Sightseeing in Shinjuku

Strangely, I'd never been to the infamous Golden Gai in Shinjuku. And I wanted to walk, so I headed in that direction. 

I expected a lot of bars and the rest that is found in entertainment districts. I didn't expect to find this long path through greenery. 

Something I like about Tokyo is the effort that is made to create green spaces like this. Some like this one have a feeling going back to when they were created. 

Of course outside of the path the view was more like I expected for the area. 

I can say I also didn't expect this child blowing a horn while riding a snail. 

Along with the other child riding a dolphin. 

Bar Shuten Doji caught my eye. 

I decided to grab photos of a couple live houses. A lot of music history has happened at Shinjuku LOFT. Most MALICE MIZER fans are familiar with it through those old videos. 

Another place popular for live music, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.

Heading back towards the train stations, I spied something on the top of this building. 

Yes, that is the Shinjuku Toho Building with Godzilla on top. 

Great sign placement as Godzilla towers above it, red eyes glowing. 

There were a lot more people near Shinjuku Station, including more who were not wearing masks. This was March 23rd. 

I was avoiding that station so I headed back to Shinjuku-sanchome Station. I took a photo of MUJI along the way, in part because they now have a store in Portland, Oregon. 

Back in my hotel room, where I had the seventh floor all to myself, I enjoyed the pretty reflection of the sky on the building across from my room. 

Izakaya in the time of the virus. I picked up a few things at the little shops near exit C6 in Ikebukuro Station. Chicken karaage and potato salad. Very good with Sapporo Black Label beer.

Along with chirashi from Midori Sushi. Also very good. 

The local 7-Eleven was selling the little Kit Kats individually. This was great since I didn't want to buy the big bags just to try different ones. 

Something I had ordered while in Japan arrived. I was using my iPhone a lot more, and of course the battery usage was more. Along with my laptop no longer working and previously experiencing a major disaster while in Japan, I decided an external battery would be a good idea. So I made use of the opportunity to get the Moi-même-Moitié battery, along with a new case for my iPhone. It was on sale and allowed for free shipping.

Grabbing a Bite to Eat in Ningyocho

I said I would write about a few Ningyocho food items that I ate. How would you like to try something to eat from here? I did.

The sign says 人形町今半惣 which translates to Ningyocho Now Semi-Prepared Foods. While not an enticing name it does say what they offer. It's actually part of a famous sukiyaki restaurant, Imahan, which is across the small street. I came across this place after accidentally going the wrong way from the Ningyocho Station one extremely hot day.

I picked up a small serving of karaage fried chicken 唐揚げ and potato salad ポテトサラダ. Sharing this photo because of the ingenious little ice pack they placed on the potato salad.

Don't know if I ever mentioned how much I love Japanese potato salad and well made karaage. Theirs was excellent. The salad was really creamy and just right with the spices. Nice bits of crunch amidst all that potato goodness. As for the karaage, it was also really great. Tender, well seasoned and not oily or overcooked. It sure beat konbini versions.

In fact it was so good I went another day to get more for lunch. Normally I would not eat this much but between the heat and all I lost 15 pounds this trip.

Something I do eat almost every day is bananas, usually one for breakfast. I have found they help reduce muscle cramping for me. I was buying them at a konbini but then found Sukaya Fruit Shop 須賀屋果実店. You would think bananas would cost more here but actually they were cheaper. So I was happy to help out this local business.

As for what food was most popular in August while I was there? It has to be Kakigori かき氷 sweetened shaved ice. I did not partake of this but I saw many people enjoying it from places all over Tokyo.

Naruto Taiyaki Honpo 鳴門鯛焼本舗 was closed along with all the other taiyaki shops when I was wandering around early in the morning. Taiyaki is big in Ningyocho. Taiyaki is made with a waffle-like batter with a filling. Traditionally that filling is sweetened red (adzuki) bean paste but other fillings like chocolate or vanilla pastry cream are also used. The cooking molds are in the shape of a tai fish, thus the name.

Itakuraya 板倉屋, a Japanese confectionary shop that offers ningyo-yaki 人形焼き was open later in the day. I was going from Ningyocho Station to the hotel and made myself stop and take a look. Ningyo-yaki is just like taiyaki except the cooking molds are in the shape of different characters.

Since Ningyocho is known for it's Seven Lucky Gods shrines it's not surprising that there is Seven Lucky Gods ningyo-yaki. So I had to pick some up from Itakuraya.

Benzaiten doesn't look too happy being crowded in there with all those other gods.

These were filled with sweetened adzuki bean paste and were pretty good. Fun way to enjoy local culture.

I will end this with these lovely hibiscus flower that bloom along the streets of Ningyocho. It's a nice place to visit.