Image above: Aburi unagi (seared eel) nigiri with this wonderfully sweet teriyaki sauce at Sushizenmai. [Saturday 23 January] | [View all photos]
In keeping with my tradition of going away at the end of January (2009 was in India / Nepal and 2008 was in Egypt), this year I went to stay with Raina in Tokyo where we had great time eating pretty much all the time!
Before jetting off to Japan, my trip started with breakfast with Charisma who had flown in from New Jersey. Luckily our schedules overlapped so that we could have a good, if brief, catch up before I continued to Heathrow.
And because this trip was for my birthday, I treated myself to Virgin’s Premium Economy for the first time and was impressed by the service, like my shoka-do bento lunch, which really outclassed what I got on British Airways to Seattle!
Arriving in Japan the next morning, it was so good to see Raina again and our first stop was Tsukiji Fish Market. It was packed with everyone trying out the street food and we were no different with the unagi (freshwater eel) and the ikageso age (fried battered squid tentacles) both tasting delicious.
But the best was yet to come as she took me to Sushizanmai were I was simply spoiled with the toro (tuna), aburi unago (seared saltwater eel), and the aji (horse mackerel) nigiri. The highlights were the silky smooth uni (sea urchin) gunkan, the mouth-watering aburi sake (seared salmon) and why I need a blowtorch!, and my first ever taste of kujira (whale) nigiri.
And because of the kujira, Raina got chatting with a Japanese couple sitting next to us which resulted in them inviting both of us to their place the next day for a home-cooked lunch! A typically un-Japanese invitation which really surprised us but one that we gladly accepted.
After a short respite shopping in Ginza, Raina then took me for an authentic izakaya (pub) dining experience with her friend, Saeri. Although the “menu“ was limited to what was in front of us the food was simple, tasty, and hearty. And we had a good chat about the differences between the Japanese and Western working cultures – especially when it comes to taking leave.
Heading back to our hotel afterwards, Raina and I weren’t quite done with eating so we hit this quirky ramen place under Ueno Station. Quirky because you sat in your own cubicle where you’d place your ramen order with your pre-purchased coupons through a opening to the serving area. Then after serving your ramen the servers would draw down your blinds so you could eat in your tiny piece of personal space.
Only after then were the both of us full enough to finally head back to hotel for a good night’s sleep!
Coming up next … visiting Studio Ghibli (who made the brilliant Spirited Away) and having that home-cooked lunch which was a truly memorable travel experience.
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