This is Part One.
Tsukiji Fish Market
I started my day by visiting the Tsukiji (TSOO KEY GEE) Fish Market in the Ginza area of Tokyo. The Market, by itself, isn’t anything that much to look at although I’ve included a few photos in the link. The reason for going to Tsukiji is the sushi as it has some of the freshest in the world. You need to work for it a little bit as to get to the restaurants within the market, you have to dodge forklifts and trucks that criss-cross the entrance area hauling crates and boxes of just-packaged fish. I followed an elderly couple into the market and their poor reflexes almost got them whacked by two different forklifts. Imagine that moral dilemma. Be delayed from fresh sushi by providing first aid to a flattened Japanese couple or stepping over their twitching bodies to get to the maguro (blue fin)? Hmmm. You probably don’t want to know my answer. Moving on.
You might also think that the Market has the overpowering stench of fish but it wasn’t that way. By the time I got there, most of the fish from that morning’s catch was already completely packaged or being sliced and diced in the Market’s sushi restaurants. By the way, I’m using the term “restaurant” rather loosely here as most of the sushi joints were only about 6-8 feet wide that’s including the sushi table for the chef and the counter and stools for the customers. You can imagine how easily I fit into one of these places. But the misery of the seating was well worth it as it was a great meal. Most people were ordering just one lunch. Lightweights. I didn’t come all the way to Tsukiji to try one lunch. When I ordered the two meals the waitress looked at me like “who else is with you?”
So I ended up ordering the “Sazanka” (photo included) which consisted of 6 pieces of Makizushi (rolled sushi), 7 pieces of Nigirizushi (hand-formed sushi) and the fairly standard piece of Tamago (egg omelet). I’m not sure of everything that was included in the Nigirizushi but it did include maguro (blue fin), ebi (shrimp), Hotategai (scallop) and mackarel. I also ordered the Chirashizushi which is a bowl of rice with various sushi ingredients on top. In this case, the Chirashizushi included sliced maguro and diced toro (tuna belly). The fresh maguro was definitely the best part of the meal. Top all that off with some miso soup and green tea and I left Tsukiji a happy man. Total cost for lunch: $38. Maguro ain’t cheap.
 |
| Tsukiji Fish Market |
Ginza
I then took a stroll East and then North through Ginza. Ginza is overloaded with stores and restaurants. I almost rented a place in Ginza but made the poor choice of staying in Shinagawa since I could walk to the one work location. I may need to relocate before this assignment is up. The apartments are smaller but way more to see and do in Ginza.
Ginza includes the Kabuki-za Theater and one of Tokyo’s busiest intersections at the corner of Harumi-Dori and Chuo-Dori. I’ve included photos of both.
 |
| Ginza Sights |
Stay Tuned for Part 2
No comments:
Post a Comment