I went to Japan 2019

Last March 2 to 8, 2019, I embarked my journey to Tokyo, Japan for the second time. I was supposed to cancel my trip due to work-related conflict. But, my urged to see the Sakura tree to bloom is more powerful.

Boarding a Boeing 787-900 aircraft

It is my first time to fly All Nippon Airways (ANA) to Japan. This will be my first time fly with Japanese airline other than Philippine Airlines (PAL). It will be a multi-airport as before but in an opposite itinerary. It is also my first time to board a Boeing 787-900 aircraft in which I was amazed by the large window with no flapped shade. The best part of this flight is that every seat have an In-Flight Entertainment.

En route to Haneda, I chose the chicken option with mashed potatoes on their meal service. For dessert, they served Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

As we arrived at Haneda at 8 in the evening, as I disembarked from the aircraft, the cold weather welcomed me at 7 degress. I rushed myself going to my hostel in Akihabara. Fortunately, a rapid monorail was about to arrive at the terminal. It only took me for at least 45 minutes to get through to my hostel. After check-in, my first order of business is to eat in a nearby ramen house. It was delicious indeed! The meal is so heavenly, I finished everything. At 10, some shops are closed, good thing Taito station is still open, so I played a few rounds of REFLEC BEAT and NOSTALGIA.

Weather at Tokyo Area

My Ramen meal at Ramen Hidakaya

The next day, I revisited Akihabara, it always amazes me the intense anime and game subculture of Japan. I was able to buy BEMANI games, soundtracks, and figures in Book-off, Traders, Mandarake, and Surugaya. I also went to a Muji branch in AKIBA TOLIM. I only bought mostly food because the Muji in the Philippines doesn't sell food. 

My Shopping bag!

Not far from my hostel, I went to Ameyoko, located in Okachimachi Station. They sell a variety of goods such as branded shoes, luggages, bags, and street foods for a cheap price. 

On my third day, it was a drizzling day at Tokyo.  I went to Shibuya to buy Rootote bags, which my aunt asked me to buy for her. After that, I revisited the Shibuya Crossing and took a sip of White Mocha at Starbucks Tsutaya records. After Shibuya, I went to Shinjuku Station for some shots and searched for Book-offs nearby.

Next day, I went to Yokohama, to see the Ramen Museum, unfortunately, they are closed every Tuesday. Out of sadness, I just enjoyed the sights of Yokohama Pier and the Nissan Gallery where future of automobiles are being displayed. I also visited the Yokohama Ramen Museum, a museum dedicated for Ramen in all prefectures of Japan. The museum interiors is based from the old Kowloon area in Hong Kong. 

Panoramic view of Oosanbashi Pier

 

On my fifth day, I went to Ueno Park in Taito Ward, to see the Sakura trees blooming, although only a few of trees were blooming as Spring is still a weeks away during my stay. Had the chance to visit the Tokyo National Museum. Entrance fee to the museum is around 600 JPY. Unfortunately, photo taking is not allowed on some cultural artifacts, so I decided not to and just look around. While in Ueno, I stumbled a Muji shop that has Meal & Cafe. They had a lunch promo, 1000 JPY you have the option for 3 variants.

For only 1000 JPY

On the sixth day, Just before I leave my hostel, the accommodation management informed us that they will relocate all guests to other nearby hostels. They said that a faulty electric wiring was the cause of relocation. The hostel management will cover all expenses including the transfer fees.  I revisited, the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Thanking the deities for the blessing that I received. After Sensoji, I went to Yoyogi Park, it is located between Shibuya and Shinjuku, though the entrance to the park is in front of Harajuku Station. 

As I return to my hostel and packed up, the hostel management apologised for inconvenience and thanked me for understanding.  The new hostel has better facilities than the previous one, Although, the previous one has better transport connections especially going to airports.

On my last day, the hostel has breakfast buffet for 600 JPY which is reasonable. After breakfast and completely packed, I head off to Tokyo Station to take a bus going to Narita Airport. The airport bus only cost 1000 JPY. The bus station is located at the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station. For me, bus option is recommended for travellers with large with two luggages going to airport, as you won't be guarding your luggages and comfort.

Breakfast buffet in my new accommodation for only 600 JPY

Arriving at Narita Airport, all ANA international and domestic flights are at Terminal 1. After checking-in, had the chance to look around. There I was able to buy Royce' chocolates. The Royce' I bought were sold this season such as Sakuraberry chocolate.  Our aircraft going to Manila is a Boeing 787-800. This aircraft has First class cabin though not being sold to passengers. As we take-off, a beautiful sunset is in the scene as we increase altitude. En route to Manila, During meal service, I opted the Pork mushroom with rice, I was delicious! Also, I had the chance to buy an ANA tote bag for 1500 JPY. Good thing I was able to register to ANA's Mileage club. My purchase added miles to my account (1 mile = 100 JPY / approx. 50 PHP). A few minutes before descending to Manila, I browsing their In-Flight magazine, I found an article about ANA purchased stake from Philippine Airlines. Too bad that the article is in Japanese though.



 

 

ZARD music is available In-Flight

At 9:30PM I arrived in Manila and finally ends my one week vacation. I am looking forward to visit Japan again, as attractions are ever-changing and adding more. Maybe 2020 would be the best before Olympics fever starts.

The unified Game Center cards in Japan

During my stay in Japan earlier this March, after taking my first bowl of Ramen, I went to a nearby Game Center in Akihabara, Taito Station. When I was looking for my e-amusement card, I just remembered that KONAMI released a new itineration of their e-amusement card. So I looked for the kiosk that dispensed e-amusement cards.

The new e-amusement card design

The new KONAMI e-amusement card is now a unified with other gaming companies such as SEGA's AIME Card, BANDAI NAMCO's BANAPASSPORT and Taito's NESiCA LIVE. Which means you can use one card to other games such as MaiMai or Taiko Tatsujin, etc. Game Cards sold by three gaming companies will have an AMUSEMENT IC logo within. KONAMI released a press release to the new implementation. Bought the e-amusement card for only 300 JPY (400 JPY as of Dec 2019).

e-amusement card dispenser and the PASELI loading kiosk in Taito Station Akihabara

The old Game Cards issued by each companies is still usable though but they can't be crossover. I haven't tried to use the Amusement IC cards in Banapassport enabled games such as Maximum Tune (Old cabinet might be using the old RF readers).

UPDATE: 11 January 2020

As of January 2020, SEGA's maimai DX will be officially connected to SEGA's ALL.NET network in the Philippines, and equipped with Amusement IC readers. It means that e-AMUSEMENT, BANAPASSPORT, and ALL.NET are available in PH!

maimai DX arcade machine at Q Power Station in Makati

The Bishi Bashi Channel / ビシバシCHANNEL

A few weeks ago, Quantum Amusement installed the newest arcade in their QPS Rockwell branch, The Bishi Bashi Channel / ビシバシCHANNEL. The latest itineration of Bishi Bashi series since the 90's. Quantum is half a year late, as it was release last June 2018.

The game attract mode

The Bishi Bashi Channel's arcade cabinet is converted from the MUSECA, a BEMANI game that was recently concluded. They also use the four of the six buttons and monitor from MUSECA. The game has multi-lingual system that supports English/ Korean/ Chinese and Japanese voice-overs during gameplay that players can choose.

When I tried the game for the first time, I tapped my eamusement card, it didn't recognized my card. Usually, when a player taps their card, it automatically starts the game. I even thought that the card I have is defective. Only found out that the game is offline.

The game can be played without eamusement support. Which I wonder why they didn't avail. Maybe Quantum only bought the game but connected to eamusement is not. As of writing, the per credit cost 30.00Php.

Offline mode

Currently, The Bishi Bashi Channel is also available in QPS SM Mall Of Asia. I am hoping that the game would be connected thru eamusement network like other eamusement enabled games that are available in the Philippines.