shinbashi & akasaka

Satoshi wanted to check out some things for another upcoming tour so we headed to Shinbashi

While he does his checking, I usually hang out somewhere

One thing I did while I was waiting for him was watch the Shinkansen pass by....short video here.

After he checked what he needed to, we headed to Akasaka.

Again, while he checked things, I waited for him.

When he was done, we went to get some lunch at Authentic. 

It was my second time here, and first time for Satoshi.

The owner cooks everything to order so it does take time and on this day, he had just seated 9 people, so we would need to wait quite awhile if we wanted to eat there...

At least there were seats at the counter, so while we waited, Satoshi organized his notes...FYI do not sit at the counter unless you want to smell like you just cooked hamburgers…ha!

Satoshi had their egg burger with bacon...1290 yen plus 220 yen (plus tax)

And he also had a cup of coffee...400 yen (plus tax)

Satoshi said he enjoyed his burger

I had the chili cheese burger with oolong tea 1550 yen plus 440 yen (plus tax)

Loved this, the chili could have been a little spicier but was still delicious.

The chili was different because there were potatoes and olives in it

I started off eating it from the paper wrapper, but it got too messy so I switched to knife and fork

The fries were better on this day.

After lunch, we went back to Shinbashi for Satoshi to check out more things

A lot of times what he is checking is the train station, where to get off, where things are located, so that he can guide his clients smoothly.

It was quite a long day but he got to check all the areas he was concerned with.

sakura walk (zojoji, hibiya park, chidorigafuchi)

Last Wednesday, Satoshi had the day off, so we got out to check out the sakura (cherry blossoms)

We started off at Zojoji...

Then walked up to Heigoro...this tiny shop was featured on an New Years special drama of "Kodoku no Gurume".

This was totally out of my pandemic comfort zone and it was my first time since last year to eat in a restaurant with non-family members.

The "good" thing about this was that no one spoke, just ate.

Satoshi had their daily special which was beef cutlet.

It came with daikon oroshi (grated daikon) and ponzu (citrus soy).

All lunches come with miso soup and rice (not pictured large bowls of all-you-can-eat tsukemono (pickles)..had to stop "someone" from eating more tsukemono that he should be...ahem!

I chose the Wafu (Japanese style) steak...this was served with a garlic shoyu sauce.

The meat was cooked rare and it had lots of black pepper on it.

Bummer there was some gristle and you had to eat it with chopsticks.

I would have appreciated a knife and fork instead of trying to tear through some of the gristle-y meat.

After lunch we walked to Hibiya Park.

And then up the slight hill to Chidorigafuchi...we were amazed at how close these parks were to each other.

The last time we were here (2 years prior) it was overcast, so it was nice to see this area with the sun out.

Short video here

And then we walked across the street to the National Theatre to look at their sakura...short video here.

We walked back to Hibiya Park and walked the other half of the park...

Where we saw some nemophila...so pretty in the sunlight.

We also checked out Okano Eisen which has been around since 1912?!

We felt they were very cold and unhelpful, especially since it was our first time here.

Bummer that mostly everything was sold out too since it was near the end of the day...they are actually known for their mame daifuku...

I tried their kuri joyo manju (steamed manju filled with a whole kuri (chestnut))...Satoshi tried their "plain" joyo manju (steamed manju with kuri bits)

Not sure we'll be back, but still glad we got to try them.

We found a tiny pocket park nearby in the middle of the city to eat our manju.

Beautiful shakunage (rhododendron) blooming.

Before hopping back on the train to go home, Satoshi and I shared this mixed fruit juice from Fruit Ozawa.

It was a beautiful day, our legs were screaming from walking so much (26151 steps)...it was nice to check out the sakura.

Heigoro

1-11-14 Toranomon

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3500.5385

Closed Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays

Lunch: 11:00-14:00, Dinner 17:30-21:30

*cash only

Okano Eisen

3-8-24 Toranomon

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3433.5550

Closed Sundays and Holidays

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 9:00-17:00, Saturdays 9:00-12:00

*cash only

Fruit Ozawa

2-16-1 Shinbashi (inside New Shinbashi 1F)

Minato, Tokyo

Phone: 03.3501.3704

Closed Sundays & Holidays

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 8:00-20:00, Saturdays 9:00-18:00

*cash only

hibiya park

One place that Satoshi found near his workplace is Hibiya Park.

This park is large and a nice way to get away from the hustle of the city for a bit.

He said he eats his lunch here.

From his photos, I think this is Kumogata Pond.

I haven't explored this park (yet), but look forward to in the future.

Have a safe weekend everyone.

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

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