Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel: Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

Posted on December 27, 2018 by missuschewy

“Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea?”

Trust me, I get this question from sooo many of you that I am providing a dedicated blog post on Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, our choice of accommodation in Tokyo Disney Resort. This post will definitely be useful to you to a great extent if at least one of these points are applicable to you:

You are travelling with children.
You want to stay as close to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea as possible.
You are on a mid-range budget and Disney hotels are out of the question.

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is a Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotel

If you want to make the best out of your trip and wonder where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, we strongly recommend that you stay on property. It minimises all the hassle and travelling time, so that you get to do more and see more in the Disney parks. You can find a list of hotels on the Tokyo Disney Resort website that are categorised into Disney Hotels (Deluxe/Value), Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels, Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels. This should give you a rough idea on where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. Only the Disney Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels are located within the grounds of Tokyo Disney Resort. Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is one of the relatively affordable official hotels which you definitely should consider!

Besides the Disney hotels, Vacation Packages are also available for booking if you choose to stay at one of the official hotels. The Vacation Package includes a host of premiums such as fast passes and unlimited free drinks, etc which we will touch on later. We picked up our Vacation Package at the Tokyo Disney Resort Ticket Center at Ikspiari, the shopping and dining complex located in front of JR Maihama Station. PRO TIP: Check in directly at the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center next to JR Maihama Station and leave all your luggages at the hotel service counter. Your luggages will be delivered to your hotel free of charge. With that, you can save time and head straight into Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea!

To get to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, take the Disney Resort Line monorail from the Resort Gateway Station adjacent to JR Maihama Station and get off at the second stop, Bayside Station.

From Bayside Station, it is only a 1-minute walk to Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle bus service from Bayside Station, as well as complimentary shuttle bus service to and from JR Maihama Station.

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is just opposite Bayside Station

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Hotel Bay Standard Room

I’m sure we are all aware that hotels in Japan are generally on the smaller side which can be quite uncomfortable if you are travelling with family members and have a few pieces of luggages. Our Standard Room at Sheraton Grande Hotel Bay is extremely spacious and also luxurious. The overall interior design is somewhat lacking but we really find that the space makes up for it. PRO TIP: Don’t forget to request for child amenities such as bed guardrail, step stool, kids toilet seat, kids nightwear, tooth brush, slippers and towels.

We got a very beautiful sea-facing view.

Galleria Cafe features an All Day Menu (11am to 12 midnight) and all of us had the same thing for supper – Pork Rib Ramen (￥2000). The soy sauce flavored chinese soup was especially comforting after an entire day of being exposed to cold weather. The noodles were thin and springy, while the deep fried pork cutlet was tender and juicy.

As mentioned earlier, there are shuttle buses to get around Tokyo Disney Resort. If you would like to venture outside of your hotel for supper, take the shuttle bus.

If you love visiting Japanese supermarkets, you will be glad to know that Seijo Ishii offers a wide range of items, including fresh foods, imported wines, cheese, and also various home made deli products and desserts.

Breakfast Buffet is also available at Galleria Cafe from 7am to 10am. The range is pretty extensive and food is quite up to standard. We didn’t manage to try every single food item as we were in a rush to get into the Disney parks.

Alternatively, you can choose to have breakfast at Japanese Restaurant Asuka. Breakfast is from 7am to 10am. Do note that it is not buffet style.

Japanese breakfast set at Asuka Japanese Restaurant

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel offers station delivery service at a fee as shown in the picture above. This is especially useful if you are planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea upon checking out as you can simply take the monorail straight to the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center at JR Maihama Station to collect your luggages, instead of making another trip back to the hotel. The fee is applicable for transporting of luggages from the hotel to the station. Transporting of luggages from the station to the hotel is free of charge.

If you are willing to splurge a little more, we highly recommend booking a Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package. There are two types of Vacation Packages – “Standard Plan” and “Enjoy Lots of Attractions“. The main difference is that the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” package is more expensive than the “Standard Plan” but it really depends on your priorities and interests. If you would like to secure a show viewing ticket in Disneyland or DisneySea, go for the “Standard Plan” and if conquering as many rides as possible is your goal, the “Enjoy Lots of Attractions” includes more fast passes.

We wanted something which can cover a bit of everything, which includes trying out various rides and also being able to watch one of the show performances, hence we went ahead with the Standard Plan.

The Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Package – Standard Plan includes:

5 fast passes per pax (can be used on all FP rides except for “Toy Story Mania!” and “Nemo & Friends SeaRider” at Tokyo DisneySea)
1 show viewing ticket per pax
1 original goods voucher per pax
1 ticket holder voucher per pax
1 free drink voucher per pax
1 original popcorn bucket voucher per room
Disney Resort Line 3-Day Pass
Hotel breakfast after the first night

We hope this post is useful in helping you decide where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea 🙂 Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

What to Do & Eat in Asakusa

Posted on December 12, 2018 by missuschewy

If you are thinking of what to do and eat in Asakusa, and only have a few hours to spare, this post covers what you should not miss in this traditional district of Tokyo.

We recommend visiting Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic temple, the Sensoji Temple, also popularly known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. Our family makes it a point to pay homage to the Buddha at Sensoji Temple every time we visit Tokyo. It certainly feels very reassuring to be blessed by the Buddha from a temple with immense significance.

Visitors enter Sensoji Temple through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with a gigantic lantern hanging in the middle. This is a highly popular photo spot among tourists visiting Sensoji Temple.

Right outside Sensoji Temple is an entire street of shops known as Nakamise Shopping Street.

Over there, you can find all sorts of souvenirs and bric-a-brac.

There are also plenty of snacks that you can munch on while strolling along Nakamise.

At the end of Nakamise Shopping Street, you will find another giant lantern.

A mere 3-minute walk from Nakamise Shopping Street, you really ought to stop by Namiki Yabusoba for lunch. This famous soba restaurant in Asakusa boasts more than 100 years of history and sees a long queue during lunch and dinner times.

Namiki Yabusoba’s buckwheat noodles are handmade from 100% buckwheat flour milled on the same day, giving it that clean taste and earthy flavor. When eaten together with the rich and flavorful dipping sauce, the zaru soba is refreshing and satisfying.

If you prefer something hot especially when visiting in winter, there is also a choice of hot soba soup with fish cakes.

I’m really glad I decided to try something different – the Yamakake soba, which is cold soba covered in a sauce combination of grated yam seasoned with dipping sauce. Give it a good stir so that the noodles are evenly coated in sauce. I loved that it was slimy and slippery, on top of being yummy.

If you visiting Tokyo on a tight schedule and still wish to spend some time in Asakusa, we hope this post on what to do and eat in Asakusa will inspire you.

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Takamaru Sengyoten: Izakaya with Fresh Sashimi at Affordable Prices

Posted on December 7, 2018 by missuschewy

No trip to Japan is ever complete without indulging in some sashimi! Well, unless you don’t take raw food. Most of us think of Tsukiji Fish Market as THE place for best sashimi in Tokyo since it is not just a fish market, but the biggest one in the capital of The Land of the Rising Sun. However, if you are not so keen to travel all the way to Tsukiji Fish Market just for a sashimi meal, Takamaru Sengyoten in Shinjuku is your best bet! Their seafood is purchased directly from Tsukiji fish auction, as well as from fishermen in various parts of Japan.

There are a handful of Takamaru Sengyoten chains scattered in Shinjuku. As you can see, this chain was packed that night so we were asked to visit the next one which is just down the street.

We visited Takamaru Sengyoten No. 2 and this particular store was also crowded. See that empty table near the entrance? That was our spot.

Many locals flock to Takamaru Sengyoten for its thickly sliced fresh sashimi which is also priced very reasonably. One thing about izakayas is that patrons smoke freely even indoors and there is nothing you can do about it. We felt very uncomfortable as there was a guy sitting right next to our table and he was smoking throughout his entire meal. I counted five sticks. If you are pregnant, or have children travelling with you, this may be a huge concern.

English menu is available for tourists.

We were really in the mood for sashimi, so we were game enough to order the Big Super Special Sashimi Assortment at ‎JP‎¥4980 (SGD$60.20). When the sashimi was served to us, we were initially a little taken aback by the food presentation as we were expecting something more refined. Alas, we forgot that we were dining in an izakaya. Lol. I suppose the fish head was included as a testament to the freshness of the sashimi served at Takamaru Sengyoten.

Apart from the more common salmon and tuna, we truly enjoyed the uni, scallops, ark shell, mackerel, yellowtail, plus some other fish that we weren’t able to identify.

For the kids who can’t eat anything raw, the Fried Rice with Crab Meat JP‎¥1280 (SGD$15.50) was definitely very tantalising to their taste buds.

We also had some Tempura Assortment JP‎¥1580 (SGD$19.20) to share. Fresh seafood such as fish, squid and other vegetables were lightly battered and deep fried.

Takamaru Sengyoten’s dons are also highly recommended, such as this Una Toro Don JP‎¥1280 (SGD$15.50) which includes slices of unagi and minced tuna.

Total damage was about SGD$170. All of us agreed that it was money well spent at Takamaru Sengyoten. We also had 6 to 7 glasses of beer at JP‎¥300 (SGD$3.60) each.

If are in Shinjuku, be sure to drop by any of the Takamaru Sengyoten chains for a mind-blowing sashimi meal!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Takamaru Sengyoten
Address: 7-15-13 Nishishinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo
Tel: 03-5937-5969 (Takes reservations)
Opening Hours:
Daily
11am – 11pm (Last order)

Shibuya Gyoza: Must Eat Gyoza in Tokyo

Posted on December 2, 2018 by missuschewy

The husband really loves gyoza so I was determined to find a gyoza place that would impress him. My online findings convinced me to check out Shibuya Gyoza in Tokyo. Generally speaking, there are quite a few highly recommended gyoza eateries around Shibuya area. Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel, the first hotel which we put up at in Tokyo, is within walking distance to many great gyoza restaurants such as Tiger Gyoza Hall in Udagawacho, Harajuku Gyoza-ro near Meiji-jingumae Station, apart from Shibuya Gyoza which has chains located near JR Shibuya Station and JR Ebisu Station, etc.

After checking into Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel, we navigated our way to Shibuya Gyoza. Halloween was two days away and there were quite a number of locals dressed up in their Halloween outfits. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since the Japanese love dressing up.

Keep a lookout for the gigantic plate of gyoza! It’s hard to miss anyway. We have come to Shibuya Gyoza! It’s located on the second floor of Atlas Shibuya Building.

I suppose the sign indicates that smoking is not allowed but electronic cigarettes are allowed. It looks like a pregnancy test kit to me though. LOL. And you saw that right, Shibuya opens till 5am from Mondays to Saturdays.

Here’s a quick glance at the gyoza menu before we enter Shibuya Gyoza. There is a more extensive menu inside the eatery. 6 pieces of gyoza is priced at JP¥290 (SGD$3.50). The price per gyoza gets cheaper the more pieces you order. We were in luck since we went in a group. There is a choice of grilled, boiled and fried gyoza.

40 pieces of gyoza at JP¥1680 (SGD$20.50)! We ordered the grilled ones which are lightly pan-fried and crisp on the underside while the juiciness is still retained within. We love eating gyoza with vinegar! What about you? White vinegar is offered foc but red vinegar comes at a small extra charge. Gyoza goes really well when washed down with beer!

We also ordered Fried Rice at JP¥480 (SGD$5.80) for the kids. Not sure if they were just hungry or they found the fried rice yummy, especially since Cayla seemed to be wolfing down her food. There were tiny bits of black pepper so we had to pick them out.

My parents also had the Braised Pork Belly Rice at JP¥280 (SGD$3.40).

If you are looking for a cheap and good gyoza restaurant, look no further! Shibuya Gyoza will keep your tummies full and happy, while not burning a hole in your pockets 😉

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Shibuya Gyoza
30-3 Udagawacho, Shibuya,
Tokyo 150-0042, Japan
Opening Hours:
Sun 11am–11:30pm
Mon to Sat 11am–5am

Gotokuji Temple Tokyo: Birthplace of Maneki Neko

Posted on November 28, 2018 by missuschewy

OHAYO~! My gosh, our previous trip to Japan in 2016 didn’t feel too long ago and it was a very impromptu yet spontaneous decision on our part to book another trip to the Land of the Rising Sun this year! I left my previous company because I was so sick and tired of being a full-time working mum, and just felt like I needed to take a break from everything. Fast forward a few months later, I’m almost using up all my leaves at my current workplace for this trip. LOL. Oh wells, I suppose my itchy butt cannot stay at home for too long 😛

We jio-ed my parents along for this trip as we share a love for Japanese temples and shrines. Their last trip to Japan was a decade ago, so it’s time for some refresh and update! I was doing my research and stumbled upon this interesting and cute temple in Tokyo, Gotokuji Temple, otherwise known as Maneki Neko Temple or Lucky Cat Temple. I call it the CONFIRM HUAT TEMPLE. Hahaha. Go already come back sure strike 4D, Toto, Big Sweep, get big big bonus! HUAT AH!

Gotokuji Temple, located in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward, is a Buddhist temple that has an interesting story behind it, citing the temple as the birthplace of the Maneki Neko. These cats sit upright with their right paws beckoning luck and fortune, and are immensely popular enough to have their own worshippers from all over the world.

According to a temple legend, during the Edo period in the early 17th century, feudal lord Naotaka li and his servants were trying to escape from a thunderstorm and was led to safety after a cat beckoned with its right paw, inviting them into the temple. Since then, it is believed that the Maneki Neko brings good luck.

Today, hundreds of Maneki Neko figurines can be found at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo.

Hundreds of them in different sizes.

OMG don’t they all look so adorable? I love the teeny weeny ones! 😀

Rain or shine, may the HUAT be with you!

Before saying your prayers, you should first cleanse yourselves by washing your hands at the entrance of the temple.

I’m not sure where the water comes from but I drank a few mouthfuls by mistake from the bottle that my mum filled up with but thankfully, nothing untoward happened to me over the next few days.

Place both palms together and pray earnestly.

Swing the rope firmly to ring the bell.

Make a money offering.

I love this place already. The attention to detail is AMEOWZING!

Another reason why I love visiting Japanese temples is because I enjoying seeing the beautiful designs of the small wooden plaques (ema in Japanese) that are unique to each temple. Worshippers write their prayers or wishes on these plaques and hang them up at the temple, where the gods are believed to retrieve them.

2018 is the year of the Dog (chinese zodiac), hence the ema features the dog in addition to the Maneki Neko.

There is a small shop within Gotokuji Temple which sells various Maneki Neko souvenirs and good luck charms.

Good things come in small packages. Teeny weeny cute little Maneki Neko, you are coming home with us! Purrrrfect! 😉

Chanelle and Cayla were thrilled to see so many lucky cat figurines at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo too! A word of caution, these figurines are made of ceramic so always be extra careful. Cayla knocked over a large figurine with her foot on purpose and thankfully, it didn’t break. It was definitely a heart-stopping moment for us!

I think we spent slightly more than an hour at the temple, oohing and ahhing at the lucky cat figurines, in addition to taking plenty of photos. If you are heading to Japan, I strongly recommend setting aside some time to visit Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!

We travelled from Shibuya Station to Gotokuji Temple, which took about an hour of travelling time. If you are not travelling with young children, it should take you under an hour 😉

How to get there?

1) From Shibuya station to Sangen-Jaya station (2 stops via Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line)
2) From Sangen-Jaya station to Miyanosaka station (6 stops via Tōkyū Setagaya Line)
3) Walk from Miyanosaka station to Gotokuji Temple (between 600m to 800m, Google maps may lead you to other gates that are closed so keep on walking along the parameter of the temple)

Hope you have a pawsome time at Gotokuji Temple Tokyo!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Gotokuji Temple Tokyo 豪徳寺
Address: 〒154-0021 東京都世田谷区豪徳寺２丁目２４−７
Nearest Station: Miyanosaka Station (Tokyu Setagaya Line)
Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 6pm
Admission Fee: Free

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Tag Archives: The Chewys Tokyo 2018

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel: Where to stay near Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

What to Do & Eat in Asakusa

Takamaru Sengyoten: Izakaya with Fresh Sashimi at Affordable Prices

Shibuya Gyoza: Must Eat Gyoza in Tokyo

Gotokuji Temple Tokyo: Birthplace of Maneki Neko

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