Patisseri Sadaharu Aoki @ Tokyo

Like Sugino, Sadaharu Aoki came highly recommended. He has a few outlets in Tokyo so more accessible - Mid-town @ Roppongi, Isetan and Shin-Kokusai Bldg @
Ginza. He also have other 'international' shops located in Paris and Taipei.

Managed to visit all 3 shops in Tokyo, quite coincidentally actually as was around the area.

The 1st shop I went to was at Shin-Kokusai Building - got a little lost as I was walking from Tokyo Station. Its actually not that far if you know where to go. Having found the shop, the easiest would be to stop at Yurakucho Station, exit D3.

What a relieve when I found the shop - my feet were aching and was glad I could finally sit down and enjoy a coffee and of course a 'sweet treat'! ;p

This was a sneak photo of the shop - not allowed to take pictures except for the food ordered (sigh).

The man himself!

I think Japanese love chocolates, judging by the many chocoloate shops around.

There were quite a large selection of desserts to choose from and since didn't want to overload myself (as I had other venues to go to), finally settled for a salted caramel macaroon (Y250) and macha eclair (Y600).

The eclair was very good, not too sweet (which means that I could have devoured more but unfortunately when I was there and also other outlets there were only macha and chocolate 'Valentine' flavours much to my dissapointment). So this trip, didn't manage to try the yuzu, black sesame and cassis as recommended by ChubbyHubby, next trip I guess.

For aspiring bakers, this is the back view of the eclair.


Address:
@ Shin-Kokusai Bldg. 1F 3-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Transport Yurakucho Station (Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku Lines) / Yurakucho Station (Yurakucho Line : D3 Exit) / Hibiya Station (Mita Line : B3 Exit)

@ Midtown branch, unit 13 in the basement 3-4-1 Shinkokusai BLD Marunouchi,chiyoda-ku Tokyo.

@ Isetan 3-14-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Patisseri Hidemi Sugino @ Ginza

Address: 3-6-17 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

After wandering the streets of Ginza for close to an hour, I was literally overjoyed to finally find the shop!!! Truth be told that I almost gave up but am glad I persisted. But drats, it only opens at 11am and it was 9.30am when I walked up to the shop cos read over the internet that it opens at 10am.

So wandered away again around Ginza - this time noting the landmarks so that I can share with you the map posted at the end of this post.

So when I came back....10 minutes before opening time there were 10 people ahead of me!! Can't believe we are all here queuing for dessert!!!

Read that photography inside the shop was not allowed. There are two types of cakes you can get - the ones you can take away and the other for dine-in only.

Of course I selected the exclusive dine-in ones. Asked for recommendation and was told that that these two were most popular.

From the right: Ambroisie (Y740) and Mariee (Y630).

Only started snapping cos another customer snapped some pictures too *thick skinned turned on*. But actually I don't understand the prohibition afterall he has his own recipe book - but its all in Japanese and French language so didn't purchase it though I enjoyed flipping through the book and drooling over all the pictures.

There is only one Hidemi Sugino in Tokyo, no other outlets or branches so there is an exclusive & tasteful air about this boutique shop - definitely a place to bring to impress your love one or budding love.

The many flavourful layers comprising chocolate mousse, pistachio mousse, raspberry sauce and chocolate cake. If you are a chocolate lover, you'll definitely like this.

The many delightful layers of the Mariee.
This was just divine. I've never eaten anything that taste like "soft silky pillows of cloud". Yep that is the best description I can give it. It was very light and refreshing and not too sweet. If I come back to Tokyo, I would definitely order this again.

The very intricate internal structure of the mousse (picture source from here) - so that you'll be treated to the most wonderful layered combination of flavours and taste.

Since I got lost - got 'conned' by the hotel concierge to walk here - well, at least I got to see more of the neighbourhood and felt the warmth of the locals trying their best to direct me all in Japanese of course. To repay their kind generosity, am enclosing a map for those interested to find this shop so that you can enjoy one of the best mousse and other creations from this cake master. Nearest station is Kyobashi, exit 1. As expected the shop is one of those 'hole-in-the-wall', located in an alley behind INAX @ Ginza.


For more reads, mosey here and here.

Nobori Tei @ Ginza

This place came highly recommended by mycookinghut, eating there twice on her visit to Tokyo.

Address: 8-3-4 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo.

Unagi Kabayaki.
I'm not really a rice person but the quality of riced used was so good that I enjoyed eating the rice more than the unagi. The ungai which we usually get here is usually coated with a heavy sweet sauce, this one is much lighter so you get to taste the natural flavour of the unagi.

With a simple menu with pictures, you can easily make your selection. This place seems to be pretty popular with the locals too.

You can refer to the map below to get your bearings, the shop is located in an alley behind the Gucci store in Ginza.

Day time shot of the restaurant.

Yonemoto Coffee @ Tsukiji

If you are around the area, another must-do is to have coffee at this place. Having to get up so early in the morning, I gladly accepted a hot cuppa.

The cafe was small but the coffee was good. Only thing I didn't like was customers being allowed to smoke, that's indoors too! :(

Their breakfast menu comprising of toast and soft boiled eggs seems to be pretty popular with the locals.

This organic coffee was a real kick-ass!

Ghibli Museum @ Mitaka

Are you a fan of Hayao Miyazaki? Have you watch any of his cartoon animaes like My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns, Tales from Earthsea, Only Yesterday, Kiki's Delivery Service, Grave of the Fireflies. Before making this trip, I made a point to watch again his animaes and my favourites are still Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo.

If you are a fan then a must-visit place is Ghibli Museum. There are lots of things to see and activities to keep both the adults and children entertained and occupied. With the number of foreign visitors I wish they would consider more English translation.

Click here if you want to know how to pre-book the tickets - there are 4 time slots to choose from 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm (close on Tuesdays). Since I couldn't get the tickets easily outside Japan, waited until I reached Tokyo to get them at any Lawson convenience store. Even with the published guide in English on how to buy the tickets, you still need some assistance as it is all in Japanese. I was fortunate a youngster at the store was kind enough to help me as he could speak very good English.

Getting there: Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Mitaka station, approx. 20 min. From the Mitaka South Exit, approx. 15 min. walk along the Tamagawa Josui "Waterworks" to the museum.

Alternatively take the Community Bus Stop #9 from Mitaka Station to the Museum.
(Fare: one-way 200 yen / round trip 300 yen - 1/2 price for children under 12 years old).

My feet were aching from my heeled knee high boots so I opted for the bus. Wanted an earlier session but couldn't only get tickets for the 4pm slot.

Cute bus....if only it was the real cat bus (Nekobasu)!!

Mitaka is very pretty, lots of trees, houses and no tall buildings unlike Tokyo city. Wished I had time to explore the area more. No wonder Miyazaki chose this place for his museum - perfect place for fostering creativity.

The receipt to be exchanged at the museum for the ticket which is made from a strip of film. I asked the counter lady whether I could choose the film but was declined. Fortunately I got Ponyo!!! *so happy*

If you are walking from the station, Totoro will greet you before you reach the main entrance. But if you take the bus, you'll need to walk a little further to greet Hi to Totoro.

Taking pictures inside is not allowed.

Side view of the museum outside.

Main entrance.

Top view

The life-size mighty but gentle giant from the Castle in the Sky.

Porco Rossco.

Night view of the Straw Hat Cafe

menu

My feet were killing so was grateful to have a rest and coffee. They use melted chocolate to draw the picture.

Cat tap

Stain glass from a scene of Princess Mononoke.

Makkuro Kurosuke more popularly known as "dust bunnies" or "soot sprites".

Tin man feature. Not sure from which film though.

Each visitor is also entitled to watch short exclusive animae shown at the Museum's own Saturn Theater. Annathered visited Japan last year in Oct and she saw Mei and the Kitten Bus. So I was pleasantly surprised with a new short film entitled "Mr Dough and the Egg Princess".


The story was entertaining and goes something along this line (extracted from the official Ghibli Museum site):

In a lonesome water mill deep in a forest of briers and brambles lives a witch named Baba Yaga. There the witch keeps her servant the Egg Princess confined and forces the tiny egg-girl to do all the hard daily chores around the mill. One night, a large batch of kneaded dough resting in a trough suddenly comes to life from the witch’s spell. Fearful of the witch, the Egg Princess and her new friend decide to run away. What will lay ahead for the two of them...?

Sushi Dai @ Tsukiji

There are two popular sushi restaurants in Tsukiji market. One of them is Sushi Dai and the other Sushi Daiwa, both located (almost side by side) at Block 6. You can't miss them as there is normally a long line outside the restaurants.

Queues outside restaurants in Tokyo is normal. Reason being that the restaurants are usually small and cramp so seating capacity is limited.

Sushi Daiwa - apparently been around for 55 years.

Sushi Dai - apparently been around for 50 years.

There are two types of sets you can order at Sushi Dai:
(i) Omakase (chef's choice) @ Y3900
(ii) Regular set (7 pieces) @Y2500
Both sets come with green tea, soup and complimentary tamagoyaki.

Sushi Dai seems to be more talked about in the internet. Note that the wait may be long, sometimes taking up to 2 hours!! Not surprising since the seating capacity is only 12 pax in the restaurant.

I was thankful to avoid the queue. Only solution is to starting your sushi breakfast before 6am!! Yep, despite the cold morning, forced myself to wake up for a Sushi Dai experience. Having been there, I understand why it is so popular with tourist....main reason is that they speak English (not fluent but enough for you to feel comfortable), not only that, they can speak Korean, Mandarin and also Bahasa Malaysia - when I informed the chef serving me that I was from Malaysia, immediately he spouted "Selamat Datang"!!!! How can you not feel instantly at home with this place? Also, it is common for pictures to be taken here - yep, almost every customer will be pointing their camera at the food, making the chefs proud if not insanely happy!!!

'My' friendly sushi chef.

The biggest drawback would be the long queue. But at least you can be comforted that you are not alone. Other option is to wake and be there super early!!!

The lot.

Starting from the bottom - Salmon Belly, Japanese Gizzard Shad, Yellow Jack, Mackerel, White Bait, Yellow Tail, Sea Eel.

Let's see left to right - Sea Eel, White Bait and Yellow Tail.

Complimentary soup.

Complimentary tamagoyaki.

Yellow Jack, never seen such a beautiful twist on a sushi!!


Address: Building 6, 3rd Alley at Tsukiji Fish Market, 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

Tsukiji - Tuna auction & Market

There are some interesting things to see and do at Tsukiji.

First and foremost is the Tuna Auction which starts really early. To get there: Tsukiji Station, Hibiya Line, exit 1; Higashi Ginza Station, Hibiya and Asakusa Lines, exit 5; and Tsukiji-ichiba Station, Oedo Line, exit A1.

If you intend to attend the auction, do make your way to the Fish Information Centre (Osakana Fukyu Centre) early as only 140 vistors per day are allowed to observe the auction.

Woke up a little late, about 4.30am and got to the market before 5am. Was fortunate that there were not many people there and so got a safety vest and waited. Thought I was late as planned to be there by 4.30am but instead waited and waited (fortunately the waiting area was heated) until about 5.40am when the group was ushered in the semi-darkness towards the bustling restricted auction area. As soon as we got there, the cameras around me went crazy. Waited for another 5 mins before the auction commenced in batches. The acutioneer will ring a hand bell to get attention and start shouting the prices to sell the frozen fishes. I find most Japanese people rather soft spoken. For an auction, expected auctioneers with loud booming voices so was amused with the soft spoken ones instead!!! Since there were a couple of auctions carried out at the same time, the auction session all ended very quickly for us. Note that the fish market is not open everyday so do check ahead for the market days here.

Prospective buyers with pickes and torch lights, checking out the colour and quality of the frozen tuna.

Wholesale fish market, can only enter after 9am.

Normal mode of transport around the market - do watch out for them!!

The fish market is divided into two main areas - inner and outer markets. Inner market is where the auction takes place and also where the wholesale market is located and visitors can come in after 9am. Can also find some restaurants, shops selling fresh foods and sharp looking knives.

The outer market is just as interesting, full of restaurants and stores. Think most of the shops here also make the food stuff to be sold at larger shopping malls.

Notice how clean the roads are!

Aren't these cupcake containers gorgeous?

Whale meat for sale!

Grilled seafood.

The strawberries were huge, juicy, fresh and sweet. Just couldn't resist getting them, ate strawberries everyday I was there!

Bonito flakes. Interesting to note that there were different grades!

Tamagoyaki. Seems to be a big seller with a few shops selling these and in different flavours too.

Unagi.

Puffer fish.

Japanese crockeries.

Pretty food picks.

Sushi Zanmai restaurant.

Fried food.

Gingko nuts.

Assorted Japanese desserts.

Do you know what this is?? Its fresh wasabi plant.

This is a picture of their back alley - notice again how clean and orderly everything is *betahan, kidding...our stall traders here should learn a thing or two*

Kombu or kelp seaweed used to make stock - many variety and grade.

Pretty aren't they? Assorted mochi filled with red bean filling.

More assorted mochi. The fillings were not overly sweet, so I enjoyed them.