sunday

Sunday before the sun rose, we were on our way to the airport...

By 8:00-ish we were in Tokyo.

At 9:30-ish we were at the base of the Tokyo Sky Tree.

Too bad the air had a haze to it, I think the views from the top would've been something to see.

Satoshi wanted to check out the Tokyo Sumo area.

He had seen something that said there was a gift shop we could visit too...bummer both the area and shop were closed.

We then headed to Asakusa to check out a yoshoku-ya (western style shop), but the wait was krazy with the 3-day weekend, so we headed across the street to Kappabashi and found a reasonably priced sushi shop called Tasukezushi.

My nigiri set had 10 pieces and Satoshi had their chirashizushi...each were 1300 yen (tax included).

It was a nice fast (delicious) lunch.

Satoshi then headed to Jingu Stadium to watch his University baseball team.

I went on my own adventure.

Kappabashi, the largest area for kitchen/restaurant tools, tableware, like Osaka's Doguyasuji but 10x bigger, was having some kind of festival.

Had it not been so crowded I would've stayed longer but it was tough just moving between stores...

The Sky Tree as seen from Kappabashi.

I went to Kuramae, to check out the Dandelion Chocolate cafe & shop.

Since we've been having summery temps, I tried their cacao nib cold brew, which came with a tiny chocolate cookie & housemade marshmallow.

and their oatmeal cookie.

The cacao nib cold brew wasn't anything special, but the cookie...loved that it had chocolate, cacao nibs, cranberries, oatmeal & shredded coconut in it.

I got back on the train and headed to the Omotesando area.

And stopped into Sarutahiko Coffee.

It was too krazy hot to actually drink some hot coffee, but I really wanted (a photo of) their paper cup...and I was also thankful they had somewhere to sit while I waited for my cup to cool down a bit.

Down the street I checked out Hugo & Victor and picked up some of their dark chocolate mediants.

Candied almonds, pistachios & raisins top their dark chocolate...delicious!

Satoshi messaged and said that they had lost...boo!

We met up along the way and went to check out Niihao, which apparently created the hanetsuki gyoza (potstickers with wings).

We tried their shrimp.

Original.

Sizzling hot plate...(click the photo to hear it sizzle)

Fried.

Mabo Tofu.

This place is fast! delicious and reasonable. I can see why people will wait for a table.

Plus 2 beers and an apricot wine drink for me our total was about 3500 yen (tax included).

It was a krazy long day. Lots of walking, lots of eating.

p.s. we used miles to fly to Tokyo and we bought the Keikyu Pass (1310 yen) which gets you from Haneda to Sengakuji then usage of all the subway lines for the day.

Tasukezushi
2-26-6 Matsugaya
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3841.4811
Closed Wednesdays

Dandelion Chocolate
4-14-6 Kuramae
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5833.7270
Hours: 10:00-20:00
*call before going, days off not set

Sarutahiko Coffee
4-3-3 Jingumae, inside of H.I.S. tour agency
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5775.2471
Hours: 11:00-19:00

Hugo & Victor (2022: no longer at this location)
4-12-10 Jingumae, inside Omotesando Hills
Shibuya, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6434.0912
Hours: 11:00-21:00, open when Omotesando Hills is

Niihao
4-25-7 Kamata
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3734.2180
Lunch: 11:00-14:00, Dinner: 17:00-24:00

Tamadear Hotel
4-14-4 Haneda
Ota, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3741.5573
*free shuttle to Haneda Airport