Pages

Monday, June 28, 2010

Sushi Day in Tokyo

20100623-DSC_1655

This is Kyubei, one of the most famous and arguably best sushi shops in Tokyo. I didn't take many photos of the omakase lunch that was had there, because the place is super classy and I didn't want to be all taking hella shots like a jerk. In the end though, it wasn't as high collar as I thought it would be, and I think I could have gotten away with taking a few.

20100623-DSC_1652

The master sushi chef told me that each of these knives is about $1000, which might seem like a lot, but when you figure that dinners run upwards of $300 a person it's not too bad.

How I ended up at a sushi shop a few zeros above my budget is totally rad. Some nice folks found my website and asked if I'd be their personal sushi and museum guide for the day. We went to the super traditional Ginza shop for lunch, and for dinner...

20100623-DSC_1663

This little mom and pop shop in Nakameguro.

20100623-DSC_1667

A lot of regulars come in for the more "experimental" sushi that the chef creates. If you let him do his thing, you won't be upset.

20100623-DSC_1666

The ingredients for the next hour or two.

20100623-DSC_1670

Otoro drizzled with boiling olive oil.

20100623-DSC_1672

20100623-DSC_1673

Air sushi!

20100623-DSC_1676

"Don't eat! It's my joke!" - Sushi dude

20100623-DSC_1678

Salmon shabu shabu nigiri.

20100623-DSC_1679

20100623-DSC_1681

20100623-DSC_1682

20100623-DSC_1687

Burnt cheese and avocado.

20100623-DSC_1688

Uni ochazuke (rice in green tea... it's hella good)

20100623-DSC_1691

Breakfast sushi (bacon and eggs).

20100623-DSC_1693

Ice cream sushi. You KNOW it was good.

20100623-DSC_1696

The mad crazy expensive Ginza place was a bit of a let down, but the mom and pop was amazing. I left a few of the things we ate off, so you can surprise yourself! I'll give you a hint. A horse walks into a sushi bar. Why the long face? Then everyone eats him.

That's you hint.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Ogawayama, the Yosemite of Japan

20100620-DSC_1581

This spot is pretty countryside, near the borders of Yamanashi, Nagano, and Saitama, but when I saw on my motorcycle map that there was a mountain with the description "The Yosemite of Japan", I had to check it out.

20100620-DSC_1582

Bonus, you might be able to see some Kamoshika, which is some kind of Japanese deer. I didn't see any.

20100620-DSC_1584

This place is beautiful and empty. Honestly, I was in a line of traffic for 2 hours the day before... to go to Costco. About half the people at Costco were families. In just a little more time, you could bring the kin up here, and let the kids run around in something natural. I know that Costco has free samples and 3D televisions, but nature doesn't cost much... and it's in 3D!

20100620-DSC_1587

How many families in Japan have been here, or any non-on-the-tourism-map mountains, vs. how many have been to Disneyland? I don't want an answer to that rhetorical question, because I think I already have it. Also, it's hard to make fractions with zeros.

20100620-DSC_1588

I didn't have much time, but some older hiking ladies said it would take about 4 hours to get to the top of Ogawayama. Which means it would take me 2. I went up for an hour, then back.

20100620-DSC_1590

This spot is well known (apparently) for rock climbing. Just like the real Yosemite!

20100620-DSC_1596

The granite rocks were nice, but Yosemite?!? Is that supposed to be a mini Half Dome over there? Right across from the 3 meter tall El Capitan?

20100620-DSC_1597

There's a nice campground. And a nicer ryokan, Mr. Moneybags.

20100620-DSC_1599

Awesome, you can do a little rock climbing of your own, even if you forgot your gear. You know, those metal hooky things and harnesses and what not.

20100620-DSC_1600

20100620-DSC_1601

20100620-DSC_1602

So, yeah, check it out if you have a chance. Although the internet spoke of rock climbers, I saw none. There was a 20% chance of rain, which means 99.99% of people won't go somewhere with trees. Maybe they are up at the peak.

Speaking of peaks.

20100620-DSC_1603

I rode the CB1000 over 9km of dirt to get to the highest mountain pass in Japan. At 2360m.

Hooray, I guess.

20100620-DSC_1607

The dozen dudes on dirt bikes, besides thinking I was fucking crazy for riding my 100% non-dirt bike on a 100% dirt road told me that this is the end of some well known Japanese road. They said to take a picture and tell my Japanese friends. Is there something to this?

Riding back, you'll pass through Kofu, which looked pretty rad. There are a ton of onsen, boasting selling points like views of Fuji, or hella grapes, but it started raining so I went home.

I'm serious about the grapes.

Oh, check out my video. It has no sound, so it's boring. But it's only a couple minutes. You can be bored for a couple minutes, yeah?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Haikyo! Sun Park Hotel, Kiyosato

20100620-DSC_1522

I was riding in the mountains of Yamanashi, a couple hours from Tokyo, when I came across another rad random hotel haikyo. These are the ruins of the Sun Park Hotel. Let's check it out!

20100620-DSC_1525

If you're feeling adventurous, go ahead and climb the fire escape ladder to the 2nd floor.

20100620-DSC_1528

Or just walk in the back. Your choice. I chose the door.

20100620-DSC_1530

20100620-DSC_1532

There's a nice bar in back.

20100620-DSC_1538

I need a drink. One part grenadine, 2 parts shochu. Preferably haunted shochu.

20100620-DSC_1576

20100620-DSC_1542

Old timey phone!

20100620-DSC_1544

The rule is, when you see a lone shoe, whatever thought was on your mind will come true. Am I the only one who grew up thinking that superstition?

20100620-DSC_1534

Even though access was extremely easy, this place didn't feel safe. The floor had a strange, spongy texture to it that seems like it could cave in at any moment. And this was on the 4th floor.

20100620-DSC_1559

The spongy texture could be due to the fact that it was actually alive.

20100620-DSC_1561

Surely, even when the hotel was in full working order, this stairwell was still terrifying.

20100620-DSC_1562

Poor kids, this room was full of bunks, probably meant for groups of school kids bent on visiting the Kiyosato countryside. It's famous for milk and ice cream.

20100620-DSC_1578

How many people sat here in the dining room with a dairy treat?

20100620-DSC_1573

Maybe Mr. Hashida himself (or herself?) sat here doing just that.

20100620-DSC_1568

Or maybe he (she?) retired to one of the rooms. Nice touch... a pay TV and a roll of toilet paper.

20100620-DSC_1567

There were toothbrushes EVERYWHERE.

20100620-DSC_1548

The cafe terrace must have seemed like a nice idea at the time. It probably got hit with one winter and then rotted away.

20100620-DSC_1572

Every haikyo seems to have something dated. This time was a bus schedule from 1989. I wonder if they heard the bubble burst all the way out here.

20100620-DSC_1560

20100620-DSC_1580

If you're one of the many haikyo enthusiast out there, this one is really easy to find. On route 141, just north of Kiyosato station. Or was it south. Anyways it's there. It looked like there were other haikyo in the area. Have at it people. The Kiyosato area is totally touristy too, if you are into that sort of thing.

20100620-DSC_1549

20100620-DSC_1552

20100620-DSC_1553

20100620-DSC_1566

I'm out, my next stop is an hour up the road, described as 日本のヨセミテ, the Japanese Yosemite. Rad!