thanks for today

Friend Gaye and her husband Jim are in Tokyo.

Their cruise just ended and they'll be heading home soon.

Glad we were able to get together with them on Sunday.

The girls had soba with tendon...1800 yen (plus tax)

The boys had soba with takikomi gohan...1800 yen (plus tax)

The boys also had beer...950 yen (plus tax)

Plus whatever the girls couldn't finish.

Afterwards, we grabbed some chairs and sat under one of the umbrellas on Ginza Chuo Dori and people watched while talking story.

It was our first time doing this…Fun times

Thanks for today Gaye and Jim, we hope you had enough to eat and we appreciate you making time for us.

And thank you for all these goodies.

See you both again soon.

Ginza Sanada

Ginza Six, 6th floor

lunch: 11:00-16:00, dinner: 16:00-23:00

Closed when Ginza Six is

17223

Saturday, went to “research” with Satoshi for his next guide assignment

Shinjuku, he wanted to know where Sekaido was

we also looked for the hotel his guests will be staying at

Imperial Palace, Nijubashi

Then to Higashi Ginza to check out where the tea ceremony class would be held.

Checked out Komeda Coffee’s plant based shop for lunch as well as what other lunch options there were nearby

Huge soy patty teriyaki sauce & avocado, super peppery to mask the soy flavor...

"someone" ate all my leftover fries...plus his

Ginza 6, the cherry blossoms on the rooftop were a little past their peak

It was too early to be THAT summery.

Spring break + cherry blossoms = tons of people

Hoping Satoshi's tour will be a successful one.

ginza

Yesterday I went to check out Yuki Saito's photo exhibit which was held at the Sony Store in Ginza.

Over the years I’ve watched him pitch for his high school team to win Koshien, for his university (Waseda) team and for the Nippon Ham Fighters. 

Nowadays he is a sports commentator and seems like a quiet soul.

The exhibit was called "On the Mound" and featured various photos that he took at different baseball fields, it wasn't a large exhibit and was free, I'm glad I got to check it out.

On the way up to the exhibit you needed to pass through Nissan Crossing...where they had some vintage cars displayed.

My photos uploaded wonky...lunch from Jean Francois, in Ginza Six

Tuna Tapenade and Carrot Bread...both were hard.as.rock.

Dunno that I would go back to this bakery again...

It was blazing...and humid

Every store had their a/c on high, you could feel the cool air inviting you in as you passed by.

One of the other cars displayed at Nissan Crossing.

Bought some chocolates from Venchi.

Have been wanting to check out their store since we moved to Tokyo.

Grab a bag, pick out what you want, they weigh it and then you pay.

8 pieces cost me 2021 yen (tax included)...thankful the lady working behind the counter gave me an ice pack so the chocolates wouldn't melt.

I want to go back for their gelato.

For dinner I bought some items from Ginza Bairin.

I've been Ginza Bairin so many times in Hawaii and never put together that their main shop is in Ginza, duh?!

It’s a popular place, there were at least 20 of us standing in line before the opening time and many still waiting when I went to pick up my takeout order.

Anyway, I bought the katsu sandwich for myself and the largest bento for Satoshi.

Even if the breading looked like it was going to fall off, the pork seemed like a thicker cut than the one I've had in the Hawaii version & was super tender...1000 yen (tax included)

Satoshi's bento had 4 pieces of filet katsu, 1 meatball and 1 fried shrimp....2600 yen (tax included)

He said he enjoyed this.

Hope to bring Satoshi here one day.

Even if it was a super blazing day (and super humid), I was glad to be out and about.

Venchi

4-3-2 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Phone: 03.5579.5930

Open daily 10:00-21:00

Ginza Bairin

7-8-1 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3571.0350

Open daily 11:30-20:00

wbc & ginza

Were you watching the WBC (World Baseball Classic)? 

This was probably the first time I watched ALL of Japan's games from beginning to end.

Wednesday was the championship game and it was a nail biter.

Satoshi was bummed he couldn't work from home.

In the end, Japan came out champs...what a krazy ride!

After the game, I went to run some errands in Ginza...

cool window in front of Wako

Some flowering momo (peach)?

and flowering camellia and sakura...

since I was nearby I picked up salads from Frijoles we’ve only tried their burritos so this was our first trying their salad...so good with their citrus lime dressing.
 

 this was the Yahoo Japan screen, congratulating the Samurai Japan team... they are already on their way back to Japan today, too bad they aren't arriving at Haneda though, otherwise I would go check them out.

Congratulations Japan!

thanks for today

Over the weekend, friend Rona was in Tokyo and contacted me to meet up. 

With life and the pandemic, it had been 11 years since we met up last.

We had planned to have sweets at Henri Charpentier in Ginza but the waitlist was krazy.

So we went to Starbucks Reserve, but the line for seats was krazy there too.

In the end, we ended up buying cakes from Henri Charpentier, coffee and tea from Veloce and then sat in her hotel lobby, chatting and having our cakes.

So much to catch up on.

The Charlotte Chocolat that I had was definitely hard to eat with that teeny plastic fork, but, it was so light and chocolatey! Love!

I hope Rona enjoyed the strawberry shortcake that she chose.

Rona gave me all sorts of chocolates which I can't wait to try.

I'm happy she had some time to meet up and thankful for her friendship.

Thanks for today Rona, I hope you enjoyed your trip and have a safe trip back home.

ginza sky lounge

When Satoshi and I had lunch at Pyonpyonsha, we were sitting near the window and were able to look out at Tokyo.

We noticed a revolving restaurant and afterwards I looked online to see what it was...Ginza Sky Lounge.

Wednesday, we went to celebrate our anniversary there.

Lunch comes with one free drink...I chose sparkling wine.

The first course said marinated mushrooms with proscuitto...but it was a smoked chicken with garbanzos.

Lunch came with a roll and baguette. (too bad the baguette wasn't toasted just nuked)

Madai (red snapper) Grenoble style...mushroom butter sauce.

The fish was moist and the skin crispy.

Pork with a chaliapin sauce.

Chaliapin is apparently a Japanese creation and is an onion sauce.

And according to "Cooking with Dog", was devised to tenderize steak.

Loved this sauce.

Photo by Satoshi

Dessert was panna cotta.

It takes about 80 minutes for the restaurant to make a full circle...too bad the day we went it was raining, so there wasn't much to see.

Still, it was a nice way to celebrate.

We want to try their dinner and see the lights of Tokyo, we'll be back when there is a special occasion.

Ginza Sky Lounge
Tokyo Kaikan 15F
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3212.2775
Hours: 11:00-22:00

foodie thursday

Thursday I went to check out some antenna shops in the Shinbashi-Yurakucho area.

My first stop was the Tottori-Okayama shop because I was in search of rakkyo (pickled scallions).

A lot of makers in Japan use scallions from China along with artificial sweeteners (because both are probably cheaper), but the ones from Tottori prefecture seem to be more "natural" using their locally grown scallions and sugar.

The shop also had a kim chee version as well as some anpogaki.

Then I walked towards Ginza and stumbled upon Kuuya.

Apparently they have been in business since 1884!

Their monaka (wafers filled with sweet bean paste) is so popular that normally you need to reserve the amount you want to purchase.

Luckily, they were not sold out and I was able to purchase a box.

Actually, I had originally only wanted 2 pieces (1 for me and 1 for Satoshi) but they don't sell them individually, so bought a box 10 pieces.

These were delicious! the wafer was light and a little crisp, the sweet bean paste wasn't overly sweet.

Friday, I sent Satoshi with the rest of the box to share with his co-workers.

As I walked towards Ginza, I enjoyed looking at the different buildings...like the Shiseido Building.

And the Mikimoto Building.

I also checked out the new Muji.

They sell veggies as well as have a Muji Hotel above the store.

At the edge of Yurakucho is the Kochi Antenna shop.

I bought some katsuo (bonito) products and look forward to trying them.

Across the road is the Marunouchi area.

Japan has been hosting the Rugby World Cup since mid-September and the finals are this weekend.

They also have a temporary Rugby Shrine at the Maru Building...it was fun to see various objet, like this ninja

and a bronze statue of sumo wrestler Tochinoshin in "rugby mode".

Lunch was at Wise Sons, a San Francisco Deli.

I had the small pastrami reuben...delicious.

The basement area of the Maru Building have many eateries and shops.

I checked out Akomeya...a shop that is dedicated to rice and all things that can be eaten with rice. Will check out the main shop in Ginza another day!

We tried this rice flour sweet filled with sweet potato and sweet bean paste and these soy beans with seasoned arare (rice cracker) coatings.

My last stop before catching the train was Zopf's curry pan stand.

This popular Chiba bakery sells their curry pan inside of the wickets of the JR Tokyo station in an area called GrandSta.

The curry is spicy, I'm glad we tried this.

Lots of walking, lots of eating..I'm glad the last day of October was a sunny one.

Tottori Okayama Antenna Shop
1-11-7 Shinbashi
Minato, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3571.0092
Hours: 10:00-21:00

Kuuya
6-7-19 Ginza
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3571.3304
Closed Sundays
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 10:00-17:00, Saturdays 10:00-16:00

Kochi Antenna Shop
1-3-13 Ginza
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3538.4365
Hours: 10:30-20:00

Wise Sons Tokyo (UPDATE: 2024 no longer in business)
2-4-1 Marunouchi, Maru Building B1F
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6551.2477
Hours: Mondays-Fridays 7:30-21:00, Saturdays & Sundays 8:30-21:00

Akomeya (UPDATE: 2025 no longer at this address)
2-4-1 Marunouchi, Maru Building B1F
Chiyoda, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6206.3349
Hours: Mondays-Saturdays 11:00-21:00, Sundays & Holidays 11:00-20:00

Zopf
inside of JR Tokyo wicket, in GranSta B1

175 deno tan tan men

I am not too sure when I learned about 175 deno tan tan men...but we recently went to try them.

Buy your ticket from the machine and give it to the server.

We tried their shumai...good but nothing special.

Satoshi had their tan tan men with soup...you know they are serious about their tan tan men when they serve you the bowl with "that spoon" (with holes) to get all the bits.

Boy, was Satoshi perspiring after eating this.

I chose their tan tan men without soup.

Mix it 15 times so that everything is coated well.

Boy was their spices tongue numbing!

Make sure to take a paper apron before sitting down for your bowl!

They don't have many seats, so get their early or be prepared to wait.

I'm glad we tried this and will be back!

175 deno tan tan men
2-6-2 Ginza, Yoshida Building B1
Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6264.4044
Open everyday 11:30-22:00

ginza kikunoya

Ginza Kikunoya has been around since 1890...making these cute tiny senbei (wafers)...called "Fukiyose" (literally gathering fortune)

There are also tiny candies in the mix too.

I brought these to Kyoto for MIL, BIL in December and even sent these to Canada to Yumyumtofu as a thank you for sending me chocolates.

Great as omiyage or as a gift.

Ginza Kikunoya
5-9-17 Ginza, Ginza Azuma Building 1F

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed Wednesdays

Hours: 9:30-18:00 (9:30-17:30 Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays)