During
After
All the teams I cared about made it to the 2nd round and lost, so see you in another 4 years, soccer.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Shiga Kogen and Obuse; Rad Places Near Nagano
Make sure you fill up your tank and your gut. Chili cheese dog at the Kamisato expressway stop. Was it rad? Yes, yes it was.
The fuck? Ok, so I got off in Karuizawa, which is a sort of rich people mecca in the woods. Tons of western style mountain cottages and what not. But head north, and you can take route 292 over the mountains to Shiga Kogen, and on to Nagano. The road passes tons of neat stuff, like hot springs, volcanos, and emerald green lakes. All of which couldn't be seen due to the fog.
The fuck? Oh yeah, there was snow on the ground. It's the end of June. Dress accordingly. I didn't.
Despite the semi crappy weather, this ride was amazing. If the weather was perfect, this could rank as one of the best roads in this part of Japan.
After your descent on the other side, you can check out the wild monkey onsen. I went there a long time ago, so I didn't bother this time around. Instead I went to Shibu-Onsen for a bath. Funny story, right in front of this sign, some people asked me where the monkey onsen was. Like literally right here. Glad I could help you guys out!
Cool little onsen town. If you stay at a local inn, you can wear a yukata and get a key and can visit any of the 10 or so public bath houses.
There is even a stamp rally, as this kindly lady showed me.
But I wasn't a guest, so I couldn't get in. Just down the road, though, at Yudanaka station is an onsen... in the station!
The highlight... a bath with about 200 roses floating in it. I didn't take any photos, cause I was naked, and there were like 20 little kids, and I don't want to go to jail.
After a depressing late night Korea World Cup match, headed to nearby Obuse the next day. What's in Obuse?
My favorite sake brewery, Masuichi.
The Hekiken is my favorite sake in Japan. The blue bottle is strikingly beautiful.
But the Hakkin, served from a beautiful metal bottle, is amazing (and expensive) as well.
Then we had ice cream. Nothings better than some tasty scoops with your boys! Ice cream kiss!
When I drove back, it was like driving underwater. Rainy season in Japan is a dick like that.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sushi Day in Tokyo
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.
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...
This little mom and pop shop in Nakameguro.
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.
The ingredients for the next hour or two.
Otoro drizzled with boiling olive oil.
Air sushi!
"Don't eat! It's my joke!" - Sushi dude
Salmon shabu shabu nigiri.
Burnt cheese and avocado.
Uni ochazuke (rice in green tea... it's hella good)
Breakfast sushi (bacon and eggs).
Ice cream sushi. You KNOW it was good.
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.
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