First night
Dinner and a good night sleep
Second day
Early morning to the biggest fish market
Old fish market
Ueno park
Asakusa
4 hours sleep
Go out at night
Shibuya
Shinjuku
Golden Gai
Second day
Shinjuku Gyoen Natl GardenGinza
Shibuya
Good night sleep
Third day
Morning in Asakusa
Sleep
Departure
2 hours and a half bus ride
Arrive late afternoon dropped the suitcase at the hotel and went for dinner with my co-workers. My favorite spot was close so we ended up in a small place to eat tempura shrimp and gyoza and a well-deserved beer.
$20.00 cdn 19,000
Jour 1 The next morning we got up at 4 30 am to go to the biggest fish market in the world and see the auction we were not allowed on the main floor but got a view from a window no fun but very impressive
Tuna everywhere the size of
20 football fields
tuna the fattier the better
try the neck or the cheeks
I am now an expert
We tried to have sushi at this famous restaurant already no place at 05 20 in the morning so we ate at the restaurant beside it some very fresh sushi I must say very bizarre so early in the morning but if you like sushi like me and you are in Tokyo this is what you have to do to eat the best of the best sushi no matter the time of the day.
right on the spot at the biggest fish market, the tuna is expensive
a small portion of sushi was expensive
20.00
Afterward, we got ourselves a Passmo pass
You put so much money into it and add if needed
1,0000 10.00
and took the subway to go to the other fish market (tuskiji)
my favorite
more friendly more fun cozier but again a lot of people waiting in line for my
favorite strawberry moshi.
7,00
it was worth the wait but one was not enough
after that, we went to look for my favorite sushi place right on the corner
oh, woa did not have my coffee this morning but we finally found it so we again wait in line for sushi this time I only took 2 pieces of tuna fatty tuna toro...
2 pieces
1 piece of sushi is 7.00
14.00
bottle of water
1 2 3 are my favorite
worth it but again budget I could only treat myself with so little
sad indeed
Unfortunately, the Banque National du Quebec card doesn't work
mostly anywhere in the world so be aware bring cash.
Algeria
India
and now japan
fuck my trip 3 times
pisses me off
Luckily I had money from my previous trip enough to get by all-day
I am here for 3 days
I did not learn how to swear in Japanese just yet...
Well
After that, we went to Ueno park to see the cherry blossom but too early sniff sniff
We saw a few trees in bloom but
not what I wanted to be
so we decided to go to
asakusa
pronouce
asaksa
My co worker never been to Japan and I think going there will be great to conclude our first morning in Japan.
A lot of walking
but we stop to Ameyo market
Asakusa
Perfect but so crowded
The Japanese were out in kimonos at the temple to celebrate spring and we saw 1 beautiful tree in flowers.
but the white one
After all that walking
up and down metro
walk walk walk walk
we went to rest at the hotel and had a good 4-hours sleep
4 hours
When you are in Tokyo you need to go out to see the lights of this city with all the lights.
So, I wanted to go early like around 4 but they decided to meet at 5 and stop at the crossing in Shibuya
big mistake
When we went to Golden Gai there was no place to sit for dinner like usual...You have to come here early I suggest you see Sinjuku and Golden Gai after for early dinner.
So we saw the famous dog and the crossing in Shibuya.
Walk walk walk metro to Shinjuku
and we went to Golden Gai
We had a beer in one of the tiniest bars ever
that dare to welcome tourists in their small space.
In general, Japanese do not like foreigners it's even worse since the pandemic just to be aware to face a lot of refusal.
They open their borders but you can be told not to come in pretend they are closed or that this menu is not for foreigners.
And they have cover charge too in their little place. They don't like to get tip but replace it with a general cover charge in restaurants and bars.
so I finally said to one of the tenants we go in but we don't pay cover charge
so we finally find a spot where they let us in.
One nice guy let us in Edon-san.
We had a beer...just like home I guess
And strangely he went next door to buy some beer really
He got 2 bottles of Kirin and pour them into 4 glasses.
like we do at home.
weird no...
Whatever
By the time we went to where I wanted to go, it was too late...and it is hard to find I ask 2 people for that small place. This is another problem also everything is written in Japanese you can not find the place since you do not know the name. In a tourist area, they can write their name in Japanese and on small signs in english; the language of all travelers.
Oh my buddha! too many people
everywhere was full
and no credit card
sad indeed
I really wanted to eat meat on the grill
we tried another place
they offer on their menu that we were able to read thanks to google translator
but when it was time to order
there was no all-you-can-eat for tourist ( not nice to people who come all the way to visit you)
ok
We ended up eating Tokonsu tasteless
fried food
We were starving and the portion here
well lots of cabbage I must say
So we hit the road before the metro close at 22 30
Lots of walking but a wonderful day
We saw a lot
We took the metro back to the hotel I imagined I was going to be tired but when I got to my hotel but...nup
I went to bed at 1 a.m
I woke up at 4 30
oh no
the bakery downstairs opens only at 7 so stupid and the concierge arrives only at nine too late.
I'm starving and definitely need some comfort food
coffee and a croissant
I could not reach my bank
still have money issues
I have a few euro notes I will be able to change and will have to stick around the hotel
or go by taxi they do take credit cards and pretend I m rich and go shopping in Ginza.
To be follow
Today
cherry blossom maybe at the princess castle near the river
and desperately looking for a canon shop for a spare battery for my camera and wish to see a wise man to tell me how to download directly from my camera to my Lenovo tablet...
something to do since I am out of cash.....
talk to you soon and get your ass in Japan flowers will be blooming
change euro with a machine and a clerk at the hotel
you put a euro or a dollar at a time and it does the change
change 45 euros
got 5,000 and some coins
so I should be fine for the day hopefully
Now its time to put on some band-aids I realize I have walked too much and have some blisters
38,562 steps
That morning I took it easy no rush.
wake up at 4 50
waited for the bakery to open
went for croissant and cappucino
as good as anywhere in the world but overcook
no rush today
the air in the room is bad
There is none and you cannot open the window...so very stuffy
I will get going eventually waiting for the concierge to help me find a good canon shop.
What a horrible experience this morning.
The concierge of the hotel knew since yesterday I was looking for the most flowered garden in Tokyo but she didn't care.
wonder why she does this job!
she hardly spoke English !
Basic in a five-star hotel
All this being said I wanted to go to a particular garden after looking on the internet this was the place to be and I needed a reservation so I went down early to ask the concierge to help me to reserve a place but she wasn't there she was going to be at her post at 9
how late when we all know tourists have places to go. They should be on duty at 6.00 a.m. in the morning.
9 o'clock too late.
Well I went and have breakfast and came back ready to go
She told me I didn't need a reservation.
I told her yes on the site it says we needed a reservation
oh no she repeated you don't need a reservation
I really red I need à reservation but if you could help me...
just go mam
OK after that I need to go to a Canon store
can I have the address to give to the taxi driver
she gave me an address
fucking bitch let me tell you a fucking lazy bitch who didn't want to reserve me a spot to get in the park I ownder if they know how to read
so I went to change my euros to yen to be able to take a taxi to go
so excited
when I got there I could see the pink cherry blossom it was going to be the perfect day
there were quite a lot of people but it was a big park
where is the ticket booth
you need to reserve online
what the fuck! I just pay 25.00 to get here
what a fucking bitch
I knew it
There is no ticket available to purchase
I need to open my phone to get a spot
but it will cost me a fortune I don't have a sim card
because I did not need one
ruin my entire day and try to talk to the people over there
no one fucking speaks English in this country they are so ignorant
they work in the tourist business information but don't understand basic English
I was just furious and of course, the bloody intercontinental hotel was going to give me my money back you just watch
I tried to go around but had no chance and people were coming by the millions
it's their bloody holiday yes I know but for me too and what about all the other tourist like me that doesnt have a Japanese phone a sim card and came all the way here to buy a god dam ticket
we are not all high tech in this world
see im not alone
I spend 30 minutes arguing for nothing
So I took a taxi back to the hotel talk to the manager he give me my money but no excuse nothing
His English is also very limited
I was just crying to see I ruined my day I had planned this for a month...
ţhat my second day would be the perfect one for picturing these beautiful trees
So sadly I took a taxi back to the hotel was furious about this service I got and manage to get my money back $50.00 taxi ride for nothing but should have asked for 70.00 if I knew what was coming next
mother fucker concierge !
AFTERWARDS, it was a lovely day, and decided to go to the canon shop for my battery.
you would not believe it
The idiot concierge send me to the Canon fucking office! this idiot
I ask for a Canon camera shop
i ai I ai
yes yes
I had just had it
and my taxi driver is about 90 years old doesn't understand à clue why I'm not getting out.
Ouf! got enough with this bad day 5-star hotel get taxi driver that speaks basic
en English
20.00
Down the drain but since I recognize where I was I walked down Ginza it was close to the cars but again it's pretty once you have seen all these beautiful buildings of fashion icon but
no fun to shop...too much walking
I went in small street beside and finally took the metro back to Shibuya area.
so many people so much noise so many line up to eat
so I ended up in another family restaurant fast food
clean washroom good OK meal
In Japan no bottle water offer you have to pour yourself a drink form a big jar of water I guess is to save the planet but between you and me they are the biggest user o fplastic in the world is awful!
lunch
purple rice tomatoe basic cheese and a rough ice tea no sugar...
I walk some more and hit the road to the hotel.
Asakasa
The area is fun and clean and less busy went to the grocery and bought some whisky for a friend and stop by my favorite spot
grilled wagyu and a coca...
I ended up buying à cooking in the hotel lobby...really i paid $5.00 I was starving still
Third day
I decided to give it à shot and go back to Asakusa to find something for my mom and nephew and see if there was more flowers in the cherry tree
