Guidebook success

So during this trip we are not doing too badly in finding food places that have been recommended in guide books.  This time around we have the internet in our hotel room... things are so much easier to find with the internet!  (Special thanks goes to google maps!) To make it a bit more interesting, a lot of the places recommended have been a little off the beaten track, with only a rough map and main street signs noted.  So - success! 

Today went to Harajuku.  Got a crepe along Takeshita-dori, then walked up to Meiji-Jingu shrine.  It was the first real cultural thing we've done so far (except for a brief encounter with Ueno park), and it was really nice to get away from the super-awesome-craziness that is Tokyo. 

 

Massive Torii at the entrance of Meiji-Jingu

 

Purification fountain



Main yard leading to the offering hall

These guys were getting wedding photos taken.

We wrote our wishes for the future on a small piece of paper, put it in an envelope for it to be presented to the deity for blessing.  We went to the offering hall and I got quite moved.  It was just the sense of peace and calm and the chance to reflect on things away from the crazy world.

Outside the shrine, on the bridge, were girls offering "free hugs", and the hugs were very involved!  A woman went to accept a hug and she was hugged for over 10 seconds, with some rocking side to side action included!

So after getting a bit lost we managed to find Maisen, the Katsu place recommended by Lonely Planet.  It was pretty amazing, definitely worth the trip! We ordered the Lunch set of Katsu-don and a side order of Crab Croquettes, which were THE BEST CROQUETTES I've had ever.  Full of crab meat, creamy and in a panko crumbed shell (similar to the yam ball coating at yum cha), and coated in a crab sauce, it was just freaking awesome.  I still can't believe we managed to find the place.



Crab croquettes. Love, love, love.



Pork katsu.  Melt in the mouth.

This follows from yesterday where we found an obscure soba restaurant in Lisa's Food and Sake guidebook, after getting lost and asking some Japanese dudes, it ended up being around the corner from where we were at.  Really nice soba noodles, they were al-dente and came with tempura, including conga eel and Australian asparagus! Haha. 

Had our first Karaoke experience today at a Karaoke-kan chain in Shinjuku.  It was actually quite an old chain, but such a quick way to pass 2 hours.  I think Lisa was not quite so keen going into it but she has already started talking about our next visit!  Well, when in Japan...