Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden + Shibuya Crossing

Day 3 @ Park in Japan

Shinjuku Gyo-en is a large park and garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family in the Edo period. Afterwards, it became a garden under the management of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. The 144 acres park area are located within the city.

Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the largest and most popular park located news Shinjuk Station. Park’s spacious lawns, meandering walking paths and tranquil scenery provide a relaxing escape from the busy urban center around it.

Inside park itself you can explore three different types of garden which are Japanese Garden, English Garden and French Garden other than its Green House, forested areas, lawns, restaurant an information center and an art gallery.

Japanese Landscape Garden – featuring large ponds dotted with islands and bridges. Well manicured shrubs and trees surround the water together with several pavilions and the Kyu Goryotei (also called the Taiwan Pavilion) which was built on the occasion of the wedding of the Showa Emperor.

The park’s other main gardens include a symmetrically arranged formal French garden, and an English landscape garden featuring wide, open lawns surrounded by flowering cherry trees.

We spent around 900 yen (around RM 33.00) for the entry tickets (2 adults, 2 seniors and 3 kids). Admission ticket for 1 adult is 200 yen (ard RM7). Opening hours from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Closed on Mondays (or following day if Monday is a national holiday), December 29 to January 3. There are no closing days during the cherry blossom season (late March to late April) and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition (first half of November).

You may browse their official website before your visits. http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/

We did lots of walking on that day from Okubo to the Park. Walked for 11.32km with 15,733 steps .. so healthy journey. amazingly kids didn’t complaint – they really enjoy the day.

We also passed by Shibuya Crossing. We went on Sunday evening and road are closed for cars.. lots of people walking on the streets, tourist taking photos and us too.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices (TMGO), Shinjuku

Building and architectural structures view

TMGO also known as Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building or Tocho’. Located in West Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is the headquarters of the government offices.

I guess in Malaysia consider same as Putrajaya where most Government offices are stationed.

The tallest building in Tokyo and the second tallest building in Japan, the TMGO was conceived as a high-tech center from which Tokyo could be led into the promising twenty-first century.

It was said that the design of the building was meant to resemble a computer chip,while also evoking the look of a Gothic cathedral. But am not really aware of that point during my visit and that surrounding area was already enough with stunning tall building bricks.

The design structures of the building are so nice for photo taking.

TMGO, Japan — The Metropolitan Government Building

Yoyogi Park & Takeshita Street, Tokyo

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest city parks, featuring wide lawns. ponds, and forested areas located in Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensely golden during autumn. Other than tourist attractions, local citizens came here for a jogging, cycling, picnic and other outdoor activities.

Distance of Yoyogi Park and Takeshita Street from our airbnb homestay was not that far, making us plan for this park visit on day 1 of our Japan trip. Our homestay is near to Okubo Station and Yoyogi Park is 5 minutes walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. It is located next to Meiji Shrine.

It’s a free entry park and the toilet facilities are clean. Make sure you bring a bottle of water for clean up. Here are some of the photos taken;

Takeshita Street is just 15 minutes walk from Yoyogi Park. It is claimed as one of the busiest and brightest shopping streets in Tokyo.

walking distance from LRT to yoyogi park

The street is mainly filled with independent stores and smaller brands as well as a few small department stores, meaning there is a seriously huge range to choose from. There are varieties of shops from selling :- Shirts, costumes, socks, Make up and Skin cares, and some street foods.(refer here https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/harajuku-takeshita-street-guide/)

We just stop for some munchies and didn’t go further in 😉

Ate some hot fries at takeshita street — Ate some hot fries at Takeshita street

Day 1 – Japan Trip

Consideration for Kids Pre School / Kindergarten / Early Education

Every parents will definitely choose the best place for their kids to learn. My experienced in 2014 enrolling my daughter was really challenging. First timer lots of screening to do, now i just continue that made up decision for my youngest which will go for a pre school at age of 5 by 2019.

When is the right time to send them?

I have a maid so it is not an issue for me to enrol them earlier or later. I decided to let my kids enjoy their kids time at home and play with other sibling. By age 5, all have to start going for pre school and have a ‘Fun Learning while making friends.

My main criteria in choosing which kindergarten to send them are basically as per below;

Safer Surrounding

We did few survey and its a NO.. NO to shop-lot premises. Our concern is more of their safety. In case of emergency they have to run down the stairs which are narrow and there is a danger of falling when too many kids – possible of pushing each other.

Since we are hiring transporter – if its a shop it will be a common area and risk of accident are at chance.

So we decided to choose kindergarten which having its own compound with strict safety rules and regulations apply to parent and transporter. Security guard also is a must.

2 bedrooms with balcony windmill genting highlands — Iklan

Friendlier Teacher

Teacher must be friendlier to kids and have skills to approach them. This will consider as introduction for kids being away from their parents, home and routine. If the teacher are convincing enough life will be easier for mommy and daddy … hehe!

Am satisfied with real kids because we are able to communicate with teacher and they do update on my kids progress. They also heard our feedback and take actions through out our complaints.

Fun Syllabus and Activities

Check on syllabus and activities they are offering and you decide from there. Some offers other than main subject (English, Bahasa, Maths, Mandarin) like swimming, musics, art, computer, agama and others.

Kids are also given an opportunity to expose themselves from activities like drama, joining for concert and public speaking.

Medium of communication – must be English. We observed our eldest kids, they are fluent and confident to communicate in English. So when they went for Kebangsaan School, they just need to divert to BM communicative. Some of their friend aren’t confidence in communicating English. While the school environment itself not encouraging for kids to use English other that during English syllabus. It’s a stepping stone for them being at English medium pre schoolers.

Spacious

Other than location which are nearer to our house. The school space should be spacious and convenience for kids to play and running around.

Education Fees

This I put last because it will depends on everyone’s budget. Some would save more and spent at other things but some willing to pay high for a certain education preference and conveniency.

Normally the cost will consists of security deposits, advance 2 moths fees, supplementary fees, materials fees and uniforms.

Trip to Tokyo, Japan – 15D14N

Our vacation trip to Japan is like out of as sudden – while waiting for buka puasa we both chatting and tiba- tiba keluarlah idea untuk melancong ke Japan.

At that point of time terus browse for flight tickets and surprisingly harga tiket consider okay.. affordable. Terus beli tiket tanpa fikir panjang sebab for other arrangement mcm places to visit and stay we can always plan and arrange later. (5 months to go)

Once heard tips from a frequent traveler – “grab cheap flight first and plan later for the trip + savings because if you WAIT you will never get chance to travel”. This will be a pushing factor, once ticket bought its time for you to properly plans and work your plans out.

Starting from that day i started to prepare an itinerary for 15 Days 14 Nights of our stay in Tokyo. Tokyo isn’t the first time for my husband but to make it interesting he let me do the planning so i can learn and understand more and plan / find activities that suits for our 3 kids & Parent in Law.

Here is my itinerary;

Deciding on places to stay

Our plane arrival and departure at Haneda Airport, so from there i have to make sure our stay must accessible by public transport. Flight scheduled to arrived at 11.30 pm Japan local time and train service end by 12am. We have to opt for a cab,

We used Airbnb services to search for homestay and decided to stay somewhere in Shinjuku. Lucky our host very helpful and responsive every time we need to get info about the property or Tokyo generally.

There was a variety of choices for a homestay and my criteria in choosing home as per below;

have two rooms
must have Lift / elevator (most walk up distance and some lift restricted to senior citizens and handicap only)
near train stations
near convenience store
must have Halal restaurants nearby
Washlet (clean toilet)
spacious (most hotels and places not offer that spacious stay)
provide facilities – washing machine, drier, microwave, TV, portable wifi, cooking stove – utensils.
Portable wifi provided

Our trip was end year ~ consider peak time of the year. We have to make a quick decision so we can take a whole stretch stay at one place. Once you decided full payment have to be made so your booking is secured.

Arranging for communication facilities

Our Airbnb host provide portable wifi for our stay and we can bring out while we touring Japan.

Devices are fully charged with data available for our access. But to make things easier since will be going touring we need at least two wifi so whenever we split we can still communicate.

So we need another one of the unlimited portable wifi data which we make an advance purchased and collected at airport – KLIA. This would be cheaper compare you do roaming.. your phone bill will explode.

We all just share the wifi data – we can still communicate through watsapp text and call – also facetime. No worries!!

So i will continue with the places the we visited in next – next – next post yeah … adios!!

Day 1 – Yoyogi Park & Takeshita Street

Day 2 – TMGO

Day 3 – Shinjuku Gyoen National Park & Shibuya Crossing

Kitchen Gas Stove Time For Service

Last week, we had to service our kitchen gas stove caused it was hard to ignite the fire. I never serviced my kitchen stove for the last 5 years.

How do you know when it is time to service your gas stove?

When you try to ignite, it is hard to get the fire as in video below.

When you get the fire, the fire is immediately switch off after you take your hand off from the igniter.

How to service it?

At first, I tried to do it myself to clean and service my gas stove. I read the internet on how it should be done. I tried to take out the fire burner but I couldnt remove it. Afraid that I might break my kitchen gas stove so I decided to call in professional repairman.

Hire professional to service my kitchen gas stove

I called few professional repairmen. Of course as usual, I tried to get the cheapest one. I got one repairman that would service my kitchen gas stove for RM80 – RM130 only. I set appointment, unfortunately the appointment was postponed few times.

I got fed up then I got one repairman who charged higher price (RM160), after calling he immediately set appointment and kept his promise to come to my house.

How the professional service it?

First he unplugged the gas hose from the gas stove and switched on the kitchen gas stove to burn all remaining gas inside the gas stove.

Then, he removed the fire burner by using a special hammer. He did it cautiously not to break the gas stove.

used special hammer to take out sticky fire burner from the stove

After removing the fire burner, he unclogged the burners using a metal brush. Then the repairman used high pressure air to remove the hard debris inside the fire burner.
He cleaned it using soap, wiped it with cloth and let it dried.

He then scrubbed the stovetop using metal brush and some soap. He used cloth to dry the stovecop.
Afterwards he used vacuum cleaner to clean any debris around the stovetop and holes in the stovetop.

vacuum the stovetop to take out all debris

After cleaning up the fire burners and stovetop, he adjusted the fire using levers under the kitchen stove.

after cleaning, adjusted the fire using levers under the kitchen stove

Finally, he spray painted my stovetop to grey and it looks like new stove!

The service took around 1 hour to complete.

My opinion on the kitchen gas stove repairman.

I highly recommended this guy as he is really professional keeping up to his promise and he knows his trade very well.

Kitchen Hob Serviceman
Danni
017 373 6210