It's been a while.../My Japan Trip 2012 Pt. 2

To be exact, it's been over 5 weeks. Where have I been? Well, no where. It's always hectic this time of year, but to be honest, I kind of went into complete blogging shut down mode. I have no intention of closing anything down, but ever since hitting that one year mark, my blogging routine has slowly gone out the window. For the past couple of months I've been falling more and more behind on making posts (which I'm sure is apparent), then one day, I decided to ignore everything altogether. And that one day has turned into 5 weeks of nothingness. To all of you that are still here, I'm sorry for neglecting this blog for so long! And my email! I'm still struggling with setting a routine - to those bloggers out there who manage to post regularly (I really look up to you!), how do you do it? How do you juggle everything? I'm desperate for some tips! ><

Ok, despite the delay, I'm determined to finish part 2 of my Japan trip. Even after all this time, I still have dreams about shopping in Tokyo, eating away in Osaka - I miss those places dearly! And that's definitely what pops to mind when I think back to my experiences in Tokyo and Osaka - on many occasions I got so distracted by the shopping that I even forgot to take my camera out to snap some photos! But this post is extremely image heavy nonetheless. Haul photos at the end! 

OSAKA

Osaka Castle
I'm sure when people visually picture Osaka, this structure is somewhere there in the background. And Osaka Castle is a very impressive looking thing! If you get to the very top of the building, you also take in an all round view of the beautiful city.

Osaka Aquarium
I had high hopes for this place (I LOVE visiting the zoo or aquarium), but was a little disappointed by how small all the exhibits were. The whale shark exhibit however - which is the main draw card - was an incredible sight!

  
Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum
Instant ramen (or cup noodle) is an absolute food necessity to me. If there's one thing I get right, that's making sure my cup noodle supply doesn't run dry. So naturally, I had to pay homage to the man who invented it all - Momofuku Ando. You also get to customize your very own cup noodle at the museum so it's all very super cool.

  
Takoyaki
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Takoyaki, and Osaka is the place to go to stuff yourself full of this yummy goodness. At this particular joint (I believe it's call 'Pizza Ball House'), you get to make your own Takoyaki from scratch, which proved to be MUCH harder than it looks. The waiter had to come around so many times to my table and ensure the takoyaki was cooking properly - it was quite embarrassing.

  
Dotonbori
Dotonbori is a must-visit destination for food and shopping in Osaka. It's where the famous running man (or glico man) lives, and is a definite tourist hotspot. I highly recommend hitting up 'Kani Doraku Honten' if you go pass it, I know it's a chain restaurant, but their all-crab courses are AMAZING! And surprisingly affordable too.

TOKYO

Tokyo Tower
Just like Osaka castle, Tokyo Tower is bound to be one of those things that pops into mind when you think of Tokyo. I honestly didn't snap too many photos (I was so worn out by shopping that day lol), but it looks spectacular all lit up!

Akihabara
Is THE nerd central of Tokyo! The district is famous for all things anime and electronic related, and also maid cafes! I have to admit I was keen to try out a maid cafe at first but chickened out last minute because it was just too much cuteness overload haha.

Tsukiji Fish Market
If you want to find the best tasting sushi EVER, Tsukiji Fish market is the place to hit up. I ate at Sushi Dai (apparently number 1 in popularity) - I'm usually not one to line up for hours to eat at a restaurant, but those 3.5 hours I spent waiting outside, was totally worth it. Just see below! The grueling wait is pretty much mandatory, so be warned if you wish to visit!

Shimokitazawa 
Shimokitazawa is one of those super cool, laid back neighborhoods where all the hipsters hang. It's filled with really cute boutiques and eateries, and check out all the street art! 

  
Shibuya
My theory has always been that if you haven't been at the Shibuya crossing, you haven't truly experienced Japan. It's Tokyo madness at it's best! Going on the crossing has been on my bucket list for a while now, so I'm glad to finally tick it off!

Ebisu Garden Place
Ebisu Garden Place has been the backdrop of many Japanese dramas and films, the area almost looks surreal in it's commercial surroundings. Random, but if you were ever into the drama 'Hana Yori Dango', you will know the significance of the structure below! ;)

  
Ghibli Museum
I've been watching animated films produced by Studio Ghibli from ever since I can remember. The whole experience of the museum visit was like a dream (unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside), you get a true glimpse into the mind Hayao Miyazaki and all the other geniuses behind their many famous animations. And there's nothing like a Ghibli production to make me want to be a kid all over again.

 
Asakusa Shrine
I was a little all-shrined-out after Kyoto, so I wasn't so ethusiastic about visiting Asakusa in Tokyo. It's a interesting place to see nonetheless, also a great place to pick up souvenirs!

And last but not least my makeup haul! I did hold back because I really couldn't fit it all into my suitcase, but there's definitely some new favorites in that pile. Reviews and swatches to come!

That's all for now! Thank you so much for still reading! I'll (hopefully) have my holiday look up soon...and fingers crossed we all make it through today. Lol. :P