My Trip to Japan: Completely Bananas

I recently got a job offer after having been in retirement for 5 months. I was to begin work in two weeks, which gave me time for some travel. Naturally, I did what any other sane person would do and booked a trip to Japan on two days notice. I stayed in Tokyo for 7 nights and Kyoto for 3 nights. I also had a one day excursion from Tokyo to see the shrines of Nikko and the historical theme park Edo Wonderland, Japan's over the top, ninja-infested answer to Colonial Williamsburg. While in Tokyo I went to the Asia office of my new employer, where the partner was kind enough to take us all out for lunch. I got dinner with a couple of them a few nights later. It was basically a reenactment of everything you've ever seen on sitcoms about American and Japanese businessmen breaking bread. My photos tell the story of what I saw in Tokyo, aside from a couple places that did not allow photography: the Sony building, with all its next generation electronics spread out over 4 floors, and the sumo museum.

After having seen just about everything in Tokyo, I bullet trained it down to Kyoto. Kyoto is thick with shrines, 18 of them UNESCO World Heritage sites. I went to a handful of them and pretty much got the idea. Although there are some photos, they are not in proportion to the amount of beautiful sights there as the Japanese are not too keen on having their buddahs photographed. I also took an afternoon/evening excursion to nearby Osaka to see their unparalleled aquarium, America town, and the Dotonburi arcade (the setting of Blade Runner). My last night in Kyoto I took the train to Kobe to get some beef for a splurge meal. The last day included a 22 hour travel marathon (bullet train to Tokyo, connecting train to Narita Airport, 13 hour flight to Newark, train to Penn station, cab to the Upper West). Here are the photo albums:

Tokyo
Tokyo Dome - Yomiuri Giants v. Nippon Ham Fighters
Japan Baseball Hall of Fame
Tokyo Metro
Meiji Jingumae, Tokyo
Hama Rikyu Garden, Tokyo
Tokyo National Museum
Nikko
Edo Wonderland feat. Ninjas (Photos do not do justice to the amazing ninja show)
Kyoot
Kyoto
Osaka Aquarium and Doutonburi
Japan Food
Photos of the Ville de Chaya in Japan (available to Facebook friends)

You may be wondering from the last album why I would eat so many French pastries in Tokyo of all places. As it turns out, Tokyo is a major foodie city, boasting twice as many Michelin stars as the runner up, Paris. Even the French pastry scene is said to rival that of Paris. While all the French patisseries that I visited have Paris locations, none has a presence in New York, so I felt that they were a worthwhile investment of my limited stomach capacity.

In addition to the usual stuff like sushi, tempura udon, ramen, yakitori, and green tea Kit Kat bars, I also indulged in some Japanese foods that are less familiar to Americans, most of which were faithfully photographed. Over the last two years I have developed quite a taste for takoyaki and okonomiyaki at Otafuku in the East Village. In addition to finally tasting these delicacies at the source, I also discovered terrific variations on both, including a takoyaki omlette in Osaka (a crab flavored cracker with a fried egg, two takoyaki, and sauces) and monjayaki, the specialty of a street in Tsukishima, Tokyo with about 60 restaurants there serving it.