Day 9, Sunday, May 20th: Crow attack!

We both woke up later this morning (07:30) probably due to later night. No chance yesterday to do much with our blog so that was our priority this morning. Then, down for the buffet breakfast before it closed at 10:00. We were in for a surprise as we needed to stand in line and wait for a table. Lots of fellow late arrivals this morning. Back to the room to finish both blogs.

About 12:15 before we leave our room and head for the train station. Lana inquired at the hotel front desk for cost of the shuttle to the airport. Cost per person is 3100Yen for about a 90 minute ride to Narita airport. We will check what it costs for train to Narita, although will factor in the hassle of pulling luggage on and off train cars.

We stop at Mister Minit for Lana to pick up her new hanko stamp ordered yesterday! She is really excited. Basically in Kanji the two characters mean "La Na". Selecting the characters took the longest time--there were about 30 characters for LA and another 30 for NA. Lana is told that it's important to pick characters that look nice, are easy to read and also look good together. Apparently sometimes the symbols can also have a different poetic meaning as well but for LA+NA there isn't anything like this. She picks the two characters that she likes and the clerk nods in agreement and says these are the two he would also choose. 

Next--you have the option of putting the characters either side by side (as Lana's stamp shows) or one on top of the other. So many choices and decisions to make. Then there is the character type or what we would call the font style--Lana is advised to pick one that looks nice and is also easy to read. 

Lastly, Lana needed to select what material to use for the stamp itself--there are several wood choices/colours, buffalo and titanium and also the size of the stamp itself--she choose the smallest size. The case also needs to be purchased as it stores the stamp and contains a small red ink pad--very convenient. This is a pretty unique and awesome momento of our Japan trip!!

Off we go into the Shinagawa train station and then I realize I forgotten my Suica card in my pants from last night. Fortunately, Lana brought our third card although it has zero money on it. Eventually, we figure out the proper machine to add more money onto it for use. On to the Yamanote Line, but heading in a counter-clockwise direction for the first time as our destination is northeast of Tokyo. 

The very first car on the train. I am right behind the engineer. Very few of the trains we have been on so far are truly subway trains. The majority of our rides are above ground. During the day we actually make it on to a couple of trains which are primarily underground. 

Sign inside the train car "Please do not cut into the queue." Yes, get in line like the rest of us at the designated spot. Very rare to see anyone not follow the process for boarding. The Japanese are great at queuing and patiently waiting. Lana loved these public service announcements that clearly define proper social etiquette on the train--good reminders that we need to be considerate of others in this world--something that is becoming lost these days. 

Another sign inside a train car "Please be sure not to make too much noise with your digital device." Extremely rare that we have encountered a passenger talking on their phone. If they do, they suppress their voice so it is quiet. Can we have this rule in Canada please?

Another sign on the train "Please do not talk too loudly on the train." Yes, this adhered to very well on the Tokyo trains. Another rule I would like to see in Vancouver. Lana laughs and says who knew oranges could be so noisy?!??!!!  :)

Our destination is Kitasenju. My research: "wander off onto the side streets and you'll find remnants of old Japan when the area was a stop on the major routes from Edo (old Tokyo) to the rest of the country. A quiet walk north along an old shopping street to the west of the station takes you past several preserved wooden buildings that once housed merchants to the Arakawa river." Well, we searched for quite a long time and really only came across one very old wooden building. We wandered north-south and east-west with no luck. Oh well, very quiet streets in a mostly residential neighbourhood so it was good to see how these Tokyo people lived. Very laid back and a lack of tall buildings. No rush either to get anywhere.

In the mall beside the Kitasenju train station Lana spots a Krispy Kreme shop. Who knew they exist in Tokyo...

OK, so we have no self control! Yes, we have to stop and sample Japanese style Krispy Kreme. The top donut is Lana's order of a mango creme. My order of watermelon ring below. Yup, they were pretty good! Lana believes it will take us about two hours of walking to burn off one donut! The mango creme had a mango flavoured icing on top along with some small pieces of dried mango + a mango flavoured custard inside. 

Their donut board which shows some typical donut flavours but also some Japanese specific ones!!

Counter at Krispy Kreme. Lots of choices! The place was very busy as well.

Well, we have some self control. We did not order this ice cream sandwich made from a donut!! Lana calculates we'd need to to walk about 5 hours just to burn these calories off? 

The usual map of the Kita-Senju neighbourhood. No they have nothing listed that we are looking for. We put in about 9 kms walking in this hood.

This is the sole old wooden building we came across on our trek. 

We head back to the Kitasenju train station, but first to Starbucks for an chai ice latte and figure out our plans. There was a queue waiting to be seated at Starbucks! We decide to take a couple of trains to Tsukishima neighbourhood located near Tokyo Bay. Research: "A wonderful place to walk down the narrow side alleys full of old residential buildings and tiny shops. Short walks bring you to views of Tokyo Bay and to nearby Tsukudajima, where you can see small fishing boats on the canal and many more traditional buildings."  We had better luck here as we did find the canal and the fishing boats. Plus, good views of Tokyo Bay and the narrow streets. 

Map of Tsukishima neighbourhood.

Yes, the canal and fishing boats exist! It is not a very long canal and only a few old fishing boats. 

 A shrine in the neighbourhood where Lana can get her Zen fix for the day. That is her in the white shirt. 

Lawson's store selling hot drinks! Lana touched a can and confirmed the are indeed quite hot. Even the plastic bottles of tea on the second shelf were quite warm. 

Signage in the area: "Smoking while walking is prohibited". Lana believes people should be allowed to be texting while they cross the street either :)

The Tsukishima area is where I was attacked by a crow. We were walking slowly along a small road near a park. All of a sudden a huge crow swoops over both Lana and me. Barely misses me. Then about 10 seconds later the same crow swoops down and actually touches the top of my head! Not sure why this crow is harassing me? We quickly walk away to avoid any further contact with this bird. 

Observation about navigating around Tokyo on the trains is it can be quite a long and confusing walk to find the next train line. Even with pretty good signs, you can get turned around. Plus, you are on escalators, stairs, corridors trying to find your next train line.

When I was doing my research on restaurants in Tokyo I came across Seirinkan located in Meguro-ku. It had great reviews and listed in all the Top 10 Pizza lists for Tokyo. "Fresh Japanese ingredients make this pizza 100 percent Japanese. What Naples has given me is pizza --which I make in the image of myself -- Chef Susumu Kakinuma." This place was highlighted in the new David Chang food series. I couldn't resist giving this pizza joint a chance. Plus, we had such fantastic Japanese cuisine last night it was time for a change and we would not be able to replicate that gourmet meal. We discover on our arrival around 18:10 you really need to make reservations. The restaurant was fairly easy to find--about a 3 minute walk from the train station down a small side street. 

We are told to go up the spiral staircase and are greeted by a server. They have no tables available, but there are two stools free at the counter in the back. Beggars cannot be choosy! Server seems friendly. We are told we have our seats until 19:30 and that is more than enough time to eat our pizza. We order a bottle of sparkling water, a glass of red wine, a burrata salad and a Margherita pizza. Total cost will be 4362Yen and you pay in cash. 

The salad and pizza arrive very fast. Our red wine is OK. The salad is delicious due to the very fresh cheese and greens. The pizza is not huge especially for the price, but it is really good! The crust is pillowy on the inside and crisp on the outside with nice texture and flavour. The crust itself is tasty. Pizza is Neapolitan style (thin crust, served whole, unsliced) and as good as 95% of the pizzas in Vancouver. The tomato sauce is fresh and full of body--not too salty. Beatles music is playing in the background. Industrial space. Very busy with patrons and lots of wine being served. 

Card provided at end of your meal. I love the design and colours. 

The pizza oven located as your enter. To access the dining area you go up a wrought iron spiral staircase to the next two floors.

The chef making another pizza.

Our Burrata salad with fresh cheese and greens. 

Our order of the Margherita pizza. There are only two choices of pizza. I guess this Chef can focus his talents and make the very best of the two choices for his customers. Though simple in ingredients--tomato, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese--the flavours are balanced and work well together--no one flavour being over-powering. 

Back to the train station and eventually transfer to the Yamanote Line. We are one line from Shinagawa and at the stop almost everyone is off the train. Well, all the Japanese people leave and the only people sitting are us and some Caucasian travellers. We get up and go to the platform and a couple sitting across from us on the train earlier confirmed everyone needed to disembark. Fortunately on the other side of the platform the Yamanote train will pick us up and we will make it the Shinagawa station. We probably would have sat there for a while until someone came along and told us the train was no longer in service LOL!!!

On arrival at our hotel we head for the Executive Lounge on the top floor. We are both craving some cake for dessert and Lana wants some vegetables. Plus, a sparkling wine for Lana and a glass of white wine for me. Sometimes, good to indulge.

Lana's stats for the day: 19,500 steps, 14.5 kms and almost 3 hours of walking. About an average day in Tokyo for walking despite the fact we got a later start to the day. Overall, the weather has been great today with lots of sun and not very warm. We got to see two different neighbourhoods and have a pretty decent pizza for dinner.


Tomorrow is sumo!!!!!!!!!