April 5
– Departure from our home. Teary eyed. Wifey and didn’t attempt to wake up our kids and we left around 6am by Grab Car to NAIA Terminal 3. We prayed before we left Asteria.
– Paid terminal fee, we still have to pay for it.
– We had quick meet up with Cath at the airport.
– Checkin went smooth checking in one luggage.
– Had a quick chat with Cath before going to immigration.
– No long queues at the immigration and security check. All was smooth and fast.
– We went to Marhaba Lounge for a relaxing breakfast. It was our first time after 10 years we travel without kids and we are missing them already.
– Boarding is on time at Gate 112.
– It was a 4 hour flight to Narita Airport.
– Amaze how the interior of airport has significantly change from our last trip there with Wifey, 1 year old Johan, Mama Fely, Raymond and Len last 2018.
– We always have our children with every Japan trip back then except for my series of business trip care of Manulife Japan last 2019. Jucyn and Johan accompany me on my first business trip last June 2019.
– From the airport, we rode the Airport limousine bus going to Shinjuku West Station near Keio. We choose that route since we need to catch for our Photo Op by 6pm in Asakusa.
– Bus trip took around 1:30 hour from Narita Terminal 1 to Shinjuku. We already checked that Mama Ting and Papa Jun were safely arrived in our home over the CCT (IPTV).
– Arrived at Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku around 5pm, check-in went fast. We got our room 1326 (13th floor?). We had a quick retouch and change of clothes before we go meet with our photographer at Asakusa station. Travel time from Shinjuku Station to Asakusa will take around 30minutes. I will have figure out how to navigate the complex station of Shinjuku to meet our time of 6pm. Unfortunately, our ETA is 6:05pm.
– We meet JP in front of the Asakusa Shrine. He guided us to a coin locker to securely store our baggage while we are doing the photo shoot around the area and to move comfortably without worrying we might left it.
– JP is a good and creative photographer, getting shots at nigh is difficult. He manage to use natural lights around the area. We had to cross pedestrian lane while pedestrian green light is on. Shot around the temple. We plan to go back in the morning just to see the stores open since that time most of the stores are closed. Jucyn and I were once visited Asakusa area around Spring of 2014.
– Ended our photoshoot around 8pm which we enjoy the creative shots of JP
– We attempted to eat at the nearby Ichiran Ramen but since it was already dinner time the queue is already long and we can’t afford to wait since we are hungry and tired after our flight and photo shoot.
– We had our dinner at Denny’s for a steak and pasta with a refillable drinks.
– We rode back to hotel via train. Wifey and I are already tired. We had to quickly wash up to prepare for a night.

April 6
– Woke up around 5am, check for Ate Len preparing for Johan going to school since it already Monday. Thank you Ate Len for handling everything while we are away.
– It was a cloud day. We planned to go to Gotemba or somewhere near Mt. Fuji but we didn’t took the risk. We had our experience last 2013 where we book our day tour in Mt. Fuji but since it was a bad weather we didn’t saw it.
– We choose to roam around the Shinjuku area. Our first stop was (Tokyu) Hands since it already open around 10am while Takashiyama will open by 10:30am. Our eyes are full of different bags and travel equipments. We also reminisce the time when Jucyn and Johan went in Takashimaya to play around the kids section. We didn’t went that floor.
– We had a early lunch at Ichiran Shinjuku were there was no queue yet since we already crave it last night.
– Wifey did enjoy the food and since Ichiran is known for that individual setup, she enjoyed the ramen. We cannot go there with our kids due to that setup. After finishing our food, we started navigating to a  nearby Alpen Tokyo store in Shinjuku. It was a big 7 storey building selling different camping and sports equipment. We didn’t buy anything but our eyes are full. 😀
– We then walk around to have coffee break. Found a building where there’s Starbucks, CanDo, 3 coins, ABC Mart and Muji store.
– We had our coffee break and snack at that Starbucks where I ordered their Japanese Matcha Latte. We also took a leg rest since we already had 5000 steps from the hotel. We didn’t ride any train that day.
– After coffee break, we started shopping at 3 coins we both love to look around for th trinkets and unqiue items that only a Japanese can think of.
– We went next to CanDo. It was our first time visit there and we are already adding small items in our cart. It is a 100 yen shop. Bough different trinkets from hair brush cleaner to stationary items for the kids,
– We went also to Muji to buy luggage. We got th 105L baggage since we only have 75L when we went there. We are prepared for shopping. 😀
– While waiting for the luggage to pay. Wifey went to Gu for shopping.
– We already bought items in Gu and decided to back to hotel.
– We bought a snack at nearby McDonalds, ordered burger and fries.
– We took a Go Taxi to hotel instead of walking back. Taxi fare cost around 1000 yen.
– Wifey took a rest at the hotel while I prepare to plan to visit Yodobashi around 4pm.
– Even thou my legs are starting to feel the pain. I still manage to roam around the Yodobashi area since it is near our hotel.
– I bought a logicool ergo mouse.
– I took time to look for a digicam for our selfie but choose to wait for wifey.
– I then went to Toy section to buy for Johan’s additional beyblade and accessories. I also bought Joshua’s tomica car no.2 and  7-eleven miniature, and post office.
– I bought also a selfie stick for our photo shot next day. I bought our drinking water, and ichiran ramen at nearby Matsumoto Kiyoshi drug store.
– I went back around 6pm to wake up wifey.
– We look for a dinner around the area where a local eat. We went to Teki Teki for an Izakaya experience. Bought a lemon flavored alcoholic drink and some skewers. We finished our dinner around 9pm. Johan is already calling us to see what we already bought for them.
– We drop by at Yodobashi again to check a headset for wifey. Closing time is 10pm.
– We dropy by at Matsumoto kiyoshi. Closing time is 11pm. We already bought pasa buy items.
– Then back to hotel to end the night. We started a Japanese TV series JIN on Netflix. Wifey enjoyed the series that she wants to finish immediately.

April 7 – Harajuku area
– It was forecasted to be rainy around 10am so we took our time to sleep.
– We had our early lunch around 11am in the Imahan restaurant at 14th floor of Takashimaya. It was a Sukiyaki and Shabu shabu restaurant.
– We took our time there while waiting for the rain to stop before going to Harajuku area to look for a cherry blossom tree in Yoyogi park.
– Around 1pm we rode JR train to Harajuku, 2 stations away from Shinjuku. We went around the area of Yoyogi park but cherry blossoms are almost gone.
– We walk to Takeshita Dori to go to Onitsuka Tiger store in Ometesando st.
– We bought Cheryl’s and Grandma Ting shoes.
– We had coffee break at Starbucks in Harajuku.
– We went back to JR train station to have an early rest.
– We bought our dinner at 7 eleven in Hotel Century.
– We had our dinner at hotel then binge watch JIN.
– We reserved our energy for tomorrow.

April 8
– Our anniversary
– We went to Yokohama, Sakuragicho specifically to reminisce our time together there since 2014. We did saw cherry blossoms around the area.
– Walk to World porter for our lunch. Wifey order that udon with creamy sauce which she enjoyed. I also ordered a big bowl of unagi and it also taste great.
– Walk to Yokohama Stadium for the tulip flowers
– Walk to Kannai station to ride our train going to Yokohama station.
– At Yokohama station, we had our coffee break at Tully coffee, at YY Gourmet, it is at the Basement 2 of Yodobashi building.
– After our leg rest and coffee break, we went directly to ABC Mart to buy my new rubber shoes. My feet is already aching. Wifey also bought shoes for Papa Jun.
– We also bought addtional beyblade for Johan
– We then back to Yokohama station at 4pm to go back to hotel in Shinjuku.
– Luckily, we took a seat at the train for a 30 minute ride back to Shinjuku via a rapid train service.
– We had our quick rest in the hotel and we still need to shop for additional pasalubong at Donki. Then drop by at Gu for shirt.
– Then went to Sundrug for other items where we took our Duty free items.
– We walk back to hotel. We had our dinner from Family Mart.
– We didn’t have our anniversary dinner due to lack of time.
– pack our stuff to the new luggage

April 9
– our flight back to manila
– breakfast at verve coffee roastery
– quick shop at Hands
– back to hotel to wait for bus
– 2 hour travel time from hotel to narita terminal 1
– repack our luggage due to baggae limit. Baggage is around 25 kg. We need to target 23.9 kg.
– a quick security and immigration, no stamp needed
– look for the airport lounge
– bought tokyo banana for kids.
– enjoyed our lounge experience Japanese food
– boarding started on time