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

[Rugby]

The fish market is good, but you definitely got the top two with the Sumo and the snow monkeys. I'd go back the Sumo again in a flash - I loved listening to the American commentator on the rented radio headset. And just quietly are you really in Seville?

 

[amaroo]

The walk is breathtakingly beautiful! It's a shame it's only 3.2k

 

[amaroo]

The fish market is good, but you definitely got the top two with the Sumo and the snow monkeys. I'd go back the Sumo again in a flash - I loved listening to the American commentator on the rented radio headset. And just quietly are you really in Seville?

Indeed. I'd attend another tournament in a heartbeat. My youngest got to play scissor - paper - rock with one of the Japanese commentators... saw a queue and joined it. Must be a tradition?

Just quietly, no That was taken Dec 2011

 

[amaroo]

There's an Inn at the end of the trail, they have a hot spring where you strip off and if lucky enough a monkey will join you. Middle right of the photo you can see steam venting from the ground.







First view of the tub

 

[amaroo]

The hot tubbing rockstars have a different attitude to the monkeys down at the car park. They're pretty cool around people and wander in, out, and around you all the time.

 

[amaroo]

Apparently the water temp is 43c ... the monkeys stick their arms out of the water to cool down.

 

[amaroo]

Dozing, cleaning, eating - it's all action in the tub!

 

[amaroo]

..........

 

[amaroo]

We then walked back down the hill and had a lovely spicy Ramen for lunch

 

[mmchow]

They are are sooooo cute in the pool!!!

 

[GarrettM]

Was Tsukiji closed for the day? Or as part of the long-mooted move.

Very much hoping it's open in April. But we shall see.

 

[amaroo]

Was Tsukiji closed for the day? Or as part of the long-mooted move.

Very much hoping it's open in April. But we shall see.

It was closed the weekend we were free. Take a look at this calendar to see if your date works http://www.tsukiji-uoichiba.co.jp/english/calendar/images/calendar2017en.pdf

 

[amaroo]

After lunch we made directions for Zenko-Ji temple.

Founded in the 7th century, rebuilt 1707 it housed the first Buddhist statue brought into Japan. The city of Nagano was established around the temple.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenkō-ji

 

[amaroo]

Don't you love the Japanese custom of making you walk pass shops on the way to a temple or shrine.



Our guide then took us to a quintessential (tourist) sake tasting



We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Heigoro patisserie (Est 1648)... we preferred this type of tasting 平五郎 HEIGORO ｜ 長野ã®ã‚±ãƒ¼ã‚­ スイーツ パティスリー è“å­åº—





A short drive back to Nagano station and our Monkey adventure was closing to an end.... we caught the 17.09 Shinkansen back to Tokyo station.

Great day!

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I LOVE Japanese cake shops ! well as long as the cake is not green tea flavour that is

 

[yld200]

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.

 

[snabbu]

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

Kobe Beef - look at that magnificent marbleization! The best I've tasted!

View attachment 89199

A quick dip in here and it's ready to eat.

View attachment 89198

OMG that looks out of this world.

 

[QF WP]

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

 

[love_the_life]

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

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.

 

[QF WP]

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