Before our Japan trip, DJ has been doing a lot of reading and research on where and what is a must try for our trip in Tokyo.
He came across to this recommended steak house located at Kichijoji ; about 20 minutes train ride from Shinjuku station.

The steak house is located above a busy butcher on the main shopping street.
As early as 9am there are already heaps of people queuing up for off cut wagyu meatballs. Too bad we could not bring the meat back to Australia otherwise I would have gotten a kilo of the meatballs to try out.

A very steep staircase leading up to the dinning area. We were lucky to be there early otherwise we would have to wait for at least 30 minutes for a table.

The restaurant is very tiny and it can only accommodate maximum 16 patrons – 6 counter seats and 10 table seating.

My ¥5,250 Matsuzaka A5 beef set lunch served with bottomless rice.
The texture of the beef was so tender that chewing was not required. The meat just melts in the mouth. Unbelievable delicious.

Very happy and satisfied gaijins. Well done DJ!

Posted: March 12th, 2009 under Holidays, Munchies.
Comments: 2

17 SDS members @ Alupu Resort Inn, Hakuba Happoone.

What I like about snowboarding in Japan :
- Free shuttle bus to all mountains around Hakuba.

- Lift chair attendants are very polite. They actually sweep off the snow on the chairlift and greet us “dozo” (Please) before we sit on the chair.

- Wide and long green runs. My favourite green runs are at Goryu and Iimori.

- Heated toilet seats

- Vending machines that sells hot/cold drinks, beer, ciggies & even noodles!!

- Rest houses (cafes/restaurants) are everywhere on the mountain.

– Yummy Japanese lunch.

- Going to the onsen after a long day of boarding.

During our 5 days stay in Hakuba, we only had one good day with powdered snow where else the rest of the other days were icy and sluggish. But it didn’t really matter because boarding in Japan is still 10x better than boarding in Victoria.
Christchurch in August anyone?

Posted: March 8th, 2009 under Holidays.
Comments: none

Photo taken from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck - Level 45.

Whenever I cross a busy intersection in Tokyo I kind of have this nausea feeling on me. My eyes literally rolls very fast because of the fast motion of people walking from all directions. At one stage I could feel this heavy feeling on me and I nearly threw up.

This city was really an eye-opener for me. On the weekends, Tokyo was jammed packed with locals shopping and queuing for food or just queuing for the sake of nothing. I wouldn’t say I had a great or fun time… maybe the right word to describe this trip is “it’s different” just like how Bob Harris (Bill Murray) from Lost in Translation felt.

I was surprised that I did not go CRAZY-MAD on shopping. DJ was surprised too. The queue to the fitting room to the cashier has put me off from buying. My advice: never shop on weekends.

Next in my travel planner – Osaka “the gourmet food capital of Japan.” I think Tokyo is too fast pace for me.

I still have 1000+ photos to edit…arggh… more updates later. Time for bed.

Posted: March 5th, 2009 under Holidays.
Comments: 4

Happo One, Hakuba

Today we will be traveling back to Tokyo for some kick ass yakitori and fugu fish.
See you all in a weeks time.

Posted: February 26th, 2009 under Holidays.
Comments: none