Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Best cheap sushi in Tokyo


Looking for a fun sushi experience while in Tokyo? While sushi trains in Japan are so cheap and pretty fun, nothing beats the freshness and taste of the nigiri made right in front of you by professional sushi chefs as they are called.

The place we found was a standing sushi bar and was full of business men probably on their way home. Scott ordered a beer and I got a miso soup. We then just had to tell the chef behind the glass what we wanted and he would make it up and place it down in front of us in seconds. For those who don't speak english (they had an english menu BUT), you could get away with just pointing at the fresh fish behind the glass and indicating how many pieces you want.

One serving of nigiri (two pieces) was only 150yen whereas in other sushi bars they are start at 600yen and climb fast. Scott and I were button-busting full at only 2500yen for the two of us!!

We found this tiny place near Shinjuku station West exit. It is in the same vicinity as the Electrical street (Yodobashi Camera building etc) and is on the same street as the starbucks, but a block closer to the station

Japanese ryoukan (traditional inn) dinner and breakfast

Scott and I recently spent a night at Hotel Konansou in the town of Kawaguchiko on one of the five lakes near Mt Fuji.
I wanted him to experience a traditional Japanese inn, hot spring bathing, see Mt Fuji and eat a full Japanese spread. We succeeded! Our room was all tatami flooring (woved straw) and had its very own hot spring tub outside looking out to Mt Fuji. It also had a western bathroom, toilet, tea facilities etc.

Dinner was served in our room, and as usually, was huge and varied! We had a hot pot of beef and vegies, a hot plate for the abolone, squid and wagyu and other small dishes included a crab miso soup and groud pork dumpling. Lots of seasonal vegies, some pickled, sashimi, a huge oyster, sweet potato, chestnuts and different tofus.






Breakfast was a similar afair but held in a common dining hall. As you can see, it is all about many small dishes of different things. The hot pot on the right had tofu, cabbage and some meat. Such breakfasts often include a piece of salt cooked salmon, pickled vegetable, miso soup and small egg sweet egg square.


Staying in a RYOKAN is definately reconmended to those travelling and wanting to experience something really authentic. It is much more expensive than your average hotel, but such a special experience and a memory you will have forever!