Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drifting

Chris and Jennie scored again with the dinner plans.  This time we ate like locals and tried "Monjayaki" (or Monja) on Monja Street.  We had heard it would “look weird and unpleasant” (and it did), but when in Toyko…

We followed this up with a Japanese style pizza called Tarashi Yaki that we all liked a lot more. Whew.

The next day, Michael and I had an incredible guide named Chantel who is from the US but has lived in Tokyo for almost 10 years.  We went all over the city via the super speedy Tokyo train system. We started on Kappabashi Street (aka Kitchen Street) is a great place to buy gifts for the chef in your life (I was with mine!). Then we walked to the nearby Sensoji Temple. 

Sensoji is the most famous buddhist temple in Tokyo and was established in 645.  More than 30 million people visit each year.

Tourists rent kimonos nearby and then come here for photo ops.

After a quick trip on the subway back to the Tokyo’s most historic commercial district, Ginza, we had lunch in a “luxury shopping complex” (do not call it a Mall) called Ginza Six at a great soba noodle restaurant called Sanada.  Then, it was off to look for gifts at the Anime and Manga Mecca of Nakano Broadway.

Thankfully, Chantel knew her way around the maze of stores located in this retro shopping arcade.

We wrapped up this very busy day with a very educational (and delicious) sake tasting experience.  Sake is deeply rooted in the tradition, history, and culture of Japan and we love it so we were surprised to learn that more people around the world don’t drink it.  The sake brewers in Japan are definitely trying to change this.

This graphic is from the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association website.

So, the next time you are thinking about buying a bottle of white wine to go with that great piece of fish or take on a picnic…try sake!