Day 7: Asakusa, Tokyo

Previously:
Day 7: On The Way Back To Tokyo



Sky Tower Asakusa



This famous dorayaki shop is located near the main entrance of Kaminarimon gate.  They are not only selling dorayaki but sweet red bean or white bean paste in wafers or on its own as well as sushi shaped candy and crackers.



Dorayaki

 

Sweet Red Bean In Wafer

Kamejyu
2-18-11 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Ph: 03 3841 2210




Nakamise Shopping Street

Nakamise shopping street is always busy and busy with tourist and locals because you not only can find Japanese products and souvenirs but also heaps of stalls selling variety of snacks, like yakitori, mochi, manju, rice crackers, and plenty more. Here are some photos of food stalls show below.






Kibi Dango (Dango made with millet flour coated with soybean flour)





Amazake (hot sake) 300yen




Rice Craker Shop




Deep fried mochi (Agemanju)




Sesame and Ume (Japanese Plum)





Pork Belly Yakitori





Takoyaki

  

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan :
Day 7: Takazawa, Akasaka

Day 7: On The Way Back To Tokyo

Previously:
Day 6: Shabu Shabu Dinner at Kokuya Ryokan

Before we were leaving, Erico gave us the rice balls and pickles packed for us to have for our journey back to Tokyo. 

We made a quick stop at Nagano station to change the train to Tokyo.  I saw this long queue in front of the Oyaki stand, I won't missed that for sure.  Although, there is no english there, I was just betting our luck, point to what I think it would be yummy Oyaki.  Ehm.....  They really were good snacks.  Oyaki is like Japanese pan-fry dumpling with meat or vegetables filling.




Oyaki 130yen/each







Chestnut delicacies 390yen

 This tiny haven is the most expensive little snacks that I ever seen around this Nagano perfectures.  Very mysterious inside the closed can but we so curiously want to try it.  It was sticky chestnut paste and a couple of whole soft chestnut as well.  This is the delicacies in this region.  They taste alright, but I think one is enough for me.


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Day 7: Asakusa, Tokyo

Day 6: Shabu Shabu Dinner at Kokuya Ryokan

Previously:
Day 6: Tokumi, Shibu Onsen

After a little disappointed with their dinner last night, we gave them a go again but tonight with their shabu shabu menu.  We tried to lower our expectation this time, but we were completely wrong.  We totally blown away with their dishes tonight.




Sashimi: Tuna, Seabream, Amberjack




Salad of shrimp with vinegared york dressing




Top: sesame sauce and bottom: ponsu-soy sauce






Shinshu beef "shabu-shabu"

 Look at how fatty is the meat.  Marbling Marbling and so Marbling.  Top quality of meat slices. 

The right way to cook your meat in shabu shabu is by gliding the piece of meat touching only the heat from the smoke that come out from the 'shabu shabu' vegetable soup.  And cook them to your liking.  I like mine medium rare, makes the meat tender and melt-in-your-mouth.  I could say this is the best meat I have ever eaten and when I said melt in my mouth, it really was MELTED in my mouth, is that soft.  The two sauces were definitely compliment the top quality meat.




Cooked turnip with chrysanthemum sauce




Odamaki chawan mushi

Chawan mushi is like custard that is steamed and potted.  And when they add udon noodles in it then it becomes Odamaki mushi.



Vinegared seaweed with yam




Steamed rice with clean soup, beef shigureni (beef and ginger boiled in soy sauce, and vegetable pickles





Apple compote with red wine

 
They did it again with their dessert.  Today we have this poached apple in red wine, sensational dessert.  I wish I could have second.


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Day 7: On The Way Back To Tokyo

Day 6: Tokumi, Shibu Onsen

Previously:
Day 6: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park


By then, we arrived back at Shibu Onsen, it was nearly 2pm.  My tummy was rumbling, I was starving and I just remembered that I had a very light breakfast this morning.

There are only about eight or nine restaurants in town, mostly are on the main bath street.  We passed this tiny homey Japanese restaurant and straight away went for it.


Tokumi (Ramen and Chicken Cutlet Shop)



Inside, there is only one guy.  He is multi-tasking as a waiter, chef and cleaner.  But he works very fast and prompt.

Lemon Brandy Drink



Gyoza ¥400




Chicken, Egg and rice ¥300 (mini bowl)




Tsukemen Chashu ¥800

 


Chicken Katsu Don ¥900

 Not too sure, because of I was hungry or their menu all look tempting and I went crazy ordering two meals for myself and my husband was a little bit calmer by ordering only one entree and one main dish.

Every single dishes that we got were absolutely spot on.  They were delicious homey dishes, very flavoursome.  Unbelievably, but we managed to scrap the plate clean.


Tokumi
On the main bath street


Opening hours:
11am - 2pm
5pm - 11.30pm

Closed on Wednesday


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Day 6:  Shabu Shabu dinner at Kokuya Ryokan