Skewers in Tokyo and Kyoto

Walking to Restaurant (Tokyo) - Japan 2024

Touchscreen Menu (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Skewers (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

During our 2024 trip to Japan we ate at two skewer (yakitori) restaurants, one in Tokyo and one in Kyoto. However and alas, I didn't keep any record of the names of the restaurants! But I wanted to have a record of them on the blog.

Above, photos of our Tokyo restaurant that I found by doing a Google search of "skewers near me." After a short walk using our iPhones we came to a busy street, looked for the restaurant, didn't see it, walked back and forth a while before realizing that it was on an upper floor accessed via elevator. As I recall, the food was nice enough . . . we were somewhat constrained in ordering because I was still getting over my "bug." No beer!

***

Below, photos taken in Kyoto. We found the restaurant by walking around our neighborhood. This time, no constraints! Beer! 

The corn was unusual . . . very good. Other items were quite tasty. Like I said above, didn't get the name of the place. Note to self: keep a dining journal next time!

Restaurant Menu (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Pork Belly (?) Skewer (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Corn (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Japan Passenger Train Cars

Kids on Train (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Mildly Air-Conditioned (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

"Weakly air conditioned car" is the Google translation of the kanji on both of the cars. We were there in November so it wasn't that hot outside. I don't think we noticed whether or not the cars were air conditioned, mildly or otherwise.

Below, an extra shot of train tracks taken in Nagoya station.

Train Tracks (Nagoya) - Japan  2024

Leaving Tokyo

God Bless Butter (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Buildings from Train (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

From Tokyo to Takayama: first take a local train to Tokyo Station, then wander around looking at all the food vendors to find a suitable bento box for the train to Nagoya. 

Then scramble to board the shinkansen, the track for which we somehow couldn't find until the last moment. Highlight of the train ride: a hazy view of Mt. Fuji from the seats on the right hand side.

Then get off at Nagoya for the transfer to Takayama.

Mt. Fuji - Japan  2024

Shopping Expedition to Itoya

Itoya Entrance (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Akihabara Station Ad (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

November 4th, 2024. Breakfast at Starbucks, then, at Margaret's request, a shopping expedition to Itoya. 

"Dating back to 1904,  Itoya is an institution like few others in Tokyo and one of the city’s most beautiful and well stocked stationary shops. The main branch, situated on Ginza’s busy main street, is spread over two buildings and 18 floors in total, offering anything from pens, paints, craft materials, canvases, paper, cards, travel gear, two cafes and even a greenhouse."

We took the Yamanote Line to the Yurakucho Station, passing through Akihabara, then, using Google Maps directions, walked through the Ginza's heavily crowded streets to finally reach Itoya. I guess as could be expected, Itoya was itself heavily crowded. But we were able to buy Margaret's readers for her, and had an unexpectedly pleasant lunch on the top floor.

Itoya Lunch (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Evening Walk Over to Katsukichi

Suidobashi Station Train Passing Through - Japan  2024

That evening we walked under the Suidobashi Station train tracks for a dinner at Katsukichi.

"Patronised by literary greats like Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima, Suidobashi's Katsukichi has remained largely the same since first opening its doors in 1962. The heavy-set wooden interior evokes memories of days gone by, but the menu has managed to hang with the times: fried in corn and sesame oil, the tonkatsu is made with fine, freshly sourced meat and feels about as light as a deep-fried dish possibly can be."

Very nice!

Katsukichi Interior (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Katsukichi Meal (Tokyo) - 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.

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

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

Leaving Japan

Umbrella (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

Umbrella, Cocoon Tower (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

Photos taken just outside of Shinjuku Station. We were there to take an early Narita Express train to the airport.

I posted some color photos of the Cocoon Tower back in 2014.

Tokyo Rain (Morning)

Rain, Street (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

Umbrella, Mom & Kid, Political Sign (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

Top two photos taken with an iPhone, the bottom one with a Canon G5XII.

Umbrella, Mirror, Self-Portrait (Tokyo) - Japan  2023