We woke up a little later then planned, so we rushed down on a taxi.
Oh boy, it was so expensive, even though we split the taxi fees to four people, it fee is still quite high.
Around S$8 per person? Imagine 1 person taking the cab, that would be a 32 dollars ride. Crazy!
Unless I am super desperate or crazily rich, I don't think I am ever gonna take a taxi in Japan again.
The inside of the market where the auctions of the fishes were, are only open to a small limited number of foreigners who would wake up at the wee hours to go in. Which meant that we couldn't enter, thus we only lurked around the outside area where the stores and restaurants are opened to public.
Fresh produce looking good.
The day looks very fine too. The white buildings on the right is where the restaurants are, and the lower building on the left are the busy ports and loading/unloading bay. The auction area is much further down to the left.
We were queuing for SuShi Dai. The most popular sushi store in Tsukiji Fish market. We reached there quite early, about 5.30aM or so. Went in around 8.30AM. Queued for a freaking 3 hours, and I'll say that it's quite worth the wait.
Below is showing the set menu.
Omakase Course (Trust the chef course)
This course is different everyday, because it depends heavily on their catch of the day. In the wee hours before the sun got up, they would go to their battle field and get the ingredients. You can only eat their freshest and most delicious sushi if you put some faith in the chef.
The chef is friendly, and speaks some English too. Though we have a huge language barrier, that didn't stop him from trying to interact with us.
It's quite a small store, serving about 16 people max. The owner probably didn't want to compromise their service and quality of the food by serving too many people at once. Through the long wait of 3 hours (sorry to emphasize again), this isn't a place for the half-hearted. You'll need some real motivation and passion to come here. This place, by far, holds one of my most fondness memories in Japan.
Japan and the amazing sushi. I dare say that Sushi Dai, is where real Sushi is.
Chutoro.
Horse Mackerel. The chef had already carefully and lovingly seasoned each and every sushi he placed in front of you. And the chef told us jokingly that it would hurt his feelings if you dip this into soy sauce.
Clams. It's so fresh that it's still moving from the shock of saltiness in the soysauce that the chef poured over right in front of you. Really cool.
Tuna, Deliciously marinated.
Another unforgettable, Ootoro. So fatty and so delicious, it melts in your mouth.
Don't even have to chew much, it just breaks apart. Makes me go into a dreamy state.
But this time, I was so full. I don't normally take breakfast this early, and my stomach wasn't ready to work. I'm full to the brimmed and almost missed this!!! The funny chef had very kindly reduce the amount of rice so that he could fed me more sushi. Very grateful to him and the friendly lady who was serving us.
While on the other hand, my friends from the other group who were in Tokyo went to Tsukiji too, but at a totally different timing. They went to this store below, Okame.
As advertized in Shiru Shiru Mishiru Sunday.
The same right?!?! For those with lower budget, but still want to try some awesome seafood, why not try them here? haha =]
Smelling fishy after returning from Tsukiji.
Since this is the last day, we have decided to split up and go wherever you want to go.
Sindy and I went to a salon in Rox.
We actually wanted to go to a neighbour salon just a little further down our hostel, but it was packed, full of aunties. = =
So we walked around, and finally found MIQ in Rox. I think this is the incident that I thanked God the hardest. Praise the Lord, and this is really such a wonderful find.
I have always wanted to cut my hair for quite a long time now.
And like finally did in Japan, which I am very glad for their great style are care for the hair.
Now, I just have to find somewhere that can maintain this cut.
After that, Sindy and Bellra went off to Akihabara (I think).
I stayed behind in Asakusa because I wanted to go to Kappabashi, it is just a street behind our hostel.
It's a street where it specialized in Kitchen equipment.
From uniforms...
To Japanese knives...
Bamboo stuff...
Racks...
Glasswares.
Lots of pots, pans, stoves...
And furniture....
This, I saw them selling very cute boxes. I would have loved to buy some if my luggage had not been filled to the brim. Really, I'm not kidding. I can't even lift it up anymore... and twice I tried to, twice I cut my toes with the edge of the overweight monster. Bought too much sovenirs.
but the boxes are just so cute....... They are on sale too... T-T
yup, and this is the Kappa.
Found a lovely cafe, great for the summer weather, but I was still so full from my sushi breakfast.
Before we came on this trip, we checked online to see if there are any festivals we can join, but very sadly there wasn't any around this timing. Well, at least there is not one that is registered online.
While walking through Kappabashi, there's a street that is super noisy. The children are having their summer holiday and this is their festival and celebration.
Surrounded by many children and games in the matsuri.
The real Japanese festival style Chocolate banana.
Cotton candy. =]
The scope game. This little girl is so cute > <
Snow cones with your preferred flavours to fight the blazing sun.
Children's toys. There were many kids wearing their traditional costume, which is too cute! > <
Kingyo sukui, the fishing game. I didn't know they have tortoise and the big goldfish in there too...
It's really too bad that I don't have any small change, I only had 10,000yen notes with me =[
I wanted to try to catch some fishes too...
I saw a young mother who caught a bowl full of fishes and the tortoise, excellent skills!
Wanted to ask her to teach me, but hm... my Japanese is embarrassingly broken.
There is a local shrine temple deep within the neighbourhood, and this mini festival is just outside this temple.
Children gathered to lift and transport their Omikoshi, with the help of an uncle who wasn't wearing any pants. jk~
Must be tiring. Or not, the adults are helping out too.
There's much more to this festival, more food and games.
But with my new hair cut, sunglasses, a deep blue dress and thin demin bolero, I'm looking as foreign as I could possibly be. I mean, I'm standing out a little too much and I'm getting stared, even though I am black haired, yellow skinned and definitely Asian.
For lunch, On my way back from the Kappabashi towards the Asakusa station, I past by this store.
Luckily, I was trained in reading Hiragana, they were selling okonomiyaki and monjayaki.
Something that is on my to-try-list.
The store is called Shichi Go San.
They have English menus, and a guide line as to how to cook and eat monjya.
This is a lovely family restaurant. Mr owner speaks in English fluently, and the store assistance is from China, so if you are English or Chinese speaking, you can come here too. =]
Mr owner knew I have no idea how to do this, so he came to my help.
Actually, it looks delicious just like that. Colourful and bright.
frying the ingredients.
Uncle cooked it so fast. =]
I was hungry so I ate everything.
Walking back to the streets of Asakusa.
Saw this very cute piggy teapots. Hmm... Actually, now that I'm looking at it closely, they don't look like teapots. No idea what is that...
Noisy streets bursting with life. People are loudly advertising everywhere.
A snack made out of a whole squid.
They treated their tomatoes with lots of love, packing it so nicely...
Soft cream ice cream.
Just a little while before it's time to meet up again, I went to Matsuri-yu in Rox.
Throughout the trip, we didn't go to any Onsen, and this bath house is my substitute.
The others didn't want to go so I went their alone. It was so much fun.
I have tried their many different types of baths.
Even though I wasn't sure if I was doing the things right or not and I had only spend a short one hour in there.
It was really so much fun.
Wanted to spend more time in there. Next time, if I had the chance.
Orh, next time, I'll go to a real onsen too.
The night we were leaving.
On our way to the airport.
Really sad to be leaving.
Bought a whole lot of these as souvenirs. My Japanese boss came to visit the Singapore branch sometime ago and he brought us some snacks, which happened to be Tokyo Banana. They are cute and delicious, and they make excellent souvenirs.
This is a random lip balm I bought from their local watson-like stores.
It's choppar and sunny, who wouldn't buy them?
Thank God, for keeping us save through the trip. Thank God, for being so patience with me, even though I wasn't spending much time with him. Thank God for the people I was with, for the people I met and for the people who had helped us on this trip. Thank God for the experience, Thank God for the delicious food, Thank God for all the fun time.
If you are going to Tokyo Japan too, I pray that you'll have a fun time, great experience and safe journey!
God Bless~
