Today’s our last day before heading home, so we spend some time strolling the streets of Tokyo.
We’re here about three weeks before the famous cherry blossoms will open up along the canal in the Nakameguro neighborhood, so I used AI to coax Mother Nature to put on a show twenty-one days early:
Today was not the greatest lunch — quick eats at the Spring Valley brewery — but it was still interesting. Our appetizers were Aosa Zeppole: fried doughballs flavored with seaweed, sort of like hush puppies made with pizza dough. We also tried the “Black Fried Chicken” (Daikanyama Black Kara-age), which uses a rice powder batter and squid ink to achieve its midnight-hued crust:
After a quiet Sunday morning strolling almost deserted streets, we wanted a little more energy … so we headed for Takeshita Street, known for its youth culture, snack shops, and “dog, pig, or otter cafes” where people pay to lie on the floor and pet animals. Crazy busy!
We checked out one of the popular “capsule shops,” where mostly young girls crowded in, dropped coins in machines, and got little keychains and stuffed animals dispensed in tiny plastic containers.
I found Patrice Smith some shoes she should try:
All we bought, though, was bottled water from one of the crazy vending machines that are on every corner, selling everything from bottled water and beer to cans of coffee that heat up when you pull the tab on top.
For now, back to the hotel to decide on dinner. I’m thinking omakase style: pay one fee, sit down at the counter, and let the sushi chef surprise you with whatever he wants to make.
Headed home tomorrow! It’s funny to me how it seems like we’ve been gone forever and also gone no time at all.
