I was a little worry, it always was when the flight was full. We were lucky, managed to get on board. So began our Pokemon adventure ....
Reached early morning, temperature around 22.4 degree C. We took the Airport Limousine, which was actually a coach. Got down at Shinjuku Station, we immediately searched for the cinema. It was easy finding Shinjuku Picadilly from the map we printed before we left. I was quite familiar with the area from our previous trip. Back then, we didn't realise that there was a cinema there, we had passed the building so many times haha.
We got tickets for the 12pm show, and being the 1st day of the month, there was a discount. We paid 1000yen each instead of the 1800yen. That was good news. She wanted a fastfood, but couldn't find any in that area, she wasn't interested in the other food which we came across. In the end, I got a bun for myself and a chicken stick for her, though she only ate one small piece. I supposed she was more excited than hungry.
The way to the hall was one long flight of stairs after stairs, 9th floor I believe. Finally we settled in the cinema hall. She got her DS and wified when prompted. She got her pokemon. The movie started ... Pokemon 2009 movie in Japanese. As being tired with hardly any sleep on the flight to Tokyo, I began to feel my eyes closing often. In a way I was lucky not to doze off throughout the movie. That would have been disasterous, afterall, it was an expensive movie considering the airfare, even though with all the discount. 1000yen is about SGD16. She was wide-eyed and very attentive.
Anyway, the first part of our journey was a success. Now the next part... finding Pokemon Center. We went back to Shinjuku Station. Tried to find a Macdonald's but couldn't. We did get some melon buns, which seem to be only available here. Another must-do thing. Took the train to Hamamatsucho Station, then the search began. One good thing was there were plenty of young pokemon fans around. Even inside the train station, there was a promotion going on, could see many kids wearing Pikachu headwear. So, it was just a matter of following them, and sure enough, they were also heading for the Pokemon Center.
It was crowded inside. It was her 1st time being there, I could see her excitement. As was at the cinema too. I had been to 2 Pokemon Center before, one in New York while the other was in Tokyo, though it was at the old location. I had never been very familiar with Pokemons, every trip was for my children. I was lucky to be able to find the location each time based on map alone. This trip was no different. After looking around for a while, we left, with some goodies.
Next agenda was food, we were very hungry by then. Managed to find a fastfood nearby, not so near actually haha. The Wendy's here did not have shrimp burger, so she had to settle with a chicken teriyaki burger. Having had our filled, time to head back to the airport. We didn't reached in time for the 1910 flight, she was too keen on leaving Tokyo anyway. So we started looking for a hotel to stay overnight.
The hotel we stayed before Port Hotel didn't had discount as I was hoping it would. The rate was rather too expensive. So we took the free shuttle to Aeon Mall. We had our dinner there at the foodcourt. It was a familiar place for us, having been there twice before. It was one place where you can get MacDonald's and japanese food in the same seating area. She had her shrimp burger, which was available only here in Japan, while I had my ramen. We each had what we loved to eat. Being in Japan would be empty without she having her shrimp burger and me my ramen. I even went on a ramen trip the year before haha.
After the meal, did a little browsing around, then headed for the supermarket where I bought a little something to bring back home for those who had remained behind. I didn't check for the last shuttle timing, so we were lucky that there was one last shuttle to ANA Crown Plaza. I couldn't get a room there, being fully booked. The bell captain helped to search for an alternative, managed to find Narita U-City for us at 10390yen, which was much cheaper than the 20000yen at Port Hotel. She was tired and could use a bed, so we headed to the hotel. We took the 100yen each shuttle to Keisei Narita Station then walked to the U-City hotel. The night was cooling and several people were out, heading home probably. Then it was bedtime for us. It had been a long day, we were at Changi at around 7.30pm, reaching Tokyo around 7.30am, with hardly any good sleep. Finally resting in our hotel around 11.30pm. Time to sleep ....
The next morning, it was off to the airport at 8.10am when the airport shuttle picked us up. The counter just opened when we reached there. We had to be on standby as the flight was full, so we went to get Macdonald's breakfast. There were plenty of time so I looked around the shops there, and found some souvenirs to bring back. We were lucky on this trip. We got our flight, and seated together too. We were very lucky. Arigatoo gozaimasu Tokyo!
This is one trip we will not forget, a Pokemon journey ... a Pokemon adventure!
