Oyakodonburi!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

We kinda didn't do much today, it was move house day.  We left Hatchobori and headed for Roppongi.  We're now staying at the B Roppongi.  I'll get a picture of it later, I keep forgetting to grab a shot.  Randy and I left early to take our huge bags over to the hotel so we all didn't have to struggle at the time of check-out.  Although it was a good idea, it sucked cause we did it during rush-hour.  Thank god Randy was able to carry my suitcase cause it woulda taken me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to carry it up all those stairs.

After that whole production we picked up the folks and stopped by Akihabara so I could pick up a set of headphones and papa kuba could get a watch.  I should've taken a picture of all the headphones, it was totally overwhelming.  I finally found a fairly inexpensive (42¥) cool pair and papa kuba found his solar watch.

It was then time for an early lunch.  If you like oyakodonburi, you must go to Tamahide in Ningyocho (Hibiya line, 1 minute walk from the station).  This is where oyakodonburi originated in 1760!! and apparently it's quite popular.   They open at 11:00 but Randy read that you should get there by 11:00 to make sure you get a seat.

This is the line at 11:05

This is the line at 11:30.  It wraps around to the other side so the customers don't block the business next door.

So we got seated right away, unfortunately it was one of those sit on the ground - legs drop down in the hole beneath the table kinds of places.  Ouch!  It was so hard getting in and out of it!  There were mats that we were sitting on and if we stepped on it we would slide.  It was hilarious watching all of us trying to stand up after lunch.

Lunch was served within 5 minutes. You order at the cashier as soon as you get in and if you don't know japanese like us then ordering gets kinda difficult. 

I guess it's good if you study the picture before you go in...

According to Randy and his folks, this was excellent.  I'm not a big fan of oyakodonburi so I just thought it was ok.  I think we were out of there in less than half an hour.  When we walked out the line was just as long as when we went in.

Since we were so close to Ueno we went to check out Ameyoko so I could get more omiyage to take home, and note to self...don't go on Wednesdays cause the stores I want to go to will be closed.  I hope I can make another trip down there before we have to leave!

Tokyo Day 2

Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Tsukiji, Disney Sea, Tokyo Dome

Today was a looooooong day.  We started off bright and early and went to Tsukiji for some sushi and beer for breakfast.

Can you read the time?  If not, it says 6:40

For those of you who have never been there, take the subway to Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line).  When you arrive, look for exit 1 and head out to the street.

Take a left when you get out, you should see a Buddhist temple on your left.  Walk about a block and you will reach a big intersection

Walk straight on in and you will first hit the marketplace, it's totally awesome and overwhelming but you gotta check it out.  If you want to eat sushi, there are TONS of restaurants you could choose from but Randy wanted to eat at one in particular that was near the auction site.  I guess we ate there before but hehehe my memory sucks so I had no idea where it was or what the place even looked like.

You have to be really careful when walking in there, there's lots of hustle and bustle and you could probably get run over!

Randy couldn't remember which restaurant was the one we went to the last time since they all look alike.  He finally decided on this one

Another little hole in the wall...

Not bad for $36.  The fish was excellent.  And in case you're wondering, no, I didn't eat the uni.  Randy got an extra serving.

After we walked out he figured out that the restaurant next door was the one we were supposed to go to.  But who cares!  We're here all week! 

He's seriously thinking of staying here next time...I guess it's easy access to all the fish

After breakfast it was time to head off to Disneyland again, this time to Disney Sea.  It was awesome that the park was so close, only a 15 minute commute from Hatchobori.  Disney Sea is a little farther away and the dude told us it would be a 30 minute walk to the park.  We opted for the monorail....

So cute yah!

We made it!

I've never been to Venice but if it looks like this then maybe I should go!

Mama kuba and I were waiting in the shade while Randy and Papa kuba went on some ride that I prolly woulda got sick on.  This goofy looking dude came near us to take some pics with the families.  Who is this anyways?  His brother?

Of course it was miserably hot again so we stopped for some ice cream

Florence?

I thought it was kinda strange...for a place called Disney Sea, there wasn't much "sea"stuff over there.  I wanted to find some kind of shark toy for my nephew but I couldn't find one darn shark in the whole park!  Isn't shark tales a disney movie??  We were out of there by 2:00 haha.

Later that night we went to go watch some baseball.  We were lucky enough to score some tickets to a Yomiuri Giants game.  It's the playoffs so surprisingly the game wasn't sold out.  The tickets were cheap too!  $37 and our seats were pretty good

We even got a free shirt!!  It was a dri-fit one too, not cotton!  Score!!  I just wish I got a black one.  Every section was alternating colors.  The stadium looked pretty awesome

This was a pretty awesome game.  The Giants were losing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth.  There was a player on 1st and 2nd, with one out....

and when I can figure out how to get the stuuuupid video off my phone then I can post it for you!

Got it!!

Tokyo DIsneyland...

Monday, October 7, 2013

Ok, I'm so glad I don't have kids.  I would hate to go back to that place especially if it's hot, muggy and crowded!  Remind me to never come to Tokyo in the summertime.  It's already October and I was dying of heat.  Of course I didn't pack any shorts cause I wasn't expecting it to be this uncomfortable.  Ugh.  I really shouldn't even complain cause i know it's nowhere near as crowded as the one one in California or Florida.  Also the people there are so polite that you have no reason to bitch.  I think I'm just getting old.

We went to Tokyo Disney first, you can't buy a hopper pass in Japan unless you buy 4 days or more.  I kinda thought that was weird but oh well...

This was actually mama kuba's idea to go here.  We were originally supposed to go with Randy's sister and kids but they decided not to go.  Mama kuba still wanted to go. Cute yah!

We got there around 9ish, the park opens at 8

3?  What does 3 mean? I thought she was making a peace sign but then I looked at the picture after and was cracking up.

So does it look the same?  I have no idea.  It's been years since I've been to Disneyland

Randy was too grouchy to pose for me so Papa kuba volunteered

One of the few rides we actually went on

I heard the turkey legs aren't as big as they are in California...

Haha, we got to Disney around 9, and we were out of there by 2.  We didn't feel like standing in line for an hour for a ride and we were pooped cause of the heat.  Yup.  I'm getting old.

Randy and I at this little tonkatsu restaurant right next door to our hotel.  I'm so bummed I didn't find this place earlier.  I know it was here the last time we stayed in Hatchobori, I remember the little pig

I wish I brought my camera.  This katsu was amazing.  I wasn't expecting anything so I left everything in the hotel room.  It's literally a hole in the wall, and it only seats about a dozen or so people.  One mama-san prepares the food for you while you wait.

You see that little blue sign on the left hand side?  That's the entrance to our hotel!