Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace (where the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reside) is very near to us.  We have been to the adjoining East Gardens several times. The garden is free and opened to the public and has been since 1968.  The photos I have posted are from a March 4th and a March 29th visit.  The March 4th visit was with Meredith (see earlier postings).  While we were looking at the stone walls, a Japanese gentleman approached us.  He asked if he could show us around.  Turns out he is a tour guide, but not working that day and would like to practice his English!  "No charge" he said!  Takeshi Yanagi then proceeded in giving us a wonderful and informative tour.  On the photo captioned Zoysia grass, I need to give an explanation.  For non- Master Gardeners, I apologize for boring you with this.  I learned about Zoysia grass in my Master Gardener classes.  Zoysia grass is the grass of choice in Japan.  It has been planted at the Imperial Palace grounds since the 14th century.  The photo shows the grass in a dormant stage.  Zoysia grass will not survive in colder climates, including Michigan and Ohio.  Ok...lesson over, class! :-)

Bill and I with our guide, Takeshi Yanagi by bamboo grove

Zoysia Grass in dormant stage

Meredith and Bill on remains of a tower

Our next visit was with friends, Pat and Gary.  I will post more about the Imperial Palace at a later date when the weather had warmed up and the Zoysia grass turned green!

Japan's version of "master gardeners" hard at work.

Pat and Gary

Asakusa and Sumida River Boat Cruise

Nakamise Street

Nakamise Street

Pat is selecting a stick

Pat and Gary tying their fortune paper on the rods

Pat, Gary, and Bill

On March 27th with our guests, Pat and Gary, we planned a full day of sightseeing.  We first went to Sensoji, a Buddhist temple in Asakusa.  The approach to the temple is down Nakamise Street which is lined with open air shops to buy food and souvenirs.  At most temples and shrines you can "buy" your fortune for 100 yen.  There is a metal canister with a small opening in the lid.  You gently shake the canister until you can retrieve a stick from the opening.  On the stick is a Japanese number that you match up with numbers on  nearby drawers.  You would then open the corresponding drawer and remove a slip of paper with your fortune.  Bad or good, the fortune should be tied to nearby rods.

Ready for our cruise

At Odaiba

The Himiko

From Asakusa we boarded a futuristic boat called the Himiko.  We enjoyed a leisurely ride down the Sumida River.  The interesting part of the cruise is passing under the many styles of bridges.  The cruise ended at Odaiba.

Shabu Zen Restaurant

On the first full day (March 26, 2012) that our friends from St. Marys, Ohio, Pat and Gary, were here, we went to lunch at Shabu Zen in Shibuya.  We had reserved a private room (with the help of Bill's coworkers) and planned to meet Bill, Takako, and Satomi for lunch.  We had pre-ordered our meals of shabu shabu and sukiyaki.  We cooked our own meal in pots at our table.  All the ingredients are set before us and we proceed to prepare our meal.  Both are similar dishes. Thinly sliced beef and assorted vegetables are cooked in the pots. Shabu shabu is derived from the "swish swish" sound of the cooking of the beef in the hot water.  You cook your meat and vegetables in the pot of hot water and it is served with several dipping sauces.

Sukiyaki is also cooked in a hot pot but with broth.  After you cook your meat and vegetables, you dip it into a raw beaten egg.  Note:  I don't trust eating raw egg, so I poached my egg in the broth-delicious!

Oktoberfest 2012

Yes, you read the headline correct!  Oktoberfest in Japan?  In Spring?  There are 7 Oktoberfests this year in Japan.  Bill and I have attended two of them already.

The first one we went to on April 30th was in Odaiba (man-made island located east of Tokyo).  We enjoyed several German brews and traditional food.  Interesting how they serve the beer.  You pay and additional 1000 yen as a deposit for your glass.  Average cost of beer was 1000 yen.  When you return the glass, you'll get your deposit back

Note to our fellow Minster, Ohio Oktoberfest fans...no plastic cups or jugs of beer!

Oktoberfest...here we come!

Yummy!

Our next Oktoberfest was yesterday (May 19th) in Hibiya.  Bill and I enjoyed one German beer and a Weizen style brewed at a Japan brewery-Fujizakura.  The brewery is located at the base of Mt. Fuji.  It was an interesting beer with fruity hints, including banana, and cloves.  Once again, we had to put down a 1000 yen deposit for the glass.  This time we decided to keep one of each as souvenirs.

It was interesting to hear German music with a Japanese accent and watch Japanese "frauleins" serve food!

Ah...first beer of the day!

Fujizakura brewery truck

Japanese "fraulein"

Another note:  we had a great visit (May10-18) with our friends from Grand Rapids, MI-Gina and Gary.  Look for future blogs about our adventures.

Kappabashi Street

Kappabashi street (also called Kitchen Town) is a street in the Ueno area.  It is where many restaurant operators would go to purchase non-food items for their restaurant.  The street is lined with stores on both sides that sell every imaginable item you could think of.  That includes uniforms, appliances, furniture, pots and pans, utensils, and fake food.  The fake food is amazing!  It is called Sampuru and it is a work of art.  A lot of restaurants have a display case outside their restaurant showing examples of what they have to offer. It is so realistic, you almost want to pick it up and eat or drink it!  (Note:  these are expensive)

Here is one story we heard as to why it is called Kappabashi.  There is a mythical Japanese water creature called Kappa.  The Kappa creature lives on both land and water.  They are short and have a beak-like snout and fins on their hands and feet.  The favorite food of the Kappa is a cucumber.  The area has adopted this character as their mascot.

Tea cups as balconies

The chef that represents Kappabashi St.

Meredith and myself ready for shopping

Fake food

Kappabashi St. character logo

Statue of Kappa

Fake food

We have visited Kappabashi Street several times.  It is a great place to buy souvenirs, such us chopsticks and pottery.