Here we go! 40+ photos of my first snaps in Tokyo. I tried my best to lessen them but I just couldn’t resist not posting them here. I’m such a photo-hoarder, I know. In my defense, I merely want you to experience Tokyo the way I did. And there’s no better way than to show you as much photos as I can.
Our first full day in Tokyo started with a boat cruise at Nihonbashi Hunatsukiba or Nihonbashi’s dock. It’s said that around 3000 vessels dock here every year, including one cruise option that leads straight to the Haneda Airport. I bet you didn’t know that! For us though, this wasn’t the cruise we were taking. (Heck, we just arrived!) Instead, we just went around to see the sights of Edo era’s symbol of power.
Nihonbashi isn’t really your typical tourist spot but it has it’s charms, especially if you’re into Japanese history. “Nihon” means Japan, while “bashi” is derived from “hashi” which means bridge. During the Edo era, Nihonbashi was a “bustling waterfront city packed with maritime traffic” which is why it used to be called the “Venice of the East”. It’s the point where the Edo Five Routes converge, meaning it connected Edo to the rest of Japan. As a result, Nihonbashi was an important meeting place for merchants and played a vital role in trading. Naturally, a lot of essential services and shops began here, plenty of which are still virtually unchanged since being established 200 to even, 400 years ago. How I wish we were able to explore those stores!
This is the boat we rode in for the cruise. I call this our Boatmobile (derived from Batmobile. Get it? Har har. I know, I’m so corny.)
It’s a pity it was raining and gloomy when we went around. Miho, our wonderful guide who arranged this trip for us, said it would’ve been so much more enjoyable if we saw the surroundings when the sun is up and bright, especially because the new Nihonbashi is famous as a financial and business center. A lot of cool skyscrapers can be seen around the area. Now I understand why they say Nihonbashi is where modern Tokyo coincides with the traditional Edo era.
After our short cruise, we explored the modern side of Nihonbashi. Our next stop was its newly-opened mall, Coredo Muromachi.
Part of Nihonbashi’s revitalization is the construction of this underground passage that covers 11,900 square meters and connects 5 separately owned blocks. How efficient! We used it to transfer from one building to the next.
Our first order of business at Coredo? Kimono dressing!
All of us got to choose our own kimono sets. Since they’re all in dainty florals, I had such a hard time choosing!
The ladies at the shop dressed us. All we had to do was stand there and let them work their magic.
I didn’t know there were so many things needed to complete a kimono! These were all for me.
So basically, I was asked to take off all my clothing, except for my underwear. The kind lady who assisted me then tied my hair up and proceeded with the first layer of my kimono.
If I’m not mistaken, there were at least 3 layers of clothing on me and lots and lots of ribbons tied around my body. You’d think it would be uncomfortable but I actually felt so at ease wearing my kimono.
My beautiful floral print kimono fit for spring. Please excuse my rings. I forgot to remove them.
Voila! Can I pass as a Japanese now? You can opt to have your hair up to complete your kimono experience. They also have matching hair clips and bags.
This is my favorite part–the obi belt. It reminds me of the collection I made for Shu Uemura years ago. It was my inspiration.
Our feet are all dressed up too! Ready to wear our traditional sandals.
OOTD–kimono style!
Also in Coredo was a museum dedicated to Japanese culture. This was our next stop, whilst still in our kimonos. It’s actually pretty normal to see women in kimonos in Japan so we were all more than game to walk in our kimonos.
I couldn’t help but stare at all the beautiful kimonos on display at the museum. This one was my favorite. The embroidery is just…WOW!
I’d like to have this one too please! Apparently, they have different kimonos for each season. Can you guess which season these kimonos are for? if it’s spring that you guessed, you’re right!
I assume this is made out of food. I’m not too sure because I wasn’t allowed to touch it. Darn it! I really wanted to though.
While going around the mall, we chanced upon a demonstration by this talented chef. He was showing his customers how to make these 3 dishes in front of him.
Food art!
A lot of the stores here sell traditional Japanese novelty items. This particular store had a whole wall filled with chopsticks in different prints and colors.
I wish I can bring these home with me. I’ll probably just put them on display and never ever use them. LOL!
Before ending our tour around Nihonbashi, we grabbed a quick lunch at this restaurant near Coredo. The food was great as usual. We had a bento box filled with yummy sushi, flavored rice, seafood and so on and so forth. I was so excited to eat them that I failed to take decent photos. So to make it up to you, I’ll show you our meal from our first night in Tokyo instead. Prepare to salivate.
We were treated to only the finest sushi at one of Tokyo’s best restaurants, Sushiko restaurant located at Marunouchi. As a huge foodie and Japanese cuisine die-hard, you can just imagine how much I enjoyed this meal!
I also got to interview our chef every now and then. Apparently, it takes yearSSSSSSSS of training and apprenticeship before you can become a legit sushi chef and start earning. Usually, interested chefs apply at a sushi restaurant. They then become an apprentice. They’re not allowed to serve customers. Apprentices only get to practice after working hours or inside the kitchen. They use the lower grade fishes or leftovers that aren’t served to customers, then the master chefs judge their work. Also, do you ever wonder why there are no female sushi chefs? It’s because it is believed that women have warmer hands so the fish might get damaged easily.
That’s all for now for Trivia 101!
I got to try flounder sushi for the first time! Apparently, it’s not everyday that you can eat this dish here. We were lucky we came at the right time. Look at how perfect the flounder’s fin is. It looks exactly like the photo in our chef’s sushi book!
Hello, oh elusive flounder. My tummy would like to meet you now.
These are the faces of satisfied customers. LOL! Here I am, with the entire group–bloggers from all over Asia and the people responsible for bringing us all to #CoolJapan and #100Tokyo.
This post reminds me of Memoirs of Geisha and my uncle. I really love your kimono and you look good in it. The floral print and colors suit you. Is the obi belt of modern kimonos as long as the traditional ones? I read in Memoirs of Geisha that traditional obis are as long as room and half a meter wide.
I’m really glad that you enjoyed their sushi. I’m a fan of Japanese cuisine and sushi’s my favorite food. My uncle (he’s Japanese) used to be a sushi chef and owner of a noodle restaurant in Tokyo. He told me that sushi making is somewhat considered as an art form and not every apprentice becomes a chef.
I don’t think this is as long :) This is very casual :)
Japanese cuisine is definitely my favorite! You’re so luck to have an uncle who knows his way around Japanese food! Lucky you! Lucky tummy LOL
I love the traditional Japan. Miss it a lot.
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Visit again!
interesting .. I love reading Travel Diary :D you look great in kimono also ms laureen:D
http://itsgracebala.blogspot.ca/
Thanks Grace! :)
Hi Camille, really love the photos. What camera are you using? :)
Thanks Kathy! Canon 5d Mark iii :)
Aww.. you look 100% stunning and beautiful with kimono.. I like all of your picture, make me wanna go to japan soon :D
May I know what camera and lens that you use to snap your pict?
Thanks a lot, may success alway around you :)
Thanks Dan! Canon 5d Mark iii :)
Ohmygooosh, wow it’s really great! Sigh,I wish i can go there and visit as many stores as i can. Haha! P.S be careful of sushis, it has many parasites in it. I’m so sorry it’s gross i know, but i had to tell to remind you. Lol :)
They’re too good to resist! Plus I think my tummy can withstand them parasites haha!
Wait. Let me book my flight to Japan. Nooooow. Lol. Patang ganun kadali yun ah. :( anyways, someday I gonna experience that too. Hopefully. :-)
Haha! :) Of course you will! :)
omg! this part of japan, i haven’t been to. is the kimono dressing up part organized exclusively by cool japan or can i arrange one when i get there? i super love dressing up, i even brought a yukata once! (kimono’s too darn expensive!)
I think you can arrange one for yourself too! :)
I’m a follower of yours on instragram but this is the first time I visited your blog. I must say that you look stunning in the kimono. Not only that, all the kimonos are really detailed and beautiful. I hope one day I will be able to go to Japan and try on those kimonos. :D
Thank you Hinochi! I’m glad you visited my blog! Hope you’ll keep doing so :) I’m sure you’ll enjoy trying a kimono on too when you visit Japan!
Makes me want to go there even more!!! I love sushi as in love love love and I can’t wait for the day I get to taste authentic sushi to come!! Haahahaha! Thank you for this Ate Camille, I really felt I’ve been to Japan already because of your photos :)
Thanks Arianna! :)
40 photos na ba yun? Parang few pa rin HAHA MORE!! May modern twist pa talaga ang kimono dahil sa rings mo. Napa-(ahhh!!) tuloy ako sa trivia mo. I thought kasama mo lang si Kuya Kim. HAHAH ;)
Few pa yan?! Haha! :) More trivia next time!
This is so cool, makes me miss Japan so much xx
Then you must visit again! :)
Those are great photos, i couldn’t just imagine how cool those kimono in person.How i wish i could wear those at the same time.Anything that you wore is definitely, fantastic and awesome on our eyes…It looks perfectly fine. I can even explain further how it looks like…Pretty amazing on you… ciao!!! :)
Thanks so much Chantel :)
Thanks!
ay ang cuuuute ng kimono~!!! Bagay na bagay sayo! ;) Ahhh Japan is a must-visit talaga! :)
Yes must! :) Thanks Reena :)
Woah, your kimono is so kawaii ~
What is the brand of it?
I wish they also have an online shop :(
Oh gosh i don’t what brand :(
aww, but thank you for answering my comment :)
btw, how much did it cost?
We only got to try them. I don’t know how it costs though. So sorry!
AMAZING POST!
Your pictures are sooooo awesome! It was very nice to see you in Tokyo, hope to see you again next time ^^
Thanks Stella! Nice to meet you too! :) Until next time! I hope you’re enjoying your time there!
Great photos! I always love reading your Travel Diary posts! It felt like I was in Japan while I was reading it <3 Did you shop in Shibuya 109 while you were there? I just loveee that place. Although, admittedly, I go crazy because there's so much to see/buy LOL.
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Thanks Kyle! Yes I did! I did some last minute shopping right before I left for the airport!
What a fabulous kimono! Your pics are great!
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Thanks Albertine!
Before anything else, let me just say… I MISS YOU ATE CAMS! All caps pa ha. I’ve been a away from the internet for weeks. Geez. It was hard. Anyways, I already read the blog posts that I missed and I did missed a lot; your TOMS advocacy, beach trip, Madrid and now to Japan. Japan is indeed really cool. The Kimono looks good in you.
And April is really a special month, isn’t it? Your blog anniversary (Happy anniversary!), my birthday and your birthday! Yipee! Talagang sinama ko pa yung birthday ko. I just feel a little bit more connection between you and me because of that, April Celebrants. Haha. Am I being too feeling close? Am I talking a lot na? Di naman halata na namiss kong magcomment no? Hehe. Again, I miss you ate Cams! :)
Hahaha! Our birthdays!! :) Thanks Lourine! I can really feel your excitement! :) Nakakatuwa :)
Thank you for sharing your tour with us.. Parang kasama nyo ako while bnbasa ko blog mo.. More tour and photos pls..
Yes more! :)
Beautiful! So beautiful! :) I had fun reading your travel diary and at least I learned something new about Japanese cuisine! :D You look so beautiful in you Kimono Miss Camille! :D Bagay na bagay! :D You look like a Japanese to me than Chinese. haha ;)
Love,
Ericka of http://myfashionfelicity.blogspot.com
bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/11492583
I get that a lot! I get mistaken for being Japanese/Korean more than Chinese. Maybe it’s the hair! Thanks Ericka!
nice article. it feels I’m in Tokyo:) more travel posts please.
Thanks Ohms! Definitely coming!
Cute kimono!!! Aah…I really want to go to Japan so bad <3
Thanks Nacchu! Maybe soon you will!
I can’t help but to fall in love with the kimono that you were wearing! They are so adorable! <3
Thanks Maica! It was love at first sight for me too!
I love the kimono you’re wearing! So sweet and gorg :)
Thanks Yuhjiun!
Your kimono is too cute! I could wear it all day even in my sleep lol kidding. Awww because of this, I would definitely visit Japan anytime soon! I enjoyed reading this a lot!!
Thanks Katrin! :) You really should!!!
omygosh. reading your post makes me want to go to Japan! seeing the sushi pictures!! drooling reader here~ haha! what’s the flounder fish taste like though? :)
Thanks Jarelle! :) It’s so juicy and pillowy! :) Yummy!
That’s the best experience you can get when visiting Japan – to wear kimono even just for a day! Haha :) I think you picked the right kimono pattern because it suits you so well.
Oh! I spot Xiaxue!
Hard to miss Xiaxue with her golden locks! :) Thank you Joana!
I would like to say that this travel blog is the most informative post, you really made sure that we, your readers will learn a lot, sure we did! You even manage to go through even the intricate details of kimonos and I love that you shared to us why sushi chefs were mostly men, thank you so much for sharing your world to us for the past 3 years! I was never bored reading your posts!
Awww thank you Dawn! You made me smile :) I’m more than happy to share my world to all of you :)
I love your travel diaries a lot!
Thanks for sharing, i’m inspired to save and look forward in fulfilling my dreams to travel and explore.
That’s great! :) Travel is one of my favorite luxuries as well which is why it inspires me to work harder too!
Wait that was already 40? I didn’t notice! Parang kulang pa nga eh. Hahaha. This post was such an enjoyable read Cams! Japan Japan when will I see you? When’s the best time to go visit Japan Cams (hopefully during cherry blossom season…)?
I’m looking forward to your next post!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
This year, it was end of March! :) So basta summer natin :) Paiba-iba kasi every year yung start ng bloom :)
Don’t worry about posting too many photo’s – I love seeing all of them, the more the merrier, it’s so great having an idea of places to visit when I finally get round to going to japan (and everywhere else) so you’re actually doing a good deed doing all this recon work for us :) and you look as stylish and beautiful as always :)
Thank you Atia! That’s the intention! :)
you can definitely pass as a Japaneses lady. you look stunning in kimono.
Thank you Victoria!
Very informative….it’s neat getting such an in-depth look at Japanese culture.
Thanks Rich! They really have an interesting culture :)
Okay, you and Kimono are a gorgeous fit! I have been a Japanese culture fan since little (while my friends watched American movies, I watched anime, read manga, and enjoyed hilarious Japanese dramas) and I have always wanted to wear a Kimono. As I love the Korean culture as well, I would also like to wear a Hanbok one day. Thank you for the wonderful photos. ^^
Me too! I’d love to try the Hanbok some day! :) Thanks Dilek!
I’m in loooove! Just recently I started traveling and visiting other countries…and I have to say, experiencing the other sides of the world is just so incomparable. It brings a different kind of joy. More than the tourist spots, it’s the people talaga that make each of my travel so memorable. Nakaka- in love talaga magtravel. Better than falling in love with someone. chos. haha!
Tama! Iba talaga ang travel, which is why it’s my true love :)
LOVE ALL YOUR PHOTOS!!! Di ako nabore hehe :))
Ang cute nung Kimono for ootd :))
Thanks Denise! :) It was so much fun trying out the kimono!
Great pictures. I hope to visit Tokyo myself too someday…and these pic’s make me want to visit more. Thanks for sharing :)
My pleasure Alex!
Nice article!
Thanks Don!