Rained Out at Kappabashi

When I was a kid, we had candy called Pop Rocks. It sizzled and popped in your mouth. Of course parents were against it, but we loved it. So, after reading and seeing Mana's description of a certain food item only sold at Ministop, I had to check it out. Lucky for me, there was a Ministop only a few blocks from where I was staying. So I was able to try their grape Halo Halo. 

Halo Halo is a specialty sweet that is a combination of shaved ice, jelly and ice cream. It is only sold around summertime, and the flavors do sell out. This was really interesting to eat! There was the cool waves from the ice cream, a feeling of juicy grapes from the jelly, and the "pop pop" fizz mixed in with the shaved ice. I can say Mana's Kitchen Aristocracy description of this was accurate. I look forward to trying another flavor, since grape is now sold out.

I needed that refreshing Halo Halo because the lives the day before were a physical work out and I was feeling it. Still, I wanted to get out since I only had a few days left in Japan. So I headed over to a place I had not been to before. Kappabashi Street. On my walk there I came across this Inari Shinto shrine.

Unfortunately I can not find a name on Google maps so I will have to do a little research. For now, here are a few photos, taken in the rain.

Graceful looking kitsune here.

A smaller shrine at this location.

Just a few sights on my way to Kappabashi.

I reached Kappabashi street. Welcome to rainy season.

I wasn't aware that most of the stores would be closed since it was Sunday. So I contented myself by taking a few photos of the more amusing places.

Heading back to the station I was lucky enough to see this view of Sky Tree. If it had not been raining I would have walked over to see more. But I was worn out from all the fun the day before. And thinking of dinner.

Getting back to Ikebukuro, I was hungry. And wanting curry. Luckily I had discovered a really small place that offered a lot of selections. I decided to go for the "Fish Butter Masala".

They offered me an extremely cold glass of Kirin beer. Seriously the coldest glass of beer I have ever had. And really good.

Papadum anyone?

Really big plate of rice pilaf. Which I did not finish.

It went really well with the "Fish Butter Masala". The curry was delicious. I may stop in here again in the future. I will have to think about what I want to order since they have so many items.

The place is Great India in Ikebukuro. Really small, and the guys working there, when not cooking, spend their time watching everyone on the street. But the food was good.

Arriving at Enoshima

Reaching Enoshima island I reached Nakamise Street where there were a lot of shops and restaurants.

This torii is made of bronze. The original one was built in 1747 and replaced in 1821. It is the first torii for Enoshima Daimyojin which is Enoshima Jinja or Enoshima Shrine.

The further I walked, the more the buildings went from concrete to more traditional Japanese architecture.

I was definitely thinking of lunch. And one of the foods that Enoshima is known for is shirashu, tiny whitebait fish. Plenty of places on the island serve it in various types of dishes. 

I'm not sure if the Hello Kitty restaurant serves it.

Because I stopped at a nearby small restaurant. Enoshima Harumi Shokudo.

My choice was the Enoshima Rice Bow. Local turban shellfish and shirasu, cooked with egg and dashi over rice. Also included were miso soup and tsukemono pickles.

It was a little heavy but I was able to finish it. I enjoyed eating something special for the location.

Back on the main walkway I headed uphill. Because basically Enoshima is that, hills.

Till I reached the large vermilion torii that signifies entering the area of the shrines.

I mentioned that Enoshima is hills. With lots of stairs. Many stairs. But there is an alternative. And because of the heat and because I wanted to see as much of the island as I could, I went to the building on the right.

I took the escalator. Even if a person decides to use the escalators on the island, there are still many stairs and also the fact that the only way back down is walking down stairs. For me, I just wanted to make sure I would be able to walk as much as possible. Anything that helps out, I will take advantage of. So escalators it was that day.

Going Back to a Place that is in my Heart

Two years ago I went to Japan in August. For a concert. While the heat and humidity was not the greatest experience, the concert was something I had dreamed of doing, sort of. For about 14 or 15 years I have been a fan of a band that I wish I could have seen live. There are videos of their performances and I would watch and wonder what it would be like to be in that audience. Because this band would have amazing concerts that went beyond just performing music.

 2016 I needed something to look forward to. Returning to Japan after my last trip during which the Great Tohoku Disaster happened, and having the chance of a lifetime to see the founding members of this band perform together, that was something. I blogged about that trip here, and about the Deep Sanctuary concert which featured the reunion of Közi, Yu~ki and Mana, founding members of MALICE MIZER. It also was the start of my enjoyment of Moi dix Mois live performances.

So when this year's Deep Sanctuary's concert was announced, I wasn't considering going. I already had my trip for March planned. Plus being in that heat and humidity again wasn't something I was keen on, since it means going places is a little more difficult. I needed to deal with moving once I returned from Japan. Tickets went up for sale and I passed on buying one even though they had a special way for overseas fans to buy them.

However, the person who was putting this concert together kept making announcements about it. Like how this time there would be three vocalists. There would be more songs than there were at previous shows. New costumes, resurrecting classic instruments, and more.  Temptation. And then they announced a second day. By then I had everything taken care of in regard to my moving, and also a certain Gackt Taeyang doll sold for enough money to pay for my ticket. So I gave in.

September 11th, I got up early, caught a bus to the local train station and headed to Portland International Airport. My first time going this way, and it was really easy and very inexpensive. I don't think I've ever posted a photo of the trains here. Till now. They aren't fancy but they are run well. It was nice being able to put my feet up too. 

I'm pretty sure I've posted photos of Portland International Airport. So instead here is a photo of the place I ate breakfast at. Portland has more great restaurants than one can imagine. Getting an additional space in the airport is a popular thing, and The Country Cat is one of those restaurants.

Like most airport restaurants, Country Cat has a well appointed bar. 

However I was just there for food. I ordered their Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon. This was way more food than I normally eat. Even though it was really good, I couldn't finish it. But it was a nice meal to start my trip. 

Another benefit of flying out of Portland is getting to see the green woods and fields, along with Oregon's mountains. 

Along with all our rivers, bridges and volcanoes. Like Mt. Hood off in the distance. That is Portland below with the Cathedral Bridge and then the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge.

However most of my flight to my first stop was over blue Pacific waters and clouds. Because I was trying something new for the place I would connect to my flight to Tokyo. Hawaii. Which will be in my next post. 

Aloha!

Studio Ghibli Dining Experience at the Sun Cafe

A fun part of dining in Japan is the number of theme restaurants they have. Along with places doing limited time themes in conjunction with events. Mori Tower was no different in that they had their Sun Cafe take part with the Studio Ghibli Exhibit. I expected a little more decor but the movie posters hanging from the ceiling were cheery and colorful.

I got in line not long after they opened and was seated pretty fast. The cafe was nice with big windows and lots of light. I was given this menu which had everything related to a Studio Ghibli movie.

I wish my photos were better but I bet you can tell that is a Soot Burger for the movie My Friend Totoro.

I didn't want to over do the sugar with a soda so I went with their beer offering which was a homage to the movie "The Wind Rises". I guess because it's more of an adult movie? Beer looked pretty but I have to say it was the strangest beer I have ever had. More like lime soda. Low alcohol too.

I ordered the Castle in the Sky Laputa bread and meatball soup.

I couldn't believe I was eating another melted cheese with ham sandwich. I never eat like this at home.

But it was pretty good and very filling. I couldn't finish it. Look at that sunny side up egg! Nicely done.

The soup was really good! It was tomato with spices and mushrooms. I think the best tomato soup I have eaten. I did finish it.

So that was a nice end to my visit to Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills.