Tsukiji Hongan-Ji

Tokyo - On the way the the subway, we made a short detour into this Tsukiji temple - Tsukiji Hongan-Ji - is a Buddhist temple.

Tsukiji Hongan-Ji

I think there was a funeral ceremony going on in this Temple, so we scoot off and walk straight to the Tsukiji subway station.

Air-con fish market near Tsukiji

Tokyo - After our delicious lunch, by chance we came across this air-con fish market just next to the entrance of Tsukiji market.

Entrance to the air-con fish market

rows of fish mongers

There was many tourist at this fish market and the varieties  of sea food were plenty.

It is much cheaper than seating down at the sushi restaurant we just ate and the sushi here is just at good.   Next time, I will try the sushi here.

Tsukiji sushi bar

Tokyo - Lesley and I set off for Tsukiji to have some good and fresh sushi.   It was raining cats and dogs, my socks is wet and the weather is cod.   Some of the sushi shop had a long queue and some did not, maybe those had good reviews.   We just decided to go to a sushi shop with no queue but there are people eating...

The sushi tasted so good.

sat in front of the sushi chef

Meguru sushi set

Nigiri sushi set

This is just the first round of the set, which includes the rolls, etc.

Okubo - Tokyo's Korean Town

Tokyo - My hotel is in Okubu area , part of the Shinjuku district and it was a very short distance to the main street Okubu-dori Avenue which is Tokyo's most famous Korean town.  You can find k-pop shops, Korean supermarkets and many Korean restaurants.

Matsumoto Kiyoshi store

100Yen Store

There are also many 100yen stores within Okubo area.

Tokyo Luteran Church

Symbol of the Praying Hands

My 870 Yen Sushi

This would have cost about 30% more in Singapore and taste not as good

Bonito sushi 

Tuna Belly Sushi

Both for Y270 per set....a satisfying tea break in Okubu area..

An Ishikawa restaurant

Tokyo - Yasu brought me to a restaurant that serves Ishikawa food.   Yasu was born (home town) in Ishikawa prefecture which is on the Sea of Japan coast.

Deep Fried sweet potato

Those sweet potatoes sticks were very long.

Sea Bream sashimi

So tender beef

These beef were so tender that it melts in my mouth...the lemon juice gives tangy taste to the meat.

Yasu and Michiro

Blowtorch Seared Mackeral

Ishikawa speciality

My Sake

The waiter pour the sake into the sake pot and it overflows into my cup.   The Sake was so smooth and I drank so many cups of it...

Cold Udon noodles

My first time dipping Udon the Soba way and it taste so delicious..

Happo-en

Tokyo @ Shinagawa - This was a beautiful manicure garden within the compound of an event location.  The owners took great care to protect and preserve the tranquility of this garden at the same time market event rooms for companies and weddings.  It is a perfect location and there were many couples taking their wedding photos when I was walking around.  This garden is 50,000 sqm in area.

So beautiful and tranquil

Bonsai garden

Tea house

I spent about an hour resting in this tea house overlooking the tranquility of the beautiful pond with Japanese Koi swimming around.

Japanese Koi

Koi in Japanese pond

Daigo Shrine

Besides this shrine there is also a Christian chapel within it's compound to host weddings and other Christian ceremonies.

Manicure path

It was a good long walk to Happo-en and worth the time....

Meiji Gakuin University

Tokyo @ Shinagawa - I was cross a bridge and this University caught my attention because of the very English architecture.

This is a Christian University founded by 1863.  I would not believe that these are University campus buildings.

Sengakuji Temple

Tokyo @ Shinagawa - Further down the road about 30 minutes there is a Sengakuji Temple.  This temple is known as the burial ground of the Forty-Seven Ronin (in feudal Japan he is a wandering samurai who had no lord or master).   You can read about the true heroes of 47 samurai that took revenge for Asano.   This was made famous by the 2013 movie 47 Ronin acted by Keanu Reeves.

Sengakuji Temple entrance

Bronze statue of Oishi Kuranosuke

Main Hall of the Temple

Bonsho and Shoro

Constructed in 1913 under the 41st Abbot.  The bell sounds every morning Zazen and in the evening when the gate is closed.

One row of the 47 Ronin

2nd graves row of the 47 Ronin

One of the famous Samurai warriors

There are a few tourist mostly Europeans placing joss sticks on each of the tomb stone.

Grave of the Samurai Warrior

Takanawa's Japanese Garden

Tokyo @ Shinagawa - It was a 30 minutes walk to this beautiful Japanese Garden which is located between Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa and The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo.  The weather was sunny but cool so it makes the walk not so sweaty.

Takanawa’s Japanese garden, which covers about 20,000 m², was designed by the late Kusuoka Teiji, who also worked on the new Imperial Palace.

Dotted around the garden, there are 16 kinds of flowers; as well as about 230 cherry trees of 20 varieties, a pond with carp, , a temple dedicated to Kannon, and a bell tower.

2 hotels with a beautiful Japanese Garden

Entrance to the Tea House

Cobble steps

Beautiful laid cobble stones around the garden and steps.  Just need to be careful as it gets slippery when it rain.

newly planted Sakura for the New Yeaer 2017

Scenic pond in the middle of the garden

Japanese Koi

Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa

Cherry Blossom

Sakurabashi bridge across the stream

It is sunny and spring is near so the beautiful flowers are in full bloom....

Cherry Blooms is full view