Japan 2014: Last day

Definitely didn't have a very good photo trip this time around. Not enough time, not the right mindset. I hope I get some better results next year.



Of course it rains on my last day




Bye

Japan 2014: Skytree in B+W

The view




Time to go

Japan: 2014

I made it all the way to the SkyTree tower.


I liked the design of the lighting for this stairway




Moon is just chilling

Japan: 2014

Couldn't resist a couple days in Tokyo on my Seoul trip.

First things first...

Ramen

Walking off the ramen around the Asakusa area

I should visit that tower

Day 6: Last day in Tokyo

Last day in Tokyo before Osaka. So many things I still wanted to do, but I suppose there's always next time.



Start with a "healthy" breakkfast. I love choco cro



Wind and the rain won't stop me either

Sarugakucho

I decided to visit this new neighborhood in the search of a store selling a jacket I wanted. That turned out to not be a great fit, but the neighborhood was at least photogenic, and chic.

Even the transit folk know how to strike a pose

Shibuya

This place has been photographed millions of times by people, including myself.....no use stopping now

Shinjuku

I come here for one reason only. Food

On the way to ramen

Almost there....

Booya.
Yasube in Shibuya
3-18-7 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Ironically, even though this place had a long line outside, my favorite tsukemen is still the random place I went to in Asakusa, second only to the epic one in Hiroshima

Day 5: Nikko -> Tokyo pt 2

After a relaxing 2 days in Nikko, it was time to return to the city of perfected delights, yes means it is feeding time.


I meet up with Tomo at Tokyo station and we begin to pace the back alleys searching for our next meal. Is this the evolution of hunting? What have we come to? I'm not sure, but it's tasty.



You will live another day friend, no mackerel for us tonight




Bright lights, big city




First we stop by an izakaya place while we wait for a reservation at our restaurant. I believe what we had was grilled skate fin? It was of course delicious. I liked how they used the old school way of displaying the menu via wooden panels, when an item is done, they turn it over. Will I copy this for a future restaurant? Absolutely.



We arrive at our restaurant specializing in Okinawan cuisine. As always, I learn a lot about the food I'd otherwise never get to try from my dining partner Tomo.




A variety of seaweed only native to Okinawa. The pearls burst in your mouth like caviar.


Pig ears with a killer peanut sauce


Braised (you had me at) pork


Deep fried seaweed. Very similar to a Korean dish that I adore


A traditional stir fry with seaweed instead of noodles


Mission accomplished. Now I can sleep smiling

Day 3: Tokyo->Nikko

It's no surprise that I wake up early again. I walk to the same temple nearby to take some more photos before heading out to Nikko. I know it may seem pointless to photograph the same thing over and over again. But there's something nice about taking pictures at 5am, and I still have a lot to learn about this temple.










No matter which way I straighten this photo, it still looks crooked. I blame the building in the middle








Just outside the temple. I liked the way the orange played off the cool morning light

Nikko

I was a little nervous about Nikko in that I didn't put in as much thought as to what I'd do there as I normally do for other cities. The scary part is always trying to find where you're staying when everything is in Japanese, and your map is hand drawn on the website.



Found it though


I check my bags because it is too early to check in and I take off to see what's around the ryokan.



They have the same idea




An overhead view of a river




Colours are just starting to turn




These guys watch me as I rest by the waterfall



The reason why Nikko is so popular is the abundance of onsen, or hot springs. This usually means an abundance of formally active volcanic mountain ranges




More river. Heading back now to check in



I like bridges




Ok last one



I'm home. If I were to rate hospitality on an international scale, Japanese hospitality would be an 11/10

Day 2: Tokyo

I wake up at 4am to rain. And while I'm not exactly thrilled about this, rain brings clouds which block out the sun, and when it's this humid, I'll take some moisture from above rather than dripping from my body. There's not much to do in Tokyo this early in the morning, but I'm staying right next to Sensoji temple and I love morning light.








The plight of the dog owner




Even the dogs didn't like the rain

I liked the tonal range of this one




Looking the other way

Shinjuku

After some breakfast it was off to Shinjuku to meet a friend, and find a Choco Cro



The rain stops




This is a busy street next to one of the busiest train stations in the world. The streets are immaculate.




A roundabout on the opposite side of the station.





Clouds make perfect backdrops




Matching the traffic cones

Kichijoji

A short train ride from Shijuku is Kichijoji. A quaint neighbourhood with some essentials: a beautiful park, beautiful food, and shopping. My main reason for being there though is of course for food.



Steak House SATOU is a must visit to try their Y100,000 matsusaka sirloin. Buttery, every bite engineered to be the perfect layering of fat, char, salt and moisture. The roasted slivers of garlic have a borderline truffled nose and pair well with the meat. What followed this meal was meat depression. I kid you not.





This pic summarizes the Kichijoji area





Waiting for the train

Kagurazaka

A beautiful little neighbourhood that I must visit again. Small alleyways strewn with fine dining establishments and shops. Tonight I have the pleasure of dining with a friend with a colossal knowledge of food. She recommended a 3 star michelin traditional Japanese kaiseki restaurant called Ishikawa. It did not disappoint.