11-08-18 Tokyo (tsukiji, toyosu and asakusa)

11/08/18 - Tokyo Tsukiji, Toyosu and Asakusa ....

So I woke up really really early and decided to eat breakfast over at the "new" fish market.

Walked over to the train station around 4:30am to catch the 5:05am train and transfer to the

"raised" line that stops right at the new market (Toyosu).

I was just too tired to get this done right.   Made the 5:05, did the transfer, then got off a stop too

soon.   Then looped back instead forward a stop.   Sigh.   Back on the same train and finally made it

to the market stop.

I was trying to get to "sushi dai" a really famous sushi place with limited seating (even at the new location) but went to the wrong building.   Got directed to an equally famous place "Daiwa Sushi".

Good news was that I got in without ANY wait!   Bad news was I so frazzled and hungry that

I totally forgot to take ANY pictures!   Oh well!   

It was a very very good sushi meal.   Super fresh and served rapidly piece by piece without any need for input from me.    At the very end I did see some scallops and asked -- the chef was happy to provide!    I had something like 10 pieces of sushi, tea and miso for about $50 US.    A little more expensive than the other sushi I'd been eating on this trip, but actually worth it.

Anyway, after breakfast I did a quick "tour" of the rest of the restaurants (located in a different building than Daiwa Sushi).   I saw a pretty huge line for the other famous sushi place (Sushi Dai)

and got a picture of that.   I also checked out the observation deck overlooking the wholesale tuna auction.

Wholesale Fish Market from Observation Deck --

The line for "Sushi Dai" -- would have been at least an hour, probably more!

Headed back towards my hotel... stopped to look at the big temple right near it.

Here is a shot from across the street towards my hotel -- Nice fish!

I needed a little dessert before my "post breakfast nap" so I got a really nice

mochi (red bean paste inside) with a fresh strawberry embedded --

But that wasn't enough so I got a matcha ice cream cone too!

But then I wanted ANOTHER strawberry mochi -- this time with matcha inside instead of

sweat beans...

And then I was ready for a nap!

After a nap I checked out and made it through the subway system to my next destination --

another section of Tokyo called "Asakusa".    There are some great streets filled with stalls of

little items and snacks.   Here's a typical street section:

A beef restaurant off to the side with some cool statues--

Then it was time for lunch.  I wanted to try out a food I haven't had before, though similar to

okanomiyaki.   It is called "monja-yaki" and is a more soupy/wet version of similar elements.

I found this restaurant  on a web youtube page -Asakusa Monja Teppan Daikichi.

Tiny little locals restaurant one block off a main street.  I never ever would have found it or gone in 

had I not watched the youtube video, but I was very happy that I did!.   

I was the first (and only) 11:30am customer, which worked out really well as the waitress actually came out and did the cooking for me (or I would have messed it up!)

They had a hand written "mini note" for the menu in English... I got the "seafood combo" version.

Hot grill on table--

And an "instruction manual" with pictures (wasn't in english)

Some oil gets put onto the hot plate and then Everything but the "broth" goes onto the hot plate

Then lots of "chopping up" with two big spatchula paddles ...

Then a "ring" is made (so the center is the grill and the chopped up partially cooked components 

make up a "container" or "well") and the broth is added...

Then you let it sit and cook for 2-3 minutes...

and fold it all together...

Which makes it look... uh... "not very appealing"....

But you then use the little tiny metal spatchula to scoop up bite sized pieces and eat it.

It doesn't look pretty but it tastes WONDERFUL

and then it's all gone (I can't believe I ate the entire thing!)    But it did taste wonderful!

Here's a video of the process--

After lunch I had a few hours left until I could check in to the Ryokan I'm using for the next two

nights ...  I found a 'cat cafe' and gave into my urges...  Cost about $8 US and came with a drink

(just ginger-ale in my case...)

So then there was, of course, MORE street food (dessert) to consider...

I found a stand with a pastry around black sesame ...

and then another with a deep breaded and fried pork and onion savory "burger"

and then some sweet black bean filled fish shaped desserts (taiyaki)?

While I didn't buy ice cream from the following vendor he was doing quite the "show" for someone who was 

trying to buy ice cream from him.   His ice cream defied gravity -- pretty amazing showman ship!

I also bought a little "melon bread" (for later tonight when/if I get hungry) 

and had to wash the little sample I did taste on the spot with some coffee gelato--

I'd finally burned enough time (but not calories!) to return to the train station and grab my bags from

the locker I stored them in and head to the ryokan to check in.    Here's a picture of my room -- 

in which I immediately took a hot shower and then took a nap!

After a nap I used owe of the two "onsen" baths on the 6th floor (top) of the ryokan.   This one was without a view outside

but was a nice wooden sunken bath.    I will try and go back after 8pm when the gender switches and I can use the one which apparently has a view

of Tokyo Tower.

I went out to dinner to try another food I have not had before.   Dozeu-Nabe is apparently a small fish that they cook/stew for a very long time to

soften up.  It is served on a charcoal hot grill.   The write up I found said it has some similarities to eel and was a local delicacy.   

Here's some photos and a video.    I did enjoy it, though it was not as "sweet" as eel.   Definitely had a similar texture/consistency.   

One added green onions and some broth (that was a bit soy-salty) and could also add some spicy pepper flakes as well.

After this I was still hungry so I went to another restaurant for some tempura.   It was actually a fairly heavy tempura prep -- not my favorite, but it was

filling...

Then I walked back to the ryokan -- saw a very nice view of Tokyo Tower and an amazing garage door!