Day 87 - Day 88 ( Japan Trip Day 3 & 4 )

Time flies! Today is already the 3rd day of my Japan trip.. haha.. and here we are, going towards the Ueno Zoo! Took a train to Shinjuku ( 160 yen ) and then transfer to Ueno ( 190 yen ).

This is the Ueno Park~
Ueno Park is home to Japan's first zoological garden, which dates back to 1882. In 1972, it became the home of panda bears, gifts from China on the occasion of normalization of diplomatic relations. However, the zoo's last panda bear died in 2008, leaving the zoo without its most popular attraction.

Ueno Zoological Gardens is the oldest zoo in Japan. Founded in 1882, it has grown over the years, expanded its area to 14.3 ha (35.2 acres) and been the flagship of the Japanese zoo world. Now it's home to over 2600 animals from 464 different species and provides visitors with learning experience about the diversity of animals as well as fun and enjoyment.

In its long history, Ueno Zoo has received numerous animals from abroad. In 1972, the first giant pandas arrived from China to Ueno Zoo. We have been cooperating with Beijing Zoo (China), San Diego Zoo (US), and Chapultepec Zoo (Mexico) for conservation and breeding of wild giant pandas.

camouflage ape!

Our tickets to the zoo!

The panda is so cute!

Pheasant

Victoria Crowned Pigeon ( Goura victoria )

Iijima's Copper Pheasant ( Syrmaticus soemmerringi ijimae )

Green Peafowl ( Pavo muticus ) Sleeping?

Haha.. this is cute.. the Styan's Red Panda ( Ailurus fulgens styani )

This Thai Pavilion ( Saln Thai ) is a gift from the Royal Thai Government to mark the 120th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Japan on the 26th September 2007, and to serve as a symbol of the close ties of friendship between the two countries.

Asian Elephants ( Elephas maximus )!!

And this is the Japanese Macaque ( Macaca fuscata )! Err.. this picture is a little obscence..

drinking water..

playing around..

White-mentled Black Colobus ( Colobus guereza )

Black-handed Spider Monkey ( ateles geoffroyi )

This cute creature is the Ruffed Lemur ( Varecia variegatus variegatus )

De Braza's Guenon ( Cercopithecus neglectus )

Black-handed Spider Monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi )

White-mantled Black Colobus ( Colobus guereza )

American Bison ( Bison bison )!!

Baby bison.. haha!

Turkey?

Elegant swan..

sleeping..

Azure-winged Magpie ( Cyanopica cyana )!

Collard Turtle Dove ( Streptopelia roseogrisea )

i think this is the Brown-eared Bulbul ( Hypsipetes amaurotis )

I can see 2 birds! But i only know the one on the right! It's the Eastern Turtle Dove!

And this is the bored Ezo Sika Deer ( Cervus nippon yesoensis )..

Red-crown crane~

Snowy Owl ( Nyctea scandiaca ) !!

Brown Wood Owl ( Strix leptogrammica )

Northern Goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis albidus )

Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus )

Steller's Sea Eagle ( Haliaeetus pelagicus pelagicus )

King Vulture ( sarcorhamphus papa )

Bateleur ( Terathopius ecaudatus )

Crested Hawk Eagle ( Spizaetus cirrhatus )

Lions!

Lion King!

Sumatran Tiger ( panthera tigris sumatrae )

Green Peafowl ( Pavo muticus )

And this western lowland gorilla is sleeping.. with a pink blanket?

This gorilla is cute.. first he lick a pile of shit-like stuff.. then he puke it out.. then he lick back the shit-like stuff again.. muahhahaaa!!!

Hut-like toilet~

Ruddy Kingfisher ( Halcyon coromanda )!

Bearded Barbed ( Lybius dubius )

Fischer's Lovebird.. haha.. i like this colourful bird!! and i like the expression of the two love birds in the picture.. :)

Dhole ( Cuon alpinus ) is always moving.. humph.. cannot capture a nice image of u!

My lovely Jackass Penguin ( Spheniscus demersus )!

And Li Shi's fav polar bear ( Thalarctos maritimus )

Hokkaido Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos yesoensis )

Japanese Black Bear ( Selenarctos thibetanus japonicus )

Beautiful autumn trees in Tokyo Ueno Zoo!!!

and we're out of the zoo, proceeding to check out the price for the Tokyo National Museum~

Welcome to the Tokyo National Museum!

Didn't go in because it's expensive.. haha..

Next is lunch time! We went to a Japanese eatery and have this!

After which, we shopped the "100 yen shop".. bought some stuff.. and guess what, we chanced upon a shop selling things definitely illegal in Singapore! These are the stunner:

Can u see the bullet-shaped lighter?

On our way to Tokyo Tower! haha.. oh ya! we also observed these Braille system used in the subway trains for buying of tickets!

Taking a train to Hamamatsucho station on the Yamanote line for Tokyo Tower! Cost us about 190 yen..

And we saw this figurine peeing..

Tokyo tower! Here we come!

Height of tower is 333m. Since its opening in 1958, the Tokyo Tower has been the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower. ( The Eiffel Tower in Paris is 320m high ). It weighs about 4000 wons, which is much lighter than the Eiffel Tower, which weights 7000 tons, a result of remarkable advances in steel manufacturing and construction technology. paint used for the Tower was 28000 liters, equal to 140 drums. The Tower is painted orange and white according to the Civil Aeronautic Law. Tokyo Tower is transmitting 24 broadcast waves, which show that most broadcast stations in Tokyo are transmitting their waves from the Tower. 176 floodlights installed in various parts light up the Tower. The Tower is illuminated with an orange light in winder and white incandescent light in summer, delighting vistors and passers-by.

Karen, Huilin and Li Shi with the Tokyo Tower!

Joseph and Li Shi with the Tokyo Tower on 14th Nov 2008!

On our way back to the station, we saw this cute taxi!

Our next destination is Shibuya~!! The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the central business district of Shibuya Ward, which surrounds Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. Shibuya is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.

Christmas Caroling!

One whole row of vending machines.. oh ya! Japan have vending machines for cigarettes too!

Busy and crowded streets of Shibuya!

Can u see the massive amount of people walking from all over the place when the "green man" was lit up? Welcome to Tokyo!

Beautiful Hello Kitty stuff!! Very intricate and shiny!

Real piano studded with glitter crystals!!

Absolutely adorable.. just like me..Bought a cake and chicken sticks on the way back to our apartment!

On the 4th day, it was busy for us.. packing our luggage and heading back to Harajuku to buy souvenirs! Took a few napshots of the Tokyo streets again..

It's christmas time!

Once again, the busy Takeshita Street!

Took the Keisei line and rush back to Narita Airport just in time! Got a little lost in the station, but it was settled fast by friendly Japanese people around us! Reached the airport and manage to shop a few more food stuff before we hurried to the departure gate!! Everything was a little chaotic.. until we settle down in the plane to Busan.. :)

Entertainment time!

And these are some things i bought.. haha! Food stuff and souvenirs from Tokyo!

All in all, i truly enjoyed my stay in Tokyo Japan. This is a very civilised country.. clean.. friendly Japanese.. Everyone has manners.. polite and courteous.. no pushing about although it's crowded.. line up while waiting for the subway trains and allowing people to alight first ( i mean it ).. food is really good, but a little expensive.. the only thing that is not to my liking is it's complicated subway train lines.. and the cost of the transportation. Once again, i want to say: I LOVE TOKYO! It's a nice place and i hope to go back to Japan for holiday again.. :) Positive experience!