Japan Going to Japan...

[I Love Film]

Nope, in the 1980's she was a baby.

Only here about 7 years.

 

[WJJ3]

for only 2 or 3 days in Tokyo, that is a lot of places to try to see. If you like neighborhoods, I would suggest Shimokitazawa before any of those places. Although, half a day in Harajuku and Meiji Jingu is fun.

One place in Osaka I recommend besides the standard Doton Bori and Shinsai Bashi, is Shin Sekai and the Tsutenkaku tower thing there. Really quirky, and I think they just did a big renovation there.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Surprising to find romance counseling on this thread. Glad to see the shift to include some photos.

Tokyo and Kyoto are remarkable places.

My favorites:
- Horiuji (it will be a side trip from Kyoto)
- Happo-en garden, in the Shirokanedai neighborhood, Tokyo

Here is a photo (Yashica Electro GX on Fuji 200) from Happo-en Garden

 

[maddoc]

Speaking about Tsukiji and fish markets ... I think that I would avoid eating fish in Tokyo and any seafood in Japan generally especially when staying with small children... Some parts of the Pacific close to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are extremely contaminated and so is everything that comes out of the Pacific ... Also lots of contaminated food (vegetables, rice, milk products from Ibaraki, Iwate, Fukushima prefectures) in general has been offered in the past for "low prices" to restaurant / shop / canteen owners to "support the local farmers of these prefectures" because otherwise nobody sane (except having no money) would buy that stuff in a grocery ...

 

[coelacanth]

Oh I gotta read the whole thread as I'm going to Japan with a friend next week (mainly Tokyo and Kochi). It's been several years since my last trip to there, and my non-Japanese friends here know about Japan and places to go a lot more than myself nowadays... I'm very excited tho! (mainly for foods, drinks and photo opportunities.)

 

[FrankS]

I loved my time in Japan. Would love to go back.

 

[coelacanth]

Hijacking the thread a bit.

Any good izakaya, yakitori, or something VERY Japanese place for dinner/drink in Tokyo? We are coming from SF so we get decent Japanese here, but would love to try something local and non-sushi stuff... Oh and we drink decent amount (I'm from Kochi, and my friend is from Northern Ireland. )

Within Yamanote loop would be easier for us but will go anywhere for good food.

 

[I Love Film]

Somewhat alarmist, wouldn't you say?

Most of the food is not radioactive. If you're so worried, carry a dosimeter.

Speaking about Tsukiji and fish markets ... I think that I would avoid eating fish in Tokyo and any seafood in Japan generally especially when staying with small children... Some parts of the Pacific close to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are extremely contaminated and so is everything that comes out of the Pacific ... Also lots of contaminated food (vegetables, rice, milk products from Ibaraki, Iwate, Fukushima prefectures) in general has been offered in the past for "low prices" to restaurant / shop / canteen owners to "support the local farmers of these prefectures" because otherwise nobody sane (except having no money) would buy that stuff in a grocery ...

 

[flip]

As someone who eats fish and vegetables only, I like to convince myself that the fish is safe here, despite understanding the path of debris in the pacific and how it relates to fish runs. The big concern is the track record for timely identification of hazards.

That aside, sushi in Japan is different - if not always better - than SF / San Jose sushi. Fish I'd never heard of. Izakayas get high marks for fun drinking, but I can think of better places to eat in general.

 

[jsrockit]

Hijacking the thread a bit.

Any good izakaya, yakitori, or something VERY Japanese place for dinner/drink in Tokyo? We are coming from SF so we get decent Japanese here, but would love to try something local and non-sushi stuff... Oh and we drink decent amount (I'm from Kochi, and my friend is from Northern Ireland. )

Within Yamanote loop would be easier for us but will go anywhere for good food.

Yes, and please... any really great curry places would be appreciated. One that offers it very spicy... I need way more spice that Curry Ya in NYC can offer.

 

[I Love Film]

Ah ha, a yurikago dorobou

Not really. She chased me.

 

[I Love Film]

Yes, and please... any really great curry places would be appreciated. One that offers it very spicy... I need way more spice that Curry Ya in NYC can offer.

Lumbini is much spicier than the other one. Normally, food is not spiced as highly as in NYC restaurants. (what they call "very hot" is not really hot)

You really have to insist that the food be spicy, but then they will think you are crazy and you'll get some godawful concoction. Just adjust your expectations. When in Rome.....

 

[I Love Film]

There are usually clusters of small restaurants around every major train station in Tokyo. Just walk around and see which are the most crowded. You can't get more "authentic" than that.

You should be aware of the "ticket machine" system of ordering food, which can be a big problem for non-Japanese.

Hijacking the thread a bit.

Any good izakaya, yakitori, or something VERY Japanese place for dinner/drink in Tokyo? We are coming from SF so we get decent Japanese here, but would love to try something local and non-sushi stuff... Oh and we drink decent amount (I'm from Kochi, and my friend is from Northern Ireland. )

Within Yamanote loop would be easier for us but will go anywhere for good food.

 

[jsrockit]

Lumbini is much spicier than the other one. Normally, food is not spiced as highly as in NYC restaurants. (what they call "very hot" is not really hot)

You really have to insist that the food be spicy, but then they will think you are crazy and you'll get some godawful concoction. Just adjust your expectations. When in Rome.....

Believe me, I argue with Curry Ya all the time about spicyness... and they do think I'm crazy. The problem is the stuff they use for spicyness I can eat all by itself... it will never make the curry truly spicy if I can eat the ingredient by itself without any issues. All the other curry joints I've found in NYC only have one spicy level... bland. I've seen these videos of old japanese men eating japanese curry on you tube...and they are sweating and dying. That's what I want.

 

[I Love Film]

Go here and ask for the p'hall

http://www.bricklanecurryhouse.com/downtown/


PS: A lot of Japanese get sweaty when eating moderately hot curry because they are not used to the heat level. Even mild cayenne pepper makes them sweat, and combined with the beer, it is too much for them.

Japanese curry is not the same as Indian Curry. It is actually a mild imitation of "British School Curry", which is a poor imitation of actual Indian curry itself. They buy packaged curry paste like "House" curry, and just mix in meat, carrots, potatoes, etc.

If you're looking for hot, think Thailand or some other country where the food is actually hot.

Believe me, I argue with Curry Ya all the time about spicyness... and they do think I'm crazy. The problem is the stuff they use for spicyness I can eat all by itself... it will never make the curry truly spicy if I can eat the ingredient by itself without any issues. All the other curry joints I've found in NYC only have one spicy level... bland. I've seen these videos of old japanese men eating japanese curry on you tube...and they are sweating and dying. That's what I want.

 

[I Love Film]

I actually made it to Yokohama during this summer's trip too:

I think Mr. "The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." is gracing us with his presence again. Hang around a while this time, yah

 

[jsrockit]

Go here and ask for the p'hall

http://www.bricklanecurryhouse.com/downtown/

I've been there. It's easy to find spicy indian food, but I was looking more for Japanese Curry.

 

[adamloh]

There are usually clusters of small restaurants around every major train station in Tokyo. Just walk around and see which are the most crowded. You can't get more "authentic" than that.

You should be aware of the "ticket machine" system of ordering food, which can be a big problem for non-Japanese.

I liked the ticket machine system: looking at the plastic model in the window, then matching the writing to that on the ticket machine!

I was staying in Tokyo during summer too! (Nearby Tokyo Prince hotel)
Really enjoyed it!

I did the tourist things.
I liked:

• Walking through Ginza on a Saturday when the road is closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians.
• Watching people at Yoyogi park on Sunday (seeing people dancing)
• Watching sunset from the parks
• Going on long walks

I also wandered around Sensoji Temple in Asakusa for 2 days when they were selling Hozuki lantern plants.
And the view from the Government Metropolitan office!
and walking across the rainbow bridge to Odaiba (and breathing in all the fumes!)!

 

[I Love Film]

 

[I Love Film]

"Real" Japanese curry just isn't that hot. They don't prepare it that way.

I've been there. It's easy to find spicy indian food, but I was looking more for Japanese Curry.