Kon'nichiwa from Tokyo

Tokyo Tower

Japan, what a wonderful country.  It's been two years to the day that I made my return after our last adventure here (see blog October 2014) and I was definitely looking forward to coming back!

It is certainly the most orderly and clean country, the people polite and helpful, everything works to the minute, and the food is simply amazing. Of course it's very different here and that's what makes it interesting. For example, there are no bins anywhere! If you need to throw out some rubbish you need to cart it around in your bag since no one eats or smokes in public making bins unnecessary clutter.

And clutter and dirt do not seem to be part of their way of life. The trains are spotless inside and out (I swear they wash the outside of the trains daily since they glisten and have no dirt marks), disposable chopsticks and wipes everywhere, rooms have minimal decoration but are absolutely spotless, everything is packaged beautifully. Admittedly it is not very green since they must generate a lot of wood usage from the chopsticks, but wonderful nevertheless if cleanliness is high on your list of priorities for holiday travel. A Mecca for the OCD tourist without a doubt!

This trip I discovered the izakaya type of dining experience.  Izakayas are the Japanese versions of British pubs and like gastropubs, there are izakayas known to have good informal fare. I went to Teyandei in the Minato area of Tokyo which came well recommended as good and reasonable, and it was! A seven course set menu was enjoyable with as much drink (alcohol or not) for 40 US dollars. It is a largish place but was absolutely packed with locals and not easy to find. Go equipped with exact address and directions. The whole street is full of these sort of pubs, very discreet (they seem to be a street of old houses, dimly lit with no signage or numbers).

My sweet dining partner eating sukiyaki balls (really tastes like sukiyaki).

Japanese potato salad with smoked bacon.

Chicken teriyaki type dish

Baguette with ice cream (literally an ice cream sandwich).

Go shopping in Ginza.......

Organised t shirt collection for sale in flagship store of Uniqlo in Ginza.  Go there and check out the 12 floors. Still cheaper with tax free foreigner discount. Bring your passport everywhere.

Muji flagship. Muji means no brand but it is now a recognizable brand.

Gonpachi restaurant in Minato.  Go try the "Kill Bill" restaurant for the atmosphere and memories of the film.  Food is not great but it's a tourist destination, gaijin friendly.

If you are walking around the cities, don't forget to look up at various buildings since many are well designed and interesting (you can take a modern building architectural tour in Tokyo) or down alleys and corners for shrines. 

If it's vintage you want, head off to "Chicago" in Harajuku. It's behind Condomonia on Omotesando.

Advertising a crab restaurant in Harajuku.

Hachiko the dog is commemorated in Shibuya station.  He is famously known for being a loyal friend to a professor, and waited at the train station for him daily even nine years after his death. 

The National Art Center Tokyo. This museum houses exhibitions of modern and contemporary artists. Yayoi kusama has her show there next year, a must see.

If it's yakitori you're after, look into Ganchan in the Roppongi area. Order the international menu and those chicken yakitori skewers, in various interpretations, keep coming.  It's helped along by extra large sake servings!

Off to Kyoto!!!