Daiwa Roynet hotel, Nishi Shinjuku, Tokyo

Originally I was supposed to try this hotel, but ended up staying at Hilton.  The hotel is very new in the Nishi Shinjuku area.  The lobby deco. is quite contemporary and to me a bit boring.

Shimotakaido Asahizushi, Mylord mall, Shinjuku station, Tokyo

I've seen a TV program about how some people abused the free table booking in Japan.  Those people booked tables in various restaurants in case they aren't sure which restaurant to go in the last minute.  Ended up some restaurants had some empty tables.  Most of all, some restaurants serving sushi and sashimi had to waste the food.  This time I ran into this situation.  I was told the place was fully booked but almost half of tables weren't yet occupied.  As I returned after an hour, it was still the same.

So the other night, I returned and tried it.  Had a very nice sushi platter at just JPY3,200 (appro. HK$230) and a salmon seaweed salad at JPY680 (HK$50).  Another good thing about this restaurant was that they served some reduced salt soy sauce.  The sashimi was very fresh and the rice too.  I'll have this one on my travel list for future visit in Tokyo and if I can, search it in other Japanese cities.

Hilton Tokyo, Nishi-Shinjuku

Got a good rate from a HK hotel booking site, at US$250 a night, vs US$400 on those popular booking sites.  The room is double the size of the other hotels nearby.  The rooms have recently been newly renovated and the air-conditioning system also refurbished.  The only drawback is the sound proof.  In taking into account that there are a gym and a swimming pool, US$250 with a 30 sq. m, room and nice bedding and deco. in the prime area Nishi Shinjuku, it's a very good deal.  

Nishi (West) Shinjuku, Tokyo

築地玉壽司, Takashimaya dept. store, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Seems like this trip takes most of the eating places in the department stores of Tokyo.  However, this way of selecting the restaurants would be easier especially when you are travelling in a group and that you don't have any reservation.  Furthermore, the restaurants are in a more spacious seating and quieter.  

This sushi place has its headquarters in Tsukiji.  Somehow I still prefer the seafood don set with 5 pieces of sushi.  So filling but so good too.

A super supper, sashimi don and noodle soup, Shinjuku, Tokyo

On the first night arrival at Tokyo, we went to a local sashimi don place inside Kabuki.  Got a bowl of sashimi on rice at around JPY1,300 with sea urchin, minced tuna and salmon roes.  The size was actually good enough for a supper meal, but we felt missing something after this nice meal.  There we went for another noodle shop for something hot and savoury.

Tajiyama coffee shop, Odakyu Dept. Store Shinjuku station Tokyo

Like I always told about how to get some guaranteed places in Tokyo - checking out those cafes and restaurants in department stores.  This place proved it once again (but not guaranteed it could be a 100% hit).  The sandwich is not bad but the coffee is a very aromatic drip Japanese coffee.  Now that I know a  local coffee place in Shinjuku station, instead of those chains.

Shinjuku Gracery hotel, Tokyo

The hotel is situated inside Kabuki area (busy and night life).  Shinjuku wasn't that complicated before; so I wouldn't mind staying in this area, but when the night life came with other "societies" (I was followed by a negro. and watched for what I bought in a convenience store).  If you look for this kind of  complex night life, this hotel would be a top choice.  However, it's way too busy for me and the clientele is generally from HK, CN, TW and KR.

The room itself is very nice and the sound proof is not bad.  There is a Gozilla head on the patio outside the hotel's lobby floor on the 8th.  Some rooms of this hotel are on a higher charge if the room is facing this Gozilla head, about 30% higher.

Deep fried pork chop rice, Shinjuku, Tokyo

There are quite a no. of restaurants in Japan without a proper English name.  I was brought to this place and I wouldn't go in if I wasn't told about it.  Interesting that I walked by this street many times.  Their deep fried coating is quite special with some taro slices on it, making it even more crispy and aromatic.  The rice was nicely cooked to a perfect texture. 

博多天神 Hakata Tenjin Ramen, Tokyo, Japan

This noodle has been on my top list in Tokyo, and I have seen them expanding a lot from 2 shops to 16 shops. The shop was closed from 31 Dec to 3 Jan. So on my last day before heading off the airport on 4 Jan., I got to try another branch opposite to Kabuki in Shinjuku. However, after my try, I still prefer the one at the San-chome and Ni-chome in Shinjuku.

1. the chef. 2. the eggs and seasoning.

3. Their house made ginger and hot preserved veggie are very nice. 4. My ramen. Though it's not good as the one I regularly visit, it's still a very nice noodle to make a happy ending to my trip. The soup is very nice and aromatic with pork bone flavour.


5/6. the shop outside.

Tenkaiippin noodle shop 天下一品中華拉麵, Tokyo, Japan

Passed by this ramen shop and saw some people already inside at 10:30am morning. Thought it should be something.

1. I really don't know steamed rice can be as a theme for a kind of bento. 2. the table setting.

3. another side of the table. 4. the shop offers you the ramen in soy sauce soup base or chicken soup base.

5. so I chose the chicken soup base. It turned out the soup is like a thick stew and reminded me of the shark's fins made by Hook 福魚翅 on Suriwong Bangkok. If I don't take it as a ramen but a thick soup, it is quite tasty.