Today was the first full day of getting around and seeing sights. I started out looking around the area I had visited yesterday but without the stress of dragging luggage and figuring out directions. It was a lot of fun. I found an outdoor market which was beside a fresh seafood market. The variety of fish, seafood, vegetables and other foods was amazing. I will definitely go back to get more pictures and try other foods. I ended up buying a mixed pack of lean and fatty tuna sashimi as breakfast. It was delicious.
Afterwards I wandered around the market some more. I heard many languages, bought a drink from a vending machine which was too bitter, and checked out all the stalls. It is amazing what they were selling. Steak, vegetables, knives, bamboo kitchen items, food item of unknown purpose, nori. There were randomly scattered restaurants, all in a four block by four block area, or so. It is called Tsukiji market I think.
Around ten I decided that I needed cooler clothes and went on an adventure seeking a mall. The walk was about seven kilometers and along the way I crossed many bridges, passed many police officers and security people manning intersections, saw small and large cars and found another fish market. This one is spread over three buildings, one for fruit and veg, one for intermediate fish (we call them restaurants) and one for wholesale fish. The have glass observation areas around the loading dock so you can watch as all the fish is unloaded and sorted. I was there too late to see much activity, the wholesale market had shut down already.
Finally I found the mall I was looking for. Called Sea side mall. It is six floors and two narrow buildings in size. I wandered through it, looking for shorts and shirts, but was unable to find anything within my price range. I did buy some sandals though, and boxed up my sneakers and socks. The mall contains many activities for kids and adults. Madam Tussaud’s, Legoland, a rock climbing wall, an airsoft maze. It was a very interesting place. But expensive. It also had what I am now thinking is the best drink I have yet to find. It is grape juice but not as sweet as at home and contains little bits of tapioca. So good. I want more now. Around noon I wandered back to the apartment I am staying at and decided to change into shorts with the intention of heading back out for more exploring. Instead I fell asleep waiting for my phone to charge and woke up about three hours later. Too much sun.
After my nap, driving by curiousity and my stomach I wandered a little further into the city and found a light district. Lots of bars, people, restaurants and other businesses. I even passed a capsule hotel. It was still very hot and even in shorts with the sun down I was finding it warm. I ended up at a little restaurant which advertised English speaking staff and ordered some fried chicken, tuna and mushrooms which were very good. I am not usually a fan of fried food but this was different. While I had my food and was thoroughly flummoxed on how to properly eat it, a wonderful grandmother type person with her grandson showed me the proper way to dip and eat my food. She was very kind and friendly. I paid my meal, thanked her for her help and wandered a little more before heading back to the apartment.
Tomorrow is the first day of Comiket, so I will be getting up early to stand in a very long line for that.
Have a great night everyone.
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