Day 22: Scrunch Time

DID: Last day in Japan!! Much to accomplish, first items on the list: pool and laundry. GnR and I did the former while Jason kindly took care of the latter (with a little break on the pool deck during the wash cycle).

Next on the list was Gavin’s choice – teppanyaki for lunch. See more on that in “Ate”.  Restaurant was off the Ebisu subway stop – but it could have been somewhere in So Cal. Wide streets, everything written in English, even several cafes with outdoor seating! Too sterile, didn’t like it.

Then, shopping in Harajuku. Loved it.  They’ve modeled it off Carnaby St in London, complete with signs overhead (will post pix). Lots of alleys to explore. Never found the BAPE store we were looking for but tons of shops to inspire anyway. Apparently it’s ‘the thing’ to make your shop impossible to find – had to laugh when I read a bloggers comment about this re: have they missed rule #1 of economics - making your products accessible to customers? I guess this defines niche market! Saw a shop exclusively selling scrunchies. Are they back (where have I been?)

After Harajuku, back to Shinjuku Sanchome and shopping at Tokyu Hands. Love this store. Chances are if you get something from us from Tokyo, it’s from this here. And if we did by it elsewhere we came to regret it because they had it cheaper. Highlight was purchase of a Japanese vegetable knife – ironic since I’m in total veggie withdrawal – what would I give for a nice piece of broccoli! Also sad not be to experiencing ‘normal’ summer fruits – no peaches, no plums, not even very many cherries for a  country that has so many cherry trees! But still happy about the cheap bananas. But I digress... Unfortunately we ran out of time the store closed just as we were reaching the children’s clothing floor (made it through 7/10 floors in an hour – record breaking time as far as I’m concerned.)

ATE: Breakfast @ hotel buffet. Boys excited because there were fries at the buffet. Had monster slices of raisin bread, nice to have bacon and eggs for a change

Lunch - Jason chose a 1-star Michelin restaurant for teppanyaki figuring that after the Kobe experience anything less would be a let down. Located at the top of the Westin Hotel. Meal was nothing less than scrumptious…except for the meat in Gavin’s kid’s meal. They substituted Australian beef for Japanese. The difference is striking – it’s one thing to be aware that you’re eating the some of the best beef in the world, quite another having the stuff you get at home on the plate right next to you.  I might have to give up beef when we leave Japan, how will I ever enjoy it again?!

Dinner – burgers at Lotteria. Originally planned for ramen but it was late and we didn’t want to go ‘just anywhere’ for a last bowl of ramen!