Tokyo, Japan

Written By: Dan
Pictures: Click Here

My trip to Asia stared with a long flight.  13 hours (15 after the delay).  The longest flight I have been on to date (4 hours longer than Brazil's flight).  The notable part of the flight was the actual path.  I guess I assumed we would hand a left and head over California, Hawaii, then head to Japan.  Not so.  We headed north, far north, over Russia and back down.  The views from the window were spectacular.  Ice fields for as long as the eye could see. 

We landed Tokyo at around 5pm (4am EST).  We checked into our Hotel, got some Sushi, and went to bed.  It took a while to adapt to the time difference, I was up at 3am for the next few days.  Friday consisted of business meetings, learning cultural business norms, and an excellent 9 course dinner at the 24th floor of the Tokyo Baycourt Club with our potential Japanese partners. 

Saturday started the weekend, and our time as tourists.  We spent most of the day with a Japanese guide.  Most necessary for getting around Tokyo.  She was able to help us navigate the subway, find places to eat, help shot, and general translations.

Stacy and I with our guide.

Our first stop the the fish market.  quite a site to behold (and smell).  There were thousands of people, tourists, and vendors in a small area.  They sold a variety of foods, most of which I was unfamiliar with (the signage doesn't help either).   I did purchase a kitchen knife though.

the fishmarket

On our way out of the Fish market we stopped for  lunch at a local hole in the wall.  This was not a tourist place, it sat about 6 people in a room no larger than my hotel room.   Stacy, Saylor, and I were the only white people in the restaurant, probably all day.  And the dish, Ramen noodles!  No kidding!  I must admit, this wasn't the 69 cent Ramen I lived on in college.  This dish was more of a soup, contained a whole slice of ham, and an array of vegetables.  It was one of the best meals I have ever had.   

The entrance to the restaruant.  Literally a whole in the wall at the back of a small market stand. 

A great meal

Our next stop was Asakusa, at a Buddhist and Shinto set of temples call (something) that translates to Thunder Gate.   The legend as I understand it started when fishermen found a statue in the river, then built a temple.  The statue is hidden, but the monument around it is most impressive.  In front of the Buddhist temple was a smoking shrine.  It is believed the smoke has healing powers.  We also saw a monkey show.

Healing smoke

The final stop on the tour was Magokoro, a Shinto shrine to the Emperor of the 1800's (the current Emperor's Grandfather).  A very large and impressive monument constructed in the early 1900's then again after world war II.  Before entering the temple, it was required visitors washed their hands and mouth.   Pictures in the actual temple were not allowed, but we did capture a few pics from around the area.

washing our hands and mouth before entering.

After the tour we headed back for a quick rest before dinner.  Dinner was a Japanese meal called Shaboo-Shaboo (sp?).   Shaboo-Shaboo is quite the experience.  It starts with a boiling pot of water at your table.  The waitress adds mixed vegetables, cabbage, and other (unfamiliar) elements and brings it to a boil.  Then then bring out thinly sliced meat.  You are instructed to add a piece the to pot, let it cook, then eat.  The meat is fantastic.  Unbeknownst to me, during this time the meat was also creating a broth with the cooked vegitables.  After the meat was cooked, they added noodles, and low and behold - you have an excellent stew.  This has to be one of my favorite meals of all time.  I plan on trying to recreate it when I get home.