Day 3: Shinjuku

Headed to Shinjuku to see the Robot Restaurant show that evening. While waiting, hit up some arcades, visited Shin-Ōkubo, japan's Koreatown.

Kabukicho is part of Shinjuku, gets kinda sketchy (for Japan) at night, but that's where the robots are.

Robot show was totally bonkers. Too loud. Looked like it was cobbled together at times (though so many costumes, would like to meet who made them), but the performances were really good. Think of a live performance of an 80s Japanese B-movie cross JRPG,  complete with lousy effects, cheesey dialogue, lasers, and monster battles. I think I even heard Attack on Titan music at one point. Didn't eat, sushi bento no thanks. Totally awesome, would definitely recommend, one of those things truely that can only be seen in Japan, mostly gaijin, but even some Japanese people came. No need to book early shows online, get tickets at door,  not even close to full. Not sure about late shows or weekends.

Ate melon bread and pudding (like an anime school girl) and they were delicious.

Read More

Day 2: kaminarimon, sensoji, Akihabara

There was a fair (festival?) featuring food from Fukushima. Ate a whole bunch. Visited the temple, drew for luck. Highschool girls interviewed gaijin for school. Headed to Akihabara. Ran into hobby shop right outside train station. Of course had to buy stuff, I'd be broke if I lived near one, all the paints and supplies for any kit or model in one place. Proceeded up and down many stores. Animate. Sofmap. Gamed in Taito and Sega arcade. UFO machines are addicting, they know what they're doing. Not enough time, need to go back.

Tried calpis, was delicious.

Read More

First meal in Japan

So I had planned to eat at BK while here in Japan because I heard it's different. I didn't now it be my first bite of food after stepping off the plane, but it turned out it was literally right outside the subway exit where I was supposed to meet with up with my apartment renter and I had some time to kill, so... It was good, actually it tasted really good after traveling for so long to get here. The differences: I can't recall what Whoppers taste like in America because its been so long, but it definitely wasn't smothered in this much ketchup and mayo (they taste different btw: the ketchup tasted less sweet and more tangy, and we already love Japanese mayo back home). The proper way to eat a burger in Japan isn't to unwrap the whole thing but just enough to bite (i.e. how we eat burritos) and know I know why. Good thing I packed napkins. I think its so saucey because the patty is drier, but again, hard to remember.

Also tried Pocari Sweat from a vending machine in the airport (like Gatorade).

Read More