Food, food, food and more food!

Well today was bit of a quiet day. Clean clothes had ran out so fresh on the morning did laundry. I'll be starting to explore Japan tomorrow with JR pass so need some clean clothes!

After this I headed to Ikebukuro. Yesterday friend had mentioned of place there where you can experience earthquake and try to find out of smoke filled labyrinth. Disaster prevention exercise in other words. Normally reservations are done by phone but I don't like to use my phone here(expensive). I had thought there was coin phone in home but maybe I misremember or it was removed. Well ikebukuro isn't that far and going there would verify location as well so off I was.

Before that though I stopped by at next stations kaiten sushi restaurant I had spotted bit earlier. Bit cheaper than previous place and maybe sushi selection not as good but still tasty. Just low on variety. Though you can specifically order wider variety of sushi as well as take from what are offered.

No idea what these were but good.
Arriving at the reception I found nobody there except some guy putting in some lights. Asking where everybody was I was told it was off-day! AAARGH! Luckily there was still staff in there and one was friendly enough to take registeration anyway but boy that was embarrassing. Apologized a lot over that one.

With this I went to Shibuya where I was to meet with classmate from Finland. Figured I would do some window shopping in the meanwhile buying also another of Harajuku crepes.

Not something to eat often. Cream, caramel...Calory bomb.

However I realized I had actually fairly low cash count with me. I had meeting with Japanese I had met last year later and realized if dinner is even bit on the low side I could get stuck on Yokohama(IC card was running short on cash as well) so I had no choise but to head home for some more cash.

This however gave bit of a time problem. I was supposed to meet with friend at the front of Hachiko statue at 16.00. Less than 30 minutes and trains don't come when I get to station and it takes time changing station and it takes time getting to hachiko gate. Arriving at the Shibuya I then proceeded at the incorrect exit ending up pretty much on the exact OPPOSITE side of the station. So I ran. And ran fast like I was in a race. Thankfully pathways were fairly empty(never seen this side of station as particular busy).

Booah.

 Famous Hachiko statue. It's in memory of very loyal dog who after his owner had died to old age still came to Shibuya station every morning and day when his owner had went to work and came from work. Nowadays very popular as a meeting place. "Let's meet at the Hachiko".

Anyway we walked around the Shibuya talking this and that. I showed him Yoyogi park(bit) which I love and he hadn't seen yet. Autumn colours are starting to get around here as well.

 Nice weather. 18 degrees warm. Great day.

For comparison here's shot from last year roughly from the same spot! Interesting difference I would say.

We went for a dinner as well. Some shrimp...something! Good though.

After this it was time to head for Yokohama for meeting with the Japanese person. Yet another restaurant trip during which we chatted about all sorts of subjects. We opted for unagi(eel) restaurant. Bit pricey(3600 yen or so. 27 euros) but very high quality of food and eel was better than I expected. Good thing I have learned to be more open minded about food :D She said she loves eel and I had not tasted it so I figured it's worth a try. Good thing I did too as it was very good!

There. Tomorrow I'll be heading to Himeji and then toward Nagasaki. Hopefully hotels have internet connection. If not blog entries will slow down.