The Final Taste!!

The last full day for the (reluctant to leave) 'aliens' was a terrific day. Leaving home early from Ishikawacho we headed for Ueno first. Ishikawacho to Yokohama......Yokohama to Ueno...620 yen....one hour travelling. Easy as long as you can get a seat.

Our Station!

We wandered around Ueno through the park, around the lake and through the busy shopping area. We then decided to catch a subway train and see a bit more of Tokyo. Next stop...... Asakusa! Sarah had been there last year so we only spent a couple of hours there, doing a fairly quick tour of the busy Nakamise Dori and the Senso-ji Temple. 

(see previous posts 'Asakusa-A Taste of Shitamachi Central' and 'Going Back-It's easy in Asakusa!)

So how do you like Japan? Why have you come to Japan?

What's in store for you? Good fortune!

From Asakusa we got on yet another subway train and made our way back to the main JR Line. Our next stop would be Tokyo Tower. Instead of catching another subway train we decided to walk from there. Walking was a great idea because we passed through areas that I have wanted to take 'aliens' guests to but have never got around to. When living in Shinagawa I often rode my bike around the Minato-ku area (see 'Sake, Supermarkets and Shrines!') where there are some lovely parks, temples and special sights.

If you look carefully you will see the top of the spire is bent....unbelievably, the result of the March 11 Earthquake!

Hisakichi Maeda...the original owner and operator of Tokyo Tower. (as he appears in the Wax Museum)

(Information on the Tokyo Tower can be found in  'To the Top of Tokyo Tower')

We had squeezed a lot of everything into this day, the last day of Sarah and Sven's Japanese Experience......or should I say 'Japanese Taste Test'? Hisakichi's sombre face reminds me a little of someone's face who didn't want to leave the next day!!

Sarah san to Sutiban san wa totemo Nihon-ga suki ta-n'desu!! 

O daiji ni shi te kudasai.

Sayōnara!

Konnichiwa......You're in Japan!!

After a visit in Summer last year Sarah returned this year, with Steve, to totally different weather. Last year it had been bring on the heat, but within a very short time Sarah changed that idea. It was just so hot and so hard to do anything without a 'meltdown' (and that had nothing to do with a certain niece)! Nonetheless, Sarah had still really enjoyed it and wanted to share it with Steve (Sven to avoid confusion with 'himself'). This year the weather was perfect, warm and not humid! Spring is certainly a beautiful time of the year here. Everything is green again, flowers are blooming and the weather is so reliable.

Like everyone so far, Sven absolutely loved it and was really reluctant to leave on departure day. He was so amazed by the fact that he was actually in Japan (I still feel that way) and was busting to do as much as he could. The two enjoyed doing things with me, but they also went off on their own searching for amusement parks (especially roller coasters) and, for Sven, martial arts paraphernalia!! They took themselves off to DisneySea and also to Odaiba (an island in Tokyo Bay) to Tokyo Joypolis (a Sega amusement park).

Sven was addicted to vending machines and was always taste testing....one day I think he had 4 coffees in an hour. He even tried hot sweet corn from the machine in Ishikawacho Station. Everywhere you go there are vending machines....in every street, on every train platform, in the middle of nowhere.....anywhere! In the Summer they are lifesavers because water is always at hand. In the Winter when it's really cold why not grab a hot snack??

We visited our regular haunts....Jack's Bar (or the Beatle's Bar as we call it). We always start with a meal in a Japanese restaurant and then move to the bar at about 8.30 when it kicks off. It turns out to be a pretty expensive night so we don't do it that often, usually only when work colleagues or 'aliens' are here. We had sashimi, yakitori and tempura......oishi-i desu!!

Oshima, the guy who runs it, is always good value and the way he turns the disco lights on at the end of each song cracks us up! Last year I gave him a photo of the two of us and I was pleased to see it pinned on the door at the entrance, so this time I got a photo of him with the photo.

The current bottle of whisky, aptly named Steve Lewis Revival Band, took a bit of a hammering and I don't think Sven would have made it home without his chaperones. Not one to drink whisky, I have no choice here and apart from sake I get into the whisky and coke also. Often friends of Steve's go to the bar and they knock his bottle off. The rule is that you replace it and leave the new one on the shelf for the next visit. We had a great night and actually reached home before mid night (just as well because it was a school night after all).

Why Not? in Motomachi Street is always an easy spot to drop in and have a drink. With 400 yen Happy Hour Cocktails...why not? All drinks are 400 yen from 6 until 8pm. It's a bit of a trap but at least you don't have to drive home!

Sarah and Sven selected Harajuku as one of the places to go so, with 'himself' in tow, we headed off on a Sunday. As it was early, we visited Shibuya first then walked through Yoyogi Park to Harajuku. The 'famous' crossing was busy as usual but not insane like it can be during the week.

The boys did a bit of hat and t-shirt shopping whilst there. Fortunately they were not interested in any footwear from this shop.

It is hard not to be impressed by Yoyogi Park. I remember when we first visited it a year ago. We were living in Shinagawa and were out riding on our bikes.....it was such a lovely place to ride!

It's best to get to Harajuku around midday if you want to see interesting things. You are always sure to see some unusual fashions as you, and a million other people, walk down Takeshita Dori. It was insanely busy which really impressed Steve (not)!

The outfits on this couple were amazing!

Only a model but I have seen it on a pedestrian!

Across the road at the end of Takeshita Dori, there is another area which is not quite as crazy and has lots of 'retro' stuff, so we wandered around there and found a place to eat (always a bit of a lottery).

The two Steves....Kampaii!!

That is the dog's hair, it's not a wig!! What a classic.

This guy looked 'sweet'!!

From Harajuku we made our way to Ginza where, aside from walking down the famous street and seeing the unusual sights, we went into an incredible toyshop. We spent quite a while in there just browsing and the guys even did some slot car racing!

Weird!!! He was for real!

Of course...we all take our meerkats for a Sunday walk!

The taste tester extraordinaire! This was a tea.

Ginza....a great place to be seen with your friends!

The big kids rule!! Cost 200 yen each to have a go.

There was plenty of promotional events happening on the street....always the perfect opportunity for a 'tourist' snap.

Nice friend Sarah!

Ginza!

Leaving Harajuku we made our way back home.....changing trains at Shinagawa then again at Yokohama. Getting off at Sakuragicho we took a stroll through Landmark Tower and ended up having a roller coaster ride at Cosmo World. Phew!! What a day.

During the week we did pleny of cycling......a great way to see our area.

The Red Brick Buildings......this was the site of the Ice Rink in Winter!

Fun 'Japanese Style' = (Onsen + Futon) x 6 !

On their second weekend in Japan, it was off to the Izu Peninsula with 'Team Lewis'. It's such a lovely place and, so others can enjoy the beauty too, we keep returning . As normal, we stopped at Hakone where we wandered around the shore of the lake. We also found a very traditional street which we had not previously visited. After a quick 'sit down on the floor' lunch we moved on.

We drove down the west coast and across the centre to Kawazu. My decision to return (for the third time) to Amagi Zen Onsen was a successful one. Dress code was perfect ....pyjamas or nothing!! I had been unsure whether the children would be permitted to use the onsens, but we had no problems. Initially, they found the water a little hot but the temptation to go in overrode that issue. With a preference for nudity anyway, Amy had a ball collecting cups and filling them with the spring water that flows constantly into the pools. She would then tip all the water out, throw the cups in and retrieve them and then begin the process again. She showed no preference for the indoor or outdoor pool, but the sauna was definitely way too warm. It is a very luxurious experience and all the gorgeous body products at your disposal are just the 'icing on the cake'!

At about $100.00 for each adult per night, it's great value....... dinner, breakfast, endless onsen and sauna, room complete with futon, pyjamas and, of course, the luxury wheat bag pillows!!! The kids just loved everything about the place..... I mean, what kid could resist rolling around in futons and plunging into hot onsens??
 
Our dinner was a barbecue and, as it had been a bit drizzly, we ate under a traditional Japanese covered area. The food was delicious and Henry and Amy had plenty of space to run around. Choosing to do the barbecue, rather than a meal in the dining room, was also a good choice. It adds a bit more to the basic tariff but it saved issues at the dinner table, in the absence of high chairs.  

Henry, for some reason, had decided he was going to sleep in nanny and pop's cupboard so we set his futon up in there. With Amy asleep in the other room, we partially closed the cupboard door, so as not to disturb Henry, and enjoyed a brief moment of conversation and peace. We were actually so relaxed from all our immersions in hot water that we, too, were glad to hit the futons.


On the Sunday, it was my birthday (my second one celebrated in Japan) and I had a magical day. It began with a very early 'jump on the futon' morning call from the kids followed by the normal Japanese breakfast, definitely not 'my cup of tea'. On this visit I had been determined to give everything a go, but I just couldn't do it. Breakfast is served on a tray with numerous small bowls, containing all manner of things, and a little burner to heat your fish. Even though quite salty, I enjoy the fish (not like eating a flathead fillet though). Even the only vegetarian in our group wasn't impressed with the fare....bring on a coffee and toast was her wish. 

(Clockwise from bottom) Fish, natto kinase, tofu(maybe), miso, orange, rice, pickled something x 2 and egg (sort of poached but.....)!

A traditional component of the meal is natto kinase (I say 'nasty'). Eaten with rice, it's apparently a popular breakfast food. Natto kinase is an enzyme extracted from a Japanese food called nattō. Nattō is made from fermented soybeans and has been eaten in Japan for many years. It is produced by fermentation, when the beneficial bacterium Bacillus natto is added to boiled soybeans. Supposedly, it is effective in treating intenstinal disorders, skin conditions and immune deficiencies. I can imagine why.....you would have to be a brave 'bug' to take it on!!!  It is also compared to having an aspirin a day with possible blood thinning benefits. With its strong, cheese-like smell; a nutty, salty flavour and incredibly sticky consistency, I think I will give it a miss.

The strings don't actually break. I end up with it on my face!

The few Japanese people that I've asked compare it to our Vegemite. Recently, I asked Ritsu (my Monday teacher) to sample some Vegemite. Having lived in England for a few years, she was familiar with Marmite which she didn't like. I explained that they were derived from quite different products...one beef, the other a yeast extract. The Vegemite got the 'thumbs up' over Marmite....but who knows......I know she would be way too polite to say she didn't like it. I guess it is just what we are used to!

A traditional Himitsu Box (Secret Personal Box) beautifully made with lacquered wood and a seven step process needed to open it was a gift from Steve! 'Team Lewis' presented me with an innovative Rainbow Maker, compete with genuine Swarovski crystals. A solar panel creates the energy to turn a series of cogs, which turn the crystals and create moving rainbows in the room....it brings good Chi into your home according to Feng Sui. Now hanging in the apartment, it's definitely bringing good Chi in....it's certainly bringing in lots of warmth from the sun.

Exploring the Kawazu Seven Waterfalls in the rain was actually really beautiful. With the added effect of umbrellas it created quite a surreal experience. Since the end of Winter, on each visit we noticed the water had continued to increase and this time there was more water than ever. The roar of the falls and the water rushing down the river was awesome.

My Dad!!

After visiting the falls we headed further south through Shimoda towards Irozaki, where we knew there was a lovely white sand beach. As far as we have seen, white sand beaches are not the norm. Amy quickly stripped off and played in the sand with Henry, who kept his clothes on. The water was just a bit cooler than the onsen!

Father and Son!

Such stunning views!

With the trip home sure to be lengthened by the customary traffic jams, we turned north and headed back to Yokohama. So keen were we to avoid the traffic we didn't even stop for lunch....we just ate chocolate, lollies, dry biscuits and all sorts of unhealthy stuff. It became quite funny when we still got caught in the traffic and also started to run out of supplies. The kids were brilliant travellers and not once complained as it got later and later. Trying to beat Honey's (the GPS) predicted arrival time always keeps us entertained. We've given up arguing with her but still like to prove her wrong in other ways. Traffic jams included, we spent about $100 on tolls for the weekend!! It certainly gets expensive if you stay on the expressways. 


These days I don't like having birthdays but back home it was fun to celebrate with a 'cake' sourced by Erica at the SevenEleven Store down the street.  

Tanjoubi o medeto!

Eyes too big for mouth..... let alone stomach!!!