A comparison of Zoos - Ueno, and Singapore

First off, let me just say I'm Singaporean, and damn proud of our Zoo. And it is an award-winning zoo, so we have reasons to be proud of it.

But this is a comparison of two zoos, mainly because I have been to the Ueno Zoo recently (early Nov 2016), and returned to the Singapore Zoo recently (early Dec, 2016) and the impulse to compare and contrast was strong.

Anyway, these are just my impression, and, spoiler alert, I think the Singapore Zoo is much better generally, although there are some good points with Ueno Zoo.

Smoke Gets in Your Face (smoking in Japan)

Sorry, this is not a post on tips on smoking in Japan.

As a non-smoker in a relatively advanced society (Singapore) where smoking in public is strictly or quite rigorously controlled, it sometimes seems like a step back in time to experience second-hand smoke in Japan.

I was recently reminded of this when we were seated in the non-smoking section of a cafe, with my (not quite) 2-year-old daughter... right next to the table which was in the smoking section.

And really, there was no point complaining because a) there were no other seats/table available, and b) the cafe was really small, so there were no place in that cafe that was truly free of smoke. And this is Japan.

Not that I would have complained. If there were other seats, I might have moved, but I am not a confrontational sort.

Missing it all.

One of the reasons to visit Japan in Autumn is to catch the koyo (Autumn leaves/ autumn colours).

We left Tokyo, Japan on the 12.

Peak Koyo in Tokyo was on the 15.

We missed it by 3 days.

Japan Rail Pass - Worth it?

I wondered if there were a way to travel cheaper.

Kansai Area pass covers Kyoto-Nara-Osaka-Kobe - $80 for 4 days per adult, $55 for 2 days per adult. So for 10 days in the Kansai region - $215. per adult. If we travel by the slower Shinkansen, it would be $180. Total $400.

BUT, still need a pass in Tokyo. That 5 day pass is $241.

So total would be $640

A 14 day National Pass = $590 (when I checked in July) which includes the slower Shinkansen. Still cheaper. And more convenient.

I guess if next time we just cover Tokyo to Hokkaido, we can just use the JR East regional pass.

Travel From Haneda to Osaka by Nozomi - Green seat - 19,820 yen ($252) - $80 more than ordinary reserve seat.

Why there are no recycling bins in Nara

Recycling bins are ubiquitous in Japan.

And after you are used to them, Nara is like a wasteland for recycling bins.

But you might also have realised that trash bins are also quite scarce. Why? Here is an explanation of sorts.

But whatever the reason, the reality is, there are fewer trash bins in Japan than in most other cities.

Conversely, almost every drinks vending machine (and there are many) would have a can and bottle recycling bin right next to it for the convenience of the customer.

However, not in Nara.

Hotel Review in point form

As usual, I'll provide "+" for plus points, and "-" for negative points, and "=" for neutral points. Positive and negative points are personal and of course subjective. Review is based on one instance of stay at the hotel, so YMMV.

Features or attractions not used may not be mentioned nor rated.

Ikinari Steak House

After the extravagance of a 28,000 Yen steak dinner (Red One, Motomachi), and a 36,000 Yen Teppanyaki grill (Kagura) - both with Kobe beef - it was time to come back down to earth.

On Okubo Dori, Shinjuku, Tokyo close (within 2 min walk) to the Meiji Dori junction, there is Ikinari Steak.

It also offered "Pepper Lunch" set - beef with rice, on a sizzling hot plate, which you mix together with various sauces - which I was unable to identify because most were in Japanese.

And it offered steak by weight. Depending on the cut, the steak might be 5 yen per gram. So if you ordered a 200 gm steak, it would cost you 1000 yen.

Rail Pass. Green pass. Nozumi Shinkansen

This time round, we were thinking of getting a Green pass for first class comfort. And because we could do with more space.

The Green Pass costs about $800 for 14 days. The regular pass costs $590. Over $200 difference.

BUT, I just realised that other than the long distance between Osaka and Tokyo, other short distance do not offer green cars. So there is no call for a Green pass. The Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto-Nara routes are so short that a regular pass will do.

Also the Rail Pass does not allow travel on the fastest Shinkansen, the Nozomi.

A Green car ticket on a Nozomi Shinkansen will cost over Y10,000, raising the overall cost of a trip from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Osaka to about Y20,000.

Trip will also take just over 200 minutes (about 3.5 hours).

Without using the Nozomi Shinkansen, it would be about Y15,000 and it would be covered by the Green Rail Pass (no extra fare).

But the trip will take closer to 4 hours.

Return to Japan (2016)

We are planning to return to Japan.

And because we haven't been to Osaka in the last two trip, this time we will aim to spend some time there. Especially after seeing this article "20 things to do in Osaka".

And because, the first city we visited in 1998 was Osaka.

From Osaka, we can go on to visit Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe.


Haven't been to Kobe. We'll eat at a McDonald's there and tell people we've eaten beef in Kobe.