MIKE AND JESS' TRAVEL DIARY
Tokyo Trip
Day 5 - October 18 2024
We woke up finally feeling refreshed. We were both starving and wanted something quick to eat, so we popped into the convenience store right next to the hotel. We got a good haul so we had some leftover for later, too.
I had some catching up to do with this blog, so we killed a bit of time before heading out- nothing in this city opens before 10AM, so we are hoping to adjust to a late-night, late-morning schedule- fingers crossed.
Around 11, we walked to the subway station that would take us to Shinjuku, a district in Tokyo that Mike spent his two separate day trips in when he had long layovers for work. We wanted an easier day to give our feet a break, so we were just going to cover the area he has been in before.
We were ready for a real meal, so we popped into a restaurant and got a lunch set of 6 pork gyoza, rice with egg and chicken, kelp soup, and we added some sake, cause why not? We also got a couple dipping sauces, one was just raw chopped garlic and leeks and the other was a thick spicy pepper sauce. The rice and egg dish forced us to have one of those internal moments that come along when travelling sometimes and you’ve gotta pep talk yourself and say, “suck it up and eat it.” The egg was- I don’t know- placed in a warm room for 5 seconds before being served. Not something we are used to, but we mixed it all up like we saw others doing and it was actually quite good. This entire meal, with sake, was $16. Everything is so cheap!
Mike had gone to a nearby garden park both times he stayed here, so we wandered through the traditional garden, taking our time to enjoy the peace and silence. It really felt like we were miles away from the big city.
We walked through a few blocks near the park, getting some cups of sake to drink along the way and stopping by a shrine, a 6-story art supply store, and a mall.
We started feeling hungry, so we walked back to a ramen shop we passed earlier that looked yummy. We got their pork tonkatsu ramen with spring onions and woodear mushrooms. Each ramen was only $5! It was super rich and delicious and all made better by the atmosphere of sitting on the bar, with the grumpy chef bickering with the FOH woman, presumably his wife.
As it started getting dark out, Mike wanted to walk around a couple streets down where he had eaten yakitori and drank beer on previous times here. We wandered a bit until we found a yakitori spot with open seats. Many yakitori restaurants are standing only, which we were not feeling up to. Our feet still hurt! So, we got a couple orders of pork skirt steak, pork belly with leeks, pickled cucumber and more sake.
We were pooped, so we took the subway back home to rest. Tomorrow is supposed to be a hot one- 86 degrees with 99% humidity- so it will likely be a mall day!