Tokyo, Japan! - Togoshi Ginza

On our last full day in Tokyo, we met up with Brian and Aya again to continue the eating and drinking tour of the city they were leading us on. We went out near their apartment this time, so it was a little outside of the 'downtown' areas we had previously stuck to. It was definitely an area we would have never seen without them, which was awesome. We met at the Togoshi-Ginza station to stroll around a traditional walking street lined with restaurants and shops.

Outside of the station

Waiting in the doorway of an izakaya

Every couple of minutes when a train would come, the crossing gates would lower and both sides would fill with people.

The tracks

OK,this is the last of the pictures of the station and the train crossing, Brian and Aya have arrived!

So, so hot outside!

Japanese Mickey-D's

Outdoor A/C! Apparently, this is a test that the Japanese government is conducting to try and solve the heat problem during the summer months. The idea is that they can cool off busy shopping and business streets with strategically placed misters. An awesome idea! And the misters worked quite well too. It was significantly cooler and more comfortable within their range. We stood there in awe far longer than we should have.

Street Meat

The small area with the misters aside, it was still unbearably hot out, so we ducked into an izakaya for a cold beverage and a little shade and A/C. All the tables in the place were made from stacked sake crates.

Ice cold Asahi

A pint pouring machine! After the guy loaded the glasses, he'd turn it on and it would tilt them to start pouring and slowly level them as the glass filled. An incredible invention. The Japanese really have thought of EVERYTHING!

Question: Which person did not know this picture
was being taken? (Hint: It's not Brian or Judy...)

An okonomiyaki flavored taiyaki.

Okonomiyaki - A traditional, savory pancake with variations of meats, seafoods, and vegetables.

Taiyaki - fish shaped breads of varying sizes and flavors. Usually sweet with a custard-like filling or a red bean filling.

A spicy curry taiyaki

Enough mayonnaise to choke a horse

Ahhh! Japanese Cats!

The entryway to Brian and Aya's building

There was a summer festival going on in their hood (or maybe the neighboring hood) so we went to check it out.

The party consisted of a lady drummer on the top of this structure and two tiers of kimono-clad dancers circling around her. It was pretty cool. There were lots of cute, old people from the audience dancing in the big circle.

Adorable

Festival style okonomiyaki

Simplest carnival game ever. You pay money to pull a string that may, or may not have a price tied to the other end.

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Brian had walked by this place many times and always been curious of it. From what he had seen in passing, it was just a tiny little bar run by an old Japanese man who Brian said resembled a pirate. When we went in, we immediately discovered that it was so much more.

Sitting at the bar

Coolest old man (ninja) ever

From what we understand, Aya just said that we wanted some food, and the dishes began coming. We weren't given any choices, and he asked us no questions. Everyone in the bar ate the same things as we did, so we figure that the menu consists of whatever he has behind the bar.

Fish flavored pipe tobacco

This smelled like a brandy flavored pipe tobacco, but had the taste of dried fish. It was different. Strange at first, but then grew on you.

When we ordered shochu, it took forever because he pulled out a giant ice block and chipped away cubes for our drinks. This must have been the way he's been doing it for years and years and years.

Completely enamored by the old man

Shochu on the (handmade) rocks

Kampai!

Some sort of fish

Eggplant

Skewered debeaked octopus mouth

An unknown vegetable

His business card!

The place was awesome. It can only be described as a small, Japanese Cheers. We were the only ones in the place that had not been going there weekly for years. And we even found out that this was the third location of his bar, which hadn't deterred any of the customers, many of whom became regulars when he was in their neighborhood, but now have to cross town to come one or two times a week.

After, we went in search of a place that served okonomiyaki. We had had the fish shaped one, but still wanted to try a real one. We went to one place they knew of, but arrived about 20 minutes before they closed, so we couldn't get it there. We walked around that area a little more, but everything seemed to be closed or closing as well. Finally, after getting on the subway for a few stops, we found somewhere open. They didn't have okonomiyaki, but they did have a build-your-own-curry that you cooked at the table. We didn't find what we were looking for, but no one was disappointed.

We decided on chicken, green peppers and cabbage with the spicy curry. It was a delicious way to end the evening.

Bibs!