2019 Malaysia/Japan Scout Cross-Cultural Program...

"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare..." - Japanese Proverb

(Beautiful Geishas in colorful Kimonos)

Four out of the seven Golden Girls, Adilah, Ubaidah, Noriah  and I were honoured to be invited to join the Girl Scout Women's Affairs Cross-Cultural Program in Tokyo, Japan from 24 to 29 June 2019. The program included visits to the Japan Scout Headquarters and the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo. We also had the opportunity to visit interesting places around Tokyo and Yokohama.

Fb Album: Japan Scout Trip

Next Trip: 2019 Mongolian Adventure

 2019 Japan: 01 KL - Tokyo 👉

Japan 2019: 01 KL - Tokyo

"A dream becomes goal when action is taken towards its achievement..."

(In full uniform, be prepared always)

Day 01 - Monday: 24/06/2019

The entourage of twenty-eight consisting of twenty-five Girl Scouts accompanied by three male Scouts boarded the D7 522 Flight from KLIA2 to Haneda at 1425hrs and arrived at Haneda International Airport at 2230hrs.

This is my first time arriving at Haneda instead of Narita. Haneda Airport is 14 km south of Tokyo Station. It was the third-busiest airport in Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world, after Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, and Dubai International Airport. It is able to handle 90 million passengers per year following its expansion in 2010. With Haneda and Narita combined, Tokyo has the third-busiest city airport system in the world, after London and New York City.

At the airport, we were met by Miss Crystal, the travel agent representative and were transported to the Tourist Hotel in Kasai. In the hotel, we had packed Nasi Briani Ayam for dinner, courtesy of the travel agent before we rested for the night. The next few days will be very hectic, full with pre-arranged programs.

(Our lodging for five nights)

 2019 Japan: 02 Scout HQ, Malaysian Embassy, Tokyo Camii Mosque👉

👈2019 Malaysia/Japan Scout Cross-Cultural Program 

Japan 2019: 02 Scout HQ, Malaysian Embassy, Tokyo Camii Mosque and Shibuya Crossing...

"The Smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention..." - Japanese Proverb

(The Scout Headquarters in Tokyo)

Day 02 - Tuesday: 25/06/2019

Japanese Scout Headquarters

There were brief presentations from the representatives from both countries and the exchange of Scouts scarfs and souvenirs.

The Scout Association of Japan is the major Scouting organization of Japan. Starting with boys only, the organization was known as Boy Scouts of Japan from 1922 to 1971, and as Boy Scouts of Nippon from 1971 to 1995, when it became coeducational.

(The Scout HQ building)

(Exchange of souvenirs)

(The representatives from the Girl and Boy Scout)

(The Golden Girls )

(A group photo of the entourage)

(Drinks vending machine to quench our thirst)

The Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo

At The Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo we had the opportunity to meet the Embassy officials and H. E. Ambassador’s wife . The Embassy was established in January 1958 in Otowa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo and was re-located to Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo in 1966 and later on moved to the present address at 20-16 Nanpeidai-Cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo in November 1968. In 1989, the Government of Malaysia has approved the construction of the present Embassy Complex. The Complex consists of a Chancery and an Official Residence of the Ambassador. The construction of the Embassy Complex took three years to complete and it was inaugurated by YAB Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on 24 December 1991.

(Visiting the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo)

(Presentation of Scout's souvenir plaque by Puan Normah)

(A group photo with the officials)

Tokyo Camii Mosque

Tokyo Camii Mosque is a mosque with an adjoining Turkish culture center located in the Ōyama-chō district of Shibuya ward in Tokyo. It is the largest mosque in Japan. The mosque was originally built along with an adjoining school in 1938 by immigrants from Russia who had come to Japan after the October Revolution. In 1986, the mosque had to be demolished because of severe structural damage. A new building was built to replace the old one in 1998.

(A brief history of the Tokyo Camii Mosque)

(Grand and harmonious Ottoman architecture)

The architect and the ornamentation was based on Ottoman religious architecture. Tokyo Camii is 734 square meters in area and has one basement floor and three above-ground floors. Its main dome is 23.25 meters tall and is supported by six pillars, while the adjacent minaret is 41.48 meters tall.

(Spacious main prayer hall on upper floor)

(Beautiful interior architecture)

(A visit from the local Muslim ladies)

The mosque is spacious and can accommodate around 1,200 worshipers. The reception room on the first floor, near the entrance to Tokyo Camii, is similar to the interior of a Turkish home. There is a halal market selling halal products. The multi-purpose hall on the first floor, where lectures on Islam are held, along with various Islamic and cultural events.

(A halal Market in the mosque)

(Many choices of packed ready to eat food)

(Halal instant spicy ramen noodle, my favorite)

(A picnic lunch at Tokyo Camii Mosque)

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is the most famous meeting point in Tokyo. Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossing. It is located in front of the Shibuya Station Hachikō exit and stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection.

(Shibuya Train Station)

(Myth of Tomorrow -a thought-provoking mural on the wall)

(Many interesting characters around Shibuya Station)

(The busy Shibuya Crossing captured from upper floor of Shibuya Station)

Just to the side of the crossing is the famous saddest dog-story statue of all time. Built to commemorate the loyal dog Hachiko, the statue is a sign of loyalty and fidelity. The faithful Akita dog would wait at the station every day for his owner Professor Ueno to return from work.

(The statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog)

 2019 Tokyo: 03 Disneyland, Umihotaru and Yokohama Minato Mirai 👉

👈2019 Japan: 01 KL - Tokyo

Japan 2019: 03 Disneyland, Umihotaru and Yokohama Minato Mirai

"A wise man does not lose his way, a brave man does not fear..." - Japanese Proverb

(Umihotaru, a man-made island in the middle of the ocean)

Day 03 - Wednesday: 26/06/2019

Our group was divided into two smaller groups. One group will be travelling to Yokohama and another will spend the day in Tokyo Disneyland. Our first stop was at the Disneyland to drop them off and had some group photos outside the entrance. Hubby and I had visited Tokyo Disneyland in 1987 when we were still quite young and energetic.

Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland is a 115-acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it opened on 15 April 1983. Modelled after Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland is made up of seven themed lands and features seasonal decorations and parades. Tokyo DisneySea, located next to the Tokyo Disneyland is a fantasy theme park in Tokyo Disney Resort that is unique to Japan inspired by the myths and legends of the sea.

(Sending off some participants here)

(We were here in 1987, more than 3 decades ago!)

(I am too old to ride the roller-coasters)

(A group photo before we split ways)

(DisneySea, next to Disneyland)

(One of the many structures around Disneyland)

Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and Umihotaru

On the way to Yokohama we made a stop at Umihotaru R&R. It is a sea bound rest area on the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line that connects Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture with Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture. On the 4th floor you can shop in a large glass corridor with sea views, and the 5th floor features restaurants where you can enjoy a meal while looking out over the sea. This rest area offers fun activities for people of every age, including Japan's only amusement arcade in a rest area, a time capsule post box that delivers letters about a year later, and the Bell of Happiness where you can share your feelings with someone important to you. We spent time exploring the area and bought some souvenirs here.

(9.6 km underwater tunnel of Tokyo Aqualine)

(A man-made island as a Rest and Recreational Area)

(We are in the middle of the ocean)

(A beautiful and relaxing rest area)

(One of the eight cutter head to create the underwater tunnel)

(Another unique sculpture on Umihotaru)

Yokohama Minato Mirai

Yokohama Minato Mirai is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama whose name means "harbor of the future". It has many large high-rises, including the Landmark Tower, which was Japan's tallest building from 1993 until 2014. The area was a large shipyard until the 1980s, when development began to turn it into a new city center. Minato Mirai is blessed with a great location along the water and has a wealth of attractions. Visitors to the area will be able to find shopping centers, hotels, a convention center, an amusement park, a relaxation center with hot spring baths, museums and park space. Other attractions: Sky Garden Observatory, Cosmo World Amusement Park, Queen's Square, Landmark Plaza, World Porters, Red Brick Warehouses, Nippon Maru and Yokohama Port Museum, Yokohama Museum of Art.

(The many attractions of Yokohama)

Yamashita Park

When we arrived in Yokohama it was drizzling slightly. We stopped at Yamashita Park, a public park that stretches  along Yokohama's waterfront. The park has a beautiful flower garden full of blooms during this time of the year. There is the massive ocean liner in the water beside the promenade. The ship is called the Hikawa Maru, and was first put into service in 1930. The ship is now serves as a museum, with informative displays and interiors in the style of the 1930s. Near the Hikawa Maru, and also hard to miss, stands the Yokohama Marine Tower which has a 360 degree view of the surrounding area.

(A stroll in the garden of Yamashita Park)

(Japan Girl Scout Friendship Statue in the Park)

(Yokohama Marine Tower in the background)

(Hikawa Maru - An Ocean Liner permanently berthed as museum)

(The White Light House at the end of the pier)

(A private charter cruise boat for sightseeing tour)

The Red Brick Warehouse

Next we visited the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, a historical building that is used as a complex that includes a shopping mall, banquet hall, and event venues. The complex, officially known as the Newport Pier Tax Keeping Warehouse, was originally used as customs buildings. We had our packed lunch in the public park next to the Red Brick Warehouse.

(A relaxing stroll to the Red Brick Warehouse)

(A Curry-Music Concert is currently being held here)

(Enjoy a good scenery of Yokomaha on the Sky Duck Tour)

(A park next to the Red Brick Warehouse)

The World Porters

The group performed our prayers in the prayer room at the World Porters Shopping Mall. It is a giant shopping mall with over 200 shops. The floors are separated according to genre such as foods, fashion, sports, variety goods and furniture for shopping convenience. There are also a lineup of many unique and stylish interior shops as well as a movie complex.

(The Muslim prayer room on the 6th floor)

(Hamley Toy Store occupying the whole floor)

(The World Bazaar Exposition in the Shopping Mall)

(A mini theme park at the back of the World Porters)

Yokohama Chinatown

Our last stop is Yokohama Chinatown. It is the largest in Japan with temples, traditional gates, and festivals. There are roughly 250 Chinese-owned/themed shops and restaurants scattered throughout the district, with the highest concentration centered on a 300 sq meter area.Its history is about 160 years long. Today only a few Chinese people still live in Chinatown, but it has a population of about 3,000 to 4,000. Most of the residents are from Guangzhou but many come from other regions.

(One of the many traditional gates)

(Emperor Guan's Shrine in Yokohama Chinatown)

(A busy street of Chinatown)

(A guide for Muslims visitors)

It was already dusk when we left Yokohama for Tokyo Disneyland to pick the other group. Everyone was hungry when we arrived at our hotel. Our dinner tonight was packed rice from the convenient store eaten with our packed sambal sotong.

 2019 Tokyo: 04 Lake Kawaguchiko, Samurai Village and Gotemba👉

👈2019 Japan: 02 Scout HQ, Malaysian Embassy, Tokyo Camii Mosque