Japan Trip (Spring 2008) - Part 1
Part 1: Tokyo - Ikebukuro, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, Tsukiji
Aloha everyone, I’m back! Recipes will be returning here soon I promise. But first, here is part 1 of my trip pics that many of you have been asking about.
We started out our 13 day adventure departing Honolulu for Narita. We traveled with a local tour group based in Hawaii. I just have to say that this was a great group of people. Everyone was so friendly and courteous to each other, we were very fortunate to be in this specific tour group.
The picture up top is Ikebukuro at night. It was very easy to get to, just a couple minutes walk from our hotel.
Dinner on our first night was a buffet inside our Sunshine City Prince Hotel.
The next day we spent a little time around Ueno. We quickly walked through Ameyokocho then a couple of us ventured off to find Ueno Park and some early blooming sakura trees. So pretty!
Later we went on to visit Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple).
Past that entry way with the large lanterns are streets filled with souvenir shops and more importantly food stalls!
I love kinako mochi…
This other one was okay, but not better than the kinako!
And these mini cakes filled with azuki bean paste are great little snacks while strolling around.
Next up, two hot off the grill senbei for 100 yen…
Saw this interesting sign outside a McDonalds. I didn’t try it, I wonder if it uses any Hawaiian flavors?
After this, more food…lunch at a tempura restaurant.
Started off with chawanmushi and miso soup.
Then on to the nice and crispy tempura. There was a selection of shrimp, fish, and vegetables.
For dinner on our second night we went out with friends from Tokyo. They picked us up at our hotel and we caught the subway to Ginza.
We did some window shopping, I especially liked the Mitsukoshi Department Store basement food level. I could easily spend a week tasting my way through the many food counters in there. Check out some of their salads below.
After that we caught another subway train to Tsukiji for our awesome sushi dinner at Tsukiji Sushiko.
This wasn’t my drink, but I did taste it…very smooth.
Seafood salad, light and refreshing.
We shared some of this delicious grilled fish.
And of course the sushi. We each had our own platter so that was all mine!
This was easily one of my favorite nights of the trip. We enjoyed a wonderful adventure through Japan’s subway system, great dinner, and fun with friends. I can’t wait to go back to Tokyo!
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21 comments
You lucky, lucky, LUCKY gal you! The kinako mochi looks interesting as I’ve never tried that one before. But still….what a fabu food trip! The shaka shake chicken sign would’ve raised my eyebrows too!
Gorgeous! The food, the sights, the trees–oh, the trees! All of it, absolutely beautiful.
It looks like you got to eat a lot of tasty food!
Hi Lori! My god! That looks so great! You must have a wonderful camera, and you are so lucky to have gone to Japan! I am salivating at all these pictures…can’t wait for more! Do you mind sharing where you booked your trip?
Wow! Your pictures look even more delicious than when I was eating them. You are such a great photographer! Can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures. I will definitely share this with my friends.
Hi rowena,
I’m still wondering what that Shaka Shaka Chicken is, I should’ve tried it. But I was so stuffed already with breakfast and all those snacks! Now that I’ve been back, I have had to get used to eating a lot less frequently. Too bad at work when I walk from room to room there aren’t mochi and yakitori stalls lining the halls…now that would be great!
Hi Elle,
I loved those sakura and other blossoming trees too. There weren’t too many (it’s supposed to be really blooming right now), but a handfull of us would hunt down every last tree that we saw blooming.
Hi Kevin,
Yes, very tasty…and there was so much food everywhere!
Hi jenny,
Actually I don’t have one of those big expensive cameras like some others in my group had. I just brought a compact one that I bought last Christmas for under $200. Made it easy to carry and less obtrusive when taking my hundreds of pics at meal time!
We went with Kobayashi Travel. But as a disclaimer, at the orientation lunch (covering three different groups) there was this one traveler from another group that was really rude to us. So I can’t speak for how other groups are, but our specific tour members were all really great.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the compliment and sharing my blog with your friends. You, Yuuki, Ken chan, Ai chan, and everyone else in our group made for such an enjoyable trip!
Hey, looks like a great trip! Would you believe that I have never been to Tsukiji?!? I am jealous!
Hi Peko,
Oh yes, next time you’re in Tokyo you should take a trip to Tsukiji. The fish and other seafood were SO fresh!!
Hi Lori,
Thanks for sharing! We had a lot of fun. The group was great. Hope to see all of you again soon.
Hi lori t.,
I know, the people were so great in our group. I was thinking about the Hokkaido in July trip but I think I need more time to save up some $$ again!
what a great trip! I think “shaka shaka” is the onopoetic sound of something crispy.
Hi kat,
Aah, thanks for the tip on “shaka shaka”. That makes sense!
Thanks Lori for the feedback! I’m sorry to hear that you had to deal with a really rude traveler, but am glad you didn’t have to travel with him!
Wow!!! You have some great pics and we are really enjoying them. Thanks for being so kind to share your talent with us. You will help us keep the memories of an exceptional trip. Bottom line….You Hawaiians are very easy to travel with. Thanks to all.
Hi jenny,
Thank goodness is right!
Hi Herb & Gloria,
Thanks for dropping by to leave a comment. I’m glad these blog posts can keep the memories of our trip alive with you both. I’m happy to share!
Oh, love the pictures!!! and we look forward to the recipes too! The chawanmushi soup looks different, but delish! All the eats here are making us crazy! We wanna go to Japan!!
Hi White On Rice Couple,
I know what you mean, sorting through the photos for the rest of my Japan posts is making me want to go back again!
What gorgeous photos you take!!! Those of Japan itself and the Food pictures! Jaw droppinG - makes me want to eat your pictures!! Great photography! ( I was looking up information on making mochi and I came across your site hehe)
Hi ManGo,
Thanks so much for the compliment!
ooh la la! I love the food! i love kinako mochi! the hotel buffet looks yummy….did u have to pay for it? just wondering if it is included in your stay at the hotel.
Hi bao,
The cost was included in our entire tour package (air, hotel, some meals, attractions, etc.) It was a really nice first meal in Japan!