After settling into the Prince Hotel, we decided to go celebrate Christmas Eve.
Neither of us knowing the area we wandered until we found an area filled with Izakaya, Pubs, Karaoke Clubs, and more.
The streets are just slightly wider than US alleys, filled with salary men looking for a drink and suit wearing kids trying to convince you their izakaya, pub, karaoke club, etc is where you want to be tonight.
We finally decided on Yakitori (which I had been hoping for all along).
Entering the store, とり鉄 品川店, smells of grilled meats and vegetables mixed with cigarette smoke and shouts of irasshaimase immediately brought me back to memories of previous visits.
Shitake mushroom and peppers.
Chicken thighs and more chicken thighs.
All of the above washed down with draft beer.
After dinner, although now having been on the move for 26+ hours, we decided to visit the Top of Shinagawa Prince Court Sky Lounge.
Sitting there, drinking a double of Caol Ila 18 year old , I reflected on my first trip to Japan. Almost exactly 15 years ago ( I believe I arrived Christmas day in 1999), I was broke and clueless. Thanks to my parents and several good friends in Japan, I was able to visit Tokyo, Okazaki, Shizuoka, and Matsumoto. Not speaking any Japanese or knowing anything about Japan, I remember considering sleeping in Ueno Park to 1) save money & 2) because I was tired, lost, and didn't have the means to fix my situation.
Now though, as Yuki and I sit looking across Tokyo (Ueno Park is out there beyond Tokyo Tower which is lit up for the holidays), I'm thankful for how far we've come and look forward to what's next!
Merry Christmas from Tokyo!
This is a great way to share the trip. And the food looks fantastic.
ReplyDelete