What is the first stereotype Japanese pastime activity that comes to your mind? Karaoke? It was out of question that this had to happen at some point. No Tokyo visit without some Karaoke fun!
We had spent the morning in Akihabara aka Electric Town.
Akihabara
Game shops, UFO catchers, UFO catchers and UFO catchers, full of fluffy stuffed Unicorns and Pokémon. A must for gamers and anime lovers. We were not lucky at the UFO catcher, so we consoled ourselves with streetfood treats.
UFO catchers
Stuffed Pokémon
Firstly there was cheesecake! All over Tokyo you can find 'Pablo's' shops. There you can buy delicious cheese tarts in all kind of sizes and flavours. I liked the mini cheese tarts as a snack. Of course with matcha flavour ;)
Pablo's mini cheese tart
Secondly Taiyaki! Oh how I miss fresh Taiyaki! Those fish-shaped cakes are filled with different fillings – I prefer custard or red bean paste! Warm and fluffy on the outside, sweet inside! Heavenly!
Taiyaki
Enough sweet talk! After taking it slow in the afternoon, we had planned something more outgoing in the evening. We took the Yamanote line to Shinjuku and wandered the lighted streets and alleys.
Shinjuku
Shinjuku
By accident we discovered 'Dan da dan sakaba – The juicy Dumpling factory'. And how juicy they are! Accompanied by a salad made of fresh cilantro and some warm sake this turned out to be one of the best meals we had in Japan. Thanks to an open kitchen and humorous staff this was true eatertainment!
Gyozas and fresh cilantro salad
Matcha dessert
Sake and beer made us brave enough to take entertainment to the next level – Karaoke time. Here is how it works. You enter a building that looks like a no-tell motel, rent a room for half an hour, order some drinks, receive a room number and off you go. The elevator door opens and you find yourself in a dark and narrow hallway. Stuffy and smokey with loud music blaring behind closed doors. Inside 'your' room you find a plastic couch, a sticky table with an ashtray...and a Karaoke machine. On a tablet PC you choose your favorite songs – just to have hell of a good time performing!
Karaoke room
Before heading back to the hotel we visited Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho. In both locations you will find narrow alleys with hundred of bars, so tiny that only a hand full of people fit in. A cozy and welcoming place to end a day in Tokyo! Continue here.
Golden Gai
Omoide Yokocho
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