From Hinode Station, we traveled back to the train station at the World Trade Center. The train station was underneath the huge building. We alighted the train and went out of the station. We looked for places to eat around the area.

Nice touch.

Around the block, we found this restaurant with a table of foods lined up outside. There were Filipinos looking at the menu and talking aloud to the manager/waiter. They were actually making a bargain, asking if they could share one plate and which plates would they choose. It was a bit funny because we know exactly what Filipinos do when they eat out in a group. Since Japanese food is pretty costly and the servings are big, then why not share if you can right? Well, we could not wait any longer and the food did not fit our liking so we ended up looking for more.

We ended up eating in a restaurant inside the train station. The food was delicious. If I could remember it right, I ordered tempura. Or was it tonkatsu? Haha! I honestly could not remember.



Since Dad had to go to a gathering with his fellow convention attendees, so the "youngsters" (haha) traveled to Odaiba to see the famous Gundam and to look around the area as well. We alighted at Shimbashi station. Then went out of the station to walk towards the Yurikamome line. It was the line that took us directly to Odaiba. Pretty fast. But the train ticket was around 300 yen one-way.


Odaiba was an artificial island in Tokyo. It is mainly filled with plain colored buildings. Minato, Koto and Shinagawa districts were situated in it. It is also filled with shopping and entertainment areas.

Mini Liberty

Light shines on.

Let me introduce to you ladies and gents, the Gundam... the Fan and well, the Tourist. I could also pass for a Viewer due to the lazy afternoons I spent with my brothers watching the show. But not the entire show, I guess.

The Tokyo Tower is located in Shiba-koen district in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. From Yokohoma, we rode the JR Yamanote Line and alighted at Hamamatsucho station. The station is partially under and connected to the World Trade Center. As we went out of the building, the Tokyo Tower was in sight. So we directly followed the path to where it stood.

Our path to the tower surprisingly involved a visit to a Buddhist temple named Zojoji. I had no intention to visit temples in Japan but I do respect the beliefs of Buddhism.


The Sandegatsu gate, built in 1622, is the only original structure left from the temple during World War II. It stands beautifully before the temple steps. I like its dark reddish color. According to my research, people who pass by this gate get freed from three worldly passions: Ton (greed), Shin (hatred), and Chi (foolishness). I pray that we have been freed from these.

Dead end.

Me and the statues

This is so ignorant of me. While I was looking at these colorful statues, I did not feel any form of fear or sadness. We even walked pass by them smiling for we admired the pink pinwheels, red bonnets, and flowers that the statues wore. But when I researched about them as I was writing this blog, I found out that these statues were representations of the unborn children of Japan, including miscarried, aborted, and stillborn children. Parents of these children can choose a statue and decorate it anyway they want with small clothing and toys. A gift for Jizo, the guardian of the unborn children can also be offered so that the children will reach the afterlife. Stones are even piled up on the statue to shorten the suffering of the children as they make their way to the afterlife. This gave me the chills. So I just prayed for these children and their parents whoever and wherever they are that they may find peace and joy despite their losses.



We had to walk a few more blocks before we were able to reach the tower. I believe the long path to this tower was worth it.





We stopped by for a late sunakku (snack) at Starbucks Coffee shop and sat outside. I loved the taste of Starbucks Japan's Green Tea frappe. It is less sweet.

5:00 p.m.

The glowing Tokyo Tower peeped out in the photo below. Perfect. I really had to thank my friend Erik for some of the photos because usually one camera is never enough when traveling.

A dinner treat with Dad at a yakitori & kamameshi restaurant

The path to Tokyo Tower is definitely worth taking. Aside from a bunch of discoveries about Japan, getting to know and bonding with a good friend makes it less tiring and more fun. (: