On Day 3, we packed up and travelled via Shinkansen (the bullet train) to Tokyo. We checked into the Hotel New Otani, a monstrous hotel with dozens (literally) of restaurants (most of them with astronomical prices, how about the Trader Vic's with most entrees at around $80!) and a huge garden in the back. Our first afternoon there, we were sitting on a bench in the hotel garden when everything started shaking. It turns out that it was an earthquake at 6.1 Richter, the largest in Tokyo in 13 years! The last time I was in Tokyo was 1988 (I think) and I experienced a 5.1. I guess I attract them.
Day 4 - We met up with Shu, an old Judo student of mine, who lives in Tokyo and goes to law school at Sophia University, right next to our hotel. Shu brought along his friendly, tolerant, and lovely girlfriend, Kaio (sp?). In the morning, we went to the Edo-Tokyo museum, a very cool museum documenting the history of the city, with life-size bridges, houses, a whole Kabuki stage, and lots of other stuff. We got a guide who spoke English to show us all around the place.
After the museum, we got some lunch. We all ordered the chanku, a bowl of miso soup, with veggies, chicken, and ground chicken, which you cook yourself with a little sterno-like heat source. It was the first meal Linda really enjoyed.
After lunch, we wandered past the Sumo gym in Tokyo to meet a few of the guys (see the picture). On my far right is Takanohana, the last grand champion. To my left is Asashoryu, the current grand champion. Then we took a boat down the river to Asakusa to see a huge Temple.
All in all, a fun day. It was cool to hang out with Shu and Kaio, too.
1 comment:
You need to understand why this meal was the first one I had enjoyed. First, the Japanese do not know how to cook eggs. They are always runny no matter how you ask for them to be cooked. The same is true for their bacon. It is heated up but not cooked. Finally, in most of the restaurants, whatever you order comes with about 5 bites to it. That's it--no more. Steak? 5 bites. Chicken? 5 bites. The only way to get a real meal is to order what is called a set. Then you get soup, rice and a main course.
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