Tokyo, Japan: Our last two days, and a visit to Bassanova!
<strong>If you're looking for the Tour de France post, check it out on my other food blog, <a href="">Fridgg</a>! :D</strong> <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4779055031_4dc04052dd_b.jpg" alt="Robot statue"/> </span> On our second to last day in Japan, we visited the Ghibli Museum. You know the Japanese animated films like Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service...? Well, Ghibli is the man who did all the art for those movies, and this museum is dedicated to him
Nagano, Japan: Snow Monkeys!!!
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4714496883_b69fa8eccb_b.jpg" alt="Grilled mochi with red beans"/> </span> Our sixth day in Japan started early, so we ate breakfast on the train... grilled mochi filled with adzuki beans that we had purchased the night before. Yum. <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4715127794_6603dcb221_b.jpg" alt="Nagano houses"/> </span>
Tokyo, Japan: Tsukiji Fish Market and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4587813779_a326bf3b58_b.jpg" alt="Me in the hotel hall before Tsukiji Fish Market"/> </span> Our fifth day in Japan was one of the longest, and also by far one of my absolute favorite days there. You'll see why in a moment... :D We got up early, and headed out to the Tsukiji Fish Market. <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4587817041_a7d8dce7f0_b.jpg" alt="Stalls at Tsukiji"/> </span>
Tokyo, Japan: Yoshinoya, Ginza, Tokyo Imperial Palace, and CoCo Curry
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4586184546_b9c51d4e50_b.jpg" alt="Brian, Francis, and Dave in Yoshinoya"/> </span> On our fourth day in Japan, we started the day by walking to the other side of Shinagawa station to try Yoshinoya for breakfast. <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4586185376_e8dd0007ae_b.jpg" alt="Ginger container in Yoshinoya"/> </span>
Kyoto, Japan: Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/4576272201_2c1652a61b_b.jpg" alt="Shinkensen"/> </span> Our third day in Japan, we decided to get out of Tokyo for a day, and head down to Kyoto. Which meant getting up <em>early</em> (which is really that much worse when you have jet lag and are exhausted from so much walking!) and catching the first Shinkensen (bullet train) to Kyoto. Luckily it left from Shinagawa Station (the station right next to our hotel) and we already reserved
Tokyo, Japan: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, and Kaiten Sushi
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4570653742_18f398661f_b.jpg" alt="Yamanote Line"/> </span> By the second day of our trip, this was quickly becoming a very common, and very welcome sight. You can get darn near anywhere in Tokyo, and even to quite a few other places in Japan, by using their very extensive public transportation system. <span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/4570655470_0dc1f8c331_b.jpg" alt="Train station"/> </span> The trains, I love them. Oh, how I wish we had a transportation system like this in Los Angeles! How
Tokyo, Japan: Ueno Park, Akihabara… oh, and a giveaway!
<span class="bigPic"> <img src="http://img.fridgg.com/540we_18640000_75___farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/4514556559_37550c4894_b.jpg" alt="Cherry blossoms"/> <small>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/franksvalli">David Calhoun</a></small> </span> I've never been much of a traveler. (Though you wouldn't know it from my itinerary for this year.) Up until a couple of years ago, I had only been to a few states aside from California, and never been off the mainland. And <em>certainly</em> never to another country. However, I've always wanted to go to Japan. I just never thought I'd get