Japan in May : Day 1 - Odaiba - Joypolis

Arrived in Japan on May 11th midnight. Decided to rest and walk around the city tomorrow morning.

Refrain going to Japan in the beginning of May, because of Golden Week.

Before I go to Japan, I saw that the weather is kinda hot but it will be raining all week. So I prepared for rainy and hot day.....

And when I arrived, in the morning, it's cold af!!!

17 degrees to be precise!! So I wear my scarf and my thin coat.... And when I arrived at Odaiba... It's really hot!!! Orz

The weather is confusing....

My first plan is actually going to Totoro museum or Tora san museum... But it was closed on May! *bad luck

So the host told me about Odaiba as a dating site.

Odaiba is really big! I forgot to find a guide map before going there!

So just wandering around finding my way, but I'm going to give you the map guide!!

Places that you should go in Odaiba

How to get there?

It's easy, from wherever you are, go to Shimbashi station and move to Yurikamome Line. It has a symbol like below, so it's easy to spot.

The symbol represents the rail itself that goes looping like that. It's an automated train. So it's fun to ride. 

Because I don't know where I would go, so I disembark at Odaiba Shinkoen Station, the first station in Odaiba and just trying to find my way...

What's there

After arriving at Odaiba Shinkoen Station, I walk straight, and you will see whether to walk on the bridge or go down to the pedestrian walk. I chose to go down, and not long after that, I saw a huge building called Decks!

Image Credits : http://www.pinballnews.com/sites/odaiba/1.jpg

Because it's still quiet in the morning, and I was curious. so I go there, and.....  it was a mall, with an amusement park called Joypolis from SEGA!

Tips : Bring your passport or ID card for a Discount! (Tourist only)

In Joypolis, you have to pay only to enter the theme park, and also pay again to play the games!! But you can buy the free pass...

The Prices

Every game has different rates

Because I got my Foreigner ID Card, they gave me discount from 800 yen to 500 yen... And I got 3 coupons... both of them haven't use it yet... and one of them is one free crane game!

For more information about the prices, you can visit their website : http://tokyo-joypolis.com/language/english/

Even though this is like a tourist attraction and a dating site. They cannot speak English fluently. So, I can't play all of the games because I don't understand their instructions.

Joypolis consists of 3 floors...

Sorry for the really big size, I just hope you guys can see it clearly

First floor was, main stage, souvenir shop,  crane games, Music games, purikura (Photo Booth) and the exclusive games...

I tried the purikura... It's so confusing but also fun!!! I recommend you to try one if you're in Japan!! Don't worry about what pose you  have to make... Because there will be tutorial on what you should do next... LOL

The purikura booth consists of 2 rooms....

First : Pick the pose, and background that you want.... Get into the first booth for posing.... It's really big, so don't worry, you can put your bag inside...

Second : Move to the second booth to decorate your picture, and pick the printing template that you want... Wait outside for your pic...

My Fav pic!

The exclusive games. I don't know how to play it, but there are screen and music... is it a rhythm game?

The Second floor is another interactive games.... and some sonic games...

3rd Floor are games that required closed space, mini games and also cafe..

Host Club?

And in the souvenir shop I found Yamapi's Signature!!!!

***

So, Conclusion about joypolis is....

If you're a SEGA hardcore fans... Then, Think no more!!! Yes!! Go There!!

But if you're not and you still have lots of money, it's not gonna hurt to just come and see.... But if you're on a budget, better not.... lots of other crane games and purikura in Odaiba, I will tell you in my next blog...

But there are no more initial D, Sonic Games, Ace Attorney games, other than here.... So yeah, it's your choice....

***

It looks like the blog will keep getting longer.... still a lot more places I wanna talk about in Odaiba...

I'll continue this in another Blog... Next... day 1: Odaiba - Takoyaki Museum, Venus Fort....

To be Continued

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Couchsurfing in Japan

Last week, I decided to go to Japan and the first time in my life, I'll try living with the local. It's kinda like homestay actually.

Why?

At first, I already booked my hotel near Tokyo. But when I found that someone got interested in Hosting me. I was interested too!!!! New experience!!!!

I found them from Couchsurfing

What is Couchsurfing?

It's a website to connect travelers and hosts around the world. Where we can crash to their houses for free and sometimes with a small fee. (Depends on the host)

I was actually just trying. Not really looking for hosts...

But then, Seirei Tobimatsu-san contacted me that she's interested in hosting me. 

You can find them Here .

So I go to Japan and decided to bring them some Indonesian Roasted Coffee beans and some brown palm sugars.

Because they said that they don't need anything other than those two. They're currently decluttering their house. so they don't need anything that is unnecessary. 

Arrived at Japan at 11 PM. And go asap to find the available trains to their house. Because I thought I will be staying in Tokyo, so I bought tickets to Haneda Airport. If I knew that I will be staying at Chiba, I'll buy tickets for Narita Airports instead. 

From Haneda to Chiba took almost 2 hours.... maybe 90 minutes. I was blind with Japan Train Map. But I gather my courage just to go there at night!!!

I arrived at Matsudo station safely! But I have to find a train to Tokiwadaira Station. So I can walk to their house easily, rather than from Matsudo station. I ask the local how to get the train. I ask with English and some body language, and he answers with Japanese. Thank God I understand a little bit! 

It's already 1 PM at Tokiwadaira Station, and I still have to find their house. With Google map I trust!

I already mark their house, so I don't need to have an internet connection to get there. Only the GPS and a star mark on the map!

It's dark, quiet, unfamiliar and I can smell jasmine flower in front of some houses.... So... Yeah it's creepy... 

But Thank God, I found their house. Thanks to the 2-seater Audi Car they've parked in their garage. Otherwise, I almost got into the wrong house with the same facade design. 

I arrived at their house safely, and she's still awake waiting for us... I feel bad... But there's nothing I can do.....

This is used to be the room that they will assign me for. But I think because her son came home. So I was assigned to another room........... it's near an altar of their deceased mother.... and near a creepy doll inside a glass box... *I'm always afraid of human-like dolls*... I forgot to take a picture.... because I was too busy.... 

My Room

We can't complain of course.... We were glad that we get a big room, a pillow, and a mattress.... even though it's a little bit creepy. The room itself using a Japanese traditional door, so it can't be lock....

But they do have spacious living room, bathroom, kitchen and 24-hour wifi....

Toilet

Bathroom

Bathroom

Living Room + Dining Room

Seirei / Judy-san was raised in Singapore and she's also an English teacher in the elderly community. That's why her English is so good! And her husband is a Japanese.

Judy-san speaks softly, and elegantly. He's really nice and kind. He cooks breakfast for me every morning.

Fish Cake with radish and pancake. And banana for the fruit.

Salmon with asparagus on top of red rice

Gyoza

Yakisoba

Curry Rice

They live a really healthy lifestyle.. They never used vegetable or palm oil. And only use organic ingredients.

And because they're decluttering their house, they decided to give me their mother's kimonos.

Wardrobe ful of kimonos

***

Pros:

• You get to learn their lifestyle, their habits, their interests, and their characters
• You get to taste a Japanese homemade food
• Try to live as a Japanese
• Walk in the neighborhood
• Share knowledge and passion
• Cheaper than a hotel

Cons:

• It's a little bit far from the train station. It doesn't feel far in the morning. But it does in the evening after you exhaust your legs from walking all day
• Because some cultures differences, sometimes you'll feel like you did something wrong even though you don't know what it is.
• It feels bad to make them awake at night until you came home. So you can't go until late, and if you are. Rent some hotel rooms in town so you don't have to come home

Tips (If you want to try couchsurfing or any homestay):

• If you want to save both money and time, prepare to sleep on the couch of someone's apartment in the middle of the city.
• If you only want to save money, you can go to rural area, but not too far from the town, or you'll be spending more on train rides
• If you want to save time. Go find a hotel in the city.
• Do mind your manners when you're staying in someone else's house.
• If you're an antisocial or an introvert. just stay at the hotel

***

The next time I go to Japan, I'll just stay at the hotel. But I do love to stay at the local's house in other countries, and taste what it feels like to be the local.

Bonus Pictures

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