The RowStein Compendium: The Weinsteins Take Japan - Episode III (the stirring conclusion)

Hello yet again. DW here to write an end-cap to our series on the padres visit and my first two weeks in Japan, and none too soon, especially since I've been here for just over a month now. Also as I have just over an hour to write this before I need to skeedattle to Japanese class I'll do my best to be brief ;).

Having hit a critical mass of urban sprawl with our views from the Skytree, we decided to spend the morning of our last full day in Tokyo in Shinjuku Gyoen National Park. Admittedly late summer during a heatwave doesn't exactly show the scenery at its best vantage, but for 300 yen and respite from the sea of concrete it was definitely worth a visit.

Someone forgot to tell this group of trees it wasn't fall yet.

Inside a greenhouse . . . during a heatwave, which is to say the
fan I'm carrying isn't for show. I was clutching the thing like
a drowning man to a raft.

a little "Wizard of Oz" ne?

Feeling ready for a bit of airconditioning, but relaxed from our stroll, we headed back into the fray for a little lunch and a bit o' shopping. As no trip to Japan would be complete without partaking of sushi, we found a highly recommended kaitenzushi (conveyer belt style) joint in the underground mall attached to Shinjuku station.

I'm actually salivating remembering this place.

The recommendations were spot on. While kaitenzushi can often be as much for novelty as for dining experience, I can honestly say this was the most delicious sushi I've ever eaten. What's more the variety of what came by was staggering. I did my damnedest to try everything, and WR and my father got the joy of rolling me out of the restaurant as I mumbled Japanese thank you's to the chefs, already neck deep in a food coma. Then, with the gimlet sense of irony common to the Weinstein clan we headed off for an afternoon at Tokyo Sea Life Aquarium.

I'm not a huge fan of zoos, but I do genuinely enjoy going to a good aquarium. This was no exception, and lacking knowledge of the sea beyond what I'd had for lunch I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

I think they put the aquarium directly beside the ocean specifically to taunt the fish.

Scale is lost here, but this fish could eat my head.

Purdy!

TUNA!!

It looks like seaweed at first glance, but it is actually an
incredibly ornate seahorse.

Where's Waldo with fish.

I'm still not sure which set of lumps are its eyes.

The stuff of DW's nightmares

The stuff of WR's nightmares

a GORGEOUS tidal tank

Marketing gold.

We ended our day with yet another must have Japanese meal experience, Yakiniku. The name literally translates to grilled meat (reason enough to like it), but in the sprit of shabu shabu, nabe, and okonomiyaki the experience itself is half the fun.

The tables have charcoal burners recessed in the center, and the menus are assortments of different marinated cuts of meat and veggies. Also in true Japanese fashion, booze is found in abundance. WR and Madre went for the Umeshu (a japanese plum liquour) and Padre and I stuck to beer.

I do love tending miniature grills.

Why YES that is wagyu beef (the cattle breed for Kobe beef)

The morning of our final day in Tokyo, the padres needed to do some shopping in Chiyoda ward, so WR and I decided to check yet another neighborhood off the list: Harajuku.

I'll be honest at the time I wasn't overwhelmed with the experience. It was hot as blazes, crowded as all get out, and I may have hit my capacity for shopping meccas. Looking back through the pictures however there was some really striking architecture.

Nothing says "this isn't your demographic" like Beluga Caviar signs.

Ok, that's more like it.

a fun section of Harajuku St.

the world's thinnest building.

See what I mean about the architecture?

The entrance to Takeshita St. a reknown shopping area which
is a bit like Claires Boutique and Spencers Gifts had a baby.

Case in point.

The crowd finally parted enough for me to take a picture of how
crowded it was.

Having hit capacity for cheap bobbles and stripper clothes, we made our way back to the Hotel to pack up our things.

Tokyo was a fantastic close to a wonderful first two weeks in my new home. The padres saw a good chunk of the country and experience what life has been like for WR this past year. Next week I'll give you the skinny on what I've been up to, namely cooking and househusbanding. For now, I'll leave you with a handful of assorted pictures from Tokyo.

Thanks for hanging on for a long (but hopefully fun) series of posts. Now feed those fish!