Insider Guide: What to do in Tokyo
Check out the recent article in CNN.go called Insider Guide: What to do in Tokyo. The picture below of a lighted Tokyo Tower at night was taken from th9s article.
Almost 2 years ago, I wrote a blog post titled Top 43 Things to Do and See in Tokyo. My list is a little different than CNN.go (one popular activity I missed was Karaoke), but there are a few similarities. Bottom line is there are lots to see and do in this large and vibrant city. What’s your favorite thing to do or see in Tokyo?
Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is a popular dish in Japan consisting of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet and generally served with shredded cabbage, rice and miso soup.
We ate at the restaurant on the upper floors of My Lord’s in Shinjuku, where they serve free refills of shredded cabbage, rice and miso soup. Cost was about 1,200 yen ($15).
It even comes with desert.
Mobile Phones
In Canada, my whole family uses mobile phones as pictured below – it’s an iPhone free zone :-). Blackberry is manufactured by a Canadian company called Research in Motion (RIM).
While living in Japan, we signed up and used mobile phones (keitai) from Softbank, one the largest mobile carriers in Japan.
On our recent return visit to Tokyo, we brought our old Softbank phones with us and just rented a SIM card from Softbank. Cost was 105 yen per day for the SIM card and 105 yen per minute (outgoing only, incoming calls are free) local calls and 15 yen (outgoing only, incoming texts are free) per text. There was a Softbank rental counter in the International Arrival terminal at Narita to pickup and return the SIM cards, pre-booked via the internet.
Photo of the Day: Wall Mosaic
I took a picture of this unusual wall art in the Harajuku area. Apparently, there are more of these around Tokyo found by TokyoTimes.org.
Wacky or cool?
Sake Barrels
Below are pictures of sake barrels taken during the 2012 New Year holidays in Tokyo, Japan. The first two pictures were taken in a restaurant and the arena in Roppongi Hills.
The picture below was taken in the lobby of the Excel Hotel Tokyu in Akasaka.
Finally, you can find these wine barrels in the Hie Shrine in Akasaka.
Kanpai (cheers)!
Akasaka Sacas
Completed in January 2008, Akasaka Sacas is a recreation complex built around the Tokyo Broadcasting Station (TBS) in Akasaka, Tokyo.
There are a number of shops and restaurants.
As well, there are offices housed in the Biz Tower building.
The TBS building and its mascot …
Gated building in the area.
Opened in April 1996, Akasaka BLITZ is a concert hall which can hold 1,500 people and is owned and operated by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.
A temporary skating rink has been setup during the winter months.
The next series of the pictures were taken during the Akasaka Sacas winter illumination.
Photo of the Day: Toll Booth
Toll booths in Japan typically have Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), a credit card with an IC chip.
Chopsticks
The Japanese term for chopsticks is hashi.
We received a box of chopsticks as a gift from a store called Ginza Natsuno, which sells a wide variety of hashi.
Along with traditional types of chopsticks, there are chopsticks which resemble Japanese swords …
… or even Star Wars light sabers! Aren’t these cool?
I bought the Japanese sword and Star Wars light saber chopsticks from Amazon Japan a few years ago.
Photo of the Day: Roppongi Almond Cafe Re-Opened
Opened over 60 years ago, the landmark Almond Cafe is a popular meeting place due to its very convenient and prominent location at the Roppongi Crossing in Tokyo, Japan.
For the past 2 or so years, it has been closed due to renovation and has just recently re-opened.
Nattō
Nattō is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, most popular in the eastern regions of Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokkaido. It has a very strong smell and flavor, along wit a slippery or slimy texture.
Have you tried nattō? If yes, do you like it?
