When visiting Tokyo, Tsukiji Fish Market should be on the top of the list. This famous wholesale fish market is considered to be the one of the world's largest, handling every marine product each day. Most of the market is off limits to visitors, but you can walk through the wholesale market after 10am. Just be careful of all the busy workers!
Through our Hyperdia search, we took the Marunouchi Subway Line from Tokyo Station to Ginza and transferred to the Hibiya Subway Line to get to Tsukiji Station. When we walked up the stairs from the subway station, we followed a line of people through the open market which led us to our destination.
There weren't many signs pointing us in right direction so we walked around and followed these little orange carts that were driving through the area.
The carts moved quickly, and the ground was wet in some areas, so we walked carefully into the wholesale market. Since this is a serious business area, most of the workers inside go about their daily tasks as we walked around.
As we entered the market area, we were met with an endless array of beautiful seafood.
There is so much to see, as the market houses rows and rows of marine products.
We spent some time watching the workers prepare the fish that were being sold.
That's a sharp knife!
Look at all the shellfish!
After seeing all of the fresh seafood, it was time to eat!
Strolling back to the hotel after breakfast one day, we stopped to watch the business men and women walk to work as they exited Tokyo Station. Dressed in black and white, they created an endless sea of marching soldiers as they left the trains and subways of the station. They spilled into the streets and kept walking in unison to their workplace destination. It was surely a sight to see.
Since there are hoards of people running through Tokyo Station daily, the indoor "city" provides everything the Tokyo traveler needs. From omiyage, to getting a haircut, to getting a drink with friends, to finding a new outfit, spending one day inside Tokyo Station is just not enough!
The first floor of department stores are filled with food counters that offer so many choices of delicious Japanese dishes.
There are no tables to sit down to enjoy your purchases. Many of the Japanese people will take their food home on the train to eat there.
Each night after dinner, our kids loved coming to watch them make candy right in front of their eyes.
How did they do that??
If you're lucky, you'll get to sample a taste of their sweet treats!
Just across the candy makers was the Kit Kat counter!
Walk around Tokyo Station, and you can see bakers make just about anything!
Another favorite area of Tokyo Station is "Character Street." This part of the station features 21 stores with themes according to well-known popular
characters. You can also find pop-up shops that are open only for a limited time.
My girls love Rilakkuma!
The Totoro Store!
Visit Tokyo Station and enjoy all this Tokyo landmark has to offer!
Located in the Marunouchi business district, Tokyo Station stands near the Imperial Palace and Ginza commercial area. It serves as the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo and is the busiest station in terms of the number of trains per day. In fact, this Tokyo landmark is not just a station, but inside you'll find a city that includes hotels, department stores, restaurants, shops and services that serve the busy travelers running through the station each day.
Take a stroll on the outside of the building and enjoy the beautiful architecture of Tokyo Station.
Inside Tokyo Station
As we walked down the stairs into the main terminal of Tokyo Station, we jumped into the fast-pace moving traffic alongside thousands of people. It became clear that Tokyo Station is absolutely enormous as there were different levels, wings and also plenty of construction sites inside.
We started on our trek to find the Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi. We tried reading signs for the Nihonbashi exit and moved in that direction, but as we made our way through the twists and turns, we decided that we were lost. After asking for directions four times, we finally found the Nihonbashi exit and found our hotel
The front desk is located on the 27th floor of this building.
When first entering the reception area on the 27th floor, the floor to ceiling view of the city takes your breath away. You'll also see a replica of Tokyo Station in the lobby that houses a running train. We were greeted by a team of female workers who stood near the front desk and after checking in, walked us to our room as they pulled our suitcases for us.
Replica of Tokyo Station
Although the hotel is very stylish and the service was impeccable, the room was tiny!! There was just enough room for the bed and a chair and table and nothing else. Luckily, we were hardly in our room and having the hotel connected to Tokyo Station was so convenient that we got used to the cozy quarters. Who would've thought we could spend so much time just in the train station alone!
After visiting the Tokyo Skytree, the day is not over yet! Just skip on over to the Tokyo Solamachi and explore the large shopping, dining and entertainment complex that features over 300 shops and restaurants. You'll also find an entire floor dedicated to souvenir shops that feature character goods.
Inside Solamachi you'll discover a large food market and food court. We enjoyed eating a soothing bowl of Ramen! If you're not interested in shopping, the complex also offers the Sumida Aquarium and the Tenku Planetarium. It amazes me how the Japanese can design an Aquarium on the fifth and sixth floors of a building!
Sumida Aquarium
Cute star shaped pizzas at the food court in Solomachi.
After spending a few hours in the Skytree, we enjoyed the rest of the day at Solamachi shopping and eating. We were also able to find Yomiuri Giants T-shirts and souvenirs at their official store on the fourth floor. My daughters loved having desserts at Samantha Thavasa on the second floor. There was so much to see!
At night we returned to Skytree Town to watch a show at
the Planetarium. It was actually a show highlighting Hawaii! Although "Night Rainbow"
was all in Japanese, we took in the sights and sounds of the Tenku
Planetarium.
Planetarium Ticket Counter
Not only is the Tokyo Skytree a significant landmark in Tokyo, but the base of the structure offers more to discover at Solamachi!
The Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan and serves as a television broadcasting tower. The tower stands above the Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward and is a quick train ride from Asakusa. At the base of the tower is an aquarium, planetarium and shopping mall.
We jumped on the train at Asakusa Station for a 2 minute ride on the Tobu Skytree line When we hopped off the train, we walked through the station and found ourselves on the outside of a shopping mall.
We walked around the building and realized that we were standing at the base of the enormous tower. We took 2 sets of long escalators and climbed up the building where we found the Skytree ticket counters. You will be greeted by a team of workers who are very willing to help you understand your Tokyo Skytree visit. http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/reservation/
The Skytree is one tourist site in Tokyo that opens early. Since we were there right at 8:00am, there was no line, and we were on one of the first elevators going up to the first observation deck at 350m high. There was some anxiety that overcame my body as I waited in line. I'm not a fan of very high places, and the structure reminded me of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. I was relieved when the elevator doors opened and it was completely enclosed without glass walls. We climbed 350 floors very quickly, and the ride was so smooth that it almost felt like we weren't moving at all. The doors opened and we found ourselves on the Tembo Deck that showcased an amazing view of the city.
As we stepped out onto the deck, I suddenly felt safe as the tower is obviously an
engineering masterpiece.
On a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji from the Skytree.
There is also an opportunity to get a professional photo taken on the Tembo Deck.
There are huge computer touch screens throughout the observation deck that allows visitors to understand each part of the city being viewed from the Skytree.
Take the escalator down one level and there is a glass floor on one part of the observation deck!
Don't look down!
There is a gift shop, cafe and restaurant on the Tembo Deck for the Skytree.
As you exit the elevators after your descent from the Skytree, you'll walk into a huge gift shop with everything you need to help you remember your stay at this Tokyo landmark.
Visit the Skytree for a memorable Tokyo experience!
One morning in Asakusa we walked to Denny's for breakfast hoping to order a "Grand Slam" meal. Little did we know that Denny's in Japan offers an entirely different menu.
When we first sat down, we waited for a waitress to come and take our order. Then, my daughter found a button on our table and pressed it. In seconds, someone appeared. This was common in many of the sit down restaurants in Tokyo.
As you walk into the restaurant, you'll be hit with an overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke. There is a smoking area, but you can still smell the smoke throughout the eating area. This is common in most restaurants as Japan does not exercise the strict smoking policies that we have become accustomed to. There are some non-smoking restaurants, but most of the businesses allow smoking.
My kids were excited to see this picture in the menu. Can you read the Katakana? It says Pokemon pankeki, or Pokemon pancake! Only $3.68!
Here it is, the real-life version. That's not butter either, it's vanilla ice cream! Yum!
Other Menu Items
These items were all in the kids portion of the menu.
This was my breakfast: salmon, rice and miso soup. So delicious!
Denny's in Tokyo is another memorable Japan experience!
