Glorious Tokyo, Pt. 2

I had to continue the previous post because somehow blogger would not let me post so many photos on one entry. So here's a few more, with descriptions.

*The first two are Tsukiji Market. We unfortunately missed the daily early-morning fish auction, where they sell 100-pound tunas to restaurant owners and distributors, but we did get to see everything else imaginable for sale, including all manner of raw fish, kitchenware, knives, and an endless variety of pickled vegetables and fish. The second shot shows a man pouring katsuo-bushi into a bin. Katsuo-bushi is dried katsuo (bonito) fish flakes, which is used as a seasoning for ramen and okonomi-yaki (Japanese noodle or cabbage pancake). It's got a smoky flavor, and is quite tasty.

*The next photo is Ginza, the highest(!)-end shopping area in Japan, if not the world (save maybe 5th Ave. in NYC). That landmark is the clock atop Wako department store.

*The next is Kabuki-za, also in Ginza. This is one of the oldest and most famous Kabuki theaters in Japan. We happened to catch a show here a couple months ago, courtesy of Akemi's parents who are season ticket holders.

*The next two are of MM21 (Minato-Mirai) in Yokohama. The first pic is, of course, Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Japan at 69 stories. The second photo is inside Queen's Square shopping plaza at the foot of the tower. The giant box structure in the center is actually a Christmas tree being erected out of Swarovsky crystal. Please don't let your children play around this thing. You break it, you buy it!

*Next is the outside of Gonpachi, which I talked about in a previous post. It's a very unique building, with some great architecture. There's also the ninjas...

*Next is the Ice Bar Tokyo. I'm sure there must be several of these around the world, where everything inside is fashioned out of ice. We didn't go in, but it looked really "cool".

*Lastly, is a picture of my car here in Japan. Yes, it's true - I get out there and drive 218mph to work everyday (like the rest of the Americans here). Yeah right! This actually a Lamborghini dealership in Minami-Azabu, not far from the New Sanno Hotel. After I snapped this photo they released the hounds...