Japan 2011-Nihonbashi/Akihabara

Today was a late start and a time to sleep in for a bit. Normally, we are out before lunch. This time around, we headed out in time for lunch. We were headed to Nihonbashi via Tokyo station. For the first time, we walked through Tokyo Station City in search of noodles. There was an udon place that had a decent amount of people waiting in line to partake. The line m oved quickly as people would get their orders, consume, then exit. You select the type be it hot or cold as well as small or large. There are a variety of toppings you can add for an extra fee. for example, a piece of chicken karaage was 50 yen. Other toppings include tempura eggplant, kakiage, tempura fishcake, etc. After paying, you can add free toppings like green onions or tempura batter. Proceed to your table, season as needed then slurp away.

The Nihonbashi bridge connects us to our destination. The bridge was built over a river then a freeway was built over the bridge.

Once you cross the bridge, There is a large Mitsukoshi store in front of you. We were headed a bit down the street to a shop that has been in existence since the 1700's. Their product is kastuoboshi, shaved flakes of dried bonito. This has been used to flavor stock and as a topping. They can work as a snack as well

A bit later, I went back to Akihabara to pick up a few things. Little did I know that I would need to head back here again later that night. for that matter, I had to go to Tokyo station again too. Anyway, this is what the street looks like on a normal day when open to cars. I walked down Chuo dori and visited a few stores including Don Quijote. After pruchasing nothing, Yodobashi would be next

On the way, I stopped off at the Gundam Cafe to get some coffee and check the place out. Im not an avid follower of the series but I have always admired how they can keep up the new designs with each itteration of the series. I poked my head ina found only a handful of tables. I was expecting larger. I skipped the cafe in favor of something less cramped.


There is a small open lot on Chuo dori outside of the JR station. There are a few vendors selling food. The one that I opted for was the doner kebab. Their sandwiches are mad with pita bread stuffed with seasoned beef, veggies, and your choice of mild or hot sauce. I prefered the mix of the two sauces.
I made my purchaes at Yodobashi and made my way back to myroom. By now, it was getting close to 5pm and it would be getting dark soon. I was planning to drop off what I bought today and head over to Odaiba for dinner. New information would alter those plans.

Japan 2011-Some food notes for today

After a long day at Kappabashi, we spent a few more hours shopping in Shinjuku. I split from the group and proceeded to Tokyo station to get a few more gifts. With my arms laden with delicate gifts, I thought to drop themoff before going to dinner. As I found, the weight of the day wore me out and I opted to eat in this evening. I went to the supermarket in the Takanawa Wing East complex that is attached to the train station. I picked up a few things. Some items I intend to eat for dinner tonight whiles others may be consumed at breakfast or other time. From top left going clockwise: a bento (with fried shrimp, chicken, egg, spaghetti, some potatoes, and rice), a hard-boiled egg croquette, a medium-sized salad kit, coleslawwith imitation crab, and a small cabbage salad with some corn
So, while I was perusing for something to wash this down with, I espied a new flavor of Pepsi cola. I had posted p0reviouslyabout some limited edition flavors of Pepsi and Coke that had to offer in Japan. Ibought it with impulse and hurriedly tried it once I returned. I did a bit of reasearch on it. The one post from a familiar site said that it was a Pepsi with added roasted chestnut flavor. I thought the picture on the bottle was a snow-capped mountain. Upon opening the bottle, the initial thought was cream, possibly cream soda. The reveiwer from the other site liked this and thought it was far from disgusting. I, on the other hand, disagree. I cant even remember what the soda taste like because of the strong chemical finish. I guess the aftertaste is supposed to be one of raosted chestnuts. I cant see it, or rather, I cant taste it. I will try chilling it down a bit further overnight to see if that will improve the flavor. The beverage was cool, not cold, when purchased and warmed to room temp very quickly.

Edit: I triedx it thenext day after it had a chance to chill. No change, the patient is dead

Japan 2011-Kappabashi

And now, a message from the big fat head..."Welcome to Kappabashi". Kappabashi dori is a street in the Asakusa aea that caters to the restaurant b usiness. Everything from toothpicks to stoves can be purchased for your business. The pic below is a store thats call Niimi and it anchors one end of Kappabashi
At the other end? I doint know. I got so tired that I never ventured that far and turned back to Nimmi. In all honesty, it doesnt matter what was further on. I saw enough of the stores to know what they were selling. Apart from phtsical goods, the place also olfferes knife sharpening.

Another famous product of the area is the plastic food display that so prominent in japanese restaurants. There are several stores that have these on sale and can even make custom ones. I didnt look at the prices but I hear it can be pretty expensive for the larger items

At this particular shop, they sell equipment to open up your own American-style diner. Altough you may have to provide your own copy of the American Graffiti soundtrack. You can also buy a ticket vending machine. These are popular in Japan so that none of the workers have to handle the money

What we found somewhat odd was not so much how many stores there were selling all kinds of restaurant supplies but how few restaurants there were in the area. Around lunchtime, we went in search of an eatery. Along the main street there were none. Even along some of the branching alleys, very few were found. Even fewer wer found to be open. As a last resort, we settled on a Jonathons that we had passed while walking here from Ueno. I started with calamari and had a mixed plate as my main. Clockwise from top left: fries, corn, fried chgicken pieces with tartar sauce and a hamburger steak.

Japan 2011-Back to Tokyo

We are on the move once again. This will be our last trip on the rail for at least a couple of days. We are going back to Tokyo. This will be another 3.5 hour ride. It was cut short 30 minutes by the extension of the Shinkansen line to Shin Aomori station. Previously, you would need to get yourself to Hachinohe. After visiting a number of new places over the last few days, it will be nice to get back and relax a bit
Of, course, picked up a bento for the trip. This was a simple one consisting of nbeef and onions on one side and prok on the other. Both items over rice. The pork on the right had a bit of a tang to it while the fbeef was swweet

After checking in, we headed over to Akihabara. Being as today was Sunday, the street was closed to automobile traffic. There was maybe an hour left before the streets were be given back to the machines. Its only been a few weeks since they have been doing this here again. There was a heavy police presence as well as spike strips on the roads leading to the area. On hand as well were paramedics, just in case.

We made our way to Yodobashi to take a quick glance at the wares. On the way, there was a stall that was selling Mochi Cream. Each cost about 157 yen and come in a variety of flavors. They also had things called rusks that looked like donust but hade a cream filling. Some people smpled a few before we went to our usual ramen place on Showa dori. I had my usual miso ramen with char siu

An after dinner walk around Shibuya rounded out the day. A little bit of rain put a slight damper on things but Im hoping the rest of days will fare better weather

Japan 2011-Nebuta heads

A cutaway of a head shows the internal supports and the set up of the lighting within. It also illustrates the techniques used to paint the Nebutas
Overhead at the large hall is a display of a number of faces/heads

The heads as well as the rest of the floats are very 3 dimensional. A story unfolds as you make uour way around the float

There is a small fee to enter the museum. I dont believe that I will be in the area for any future festivals but it was nice to get to take at look at a few of these first hand. The sclae is what I imagined they would be but the intensity of the col,ors are not done any justice in most pictures that I have seen.

Much of the large hall is kept in the dark. This helps to simulate what these floats would look like as they moving along the city streets during a warm summer night. I hear that summers in Japan can be an ordeal of humidity