Well the trip is already flying by it seems, and day two was absolutely overflowing with activity. That means I’ll probably start skipping on some of the detail as I just don’t have the energy or time for more.

Jetlag

Our Jetlag battle ended the previous night at around 9pm, and resulted in a 5am wake up. Pretty good all things considered, and we started our first morning right with a jog down to the pier. While jogging is supposed to be more popular in Tokyo than it ever was, we still felt somewhat out of place amidst a mostly salary-man population. The weather was perfect though, and it’s always great to see the ebb and flow of what’s a normal morning for most of Tokyo. And of course, the side effect of feeling like it’s mid-afternoon at 6am results in a surprisingly rousing and spirited early morning run that I dub “The Jetlag Jog”.

Conrad’s Rad Breakfast

While the hotel dinner was delicious, it was embarassingly American. I had fear that the hotel breakfast offered would be similar, but my fears were turned on their head as I entered into one of the best Japanse breakfasts I’ve ever had. Onsen eggs perfectly stirred and fluffed into piping hot rice, pickled this and that, premium natto with strings for days, grilled fish rare and rich, tofu so light it nearly floated away, and a tremendous spread of fruit. There were also western offerings on hand, but the Japanese portion kept me utterly satiated.

Sakura

A serendipitous coincidence is that we just so happened to be going to Japan at the peak bloom of sakura, or cherry-blossom, trees. While there are many ways to enjoy them, it just so happened that one of the best in Tokyo was across the street at the Hamarikyu Gardens. The whole family enjoyed an elegant and meandering stroll around this beautiful city garden, one of many that sit throughout Tokyo, each feeling like their own private Central Park. Hamarikyu used to serve as a local garden getaway for the Shogun, for hunting ducks and recreation. We enjoyed a Shogun favorite in the form of green tea and candy at a tea house that had been recreated from the era.

The Mythic Mall of Candy

The day plan was the much talked about mall suggested by one of my parents’ friends. In the middle of downtown Ginza, deluxe was the name of the game. While the deluxe clothes proved to be too expensive, the food and candy options that were promised didn’t dissapoint. A stop in an udon shop provided deliciousness for all, and my curry udon with accompanying bib was incredibly comforting after the somewhat hectic subway trip there. The basement floors provided a more market place environs, including a myriad of candies, pastries, cheeses, honeys, fresh produce, and one mango that cost around 100 dollars.

The Izakaya Experience

After a long day and still afflicted with jetlag, the family (sans Grandma) somehow made it to the local fancy izakaya, and the authenticity was proved in the hordes of salarymen sitting amidst clouds of smoke, drinking their hard days away and replenishing for tomorrow. The highlights here were giant asparagus paradoxically tender, god tier avocado better than any from the western hemisphere, delicious mackerel sushi, and greasy pork and lamb to be washed down with a surprisingly flavorful yet smooth sake. It’s worth saying that I didn’t recognize any of the sake on the list except one, so I’m very excited about trying many more yet.