My 3 months in Japan....& it's coming to an end..

I arrived in Narita airport on 30th December 2005, out from immigration approx. 1600hrs.
I bought a Narita Express (bullet train) ticket to Shinagawa. The journey was about 1hr+15mins. There was about 15mins b4 the train depart so I walked towards a small convenient shop, trying to ask if there's any public phone. With my 'half-pail-water' japanese communication skills, I tried asking an 'oba-san' (middle-age lady who was tendering the shop). "すみません、電話どこありますか？" (May I know where I can find a public phone?) The aunty looked @me, started shaking her head & hands; left to right, (as though she just saw an alien). I walked away, irritated, I thought: Did I said something wrong? Nevermind....anyhow just a few steps from the shop, I found a WHOLE STRETCH of public phones! Happily, I made my call.

I board the train & waited eagerly for it to arrive @Shinagawa Station. "品川　station” - (intercom fr train). I then proceed to Ebisu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebisu,, - a very convenient place in Tokyo, filled with most foreigners & easily accessible to trendy areas like DAIKANYAMA, SHIBUYA, SHINJUKU, OMOTESANDO & ...etc

Link to OMOTESANDO, one of the classiest town, NOT TO BE MISSED!: http://metropolis.japantoday.com/HealthandBeauty/396/healthandbeautyinc.htm

Initially, I was homesick (ya, if u read my post on MY 1ST TIME, FAR & AWAY....). With the Japanese book I brought over from SG, I started learning Japanese (the awkward experience with the oba-san has triggered my eagerness in picking up their language). Then, I made a friend through SAIJ http://www.saij.org/feedback_help.asp (a link for Singaporeans in Japan - A MUST KNOW!). Initially, I was quite paranoid about meeting people through internet (so many scary stories we have heard rite) but then I was so desparate to shake my loneliness off. I braced up my courage & I met up with Aelis (my 1st SG girl friend!). GOSH - I can never explained how HAPPY I was! We met @the popular ROPPONGI HILLS http://www.roppongihills.com/en/facilities/ (You must not missed out this gorgeous shopping mall if you visit Tokyo, of course, there are many more such AMAZING buildings in Tokyo) - Heard about the LIVEDOOR scam - the office is just right in this 'HILL'! This is a TAKAI (expensive) HILL!

Tokyo is a country filled with trendiest coffee house; with delicate & delicious cakes & tarts! Every stretch, every corner I turned to, there's definitely an amazing boutique or restaurant or bar or gift shop, awaiting me! I'm telling the truth! There's no one corner where there's nothing!
It's such a BUSY city: I liked a quote Reki commented on Tokyo, he says: TOKYO NEVER SLEEPS! And true enough, "24-7" (24hrs, 7days), you can see groups of people, gathering everywhere, anytime, having FUN!

I am especially thrilled with the most common IZAKAYA-style restaurants. http://www.gnavi.co.jp/en/k_restaurant/izakaya.htm Most of the biz men & ladies patronized these restaurants after a hard-day's work, & u know - there are so many of them, most with excellent ambience that you don't really have to worry that it's FULL-HOUSE. The best part of these izakayas is you & your friends can stay there the whole nite, eat, drink, chat, all the way till the shop closes; some as late as 6AM! TOKYO NEVER SLEEPS!

There's just too many restaurants in Japan. My favorite: YAKINIKU! http://www.gnavi.co.jp/en/k_restaurant/yakiniku.htm I just can't stop eating MEAT! Anything, beef tongue, raw beef, u name it, I'v tried it! OISHII (delicious)!

Here's a link to all the different types of restaurants & food, from Tokyo to Yokohama:
http://ss.gnavi.co.jp/fl/search/?id=enU&area=AREA110&ctgry=CTG610 (You will LOVE ME for this!)

Perhaps I have never been to another foreign countries but coming to Tokyo gives me the feeling that I'v been to many parts of the world! Every place I visited, gives me a different experience & amazement! There's so many gorgeous architects, like PRADA, GUCCI, CHANEL, LOUIS VUITTON etc....branded BULDINGS on its OWN & in different parts of Tokyo!

(prada shop in aoyama) http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/pradatokyo/

One of the most important factor a shopper looks for is SERVICE & I can tell u, their service staffs; in restaurants, in shopping malls, any corner as long as they r running a biz., they provide u THE BEST! Every little product u purchase, as long as u mention "it's a gift for someone", they have it wrapped beautifully FREE-OF-CHARGE (so thoughtful of them)!

There are unique stalls like the 100yen shops where ALL products are sold at just 100yen!
I recently came across a 99yen supermarket where all fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, ice-creams....EVERYTHING u can find in a supermarket, everything at the price of 99yen (equiv to S$1.40)! Don't believe what I just said, U gotta see it for yourself!
http://www.kananet.com/japanguide/link10hiroo.htm

I probably can never stop talking about Tokyo...& it's only a small part of Tokyo that I'v been talking about! There are so many other areas in Tokyo & many more in different parts of Japan, like Yokohama, Kyoto.....etc...the Hakone (a place where one can find lots of ONSEN - hot springs)...TOO MANY & so many I still have not set foot on! It probably takes YEARS to travel the whole of Japan!

The fashion, the people, the food, the places of interests - YOU'V GOTTA EXPERIENCE IT YOURSELF TO GET THE FEEL OF IT!

My visa; 90 days, is expiring soon & I'm heading back to Singapore on 26th March 2006.

How do I feel? Sad that I'm leaving this interesting country. Happy that I'v learnt so much!

Thank you, Reki, for giving me a fruitful living experience in this beautiful country!

TOKYO NEVER SLEEPS - when I can hear visitors tag this comment to SINGAPORE?