GINZA)

(18) Ginzashirayuki (GINZA)

(19) Ten-ichi (NIHOMBASHI)

(20) Bocchi (NAGANO)

(21) 炭火焼鳥 まるべ 新橋烏森口店 (SHIMBASHI)

(22) Cho-hachi (KANAZAWA)

Our hotels:

(1) The Royal Park Canvas- Ginza 8 (TOKYO)

(2)  豐榮莊  Kijitei Hoeiso (HAKONE)

(3) Wat Hotel & Spa Hida TAKAYAMA

(4) Kamin KANAZAWA

(5) Chalet Shiga (NAGANO)

(6) Narita Tobu Hotel Airport (TOKYO)

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(1) Tsukiji Sushidai Honkan (TOKYO)

It is definitely a MUST try at Tokyo! We queued for 35 minutes. Our breakfast had become brunch. You simply do not want to miss this.

As we traveled with a 10-year-old boy, we had to order kid stuff. Those egg related items and cod fish were for him. We opted for one Omakase set meal and added few dishes. The sashimi (S$52) was heavenly good.

The total bill was S$171 for 2 adults and 1 child.

Tokyo: casual, fast and delicious sushi at Tsukiji Sushidai Honkan - Travel Food People

















(2) Ajikura Tengoku (TAKAYAMA)

Hida beef is famous at Takayama. We chose yakiniku grill and ordered 2 sets of Ajikura servings which has all the Hida beef, roast cutlets, prime kalbi rib meat cuts, prime roast, beef cubes and sliced Hida beef. One set price: JPY10,758. It's quite a good deal set, enough for 2 people. We also ordered one set of shabu-shabu. The mango and lemon sorbet were special and yummy!

The total price was about S$300+ for a dinner, 6 adults and 1 child. My family-in-law (4 adults) joined our Japan trip from Hakone to Nagano. We had our own times at Tokyo for extra 4 days.





















(3) LE MIDI (TAKAYAMA)

We chose French Japanese fine dining for the HIDA Fillet SteakA4 200 gram (JPY9,300). A French-style HIDA beef tarter (GradeA-5) (JPY2,800), etc. 

Their appetizers, breads, dessert were delicious too! A dinner for 7 people costs about S$400. Reservation is recommended. It has limited seats for larger group.













(4) Kaiten Zushi Okura (KANAZAWA)

This is one amazing place for great sushi at Omicho market, Kanazawa. It was only less than 10-minute walk from our hotel (it is a private hotel called Kamin Kanazawa. I will blog more about this, and it is actually a nice loft apartment that can house 7 people). 

We arrived early, took a queue number and we were the second on the queue! It opened sharply at 8 A.M. The sushi was great, and the price is very reasonable (value for money). We spent about S$200+ for the brunch of 7 people. The snow crab soup was so delicious and it’s only JPY530 hence we ordered two at the end. Do check out their today specials menu and we had Nodoguro. Black sesame ice-cream is a must in Japan. They serve really good black sesame ice-cream! After the brunch, we continue to taste some light seafood at the Omicho fish market. It is a fun place to explore.


























(5) Gyuytan Yaki Sendai (TOKYO)

It is a Sendai specialty, grilled ox tongue.
We ordered special thick char-grilled ox tongue set meal, a grilled beef skirt steak set meal and a combo normal char-grilled ox tongue and grilled beef skirt steak set meal. It all comes with barley rice and ox-tail soup. The special thick char-grilled ox tongue is nice with good texture. I love their grilled beef skirt steak too! The bill was S$72 for 3 people.

















(6) Shiseido Parlour (GINZA, TOKYO)

This is one nice cafe at Ginza, just 2-minute walk from our hotel. We ordered "Koihime" Strawberry Parfait, their signature fried shrimp sandwich (delicious!), coffee and tea. 

Good ambience to have tea break. We paid S$55.














(7) Bunmeido Cafe (GINZA HIGASHIGINZA)
I believe this a chain cafe in Japan. Just another cafe hopping, we ordered Strawberry Parfait, a Matcha Tiramisu set, coffee and green tea. We spent S$35 here. It is on the way to Tsukiji fish market.










(8) Starbucks Reserve (GINZA)

During the lunch time, you can only find a seat at the first floor and the space is limited. The Starbucks Reserve coffee tastes much better. We ordered cappuccino, hot chocolate and some pastries. We spent S$23 here as a short tea break. Good experience.










(9) Sabou Usagi (TAKAYAMA)

This is one cute cafe at Takayama, near the Miyagawa morning market.

We ordered matcha tea tiramisu set, yume usagi sweet tray set and the delicious apple pie. It is definitely a good cafe you want to stay and chill!












(10) 五彩 町家和食 Yasuecho (KANAZAWA)

They didn't have large crabs hence we ordered 2 small crabs. I ordered Waygu beef on hot stone. It was so damn good. We also ordered some weird side dishes like shirako sushi. It is sperm sacs from male cod. It tasted fine but it just cannot be my favorite, ha ha. We spent S$350 here for dinner.
















(11) かじ橋食堂 Shimosannomachi (TAKAYAMA)

Hoba Miso with Hida Beef 朴葉味噌 is a must try dish at Takayama. 
We had such dish for breakfast at Miyagawa morning market (川朝市). It was good and special. :)
















(12) Kannonyama Fruit Parlor (OMOTESANDO, TOKYO)

Another cafe at Omotesando for Strawberry Parfait and La France Pear Parfait. We also ordered some fruit sandwich, apple, cinnamon and anpo persimmon. It's pretty good.


















(13) 豐榮莊  Kijitei Hoeiso (HAKONE)

The ryokan provided the dinner and breakfast throughout the stay. The server took her time to explain each single dish and the food was unique.

Dinner



















Breakfast




(14) Chalet Shiga (NAGANO)

The chalet provided dinner and breakfast for our 2-night stay. Sumptuous meals indeed.











Breakfast













Breakfast






(15) Kaisendon Marukita Tsukiji (TOKYO)

We ordered una-don (Eel) and king crab, sea urchin & fatty tuna-don. We paid S$100 for these two bowls. After the meal, we had strawberry daifuku mochi and strawberry ice-cream. Happy ending!








(16) 一番 (SHIBUYA)

This is a home-cooked food, prepared by one old grandma. The gyoza and fried rice were delicious. Ramen was just fine.








(17) IPPUDO (GINZA)

One word - GOOD!
We paid S$31.70 for this dinner meal.






(18) Ginzashirayuki (GINZA)

We ordered Unaju, eel over rice, sukiyaki, beef hot pot and grilled beef bowl. The portion was decent and the food were delicious! We paid S$68 for this lunch.







(19) Ten-ichi (NIHOMBASHI)

This is a tempura restaurant at the 8th floor of Takashimaya departmental store at Nihombashi. We ordered seasonal tempura set and tendon matsu. We paid S$62 for this lunch. There was a 20% discount promotion.







(20) Bocchi (NAGANO

Authentic hand-made soba noodles near Nagano station. You can taste the authentic Shinshu Togakushi Soba noodles. We also ordered horse meat sashimi.






(21) 炭火焼鳥 まるべ 新橋烏森口店 (SHIMBASHI)

We ordered green onion salted beef tongue, homemade roast beef, etc. We paid S$64 for this dinner.













(22) Cho-hachi (KANAZAWA)

We ordered tempura, seafood-don and grilled beef after a long train journey. Pretty good stuff!







(1) The Royal Park Canvas- Ginza 8 (TOKYO)

This is the best Tokyo hotel I have ever stayed. You must check it out! Do choose room type (01) as it has pretty good space in the room. The toilet size is huge! The location of the hotel is good as it is right next to Ginza Street, best of all, the price is good too. We paid S$152 a night for 2 adults and 1 child. We stayed here for 4 nights.





















(2)  豐榮莊  Kijitei Hoeiso (HAKONE)

This is a quiet and peaceful Japanese ryokan, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lush-green nature. We spent all day within the ryokan. We did the indoor and outdoor onsen and Hoeiso provided sumptuous dinner and breakfast for everyone. Hence, the cost is higher. We paid S$569 for one night, dinner & breakfast included. By far, this was the best outdoor onsen experience.













































(3) Wat Hotel & Spa Hida Takayama (TAKAYAMA)

We paid S$114 for one night stay for 2 adults and 1 child.

The location is about 12-minute walk from the train station. They have indoor and outdoor facilities too. The room size is big, and the price is good.


















(4) Kamin KANAZAWA

This is a very nice loft apartment, good location, just 5-minute walk to the fish market. We have 6 adults and 1 child, and it can fit 7 people comfortably. We paid total S$401 for a night. The price is very good for 7 people. It also has a large living hall and kitchen. :)













(5) Chalet Shiga (NAGANO)

This hotel is very old but it's clean. We are the only family staying in the entire hotel as early December is still considered as non-peak skiing season. Nevertheless, we paid S$487 a night, dinner and breakfast included. We stayed here for 2 nights as we went skiing for a day nearby and it snowed on the day! They have indoor onsen and sauna room.

















(6) Narita Tobu Hotel Airport (TOKYO)

As our flight is at 10 a.m., we decided to stay one night at the airport hotel. Hence, we toured around GINZA area until 3 p.m. and took a train to Narita airport hotel. We paid S$86 for a night. It is a good night rest before boarding the next morning! No rush.