Back from my Tokyo Johnny's holiday... too much to catch up on LJ, CB, forums and what not ~~ but ever so happy that its SO active ne *jumps*
I'm sure most Arashi fans will know about Aiba's Chinese Restaurant called "Keikarou" in Chiba... of course that is one of my priority itinerary place to visit. So here is my write up on the whole experience thingy... and to whoever who thinks it is difficult to find, too far from Tokyo etc etc (I was also disheartened that I almost did not go) --- let me urge ALL of you to NOT think this way!!! and I hope my write up will help whoever who aims to go there someday (^_^)
Official Restaurant Website: http://www.keikarou.com/
(Includes menu, pricing, location and directions)
Now off to the loadful pictures and videos....an unforgettable 8 February 2007, Thursday lunch for me ~~~~~
I took the train line called Sobu Line (Local) for Chiba at 12:07pm that afternoon. Now, in Japan, there are like 20 bajillion train lines, and you must take special care to board to CORRECT line. Even for Sobu line, there is like 'local' line, 'rapid' line and so on... getting lost is inevitable (even for locals, I'm serious)...
Your destination stop is called Makuharihongo. Get off here!! Hmm I started my journey pretty near central Tokyo, and it took me about 40 mins or so...see, not that far!!! =)
When you get out of the train ticketstub machine, you can choose to walk straight out of the station OR turn right to somewhere else. Your correct choice is to walk straight out of the station, and then turn left (as indicated by the left arrow in the picture above! Ugh I actually took the right exit and wasted 30mins odd walking here and there to nowhere *lol*
When you turn left after leaving the station, you should see what is shown in the picture. You will have to walk downslope until you reach the zebra crossing/traffic light... The walk was really refreshing!!! Chiba is such a nice, cosy and peaceful place!!! Well, in all train stations in downtown Tokyo, any train station will have an average headcount of like 10 million pple, and everyone will walk at a speed of like ??km/hr...but no such thing in Chiba...it's all slow...and cosy.... *grinz*
After walking downslope and reaching the zebra crossing/traffic light, you need to turn right. The above presents a detailed layout on how to get to Keikarou... If you turn right into the correct street, you basically need to walk for just a few more minutes to see....
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......
In The Restaurant... ~ Lunch time!!! ~
"Irrashaimase~~~" you will be greeted with warmly. My first reaction is look around....*internal sigh* no sight of Aiba *lol*
On the right wall just next to the main door, you will see the above *squeal*...basically well wishings from our boys to Aiba and his family's restaurant ~ sweet ne ~
Erm...can anyone enlighten me on this? Is it Aiba's dog?
But I thought that pic of Arashi is CUTE!! Nino with his open arms *squealzz*
You will see framed-up awards/recognition stuff relating to the restaurant above the cashier...and this is one of them - from the Chiba mayor/lead to Aiba's dad/mum... for best skills or something like that. translations anyone? lol
And VIDEOS speak a 1000 words ne... it was a busy afternoon (yeah it was crowded! good business!!!!)... but I was glad to wait around so I could take all the above pictures and the video below
A must-click ~~~ video taken while I was waiting for a seat.... XDD
What I ate....MECHA MECHA UMAI!!!!
Kore HONTO ni MECHA MECHA umai zo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ordered it off a daily lunch set menu...fried beef and cabbage in miso sauce set!
The main dish in close-up...just to tempt you even more *lol* UMAI UMAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.....
Onaka ga IPPAI!!! (I'm full) I don't normally finish the full set...but it was TRULY SO UMAI......yum yum yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another must-click~~~ video taken at my table...while waiting for my umai beef and cabbage to arrive... *stomach growl*
Time to leave... *sobz*
Aiba fans will be glad to hear this...there is a MESSAGE NOTEBOOK with "Masaki-chan He (to Masaki-chan)" written on the cover. Inside are full of fan messages to our dearest Aiba from all over the world in multiple languages like English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc... I didn't know there was such a notebook thingy so did not prepare anything. Above is a short note I wrote to Aiba in my limited Japanese... basically telling him I'm a fan from Singapore, and requesting Arashi to come Singapore soon! *lol*
Hope he reads it and make my dream (and all Arashi fans in Southeast Asia) come true ~
Last but not least, as you can see, no sight of Aiba, no sight of Aiba's brother/father/mother and anyone that resembles Aiba.....just busy and polite waitresses...*lol* Well, I won't expect to see him anyway...it's in the middle of Thursday, and Aiba should be busy working somewhere... it is probably too much for me to take if i REALLY see Aiba IN the restaurant!!! will probably become dumb and faint, esp if he comes in with Nino...mad~
That's all for my writeup! Comments are lurved, minna!!
- Mood:
content - Music:Nino - Baystorm
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Comments
SUGEEEEE! XDDDDD
*calms self to finally read the WHOLE entry* XDDDDD
if i were the one to walk down the cozy streets of chiba and finally come to see the restaurant...i'd prolly cry tears of joy already! lolz!
wow! suge na! you were so good with the directions ^^
and you were able to leave aiba-chan a note...in niponggo! kakkoi! ^_______^
*sigh*
i wonder when I will be able to go there...lolz!
*don't-mind-me-sigh*
anyway thank you so much for sharing...it was i, myself went there ^^ omedetou!
p.s. i added your post to my memories ne...in case i 'd be able to go to chiba in the near future (so i wouldn't get lost! lolz! XD)
i seriously NEVER thot i would go one day, but there you have it, i went and had a GREAT time! so your chance will come one day ne ~~
i did jump up and down on the streets and screamed "i found it!!!" when I saw that signboard for the restaurant..luckily not many pple around me at that time *lol*
hope you found my directions/pictures helpful for your visit there soon...good luck!!! (^_^)
i even took a picture of the toilet. -_-||
and im from singapore :)
indeed, there were japs who flipped thru the book and giggled while i was eating..*lol*
ure from s'pore too? *five* let's hope they come singapore soon ne...or thailand at least. XD
And yes you are totally right! The menues are totemooooo oshiiiiii *___* I also ate one of the menues for just 810 Yen and waaahhh it was just GREAT!!
Tihi and I also wrote some sentences in Aiba-chans Message book. Also hope he reads it ^.~
When I come back to Japan I will definitely go there again!! It's just too oishiiiiii ^.^
i CANNOT forget how UMAI the food was!!! i'm so proud of aiba and his family *lol*
thanks for sharing! &hearts
I felt like I was there just by reading your comments! (and must I add that everything looked so YUMMY!!!! *wants to eat*)
Oh and all the pictures looked lovely *0*
woah~ u went! how awesome?! keke~
i didn't watch the clips (wanted the suspense if i did go one day).. but u went to the pretty restroom, right right RIGHT? keke~
the food, really that good? i think the food would taste like heaven if aiba was in the house~
XDD
and yes, the food...oh my GAWD, its REALLLLY good!!!! but if aiba's in the house, eating would be the last thing on my mind...LOL
Anyway, that is SOO exciting! I was just wondering how to get there. I'll be heading back to Japan for about 2 1/2 months this summer so I was hoping to drop by for a meal. Thanks for the detailed instructions! And the food looks delicious! I may have to sample what you got. I'm getting hungry while thinking of it *sighs sadly looking at the frozen burrito she heated up* ^^; I'm glad you had a great time & shared your awesome experience!
2.5 months?? wish i was you...you have no reason to miss this then keke. the food is really really UMAI! i got my dish from their daily lunch set menu (which i believe changes everyday)..so depending on which day you go, you may really get to sample what i ate. even if not, i'm sure other food will never disappoint (^_^)
i took only 40 mins cuz got some japanese friends to teach me the quickest way to reach there...like hop on some express train. i just followed instructions keke. but i'm sure any other correct but slower way will take 1 hour or slightly more than that..
oh yes, the food is cheap and good and satisfying, yum yum!
ne, you sound like you live in tokyo? do you?
Thanks again!~
TALKwithFUMI'Smom.
i went when the restaurant was really quite crowded and hectic...so even if i saw anyone, it's not appropriate to approach and have a chat too =(
Hmm...if i get into the uni course i want...i get to go to Japan for a year..so i can probably visit the restaurant 2! it's nice to see that they don't shoo fans away but rather welcome them & even have a signing fan book 4 aiba! chouu kawaii~ & ur message was so kawaii 2! well done! *wishes to be taken to that restaurant by some magical coincidence* lol
Thank you for your report.
what a tasty place xP ^____^
oh man...i SO wanna go now!!!!
thanks for the pics though...i really appreciate looking at anything that is close to aiba...hehe...
aiyoh i also want to steal man... but i'm more worried they will escort me out from taking a camera everywhere i go in the restaurant lor *LOL* luckily all the waitresses were so busy they did not bother about me being mad hahaha..
btw, letters gathering is sunday afternoon? u going?
Care to add me as a friend? i've added you~ ^^
i cannot believe it!
im going there somedayY!!
i dont mind not seeing aiba. hahhaa.
having to patronise his restaurant would be..
fabulous enougH!!
you are freakingly luckY!!!!!!!!
when i say lucky you say mAN!!!!!!!!!!
let's go there together next time!!!! when we go for arashi concert!!!! in 200X...hehe~~
hahahaha... she is definitely one BIG step ahead of all fangirls!!! LOL. are u talking about itchuwurms on LJ? would LOVE to read about any post if there is....
I wouldn't know what to write in the message book though, i can't write in Japanese!
I'm a fan from Singapore, and requesting Arashi to come Singapore soon! *lol* YAY!
How many days were you in Japan? :):)
u from SG too? yay~
well, u can write in english too, but insert a comment to let aiba ask sho for translation *lol*
u should go ne..i recommend u with all my heart *lol*