Day 2: Tsukiji Fish Market, Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Naka-Meguro

We decided to start our morning on Day 2 with a trip to Tsukiji fish market. It can get crowded, with long waits at a lot of the sushi shops there, so we wanted to get an early start. The market is the home of the famous fish auction, but to witness that, you have to get in line as early as 3am or even 1am to get a ticket, to then watch it at 5am or 6am. We decided to sleep instead :)

Tsukiji was an easy direct ride on the Hibiya line from Rappongi station, and a short walk from the Tsukiji metro station. It consists of dozens and dozens of tiny stalls selling fish and snacks, and also small to medium sized restaurants. 

Some are standing room only. The place is busy, but not busier than say the Ferry building in SF or St. Lawrence market in Toronto. It was completely manageable.

 

We made our way through the maze, snacking on what looked good. 

Grilled scallop skewers

 

More grilled scallops topped with tons of uni (sea urchin)

 

I have no idea what these are except for the lotus root part. Some sort of veggie cake. 

 

We also had some super fresh sashimi from a stall and sat down at a restaurant and had some train sushi. 

The halls are very narrow. 

 

Some of the restaurants are right in the hallways. 

 

We headed back to home base to meet up with Nicole and Timm so Nicole could show us Shibuya crossing. This is the is the big pedestrian scramble that is famously busy. It was not busy. People were doing other things today. Still interesting to see. 

Shibuya is another district where there is some actual noise in Tokyo. We went to a really interesting multi-level store with tons of stationary, notebooks, pens, and anything else called Tokyo Hands. Japan is famous for paper. 

 

 

We then walked to pick up lunch near Yoyogi park. Check out the convenience of these gas stations. You don't have to pick a side of the pump!

 

We picked a tempura restaurant and got some delicious tempura for about $4. We ate in the park, since we had more than two people and we were faced with the same problem of no group seating. Ishaan immediately found fistfuls of twigs to eat. 

 

After eating Nicole and Ishaan left for his nap time and Timm, Madhu, and I walked to the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, which was used during the 1964 Olympics and will be used again in the 2020 Olympics. 

 

We then headed to Harajuku (famous for the girls who dress up, although none were present today). It seems mostly like a kitschy tourist shopping area, but we did get some delicious crepes. Crepes are everywhere here!

 

Right next door is the entrance to Meiji shrine. It includes a forest of 120,000 trees. The walk up to the shrine is really wonderful, all of a sudden you are surrounded by forest and rustling trees. The shrine itself was under construction, and there wasn't much to see, but the walk itself was nice. 

 

 

Sake barrels offered to the enshrined deities by brewers from around Japan. 

 

 Ema: votive tablets for special personal prayers. 

 

We then took a cab to Naka-Meguro, since I had seen some great photos of the cherry blossom trees surrounding the canal there. I was not disappointed. I think this was my favorite cherry blossom spot. The petals filled the canal and turned it pink. The walk down the canal really can't be beat for its beauty. 

 

 

 

We headed home and had some play time with Ishaan before dinner. He's a ridiculously fun baby. 

 

We did dinner at Gonpachi, a fairly famous restaurant that is known for ambiance, as well as for the famous fight scene in kill bill. The ambiance was definitely impressive. I love the mix of Japanese maples and cherry blossoms everywhere. 

 

 

   

All in all, a very jam packed day.