Tokyo is a vibrant metropolis of neon lights and raucous party districts, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. work days and all night manga cafes were salarymen who have missed the last subway home can catch a few hours sleep before sunrise. It’s can be chaotic and crowded…
And yet, there are parts of Tokyo that are strangely idyllic, isles of solitude amid the mayhem. One such area is the neighborhood of Daikanyama, a district I would want to call home…if a move to Japan was ever in the cards. What really distinguishes it for me, besides the tree-lined roads, quiet side streets, and generally laid-back attitudes is the prevalence of dog owners. If you want to meet some dogs, Daikanyama is the place to go. And, today, I did. And did.
And another half-dozen dogs who moved so quickly, the photos I snapped were unusable.
Earlier in the day, we enjoyed an excellent lunch at Sushi Kanesaka. Some of the highlights:
We were served by the affable Chef Sanpei who spoke pretty solid English. According to him, one of their former regulars was an English teacher who used to come in twice a weak and give the staff lessons while he ate. They’re obviously fast-learners!
A great place for sushi enthusiasts who are a little apprehensive about the language barrier.
Sushi Kanesaka: Misuzu Bldg, 8-10-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku.
And, of course, as always, the day was not without its memorable sights:
Finally, for dinner I met up with my friend Moro-san at Dominique Bouchet…
Dominique Bouchet: 5-9-15 Ginza Seigetsu Hall building B1F/B2F – Ginza, Tokyo
Today – The Yokohama Ramen Museum!
That busy street reminds me of the night that my friends and I were in Hong Kong on the way to the Nepal. A sea of people. We just told each that if we get separated (in other words more than 2 metres from each other), just to meet back at the hotel!
I had to laugh at the WiFi node name – I might just change mine to that.
You may be surprised upon your return to North America that it is also Christmas here. I don’t know whether I’m getting increasing curmudgeonly (well, there’s not much doubt about that) but it seems Christmas is everywhere VERY early this year. As soon as Remembrance Day was over, BAM – it’s like Santa barfed over the whole city.
The raspberry souffle looks amazing. But, I didn’t think you liked fruit desserts! 😉
Just “Nepal”, not “the Nepal”. Yeesh Gary, proofread. Also, would it kill WordPress to have editable comments? C’mon WordPress, help us out here!!
Missing your pups? …me too…
@ gforce – WordPress is laughing at you, not with you.
And now I notice that the raspberry souffle was Moro-san’s and not yours, anyway.
I need to go to bed!
https://www.facebook.com/gilder.mccarroll/posts/10152576713101549:1
Speaking of dogs, it appears I haven’t told y’all about Juanita, the apparently abandoned Pomeranian. The full story is on my Facebook timeline; most recent post is linked, earliest would have been last Sunday. If you can’t see my timeline, please let me know so I can loosen privacy restrictions.
If I’m repeating myself, I apologize. I quickly searched to try to avoid redundant post.
WTF? 😯 at those mannequins & the ones in the cosmetic shop kind of look like men in drag. 😕
to gforce;
around here, they start putting out the christams candy as soon as halloween is over. hell, this year the local super wal-mart was putting out some 3 days before halloween. 😛
there’s a reason they call this time of year hallothanksmas because all of those holidays (including hanukkah, which this year overlaps with thanksgiving & is being called thanksgivukkah ❗ ) blend together into one huge shopping/preparing thing.
That is one adorable Frenchie! Food looks fabulous, especially after our lunch fiasco today. My daughter wanted Indian food, so we went to the local Indian place for their lunch buffet. Not the best, but around here there’s not much to choose from. I got all kinds of vegetarian dishes and some butter chicken, and at the last moment decided to grab a piece of chicken tandoori. It’s pretty mild and I figured that maybe my grandson would like a couple of bites (he eats everything now). I was feeding him his baby food and eating my lunch, leaving the tandoori chicken until he finished his food. I cut it open and out came a gooey, coagulated bright red stream of blood. I called the waiter over and he said it was “fine”, so I asked to see the manager. He came over and took the plate to the kitchen (without so much as one word), and next thing I know, he’s over by the buffet table “checking” the rest of the chicken by looking at one side of it, then the other (?). I got another piece of chicken, cut it open and got the same results, so I politely told him that he should probably pull all that chicken from the buffet before someone got sick. He ignored me and that was that. I’m just glad that my grandson didn’t eat any of it (my daughter and I didn’t either), but I worry that some other children were eating it at the table next to ours. I’ll be calling the Health Dept. on Monday. 🙂
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu284/pbugsmom/IndianCuisinetandoorichickenNov162013_zps72b71096.jpg
Normally I am not fond of dogs in clothes, but that Frenchie was very cute in his striped t-shirt and green harness. Drooling over that raspberry soufflee.
All in all another good day then. Glad you saw some cute poochies. Can’t say as I am at all fond of crowds. In that, it would seem that Tokyo is not at all my kind of place. I am a bit surprised that you actually had two typos! The time change and all the good food must be messing with you – hehehe.
You’ve mentioned moving to Japan a lot the last few posts. Does Akemi want to move back?
Love all the desserts! I would tried a lot of the foods you posted pictures of. So much of the food was so artistic. Beautiful! I’m used to living in the Southern part of the U.S.A. Where food is good but messy looking.
Do they have any free range or humane society approved animal products? Just curious.
I’ve heard of funny names on Wi-Fi. The best one was “DEA van #7” . I did wonder why the “I Will Stab You” was in English.
Any updates on your pups from Sis? Is Jelly being spoiled rotten?
Deni: Yikes!
baterista9: I clicked on the link but it said “page not available”? Good luck with the pom though.
http://twitpic.com/dlohyo
Try this, Tam.
😳
@ Nola Shingledecker – Joe had two typos? Only two? Wow, that’s a good post…! 😉
I just spent the weekend in London. The crowds aren’t quite so big as Tokyo but we were staying near Harrods and it was very difficult to move past all the tourists looking at the Christmas lights and the impressive window display. Not to mention the crush trying to get onto the tube trains. It was a relief to get back to our sleepy little village.
I spent Saturday at a chocolate shop learning how to temper chocolate and how to make truffles. Lots of fun and I came away laden with about three kilograms of chocolate so I can have a go myself.
Saturday night we were supposed to go to a show (Jeeves And Wooster) but it was cancelled due to one of the cast being sick. 🙁 Very disappointed! We didn’t know about the cancellation until we got to the theatre and saw the notice on the door.
Joe, you’ll be interested to hear that currently running in London is a musical stage show version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels! If it doesn’t make it to Canada you might have to come over to London for it! I’m tempted to try another trip to London to see it!
This place in Japan might have the phone cover you are searching for. While you are in Japan. http://www.dannychoo.com/en/post/26953/Japan+Donki.html
That wifi spot is fascinating, it sounds like a scarier version of the Verizon “Maroon Sweater” commercial.
Those headless mannequins are so CREEPY!!! I wouldn’t be able to shop in that store, no matter how nice their stuff was.
Those covered up heads on the mannequins reminded me of a recent Project Runway episode. http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway-all-stars/season-3/rate-the-runway/episode-2#id=5
The raspberry souffle looks awesome.
“I Will Stab You?” ROTFLMAO
How are the puppies at home?
@Deni That is just gross.