The ultimate same-cation

Well hello and welcome back folks! The last few years have been a helluva rollercoaster for everyone, but here we are - an impromptu OS trip! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the time to fire up the travel blog is always a favourite time of mine. And straight back to Japan we go 😂 Why?! Well it's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me . Due to health issues we can only travel so far in our 12 day window, but who wouldn't want to come back to Japan?! We had so much fun last time with a 3 year old - let's come back and see what it is like with our little sassy now 7 year old :) So here we go!! 

Just like last time, we had an overnight flight to Tokyo. It was a smooth, quick and seamless entry through Sydney Airport with barely any interaction with humans. Willow had some KFC in preparation for what will no doubt be 10 days filled with lots of chicken karaage and rice. The flight left soon after 9pm and we each managed to grab a few hours sleep, but it was an early arrival into Haneda Airport at 6am.

We got through Haneda OK, although as Japan is, they have all the technology but seem to fall over at the end. Like we went and had our fingerprints and photos digitally taken, but then everyone had to hand-fill out a landing card and there weren't enough benches or pens for everyone! But you do you Japan...

On the other side we sat down to use the wifi and have a coffee and regroup. Well Willow had an iced chocolate and she breathed a contented sigh and said "Ah Japan this is the life". Then I took her for her first experience of a Japanese toilet - last time she was still in nappies! 

On the early and quiet Monorail

We geared ourselves up to get to our hotel in Akasaka, knowing we couldn't check in until 3pm but at least we could dump our bags. We got a monorail most of the way there which was super quick and easy, then hailed a very luxurious taxi from the station not far away straight to the hotel door. Easy peasy... !

So how to kill 7 hours until 3pm on no sleep?! Well we hopped onto the nearest subway (which just happened to be next to a Harry Potter cafe, and the whole subway had Harry Potter-esque touches!) and went to Omotesando station, which in hindsight is exactly what we did on our first morning last time. We sure do love a same-cation. 

Being early it was very quiet so we meandered around, down to Harajuku. Even the normally heaving Takeshita Street was quiet! In search of more coffee, we wandered around the cool yet cute back little lanes of Harajuku and found a poky little place. We each had to order something, so Willow got a honey lemonade. Please let her have something healthy this trip!! 

An early and quiet Takeshita Street!

Then while we waited for a decent time to sit down to lunch, we wandered up past the Meiji Shrine and into the large and beautiful Yoyogi Park (which of course we've been to several times before) for a sit-down and to people watch. 

First family selfie outside the Meiji Shrine

Our own private booth at Kura Sushi

Finally it was time for some lunch! I had read about a nearby sushi train, Kura Sushi, that sounded pretty fun, especially since this one had some sushi crepes which we thought Willow might like to try! The Japanese sure do like their crepes!

We entered, took a ticket number which then gave us a number to our own private booth alongside a double decker sushi train! Even though Willow is not the biggest sushi fan (doesn't like seaweed...) she was delighted by the setup. 

The lower layer was a slow revolving train more similar to what you find at home with random things that you just take as you please. But you could also use an app on your phone to order specific things and they would zoom out at enormous speed on the top level and stop at your table! It was hilarious! Even drinks that didn't spill a drop! And the best thing was it was soooooo cheap. Most nigiri plates were under 200 yen, which at the current exchange rate is under A$2. Ryan and I went pretty nuts ordering all manner of things, also because it was hilarious each time they made their speedy arrival at our table, and the whole meal cost us about A$50! Rumour has it robots make some of the sushi, but hey, it was fun and extremely good value :)

With still another couple of hours to kill until 3pm we managed to walk all the way home, pretty much on fumes, back to the hotel and collapsed into the chairs at reception until the room was finally ready. The room, although tiny, is lovely and comfortable with everything we need and a lie down and shower was much appreciated by all.

After some R&R, we walked to the familiar haunts in nearby Roppongi in search of an early dinner, although Ryan and I kind of had already decided to go back to Menshou-Taketora that we loved last time and went to 3 times. We rave about it in the blog post here, ironically titled "Same-cationing", so now we are same-cationing the same-cation lol!

Ryan, happy to be back at Menshou-Taketora

Not only were we pleased to know it was still there after the pandemic, it was exactly the same and did not disappoint! We were taken to a private room, Willow was given a free juice and little bowl with spoon (just like last time when she was 3!) and we feasted away... It's actually a ramen place but we ordered everything but (ramens are sooooo big here!). 

We had the eggplant miso and cheese again, sizzling seafood plates, octopus and enoki mushrooms - even Willow had two gyoza! And her fried chicken of course... along with some beer and shochu and stuffed to the brim the whole meal cost under A$55. Amazing!

Completely beat but happy and satisfied we meandered home in what was some drizzle now and had a long night of slumber, for our first night in Tokyo :)

Sizzling octopus and enoki mushrooms