2010.07.31 Odaiba, Giroppon

Woke up and ate the melon pan I bought the night before in Tsukishima and it was good even after a night in the fridge.

Maybe the best melon pan I ever had!


Since I didn't get to go to Odaiba the last time I came, it was one of the few things that stuck out in my mind as far as places to go. Masa was the only person who confirmed that he had time that day. I was a little concerned because he's a quirky guy, but he did a good job of showing me around and making sure I didn't get lost. Sorry for doubting you Masa!

Got off the subway at Tokyo Teleport station and saw Masa right away. Since there was some kind of summer festival going on at Fuji TV, that would end up taking the bulk of our time. Even before we left the station, Fuji TV's influence could be felt. Along the escalator leading up to street level was an ad for their idol variety show Idoling!!!, complete with headshots of all twenty (!) members of the group. In retrospect, I should have probably took video of that or something for the sake of the otaku who couldn't go there. Oddly enough, there didn't be too many displays, posters or merchandise for them inside the Fuji TV complex.

Fuji TV!


Sazae-san: the most famous Japanese anime you probably never heard of.

Booth for Waratte Iitomo, the longest running talk show you probably never heard of.

Some stage where various performances and such were going on.

Going up the wavy escalators to the main entrance on the 7th (?) floor.

Ant's eye view of the Fuji Sphere.


Got up to the Sphere and the view was pretty amazing!
Rainbow Bridge!

There was a beach but looks like someone in a speedboat was ruining for everyone.


Me and Masa took pictures on a replica of the Sazae-san set. Yay for free photos!

Apparently, a sequel to the live action adaptation of Sazae-san was going to be airing soon.

Next was Chicken Ramen Hiyoko Cafe where they were selling some, apparently super popular instant ramen for 300yen. They must have been super busy since they forgot to give me my ticket. No ticket, no ramen, no life!


They even lend you a timer for your ramen.

Ready! Hmm, doesn't look that special...but not bad considering this was Odaiba and a tourist destination.


There was a whole floor dedicated to Odoru Daisasousen (Bayside Shakedown). Never seen the show or the movies, but interest has increased a little. Pictures to come later.

Not sure what these girls were dressed up as but does it really matter?


Chibi Maruko-Chan, another mega popular, long-running anime you probably never heard of.


Took the elevator down to the ground floor since the other one was crowded then walked back up to check out the gift shop and other stuff.



In case you haven't heard, Sazae-san is kinda popular.

Big crowd gathering for what might have been a boyband.


Masa's favorite show?


Guess the economy is bad when they leave big gaps in the middle of a building.

Oh look, more stuff to see over yonder!

One Piece!


Got Masa to use his phone for something so I could get the stickers! Thanks Masa!

Me and Luffy.


Bon Clay!


The poison guy...um...

Jinbei! (and bad lighting)

Shirohige (Whitebeard)!

Ace! Nooooooooo!

Mechaike Outlet Park based on the comedy show Mecha Mecha Iketeru!

Yes that is what you think it is.

Soba-ghetti

Various costumes worn by Okamura (Ninety-Nine).


Didn't want to wait to take a picture with ???-san so I poached one. Sorry.

Sachiko no Heya!

Wanted to try the Rubik's Cube looking ice cake but not for 750yen!

Giant sculptures implore you to consume mass quantities and part with your money.

Mommy Talk English Village Hawaiian Cafe?

Almost wanted to try out of curiosity and because the girls were trying so hard to get customers, but if I tried to reward everyone's effort, I'd be a much bigger and/or poorer person, I think.

OK, mini Statue of Liberty.

Kua Aina Burger.

Went to Daiba Station and caught the Yurikamome unmanned train across the Rainbow Bridge. Foolish me took no pics of this, but it was ridiculously crowded.

Transferred somewhere (?) and got to Roppongi to meet Shoko. We went to some quasi-Cuban bar. They served Mexican food too. How random to come to Tokyo and eat Cuban/Mexican food!


Fried cheese, or something, I forget.


Cuban Burritos


Cuban Jamaican Jerk Chicken


Shoko thought the non-Japanese waitress was cute so she got me to take a picture with her.

I'm sweating because of the hot candles behind me.

Kazu! Ikemen sensei.

Out of nowhere Kazu called. He was on some kind of camp for his school and just checked his messages after returning home earlier that day.. We went to some izakaya, had some drinks and talked. It was really fun despite me only meeting him once when he came to visit Hawaii. Japanese people are good like that. Seems like most of the people I hung out with on this trip were people I didn't hang out with too much in Hawaii, but somehow it turned out better than I expected every time.

2010.07.30 Akasaka Hawaiian Food, Tsukishima Monjayaki

Only definite plans of the day were to meet Agasa at Tsukishima Station at 9pm after she got off work to go eat monjayaki.

Since me and Junko finally found the Hawaiian place yesterday, and because she discovered she'd have to work on Monday after all, I decided to go down there by myself.

I don't remember seeing these giant yellow birds yesterday!


Ordered up a spicy ahi poke x kalua pig plate w/ a Longboard Lager. I guess they had to add the avocados to the poke for Japanese tastes.

Didn't get a receipt, but I think the total was about 1,960円. Kind of expensive, but considering they probably have to import and/or make most of the food, I'll compare it to the prices of 'authentic Japanese food' in Hawaii.

Feeling a bit of a 'kanak attack' coming on I retreated back to the hotel to take a shower and a nap.

Around 6pm, I woke up and decided I needed something small to eat since I'd be eating again 3 hours later, but after walking a few blocks in several different directions, I just got a conbeni salmon nigiri. Kind of nice that, even though the hotel is so close to Ueno Station, it's kind of quiet compared to other parts of Tokyo. But I guess the downside is that there aren't a lot of restaurants nearby.

Around 7:45pm I caught the Tokyo-Metro Ginza line from Inaricho to Ueno-Hirokoji then walked over to the Ueno-Okachimachi station/platform where I transfered to the Toei Subway-Oedo Line until I got to Tsukishima. I could have left at 8:30 and made it right before 9pm but I had nothing else to do and wanted to try and be early (which I was).

Tsukishima is famous for monjayaki and so there was a long street lined with only monjayaki shops (which I forgot to take a picture of). I asked Agasa if there was any shop in particular that stood out, but the answer that came back was "they're all pretty much the same" so we ended up at this one since she had a coupon.


This was actually the second store since the other location was so crowded that the employee walked us (and a few other people) to this one a few stores down the road.

Ordered two types of monjayaki: mentaiko and pizza (sounded interesting). Plus, I think we got some free stuff with the coupon?


Monjayaki is one of those foods that the customer 'cooks themself' like yakiniku or (sometimes) okonomiyaki (even though I rarely if ever do). This is pretty much a given since monjayaki is eaten right off the teppan with tiny spatulas.

Given my embarrassing lack of cooking skills and this being my first time with monjayaki, I deferred to Agasa because "I want to make sure it tasted good".


Apparently, the way to do things is to mix up the ingredients in the bowl on the teppan and then to make a sort of bowl with them into which to pour the batter.

Mentaiko was really good! This is what it looks like when done.


Was getting a little full, but since we ordered the pizza one as well...





Pizza might be good for kids?


Was still kind of early so we went to someplace in Ueno. Apparently, one of the places next door caught on fire earlier in the day. I neglected to take a picture of the scene though.　Can't see it in the picture but there was like a rock garden behind Agasa. Such a stylish place (that I can't remember the name of)!


Our special order of "mystery sashimi". Never heard of any of these fish before, but they were good.

(clockwise from bottom left) Tsuzurame （つづらめ）, Madai（真鯛）, Warasa（わらさ）, Mahata（真羽太）, Maguro(?)