Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Nakano: My Conveyor Belt Sushi Experience

Our third day in the Todai Innovation Summer Program (TISP) 2013 was spent doing field work on Japanese pop culture. We were divided into groups and my group was assigned to go to Nakano.

Upon exiting the station, we saw a street with a covered walkway, lined with many shops and restaurants. It reminds me of Kannon Dori in Asakusa (though Kannon Dori is a lot more traditional and a lot more expensive haha). After a couple of trips around Tokyo (Asagaya, Kichijoji), I learned that this kind of shopping street is like a normal affair. I think it's pretty cool!


It was almost lunch time when we arrived at Nakano. There were a lot of restaurants around but what caught my attention was the number of kurazushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants--there were many! I have been dying to experience that for as long as I could remember! There's a conveyor belt sushi restaurant here in Manila called Sakae Sushi which I've been meaning to try but I never did so (story of my life) but it doesn't matter anymore because I was finally able to try the real deal in Japan.

Prices depend on the plate on which the sushi is placed

After we sat down, I noticed this faucet-like thing in front of me so I asked my Japanese co-participant what it was. Turns out, it dispenses hot water with which...


...you put matcha powder! I don't understand why but for some reason, I never really loved matcha (I mean I can tolerate it but I don't necessarily look for it every now and then) until this recent trip to Japan.


Just get anything you want from the conveyor

Wasabi also arrives every now and then

Ikura (salmon roe) sushi

Ebi sushi

I could have taken more sushi photos but I didn't for I was too engrossed with eating. Funny enough, I did not eat a lot (I only had four plates!) because I was way too marveled by the conveyor belt experience.

Grah, writing this post makes me more hungry. I want to eat sushi now. :(

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Hanging Out in Shimo-Kitazawa

One of the [many] things I love about going to Japan-- I always have friends whom I can contact and hang out with!

The day after my arrival (after the first session of the summer program), I met with my friend Kyle. He left the Philippines last April for a two-year study in Tokyo. I didn't really think we'd see each other again so soon (just 4 months)! Glad we lived along the same railway line.

We went to Shimo-kitazawa (along Keio-Inokashira line where we both stayed). Like what my Japanese co-participants said, Shimo-kitazawa is a cool place with many shops and restaurants but not much people.

Kyle and I had ramen for dinner...

Ramen, I missed you so!

...and then crepes for dessert. I bought a strawberry cheesecake crepe with fresh cream. It had a whole (albeit kinda small) slice of cheesecake inside!

Japanese sweets you make me fat.

Waiting for the train at Komabatodaimae station

Ah, good food shared with a good friend, how cool is that?

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Oh, by the way...

I'm currently attending a short [academic] summer program at The University of Tokyo. It's only been two days but it's totes cool. I met many of my awesome classmates from around the world. I also had dinner with my close friend Kyle yesterday-- I miss him a lot!

The University of Tokyo Komaba campus clock tower

Lunch yesterday: onigiri, azuki manju and Kirin milk tea

I'll make a decent post soon. It's past 2am here and we have field research tomorrow so have to go to zzzzz....