Ochen Priyatna

Day 3 in Tokyo started on a somewhat bad note? We've been pampered by the high standards of Japanese cuisine that the lacklustre offering of our breakfast choice threw us back. Well, as the saying goes, no sweetness without bitterness and no sun without the rain (?).

we attempted a "random walk-in" to purge ourselves from excessive googling and research for a meal and also to test if indeed, any corner of Tokyo serves great food. Previously, we've had pretty good experiences with this method in Jeju island and Europe. Thought we would try out luck in this little Izakaya since we were craving for Yakitori.

Our poor command of Japanese may have led to this lacklustre meal...nevertheless, the Yakitori served after was decent (gizzard and some random meat?) and I emptied the rice bowl as usual.

After the rather unsatisfying meal, we took a 30min walk from Shibuya over to Meiji shrine to walk off the calories from my bowl of rice. The weather was great as well and before we knew, we arrive at the shrine.

Many of these gates all throughout the Japanese shrines

Of course, we could not miss a photo opportunity with a wall of sake tubs (?)

And with the symmetrical roofs of the shrine

The box that would determine all our fortune

Washing hands at the entrance of the shrine. Watching and learning from locals, we see that most people would wash their hands and mouth before entering the shrine.

Tablets on display with well-wishes. Tablets could be purchased for 5000Yen or ~SG$7

Most parts of the shrine was under repair but otherwise, we notice some similarities amongst the Japanese shrines - you have a amulet place to purchase amulets, a place to tell your fortune, a place for praying, and a tree - for you to hang tablets you purchase. On these tablets, devotees would pen down their well-wishes and blessings.

We spent a good hour and a half within the shrine exploring and touring around before our stomach felt empty. Thankfully, Meiji shrine is located right beside the Harajuku-Shinjuku area so we took a short walk over to find a dining place.

The bridge separating Meiji Shrine and the Harajuku-Shinjuku area

Streets of Shinjuku-Omotesando

Small streets of Omotesando

Omotesando was this cute neighbourhood known for their street style shops - whole bunch of street brands as well as second-hand outlets littered the streets of Omotesando. Interesting to window shop around and take a peep into the growing street culture in Japan.

Interior of the Gyoza shop

Food-wise, we contemplated for a long while as to what to eat - there was the incredibly photogenic Luke's Lobster that was all over instagram but likely not able to fill our tummies, a random Thai food store with al fresco dining and a famous Gyoza shop with bar-table setting that was packed with Angmoh tourists. Eventually, we settled with Gyoza since our tired legs were dying for some rest after all the walking.

the beginning of Oolong highball obsession

Our gyoza meal: round 1. Gyozas were somewhat yummy but not too filling that we ordered 4*6 Gyozas and broke the bank. Pretty affordable considering the amount of tourists around. (We usually assume a positive relationship between the number of foreigners and the price)

Harajuku Gyoza Lou

an extremely wonky shop at the tail end of Omotesando where I bought a tupperware designed like a packet of fries

Chanced upon a Gindako on our way back and couldn't resist getting one to share

Yumz takoballz why you leave Singapore

Gindaco Harajuku

Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−14−24, 第5寿和ビル

Opening hours: 11AM-10PM

Nearest Station: Harajuku

Following that was a rather long walk back to Shibuya, dumping our buys in our apartment, before heading out for a meal we wanted to try for a long time - Gyukatsu. Background: I've never been a fan of beef because of its smell but THE GYUKATSU HERE IS AMAZING?!?! Having the raw beef wrapped around light and crispy skin of the katsu batter around...overall an experience for all senses!

Gyukatsu in all its glory, served with a mountain of salad because balanced meal yo. Also featuring a huge bowl of rice which was amazing as usual Japan how you grow your rice?!

For the folks who wouldn't want their beef this raw, there is a teppan in the middle of the table to facilitate cooking. Sizzle sizzle. There is a choice of grated yam to be eaten with your rice - not for the folks who don't like sticky substances and I must say, it's quite an acquired taste that I did not acquire.

Gyukatsu Motomura is a chain selling Gyukatsu with several outlets within Tokyo. Most of these outlets are located in the basements and from our experience, some outlets are visibly more popular since they were located in popular areas whereas the outlet we went to had seats readily available. 

Sets are affordably priced:

mini size of 100g at 1100Y (without yam) or 1200Y

regular size of 130g at 1300Y (without yam) or 1400Y

Giant size of 260g at 2100Y (without yam) or 2200Y

Additional 130g Gyukatsu at 800Y so you can decide if you want a refill thereafter. We actually witnessed a petite Japanese girl comfortably finishing the giant sized gyukatsu with two bowl of rice. Gasp.

Gyukatsu Motomura (Shibuya)

Address: Japan, 〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya, 3 Chome−18−10, 大野ビル2号館

Opening hours: 10AM-10PM

Nearest station: Shibuya

With only 3 more days left in Tokyo (we planned a short trip to Hakone for 2D1N) and so many locations left uncovered, we made a calculated decision to skip Disneyland/Sea and allocated more time for exploration/buying magazines/shopping/visiting markets. Best.decision.ever since we explored many more cool neighbourhoods in the days to come!