4.11.2016 – 4.11.2016  17 °C

What a day! We jammed in plenty today!!!

Started our day with us off to Tsukiji Fish Markets. Arrived to discover the markets were closed!!!! (Some sort of holiday here in Japan today)… Devastated we started to leave when we saw this interesting looking side street and decided to go investigate…. Upon investigation we discovered the outer market which was more than open for business!!! Asian marketing at its best!

We ate and ate and ate… Sashimi, sushi.. SOOOOOO good! The sushi train shop we’d discovered had the coolest setup for hot tea.. Add your powder to your cup and taps of hot water just waiting for you to enjoy! So much better than waving down the waiter to get you a top up. Actually writing this blog (its the morning of the day after) my mouth is salivating just thinking about the awesome-ness that is fresh Japanese sushi! We also discovered some gelatinous Japanese sweet (made out of rice i think)…. not a super fan i have to admit but good to test out the local fare.

Groaning with full bellies we left Tsujiki and headed back up to Ueno to this time do the museum.  I’m going to come out and say it… disappointing! I was hoping for plenty of shogun history, a few samurai stories, some interesting facts about Meiji……… I got some really cool looking statues of their old war gods, the usual reams of pottery fragments, some nice looking yukata’s (male kimono robes) and silk painting frames. There was a small collection of samurai swords– all of which it seemed the museum knew the owners etc (which was pretty impressive) but really not what i would have expected from the National Museum of Japan. Oh well!

By now, our feet were absolutely aching (three days constantly on them and they were starting to complain)- so we headed back to our hotel for a rest and to get ready for a night of quintessential crazy Japan– the Robot Restaurant.

Our night began with another incredible meal- this time fried soba noodles, tempura vegetables + some sort of fried fish bites… All of which was AMAZING! (We have only had incredible meals in Japan)… and then on to the Robot restaraunt. All i can say is that it is an experience that you have to do yourself to appreciate… Think really bad Power Rangers meets side show alley at the Royal Easter Show. (NB for next traveller to Japan- make sure you’ve had at least two glasses of wine before attending!)