Japan 5th Day - Tsukiji, Tonki and the Best Senbei Ever

Rain, rain, rain. Very early in the  morning on our 5th day, with the sun barely risen, me and Les set off for Tokyo in the . . .  rain, rain, rain.  Except for one kink, where a cocky guy at the JR ticket counter erroneously told Les that there was no bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo (say what?), everything went smoothly.

Thanks to Google Maps' street view we found our small hotel in Shin Okubo with no problem.


With check-in time hours away, we left our luggage at the hotel and caught the subway train to Tsukiji.


It was pretty much pouring so picture taking was kinda hard.




Despite the rain a lot of people were eating at these outdoor counters.




Anybody know what this is? And why are the bottles upside down?




We decided to stop for lunch at this place.


Les had some sushi.


I had this tempura.  It was good, but totally not what I was expecting . . . didn't know it was gonna be all chopped up.


After Tsukiji we caught the subway train again and headed to the basement level of Nihonbashi's Takashimaya Department Store.  Of all our Need-To-Buy-In-Japan things, this was probably the easiest one to find.  It is the best "kakimochi" ever.  Click here to see what I'm talking about. If you go to Japan and if you have extra space in your luggage, make sure you bring some back as omiyage. Your friends and family will love it.  And if it's raining, they'll waterproof your package like this to protect it.  Isn't that awesome??!!  I still haven't opened up my one package that I didn't give away.  I'm saving it for last.


We finally headed back to our hotel at around 3:00 p.m., checked in, unloaded and rested up.

Les had been looking forward to eating some of the best tonkatsu in the world at Tonki Restaurant near the Meguro Station, so despite the POURING BUCKETS RAIN, we decided to go check them out for dinner.  There is an excellent review with more pictures here.  If you go there, make sure you know what you want to order ahead of time 'cause more than likely they'll ask you while you're still waiting in line.  And miraculously, no matter where you get seated you'll get the correct order.






It was even more ono than I expected.  Even the miso soup and rice were gooood.  One thing I didn't understand was the all-you-can-eat cabbage.  AND the people were eating um all up and getting it replenished, including Les.  Isn't cabbage just decoration?


Here's another look . . . just because it was so good.


I have no idea what part of Tokyo is coming up next.  I forget.  It's on my other "might-still-have-virus-just-use-for-photos" computer, and I lazy go check.  I probably won't put up the pictures tomorrow though.  Although I'm pau with post processing last weekend's Christmas card pictures, I gotta work on decorating a gingerbread man for a contest at work. We're supposed to decorate it reflecting what interests each one of us in particular.  Mine going be so lame . . . still dunno what I going do.  Somebody like do um for me?  It's due next Monday.  I gotta bake chocolate chip cookies this weekend.  I'll give you some.  Ho Ho Ho . . . . . NNNOOOOTTTT!!!  It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . . NNNNOOOOTTTTT!!!!!