Weekend Roundup

 WE ARE TRAVLLING UNTIL DEC 22, I WILL LINK UP IF POSSIBLE. BUT I EXPECT LIMITED INTERNET/WI-FI.

As I am away, and will have limited wi-fi access, I have scheduled Weekly Roundup, not knowing what Tom's choice will be. Therefore I'll choose something!!

Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

1. Starts with "W"
2. A Favorite
3.  - Chosen by Tom me

Starts with W (BIGGEST/SMALLEST/LONGEST/SHORTEST/OLDEST/FIRST)

WORD

FAVOURITE

WINDOWS Ottawa ON 2025

CHOSEN BY ME

WILLIAMSBURG VA

Tokyo Monday Nov 24 - Part 1

 Monday Nov 24 - Tokyo Japan

We grabbed a cab for our sake tasting session, it was too confusing to figure out the meeting place. I told the guide and he suggested a meeting place that worked out fine.

Tour Description

Your bilingual guide will introduce the appeal of sake pairing. You’ll learn the basics of sake tasting—how to appreciate aroma and how temperature transforms flavor. You’ll also discover proper pouring etiquette and the cultural meaning of a traditional toast. The meal showcases dishes that highlight uniquely Japanese textures and flavors, including one that pairs perfectly with the gentle, rice-derived sweetness of sake. The course is designed to complement the sakes provided. With an all-you-can-drink menu featuring 20 kinds of sake, plus beer, highballs, and soft drinks, you can explore your favorites at your own pace. You’ll sample 4 sakes in a guided tasting, and you’re also welcome to explore the venue’s all-you-can-drink menu during the time limit. Enjoy a variety of flavors: chicken nanban with a tangy sweet sauce, a savory miso-and-butter dish, a rich sea urchin cream croquette, and a vegetable set served with three kinds of miso. For dessert, finish with crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside fried vanilla taiyaki. The guided flight features four sakes, each with a distinct character. The first offers an elegant aroma and a clean, crisp finish that pairs beautifully with fried dishes. The second enhances the richness of miso and butter. The third is a soft nigori that complements creamy dishes and fava beans, adding a subtle twist. The finale is a sweet sake that pairs well with desserts and spicy dishes. Throughout the experience, your guide will also explain sake’s history and production, the roles of rice, yeast, and fermentation, and how to choose glassware and read labels. Ask questions freely—personalized recommendations are always welcome. This workshop is designed to help you understand the “why” behind sake pairings so you can apply it in restaurants and bottle shops. Whether you come as a group, a couple, or solo, it’s a special experience that lets you savor Japan’s seasons and food culture, one dish at a time.

We met Yuya, our 20 yo university student guide, we were the only participants. He lead us down two floors into a very noisy, busy restaurant.

Yuya walked us through the various types of sake while telling us about himself and asking about us.

All kinds of sake and drinks were included. We didn't take advantage of that. The sake fridge that you could try.

The fish-shaped dessert with red bean paste is called taiyaki. It is a traditional Japanese sweet, made with a pancake-like batter cooked in a fish-shaped mold and filled with sweet red bean paste (anko). Taiyaki is a popular street food and snack in Tokyo and across Japan. It is made in the shape of a sea bream (\(tai\)), which is considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Japan.

We had mentioned we were going to find Godzilla's Head and he insisted on taking us there.

I had no idea they were doing this over my head!

This Godzilla, towering over the Toho Cinema in Shinjuku, is probably the most famous in Tokyo. On closer inspection, it’s actually just a head and claw, but it still cuts a pretty intimidating figure.

Every now and then you can hear his classic roar booming throughout the area. His eyes light up, and a neon blue stream of “atomic breath” projects into the night sky—presumably to the chagrin of whoever’s trying to sleep in the hotel rooms directly opposite. If you’re a guest (or cafe visitor) to said Hotel Gracery, you can actually get up to the rooftop for a close-up photo, but the effect is better from the ground.

Shinjuku is known as "the city that never sleeps." The street is lined with nightlife spots open until late hours and restaurants operating well into the night, with neon lights gleaming until the early hours.

Time for a taxi back to the hotel.

In the shadow of modern high-rise buildings are six narrow alleyways jam-packed with a hodgepodge of narrow, two-story adjoining buildings. Unlike the surrounding area, which was redeveloped during Japan’s economic boom following WWII, the Golden Gai (Golden Block) has remained relatively unchanged since the late 1950s, early 60s when it was known as Piss Alley.

Signs

  Joining Tom at Signs2

Wordless Wednesday Wordless

WE ARE TRAVLLING UNTIL DEC 22, I WILL LINK UP IF POSSIBLE. BUT I EXPECT LIMITED INTERNET/WI-FI.

Is it any wonder our bus got a ticket???

And what the heck is this??

Interesting?

Nothing like bragging!

Tokyo Monday Nov 24 Part 2

 Monday Nov 24 2025 - Tokyo Japan

Previous posts can be found on the right side under BLOG ARCHIVE

I am having issues posting so I am splitting them up.

STEPS 12,000 4 cabs

WEATHER gorgeous

Breakfast was great, I had the omelet this time with duck.

After yesterday's long walking day we decided that cabbing to at least our first stop made more sense.We decided to skip Ameya Yokocho.Little did we that we would have covered our planned itinerary in no time.We took a cab to Sensoji Shrine. We just barely beat the crowd.

Sensoji Temple, a renowned place of worship in the city. Walk around the temple complex and breathe in the serene atmosphere. The towering pagoda is also a sight to behold. 

The monks were having fun taking photos of each other.

Denboin Street is named after the nearby Denboin of Sensoji Temple, which is the temple abbot’s residence. The residence itself is usually closed to the public, but the stroll garden of Denboin is usually opened to the public for a limited period each spring.

Denboin Street (also called Denboin-dori) is a quaint, old-fashioned shopping street that runs from the west side of Nakamise Street for about 200 meters.

Then we wandered through Nakamise Shopping Street, a historic market in Tokyo that leads to the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. It is one of Japan's oldest shopping streets, featuring around 90 stalls selling traditional souvenirs, crafts, and local snacks like ningyo-yaki cakes. The covered arcade is a popular spot for both daytime and nighttime exploration, with the shutters displaying murals after the shops close.

It was quiet as the restaurants hadn't opened.

Yamatomi is a traditional Japanese clothing store, selling silk kimono, n yukata (a kind of light summer kimono), haori jackets, kimono fabrics, traditional footwear, and folding fans.

We realized we were just across the river from where we wanted to lunch! So we walked across the bridge.

The gold flame is Asahi Beer Hall, our planned lunch stop.

.

As the tallest tower in the world, Tokyo Skytree tops the list of architectural landmarks in Tokyo. Its two observation decks offer breathtaking views, with a unique spiral walkway leading to the highest point.

LUNCH - Asahi Beer Hall. It’s easy to spot this structure because of its unique architecture. The golden flame design makes this building even more eye-catching. The Asahi Sky Room is on the 22nd floor.

The Sky Room is definitely worth a visit. The building is really just a corporate headquarters, so you won't find anything of interest in the lobby. Once inside, find the dedicated elevator to the 22nd floor and then go directly to the Sky Room for a beer and a panoramic view of Tokyo.

.

 

From here we could see at least three huge billboards for Asahi beer!

Back on the street, waiting for an Uber.

We ubered back and put our feet up before heading out to take photos of the lighted trees and the light show at the Metropolitan Building and then to our sake and dinner tour.

Hotel lights.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, known simply as “Tochō” in Japan, is Tokyo’s city hall — the center of government for the capital’s 23 wards. 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building in Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Covering an area of a whopping 13,905sqm, the after-dark spectacle has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent display of its kind in the world.

The nightly showcase features a range of visual wonders created by a mix of local and international artists. Some shows are inspired by Tokyo’s rich history, while others draw on themes like the lunar cycle.

 

We have a video that I will post when we have a better connection.

Click here for part 1 - Sake and dinner tour.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, known simply as “Tochō” in Japan, is Tokyo’s city hall — the center of government for the capital’s 23 wards. In addition to being a famous work of architecture, the building has amazing views from its FREE 45th-floor observation de

The largest projection mapping on a building in the world can also be found at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Just take yourself to the Citizen’s Square opposite and treat yourself to a free show. It takes place daily from dusk till around

DINNER SAKE TASTING AND PAIRING Part 1

MAP LI

Shinjuku: Godzilla He

Today nearly 200 bars and eateries inhabit the buildings. It feels virtually empty during the day, coming alive after 8pm. The establishments are teeny, tiny, some with room for no more than 5 or 6 patrons, and don’t be surprised to see a few signs saying “no foreigners/tourists” or “regulars only.” Be aware, these alleys are considered private property and inappropriate conduct on the streets will not be tolerated, which, not surprisingly, includes smoking, loitering, shouting, singing, drug use or alcohol consumption, but photography is also prohibited unless you first seek perm

Shinjuku Golden Gai is located between the ward office and Hanazono Shrine, slightly away from the station. This street is popular for its nostalgic atmosphere dating back 50-60 years, featuring a dense concentration of izakaya bars. It was once a gathering place for literary giants and journalists who engaged in heated discussions, and this historical charm still remain

Took a walk to see the lights at night around the Red Light District Shinjuku. Kabuki-cho is a neighborhood in the north part of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, an area destroyed during WWII and rebuilt to be a theater district, named after an idea that Kabuki theater would be promoted here (it never happened).  It’s near Piss Alley. Kabuki-cho (or Kabukicho) is often described as a red-light district and I guess it is, but it dors not resemble famous ones like Amsterdam at all.  Kabuki-cho is better describ

 You walk along until you see a lit, red archway, and go through.  Here’s where you should take some photos.  This is one image of Tokyo everyone images, not the grimy Blade Runner type, but more like Ginza, a crowded street with massive amounts of lit signs, running high up the buildings and stretching on and