Rainy day Tokyo

Yesterday I checked the weather for today. 100% chance of rain. Radar showed a huge mass moving in and sitting right on top of us. No stinkin’ rain would keep us from enjoying the day. But obviously we didn’t want outdoor expeditions. 

After breakfast we headed to the front desk to inquire about umbrellas. The concierge ducked into a back room and came out with two of the big see-through type. I love these. Big enough to keep you dry, handles with a hook to drape over your arm.

Armed and ready, we left the hotel for the 18 minute walk to Hamamatsucho station to catch the Yamamoto line to the Tokyo National Museum. More on that Museum later. We spent a good couple hours there ending with a stop in the museum cafe for iced matcha lattes.

Onward bound to something called Nakano Broadway. By this time, the rain was getting heavier and by the time we got to Nakano, it was pouring. Our umbrellas did the trick though.

Time to eat. It was getting late in the afternoon. A long time since breakfast. Nakano Broadway is a long covered arcade of various shoos and places to eat. I was set on having more sushi before leaving Japan because you just can’t get sushi or sashimi like this anywhere I’ve been in the States.

We happened upon a little place that had a couple seats available. It was conveyer belt sushi. Yay! I’d been wanting to try that.

There are two levels of the conveyer belt. The bottom level has dishes with little cards on them picturing the various types of sushi available. Also dishes filled with packages of wasabi.

The top level was for the sushi. You placed your order and after a while, a plate would zip along and stop in front of you with your order. How to order? There is a tablet mounted in front of you above the upper belt. Pick English (added benefit, no google translating needed), browse until you find something you want, order. I started with grilled eel sushi. Grubb started with an assorted of six pieces. I saw a hand wrapped roll that looked fantastic. Oh and it was.

At any time you could check what you’d already ordered and which of those had already been served. And you could see your bill. Tax is always included in the price.

Done? Tap on “Tabulate bill”. The grand total is displayed and an attendant appears with a payment card. Pay at the cashier, walk out. No tipping. Have I mentioned that? There is no tipping in Japan.

Final bill? $US 40.00 for the two of us.

As we headed back down the covered street towards the station, we spied a bakery. Dessert! We got it to go and we were on our way. 

By now, the rain was pounding down. I scrutinized the routes Google provided and found one that got us to a station only an 8 minute walk to our hotel. We hopped on the Yamanoto line, rode it 8 stops then transferred to the Mita line for the final stretch. Used our trusty umbrellas to stay mostly dry for the walk to the hotel. The attendant at the hotel entrance rushed over to help us with our umbrellas while we got out of the rain.

Oh sure, we could have taken a taxi but what fun would that be?

What a sweet day.

Grubb will wax eloquently about the museum. 

Meanwhile I’ve changed into the thick, soft terry bathrobe provided in the room. Too bad for Grubb that they are always sized too small for him. Now enjoying the storm from indoors as darkness falls. Flashes of lightening making a beautiful display but I wonder if Tokyo Tower ever takes a direct hit and how far sparks would fly if it did.

Tomorrow we’ve signed up with a Viator small group tour to see a Sumo training session for a couple hours in the morning. And it should be a fine sunny day. I read of a temple where water goblins rule…