Blogs from Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Omakase sushi doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions planned weeks ahead. This casual open kitchen at the new Shinjuku Yokochofood hall allows for casual spontaneity while serving up first-rate sushi. The restaurant playfully likens itself to a petrol station because of the way its course selection is formatted, but instead of diesel, you’re getting fueled on sushi. A ‘regular’ omakase set is priced at ¥4,000 during lunch while the more voluminous ‘full tank’ set is available for ¥6,000. The former includes roughly eight pieces of Edomae-style sushi, where the rice has been lightly seasoned with red vinegar. Varieties of fish vary depending on the season, but even the standard course often includes favourites like chutoro (fatty tuna) and anago (saltwater eel). Within the flashing neon lights and clutter of Shinjuku, you can take refuge ... read more

I am headed to Japan because it is my mother country. It was home to both sets of my grandparents, who came to the US at the end of 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. I am going to show my best buddy, Mr. Mike around my home country. We will focus on food, Michaelin stars, hole in the wall joints and big city walks, and less on temples and museums. From the MoneyFesto: Japan really has the best of both worlds, and its juxtaposition is what entices travelers in the first place. You see, Japan not only has a rich cultural heritage and unique traditions, with ancient temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies for visitors to learn all about. But Japan also has cutting-edge technology and futuristic cityscapes like no other place on the planet. url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsamplingamerica.com%2F10-foreign-cities-that-feel-like-america%2F&data=05%7C ... read more

As you are probably aware by now, I have so much information to share about my upcoming trip to Japan. My travel buddy, Mike and I will hit Tokyo, Nagoya (my grandparents' hometown), Kyoto, and back to Tokyo. We also hope to see a dear friend of ours, who studied in the US for many years, and has returned to corporate life in Tokyo. She will provide the "insider's" view and experience, I am certain. (Ironically, she will visit us here in the US next week, just before we leave for Tokyo!) I have researched much of the background information, covering a wide range of subjects, mostly food, but some history, culture, and perhaps unknown aspects of Japanese life. I have done the museum and temple tours, so that will be at a minimum here. But ... read more

Min fösta dag i Tokyo avslutades uppe på mitt pod-hotells takterass med chipsprovning och test av några lokala ölsorter. Ensam och i hygglig tystnad. Hade blivit lite väl bortskämd med att ha en massa folk och en massiv ljudmatta runtomkring. Dag två inleddes med en lättare frukost för att sedan packa ihop och promenera upp till nästa resmål och hotell i distriktet Shinjuku. Inte så långt, under timmen i promenad. Staden hann förändra skepnad flera gånger under promenaden. Från pling-plong-slammer och 100 våningarshus till lugna bakgator med tvåvånings town-houses till glassiga shoppingstråk och trendiga modegator fram till slutmålet som till vissa delar var rätt barnförbjudet även om inte Amsterdamskt red-light-district-tydligt. Ord som hela tiden används är Sumimasen – Förlåt, ursäkta. Och ursäktar gör man precis hela tiden. Min minnesregel var typ en jättestor brottande da... read more

Heute war ein vollgepackter Tag. Nach dem Frühstück fuhr ich mit der U-Bahn zum Bahnhof Shin-Osaka, wo ich den Shinkansen nach Tokio bestieg. Es war etwa eine dreistündige Fahrt (leider konnte ich wegen Wolken wieder nicht den Berg Fuji sehen) und dort nahm ich den Nahverkehrszug nach Shinjuku, wo ich im Hotel eincheckte, mein Gepäck auf dem Zimmer lies und im Restaurant für heute und die drei folgenden Tage einen Tisch reservierte. Dieses Lokal ist kulinarisch etwas beschränkt (viele Dinge auf der Speisekarte sind auch nicht auf englisch erklärt), aber nicht allzu teuer. Dann hatte ich noch einen Ausflug zum Nationalmuseum in den Tag gepackt. Also fuhr ich wieder mit einem JR-Zug zum Bahnhof Ueno, wo sich ein Museumsviertel in einem Park befindet. Dabei machte aber meiner Papp-Japan Railpass schlapp und lies sich nicht mehr mit ... read more