Shibuya, Roppongi, Tokyo Edo Museum, and Shima Sensei

On day 4? Or is it day 3? (I lost track), I was introduced to a few more traditional Japanese breakfast items. On the upper left is a bowl of grated radish called Daikon, which is served with tiny dried fish (upper right) called Jako. The middle item is tofu, and the far right is Miso soup. I enjoyed all but the fish, which was a bit too salty for my taste.


We also had the option of American cereals. I love that the packaging is written in Japanese.


We decided to spend a relaxing afternoon with Noda Sensei, and conserve our energy for the nightlife in Tokyo. In this photo Rika-chan and her father are sitting at a huge wooden table which was made from the lid of a sake barrell. Can you imagine the size of the barrell, if the lid is this large?


Noda Sensei made us lunch, which was Japanese Curry Rice with beef and vegetables. Curry and Tamarack spices are grown on a small island in Japan called Amami Oshima, which is near Okinawa. Apparently this dish is very popular in Japan. Noda Sensei says this dish is the equivalent to pizza or hamburgers in America.


This is the Shibuya, in Tokyo. This place is CRAZY! It is so chaotic and busy that it makes Time Square look like a suburb (I'm not even joking).









After Shibuya we went to the Roppongi area which is famous for its night life. A friend from the U.S. told me that I must see Roppongi, but we were not too impressed. It was full of tourist bars that were not as interesting as the local spots we went to in other neighborhoods. (Maybe we went to the wrong part? I'm not sure.)


Tokyo Tower.


When I saw this bike parking lot I asked if people worried about getting their bike stolen.


Apparently the bike locks they use are very different from American bike locks -they are small, and attach to the back wheel...


...plus, all bikes are registered with the police and receive a yellow registration sticker, just like a car.


This is the Sumo Wrestling Stadium. It is a huge structure in Ryogoku neighborhood, Tokyo.


Across from the Sumo Wresting Stadium is the Edo Tokyo Museum, which is a must see if you are in Japan. The museum consists of miniature and life-size reconstructions of buildings and lifestyles throughout the history of Japan.


In addition, we were fortunate to see a rare performance of traditional Japanese music at this museum. The man on the left is playing Tsugaru Shamisen. The man on the right is playing a flute called Shakuhachi.


The following images are some of the intricate displays of downtown Tokyo from the Edo Period.





The Ryogoku train station.


On our way back to Kashiwa, we saw this family sleeping on the train.


At night we were invited to celebrate with Dorito-sans friend Shima Sensei, a Reiki Doctor. He treated Rika-chan and I with his healing energy, and then we toasted wine with their kind friends Mr. and Mrs. Kondo-san.

Ameyayokocho, Electric Town, and Asakusa

We started the day in this shopping district called Ameyayokocho.



I guess I won't buy this.




We stopped for lunch at a Chinese Izakaya, which is a type of Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food. I would not have been able to order with out Rika-chan, as there were few pictures, and nothing was written in English. I feel lucky. If I were visiting Japan alone, I would be confined to the tourist areas.


We ordered Chinese Caesar Salad, it had shrimp and red bell peppers...



...and Tantan Men (Chinese spicy ramen noodle with pork), and Shochu with ice.



Then we visited the Electric District. I would like to return here at night, when all the lights are visible.



Asakusa neighborhood in Tokyo. This is the Kaminarimon Gate, which is the entrance to the Yogodo Hall of the Senso-ji Temple.


This is the Temple with Pagoda on the left. A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves.



You pay 100 Yen to get your fortune.





This is my fortune. It is neither the best, nor the worst. It is somewhere in the middle.



After you read it, you tie it to this stand.


When we returned to the Nodas, we celebrated Dorito-sans birthday. Dinner was called Sukiyaki, which is beef and veggetables simmered on a hot plate on the dinner table. It was very tasty.


You choose what you want to eat from the plate on the left, and place it in the pan on the right, and drink Sake while you wait for it to cook.


Dorito-san, Otanjo bi omedeto. (Happy Birthday Dorit.)




After Dorito-san blew out the candles, Noda Sensei presented me with a special dessert that he insited was only for me. Everyone agreed that I should indulge in it alone. I felt funny about this gesture, and wanted to share, but they insisted that I have it all by myself. When I tried to cut into this cake I realized that it was as hard as a rock.


In an unusual display, Noda Sensei laughed so hard that tea came out of his mouth. The cake was made of wax, and I fell for his trick hook, line, and sink!