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Guide to the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo – How to Book Cheapest Tickets

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The famous Robot Restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku has quickly risen to be one of the quintessential experiences when visiting the Japanese capital. A microcosm of what foreigners expect from modern Japanese entertainment, the 1.5 hour show is full of things bizarre and distinctly Japanese, like what one would expect to jump out from a comic book.

Despite the name, robots only make up a tiny part of the Robot Restaurant. The show is a mix of mythical creatures, Moulin Rouge-style dancing, Japanese festival imagery as well as religious folklore.

This guide aims to show you what to expect from the Robot Restaurant without giving too much of the show away, tips on how to get there as well as where to find the cheapest tickets available for the Robot Restaurant (hint: buying direct is actually more expensive!).

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The Perfect Itinerary for Saitama, Gunma & Niigata – Northward Golden Route With JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area)

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Located immediately north of Tokyo, the three prefectures of Saitama, Gunma and Niigata are quite possibly one of the most overlooked areas of Japan. Well-connected from Tokyo via the shinkansen and local trains, this region is brimming with atmospheric medieval towns, whimsical theme parks as well as venues for thrilling outdoor activities. 

Through the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area), it is very much possible to get here in just an hour as with the case for Saitama, or around two hours for Niigata. Within that short span of time, the landscape outside shifts from concrete buildings to alpine villages, sulfuric hot springs and deep gorges. This region is known as one of Japan’s agricultural baskets and the local produce is prized all over the country. Recently, I managed to visit the three prefectures of Niigata, Saitama and Gunma thanks to an invitation from the tourism boards of these prefectures. It was an eye-opening experience as I did not know much about this region until this particular visit.

If you are looking for some fresh ideas on places to visit from Tokyo that’s away from the maddening crowd but not too far from Tokyo itself, this region is a compelling choice. This travel guide and suggested itinerary for Saitama, Gunma and Niigata shows you how to do the trip with the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) in as short as 5 days and runs through a variety of activities including historic towns, adventure sports, temples as well as compelling food to try.

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Things to Do in Chiang Rai – Why You Should Visit Thailand’s Northernmost City

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Chiang Rai. Often playing second fiddle to its more vibrant neighbors down south, the city of Chiang Rai is perhaps well-known to most as a pitstop for an attraction or two or as a gateway to some national parks in Northern Thailand. I visited this city recently as a weekend trip and found it a worthwhile destination in its own right, with plenty of attractions to keep one busy especially with a duration of just two days. Here are my suggestions of places you can visit in this city:

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NEW: 藝 yi by Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel Singapore – A Showcase of Provincial Chinese Cuisine

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The reopening of Raffles Hotel Singapore after an elaborate renovation drew much attention not only for the refreshed look of the rooms but also for the staggering number of new F&B concepts introduced. One of those is the newly opened Chinese restaurant – 藝 yi by Jereme Leung on the 2nd floor of Raffles Hotel Arcade where the previous Chinese restaurant used to be. 

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September 2019 Promo: Win S$1,000 in Cash by Applying for Selected Credit Cards & Travel Insurance

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Singsaver has launched an enticing travel campaign this 2 to 29 September where new sign-ups (that are approved) for selected credit cards and travel insurance stand a chance to win S$1,000 in the lucky draw which will happen each week in September.

Here are the participating products:

You can also check out the full list of credit cards / travel insurance here and apply directly

Aside from the lucky draw, those who sign up are also eligible for the card-specific or insurance-specific bonuses which include rewards like cashback that can go up to S$250 or grab vouchers which are exclusive to those who sign up via Singsaver.

If you have not signed up for these cards yet, this is a good opportunity to do so due to the added lucky draw which is happening only this month. Cut off for the weekly lucky draw happens each Sunday at midnight and participants must have a card approved / travel insurance purchased by the time of the draw to be eligible. Users can only win once but those who don’t win during the week are still eligible for the next week, til end September 2019.

Of the participating credit cards, here are my personal picks:

OCBC 90N Card – This newly-launched card has an enhanced miles earning rate that applies until the end of February 2020 and that alone is reason enough to sign up for this card. Cardholders stand to earn 8 miles per S$1 on Expedia and Agoda hotel bookings, 4 miles per S$1 on Singapore Airlines flight bookings as well as 4 miles per S$1 on all overseas foreign currency spend.

Citi Rewards Card – For folks who do a lot of transactions with online retailers as well as shopping for clothes, shoes and bags (whether online or physical), the Citi Rewards Card is the right card to get for that coveted 4 miles per S$1. Other advantages for getting this card include Citi’s awarding of points on a per S$1 basis (rather than for every S$5) as well as Citi’s bigger number of airline redemption partners. New cardholders who sign up for the card will also receive S$250 via PayNow or S$30 for existing cardholders.

Citi Premiermiles Visa – For all other spend that do not fall into the travel or online shopping category, the Citi Premiermiles is a great “fallback” card with its base rate of 1.2 miles per S$1 spent. New cardholders who sign up for the card will also receive S$250 via PayNow or S$30 for existing cardholders.

The Perfect Itinerary for Banda Aceh and Sabang, Pulau Weh in Indonesia

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Traveling in and around Banda Aceh, in Sumatra’s northern tip, is an eye-opening experience. The place is a manifestation of the indomitable resilience of the human spirit, with the city having been ravaged by the tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean in 2004. This corner of Indonesia is not frequently visited despite its attractive coastal location. It’s no Bali in terms of popularity. This has been the case even prior to the tsunami. Those who make the effort to come here are often rewarded by turquoise colored waters, some seriously grand buildings and monuments as well as some of the more unique tourist attractions that one can find in a city. Banda Aceh is definitely worth a short weekend trip and in this guide, I’ve put up my suggestions for a one day or two day itinerary that you can easily follow. My decision to visit Banda Aceh wasn’t a spontaneous one. I have been curious about this far corner of Indonesia for a long time now and finally booked a trip when an opportunity came up.

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The Perfect Short Itinerary for Manila and Cebu (2019)

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Most visitors to the Philippines are likely to end up in one of the paradise islands of the archipelago for a beach getaway but those who spend more than the requisite transit time in the two largest urban centers, Manila and Cebu, are likely to discover a treasure trove of historic and cultural sights that have unfortunately taken a backseat. This easy-to-follow short itinerary for Manila and Cebu in the Philippines aims to introduce first-timers to the best things to do in the capital as well as the queen city of the south as destinations in their own right. In recent years, Filipino food has gained prominence in the international culinary scene and this has increased the foodie factor of both cities, adding another great reason to visit.

Also check out more tips for traveling to the Philippines.

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