Tokyo ; Day 2 - 30th Dec | • mighty feisty •

Day 2 started late for us as we had to replenish all the sleeps from the flight and the day before. We were scheduled for something really exciting though!!!

A HELI TOUR OF TOKYO SIGHTS!! It was our first time on a helicopter and despite the jitters........

(YIPPPPPPPP!)

We needed to change stations (which is actually really normal in Japan and FREQUENT) to get to the meeting place and there wasn't much time left, so we settled for this ramen restaurant in the station itself.

(No... the food doesn't come out from the machine)

(You select, pay, get the ticket and pass it to them in the restaurant!)

(OMG, even random joints like this serve DARN YUMMY FOOD!!)

(ANOTHER BOWL PLEASE!)

The restaurant is a little cramp but it's kinda like a touch and go place for commuters. They even have bar tables with no seats which is rather common in Japan. They provide free water for all dining customers and please remember to clear your own bowls after! (Especially when you see other people doing it)

After lunch, we rushed to the meeting point and arrived 10 minutes late so we were guessing the bus ride dedicated for us to Urayasu Heliport departed (PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL WHEN IN JAPAN!) so we had no choice but to cab (WHICH IS HIDEOUSLY EXPENSIVE). I think we spent like a grand total of 200 SGDish on cab rides throughout the trip, due to lack of planning at some point.

We arrived at the very remote but gorgeous Urayasu Heliport and the sun was just setting so we got a really good view of a winter sunset in Tokyo ;)

(Can you spot the famous Titanic behind me?)

(MUST. TAKE. MORE. PICS.)

(Having a cuppa while waiting for our chopper)

We'd really wanted to take more photos of the entire area but the sun was gone in a flash and it was getting really hazardously cold. Thee lounge inside was just as nice too, (they had ceiling to floor windows so you can enjoy the view without the cold!) and you can order beverages or snacks while admiring the amazing view!

(The walkway leading to our heli outside.... JITTERS!)

(The sound and wind was mind blowing *pun intended*)

(Surprisingly, the heli can fit up to 8 pax so we had to share with 2 young Japanese couples)

(Yes, they have cup holders inside. And that's Tokyo Tower!!)

(ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!)

(Tokyo skytree, the building that's illuminating a tinge of purple)

(I'm not sure where this place is but it should be two stops before Maihama train station!)

The whole journey lasted for about 30 - 40 mins and while I preferred it to be a private tour, it was quite nice to share this beautiful memory with the two other couples too. Besides, they were really polite and quiet so it didn't make much of a difference.

We booked this Helicopter Tour through JTB, so if you are interested, do give them a ring! They provide shuttle service at Maihama Train Station, to and fro! I'm glad we booked the evening slot, we get to see both the beautiful sunset and amazing night view of Tokyo!

(WORTH. EVERY. PENNY.)

Unfortunately, I was way behind schedule for the concert that I paid for (Ayumi Hamasaki's Countdown Live 2014-2015!!!). So we had to cab, AGAIN. The taxi was all ready for us outside the reception area and I could hear my heart bleeding....

The trip from Urayasu Heliport to Yoyogi National Gymnasium was insane!!!!! It cost us freaking $100 over SGD!!!!!

I thought maybe the maximum would probably be $70SGD over, but with a little traffic jam and all that traffic lights..... URGH. Well, I'm glad we made it to the right venue and only missed out 15 minutes of the concert. Poor bubby had to find his own plans cause I thought he wouldn't be interested so I didn't purchase his ticket XD

(PINK love for AYU!)

I used to be a huge fan of Ayu during my school days and I bought every single CD, Album and magazines or posters that had her on it. I even went on some JPOP Competition, sang her song and won first prize! She's very well known for her poignant lyrics and of course, those emo school days blend well with it.

Watching her perform in Japan is also one of the many to-do items in my bucket list so I was incredibly overjoyed to have cross it out after so many years!!

(The stage, props, lighting and all that visual effects were dazzzzleeee-ling! No wonder she never held any concerts in SG... she'd prob bankrupt any events company)

In Japan, people are pretty anal about recording devices and cameras in concert halls. So please try to be discreet if you want to bring some memories back home. I was trying to record some snippets and this obasan behind me actually notified the security guard -_-"

(But, YOLO! AYU WAS SO GORGEOUS!!!!!)

Other than the obasan, the whole 2 odd hours was magical and so so fun! Everyone in the audience stood up throughout her performance and all of them waved their pink light sticks like as though they are being paid to do so (lololol). Her vocals are still so infectious and ever tugging my heart strings. I LOVE YOU AYU!

After the concert, came the mad chaos of people leaving the hall. Or so I thought. To my surprise, everyone left in an orderly fashion, no pushing, no shouting, no impatience, AT ALL.

(Manners were still displayed given this humongous crowd)

(Concert souvenirs for sale!!! Bought the gym towel and a small bucket bag for keepsake)

As we had only one wifi pocket device and we decided to let Bubs have it before I head off for the concert, we agreed to meet around Harajuku's Takeshita Dori's entrance 2 hours later and touch base once I'm done. The concert ended later than I expected and I had no other way to notify him!

Following instinct and signboards, I walked to the train station to leech on their wifi but to my horror, HIS PHONE SEEMS DEAD. I had to call in reinforces from our local friend and my sister back home to frantically search for him but they couldn't call through AT ALL.

Strangely though, I wasn't really panicking. I'm not sure if it's the roadside stalls that's selling all the interesting Ayu collectibles (keychains, stickers, notebooks, iphone covers, etc.) or the warm coffee that I bought from the combini, I was so damn distracted XD

After sticking around for the wifi and hoping he'd reply soon, I started strolling to the entrance we talked about and found him.......... BUYING CREPES.

(Bubby's lost face and to quote him, "huh? late meh? i thought we agreed around this time". He didn't even realize it himself that its been more than 2 hours -_-")

(He said the crepes were nice to look at but too sweet for his liking)

(He also said he took this because he wanna show me he went to a LOVE MOTEL. -______-")

Anyhoo, I was glad I found him and with his yummy crepes, we went to try something that used to be SO DARN POPULAR in SG! Which is actually just down the stairs in the pictures above.

(PURIKURA!!!!! or what you call, NEOPRINT. and please, their machine only costs $4SGD per try!)

The whole basement was packed with different types of machines, some that will make your legs longer, some your face sharper, some that will transport you and your friends to some european city, the choice is endless. They have full length mirror everywhere and even a restroom for ladies to change if they need to. Very dedicated even for just photo stickers.

(WE TOOK SO MANY! We had a good laugh at those engorge eyeballs and elongated legs. Try at least once!!! It's so cheap anyway and you can ogle at cute Japanese schoolgirls if you are lucky ;))

(Green screens are also good props for selfies ;))

Shops were closing when we were done and the night was getting ridiculously cold, we strolled along Harajuku to Omotesando looking for some late night dinner!