#TBT to Tokyo
In the age of COVID 19,
I thought I’d share a trip we took before I had my blog. Japan is one of my favorite places and once this madness is over, I can’t wait to go back.
A City of Contrasts
Tokyo sets a dramatic backdrop of bright lights, technology, and skyscrapers. Our hotel was situated right in the middle of Shinjuku, a crowded (corona nightmare) entertainment district you might picture when you think of Japan. In a city with 38 million residents, this booming capital is also where you’ll encounter peaceful gardens, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
Domo Arigato
Just like many of the bizarre and surreal curveballs Japan throws at you, the Robot Restaurant is less of a restaurant and more of a spectacle. Before we were led into the main venue, we hung out in a mirrored waiting area having no idea what to expect. Then a guy dressed like Iron Man came out and played Cindy Lauper on the guitar (because it would have been weird otherwise). When it was time for the main show, everyone was given a flashing rave stick. For the next hour, nonstop action filled with robots, dancers, dancers riding robots, chaotic noise, and laser beams attack your senses. This must be what it’s like to take acid. Even now trying to think of words to describe it all — Corny. Cheesy. Touristy. Ridiculous. Awesome.
Gimme some of that raw fish
Being the sushi fan that I am, Tsukiji Fish Market was a priority. It was the largest wholesale market in the world, known for the live fish auctions. The most expensive tuna ever sold went for $3.1 million dollars. Originally a small fishing village called Edo, sushi came about as a fast food in the 1800s. You’ll still find edomae-style sushi on menus today. The outer market is filled with street vendors selling all kinds of foods and delicacies. We ate some familiar items like broiled eel and grilled rice crackers and then went a little more adventurous with a skewer of whale, which was super gross. A sweet sauce failed to disguise the overwhelming flavor of rancid meat. (5 years later and I can still conjure up the smell and texture.)
Sadly, Tsukiji Market closed in 2018.
Ahoy, Me Hearties
Setting sail on a pirate ship with potential views of Mt. Fuji sounded weird enough to be exactly the kind of thing to mandate on my Clipboard of Fun, what others may call an itinerary. Lake Ashinoko is in the small town of Hakone, 90 minutes by car from Tokyo. The voyage is about a half hour and includes a stop at the beautiful and serene Hakuryu Shrine.
A Traditional Experience
The real reason we found ourselves in Hakone was to stay a night in a real live ryokan, a Japanese-style inn. The warm and welcoming service begins as soon as you pull up. We were greeted and served traditional matcha (not for beginners — this bright green powdered tea has a super strong, grassy flavor) and given our yukata, the clothes we would be wearing during our stay. Even after receiving detailed instructions on how to put them on, we still had to google it. Each room has a private onsen, which is a Japanese hot spring (or as they call it, a hot spring). We were assured that this wooden tub would be completely private even though it’s outside and sure enough, we never saw anyone out there. The bed was Western, which is cool because as much as we wanted an authentic experience, sleeping on a mat doesn’t sound fun. The best part of this experience were the meals. Served in a private tatami room, both dinner and breakfast were elaborate, multi-course presentations. Beautiful dishes with seasonal vegetables, quality sashimi, perfectly prepared tofu, and small portions of wagyu beef that we grilled ourselves on a small hot stone were just a few highlights.
Amy Dreams of Travel
Join me next time for what’s likely to be another travel memory. If you have requests of places you’d like to hear about, please post in comments. Stay home, stay safe!