Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Uobei
Traveling is fun for a number of reasons, but one of the primary reasons on everyone's list is FOOD. Tokyo invites a number of different cuisines but of course, while you're in Japan... it's sushi time!
We hit up Uobei in Tokyo which was unlike anything we'd ever been to/seen/heard!
Kind of like a sushi train experience only you choose what comes to you. You get an assigned number, seat in your position & choose your dish. A few minutes later the dish slides on over in a sushi-train like manner.
I don't actually remember the names of the dishes but I'm hoping the foodporn will suffice...
I do know this one. Breast & plum roll - the best one! Ordered a few of these...
The aftermath.
We visited this restaurant twice, partially because of the novelty & of course because of the food. The greatest part of all is that on each occasion I was stuffed full but didn't pay over $15. Absolutely incredible. If you visit Japan, I would definitely recommend checking this place out!
Monday, July 28, 2014
Japan, Part Four
Day 5 in Japan was a travelling day - on the way to TOKYO!
Osaka to Tokyo was about a three-hour train ride. Oh the joy.
Arriving in Tokyo was plenty exciting & completely worth it though. The hustle of the streets & the sounds of the city make me feel so happy! Not much happened tonight besides exploring the areas within close range of our hotel, which happened to be only a short walk from the Shibuya crossing. (Cerulean Hotel, FYI. Highly recommend.)
Dinner was at Mos Burger. Before that, can we admire how cute Shirley looks in her overalls?
Of course she was being Little Miss Diva & refusing to smile for a photo, but her cuteness still shines through in these.
I ordered a melon soda...
Onion rings...
& the beautiful cheeseburger with meat sauce... Let us admire.
It was a good burger... Not the best I've ever had but suitable for our bellies tonight!
Another factor of Tokyo I couldn't complain about is the view from our hotel room:
Shirley, the cutie, taking photos...
Tokyo, I have to say, you're winning my heart already!
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Japan, Part Three
Today's post is a fusion of the next two days on our Japan trek.
The following day we went to Universal Studios! I love theme parks, and I also went to Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Osaka's park wasn't too much different, which was kind of nice for me because I miss America like crazy!
These adorable kids were playing with the fog that was coming out from behind the sign, so cute!
My delightful caramel popcorn experience.
And my first ramen experience! I wish I'd tried this earlier in my life, because I want ramen for every meal for the rest of my life. Just sayin'. We found this restaurant called Tenkaippin near out hotel and I'm so glad this is the place I lost my ramen virginity. The staff didn't speak English but they have an English menu ready & are so kind & willing to cooperate. My bowl only cost about $7. Can't beat that!
Long & tiring day - as theme park days usually are, although my camera was in my bag in our locker the entire day so I didn't get many snaps, so let's shuffle on to the following day, shall we?
Day 4. Wow. Humidity levels are high... but so are we! We headed to Abeno Harukas, a 300m tall skyscraper in Osaka. $15 to get to the top to see the views.
Valleygirl denim jacket / Topshop dress / The Iconic bag / Fidel boots
We then headed to Osaka castle. A train ride & a very, very sticky walk away. Photos weren't allowed inside the museum, unfortunately. We weren't really in the mood to read & learn, it was hot; we were tired; but on a good day, I think it would have been so interesting. Japanese history is one of the most fascinating to me!
And for our final stop of the day, we headed to the Umeda Sky Building.
Coming up to the building we witnessed the most fiery sunset. It was so beautiful & numerous Japanese pass-byers; businessmen, kawaii-dressed girls & all; had stopped to take a photo. It was quite the sight.
Top of the Umeda Sky Building = 'bout $7.
So many sights today! But being so high in open air spaces makes me feel so alive & calm at the same time, just like Top of the Rock did in New York. What a wonderful way to wrap up the day, and to bid farewell to our time in Osaka.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Japan, Part Two
Ohayou gozaimasu!
Top of the morning to ya! After a much needed deep, long sleep we awoke for day 2 which involved a trip to Kyoto. First thing's first, though: I'm the realest. Just kidding, breakfast. I am the realest though.
We found a convenience store downstairs. One thing to note about Japan, they love their fried food & white rice, but for the most part, they're pretty healthy. They have a lot of raw food on offer & their packaged juices & smoothies are more real fruit than additives. Breakfast involved this green smoothie (which to be honest, didn't taste that great) and these fresh rice paper rolls; carrot, lettuce & prawns. Yuuuuum.
After breakfast, we hopped onto a train and headed off to Arashiyama, Kyoto.
My noble steed.
We actually came to Arashiyama in search for the Bamboo Forest, so a bit of cycling & getting lost later, we finally found it. If you decide to rent a bike, but want to walk to the Bamboo Forest, you can park your bike just before the entrance. No locks, no passwords, no worries! Just park your bike there, it'll be safe.
While I do love bike-riding, I would recommend parking your bike & just hiking. There's a lot of people about, so it may be hard to get through. It's a long walk to get to see everything but at least you can be snap-happy about it. A word of warning however, don't make the same mistake I did - wear walking shoes or sneakers!
Amongst your walk, you may find this cemetery...
Or this love-letter station...
After a LOT of walking, we decided we were too hungry to go on so it was time to say goodbye to our bikes & find food!
We found a restaurant called Aux Bacchanales which was meant to be 'French cuisine'. Don't really know why we chose to eat French food whilst in Japan but it happened.
I ordered an orange juice & a nicoise salad.
This may be stupid to admit but I didn't know that a nicoise salad was just tuna salad? Sounds a lot fancier! To be honest, I only know what it is because of the movie White Chicks though... hehe.
Patrick ordered a ham & cheese sandwich that I didn't get a photo of.
Shirley ordered an orange juice & quiche.
Dessert was found just next door where we ordered (to share) a berry mix waffle with cream & a baked cheesecake. The cheesecake was one of the best I've ever had. *drool*
Day 2 in Japan was so much fun. Shirley says bike riding was one of her favourite things we did in the entire holiday! Happy & food-filled we made our way back to Osaka to do some shopping at the Pokemon Centre & KiddyLand then headed back to the hotel for rest to be up & ready for day 3.
I ordered an orange juice & a nicoise salad.
Patrick ordered a ham & cheese sandwich that I didn't get a photo of.
Shirley ordered an orange juice & quiche.
Dessert was found just next door where we ordered (to share) a berry mix waffle with cream & a baked cheesecake. The cheesecake was one of the best I've ever had. *drool*
Day 2 in Japan was so much fun. Shirley says bike riding was one of her favourite things we did in the entire holiday! Happy & food-filled we made our way back to Osaka to do some shopping at the Pokemon Centre & KiddyLand then headed back to the hotel for rest to be up & ready for day 3.
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