Tokyo Day 5: An American in Tokyo, or rather, 6 Americans
Written by silver on April 23rd, 2008
The plan was for Diem and Binh to leave us for Mt Fuji early that morning and meet us in Kyoto the next day while Jae, Jason, Di, and I returned to Tokyo. They did not book the hotel/transportation package with us and were not required to go back to Tokyo to take the bullet train to Kyoto tomorrow.
Unfortunately, by the time we made it back to pick up our stuff, we found out that it takes 5 hours on a bus to the Fuji area! (didn’t look that far on the map…that was not drawn to scale…) So, they would essentially arrive at midnight where the hostel they booked may be closed. So instead of going to Fuji, Diem and Binh came with the rest of us back on the Romance Train to Tokyo. Doesn’t that sound cool? “Taking the Romance Train to Tokyo.”
We arrived at our ryokan late in the evening. After dropping off our stuff we went out hunting for food. Asakusa is a nice tourist spot and we had planned the whole Wednesday dedicated to it, unfortunately we will have to wait until next time to experience it.
Our ryokan was situated right behind Senso-ji Temple which is one of the oldest and popular temples in Tokyo. Even though all the shops that lined the entrance were closed we could see that it was very beautiful.
Most of the restaurants were closing but we came upon one that closed late. It was a simple place, selling only ramen. The fare simple, but tasty and hit the spot.
By the time we finished eating all the stores were closed and we turned in. Good bye Tokyo, you have been wonderful, but Kyoto is waiting.
Sidebar - Riceballs
The menu at the ramen place listed riceball for 100yen. Rice ball? As in the gooey riceballs filled with red beans that Chinese people eat? Then wouldn’t it be ‘riceball(s)’? I ordered one and it was a ball of pure white rice, and some pickles on the side. Nothing was inside the ball, just pure white rice. Ahhh, rice ball, singular.