Winter/ Spring 2011

A lot of research and intensive visits to the library went into the planning for my Japan trip. I suggest you do the same if you have holiday plans for Japan.

The subway system in Tokyo is a transport nightmare.  I spent many sleepless nights, wrapping my brain round the complex intersecting lines, going through the different permutations of train routes to get to our destination at the shortest time possible. And dont get me started on the long string of names the stations have, that is very much a tongue twister.

Subway Nightmare!

So best tip is to set of at least 30 mins before your scheduled time, in case you get lost in one of the lines!

On our first night, we had one of Tokyo's better Tonkatsu found at Maisen near Harajuku. What I like about the golden crisp pork cutlet is that despite it being super fried, it still tasted light, almost air light. And Maisen claims that their pork cutlet can be cut by just giving it a slight squeeze between your chopsticks. I tried, and they werent lying. 

Main Hall

 

Tonkatsu Meal

Fried to perfection

 After meal stroll

Accommodation in Tokyo is not cheap, and its common to stay in one of these cheaper traditional Ryokans, with creaking wooden floor boards and paper thin walls. We slept on tatamis, but i suppose this is what immersion means.

 

Taito Ryokan