After a welcome shower we headed out to find breakfast number 2.
We didn’t have much of a plan for today, it was really a recovery day followed by a food tour in the evening, so we just walked out of the hotel and turned left to see what we would find.
After walking along a couple of streets we hadn’t found anywhere for breakfast but we had spotted Tokyo Tower, which is reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower.
Thinking there might be some breakfast options at the tower we walk over, through Shiba park. There are cafe’s and restaurants but it’s still too early for any of them to be open. So after a lap we headed left and headed towards a bakery we’d seen on the map.
We didn’t get far down the road before we passed a hotel which claimed to have a nice terrace with a view for breakfast. £100 lighter, but no longer hungry, we set off for the metro to Shibuya Crossing to have a look around.
Diana opts to go back to the hotel to have a nap while the kids and I power through.
We figure out the metro ticket machine and manage to find our way to Shibuya. Everywhere is so clean and there is no rushing or pushing like you expect in a capital city of this size.
The crossing is good fun, and we cross back and forth a couple of times for amusement before ducking into a 7/Eleven to buy some unusual snacks. Everything has a lot of flavour!
We then explore the area, there’s lots bars, restaurants and shops which look interesting and kind of what I imagined we might find.
After walking the streets for a while we spy a high end supermarket and take a look around. Bella buys some Matcha tea as presents for her friends and Alex buys some crazy priced grapes after drooling over the crazy priced melons. £65 for a melon seems insane. They must be good!
Everything in the shop was very neat and the fruit packaged like it was precious ceramics.
We later find out that the “precious” fruits are status gifts and everybody in Japan knows the worth of each type and hence the importance of the gift.
After grocery shopping we decide to check out Roppongi Hills before heading back to the hotel for a nap and change for dinner.
On the way to Roppongi Hills we stop at a coffee house for a cool drink and to shelter in the air con. The place has a classic style about it and they serve a retro egg pudding which I try, it’s essentially crème caramel. Alex orders a suspicious looking melon ice cream float, which he is very happy about!
Roppongi Hills is a newish business park and shopping centre. It’s full of high fashion and business suits and feels a bit like Canary Wharf. It’s was nice and everything, but we felt it was like anywhere else in the world so we didn’t stay long before heading back to the hotel on the metro.
Once back at the hotel, the kids took a nap while I hung out in the hotel bar investigating things to do for the next few days.
By 5pm we were dressed for dinner and heading out to the meeting point. Tonight we have a foodie tour, which is three venues, the first is sushi, second is Wagu, and the third is a snack bar.
We meet up with our guides who are very knowledgeable about the area and Japan in general. They are very welcoming and keen for us to have a nice time.
The first stop is sushi after a walk through the back streets near Shinjuku. There’s lots of bars and restaurants and the place is starting to become busy with people out enjoying their Friday night.
Bella and I opt for the Edo era menu and Alex and Diana the modern sushi set. Both are delicious and the kids try actual sushi with raw fish for the first time. Our guides explain the origins of sushi and talk about the history of Japan while we enjoy the meal.
After Sushi we walk back through the nearby streets, stopping for a photo opportunity with Godzilla who is mounted on top of a local hotel!
Next up was the Wagu, and the guide is clearly very proud to offer us top quality Wagu. There were four types to sample, all from diffident cuts and with different levels of marbelling. Alex was really in his element here and tidied up anything going spare! The one which was supposed to be the best, we found a little too fatty, and the middle cut with the least marbelling was our favourite. I tried Shochu on ice which was a little like a vodka but not as strong.
After Wagu, we moved onto the snack bar which was nostalgic retro bar full of the kid of snacks children of Japan enjoy. Once seated, you took a little basket to the “shop” and helped yourself to various snacks, of which we all enjoyed. The guides were clearly reliving their childhood and really got into it!
We were all stuffed by the end of the evening and looking forward to our beds. We took the metro home after managing to buy tickets for the wrong metro company and having to ask for a refund at the desk.
The kids fell asleep on the metro, with Alex falling onto the lady sitting next to him, thankfully she saw the funny side.
We all fell asleep instantly after a very long, exciting first day!