Toots and Russ arrived at our Airbnb around 10pm on Day 1. They took the later flight kasi to Tokyo. The next day, we had a packed itinerary.
Or so I thought so initially.
We woke up early for our Sweet Escape photoshoot at Yoyogi park. Sabi ko we’ll check out Meiji Shrine and then go around Takeshita Dori to shop. After that, lunch at Shibuya and then shopping ulit. Sabi ko pa nga punta kami dun sa 47 Ronin na shrine eh.
However, that was the day when nagfull blast yung flu-like symptoms ko. Nilagnat na ako nung morning and it was so cold it wasn’t helping my congested and clogged nose. Masakit sa ulo, mga bakla. Parang binabarena. Sama talaga ng pakiramdam ko. But bilang ako ang reyna sa family namin ng ka-galgalan, I was able to join them. Nakasabay ako ng slight. Yun lang, come afternoon, batt empty na ako so we went home to have a nap and rest before having dinner at Ueno.
Medyo nagsisisi ako with this Stradivarius top that I wore for the pictorial and for the pasyal that day. It added 10,000 lbs sa akin. When I saw it kasi sa mannequin at Stradivarius parang ang ganda. Narealize ko lang that the mannequin was 25 lbs lighter and 6 inches taller than I was. Kaya siguro maganda sa kanya yung top. Hahahahaha! Nevertheless, hindi ko na din kasi naisip masyado what to wear sa sobrang concentration ko to deadma my sickness.
There’s the stage Wowa. May tag pa daw kasi yung top ko. Hahaha!
Top and pants: STRADIVARIUS; Shoes: NIKE; Bag: QUIRK MANILA
We arrived early so Alvin and Anika took the stow away poses nila. Ang hilig niyan ni Alvin humilata sa weird places tapos magpapicture ng ganyan.
Kan, our Sweet Escape photographer was good. He was the one who took the Tokyo Sweet Escape photos of Max Magallona and her husband. After daw namin, may schedule naman siya kay Gabbi-something. Apparently sikat na sikat yung batang yun dito sa Pilipinas. Ang tita ko lang because I was the only one in the group who didn’t know her.
Here are some behind the scene shots c/o Wowa.
Yoyogi park is nice. Maganda magwalking walking or jogging. Spot for lampungan din siya kasi nature all around. Kan said that super daming people daw here during Sakura season. Like mas madami pang tao kaysa puno.
Our shoot ended at 9am. I’ll give you tips for the Sweet Escape photo shoot in a separate entry. We had breakfast at Yoyogi park afterwards.
And then we walked to Meiji Shrine. I forgot lang that the Meiji Shrine is so far from the entrance. Napaka-haba ng lalakarin mo. We should have skipped this na lang because they sa na naman the Sensoji Temple which for me is the nicest temple in Tokyo. It felt like naglakad ako sa Baclaran church ng nakaluhod. My body was so heavy and ilang kilometers din from the entrance to the shrine itself.
They had an area where you can write down your prayers and wishes. Todo sulat naman kami ni Anika.
We were lucky because there was a wedding. It’s not everyday you witness a Japanese traditional wedding.
On our way out of the shrine, Wowa bought us mga anting-anting. Hahaha! Lucky charms daw yan. Each one is different from another. May specific na trabaho yung lucky charm. Merong health, money, peace of mind, ganern.
After the Meiji Shrine, we walked to Takeshita Dori.
We entered Daiso and 1 hour ata yung tinagal namin dun. I didn’t shop yet because sabi ko madami pa kaming madadaanan. Anika asked to buy na pasalubongs for her team mates. Mahal na mahal ni Anika mga volleyball team mates niya grabe. We bought pretty pens for only 100 yen each. Bale parang Php 50 each. So cute and affordable! I wish namakyaw na nga ako in Daiso. There were so many nice things you want but do not need but want to buy. Hehehe. Si Wowa umuwi ng may dalang napakadaming Christmas decor garland. Alam niyo yung old school na pinapaikot sa Christmas tree? Yun makati? She bought a lot. Kaloka nanay ko. Expensive daw kasi in Manila. Mga 50% less dun sa Daiso.
We started walking because they were hungry na. We walked towards Shibuya. It was a miracle that we passed by an Ichiran restaurant that had no lines! Tuwang tuwa ako!!! One, we were so hungry. Two, I wanted to eat ramen because of my cough and colds. Kailangan ko ng something mainit para matunaw yung phlegm. Sorry TMI! Three, it’s Ichiran in Tokyo, baby!
Sadly, wala akong panlasa because of my congested nose and severe cough. Inisip ko na lang na masarap. Hahahaha! The hot soup helped me and made me feel a little better.
We were so tired by the time we arrived in Shibuya. Pero we still had our photos in the Shibuya crossing and with Hachiko.
May sakit nga ako. Wala akong rampa photo at the Shibuya crossing. So weird din because ang konti ng people crossing. Nanibago ako!
Note to self: Ikwento muna kay Anika ang story ni Hachiko or any statue before going. Hindi tuloy siya makarelate. Hahaha!
We went home to rest after this. We went to Ueno for dinner with Tito Ken afterwards.
This was also where we bought the magic medicine na nilaklak ko everyday to function. Mahal pero keribelles. At least na-enjoy ko ang Disneyland the next day.
Day 3 coming up!