Late lunch at family-friendly pasta chain @lapausaofficial - mine was spaghetti with scallop, cod roe, shiso and nori #sashimimimi
Hayao Miyazaki’s Giant Clock is near our hotel.
Sadly, the mechanism is being refurbished right now, so we didn’t get to see it in action. #sashimimimi
Miyazaki-san’s clock is in the same style as Howl’s Moving Castle, right down to its chickeny feet, so it’s a sight to see, even without the show. #sashimimimi#ghibli#HayaoMiyazaki
Cute creatures posing with cuter creatures. #sashimimimi
Gashapon aka capsule toys!
A terrible money-wasting addiction I have passed onto my children!
These machines are everywhere but esp. in geeky places like Akihabara.
(if you’re familiar with Shenmue, you’ll understand my urge to say “Why don’t I GET another?”)
Then bumbled past this Nippon TV bouncy castle which we had to drag the kids away from because the queue was immense. #sashimimimi
After a bit more of a wander, we went to Katsuya (かつや) in Shimbashi and had tonkatsu (pork cutlet), ebi furai (pankoed prawns) and a smashing tonjiru (pork, vegetable and miso soup).
Katsuya’s a chain and cheap as chips, but would definitely go again. #katsu#sashimimimi
Dessert was ice cream puffs from Hirota.
These are choux buns stuffed with flavoured ice creams - we chose strawberry, milk tea and rice. All ace. #sashimimimi
Carried on wandering past the gado-shita (“below the girders”) restaurants and bars built under the railway arches between Shimbashi and Yurakucho. #sashimimimi
At Kaminarimon today, the big “Thunder Gate” at Sensō-ji temple in Asakusa #sashimimimi
Summer time in Japan means summer festival foods like takoyaki, chicken karaage, and yakisoba #sashimimimi
We queued for the world famous jumbo melon-pan from Kagetsudo. Think warm, fluffy brioche with a crisp, sugared biscuit topping (no melons actually involved). Bliss. #sashimimimi
The kids do like posing and opportunities abound. #sashimimi
Lunch at Sansada, one of Japan’s oldest tempura restaurants which seems entirely staffed by older ladies.
Their tatami room is perfect for small children who have fallen asleep. Their kids’ bento is also brilliant. #sashimimimi
Couldn’t resist ordering Sansada’s Hokkai Oyako-don - salmon roe, grilled salmon flakes, and salmon sashimi on rice. #sashimimimi
Then more ambling and a run around Ueno Park to attempt to wear the kids out before heading back to the hotel. #sashimimimi
Packing up again for Osaka tomorrow, so convenience store dinner tonight. Still ace though.
Instant noodles chosen by husband and kids.
Cold fresh udon with daikon, spring onions, fishcake, sudachi (a really fragrant citrus fruit) and tsuyu sauce for me.