I woke up this morning to Akemi doing her wall stretches, after which we headed to Tsukiji Market where I enjoyed another horumon bowl breakfast and she was able to special order some dash ingredients for pick up tomorrow.

Which we went back for and picked up later this morning.  Note the name.  It’s the Joe blend!

From there, she took her leave to meet up with her old high school friend Hikari while I met up with cousin Matt for our last meal together in Japan.  Our destination, my favorite pizza joint: Pizza Seirinkan in Nana-Meguro.

We arrived just a little before opening, and there was already a line-up.

The place opens at 11:30 and closes at 2:30…or whenever they run out of dough, which is usually well before 2:30  There are three pizzas on the menu: marinara, margherita, and bianca.  Also, there’s a strict 1 hour seating.  The dough on this pizza is superior to any I’ve tasted anywhere else.

The plan was to hit I Am Donut? on the way back but the line-up was just too long given Matthew had to catch a late afternoon flight back to Guam.  So we skipped the donuts – or, in my case, delayed them until tomorrow when Akemi and I will be back in Omotesando.

Not sure what’s going on with these guys.  I think they were drunk.

Eyeing this spot for a casual lunch.  It specializes in nodoguru (aka black throat perch) dishes.

But dinner tonight was at an old favorite, Sanbun – located a mere 5 minute walk from our hotel.

Prior to your meal, you are served a small cup of congee to coat your stomach followed by a some turmeric pills and a shot of white vinegar to fortify you for the night of hard drinking ahead.

Sake and sashimi.  The sake was a seasonal special while the sashimi (with Year of the Snake adornments) came with specific instructions on how and what order to eat the fish: sea urchin plain, then sea urchin with wasabi, then sea urchin with wasabi and salt, then tuna with mustard, then the aji with onion and ginger dipped in the special soy sauce, then the other fish (I forget what – top right) dipped in some other sauce that I think was mirin but I kinda doubt it, then the odd little eel however you chose to proceed.  I chose to proceed by letting Akemi eat it all.

I’ve been eating a lot of beef tendon on this trip and this bowl was Akemi’s favorite of our Japan stay so far.

The maitake mushroom – another Akemi favorite.

The tongue karage

The fugu karage served on a fugu plate

The crispy fugu skin.  This one was just meh for me.

The shiraki gratin

And, for dessert…the beef tendon curry that was probably the best dish of the night.

We had actual dessert back at our hotel – a frozen custard cream puff and a dorayaki from a local shop that was just so-so.  I’m still thinking about that “rich chocolate” covered waffle from Manneken I had last night.

Finally, my parting gift from my cousin Matthew was this small bag of cheddar-flavored Cheese, the upscale Japanese version of Cheez Its that are recommended to be consumed with a wine pairing.  They come in various flavors including camembert, black pepper, and something called avocadooza.  Matt was picking them up every time he visited Japan until his girlfriend pointed out he was dropping $90/month on Cheeza.  I found the cheddar version…good.  Not sure I would drop $90/month on them though.

Tomorrow, it’s a return to the Omotesando farmer’s market and another shot at I Am Donut!  Also, may pay a return visit to that place that does the intense matcha gelato.  Dinner is apparently sushi in Roppongi.  Our Japan trip is winding down and there are still so many places we still have to go: dog-friendly Daikanyama, the flagship Glitch Coffee location in Jimbocho, and the boutique Trunk Hotel near Yoyogi Park that Akemi wants to scope out for our next visit.