On the seventh day, we spent most part of the day traveling in the car. When we woke up, our wonderful host, Masako served us with traditional Japanese nian gao (年糕) soups and home-made yogurt with cut fruits.
After filling our tummies, we lingered around and lazed for a while more before we bid farewell to Masako and her two sons, Toshiki and Motoki. Although we only got to interact with them for less than 48 hours, Rachel and I were very touched by the Asai’s friendliness and hostility. Being able to converse with them in English was also an interesting experience for us as the two of us had been mostly silent throughout our trip due to the language barrier.
![The Asais house The Asais house](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3399331913_9435ecbe2e_o.jpg)
![The backyard The backyard](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3399331831_6d047f67c4_o.jpg)
![The garden The garden](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3399331081_522bc8f5c4_o.jpg)
![Cloud Ears spotted outside the gate - these are often used in Chinese medicine Black fungus - often used in Chinese medicine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3400138792_e4dfdc3c4d_o.jpg)
![Its time for breakfast! Its time for breakfast!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3400139140_f63b331d69_o.jpg)
![Healthy breakfast Healthy breakfast](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3400139996_f6396ce849_o.jpg)
![Nian Gao (rice cake) soup Nian Gao (rice cake) soup](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3400140304_d8679f9942_o.jpg)
![Breakfast egg Breakfast egg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3400139166_b9d1438984_o.jpg)
![Home-made yogurt Home-made yoguart](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3400139526_8aee813b87_o.jpg)
![The Asais hamster knows how to open the lid of a bottle and get his own food The Asais hamster knows how to open the lid of a bottle and get his own food](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3400140012_f5feb2928d_o.jpg)
![Happily feasting in the bottle Happily feasting in the bottle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3399332055_f9ee11050e_o.jpg)
![Good hamster! Good hamster!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3400139404_f529265ff6_o.jpg)
![Clovers in the Asais garden Clovers in the Asais garden](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3399332235_bb326ec454_o.jpg)
![Group photo with Masako, Toshiki and Motoki (without me) Group photo with Masako, Toshiki and Motoki (without me)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3399333043_5cf538fe32_o.jpg)
![Still without me... Still without me...](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3400139156_cb25862165_o.jpg)
![Finally got my camera timer working Finally got my camera timer working](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3400139032_b4ee1db9a5_o.jpg)
![Time for farewell Bidding farewell](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3399332061_7d78abf70a_o.jpg)
We took off from the Asai’s comfortable home during late morning and headed for Ueno (上野), Tokyo.
We were finally moving closer to the big city. On our way there, we visited a shrine which housed a giant Buddha statue and a giant Guan Ying (观音) statue. The shrine was located high up a steep mountain top – climbing up almost killed me! The toilet was located besides the shrine. Hence visitors will have to pay the entrance fees and complete the steep slopes in order to relieve themselves – pure evil. This was what happened to the four of us who needed to clear our bladders after a long drive.
![Driving through an underwater tunnel - thats why the GPS shows us in the sea Driving through an underwater tunnel - thats why the GPS shows us in the sea](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3399332449_f89f0129b1_o.jpg)
![Still cheery before we started climbing to reach the shrine Still cheery before we started climbing to reach the shrine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3399332479_5501615e9f_o.jpg)
![A child is called a "小人" in Japanese You have to pay to visit the shrine. I dont know why the Japanese translation for child is xiao ren](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3400139556_988a32c34b_o.jpg)
![Area map Area map](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3400138576_a02268f949_o.jpg)
![Little buddha statues we came across on our way up Little buddha statues we came across on our way up](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/3399332041_1c9c60b217_o.jpg)
![More statues More statues](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3400139634_8df5f98999_o.jpg)
![Bright flowers Bright yellow flowers](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/3400139594_44bc0939d3_o.jpg)
![Red flowers Red flowers](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3399331373_2a54c84a53_o.jpg)
![Finally reached the top Finally reached the top](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3399332925_06433b99ae_o.jpg)
![The giant Buddha statue The giant Buddha statue](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3400140380_97bca44871_o.jpg)
![A closer look A closer look](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3400138824_40d66604f3_o.jpg)
![This would have been a very beautiful picture if the sakura were in full blossom This would have been a very beautiful picture if the sakura were in full blossom](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3400138562_3050d593d2_o.jpg)
![A smaller Buddha statue nearby A smaller Buddha statue nearby](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3399331023_87a71817dd_o.jpg)
![Donations made to the shrine Donations made to the shrine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3400140340_9306bf29fa_o.jpg)
![Sakura tree Sakura tree](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3399332639_632d0b8bb9_o.jpg)
![A sakura flower A sakura flower](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3400140394_09a28d5bd8_o.jpg)
![Rachel beside a sakura tree Rachel beside a sakura tree](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3400139332_c38c0d60ec_o.jpg)
![Lots of little Buddha statues - probably for making wishes Lots of little Buddha statues - probably for making wishes](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3400139584_de738c542c_o.jpg)
![Sounding the gong for blessings Sounding the gong for blessings](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3399331637_dde7132aa1_o.jpg)
![Up the observatory platform Up the observatory platform](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3400139074_fcf9ca71f2_o.jpg)
![Beware of hawks Beware of hawks](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3399330985_cbd53e6eb5_o.jpg)
![You can see the highways You can see the highways](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3400138600_44c3730a55_o.jpg)
![From another angle From another angle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3399332611_40e8bc7c38_o.jpg)
![Sea view Sea view](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3399331695_a22c7194a5_o.jpg)
![Ships moving in and out of the harbour You can see the ships moving in and out of the harbour](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3399331455_0a12f678e7_o.jpg)
![Behind these cliffs hide the giant Guan Ying Behind these cliffs hide the giant Guan Yin](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3400138980_a7627ed963_o.jpg)
![The giant Guan Ying The giant Guang Yin](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3399331301_3a38f809f3_o.jpg)
![With our car for two days With our car for two days](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3399332851_2acef00e00_o.jpg)
![Front view of the car Front view of the car](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3400139848_ac2442be34_o.jpg)
![Btw, you can request for a non-smoker car like the one we rented Btw, you can request for a non-smoker car like the one we rented](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3400139176_7e44ebf650_o.jpg)
![on the road - Mark said this is a famous tower in Tokyo on the road - Mark said this is a famous tower in Tokyo](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3400140138_b48271d769_o.jpg)
![Skyscrapers Skyscrapers](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3399332179_fe0d1c25e8_o.jpg)
![The sun is going to set soon The sun is going to set soon](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3400139894_36394abb29_o.jpg)
We reached Ueno at late noon. After returning the car to the Toyota rental store, we walked to nearby Cube Hotel, the hotel where we will be staying for the next two nights. Rachel and I like this hotel very much. Like the Super Hotel chain, Cube Hotel is a business hotel packed with hi-tech gadgets, making full use of the limited room space.
![The Toyota car rental centre where we returned our car The Toyota car rental centre where we returned our car](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3400139484_a2dcc74abd_o.jpg)
![The staff immediately disinfected and cleaned up the car once we returned it The staff immediately disinfected and cleaned up the car once we returned it](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3399332517_3d1ac8d556_o.jpg)
![Outside Cube Hotel Outside Cube Hotel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3399332227_ef6e463928_o.jpg)
![Card keys are used to open the hotel room doors Card keys are used to open the hotel room doors](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3400138946_317cb927fd_o.jpg)
![Interior of Cube Hotel Interior of Cube Hotel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3400139954_bd481ed838_o.jpg)
Once we checked in, we simply dumped our luggage into our rooms and headed immediately for Ueno Station (上野駅) to travel out for a very late lunch cum dinner (the last meal we had was the breakfast at the Asai’s residence). Mark wanted to check out the local Mandarake (まんだらけ) to buy more Transformers toys to add to his huge collection. Mandarake is one of Tokyo’s largest vendor of used anime and manga-related products. They have outlets across Japan and we will be visiting quite a few more Mandarakes in the later part of our tour; due to Mark’s persistence in trying to buy up all the Transformers toys in the world.
As we were starving… once we got off the train, we settled for dinner at the nearest, reasonably-priced restaurant. Big mistake as the food was tasteless although the prices were cheap.
After dinner, it was shopping time. While the guys headed to the manga and anime shops, the ladies went shopping for clothings. I was quite shocked by the high prices Dragonball cards fetch in Japan. Mark and I had both accumulated a large collection during our growing up years. After we learn about their value, Mark resolved to bring his collection to sell on his next trip to Japan. Unlucky me can only feel pissed at my own misfortune as my dad had threw my collection away a few years ago without telling me…
![Ueno Station Ueno Station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3400139570_b716255f41_o.jpg)
![Inside Ueno Station Inside Ueno Station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3399331429_438473eed6_o.jpg)
![Buying our train tickets Buying our train tickets](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3400139342_c1c74f2bd4_o.jpg)
![Braille at the train station railings Braille at the train station railings](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3399333017_0ec7c27897_o.jpg)
![Passing train Passing train](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3399332961_6016e61112_o.jpg)
![The fast food restaurant where we had our dinner The fast food restaurant where we had our dinner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3400139220_93182e546b_o.jpg)
![The prices were really cheap, but the food was quite tasteless The prices were really cheap, but the food was quite tasteless](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3400138760_8b6241ac4b_o.jpg)
![Lunch coupons purchased from vending machines - thats how most restaurants operate in Japan Lunch coupons purchased from vending machines - thats how most restaurants operate in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3400139918_46bbc9068d_o.jpg)
![The guy who prepared our dinner The guy who prepared our dinner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3399330977_dd56679a34_o.jpg)
![Time for dinner Time for dinner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3399332657_106ee0e99f_o.jpg)
![Rachels curry rice Rachels curry rice](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3400139422_9efb67101e_o.jpg)
![My ramen and small bowl of curry rice My ramen and small bowl of curry rice](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3400139308_7a0b7ce989_o.jpg)
![Marks udon Marks udon](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3399331857_e45136df03_o.jpg)
![Mandarake - the go-to-place in Japan for second-hand manga and anime stuff Mandarake - the go-to-place in Japan for second-hand manga and anime stuff](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3399331343_f8b678b01c_o.jpg)
![More toys More toys](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3399332677_b609a2a333_o.jpg)
![Characters from a manga series called Worst Characters from a manga series called Worst](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3400139888_0e14a036ac_o.jpg)
![Dragonball figurines Dragonball figurines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3399331899_d972cb94b9_o.jpg)
![More Dragonball figurines More Dragonball figurines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3400138880_fdce67c4c2_o.jpg)
![In fact, there are racks and shelves full of these figurines In fact, there are racks and shelves full of these figurines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3399331165_54ccdd248e_o.jpg)
![One Piece figurines One Piece figurines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3399331579_f82cc91c46_o.jpg)
![Autographed baseballs Autographed baseballs](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3399330957_76f86ccbc6_o.jpg)
![Vintage hand-held games - if only I kept a few of these, they are worth a tidy sum<br> Vintage hand-held games - if only I kept a few of these, they are worth a tidy sum now](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3400139546_da34170cb0_o.jpg)
![I still remember this Popeye game! I still remember this Popeye game!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3400139020_0279d0c882_o.jpg)
![Ultraman toys Ultraman toys](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3604/3400140406_7c0515fbb5_o.jpg)
![Hentai manga Hentai manga](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3400140322_cd601607e7_o.jpg)
![Japanese teens checking out plastic figurines Japanese teens checking out plastic figurines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/3399332747_d084be497e_o.jpg)
![Dragonball cards - look at how much they are worth! Dragonball cards - look at how much they are worth! Mark is going to bring his card collection to sell on his next trip to Japan. For unlucky me... my dad threw them away a few years ago without telling me.](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3399332029_e1fee47183_o.jpg)
![The powerful Dragon in Dragonball The powerful Dragon in Dragonball](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3399332531_0ccf8282ca_o.jpg)
![Soft toy of the other less powerful dragon in Dragonball Soft toy of the other less powerful dragon in Dragonball](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3552/3399331683_11a43f0658_o.jpg)
![Kinnikuman figurines - these used to come free when you buy ice-cream Kinnikuman figurines - these used to come free when you buy ice-cream](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3399332571_6d45afd34f_o.jpg)
The shopping made us hungry again quickly. Hence we headed to a sushi restaurant for a second round of food. Rachel and I tried Chutoro sushi – the second most prime cut of a tuna fish, for the first time. It really melts in your mouth like how food guides like to describe it. Oishi!
We then headed back to the train station to return to our hotel to rest for the night. Still hungry, we bought burgers at McDonald’s to munch on our way back. That ended our day. 🙂
![Inside a sushi restaurant Inside a sushi restaurant](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3400140240_e495a61c9f_o.jpg)
![The plates indicate the sushi prices - same system used in Singapore The plates indicate the sushi prices - same system used in Singapore](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3399331393_bf3c83f2cf_o.jpg)
![Eel sushi Eel sushi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3399331519_1c0d34414c_o.jpg)
![Some shellfish sushi Some shellfish sushi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3660/3400139200_55e4e2a242_o.jpg)
![Squid sushi Squid sushi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3399331661_13dbb3b27c_o.jpg)
![Chutoro sushi - the second best cut from a Tuna fish Chutoro sushi - the second best cut from a Tuna fish](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3399331881_17c84e8506_o.jpg)
![Buying supper from McDonalds Buying supper from McDonalds](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3400139934_2bd6e6949d_o.jpg)
![My first burger in Japan My first burger in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3399333005_99bf98a9f5_o.jpg)
![Pachinko advertisement - Pachinko centres are everywhere in Japan Pachinko advertisement - Pachinko centres are everywhere in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3599/3400139862_6c62c24676_o.jpg)
![Rachel getting cranky after seeing too much anime and manga stuff Rachel getting cranky after seeing too much anime and manga stuff](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3400139326_d97260e234_o.jpg)
![These two Japanese girls really love their magazines These two Japanese girls really love their magazines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3399331137_605da7bbf8_o.jpg)
![I like this poster spotted at the train station I like this poster spotted at the train station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3399331249_777fb851d1_o.jpg)
![Uenos Hard Rock Cafe Uenos Hard Rock Cafe](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3399332583_4c4075c887_o.jpg)
![An interesting Wonda Coffee vending machine An interesting Wonda Coffee vending machine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3400138522_96b3f206a2_o.jpg)
![Nice little chocolate we found at the convenience store besides our hotel Nice little chocolate we found at the convenience store besides our hotel](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3400139874_20fb1dd875_o.jpg)
Links to my previous blog entries on my Japan trip:
Day 1 – Kansai Airport, Hokkaido
Day 3 – Asahikawa, Asahiyama Zoo
Day 4 – Sledding, Shiroi Koibito, Crab Buffet
Day 5 – The 60th Sapporo Snow Festival
Day 6 – Staying with the Asai, Shōnan
Day 8 – Shibuya and Akihabara, Tokyo
Day 12 – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Dotonbori
Day 13 – Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and Mt. Rokko
Technorati Tags: alvinology goes to japan, yokohama, 横浜市, Shōnan, shonan, 湘南, sagami bay, masako asai, katsuya asai, toshiki asai, motoki asai, pet hamster, sakura, hua meiyen, mark tan, japan travel, 年糕, nian gao, rice cake soup, home-made yogurt, cloud ears, clovers, Guan Ying, 观音, Ueno, 上野, giant guan ying, giant buddha, japanese shrine, underwater tunnel, sakura blossom, cube hotel, ueno cube hotel, super hotel, Ueno Station, 上野駅, mandarake, まんだらけ, transfomers toy, dragonball, dragon ball, vintage hand-held games, vintage gaming, one piece, worst manga, popeye vintage hand-held game, ultraman, hentai manga, dragonball cards, kinnikuman, chutoro sushi, tuna sushi, squid sushi, eel sushi, japan mcdonald, japan hard rock cafe, wonda coffee