Whether it’s because about eleven days into this trip, or because I’m feeling under the weather, or because I only got about four hours sleep last night, I feel like I’m running out of steam.  So it was the perfect day to take time for myself while Akemi was off to meet up with her old high school friend, Hikari.

The plan was to hit Akihabara, check out all the anime-related merch, enjoy a tasty lunch, take the subway to Shibuya and make a return visit to the farmer’s market, then over to Tokyo station to pick up an extra suitcase for all the Japanese goods Akemi is bringing back to Canada (everything from dog treats and teas to curry spices to pickles), then to Ginza’s Pierre Marcolini for a hot chocolate with Dr. Blackjack before retreating to the hotel for some R&R before tonight’s sushi dinner.

That was the plan.

My first stop in Akihabara was Yodobashi Camera.  Six floors of – well – everything.  Including lots of awesome toys.  Some bigger than others.  Much bigger.

I can guarantee you this is NOT a Japanese outpost of a beloved North American brand.

In the five years since the last time I came to Japan, I have lost all sense of direction.  As a result, I could not, for the life of me, find the awesome anime-themed shops I frequented on my last trip.  Fed up, and hungry, I decided to check out this place for lunch.

I placed my order, took a seat in the deserted dining area and then my food arrived.  Alarmingly quickly.  Approximately two minutes between the placing of my order and the burger hitting my table.  It was…not my favorite meal in Japan.  The chicken was good if not that warm or particularly well-seasoned.  The thickly cut onion was cold.  The less said about the bun the better.

I elected to cut my losses and abandon Akihabara in favor of Shibuya.  The plan was to retrace my (and Akemi’s) footsteps from yesterday’s outing and land back at the farmer’s market for another round of those dehydrated orange slices.

I think I may have gotten out at the wrong station.  I got turned out, slightly lost, double-backed, entered the wrong subway station,  double doubled back, found the right station, then took the subway one stop over to Ometesando – and more familiar territory.

Shibuya weekend madness.

Back at the farmer’s market.

The local rescue puts in another appearance, this time with some special guests.

The ladies at the orange stand recognized me from yesterday’s visit and, following my purchase of three more bags of desiccated orange slices, they gifted me a bunch of oranges and a fashionable apron (that I will model for you some day).

On the way back, I stopped off at this coffee ship and picked up a kouign amman and a mocha (that was really a hot chocolate).  I sat out on the patio, beside a woman who had a poodle on her lap.  “Nan-sai, desi ka?”, “How old?”I asked.  She was initially confused, wondering if I was making about her or the dog’s age, but when I made it clear I was referring to the dog, she warmed up.  People love it when you compliment their dogs.

The elusive Tokyo public trash can – a rare sighting.

Didn’t have time to hit Tokyo Station for that suitcase so went straight to Ginza where I met up with Akemi and Dr. Blackjack for hot chocolate at the Pierre Marcolini Cafe.  I took mine cold.

This was the little boutique coffee shop were I first met Akemi (and the half dozen other waitresses  I took out for lunches and dinners back in 2009 – but Akemi was special).  She reminisced about the hot chocolate (She claims her home version if slightly better), the chocolates (They’ve apparently gotten smaller), and the treacherous stairs (She once fell down a flight carrying a tray loaded with parfaits).  Ah, memories.

It’s been 14 years.  Can you believe it?

Dinner tonight was Sushi Ryo.  It was a block over from our hotel in an area of Ginza I’ve never visited that looked like an abandoned city set.  The streets were deserted and there were absolutely no lights on in any of the buildings.  We were told it was a business area and, it being Sunday, not all that busy on this night.

We were seated beside what I believe was the Cambodian delegation to the U.N., several of who really knew their sushi.

One of the menu items Akemi and I tried for the first time was sea cucumber.  It’s something…I don’t think we would ever order again.  According to one of our fellow diners, however, it possesses powerful anti-cancer properties.  Still, I don’t know…

On one of the previous nights, we went to a restauarant (Karin) where the waiter and Akemi ended up talking sushi.  Apparently, he was going to be visiting Sushi Ryo the night before us and promised to leave Akemi a little something – namely, a sample of his company rice (that supplies many of the restaurants in the area).  Akemi was thrilled to pick up her package.  Big thanks to Munekuro!

A Sunday stroll back to the hotel to drop off our rice.

And we ended our night at Bar Goya where master Yamazaki-san stirred and shaken up some unbelievable cocktails, all featuring fruit from his hometown.  Akemi’s favorite, the tomato cocktail that apparently makes use of almost ten tomatoes, and my favorite, the mikan, that makes use of two and a half oranges per glass.  Both absolutely wonderful.

And, as we said our goodbyes, Yamazaki-san presented me with my very own Bar Goya pin.

I am officially a member of the club!

And now the pre-packing begins!