A British vacation (but I'm also going to Japan)

[rbjhan]

Time was 4.30pm or something, I thought we could go to Azabudai Hills to see the sunset...

It was only one stop away on the metro Namboku line. We got off at Roppongi Itchome station and there were signs clearly pointing to Azabudai Hills.
However inside the building(s) I got a bit lost....had to ask staff where the Sky Lobby was....

When the Sky Lobby just opened I believe it was free, nowadays there's an entrance fee of 500 Yen plus you need to order at least one drink. So something like 1200 Yen minimum spend, depends on the drink ofc.

As a result there weren't that many people.


If you are not aware, Azabudai Hills Sky Lobby is the best viewing spot for Tokyo Tower!
Sadly we were a little too late for sunset....this was about 5.30 iirc....so you need to be here around 4.30 in early November.


I really need a lens skirt!
You don't see much reflection on this photo, but damn that was a monumental effort


One of my all time favourite brands, Nakamura Tokichi, opened a shop in Azabudai Hills.


I wanted to have Yakitori but mother was tired...so we ordered takeout at Yoshinoya instead
Ah yes, another good thing about Akasaka is that there are soooo many restaurants near the Station, everything from cheap Japanese gyudon chains like Yoshinoya, Sukiya, all the way to fine dining places.

 

[rbjhan]

Anyone noticed the package on the table in the hotel room picture above?
Well that's actually a long story!

Back in March this year I ordered a foutain pen from Nakaya. They advised it would take one year.
Imagine my surprise when they made contact late October saying it's ready!
I was in England at that time so the emails back and forth took several days. Eventually they agreed to ship the pen to my Tokyo hotel instead!





It comes with pen kimono...


Aaahhh! Raden!! What a beauty


Edit
Need to show off the nib.

 

[rbjhan]

Day 20

I had planned a morning visit to Waseda University's Murakami Haruki Library and later Ikebukuro, ah but mother decided she's not going very last minute....
Quickly realised this would be a rare chance to go shopping without someone kept saying oh this is so expensive....

Off to Naka Meguro.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery
**No not a regular starbucks, there are only five(or six?) in the whole world.


Inside it's more like a whole shopping centre! Each floor has its own things going...




I came here for stationery though


Traveler's Notebook is totally my thing!

 

[rbjhan]

Next stop Daikanyama, there's a rather famous Tsutaya Bookstore.
I am posting this pic I found online, because I didn't take any!



Sigh, this was a public holiday and I forgot about it....
The whole place was jam packed, with families! Japanese kids are still kids yk.....I tried but damn it was awful in there.....left without any books!
Double sigh, didn't get another chance to visit bookstores this trip

 

[rbjhan]

From Daikanyama back to Akasaka, need to transfer at Shibuya.
As I was following the signs in Shibuya Station, saw one pointing to Hikarie (a shopping centre).
Hey there's a free view deck in Hikarie! (yeah I was always full of info you never know when it might be handy. And no, I do not use AI for trip planning.)

So ofc I went!
Miyashita Park


The famous Shibuya Crossing.

Shibuya Sky is the tall building on the left. It's in a slightly better location and on higher floor, whether that's worth the price is another matter...

 

[rbjhan]

Back to hotel and collected mother, we went to Tokyo University.




Canteen was closed though...


So we had lunch at Yayoiken.
This set was about 1200 Yen iirc. Yeah Tokyo was so much cheaper than Melbourne (let's don't bring UK into this coz that's just not fair. )


Mother was curious about this...
Basically it's telling you to get on which car if you want to get off at xx_ station. Oh yeah the Japanese people are just this level of meticulous!

 

[rbjhan]

We are all familiar with Yakiniku 焼肉 (Japanese bbq) I hope?
Well this Yakiniku restaurant totally blew my mind

Akasaka Misuji by Yoroniku

I knew the famous Yoroniku in Minami Aoyama, but didn't realise there's a sister shop in Akasaka! Found it as I was studying google maps near our hotel
Reservatios can be made online which is not always the case re Japanese fine dining places!

There were two dinner courses, we ordered the 8800 Yen one.

Entree, Korean style kimchi and namul.




Beef sashimi and tartare.




There's also a salad but I didn't take pictures.

 

[rbjhan]

Grilled meat seasoned with salt

Here's the major difference with normal Yakiniku places, you don't cook yourself! They do all the grilling (and they are so much better than me! )



Gyutan aka ox tongue. We upgraded to thick cut.


Lean meat


Outside skirt

 

[rbjhan]

Grilled meat seasoned with tare (Japanese bbq sauce)


Loin


Top blade


Soup

 

[rbjhan]

Grilled meat, rare part


Fillet


Silk roast, forgot which part it actually was....but omg it was so good!
Eaten with a very small onigiri.

 

[rbjhan]

Grilled meat, very special part I really like their names


Very special loin


焼きすき Yakisuki (note it's not Sukiyaki )


Cold noodles


Ice cream


OMG OMG if you like wagyu I highly recommend this place, or any of the Yoroniku restaurants.

It came to 20K Yen for the two of us including soft drinks and the upgrade. I am going to say this was the best meal of this whole trip.

I've studied their menu, the more expensive course has nigiri sushi and Chateaubriand, and truffles. Might try that next time.