Far EA(s)Ts .... The Golden Triangle!

[drron]

Surely it is the katsuobushi that is dancing-bonito flakes.

 

[amaroo]

Great TR amaroo!

Loving the food shots and the hot tub monkey day trip looked fascinating. How did you find the weather in Tokyo? Is it too cold to spend the day walking around? We almost went to Tokyo over Christmas but decided we wanted a warmer holiday instead.

Thank you.

Average high was around 9 with a low of 0. The sky was clear and walking around was very pleasant. Coming from Singapore and Bangkok - it was a welcome relief.

 

[amaroo]

The snow monkeys are amazing and all but my goodness...



OMG that looks out of this world.

I love beef! This was the best I've tasted.

 

[amaroo]

Awesome Japanese-part of the TR and I'll agree the Kobe beef shabu shabu and patisserie made my mouth water, whilst the snow monkeys are cute. Now if you'd had okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza), I'd have started hypersalivating...

Ah yes, Sake...bad memories there

Thank you! No Okonomiyaki this trip ... have had before - lovely!

True enough, I call it a "pizza" because a pancake rarely has as many (savoury) toppings...not sure what mayo is being put on yours, as mine normally have tomato or BBQ sauce, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and sometimes honey/sugar. Plus some flakes of nori (seaweed) that with the heat of the okonomiyaki seem to dance.... (sorry, going off topic). I'll stop now. Heading there 15th Feb

Enjoy! Can we look forward to a TR?

 

[amaroo]

After arriving back at the hotel and enjoying the comfort of the club lounge - the kids decided they wanted to order room service using the in-room iPad.

Room service didn't interest us - so we went looking for a decent place to eat.

http://www.tgt-kioicho.jp.e.yu.hp.transer.com/shop/f305.html

Yakitori was on the menu tonight.

 

[amaroo]

Excellent meal

 

[mmchow]

Yakitori is my all time favourite. Have bookmarked this restaurant for future JPN trip.

 

[Daver6]

Yes, okonomiyaki is delicious and there are so many different local versions though I don't particularly like the mayo squirted all over the top. I thought okonomiyaki was more a pancake than a pizza but it's all academic, yummy whatever we call it.

I believe the English translation is actually Japancake

 

[drron]

The literal translation is grilled how you like it.
Yaki is grilled hence yakitori grilled chicken.
Okonomi-how/as you like it.

 

[amaroo]

Exciting day! Today we're going to the 2017 Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament.

We were too late to buy tournament tickets directly therefore, the only option available was to go as part of a group tour

The package included transport from various hotels, our hotel wasn't on the list, but I noticed one that was - it was also only a 3 min walk away After a quick glance on the web it was clear this particular hotel was a tourist attraction in its own right....

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attr...den-Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

The New Otani Hotel has a unique feature - a 400 year old, 10 acre Japanese garden... with waterfall!

Japanese Garden | Hotel New Otani Tokyo

This place has history and like most things was saved from development and destruction by the selfless passion of one person - Yonetaro Otani

Can you imagine what 10 acres in the heart of Tokyo, 2 km from the Imperial Palace is worth!!!! :shock:

This is what 10 acres looks like from the air ... the Imperial Palace is the green bit on the right



The Man in his garden

 

[amaroo]

There was some sort of coming of age celebration / event happening in the hotel - masses of young ladies dressed to the nines in traditional Kimodo. We were very lucky to see such a beautiful thing!

 

[amaroo]

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[amaroo]

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[amaroo]

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[amaroo]

That's our hotel in the background



A very excellent way to wait for a bus!

Definitely worth dropping in a wandering around this lovely garden!

 

[Moindardt]

Love the TR. The kids are all wanting to do a similar trip and this has been an excellent discussion point. The biggest issue is all the seafood with 3 of us being a lot more of the carnivore type

BTW What are you taking the photo's on? There are so many fantastic photos.

 

[amaroo]

Love the TR. The kids are all wanting to do a similar trip and this has been an excellent discussion point. The biggest issue is all the seafood with 3 of us being a lot more of the carnivore type

BTW What are you taking the photo's on? There are so many fantastic photos.

Thank you - glad it's of some interest. I'm sure you'll find plenty of non-seafood options to satisfy a family of meat eaters.

I'm exclusively a phone camera traveller - iPhone 7 ... I upload the photos "as is" via the (old) AFF app - the easiest way to file a TR!

 

[amaroo]

We were picked up right on time and bussed to a central location which was the meeting point for countless tours.

Soon enough we made our way to the JR line (ticket incl in price) and headed towards Ryogoku Kokugikan



Boom! We arrived front and centre of the Sumo Arena ... these guys have a "red carpet" style of entrance - rockstars!





The first look of the Dohyo

 

[amaroo]

Some interesting facts...

There are 44 Heya (sumo stables) that house and train around 650 sumo https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heya_(sumo)

Dates back over 2,000 years as a religious ritual. It started to be a form of entertainment around 1,500 years ago

The best sumo earn around $30k a month +++

Winnings - 50% paid in cash on the day, handed over in envelopes prior to leaving the Dohyo

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

We have got to go to a session ! I love watching the sumo on TV. But I would want to be ringside !