Dear Dayre,
I can finally stop backdating my entries after this last one!! The day we flew back from Japan but really didn't wish to π Our flight was at 6pm so we still tried to maximize the most of our short day by visiting one of my favourite places in Tokyo: Tsukiji fish market!
I heard that the fish market is making way for the Olympics in two years time so I hope that I manage to find out where my favouritest beef bowl in the world relocates to.. π
Side note: Skirt coming up on TVD! π
Thanks to google maps, I didn't have trouble navigating my way to Tsukiji at all! Just one train ride from Ebisu to Tsukiji that barely took twenty minutes!
Remember how I was so worried over getting lost with the train lines and all that? Happy to report that we didn't have any mishaps or incidents at all with taking the wrong trains though we were confused and lost at times!
Quite proud of myself I have to say *pats self on back*
To be honest, my one and only purpose for visiting Tsukiji is for the food!
It being a bustling market, you can buy fresh produce, seafood, or just check out one of the many little food stalls selling lots and lots of delicious Japanese fare.
I've walked past this ramen stall quite a few times and it's always crowded. I definitely prefer my beef bowl over ramen, but since I had an extra stomach (i.e. YZ) this time to help share the load, we didn't hold back π Ordered one bowl to share!
You'll recognize the stall when you see the "δΊδΈ" signboard..!
Forgot to mention, this is the very first row of stalls facing the main road if you arrive at Tsukiji via the train (there are a few different train stations!) so it shouldn't be difficult to spot at all!
δΊδΈδΈθ―γγ° Inoue Chukka Ramen serves a shoyu based ramen and what we liked about it was the springy noodles and light taste of the broth!
Though I suppose it is probably MSG-laden π One bowl costs 700yen, which is quite ex actually.
The noodles were good though!
So we slurped it all up β¨π
But for me, the ramen was just an appetizer to get started.. So that I could wolf down MY FAVOURITEST BEEF BOWL EVER π
I raved about this beef bowl when I was in Japan in April, and I was so looking forward to going back to have it again!!!
Me in April. π
Me again this time π
And the gyu-don deserves many more pictures of its own but due to the grumpy obasan tending the stall.. I was trying to be inconspicuous and couldn't take as many photos as I wanted π
Said obasan has a very scary expression and will tell you off in Japanese if you point your camera in her direction or order one bowl for two people to share. π
Those caramelized onions ππππ
Taste-wise, everyone agreed that this was the best gyudon they'd ever tasted!
It's quite hard to describe but it has a very comforting home-cooked taste to it. Super fragrant and delicious!
YZ's gripe was that they don't use shabu shabu style kind of beef where you get whole slices of beef. Instead, it's like chunks of beef brisket and meat which are a little less substantial.
But for some reason, our serving had much less beef as compared to Woon, who ordered two bowls for her family and got plentiful chunks of beef in her gyu-dons!
I personally don't have an issue with that because I LOVE the caramelized onions in gyudon as much as the beef π But of course more beef is even better!
My conclusion: Next time I'm just gonna order one bowl per person and NO SHARING. If there's a next time…
One more video for you all to drool over. π
Some other interesting sights around Tsujiki! A man selling dried cuttlefish that was being freshly shaven off this huge giant brick of cuttlefish! It was really good and sweet but it's so hard to dabao back to Singapore so we gave it a miss!
There are interesting shops around Tsukiji too, like this one that sold Japanese pottery at quite affordable prices!
And I had to make a stop at one of the tamago stalls for a stick of fat yummy tamago!! π I feel like the one we had wasn't the best though. Remembered trying a nicer one the last time we were there.
There are quite a few stalls, so do explore and taste a few if you have enough stomach space π
We then ventured off into the area slightly off-tangent from the main Tsukiji market: you'll see an alley with lots of these men driving around little vehicles and transporting various cuts of fish around. That's like the commercial side of Tsukiji where the actual fish auctioning and selling business is taking place at!
To look for a tiny sushi joint previously recommended by a Japanese friend!
This little shop is called "Sushimaru" and I'd say it's pretty authentic. There was hardly a queue because it's quite isolated from the more touristy end of Tsukiji, and we got seats almost right away!
This is the one!
Slurps!
What we ordered!
Omakase sushi and aburi don!!!
Cost around 3000++ yen each if I recall correctly.
I'm not big on sashimi because I only know how to appreciate two kinds of sashimi: salmon and scallop. So I got the aburi-don instead!
Not sure how to gauge how good the food here was since I'm not a sashimi person, but everyone else (Woon and family) all felt that it was very good!
What really blew me away though, was the "special of the day" that we had on the side: fresh oysters! π
Have you ever seen such fat and plump looking oysters in your entire life???! Cos I haven't π±
SOOOOO PLUMP AND JUICY I CANT EVEN
LOL unglam video max but just look at that oyster!!!
It was such a mouthful that I barely had space left in my mouth to bite into its creamy exploding goodness!
Taste-wise, it was so so good. It was sweet and briny, without any raw fishiness and literally tasted of the ocean! So fresh and good. I'm not sure I can ever eat oysters again after this mind-blowing experience..
If you're keen to try!
Silly YZ ordered a rice sake at Sushimaru and this is him on our cab ride back to Ebisu from Tsukiji… π
Next time don't drink before noon time dear! @yongzhuan
Also, this was the only cab we took in Tokyo because we were running late to check out and it cost us around 3000 yen!! ζ―θ΄΅η πΈ Try not to take taxis in Tokyo because the meter jumps at a heart-attack inducing rate!
After that last lunch.. It was time to return to our apartment to check out and leave for Narita Airport π
We took the Narita Express from Shibuya Station, which is quite a walk away from the main JR line so I suggest you give yourself around 30 minutes leeway to get to the platform before the stated arrival time of the train.
The train only takes about one hour plus from Shibuya to Narita!
When you reach the airport, don't forget to do all your snack shopping inside the departure area!
Just some of the snacks I usually get from the airport, (this photo is from my previous trip) you know the usual!
Shiroi Kobito, Tokyo Banana, Yoku Moku and etc. Oh I always buy the wasabi seaweed tempura (top right corner) because my family loves it!! It's a hot favourite and is quite cheap at the airport, 1000 yen for one hugeass pack IIRC.
This time round, I found a couple of new favourites that are must-gets!
This corn snack that @trishaliang recommended!! It's like little corn puffs but there are kernels of real corn inside too and it's so addictive! π
If any kind soul helps to buy back a box of this for me too, I will love you forever π
My other recommendation that everyone really loved and I promise I will be in eternal debt to you if you think of me and buy a box back for me π: cream cheese cookies from Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory!!
The one that I tried was the Honey and Gorgonzola Cookie!
It's sort of like the sweet biscuit of Shiroi Kobito but sandwiched with a cream cheese filling! The combination of sweet and savoury is perfect π
So for those heading over to Japan, I hope you manage to bring back some of these goodies for yourselves and loved ones! β€οΈ
That brings my Japan Sep'15 daily posts to an end! If I am able to, I'll share the itinerary and locations in more detail on my web blog π
Thank you for reading through all the #yinagoestojapan posts and I hope y'all enjoyed them/found them useful!
Last couple of things to share:
Most if not all of the photos taken in Japan were taken with this baby: #Olympus OMD EM5 Mark 2!
Paired with the 12-40mm lens, which I really enjoyed using because it is so versatile. It's definitely a great travel lens because you can get both wide angle landscapes and close up shots with it π
I brought along the 45mm lens and 17mm lens as well but barely used those. Hahaha.
I also booked most of my accommodation via Roomorama, and I can't stop raving about that amazing Tokyo apartment!
You can get USD50 off your first booking when you go to: β¨bit.ly/yg-roomoramaβ¨
Finally, I've been using VisonData wifi services for my past few overseas trips and it has never failed to serve me well!
For social media addicts like me who update on the go so frequently, you definitely need to rent one of these devices on your trip!
There's 20% off when you key in "VDSGYINA" upon checking out at β¨bit.ly/yg-visondataβ¨