Day 04 (Continued): So we went for a walk too around Lake Kawaguchi area and it was very cold. Oh yeah, did I mention? You could see your breath at Lake Kawaguchi and on Mt. Fuji. So anyway, we saw some idiots (2, to be exact) walking towards this convenience store from our hotel in the yukata and some clogs. I mean, the yukata is a freaking bathrobe! I think the Japanese were put off but didn't comment. Then we slept that night on tatami mats or futons or whatever. But I knew it was tatami. But maybe it's not called mat. Anyway, the hotel we stayed in was traditional Japanese style. And my sis and I stayed up very late because we couldn't find our socks and were searching for them, when in reality I had seen them but thought they were old ones. LOL.

Day 05: We set off from the hotel down Mt. Fuji. Oh yeah, in the morning we had traditional Japanese breakfast again and took a picture in front of Mt. Fuji (which was visible in the distance but not on film) and Lake Kawaguchi. The waitressess were all Japanese old ladies who were very cute! LOL. Even the old folks in Japan are cute. Then on the way down the mountain we visited this jewellery shop that had crystals from Mt. Fuji or something I can't remember where. The staff were all VERY POLITE, COURTEOUS AND FULL OF SMILES, something I was getting used to. Until I came back to Singapore and received crap service first thing at the stupid airport. Then we continued down the mountain and on east to Tokyo.

We arrived in Tokyo around 10+ and first went to Ueno. Actually I think we went to Ueno but I'm not too sure if it WAS Ueno, just that it was like a flea market. The guidebook thing says Ueno is a flea market selling all the local Japanese food stuff. Anyway, I just know we shopped at Ameyoko Street. (Is it called Ameyoko? I can't remember!) My parents bought all the food stuff like chocolates and Japanese biscuits and stuff like that and dried food and all. Then we went and shopped at the 100 Yen shop too, where I bought a cute pair of Japanese chopsticks. Next we went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch. Then when we were leaving and everything, we went up the stairs to the second level of the restaurant. I hesitated at the door, where there was a raised platform, cause I wasn't sure whether you had to remove your shoes. I removed my shoes before stepping in anyway, cause I saw that on this level, people were dining, seated on the floor and without shoes. My mum just walked in with her shoes and a young kitchen boy had to rush out and stop her. It was HUMILIATING AND EMBARRASSING AT THE SAME TIME. I was kind of mad.

After that, we visited Asakusa Kannon Temple and we shopped at Asakusa too (the street leading to the temple). On the way, we saw some international school children who were probably there on some school field trip and were being very loud. I bought some stuff, then we had to wait for my parents to finish up at the temple, then we bought some Japanese snacks, and then we stopped by a kindergarten on the street. The kids were so cute!!! And all the young mothers rode bikes there, were dressed up really nicely, like all the Japanese, wore boots and everything. And they would put their kids into like, these seats or whatever and then ride the bike home! And it was so cool! Yes, I know. Singaporean women... I don't know.

We then went to this place where you can see the imitation of New York's Statue of Liberty and Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge. We saw this group of high school and above kids there too, and their teachers were scolding some of them. This girl was crying.. So anyway, we took some pictures, and we took pictures with a two Japanese high school girls! Then we went in this shopping centre and bought clothes from the Gap, and then took another picture with another two high school girls. But the first two were older then the last two, and were actually very willing and quite happy I guess to take a picture with my sis and I. But the last two were younger and quite surprised. I think they actually didn't want to take the picture. I mean, they're such poor things. I mean, seriously.

Then after that we went to Shibuya, which houses the statue of Hachiko, but we didn't get to see it. Now Shibuya is busy. VERY VERY VERY BUSY. Seriously, there are so many people and when they cross the road on all four sides, it looks like a colony of ants. No kidding. We went to Shibuya 109, which is this shopping centre that most pre-teens and teenage girls/girls and boys (I can't remember) go. It's sort of like Far East Plaza, but way nicer. We didn't buy anything there, though.

Next we went to Shinjuku, but I didn't get to go to Harajuku! In Harajuku, I think every weekend, the streets are closed and young people go dancing there and some are talent-scouted. Most, if not all I think, fashions in Japan were started in Harajuku. And if there is any fashionable stuff in Japan, they are supposed to be able to be found in Harajuku. That's what the local tour guide said. We had Japanese steamboat dinner thing in Shinjuku then just walked around. By that time I think I was already sick. Because at the start of the day, my throat was already feeling irritable.

We stayed in this yucky Prince Hotel. It sucked! It was so disgusting. I missed the Westin and Hyatt then. It was also very dirty. DISGUSTING.

Day 06: Tokyo Disneyland! Some people went to Disney Sea. Now Tokyo Disneyland ROCKS! OKAY?! We arrived in Tokyo Disneyland from 9-10 o'clock. And we stayed there until 8.30 PM. We just took rides, watched a 3D show which was supposed to have English translation headphones in the second last seat if I don't remember wrongly but my idiot dad didn't listen to my sis and so we just sat through the entire thing in Japanese, not comprehending a word. But it was quite nice! It was the Inventor Awards show or something, and you could actually feel mice among your feet at one point when mice were supposed to be released. But one acquaintance we met on the tour told us about it so I was quite prepared and raised my legs, but I could still feel the mice. LOL. Some Japanese were screaming. Ha ha. Then we just ate and stuff, and took this really cool roller coaster where I actually raised my hands! I know! I'm lame! Anyway, it was really fun. So we shopped at the shops there too and because it was so crowded (two particular shops out of the three we went to) my dad got damn frustrated and all.

Then we watched an Electrical Parade, took pictures, bought ice cream and went back to the coach. Then we had Japanese Ramen and then went back to a nicer hotel than that idiot Prince Hotel, called Tokyu Hotel or something. I watched a basketball game on the TV.

Day 07: Fly back to Singapore. It was raining. I was thinking, if we went up to Mt. Fuji that day maybe it would snow. But anyway, so we just shopped at Narita Int. Airport again cos my dad wanted to use up his yen. Then flew ANA back. I watched the Bourne Ultimaum and Mr Bean's Holiday.

That's about it. Except some points I want to stress.

Point 1: Japanese people are very courteous! They always smile at you and say thank you and stuff. Singaporeans? Forget it.
Point 2: They are very cultured and refined. You know how in Singapore anywhere, in shopping centres or on the street or whatever? Some idiot Singaporeans talk damn loud like market people? And behave like barbarians or relatives of them? Yeah, well, that never happens in Japan. Ever. They talk softly. As in, among themselves. They don't disturb you. Very refined. Really. I don't know how to explain it properly. They just don't behave like rubbish Singaporean people.
Point 3: They all always dress up nicely. Really. I know this is winter, but they don't just throw on a soiled shirt or something. Really. They don't dress like rubbish Singaporeans either.
Point 4: Kyoto ROCKS! LOL.
Point 5: On the whole, Japan is just great. Singapore IS below Japan. I can't explain this either.