Day 14: getting lost & Tsukiji Fish Market.

In Japan, Tiffany, Keri and I started our Tokyo, Japan adventure! We landed at Haneda Airport at 12:25am and was left with one issue. Transit doesn't work between 12:30am to 5:00am-ish.

We wandered around the airport for something to do, found that the information booth attendants didn't speak much English. But fortunately enough, we were able to discover the baggage delivery service in the airport. For around 1700 yen to deliver to where we were staying at, that's pretty awesome. Since our check-in was at 16:00, we had it scheduled for 18:00-20:00 delivery.

We roamed around Haneda Airport.. It was gorgeous. Everything looks amazing in the airport with their traditional architecture and design. We went to eat at the 24-hour Yoshinoya Restaurant. By this time, it was around 3am.. Pretty good for a late night meal!

Afterwards, we took the taxi to the Tsukiji Fish Market! Taxis in Japan, open automatically. Pretty sure the drivers would consider you slightly rude if you close the door yourself (but don't trust me when I say that). :)

At the Tsukiji Fish Market, the main entrance has a map of the whole market, where to enter and where you cannot access as a visitor. We went near the center of the marker where there were convenience stores, bathrooms and free WiFi (we had no internet this morning). We checked our map, and looked for the visitor information center where visitors were to enter the tuna auction. Only 120 people were allowed in (2 shifts of 60 people), once they reach capacity, you'll have to try another day.

Around 4:20am, we had some difficulties with our direction, but Tiffany found the information booth and we managed to get a spot for the 2nd tour! Everyone was given a vest, to identify them. By 4:30am, all the vests were given out and no more visitors were allowed. The earliest shift started around 5:20am. So.. Be arrive early if you want to make it to the auction! We only made it for the 5:50am 2nd shift!

By this time, we were quite exhausted.. I ended up passing out for a quick nap, but was woken up for our tour. We walked through the market, and witness tons of tuna. It was such a sight to see! Tons of people bidding for huge tuna and auctioneers (whom I thought sounded like they were yodelling). It was so fast. And we were out by 6:10am.

We wandered around Tsukiji for a bit, and then headed to Shinjuku for a bit cause it was near our train ride to our Airbnb. Apart from getting lost in the subway system and underground routes, we made it to our stop, Tsurukawa Station.

Our Airbnb Host, Ken, was waiting for us and drove us to the place we were staying at. Ken had everything prepared for us; beds were made and he provided tons of information and kitchen supplies! We went through a tour of the place and then had said good bye to Ken.

I passed out immediately afterwards and Tiffany got our luggage! And we got some food from the local 7-11 and that was it for the first day!

Day 15: Akihabara

Quick post on Akihabara, transit did take some getting used to. As there were multiple methods of getting to destinations with rapid express and semi-express lines. But we made it there!

We visited several "UFO Crane" and arcade game buildings! Its such as eye-opening experience as Toronto doesn't have anything close to it (from my experience). There were also tons of tax-free shops so some of them were translated in English.

We also had ramen! Our place had a machine that you can punch in your order and then insert your cash. Afterwards, the waitress would take your order and you'd get a bowl of ramen! Maybe I was not that hungry, or their servings were huge.. But, I almost couldn't finish my regular size of shoyu ramen!

We did a few Ingress missions after and then headed home. I made my tomato and egg dish, had left over food and rice.