Delicious Sushi restaurant @ Nihonbashi

Tokyo - After dinner, Terry brought me to a Japanese restaurant in Nihonbashi - about 4 stations away from Toyocho station.   It was a quaint and nice restaurant, as usual we sat around the sushi counter table - right in front of the chef.

Our beer was served in this ceramic mug - supposedly able to retain the coldness of the beer better.  It was actually correct - still cold for quite a while.  

This apetitiser was raw baby sardine with garnishing - very smooth with the sauce in vinegar.

This was perfectly prepared in front of us - the chef placed the sashimi immaculately.   The taste of the sashimi was manificent beyond compare, simply melting in your mouth.  You can taste the suculent texture of the tuna, it was so fresh.   The orange meat is not salmon - looks like red snapper.

The dish is young bamboo with seaweed, very delicious.

This is sushi dish - tuna,  egg, squid, all very delicious and the meat is so fresh.  We ordered hot sake - liquor made from fermented rice.     I took a peek and the bill came up to S$320 for two people - considered reasonable price for a good Japanese restaurant.   A 3-star Michelin restaurant will set you back at S$1,500 for two people.

Spring in Tokyo

Tokyo - Flew the A380 to Narita Airport.  SQ flies to both Narita and Haneda.   I choose the huge jumbo as it's quieter and the seat arrangements are much spacier.    I caught up with my movies and watched 'Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol' - it was the best of the series.    Another movie I watched was Carnage - a satire about 2 parents - worth the watch as the acting was good with star studded actors.  It is a typical Roman Polanski movie.  

The weather when I landed was wet and cold - temperature at about 12c.   Listen to my iphone music whilst on the Limo bus to the Hotel.    After a smooth check-in, I went to my favourite sushi restaurant just next mall - sushizenmai.  I ordered a plata of tuna sushi and a plate of shishamo.  

Need to have my daily fruits and bought a bunch of bananas.

Back to the Hotel for an early night cap.....zzzzz

Valentine day in Japan

Tokyo - Japanese celebrates Valentine's Day with the giving of chocolate as a declaration of one's love on 14th February.   This goes back to the 1950s when a local chocolate manufacturer sought to popularise the western tradition of Valentine's day in Japan.  Fortunately, a typing error by an employee saw the message and translated erroneously - only women would give their gifts of love on this day.  Since then Japanese ladies have dutifully given their male colleaques every February 14.  In return, men are expected to reciprocate with gifts worth at least two or three times more on 14 March, which is known as White Day.

Sushi Restaurant

Tokyo - The weather was nice and chilly at around 25 degree celsius.   I took a nice photo outside of my room.  In the background is Tokyo Tower.

The Hotel East 21 toilet mirror is heated so that you are able to see your reflection without the fog.  This is what I meant.....the only hotel that I have stayed in that does it.

For dinner, Terry brought Tony and I to a sushi restaurant about 2 subways stations from Toyocho station - roughly about a good 20 minutes walk.   The weather was good, windy and around 23 degrees Celsius - so walking was really nice.  Furthermore, this will heighten my appetite for good sushi.   It has been a while since I have to this sushi restaurant.   We sat at the sushi counter and was served by the chef cum owner of the restaurant.

Tuna sashimi

The sashimi just melted in your mouth and it was so fresh.  

scallops and squid with Japanese sauce

2 types of Tuna sushi

Just looking at the 2 sushi makes my mouth water....

Sushi making is an art by itself...

Sushi Shellfish

Male Cod fish genitals

Another type of Shellfish sushi

Ten things that I have seen and done in Tokyo

Tokyo - 10 things that I have see and done....

(1)  The Imperial Palace and the Imperial Palace East Garden.   This is the home to Japan's imperial family.  Unfortunately, The Palace is closed all but 2 days of the year, but the East Garden has open all year and it's free.   I have been there twice since I started travelling to Tokyo.
 
(2)  Mount Fuji + (3) Hakone - I did a full-day trip with Phill many years ago.   This full day tour can be easily arrange by the Hotel front desk.

(4)  Tokyo DisneyLand + (5) Tokyo DisneySea- visited there 10 years ago.   Time for another visit but this time with my family.

(6)  Ginza - This is one of the most expensive streets in Tokyo and it is worth a visit.

(7)  Roppongi - Spend an evening exploring this location as they have interesting night life.  Visited this place again with my Korean friends.

(8)  Akihabara - This place is known as the 'Electric town'.  This is the area of Tokyo to ship for anything and everything electronic and IT related.    I haven't been to this place for a long time but used to visit this place on a regular basis with Phill as he is an electronic 'geek'.   This is like our Funan Centre but 1000 times bigger.

(9)  Shinjuku - I used to stay at Hilton Tokyo and Century Hyatt Tokyo which are located in Shinjuku.   I liked the location very much because there are lots of buzz and things to see.    

(10)  Tsukiji Market - I have been there twice on September & November 2007.  Both times have to wake up early in the morning to catch the 'auction' at the markets.   I understand from newspaper reports that Tsukiji market has closed the 'fresh' tuna auction area because many tourist touch the expensive tuna.

Palette Town - MEGA WEB

Odaiba - from Miraikan we took the monorail to Palette town MEGA WEB.  It's an entertainment center that also houses Toyota Universal Design Showcase, Toyota City Showcase and Toyota History Garage.

I only went to the Toyota History Garage. 

Old toyota car

Nostalgic Nine's Bar

Texaco petrol station

It was interesting to see people bringing their dogs on a leash to this shopping mall.    This is the first time I have seen anyone bring dogs to shopping mall - dog's are not allowed in any shopping mall in Singapore. 

While we go bar for drink - so do dogs

Odaiba - Tokyo man-made Island

Odaiba - We took the monorail to Odaiba - the monorail fare was expensive.   From a distance you will be able to see the Ferris Wheel, Fuji TV building

To know more about Odaiba - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html

We visited the National Museum of Emgering Science also known as Miraikan.   Admission price is 600 Yen for adults but we paid each 480 Yen as we had more than 8 people.  This is a science museum open to all to share the new wisdom of the 21st century.  There are the Permanent Exhibition in 4 separate fields, theaters, library plus special exhibitions.   You have to pay extra for the special exhibitions.    They also have a Dome Theater where you can enjoy panoramic films and a planetarium located on the 7th floor.  Unfortunately, you have to book prior and it was fully sold out.

Park and Lim

Futuristic interiror

Lunch - Okonomiyaki

Tokyo - Lunch was Okonomiyaki and it was fun seeing friends cooking their meals over a hot plate.  Some had tried this dish before many were first timers - nevertheless the food was good. 

An article I wrote before: http://countrytravel.blogspot.com/2007/09/okonomiyaki.html

Oshio Restuarnt entrance

Oshio menu

Korean friends cooking their lunch..lol

Kevin (half asleep waiting for his meal) with Armen

Park, Lim and Daiseke

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo - Yukiko and Daiseke brought the channel partners from Korea, Australia, Taiwan and myself (Singapore) around Tokyo.  She was the tour guide for the day. 

Yukiko

First stop, Tokyo Tower...

The Tokyo Tower has been the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower since its completion in 1958.  The 333-metre tower is modelled after Paris Eiffel Tower, ony it's 13m taller.  Today, it efficiently serves as a TV and radio broadcast antenna.

We just paid the tickets to bring us to the main observatory at 150m - it was breathtaking at such a height.  From a far, I could see Mt. Fuji in the distance and also visibily recognize some of the landmarks that I had visited before.    From the main observatory, you will get a 360-degree bird's eye view of Tokyo. 

Taken from across the street

I took this photo at the base of Tokyo Tower

Group photo taken by me

that's me in the centre

Here is a useful website on Tokyo Tower http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/

Asakusa

Asakusa -  Together with Korean, Malaysian and Taiwanese friends we hop onto the Metro bound for Asakusa.   This area is known for it old-town atmosphere and historic Buddhist temples.  Asakusa is one of Tokyo's most traditional neighbourhoods.  The finest part of Asakusa is centered upon several blocks around the centuries old Asakusa Kannon Temple also known as Sensoji, which itself is the main attraction of the area.

It would be good to stop by the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information centre which is located very near to the Kaminarimon Gate.   The polite staff manning this Cultural office speaks good English and very helpful.  They were interested in where we come from.

Once you cross the road from the Cultural Office you will notice many foreigners gathering around this area. 

Kaminarimon

Kaminarimon, the main gate of the Sensoji, had been burned down many times, and the previous gate was destroyed by a massive fire in 1865.  Since then no gate had existed here for nearly 100 years.  The present one was reconstructed in 1960 by a donation from the founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita, whose name is engraved on the bottom plate of the lattern.

Once you pass the Big Gate with latern, you will be in an ancient shopping street.

Nakamise Shopping Street

The Nakamise shopping street dates to the early Edo Period, making it one of the oldest shopping centers in Japan.    Neighbours of Sensoji, who received and served visitors to the temple, were granted special permission to put up stalls along the approach in exchange for a promise to keep the grounds clean.

That's me with an ancient water pump

My korean friend making his wish

After this we hop on the Metro to Roppongi and went to Roppongi hills for dinner.  We went to a Soba restaurant and the Soba is so fresh and delicious. 

Restaurant name: Shian
Website: http://www.roppongihills.com/shops_restaurants/restaurants/en/japanese/201220005.html
Add: Metro Hat/Hollywood Plaza B2

It was a beautiful night after a hearty dinner...

Trees lighted up along Roppongi hills

 

Dinner cruise along Tokyo Bay

Tokyo - At around 5:30pm, after the conference proper, the channel partners met @ Premier Toyocho Building to catch the Bus tranfer which brought us to the Boat Pier to board the boat.  The Tokyo bay tour is a daily tour by Yakatabune Harumiya. 

Some background on this company - The origin of HARUMIYA. 
Previous generations fished and cultivated lave seaweed at Haneda, then three generations ago the fishermen relocated to Tsukishima.  Currently, a member of the Tsukudashima Fishermen's Guild, Harumiya, which is a yakatabune company has a long and distinguished history stretching back to the Edo period that includes supplying white fish to the family of the Tokugawa Shogunate.


The company started its fishing boat business in the 1920s and was always a trend setter with the latest boats among those in Tokyo Bay.  Harumiya switched tot he yakatabune (Japanese roofed pleasure boats) business in the 1980s.  The fourth-generation owner continues to preserve the Edo 'chic' while remaining a pioneer in modern boat entertainment with fresh designs and ideas.

Partners at the dinning area

Our dinner platter plus much more...

The dinner was delicious  and we had Assorted sashimi, Tempura (the prawn was fresh and delicious), steamed rice, miso soup, seafood in individual hot pot and free flow of drinks.

 

Tony, Joe (singing) and Joe's wife

Daiseke and Yukiko (Japan), Lim and Park (Korea)

Joe (Taiwan), Hisyam and Ali (both from Malaysia)

Beautiful scenary from the upper deck 

The weather outside on the upper deck was very cold and so I stood outside for only a short while to gaze at the beautiful Tokyo skyline.

Me and Young Jin behind the Tokyo backdrop

Japanese friends enjoying Karaoke

That's me have a go at Karaoke

Dinner @ Italian Restaurant

Tokyo - It was a nice and cold stroll down our dinner location @ Trattoria Liana (just opposite Hotel East 21).    Our gathering took half the space of the restaurant.   The Italian food was really delicious especially the Pizza.   But I think for some, the food was all good after many rounds of the free flow of booze and sake.  Combined it is a lethal cocktail of intoxication.

It was also a day for a special lady - Terry Takenaka - her Birthday.   It was celebrated amongst channel partner, friends and colleaques.   I hope she was surprised...

Daiseke, Hiroyuki and Ushiyama toasting

James (Taiwan), Lim and Park (Korea) and Lesley

Ron and Harry

Young Jin gulping down his Sake

Panettone

Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan (in Milanese it is called panaton),[1] usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year in Italy. It is like a big fruit cake.

Me trying to take a big bite out of the Panettone

Joe, Yukiko and Jay and Ushiyama (behind)

Ushiyama and Me