Another delightful but very short Japan excursion
At the start of this trip almost month prior, it felt like there was so much time ahead. I couldn’t believe only a few days had passed and we had done so much. It was so refreshing to be traveling again, and getting to know Patton on a’ whole ‘nother level was great. Returning to Japan briefly on our way back from Vietnam was a somewhat hectic but actually very rewarding conclusion to our trip. The juxtaposition of the two countries made me better appreciate Japan’s development but also Vietnam’s freewheeling excitement.
We were only going to be back in Tokyo for a 10 or 12 hour transfer, which would need to include a few hours transiting from and back to Narita. We were also arriving at about 6:30 in the morning. It seemed like visiting Tsukiji fish market would be a natural fit, as we didn’t get a chance last month, and it’s a morning activity. Wonderfully, Chakib was still around and wanted to meet us there! We got to Tsukiji at about 9 and wandered around for an hour.
Welcome to Tsukiji!
This Tsukiji experience was quite different than when I went in 2014. It was a large seafood warehouse with vendors mostly selling to other businesses back then. But apparently the entire thing was closed in 2018 and demolished. Per Wikipedia:
It was closed on 6 October 2018, with wholesale operations moving to the new Toyosu Market. The area where the old market was located was demolished and will be rebuilt into a new economic complex featuring a brand new stadium for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball.
I had no idea the old Tsukiji fish market warehouse area was demolished some years ago.
Namiyoke Inari Shrine right next to Tsukiji market's old location.
One of the two remaining lion heads, this one from 1848, that were used for this shrine's festival, the Shishi Matsuri, or lion festival.
Namiyoke Inari Shrine right next to Tsukiji market's old location.
There’s still some activity at Tsukiji though, mostly catering to tourists. It’s now referred to as the Tsukiji Outer Market. We checked that out, but it was definitely not as crazy and interesting as it was in the past! It was worth seeing at least, and there were some interesting food creations for sale. The price of sushi seemed pretty expensive though.
We tried these weird flattened tiger prawn cracker things. It tasted like a rice cracker with a little shrimp flavor.
We tried these weird flattened tiger prawn cracker things. It tasted like a rice cracker with a little shrimp flavor.
We tried these weird flattened tiger prawn cracker things. It tasted like a rice cracker with a little shrimp flavor.
We had about 5 more hours before we had to head to the airport again. Walking north from the market, we passed Kabukiza Theatre. Initially Chakib was just telling us about it and the kind of shows, and then he mentioned you could usually get a cheaper ticket for a small act. We decided to ask, and sure enough, there would be one act at 13:00 that still had tickets, though they were for the very far upper corner seats. We purchased and would return at 12:45.
Kabukiza Theatre in the Kobikicho district, where we saw the one small part of an all day program.
In the meantime, we did a bit of shopping!
I also almost walked right into the street a few times, having just come from Vietnam where the roads are basically a free for all and pedestrians cross anywhere. It never felt more pointless to wait for 30 seconds to cross a single lane road where no cars passed during that whole time.
Looking at super expensive fountain pens at a store Andrew suggested checking out, Itoya Ginza.
Looking at super expensive fountain pens at a store Andrew suggested checking out, Itoya Ginza.
I was mulling over buying a pair of these Onitsuka Tiger shoes during our trip. When I finally decided to try them on, I asked if they had US size 13, and was told they don't make anything larger than 9 or 10 depending on the shoe!
The act we saw at the theater was a mostly vocal play type thing with some musical sections. It was fascinating, though I was extremely tired at this point having gotten almost no sleep for more than a day. I would like to return here for a longer show when I am fresher!
Kabukiza Theatre in the Kobikicho district, where we saw the one small part of an all day program.
Kabukiza Theatre in the Kobikicho district, where we saw the one small part of an all day program.
Kabukiza Theatre in the Kobikicho district, where we saw the one small part of an all day program.
That was an unexpected delight in what I thought would just be some quick shopping today. Thank you again, Chakib!
Entries in this series
- Japan reunions, hedgehogs, my first capsule hotel (July 22-24)
- Kyoto: Gion festival and a hillside run (July 24-25)
- Exploring Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka (July 25)
- View from Daihikaku Senkōji Temple, and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (July 26)
- Deers of Nara, then Uji and Fushimi Inari (July 27)
- A walk from Kyoto to Lake Biwa (July 28)
- Touring Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, Osaka gay bars (July 29)
- Running around Osaka, Kobe, leaving Japan (July 30-31)
- Another delightful but very short Japan excursion (August 14)
