Tsukiji Market: Happy to Play Tour Guide for a Day
A Filipino tourist in Japan, playing tour guide at Tsukiji Market? It doesn’t sound so absurd when you know that my ties to Japan started with the Sanrio craze when I was in grade school.
Oh I love Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars and My Melody!
Before this becomes a blog about those adorable character, I’d better stop and go back to Sanrio’s origin — Japan.
I was in my forties when I told my family that we should visit Tokyo. Now what do you think happened when we had a taste of Japan??? We enjoyed it so much that we went back every year until the pandemic hit!
There was a time I went with just the hubby, and another when I went with my friend Tuesday.
She and her family lived in a different country and we decided to travel together.
Magic Words: Let's Meet in Tokyo!
We figured it was a great “Let’s meet half way” plan.
I was so enamored with Japan I sounded like a frustrated tour guide when I talk about the country! So imagine the thrill I felt when I heard Tuesday say “Rics, I didn’t see much of Tokyo when I last went. Can you plan our itinerary?”
MY GOSH. It was like Christmas came two months early!!!
So Many Places to See!
I threw myself into planning where we will stay and creating a daily itinerary. By the way, I normally have one when I travel. To make sure she will have fun, I asked her for ideas. I asked her what sites she wanted to see and experience.
Since we had a tight schedule (she just squeezed Japan into her work trip to nearby Singapore), I focused on priority sites. That means I had to make sure we covered places that will make her fall in love with Tokyo like I did.
We Can't Miss Out on Tsukiji Market
Having that in mind, one place she shouldn’t miss was the famous Tsukiji Market. It was impractical for us to get up extra early to witness the inner market activities so just a simple visit to the outer market was ideal. The target is to get there before lunch.
That gave us enough time to enjoy all the local food we wanted.
Dazzling Array of Fresh Sea Food
As expected, the experience was wonderful. Going around the local market gives you a feel of the city you are visiting, with the locals going about their usual shopping.
Our senses were tingling: the scents, the sounds, the numerous Japanese signs which indicated prices and shops.
Like kids, we observed what others were trying and tasted anything that looked good or interesting enough to try.
Tsukiji Market offered us a complete meal — appetizers, main course and dessert — everything from grilled king crab, lobster, scallops, raw oyster, raw sea urchin.
Fresh sea food… imagine from the docks, to the market then the stalls. Can’t get any fresher than that.
Huge Smile for Strawberry Mochi
Being in one of my favorite places in Tokyo, I had to make sure I made the most out of the afternoon. After all the sea food we had, I knew a sweet fruit with a soft mochi would be the perfect balance. My gosh, typing it already makes me crave it! In a few turns, After a few turns, I was in front of the yummy mochi stall I discovered the year before. We just had to eat mochi!
Oooh we were so full by the time we finished walking around the market.
After the yummy dessert we went looking for coffee. And I knew just the perfect place to get it. A sumptuous meal like that deserves to be capped with good coffee nearby.
Sharing Coffee Love
We went to Yonemoto coffee shop which was famous for its coffee beans. Aside from coffee, you also go there to meet its equally popular owner.
How did I discover Yonemoto?
A friend of ours, Gil who is a coffee lover like me, asked me to go buy him beans during one of my trips to Japan. Now Gil is a serious coffee drinker and if he says the beans are good, you’d be a fool not to give it a try. And that I did. And I’m glad I did.
It was such good coffee that I wish we had more cash that time (they did not accept credit cards). If we did, I would have hoarded loads of it to bring home to Manila. When I was paying, a dapper dressed man at the cash register handed me the packs of coffee beans. He pointed to the logo and then pointed to himself. I asked him if I could have my picture taken with him haha and he obliged — I think he gets a minimum number of photos taken every day haha. That’s how I met the owner, Mr Kenichi Yonemoto.
Yonemoto Coffee and its Equally Famous Owner
On this visit, he was there too. Being the designated tour guide, I asked to have a photo taken with him. Aside from the excellent coffee beans, the cozy atmosphere makes it such a popular place. No wonder it is always part of different lists of coffee shops.
Embracing the Autumn Chill with Good Coffee and A Warm Blanket
We decided to drink our coffee outside since it was crowded in the small cafe. While we were choosing our seats and getting settled, Mr. Yonemoto himself gestured to a rack where we could choose blankets to use, if we wanted. Oh we wanted them alright! What a cozy way to spend your afternoon!
Once it is safe to travel, I will visit again! So if you like the warm and cozy coffee shops that are close to Tsukiji market, feel free to make it part your list too!
We also went to Tokyo Station to have ramen, in the famous food court — an experience which, among other places, I will write about in a different blog. Right now, I just want to relive the experience of showing Tsukiji Market to a good friend who went all the way to Japan to spend time with me.
What a wonderful way to re- establish ties with a dear friend and my dear Tokyo!
5 Comments
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Rvy8happiness
Lucky you! Every year going back to Japan! No wonder you have lots of stories to share. Thanks again and let me know once you have a story about your visit here in Australia. Take care Rica.
But where are the sanrio photos???? 😉
Rica
Hi Rachel! Ooh the Sanrio photos will DEFINITELY be a post all on its OWN! hahahaha I’ll get right on it. And yes, I will be writing about Melbourne and Sydney separately because we have lovely memories of AUS to share. I will definitely let you know as soon as I’m done with the posts 💗
Mike Ignacio
Will you visit me and show me around if and when the fates favor me and I get assigned to Japan? Hehe.
Love this read, big time! Makes me loo forward to visiting…
Rica
Oh wow! I will definitely root for you and pray for that post for you hahahaha I’m glad the imaginary tour of Tsukiji made you look forward to visiting Japan for a vacation (not work). I am writing about the other places I went to on my own. Keep reading and I’ll keep writing 🙂