After waking up early at the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo, we returned to CTS and flew back to Haneda. After checking in at the InterContinental at Shinagawa, we went to meet an aunt in Shinjuku. We visited the Hanazono Shrine, walked around the area, and spent awhile watching the giant 3D cat by the station before returning to the InterContinental.
Morning
We woke up well before breakfast time at the ANA Crowne Plaza in Sapporo in order to catch the first train from Sapporo Station to the New Chitose Airport Station. We checked out, wearing our ski helmets as we left as they would not fit in our luggage. Our plan was to descend down into the underground passageways to walk to the station. Unfortunately, it turns out that they are not open at this early hour! So, we walked on the sidewalks to the station.
It turns out that like the underground passageways, Sapporo Station was not open this early! We ended up waiting outside for a bit along with some other travelers. Eventually, an employee opened the outer doors to the station. Although we could not pass through the fare gates yet, at least we could sit and wait inside the building.
While waiting, we noticed this interesting vending machine. It sells clothing accessories, mostly baseball caps but also socks, gloves, and even underwear!
Soon, we saw the ticket machines were activated. We didn’t need to use them though as we have IC cards. Then, the fare gates were activated as well. We quickly went to board the train bound for the 新千歳空港 New Chitose Airport (CTS). We were able to easily get a seat by walking away from the car nearest the fare gates.
Japan Airlines Domestic First Class
After arriving at CTS, we went to find the 日本航空 Japan Airlines (JAL) checkin area. There were signs that directed us to JAL’s domestic flights. We had reservations for the first class cabin, though we couldn’t find the first class checkin area. We used the automated system to print out our bag tags and send our two checked bags on their way. We had trouble with one of them as the fully automated system failed to read the tag, but we retried it from scratch and got it to accept it.
Domestic first class tickets provide access to JAL’s domestic lounge at CTS. We arrived just in time to see the sun rise from the lounge’s east facing windows!
Overall, there weren’t many food options but at least it was extremely clean. It was nice to be able to eat something as we left way too early to have breakfast at the Crowne Plaza!
Our aircraft for the flight to 羽田空港 Haneda Airport (HND) is an A350-900, the same type that we flew here on before the new year. The aircraft is configured for three classes – First, Premium Economy which is marketed as the confusing Class J, and Economy. Soon, it was time to go!
A Sapporo-specific menu listed the food and drinks available for today’s flight. Although the flight time is only about an hour and a half, JAL does manage to do a full meal service.
A Japanese style breakfast was served. The rice came wrapped in a small package! According to the menu, it is rice from Hokkaido.
After we finished breakfast, the flight attendant offered some instant noodles, which we accepted. The noodles aren’t actually on the menu. We got two kinds, ramen and udon. Both had tiny fish cake pieces with airplanes on them! The udon wasn’t really that udon-like as it doesn’t seem like it is possible to make dried udon. Overall though, the noodles were decent, though not as good as Ichiran‘s instant noodles that we had in Niseko!
We also ordered the peach juice which was excellent! Overall, it was a great flight with excellent service. We were eating pretty much until it was time to begin the descent into Haneda.
The Strings InterContinental Shinagawa
After landing at Haneda and picking up our luggage, we took the 京急空港線 Keikyu Airport Line to 品川駅 Shinagawa Station. There is construction going on at Shinagawa, particularly around the Keikyu platforms. The normal escalators are currently out of service. Thus, we had to queue with many other people for a small elevator to take us up one floor as we had too much luggage to easily use the stairs. Once we made it up, we walked over to our hotel, The Strings, which is the name of the InterContinental hotel at Shinagawa.
We were able to check-in and receive our room when we arrived, which was not long before noon.
An informational sheet was provided giving details about the hotel as well as restaurant operating hours. As Diamond members in IHG’s One Rewards program, we have complimentary breakfast during our stay.
We have stayed at this InterContinental many times. The location is extremely convenient as it can be accessed from Shinagawa Station without having to descend to street level and without needing to cross any roads or climb any hills. Shinagawa Station is one of Tokyo’s major train stations with many JR lines as well as the Keikyu Line and subway access as well as Shinkansen service. The room are spacious and comfortable.
The bathrooms in this hotel all feature a bathtub and shower.
Our view this for this stay was facing Shinagawa Station. Most of the Tokyo Tower was formerly visible from this perspective, however, the new buildings at Takanawa Gateway to the north now obscure all but the very top of the tower. It is unfortunately just outside of this frame on the right.
Shinjuku
Not long after going to our room, our luggage was delivered from the lobby. We then headed out to meet up with an aunt in Shinjuku who was waiting for us at a restaurant in the Isetan department store.
We had lunch at a Thai restaurant.
Afterwards, we had some dessert in a cafe in the same building.
Afterwards, we walked over to the nearby 花園神社 Hanazono Shrine. A weekly Sunday antique flea market was just ending as we arrived.
This sign was posted on February 12th, 1940, and lists forbidden activities:
Riding horses and carriages
Catching fish and birds
Cutting bamboo and trees
There was a pretty good queue of people at the shrine.
We walked around the shrine’s compact grounds before moving on.
On our way out, we noticed this sign which displays activities prohibited since May, 2011:
Unauthorized parking
Unauthorized photography, fireworks, playing with fireworks, etc.
Tree cutting
Other actions that disrupt public morals and cause inconvenience to worshippers
After leaving the shrine, we walked around Shinjuku some more. We came across a building with a wavy facade.
When we first arrived in Tokyo after Christmas, we noticed more fall foliage than we expected in the few days that we were in the area. We noticed this today as well.
I don’t recall why we took this photo. Is it because we visited this Muji Or maybe the amusingly named Italian Tomato Cafe, Jr? Or is there something else of interest in this scene?
We ended up walking by the Isetan again. We noticed the multitude of lights hanging from above the driveway.
We continued to walk around as day transitioned to night. We didn’t really visit any stores except for the Muji earlier and the Beams store which is visible in one of the above photos.
We decided to end the evening by going to see Shinjuku’s Giant 3D Cat! The cat is an ultra-realistic 3D image on a huge partially curved billboard right across from Shinjuku Station. It appears from what seems like the cat’s official website that he has a name, あゆみ Ayumi.
We had a pretty good vantage point from the small plaza at the northeast corner of the station and spent about 45 minutes watching the cat… It goes through various scenes mixed with short advertisements and music videos. The scenes seem to play randomly.
It was still pretty busy when we left, after all, this is Shinjuku! The billboard that Ayumi the cat appears on is behind the tree just to the left and below the center of the photo.
We took the Yamanote Line back to Shinagawa Station and headed back to the InterContinnental.
We took some photos from the elevated walkways around the InterContinental. Although there is quite a bit here, there’s not much of interest as a tourist as its mostly a business district. It ends up being very quite at night.
We created a panorama from our room after we returned. The Tokyo Tower, which we didn’t include in our photograph from the window when we arrived earlier today, is on the right side of the panorama.