Tokyo, Japan (i)

Mar 29.10. Just arrived in Tokyo and we're already guests at a Sushi Party. We have to thank the father of our friend Arnold for this pleasant surprise, as he has business connections with the host. The guests were a small group of people. Even though the Japanese are considered very reserved and rarely invite someone to their home, we were warmly welcomed and immediately felt at ease. We were really lucky to have such an authentic experience. The sushi was top-notch and was prepared right before our eyes. But it wasn't just the amazing food, the view from the penthouse of the skyscraper was spectacular. We could admire Tokyo Bay, the Skytower, and the Rainbow Bridge at night. Around midnight, we returned to our hotel.

Mar 30.10. The day started with the famous Shibuya Crossing. In Tokyo, there is the Shibuya Crossing, which is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. At Shibuya Crossing, during peak hours, you can intersect with about 2500 people at once, coming from all directions simultaneously. From there, we walked to Meiji-jingu, which is undoubtedly one of the most symbolic shrines in Tokyo. This Shinto shrine consists of various buildings. Located in Yoyogi Park, Shibuya, it was completed in November 1920 in honor of Emperor Meiji. This is a testament to the gratitude of the Japanese for this beloved emperor, the most shining example of which is the wooded park that surrounds the place of worship. Crossing the park with the colorful foliage was very relaxing, for a moment we almost forgot that we were in a big city. You know, movement stimulates the appetite, it's lunchtime! After lunch, we visited the Private Museum of the Samurai. The museum visit was very informative. Now we have a better understanding of the background of Japanese tradition. Then we witnessed a technical combat demonstration by a Samurai and a Ninja. I admit I was scared when the Samurai with the sword simulated a spectacular fight. Finally, we were even allowed to wear the costumes of a Princess and a Samurai.

To end this exciting day in style, we chose to have dinner at a special restaurant. This restaurant serves Kobe beef on a table grill. You can find more information on the website below:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.paginegialle.it/magazine/food/carne-di-kobe-4818/amp

We enjoyed every single gram and came to the conclusion that it was the best and most expensive meat we have ever eaten in our lives.

Fri 01.11. The morning is spent waiting to board the famous high-speed train Shinkansen Hikari that takes us from Tokyo to Kyoto, covering 457 km in just 2 and a half hours. Lunch in Kyoto near the train station and then we went to check into our hotel room. In the evening, in the city, we had dinner with a typical Japanese dish, Ramen!

Ramen is a simple but extremely tasty dish. It is a hot soup with noodles, vegetables, and a lot of toppings. Ramen is not only delicious but also a lot of fun to eat: you use chopsticks, but also a ladle for the broth. There are dozens and dozens of variations of the recipe, from meat to fish, from spices to vegetables, and in Japan, every region has its own typical variant. Because of its extreme versatility, it is very normal to taste Ramen in different variations from restaurant to restaurant.