Day 6 : Sept 11 : Jyozankei

We walked in and around quiet mountains of Jyozankei.



Ainu boat display at Ainu Culture Exchange Center.














Hookeikyo Dam (豊平峡ダム) 102m high Arch shaped concrete dam.

Snoooooze....

Matt admiring the construction of Geta.








Dined in at the Inn
Food was so nice, as you can see.

Day 7 : Sept 12 : Noboribetsu

Went to another hot spring city, Noboribetsu (登別市, Noboribetsu-shi) , part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and it's located southwest of Sapporo - about 1 hour by train.

The hotel we (I) chose, based on TripAdvisor, "Mahoroba" was disappointing (tacky 70s style, catered for large group and it was more expensive than the one in Jyozankei and quality much lower....)

Not to be deterred, we went for sight seeing.

Went to the Bear Park where they keep 100s of bears in only 3 closures....

Paid 2500yen each (takai!) and took the rope way for 7min, on top of a mountain, our hopes were high... we were hoping to see bears in their most natural form - in the mountains.... but disturbed to find they were put in a concrete ground hole.

Not only that, they were clapping their hands, begging for cookies... Sad.







There were 4 Ainu houses with real Ainu people for exhibition... somehow I didn't feel they were happy...







A questionable duck race thing, lifted the mood a bit, though...




Hell Valley (地獄谷 Jigokudani). Sulphurous volcanic pits and geysers.

I wish I could post the smell...







After the bear hell hole, could not resist this...

Day 8 : Sept 13 : Noboribetsu

A proud day.

We hiked for 7kg to see
Lake Kuttara (倶多楽湖, Kuttara-ko) - with our sandals - and it was worth it.














The Lake is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
The lake is recognized as having the best water quality in all of Japan, with a transparency of 19 metres (62 ft), the lake ranks second only to Lake Masu according to the Ministry of the Environment.













Tired, we called for a cab to the lake house which took us to a ramen-ya. Matt scores again with unforgettable butter ramen, but that's not the point.



He coincidentally saw a poster advertising a local firework Sumer Festival (Omatsuri) which was held that very day! Had he not seen it, we would have had to go back to the less than impressive hotel... And we were hoping to go to an omatsuri!! So off we went and wow!
it's happening.

Lucky draw and win a Salmon or two! Throw a can of beer why not!






Crab miso soup in giant pot!

























16 year old chatting up to Matt and doing a very bad break-dancing.

Day 9-10 : Sept 14-15 : Back to Tokyo

Back to Tokyo, where Matt knows the whereabouts - so I felt a sense of relief.

Left with only 2 days, we went to his favorite MONJAYAKI (もんじゃ焼き)restaurant in Tsukishima - known for its Monja street, a single street with many restaurants selling the same thing - Monjayaki.

Monjyayaki, according to Yayoi-san, was actually kids' food in olden days - lighter, more diluted version of Okonomiyaki. That is why the spatula used is tiny! (not the one shown in this picture, though)
What's impressive is, how kids in the old days were already playing with food and eating in such social manner!

Everyone and every family has their own rules.
Here's Matt making a wall before pouring the liquid dough.


Full stomach, we walked to Shinbashi (新橋) to a Oyaji (middle to old age men) bar. But it was filled with young people.
I guess the Oyajis created a culture that's quite endearing in its own way...

Matt had his Hoppi Sour ( Beer + Shochu drink - so Salaryman)

And here we are doing our best but wrongly crossed our eyes, trying to be chyoro-chan of choco ball.













A quick Karaoke exercise before going to bed...


------------------------------------zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............




Last day....

Had go to Tsukiji fish market Tsukiji shijō (Japanese: 築地市場), the biggest whole sale fish and seafood market in the world and also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind.

Monday was a holiday in Japan [Keirou-no-hi : Respect for the aged day] so unfortunately the market was closed. But even at 10am, there was enough hungry people walking around and Sushi shop people greeting and calling out for customers outside, it makes you even more hungrier!


Matt's tribute to the Kuruma Ebi
- which was swimming just seconds ago - body is eaten raw first and head is served after, flattened and grilled.






At night we went to Shin Marunouchi Building where Citibank's trading side is. A very posh building with nice shops in.
On the top floors are also nice restaurants, perfect for the last 'date' in Japan.
Matt chose this place called "Salt" a modern Australian cuisine.




Went back to the hotel where we met Deepak and Laura who lives just few minutes from Okura hotel (how nice).

Deepak is from Citigroup (actually Matt's boss before) and Laura is from Lehmans.... and yes, it was that very dooms day for Lehmans so the topic was hot over that - we end up having 4 bottles of wine....