The Food Pursuit
0
After learning that Asakusa’s Sanja Matsuri is cancelled this year as a result of Tohoku’s earthquake and tsunami, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. It normally takes place during the third weekend of May and crowds flock to the temples for a good time. Not this year. And while I respect one’s decision to Jishuku, or voluntary (and ironically involuntary) self-restraint, and admire their sense of community and respect nationwide, I hope this won’t be taken into extreme. Too much Jishuku can be unhealthy for the mind or well-being. We balance diets, why not everything else? I believe at times like this, it’s more important than ever to push forward and dig for a lighted path. So when the Sanja Matsuri was cancelled, meaning all the goodies will not be where I usually find them, I dug for my own.
As if it’s not already apparent, I love food and I love to see the world. In spite of this, the one situation where I hate both at the same time is on an airplane. Let me paint the picture. I don’t do well in cramped spaces, I don’t enjoy the smell of airplanes, and to make matters worse, I’m petrified when cabin crews wobble up and down the aisle with trolleys. The smell of food diffuses throughout the plane and the dreaded question comes along: “Chicken or beef?”. I’ve always wondered no matter what I choose, there will be some disappointment and loss of appetite after a few bites. I force myself to eat the most modest amount so that I wouldn’t be hungry, and I understand that I shouldn’t expect five-star quality 30,000 feet above ground level. Still, there must be a reason why the quality of airplane food improved only by minimal increments. I did some research and here’s what I found.
Eat, explore, eat, and explore some more. That’s always been the gist of this website. So today, we’re going to take a look at the ever popular Ginza. Popular in that Ginza is arguably the root cause of foreigners taking shopping vacations in Tokyo. Flagship stores left and right, there’s no denying it’s the center of materialism. Not a big shopper? That’s okay. There are plenty of other reasons why one would visit Ginza. This post will reveal what you can expect from a day in the area.
Yasukuni is one of many shrines in Japan. What makes this shrine special is that it’s dedicated to those who lost their lives in wars and other struggles serving Japan (or the Emperor). Ironically, the shrine is located near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo where the Imperial Family lives. Another unique fact is there are numerous controversies that stem from conflicts that happened in history surrounding this shrine. In mid July, there’s a festival called Mitama Matsuri that commemorates the lives lost and attracts a huge crowd. I’m thinking they’re going to have some sort of vigil for the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week. The weekend following the disaster, areas surrounding shrines smell largely of incense as people prayed.
Located in the popular Shinjuku district, Shinokubo houses a large Korean community in Tokyo. As with other Koreatowns in the world, you can expect to find a number of restaurants, grocery stores, and products from Korea. Say you’ve landed in Tokyo but a part of you wants to feel some Korean vibe. No problem. This post will introduce what you can expect to see at Shinokubo’s Koreatown in Tokyo, including a restaurant visit.
Back to top