Food and Architecture in Ginza

While people may not be into Ginza's shopping, it's a place worth checking out. For the architecture. Besides Shibuya, there was another place I wanted to stop at. In Ginza. I wasn't sure how my right leg was but I decided to try going since I was familiar with getting there and getting back. And I wanted to get a few photos since I hadn't done much this trip. And there is much to see along Chuo Dori, one of the main streets. The Ginza Place building for one. It's a newer building with a facade based on sukashibori, Japanese lattice work. Designed by Klein Dytham for the Sapporo Company, the building's shape is suggested by the historic Seiko Building that is across from it.

Also at the same intersection is the Ricoh San-ai Dream Center Building. Now if they can get Mitsukoshi Department Store to redo their facade at the corner, they might get everything rounded off.

The lighting wasn't great for photos of buildings but this photo of the Louis Vuitton store is interesting. It looks different when it's not lit up.

Of course there are jewelry shops in Ginza. What I liked about Ginza Diamond Shirashi is their clock. And that they play lovely classical music outside their store. 

The shape of their zodiac clock is like a cut diamond. 

But for me, I was here for the lemons. TAU-Hiroshima. Good restaurants, good sake, good market and fun Hiroshima items like Hiroshima Carp souvenirs. I would feel bad if I was in Tokyo and didn't stop by.

I bought a few things to take back to Oregon, and a few things I enjoyed before leaving.

A little Onomichi lemon cake. 

A little Nishikido momiji monju. This one had azuki bean filling. 

And a small bottle of Fujujin Rice Daijinjo unfiltered raw sake from Sempuku Brewery in Hiroshima. This is their special label line for the anime movie "In this Corner of the World". I had a very nice conversation with the lady in the sake section of TAU. Turns out she lived in Chicago and New York. Since I was unable to go out that evening because of my leg, and because it rained, I enjoyed this in my hotel room. Being unfiltered raw sake, it would not have traveled well. It was good, and made my down time a little more enjoyable and the rain helped cool the night temperatures down. I opened the window and had a bit of sake while listening to the rain.

Hiroshima Represents in Ginza Tokyo

To finish up my shopping in Ginza, here is the third place I visited. Because I liked what I bought the last time I was in Tokyo.

 This time I didn't eat at any of the restaurants because my plan was to spend more time browsing in Tau Setouchi, the Hiroshima brandshop. I even knew a few things I want to get. Since I still had some time in Tokyo I also picked up some of the little cakes to enjoy each day.

Which included a few Hiroshima lemon treats. Finding these little donuts was great.

They even came with a pretty pick so I didn't have to get anything on my fingers. They were a tasty change from the hotel breakfast.

Since I bought lemon cakes the last time, I only got a couple this time.

Like this frosted little lemon shaped cake.

Pretty packaging lets you know this is also lemon cake.

And very moist and delicious inside. These are not very big so make a nice addition to a cup of tea.

This time though I went more for the other cakes that Hiroshima is known for. Their momiji shaped ones.

Momiji are shaped like maple leaves like this chocolate covered cake. There was a little cream inside.

Shaped like maple leaves, alright?

Flavored with matcha, green tea, which gave this one a olive green appearance.

 These are manju, filled with azuki beans which is more traditional for the momiji from the Hiroshima area.

And just like everything else, there are seasonal ones like this sakura momiji manju.

As you can tell, different bakeries have slightly different molds for their momiji manju.

Inside the sweet bean paste was pink and I could tell there was a little different flavor to it.

I didn't just go for sweets. My real goal with a bottle of Hiroshima lemon juice. Which I am enjoying even now. Along with this great lemon flavored black tea. I'd buy both again in a heartbeat.

Along with this great sake, which I have no clue as to what brewery it is from or the name of it. I wish I had bought a second bottle to bring back to Oregon.

 Cute label with a camellia flower. If anyone knows anything about this sake please comment!

I bought a couple other things which I will post about later. For now, here is the address for Tau Setouchi Hiroshima: 1-6-10 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo. And my post about my first visit there is here.