Tag Archives: Ramen

Japan Day 5 and 6 – Tokyo

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Had a late start to day 5 (which was technically my last full day in Japan), but we still did a lot, and lots of walking!

We started by getting food at this ramen place called Izobachi (note that the one we went to was only found in Apple Maps, not Google. Also, this place was at a food court in a mall where one of the Google offices is at):

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/izobachi-misoramen/

We then went to a Starbucks in the same food court (one thing we did notice is that not only are there a lot of 7 elevens, but Starbucks is super plentiful).

Another interesting thing compared to the previous time I was in Japan is that they are cracking down on smoking (in the sense that there are now designated smoking sections. This used to not be the case).

Afterwards, we headed to Yoyogi park. We stopped by what seemed to be a Spanish food festival, and got an interesting sweet Belgian beer (pictured below).

From Yoyogi park we walked to Harajuku. We stopped by Uni Qlo, and IKEA, but didn’t by anything. We also walked through the street called Takeshita Atreet, where apparently they are famous for having people (usually girls) dress into cos play (honestly, the street was really packed, and there was a lot of shops, but only went in McDonald’s to use the waste basket and restroom).

As an aside, another thing to note about Japan is that they really don’t have a lot of garbage bins except for in restrooms, and occasionally near a vending machine outside).

Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel by walking. Along the way we did stop by a mall and Park that seems slightly similar to the Saleforce park, which was called Miyashita Park.

We then took a 3 hour rest back in the hotel (around 6:30pm) to prepare for a long night out.

So we made moves at 10:30pm. We met Ben G. near a dog statue at Shibuya station (see below). The history behind it is that the dog apparently always waited for his owner at the station every day he would come back from work. Also, we were trying to find food for dinner. Unfortunately most sit down places at 11pm were closing (and sit down speak easys) were closed by then, so I had to make due with eating things from a Lawsons while walking to the nightclub Womb. What I ate: chickatsu (basically a fried chicken patty), these chicken balls (one was with cheese, and another was with lemon), and a salmon onigiri).

The DJ we saw at Womb, we Hernan Cattaneo. He’s mainly progressive house without vocals. He was really good. Womb has 3 floors. Main and top floors were the best (top floor was playa house music). The last song was at 4am. After we got food at this Ramen place called Ichiran:

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/ichiran/

The next day (basically 5 hours after the Ramen place) I was flying out to SF at 5pm. I checked out of the hotel at 1pm (it’s only 1000 yen per extra hour after 11am). Then we went to a conveyor belt sushi place 2 minute walk away from our hotel:

https://food.johnmatienzo.com/2022/11/27/kaisen-misakikou-shibuya-higashiguchi-shop/

Then took an Uber black (yea, it wasn’t a taxi… probably Uber cars only exist if going to and from the airport) to the airport at HND. It took about 30 minutes.

At the airport, used priority pass to get into the ANA lounge. Gotta say, one of the best lounges in terms of types of food, and they have a shower (see last picture below)! I also shopped at the duty free for Japanese Whisky. Unfortunately couldn’t find the one I wanted (wanted the Hibiki blended). Got a Suntory whisky.

Second Day in Miami

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We started off the second day eating at a restaurant called Nusr-et. It’s a Turkish meat house, located in downtown Miami. Here is the review:

Nusr-Et Miami

Have to say, I really like how big, developed, and clean Miami is (both downtown and south beach area).

Afterwards, we spent the day at 1 Hotel South Beach with Kaskade. Not much to say, except the music was obviously good, but the drinks were expensive ($10 for water and $15 per drink). Overall though, a fun experience 😉

After, we grabbed food at a Ramen place, where we also celebrated me leaving my twenties, and turning thirty 🙁

K Ramen Burger Beer

Kyoto

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The first stop I made was Kinkaku-ji Temple. The temple is a world heritage site, and overall, very scenic. I also picked up a souvenir that I’m gonna give to mom and dad.

  
  
After, I headed to Ninjo-jo Castle. It is huge! Both the inside and outside take a bit of time to walk through to fully appreciate.

   
   
  
After, I headed to Kyoto station where I was going to meet up with my tour group. The station is huge (I’ll post about it separately).  

 

Before meeting with my group, I wanted to try a restaurant called Kyotofu (since Kyoto is known for their Tofu). However, because it was a holiday (its Hatvest day), all the restaurant’s had a line. So I ended up eating something at 7 eleven :/.

In my tour group, I met 3 other people from SF. So basically 25% of the tour was from SF lol.

The first stop my tour group went to was a small Temple called Taikoan.

  
Apparently there is a difference between temple and shrine. One difference is that the temple deals with the here and living, while a shrine deals with the afterlife. Also, the way you pray in a temple is one bow after you ding a bell. In a shrine, before ringing the bell it’s 2 claps, then ring, then 3 bows (and I think a couple more claps?).

After, we went to a really popular temple called Tofukoan. 

    

The following pic is suppose to represent the Big Dipper. Also, a little odd fact… dragons are considered water animals in Japan.

   
The following pic is a picture of a zen garden. Didn’t really find my Zen though.   
  
  
The next pic is a pic of me standing in front of a San-mon. It means three (something). You’re supposed to enter it before praying at the temple (the picture before this one).

  

Before heading to the next stop, we tried some local Kyoto Pasteries. It was basically rice paste and redbean.

  
  

After this temple, we went to Fushimi-Inari-Takisha shrine.

  
   
 
   
   
To climb and walk around the whole shrine takes approximately 3 hours. Also, the writing on the back of the gates are basically a business card (people pay several thousand yearly to have their names on gates).

The last stop we went to was Gion. Unfortunately, there was no Geiko’s or Meiko’s (Meiji is a Geiko intraining, and Geiko is a Kyoto Gaisha, as Gaisha is the word for ones in Tokyo).

   

After Gion, I checked out Pontocho with two of the people in my tour group that were from SF (Kenny and Amanda). 

  
 The following ally pic is a place where several bars are located that my tour guide recommended (and the pic after that is the bar he said to go to. Unfortunately none of the bars were open at 6pm. They open at 7pm, so I didn’t stay to have a drink).

  
  
After Pontocho, I was super hungry (and cold) so I ended up checking out a Ramen place on the way to the bus stop, which would take me to Kyoto Station).