Monday, July 15, 2013
Japan July 2013 - Day 8 (Sapporo - Tokyo)
Another transit day. Today we have to start earlier because our flight is at 1030. Good thing is that the airport is not as far away as in Kyoto. We had breakfast in the hotel lobby (free) and checked out at around 0700. By the way, at the Toyoko Inn Hokudai Mae, breakfast is at 0700 to 0930 but bread and coffee is available from 0630.
After breakfast we walked over to the JR Sappror station to catch the Airport Rapid service which departs every 15 mins. The fare costs 1040 yen for an unreserved seat and 1340 for a reserved seat. We bought unreserved (anyway reserved seats were sold out until the 0845 train) and got onto the platform to see a fully seated train so we decided to wait for the next one.
Since we were early for the next train, it was easy to get a seat. Yes, people honour the first come first queue first served system here. Even if you ae not queueing properly, the person who comes later will most of the time take note that you were there first.
Got to the airport in plenty of time left, and proceeded to get ourselves checked in. On the way, I passed by the Jaga Potato counter. Wow!! I didn't think I would really come across it, so I had to buy it :D Heard that it's really nice. It's limited production btw since I heard that the potatoes all come from a particular farm. 525 yen for a box of 10 packets. Everyone is allowed to buy 5 boxes.
The check in and baggage deposit counters are separate here, so it might take a while to get cleared. However, I noticed that when my mum was clearing the security checks for carry on baggage, they saw the bottle of water that she forgot to clear and they put the bottle on a scanner / detector and then the lady took a whiff of the contents and allowed my mum to bring the liquid in. Interesting.
The flight was on a 747-400 craft, which I did not think that I would still have the opportunity to fly on again. It was 1 and 1/2 hours before we landed in Tokyo. We took the Keikyu line which brings us direct to Asakusa where our hostel is, for 640 yen. However, the station is actually further away then another option which we have to transit twice, so it took us a while to walk to the station.
Along the way,I started getting a sense of familiarity and looked out for the cheap bento place I ate at before. Near the hostel, I finally found it! Bento for 250 yen, Good portion of rice, assorted ingredients included so you can choose your preferred combination. Do note that 5% tax is not included so you have to add that into the final price. We bought 2 bentos and continued on to the hostel.
When we reached the hostel, it was nice, cosy and the reception was friendly. However as check in was at 1600, we cold put our luggage in the room but had to wait till the cleaning was completed. In the meantime, we ate our bento and napped in the lounge.
Finally, we got into the room and it's really quite good.
There is a bunk bed and one more platform thinggy with tatami so you can actually sleep 3 people in the room. Presently, the reception came in to do a room check and asked if we received origami. He gave us a crane and an absolutely cute Totoro!!
I love that Totoro!
After checking in we basically vegetated in the room. My mum was tired and so I napped too, but it turned out to be a full fledged sleep and I only woke at 2100. Good thing I had no plans.
Was planning to go to Hakone tomorrow but I doubt my mum can make it. So I think we will go to Sensoji and Meiji Jinggu instead.
0 Adorations
After breakfast we walked over to the JR Sappror station to catch the Airport Rapid service which departs every 15 mins. The fare costs 1040 yen for an unreserved seat and 1340 for a reserved seat. We bought unreserved (anyway reserved seats were sold out until the 0845 train) and got onto the platform to see a fully seated train so we decided to wait for the next one.
Since we were early for the next train, it was easy to get a seat. Yes, people honour the first come first queue first served system here. Even if you ae not queueing properly, the person who comes later will most of the time take note that you were there first.
Got to the airport in plenty of time left, and proceeded to get ourselves checked in. On the way, I passed by the Jaga Potato counter. Wow!! I didn't think I would really come across it, so I had to buy it :D Heard that it's really nice. It's limited production btw since I heard that the potatoes all come from a particular farm. 525 yen for a box of 10 packets. Everyone is allowed to buy 5 boxes.
The check in and baggage deposit counters are separate here, so it might take a while to get cleared. However, I noticed that when my mum was clearing the security checks for carry on baggage, they saw the bottle of water that she forgot to clear and they put the bottle on a scanner / detector and then the lady took a whiff of the contents and allowed my mum to bring the liquid in. Interesting.
The flight was on a 747-400 craft, which I did not think that I would still have the opportunity to fly on again. It was 1 and 1/2 hours before we landed in Tokyo. We took the Keikyu line which brings us direct to Asakusa where our hostel is, for 640 yen. However, the station is actually further away then another option which we have to transit twice, so it took us a while to walk to the station.
Along the way,I started getting a sense of familiarity and looked out for the cheap bento place I ate at before. Near the hostel, I finally found it! Bento for 250 yen, Good portion of rice, assorted ingredients included so you can choose your preferred combination. Do note that 5% tax is not included so you have to add that into the final price. We bought 2 bentos and continued on to the hostel.
When we reached the hostel, it was nice, cosy and the reception was friendly. However as check in was at 1600, we cold put our luggage in the room but had to wait till the cleaning was completed. In the meantime, we ate our bento and napped in the lounge.
Finally, we got into the room and it's really quite good.
After checking in we basically vegetated in the room. My mum was tired and so I napped too, but it turned out to be a full fledged sleep and I only woke at 2100. Good thing I had no plans.
Was planning to go to Hakone tomorrow but I doubt my mum can make it. So I think we will go to Sensoji and Meiji Jinggu instead.
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