I just spent two wonderful weeks in Japan, visiting some places I knew, but others I did not. This was an Intrepid Travel tour, with a food theme. I love Japan, and I love Japanese Food, so this was a trip made for me. It gave me a good opportunity to dig into the Japanese culture even more than I had done on previous trips.
We started in Tokyo, where I had been before, but without ever exploring the city.
First sight was somewhat of a disappointment. I had heard that cherry blossoms were at their peak in the Tokyo area, and yet when I went to look for them, this is what I found
Closer inspection confirmed my fears
I understood later that the Thursday before my arrival, there was a very significant rain storm in Tokyo which stripped the blossoms from the trees … something for me to look forward to the next time I go to Japan.
Near our Ryokan (we only staid in Japanese style hotels), was the Asakuza Shrine and I was lucky enough to see a wedding couple about to tie the knot. She seems happy enough, but I am not sure he believes this is the happiest day of his life.
Evening comes very early in Japan as sunset is before 6 pm at this time of year (for some reason that I still do not understand, the standard time is Tokyo is set so that the sun is at its zenith at 11AM, so sunrise was about 5AM and sunset around 6PM!). Even through the clouds, the sun tries to provide a reasonable sunset.
This was a food lovers tour, and therefore a lot of the activities revolved around food. On the second day, we had a soba noodle making lesson.
First a demonstration by the chief noodle maker
Than it is our turn to make them
and we get to eat our creations for lunch
This is a good opportunity to introduce the group: Dagmar and Adrian from London, Astrid and Hans-Jakob from Bergen, Ben from London, myself and Integra from Melbourne – an international group.
In the afternoon, we walk all over Tokyo, where we discover that there are some very interesting characters, including a group that likes to get together on Sundays for some ‘rock-a-billie’ dancing
and Elvis impersonations – sometimes brought to excesses…
we also visited the Meiji Shrine where I caught this ‘tourist’ deep in prayers (no flashes allowed of course…)
First highlight of the trip was the visit to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. We got up very early in order to be there by 5:30 AM, at the height of the Tuna Auction
The ‘life’ span of a whole tuna in the market is very brief. As soon as it is sold, it is cut into manageable pieces
to be sold again
The pieces that have been thawed, maybe those sold yesterday, are than sliced into smaller pieces. I looked at this gentleman for several minutes, fascinated by the love and respect he was showing to the tuna he was preparing
and we end up with individual portions of Tuna Sashimi ready for sale…
which we took immediate advantage of, for breakfast
Smiling in the back of us is Hiro, our Intrepid Leader.
Next stop: Takayama – when I get around to sort those pictures.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
The information below is based on March 2008, when this trip was taken.
The trip was organised through Intrepid Travel and is called “Food Lovers Japan” (trip code JKT)
We travelled almost exclusively by rail from one place to the next. I had done that on previous trips to Japan and it is very convenient. I have used a Japan Rail Pass several times, but always find it difficult to navigate my way around the various JR sites as they are all regionalised – I have not found a central website for all Japan Rail.
Good information on JR Pass here. One thing to remember is that you have to purchase your pass outside of Japan, therefore before you get there and then have to “validate” your pass before you use it for the first time.
It REALLY pays to get to Tsukiji Fish Market early, and I mean around 5AM as the action is at its best around that time. We got there at the very end of the Tuna Auction. It is also the time when the representatives from the local restaurants come to get the fish they will serve today – the scenes around the various stalls are very intersting to watch.
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I’m expecting to visit Toyko more frequently over the next few years. I don’t know if I’ll get to see cherry blossoms, because it’s such a short period.
Diana and I got a good look at the Tsukiji Market last July, but we weren’t sufficiently motivated to get up early to see the auction. I had been reading that general access isn’t permitted as it used to be, so the fact that you had a tour guide may have made all of the difference.
You must have been in a different park from us — are maybe it’s just the date — to see the rockers. We saw lots of costumes outside NHK at Yoyogi Park. I doubt that your rockers were any more dangerous than the girls we saw dressed up as cartoon characters.
Hi Pierre,
Nice pics of Tokyo and vicinity. As you know Japan is very close to my heart as I have spent 3 good years there.
The pics from asakusa and tsukiji shrine make my memories live.
Your food lovers tour definitely gave you lot of insights to japanese culture which one cannot learn just by visiting the place.
In my past 1 year with Shell I have visited Japan twice, but both time I went to Nara. It is another place which one enjoys irrespective of the no. of times you visit.
Will try to have a beer with you when I visit S’pore next time.
Regards,
Gurminder