10/30/23 Weather:  72 degrees - full sun - beautiful day!

Writing this post Halloween morning on the Shinkansen train to Kyoto - more on that experience for 10/31 post.  Much more challenging than I had hoped as I think the magnetic tracks are screwing with the mousepad on my Surface.

Had another chill morning at Ellens and then an early lunch at their favorite Ramen place.  I've had ramen - but this is RAMEN!  So good!  Amazing pork - so tender, unbelievable!

I usually forget to take pictures of where we stay but I remembered this time.  This is Ellen's place in Kichijoji.  Kichijoji is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in all of Japan. 

 

Starting off our adventure to the main part of Kichijoji we stumbled upon a Shinto ceremony blessing the ground for some new construction.  Ellen's husband, Toshi, his family is one of the most prominent landowners in Kichijoji and they had the same ceremony when building their home (now torn down - long story) 25 years ago.

 

This is Benten Shrine in Inokashira park.  The shrines are all Shinto and the temples are Buddhist.  We did not go through this shrine as Ellen said it has bad energy for married couples so we weren't allowed to go through it.

Did some shopping in Kichijoji

Had some german beer and a sausage on a pretzel bun for a late afternoon snack.  German/Japanese ties still prominent - no wonder they were in kahoots for WWII.

Just a nice large ice cube for my Japanese Whisky.  I've had several bourbons in my day - but this is the biggest cube I've ever gotten.  They do food AND drink right in Tokyo!

Ended our night at one of Ellen and Toshi's favorite restaurants - a kushiage place where everything is deep fried but so light.  And so good!

The Master.......

 We had salmon w/ roe, scallop, beef, chicken with celery, lotus root, chestnuts, camembert cheese with honey and more - all of this deep fried and so delicious.

Tried sake from northern and westeran Japan....

Asparagus - pic doesn't do the size justice -  normally I steer away from big asparagus at the supermarket myself but this was amazing and what he is known for.