Sunday 17 May 2009
After dropping our stuff at the hotel, we set off again to our next stop Shibuya.
After dropping our stuff at the hotel, we set off again to our next stop Shibuya.
This is a prominent landmark of Shibuya--the large intersection in front of the station. It's the busiest pedestrian cross in the world. Crowds were coming from every direction at all time of the day. The landmark has been in featured in movie such as Fast and Furious 3 (Tokyo Drift) and Lost in Translation. The car chase in F&F 3 wasn't actually filmed in Shibuya as no way was the streets wide enough to do all those drifting and with the traffic level was so high, no form of racing can ever be done in reality.
Sitting on top of the station is the Tokyu Department store (东急). We couldn't help but headed to the basement again. It had now become my habit of wandering the depachika ( department food basement) in Japan as it is purely a sensory treat. My favorite section has always been the Japanese confectioneries.
What can I say! The cakes were simply works of art. This heart shaped cake was so enticing.
And this green slice. I so regret now that I didn't buy and try it. We were too busy taking pictures.
Gold fish?
Oh this, cooked Unagi(eel). At about 1260yen per rack, it's very expensive. But they were all beautifully cooked. Crispy skin and fatty texture. We came home with 2 packs ( they were well wrapped with foil paper). I wish we had bought more.
Oh this, cooked Unagi(eel). At about 1260yen per rack, it's very expensive. But they were all beautifully cooked. Crispy skin and fatty texture. We came home with 2 packs ( they were well wrapped with foil paper). I wish we had bought more.
A wide range of Wagashi ( Japanese sweets). We got a smaller version of the green ones in the middle. They were valid for just a month and we finished within a week on return. Perfectly sweetened with fresh melon bits.
I think Japan offers the best customer services in the world. 10 out of 10 shop assistants smile and bow all day. The non-stop smiling must be very tiring. thank God that I don't work in Japan. But as a customer, you will be treated like a VIP. I saw this lady when serving an elderly woman actually coming out the counter and handed the box with a bow.
Shibuya is the playground of Tokyo's youth and Shibuya 109 is the centre of Shibuya's youth fashions. We didn't visit this building partly because I am not too keen on buying any Japanese clothes on this trip and also because we had to get to the restaurant on time as the queues were frequent for this one. Oh, but out of plan, I bought 3 pairs of Japanese shoe liners and they were amazingly comfortable yet stylish. Can't find any similar in the UK. Wish I had bought more pairs.
The shop on the right in the picture with yellow neon light is a Japanese version of Boots, which you can find all over Japan. I visited at least one store on every single day and of course I bagged loads of stuff.
We didn't spent too much time on window shopping as we must get to the restaurant early for the dinner. This restaurant was so popular that queues were frequent.
It's all you can eat buffet Shabu Shabu for only 1890 yen person for 45 minutes. If you go at lunch time, you can eat all you can for a mind blowing 1000 yen.
モ～モ～パラダイス (Momo Paradise)-- BEAM 6th Floor, 31-2 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku (宇田川町31-2)
It's a pot filled with boiling soup , Thinly sliced beef or pork and vegetables are prepared and dipped in the soup. It's similar to Chinese "Hot-Pot".
Pork on the left and beef on the right. Once the plate was empty, the assistant gave us another plate even before we asked. Oh, and the sesami sauce was brilliant.
After dinner, we wandered around Center Gai (street), a pedestrain street lined with shops.
After dinner, we wandered around Center Gai (street), a pedestrain street lined with shops.
The iconic intersection is best viewed and watched from the second floor of Starbucks. This is a must do when you come to Shibuya at night. The photo was taken at around 10-11pm and still the place was crowded with people.
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