research

Sunday, after doing some errands in the morning, we headed out to Shibuya

Satoshi has another tour coming up and wanted to check some things out

While he does his checking, I usually take photos of things that interest me

They plan to close Seibu Department store in Shibuya in September

I thought the building was so cool looking, it actually connects to the other half of the department store (on the left side of the photo)
 

Jump comic store in Parco Shibuya

I haven't been to Cat Street in some time, so it was cool to see the Coach Cafe (from the outside)

A stop into Kiddy Land (I waited outside)

And then we headed to Akihabara

Rules on how to enjoy Tokyo/Japan

I want to stick this on my suitcase

When friend Val was visiting, we didn't go into the Donki at Akihabara, we should've, there were all sorts of anime goods, maybe she could've found more items for her son 

inside Donki Akihabara

I hadn't known that on Sundays they block off traffic here.

I do know that they do this in Ginza

It was my first time in the AKB Cultures Zone Building

And into Onoden, an electric/appliance store which has been around since 1941

And then back to Radio Kan

It was so sunny, I felt a little crispy after we got back home...

Hoping the family that Satoshi takes around will enjoy their trip

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Since my photos uploaded wonky, this post is out of order...

huge frying pan in front of Hotto Motto Grill

Interesting tile on a building

Strawberry parfait at Marufuku Coffee...with coffee 1700 yen (tax included)

lego R2D2

Interesting car...

Tanuki shrine in Kanda

the word “sushi” made with plastic (dusty) sushi

roads blocked off everywhere because of the Tokyo Marathon.

I tried asking a grandma volunteer where I could cross the street and I got the most snarkiest answer and lots of 'tude, I know she must've been asked the same question over and over, but she still could've been nicer...

Wasted calories...this waxy sakura matcha donut and house blend at Starbucks.

It didn't even taste sakura-ish and the coffee tasted really burnt…ick

Interesting mosaic objets in the lobby of Fujisoft Building

More of the mosaic in the lobby

Big daruma at Chabara

Pretty camellia

The mamo bus...

Keema and Paratha at Bengal Curry.

1st time trying paratha it was so flaky and delicious!

Also 1st time trying Bengal's curry, I'll be back.

Satoshi had their shrimp curry but it was a bit too liquidy for his liking.

You can see this office building with mannequins from the platform of the JR Akihabara station...

Satoshi said he didn't do too well on his TOEIC test.

He had 120 out of 200…

He took the test again this past Sunday...

He said he needs 160 to waive himself from some tour guide criteria, hopefully he'll get a better score.

Bengal Curry

3-6-1 Sotokanda

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Phone:03.6260.8879

Open Daily 11:30-21:00

Marufuku Coffee

inside Yodobashi Camera Akihabara 4F

Open when Yodobashi Camera is

21262

Since today was a holiday, we went to check out Mizumoto Park.

the only area with trees that were reddish was in their parking lot...boo!

So we went to Akihabara to maybe check out a cafe...but they were booked solid, so we instead walked to Tokyo Station.

Near the Royal Palace...

And then saw this weird cloud in our neighborhood...

The weather was beautiful and there are definitely a lot of people out and about...

Still it was nice to be outside.

if you are interested in seeing more photos, please look here.

foodie sunday

Sunday started out with breakfast at Shinpachi Shokudo.

Their breakfast is cheaper than lunch...like half price! (if you choose the fish on their breakfast menu, I think if you choose the other types you would need to pay a higher price)

During breakfast, rice is only a small portion but was enough for me and Satoshi (because he didn't want to pay 50 yen more for the regular size).

Snacks at Starbucks while we waited for Takeya to open.

I tried this rich chocolate mousse "cake" by Ichiei Taguma...delicious with black coffee.

"no smorking"....ha!

Picked up a dorayaki and kusamochi to try from Usagiya which has been around since 1913.

We ate these after dinner and I am not sure how Satoshi liked the kusamochi, but I enjoyed the dorayaki.

It wasn't different from other dorayaki I have tried but still glad we were able to try them.

Cheeseburger and fries at Henry's.

They use all wagyu no fillers...my burger had quite a bit of gristle, but was still delicious.

Very juicy!

Satoshi had the regular burger with onion rings.

I loved their onion rings which seemed housemade not those thick pre-battered types.

And then we walked from Okachimachi all the way to Shinbashi.

The weather was so warm and felt good to walk after all that eating.

At the Hamamatsu-cho station, where we needed to change trains, I went to check out the Mannekin Pis...he was dressed as Char Aznable of Gundam...

Dinner was ehomaki.

The lucky direction is west-south-west.

This half sized sushi was filled with maguro, hamachi (or maybe it was tai), egg, ikura, shiso, crab, salmon and cucumber!

Satoshi ate out yesterday which was Setsubun, so it was good we had our ehomaki on Sunday.

Usagiya
1-10-10 Ueno
Taito, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3831.6195
Closed Wednesdays
Hours: 9:00-18:00

Henry's Burgers (UPDATE: 2021 out of business)
3-7-13 Sotokanda
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6206.8841
Hours: 11:00-20:00

akihabara

The LCD (liquid crystal display) on our landline phone died a while back and we finally got around to buying a new phone.

The phone that died had a fax machine attached to it but we rarely use it these days, so we got a phone without the fax option.

My only peeve with this new phone is that the display is all in katakana...oh well, at least we can now see who is calling...

Lunch was at Spajiro...which I think is a combination of the words spaghetti and Jiro...

I got the Wa-style Basilico...this had shiso (perilla) bacon and a chili oil sauce.

This was tasty but didn't really look too pretty.

I did like the fact that you can choose the amount of pasta you wanted.

Small is 100 grams, Medium 120 grams, Large 170 grams.

Satoshi had the salmon with mentaiko (spicy pollack roe) cream pasta which he said he enjoyed.

After lunch, we bought some doughnuts from Jack in the Donuts and snuck them into Starbucks so we could have them with coffee.

Satoshi had the chocolate fashion...a cake doughnut covered with chocolate.

I chose the oliebollen cinnamon...while there were a lot of raisins in this there wasn't too much flavor.

Still, we were glad we tried this place.

We'll be back to these places to try other things off their menus when we are in the area.

When we lived in Osaka, Yodobashi Camera was closer.

We don't get to Akihabara too often, but it definitely is great to look for electric gadgets here.

Spajiro
Yodobashi Akiba 8F
Akihabara, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6206.0950
Hours: 11:00-23:00
Open when Yodobashi Akiba is

Jack in the Donuts
Yodobashi Akiba 1F
Akihabara, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3525.4512
Hours: 9:30-22:00
Open when Yodobashi Akiba is

akihabara

It was my first time to Akihabara.

I think a long time ago this area was where you would go to buy electrical gadgets but nowadays I think it is where you go to buy anime and character goods.

I was looking for something to convert our old DVD player to be used on our high-tech tv...no luck...boo!

Lunch was at Menya Haruka, a Taiwan mazesoba shop.

Located in the basement of a building, the line was up the steps when I got there.

I'd say I waited about 30 minutes or so.

Bought my ticket from the machine and ordered the regular sized taiwan mazesoba, no raw garlic...850 yen.

When your bowl arrives, mix it well, letting the raw egg coat everything.

Overall, this was a bit too salty for me--I kind of wanted a little sweet-salty more than salty-spicy.

At the end of your meal, if you still have toppings left, ask for the "oi-gohan" and they will give you a spoonful of rice to finish up.

I was quite full, but asked for the oi-gohan because I didn't want to waste the toppings I had left.

I don't know that I would go back to this place, but I am glad I got to try them.

On the way back to the station, I noticed a place called "Chabara", inside there was Shokuhinkan which has local foods from all over Japan.

I picked up some items I've tried in the past, like the smoked mackerel and corned beef.

I also picked up two cans of taco meat by Okinawa Hormel for taco rice and some drip coffee pouches by Bankoku Coffee in Okayama.

Akihabara is a little far from where we live, but I wouldn't mind checking out this food shop from time to time.

Menya Haruka
3-13-7 Sotokanda, Tanaka Musendenki Building B1
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 050.5571.6519
Hours: 10:00-22:00

Shokuhinkan
8-2 Kanda Neribei
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3258.0051
Hours: 11:00-20:00