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2023 March - Tokyo, Japan (Day 2)
Day 2. We deliberately planned for it to be NOT an early day as we had such a long day the day before. It was also some sort of Japanese public holiday, which was a boon for me, I'll explain when I reach there.
As we walked around Asakusa, there were a lot of people queueing at the shrines... so we got our reminder that it was a public holiday. People were queueing for the shrine seal stamp thing (they have like a blank book they can buy, and at different shrines they can get the Shuin 朱印)... because it was a holiday, it was a holiday limited edition Shuin. My friend would have loved to get one but she decided we shouldn't waste our time there. So we continued our way to our breakfast place.
Breakfast stop: Michelin starred Onigiri おにぎり: Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku おにぎり浅草宿六 http://onigiriyadoroku.com/english.html
Almost other patrons (ladies) had only 1 onigiri set... we had 3 onigiris each LOL. We were eating like horses.
The chef also planned our onigiris. I mean, we chose the fillings we wanted, and the chef planned out the sequencing from the least flavourful and onwards to most flavourful.
Right after, my friend had an event to attend in Shibuya, whereas I had booked myself an ink mixing workshop at Ink Stand by Kakimori https://kakimori.com/pages/inkstand-by-kakimori, so we split ways in the underground. I then found out the line I had to go was not in that part of the underground and had to go back overground to another underground entrance.
I got slightly lost at Asakusa overground as for a moment I couldn't orientate myself according to the subway entrances. Eventually I managed and then made my way to Kuramae 蔵前 and then the 10-minute walk to the location.
The lower part of the store was still the same as I knew it, but the workshop is now located on the upper floor, and that was so cool. So the shop was like, traditional 60-70-ish stationary store, and the upper floor like a futuristic lab. They only had this ink mixing workshop on weekends and public holidays... and... it was a public holiday on this day!
Since I managed to book online, the staff correctly assumed I could understand some Japanese, but they were nice enough to ask if I needed English instructions. Everything was simple enough that after seeing their hands-on demo, and some reading through the instruction booklet, it was easy enough to follow. So we can mix 3 colors and use a lightening agent. There was a sample of 2 colors, so mixing the third would be the surprise.
I got the first orangey color on my first try. Then I wanted a blue-ish green but not quite Tiffany blue, and after the first try I wanted it a tad more blue, so I mixed another batch. Finally I mucked around and did a purple. So I had these 4 colors and in the end I chose to buy 2 colors. We had to write down the recipe and they logged it into the system. My recipe is now valid for 3 years. So in these 3 years if I go back I can buy my own color again. This is sooooooooo cooooooooooool.
When it was all over, I had to wait an hour, so first thing I did was hunt for a public toilet. As this was a residential area, there were no malls for me to go into. I found a public park and it was the dirtiest toilet I've ever encountered in Japan, ever. Maybe because of the kids. The disabled toilet was clean though, so I disregarded the sign I just went for it. Then, I still had almost an hour to kill; but there was nothing in the area. So I went to the subway, went out 1 extra station to... forgot the name of the stop and there was a Book-Off, and I went there to hunt for some cheap deals. Got 3 CDs (Chemistry, and Yuzu)
When the time was right, I hopped right back to Kakimori to pick up my inks, and I bought some stuff too. I got another dip pen and, easily, the MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM in this trip: A glass pen.
I already have a glass pen from Germany (bought in a Christmas market in Munich). But... this Japanese glass pen is WAY MORE FINE than the one in Germany. See for yourself:
After that, the original plan was for me to go over to the Totoro cafe place from the day before, but my friend's event ended around the same time as I was done, and her location (Shibuya 渋谷) was nearer to the Totoro place (Setagaya) than I was. From Kuramae, I needed half an hour to get to Shibuya. In the time I reached Shibuya, she already managed to go to the Totoro place and get back to Shibuya, and get us both lost LOL. I suggested to meet up at a particular numbered exit; she insisted on meeting at a Bic Camera. So when I was making my way there, I shot a photo of the 109 to show her that I've arrived, and she told me to go right side. I wondered for a bit, thinking, the right side of 109 is (the now closed down) Tokyu Hands and not Bic Camera, but I went anyway. Half way there she says no, she meant, on the map, right side of the station exit. WTFLOL.
Anyway, we met up, then went to one new shopping centre that I did not catch the name of, and went to the roof to...
Totoro Shu Cream! Shiro Hige Cream Puff Factory 白髭シュークリム工房 http://www.shiro-hige.net/
Every hat depicts a different flavour. It was yum while it lasted. But was it so good that one should go queue? I don't think so. Maybe for the photo bragging rights, but for the taste itself, come on, it's not ambrosia.
Apparently my friend was going to see another friend in the same place, but on the ground floor where they had this "Japanese culinary street" claiming to serve food from different Japanese provinces. It was very... touristy-fake to me. But ohwell. No complaints. That beer ad sort of reminded me of the Leonardo DiCaprio meme, maybe from The Great Gatsby?
Passing by a Donki, my friend had to help people buy some contact lens. There was a whole new song and dance to buy contact lens with prescription now, so while I waited with nothing to do I used 500yen to exchange a 10yen cheese cake. The guy in front of him placed a 1000yen note in to the machine and the machine spat out a ticket, but since he still ahd 500yen, the machine was waiting for instruction on whether to get a second ticket or get the change. The man didn't understand and just left. So I had to get his attention to give him his change back, and then I got my ticket. While we waited for the cake/pancake/waffle cake/whatever, the man asked me in broken English "One ticket one cake?" I could only nod. What else could I say? There is another photo of me pulling at the cheesy strings but I'm lazy to hunt for that photo now LOL.
We were still in Shibuya and walked around after dinner. My friend wanted to go to this Isakaya type place that had an interior design of a Japanese primary school, just for shits and giggles. It was supposed to close at 11pm, but when we went there in 9.30pm-ish, they said they were not accepting guests already.
In the end, we went to another Yakitori place that was just above this primary school thing. We were tired and so not many photos were taken. The food was good though!
We eventually made our way back to the train station. Hachiko miraculously was sitting alone (no crowds). But it's still sad to see Hachiko. For those who didn't know, there's another statue of Hachiko reuniting with the professor in a university in Tokyo (I forget which one exactly), I've been there, it's not hard to find. So for those who wanted to know. There's a bonus statue!
Aaaaand. Day 2 is over. Check back in for more!
As we walked around Asakusa, there were a lot of people queueing at the shrines... so we got our reminder that it was a public holiday. People were queueing for the shrine seal stamp thing (they have like a blank book they can buy, and at different shrines they can get the Shuin 朱印)... because it was a holiday, it was a holiday limited edition Shuin. My friend would have loved to get one but she decided we shouldn't waste our time there. So we continued our way to our breakfast place.
Breakfast stop: Michelin starred Onigiri おにぎり: Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku おにぎり浅草宿六 http://onigiriyadoroku.com/english.html
Almost other patrons (ladies) had only 1 onigiri set... we had 3 onigiris each LOL. We were eating like horses.
The chef also planned our onigiris. I mean, we chose the fillings we wanted, and the chef planned out the sequencing from the least flavourful and onwards to most flavourful.
Right after, my friend had an event to attend in Shibuya, whereas I had booked myself an ink mixing workshop at Ink Stand by Kakimori https://kakimori.com/pages/inkstand-by-kakimori, so we split ways in the underground. I then found out the line I had to go was not in that part of the underground and had to go back overground to another underground entrance.
I got slightly lost at Asakusa overground as for a moment I couldn't orientate myself according to the subway entrances. Eventually I managed and then made my way to Kuramae 蔵前 and then the 10-minute walk to the location.
The lower part of the store was still the same as I knew it, but the workshop is now located on the upper floor, and that was so cool. So the shop was like, traditional 60-70-ish stationary store, and the upper floor like a futuristic lab. They only had this ink mixing workshop on weekends and public holidays... and... it was a public holiday on this day!
Since I managed to book online, the staff correctly assumed I could understand some Japanese, but they were nice enough to ask if I needed English instructions. Everything was simple enough that after seeing their hands-on demo, and some reading through the instruction booklet, it was easy enough to follow. So we can mix 3 colors and use a lightening agent. There was a sample of 2 colors, so mixing the third would be the surprise.
I got the first orangey color on my first try. Then I wanted a blue-ish green but not quite Tiffany blue, and after the first try I wanted it a tad more blue, so I mixed another batch. Finally I mucked around and did a purple. So I had these 4 colors and in the end I chose to buy 2 colors. We had to write down the recipe and they logged it into the system. My recipe is now valid for 3 years. So in these 3 years if I go back I can buy my own color again. This is sooooooooo cooooooooooool.
When it was all over, I had to wait an hour, so first thing I did was hunt for a public toilet. As this was a residential area, there were no malls for me to go into. I found a public park and it was the dirtiest toilet I've ever encountered in Japan, ever. Maybe because of the kids. The disabled toilet was clean though, so I disregarded the sign I just went for it. Then, I still had almost an hour to kill; but there was nothing in the area. So I went to the subway, went out 1 extra station to... forgot the name of the stop and there was a Book-Off, and I went there to hunt for some cheap deals. Got 3 CDs (Chemistry, and Yuzu)
When the time was right, I hopped right back to Kakimori to pick up my inks, and I bought some stuff too. I got another dip pen and, easily, the MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM in this trip: A glass pen.
I already have a glass pen from Germany (bought in a Christmas market in Munich). But... this Japanese glass pen is WAY MORE FINE than the one in Germany. See for yourself:
After that, the original plan was for me to go over to the Totoro cafe place from the day before, but my friend's event ended around the same time as I was done, and her location (Shibuya 渋谷) was nearer to the Totoro place (Setagaya) than I was. From Kuramae, I needed half an hour to get to Shibuya. In the time I reached Shibuya, she already managed to go to the Totoro place and get back to Shibuya, and get us both lost LOL. I suggested to meet up at a particular numbered exit; she insisted on meeting at a Bic Camera. So when I was making my way there, I shot a photo of the 109 to show her that I've arrived, and she told me to go right side. I wondered for a bit, thinking, the right side of 109 is (the now closed down) Tokyu Hands and not Bic Camera, but I went anyway. Half way there she says no, she meant, on the map, right side of the station exit. WTFLOL.
Anyway, we met up, then went to one new shopping centre that I did not catch the name of, and went to the roof to...
Totoro Shu Cream! Shiro Hige Cream Puff Factory 白髭シュークリム工房 http://www.shiro-hige.net/
Every hat depicts a different flavour. It was yum while it lasted. But was it so good that one should go queue? I don't think so. Maybe for the photo bragging rights, but for the taste itself, come on, it's not ambrosia.
Apparently my friend was going to see another friend in the same place, but on the ground floor where they had this "Japanese culinary street" claiming to serve food from different Japanese provinces. It was very... touristy-fake to me. But ohwell. No complaints. That beer ad sort of reminded me of the Leonardo DiCaprio meme, maybe from The Great Gatsby?
Passing by a Donki, my friend had to help people buy some contact lens. There was a whole new song and dance to buy contact lens with prescription now, so while I waited with nothing to do I used 500yen to exchange a 10yen cheese cake. The guy in front of him placed a 1000yen note in to the machine and the machine spat out a ticket, but since he still ahd 500yen, the machine was waiting for instruction on whether to get a second ticket or get the change. The man didn't understand and just left. So I had to get his attention to give him his change back, and then I got my ticket. While we waited for the cake/pancake/waffle cake/whatever, the man asked me in broken English "One ticket one cake?" I could only nod. What else could I say? There is another photo of me pulling at the cheesy strings but I'm lazy to hunt for that photo now LOL.
We were still in Shibuya and walked around after dinner. My friend wanted to go to this Isakaya type place that had an interior design of a Japanese primary school, just for shits and giggles. It was supposed to close at 11pm, but when we went there in 9.30pm-ish, they said they were not accepting guests already.
In the end, we went to another Yakitori place that was just above this primary school thing. We were tired and so not many photos were taken. The food was good though!
We eventually made our way back to the train station. Hachiko miraculously was sitting alone (no crowds). But it's still sad to see Hachiko. For those who didn't know, there's another statue of Hachiko reuniting with the professor in a university in Tokyo (I forget which one exactly), I've been there, it's not hard to find. So for those who wanted to know. There's a bonus statue!
Aaaaand. Day 2 is over. Check back in for more!