こんにちは from Tokyo!

James Adventures in Vegetarianism, Food, Japan

We made it safely to Tokyo and spent the past 2 days exploring. So far the verdict is that Tokyo is amazing! The locals are extremely nice, transportation is fast (but confusing at first), and the food is delicious.

The Flight
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Our Plane

First, the flight from Honolulu on ANA was so easy and comfortable. The food was the best airplane food you’ll ever have.

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ANA Bento
Arriving in Akihabara

It took a while to get used to how the subways and trains work, and to find our hotel. Until we did, we were tired and confused.

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Feeling Confused and Tired

At one ramen shop, we tried to ask for ramen with no meat. The waiter didn’t speak much English, and asked if horse meat was OK instead of pork. After we explained that we would eat fish, but not horse, the waiter personally took us next door to a different restaurant and showed us how to order our food using a vending machine. The ramen we got was really good.

Veggie Ramen, Hold the Horse
Veggie Ramen, Hold the Horse
Tsukiji Fish Market

We arrived early at the Tsukiji Fish Market while the vendors were still quite busy. It was quite a unique and great place to visit with all kinds of shops selling all kinds of goods, not just fish. 

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Tsukiji Fish Market
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Tsukiji Fish Market
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Tsukiji Fish Market
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Yakitori Vendor in Tsukiji Fish Market
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Eating Fish Paste from a Leaf
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Change Your Life Ramen from Tsukiji Fish Market
Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace grounds were massive and beautiful, but we couldn’t go inside. We took pictures at the moat surrounding the palace and then moved on.

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Imperial Palace
Jiro’s Restaurant

We stopped by the famous restaurant featured in the film Jiro Dreams of Sushi and took a few photos outside. Since we didn’t make a reservation 4 months in advance and cough up several hundred dollars for dinner, we skipped the actual meal and ate at a nearby hole in the wall instead.

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Jiro's Sushi Restaurant
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Not Jiro's but Cheap and Delicious
Asakusa Temple

The Asakusa Temple and surrounding shops and streets were very old and very beautiful, but packed to the gills with other tourists as well as locals offering their prayers.

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Asakusa Temple
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Asakusa Temple
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Asakusa Temple Pagoda
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Asakusa Temple
Tokyo Sky Tree

The Tokyo Sky Tree looked cool from afar but ended up being somewhat of a tourist trap. There’s a shopping mall at the base of the tower, and it costs $20 a person to go to the top. Since we would have had to wait 2.5 hours and pay $40, we skipped the view. We’ll get a better (and free) view when we visit Roppongi.

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Tokyo Sky Tree
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6 thoughts on “こんにちは from Tokyo!”

  2. JT

    It sounds like you are enjoying the adventure of a life time. I flew from Hawaii to Osaka a few years back and totally agree with your comments. I watched Jiro dreams of sushi too and was wondering how could you afford it until I got to the end part. You should go see Tokyo tower, looks like Eiffe tower. You should also take the bullet train to go see Kyoto. Osaka supposes to be the food capital of Japan, are you going to go there as well?

    Cheers

    1. James Post author

      Saw the Tokyo Tower last night and it was great lit up! Will post more photos soon.

      We’re for sure going to Nagano and Kyoto and Nara, but a few days after that is unscheduled until we get to Fukuoka. Not sure about Osaka yet.

  5. Anne Watt Massey

    Hi JP (okay James, but you’ll always be JP to me) and Lindley! I am so enjoying your posts and pictures. It’s the next best thing to being there. Please keep them coming. This goes without saying, but continue to ENJOY yourselves!!!

    Much love,
    Aunt Anne