Whitney woke up bright and early and got us to the Tsukiji Fish Market sort of on time. The fish market is a very busy place, with motorized & human-propelled carts going every which way at very high speeds, and it is a little overwhelming but you know you better stay alert because otherwise you’re going to get run over by a cart and it is going to suck.

We saw thousands of stalls selling all manner of marine life (in various states of fresh -> frozen). Tuna, sea urchin, squid, snapper, shrimp, eel, etc. It was raining and that helped keep the fish goo from getting on our clothes.

We also saw the tail (ha ha) end of the frozen tuna auction (complete with policeman in white uniforms yelling NO FLASH NO FLASH).

And then I ate very fresh raw tuna & fish eggs & rice & miso soup & tea & some other delicious pickled things. (Whitney ate a fiber one bar).

Then we went to the Imperial Palace with David & Susanne & two of her friends, and saw our first cherry tree. Side note: the guards at the Imperial Palace do NOT have a sense of humor!

From there we went to Akhibara – the big electronics district. I had expected more neon. Mostly there were arcades (with crazy anime-style toys to win) – I played tekken 6 and was just as good as I remembered. Got green tea ice cream from the vending machine (I started to fall in love with the vast array of vending machines). Went into what looked like a normal comic book store and saw some crazy pornographic comics. Lots of shops selling electronics gear (some were selling resistors & circuit boards & leds in the basement).

Then we all ate lunch at another Korean place (Whitney again had rice, and kimchi, and a Fiber One bar). David & co went to sing karaoke, and Whit & I went to see cherry blossoms at Rikugien Garden. The garden was huge and peaceful and calming, even in the rain. A huge weeping cherry tree was at the entrance. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a little grocery store where Whitney almost wept for joy at the sight of oranges for sale. We didn’t really have the money thing down yet, so the owner of the shop took the money she needed from our outstretched hands.

We went back to the hotel for a short nap, and then we went shopping at “the Loft” – Japan’s version of Ikea. Except of course, the emphasis is on smaller cuter things, not so much furniture. (Also – lots of Engrish here).

I stopped at a streetcart outside the train station & got a chicken kabob w/ garlic chili sauce – delicious – and lucky, because the Tokyo cops shut the guy down as I was buying my food. (Whitney stopped and McD’s and ordered an ice cream cone.) Then we went back to the hotel, where we watched a little Japanese-dubbed CNN and fell asleep.

On to Day 3: Miyajima (AM)

Related posts:

1. Japan Day 1, Tokyo