To Chiba Prefecture

Kominato Railway (Chiba) - Japan  2024

We wanted to return to Kurashow restaurant for lunch. We've been there twice and really enjoyed our meals there, but they're no longer at their old location. It turned out to be quite a journey from our Tokyo hotel to Kurashow, now located in a semi-rural part of Chiba Prefecture. 

We got help from Mr Yoshihoto Minagawa whose family lives in Chiba . . . he was able to figure out the necessary train schedules and wrote them out for us. Quite helpful!

Train Schedule to Takataki Station - Japan  2024

Tokyo Rain - 2

Rain, Alleyway (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Rain, 7-11 (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

We walked past deserted alleyways, skipped going into 7-11, and finally found a pretty nice grocery store that wasn't on Google Maps. When we got back to the hotel Hali was able to fashion a nice serviceable salad! And Mike could sample the beer he had purchased at the Hakodate Airport.

Groceries (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Hokkaido Beer (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Tokyo Rain - 1

Students, Rain, A.M. (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Family, Rain, P.M. (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

This was the only real rain event that happened during our trip. Hali wanted a salad for dinner, so that night we went in search of a grocery store. Just as the rain intensified, of course.

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat (Chiba) - Japan  2024

Cat (Chiba) - Japan  2024

Hanging out around the Takataki Station in Chiba Prefecture. Some older ladies were giving it quite a bit of attention.

Yokohama Visit

Yokohama Buildings (Yokohama) - Japan  2024

Rain, Hotel Window (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

We actually stayed in Yokohama before, and enjoyed it! We wanted to pay a return visit to check out a particular fabric store located there, and also to sample a restaurant that had been highly recommended. It rained that day, the view out our window partially obscured by raindrops.

We ordered a lunch set at Tokori, featuring a quantity of various cuts of beef to be grilled at the table. Excellent! And quite reasonably priced. Also, this was the first time since Hakodate that Mike was able to have a beer with his meal!

Yakiniku Restaurant (Yokohama) - Japan  2024

Yakiniku Beef Selections (Yokohama) - Japan  2024

Japan Culinary Adventure (46): Set Meals at Nakayoshi

Nakayoshi Exterior (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Nakayoshi Interior (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Another unplanned-for meal. We were peeking into the restaurant, using Google Translate to decipher the type of food, when the manager opened the door and beckoned us in. 

We didn't know that you were supposed to order and pay at the entrance, but we were able to order and pay from our counter seats. The menu consisted of set meals: " Japanese set meals, or teishoku, are a popular dining style in Japan that typically include rice, soup, and a main dish. They are often served on a single tray or platter." That's what we got! They had an English menu, which a lot of restaurants in Japan seem to have nowadays. The meals were hearty and filling . . . tasted good too.

Alas, Mike was still on a no-beer regimen. (Insert sad face emoji here.)

Nakayoshi Menu (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Mike's Meal at Nakayoshi (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Hali's Meal at Nakayoshi (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Shinjuku Park - 2

Chrysanthemums, Building (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Strawberry Confections (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

We had traveled to Shinjuku Park in order to see their chrysanthemum exhibit, which turned out to be OK, but not spectacular (flowers weren't in full bloom). But of course the park is very pretty on its own. We got a tasty bento box lunch at a little diner/tea house place inside the park, with the strawberry/white chocolate combos for dessert. Yum!

We stopped off at a Uniqlo on the way back, but didn't find anything to buy.

Mike & Hali (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Shinjuku Park - 1

Shinjuku Park Picnics - Tokyo  2024

Shinjuku Park Kids - Tokyo  2024

Next on our list was Shinjuku Park, we made our way there via the famous Shinjuku Station. We last visited the park in 2014 when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. This was autumn, however, so no cherry blossoms.

Kagurazaka

Halloween Objects (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Sushizanmai (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

This small, stylish neighborhood close to Shinjuku was once a lively geisha district. Now, with its cobbled streets, chic shopping, French schools and French restaurants, Kagurazaka is better known as Tokyo's “Little Paris.” 

Fairly close to our hotel with some cute stores. Hali was able to buy some special food items: freeze-dried strawberries with white chocolate and a unique chestnut dessert. 

Sushizanmai is a famous restaurant near the Tsukiji fish market.

Tokyo Lunch

Pork Loin Sign (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Pork Loin Restaurant Interior (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

After we checked in to the hotel we headed out to search for lunch. Nothing fried for me! (Still being quite cautious after my stomach upset.) This semi hole in the wall place looked good, so we got some lunches to go. Food was good! Had it with some Sprite I got from one of those ubiquitous vending machines (avoiding caffeine).

Pork Loin Lunch with Sprite (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Monday Gull Blogging

Gull (Hakodate) - Japan  2024

For some reason I don't have any Tokyo animal photos. Not even some token crows! Luckily I have some gull photos taken in Hakodate. This one was hanging around some restaurants, looking for a handout I'd guess. 

Hotel Niwa (Tokyo)

Hotel View (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Hotel Room (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Leaving Haneda Airport we were able to experience another convoluted taxi ride, this time through the vastness of Tokyo. We had a reservation at Hotel Niwa, where we've stayed before. It turned out that the room that had been reserved had upscale Japanese décor - very artistic, but we couldn't sit at the desk in the room, it was way too low for us.

We were able to switch to the room pictured above. Very nice, and on the top floor! Great view!

Arrival at Haneda Airport

Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Bay (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

As the plane banked low over Tokyo Bay, Mt. Fuji loomed through the haze. That was neat!

In 2017 we arrived in Haneda, but on an international flight. Since this was a domestic flight, we had no issues picking up our luggage and finding a taxi. As we scurried through I managed a quick photo of one of the omnipresent ads.

Bonsai Aesthetics Ad, Haneda Airport (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Japan From the Air - 3

River - Japan  2024

Rice Paddies - Japan  2024

Click to enlarge. I ended up being very pleased with these unexpected photo opportunities!