Today is our last full day in Tokyo. We started with a
ritualistic visit to Nuno. We always visit this textile store. It is located in the
Roppongi district of Tokyo, home to many expats. It has been transformed into a cultural center and arts area. After
shopping at Nuno, we simply walked around Roppongi allowing ourselves to get
lost in the maze of twisting old streets. We had absolutely no idea where we
were, but loved looking at the old houses mixed in with the new modern stores
and apartments.
We returned to an old haunt for us: Honmura An for lunch.
This is restaurant is owned by the 11 generation of a family devoted to Soba
Noodles. They definitely have the recipe down. The weather had cooled off and
it looked it could rain. It was the perfect place for lunch. Cathy had a Hot Udon
Nabi-Yaki with Tempura Shrimp, I had cold soba followed by another egg and
chicken Donburi. It was all yummy.
After lunch we continued to aimlessly wonder around Roppongi.
I saw an entrance to a Buddhist Temple and we walked into its small garden. In the
middle of the garden was a large Koi pond with what looked like many dozen of
Koi Fish swimming around. They are beautiful. The Koi fish are considered
domesticated and are deliberately bred for color. I never really appreciated
them before but we stayed watching them for quite a while. If it wasn’t for the
raccoons in our yard (and the cost) I would consider getting them for our
fountain. I still don’t know what it means to be a domesticated fish, do they
come when you call them?
After walking around Roppongi we found a comfortable
bench situated so that our back was to the busy street and we were looking towards the sidewalk.
We people watched, it was great fun, observing the way people dress and
interact. Actually there is little interaction between people; almost everyone
is on their cell phone texting away. Interestingly there are a lot of bicycles
in this area and pedestrians and bicyclist share the sidewalk. No road diet
here. The combination of salary men (the working office men, all dressed in
identical dark suits), hipsters and others made for a great show. We commented
about everyone. Who knows maybe they were commenting about the two of us
sitting on a bench.
We returned to our Hotel circumnavigating the motes of the
Imperial Palace where we commenced to start packing. Because Japan has such a
fantastic rail system, by necessity an entire industry has grown up to ship
luggage and packages so that you don’t have to drag them aboard the train. We
are having two suitcases shipped ahead to Kyoto, and some other items shipped
to the hotel we will be staying at upon our return to Tokyo. Everything will
wind up just where it should. We are headed to the city of Kanazawa tomorrow
morning by train. We have never been there before. It will be raining. We will
try to stay dry.
For dinner we returned to our favorite Sushi restaurant
ever: Sushi Tomoki located in the Ginza. Once again the taxi driver with the
aid of his navigation system was able to get us close to the restaurant. He
then gave up and called the restaurant, they found our taxi and welcomed us
back to the restaurant. Keiko says that every good restaurant in Tokyo is impossible
to find.
As soon as we sat down an elder gentlemen eating at the
counter came over an introduced himself. He Tadashi Kobayashi, the director of the Okada Museum of Art in Hakone Museum.
He was there with the Director of the Hartford Museum. They were arranging a new show. The
owner / sushi master who I assume is named Tomoki, had on our last visit
recommended that we visit the Hakone Museum. He remembered us and wanted to
introduce us. Back to the food. For our money, this is the place for Sushi
anywhere. There were at least 18 courses. I finally gave up. I am sure he would
have continued to feed us. Everything was of the absolute best quality, from
the fish (of course) to the salt, the sake, the beautiful plates and serving
dishes, etc. We told Tomoki we were headed to Bizen and he brought out some of
his collection of Bizen Pottery. They were beautiful and he actually uses them
to serve Sake. We love this restaurant.
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