Saturday, March 28, 2020

Konichiwa Tokyo

I took my first trip to Tokyo back in 2017. Before that, I could only identify two things about Japan. They are

1) Suntory's Premium Malt Beer
The gold standard for beer


2) The movie Lost in Translation
The poignant final scene


My wife went ahead as she had a prior meeting in Tokyo and I took a flight by myself 2 days later from KLIA2 via Air Asia. It was a 7 hour flight and for flights longer than 4 hours, just purchase the seats which can recline all the way.

Anyway, it was an uneventful journey and my wife warned me that nobody takes taxis in Tokyo because taxis are notoriously expensive. How expensive ? A 45 minute ride will cost you RM900.00.
45 minutes is the distance from KLIA to Bukit Bintang. Yup, RM900.00

My wife gave me the hotel's location and all I had to do was get to the station nearest to the hotel and meet her there. Train stations in Tokyo closes at midnight. I landed at 11pm. Badabing Badaboom - I got through immigration and headed straight to Haneda's train station.
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND.
Throughout the journey, everyone kept to themselves and everything was so prim and proper. No punk blasting his movie loudly, no bozo eating or drinking inside the train and everyone behaved.
Subway in Tokyo

Inside subway

By the way, most subways in Tokyo do not have lifts or escalators. If you're lugging a huge Samsonite, be ready for a world of pain.

In order to navigate the subways of Tokyo, I would recommend you to use Google Maps. The AI will provide you live feed of the trains arriving and departing. Just superbly amazing. We went everywhere using the trains.

Food, Food, Food, Food, Food, Food, Food, Food


Brekpes is scallops and Suntory Premium Malt's beer at Tsukiji. Doesn't matter how much, just pay and savour



A Japanese man amused by my Suntory Premium Malt's T Shirt. Sugoi


After years of eating sashimi and sushi in Rakuzen Malaysia, I finally get to taste the real deal in Tsukiji


Prepared by masters


My world has meaning now


Tsukiji's Sashimi = Sex



Don't Mess With Japanese Pancakes/Crepe - out of this world

Japanese beef - Matsusaka

Japanese beef - Wagyu

Let's take a break from food. These are some of the non food destinations we went to. Tokyo Skytower, Golden Gai, Shinjuku, The Robot Show, etc.
T-O-K-Y-O

Pavement at Tsukiji

Hanging out at Golden Gai where the bars only have 6 to 7 seats. A great way to meet strangers

This is how clean the street in Tokyo is. Not even dust

The Robot Show - Very very very insane show


Japan was dealt with a crushing defeat during World War 2 in 1945. In 1970, Japan emerged to become one of the world's super powers. I always wonder how can a nation or someone come back from a major blow like a nuclear bomb dropped on them. Once my boss chided me for overlooking something at work and I didn't even want to go to work the next day. That's how tough Japan is and my oh my, how they bounced back.

Masakichi - Featured in Ugly Delicious. I did not book and took a gamble by just showing up. Boy, was I wrong. It's fully booked and I begged and begged. Letting the Masakichi guys know that it is my last day in Tokyo. They relented graciously and asked me to come back in an hour's time. So thankful to them

Using special bamboo charcoal

So juicy
Suntory Premium Malt's Factory


Last but not least, the tsukemen in the photo below is I would say the best thing I've ever put it in my mouth and I've put a lot of amazing stuff in my mouth.
Rokurinsha's Tsukemen


VISITO JAPANO