DAY 1 IN TOKYO, JAPAN

We arrived last night, so officially, this is really Day 2 in Japan.  However, being the first full day, I'll call it Day 1.  As I showed you yesterday, we woke up to a gorgeous Mount Fuji.  Here is a video.

Tokyo Westin is the first restaurant where I've had access to a fabulous buffet breakfast, for free.  That was more than 30 years ago.  Comes with my hotel status, which for Marriott is Platinum.  In Japan, virtually any hotel provides an adequate Japanese breakfast for free.  Same for various parts of the Orient.  But these fabulous international buffet breakfasts are only offered by the major hotels.  Nothing in Europe or the Americas comes close.

First course.

Second.

Checked to see if the Chiba cherry blossoms were still blooming,  Yes, but just getting from Tokyo where we are located to Chiba is a journey, then there is a train change, which takes another hour to reach the flowering parks,  Asked Google AI;

To reach Mobara Park and Aoba no Mori Park from The Westin Tokyo (located near Ebisu/Meguro), you'll generally take trains to Chiba city and then transfer to local lines, with a key first step being the JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, then onto the Sobu Line/Keiyo Line for Chiba, and local lines towards Mobara/Ichihara for the parks; it's a multi-step journey involving JR and possibly local private railways, best planned with a real-time transit app like Japan Transit Planner (Jorudan) or Google Maps for precise directions and times. 

Taxi?  More than $100 each way,  Three-hour round trip.  Temperature in the low 40s fahrenheit.  Ah, not worth the time, cost and discomfort.  Thus, walked underground to the shopping mall.  

Saw this otoro with all that fat.  Had to have it, and it only cost less than $10.

Had lunch in my room with a view of Mount Fuji.  Sapporo Beer, warmed the Gekkeikan Sake, and also the rice, got some sliced cabbage, sliced turnips came with the sashimi....a grand feast.

Probably my best lunch on this trip, because of the incredible otoro and spectacular view of Mount Fuji.

Then sunset.

Next, our Executive Lounge at the top of the Tokyo Westin.  Did not have much to eat because of my huge late lunch in our room.  Glenlivet on rocks with a view of Tokyo.  Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge.

Then, the moment arrived.

• You need to first read this posting of mine from almost two years ago:  SOME WEIRD AND CRAZY THINGS ABOUT TOKYO.
• In other words, I have a bottle of 20-year old Nikka Yoichi in the adjacent Escalier Bar in the Tokyo Westin Hotel.  I've had one for many years.  Except that when I asked for it two years ago, they could not find it.  So that is the story you read if you clicked on that posting.
• They did "find" it the next day.  That's me with that bottle.
• I asked Google AI about this whiskey:

A 20-year-old Nikka Yoichi bottle in Tokyo is a rare find, but expect high prices, likely starting around ¥200,000 - ¥400,000+ (approx. $1,300 - $2,600+ USD), as it's a collectible older expression, with online retailers listing it in the thousands of dollars, reflecting its scarcity and demand, so check specialist whisky shops in Ginza or Shinjuku for actual in-store prices. 

• 
  This time began last night, when we went to Escalier, for we arrived too late for the Executive Lounge free drinks.  
  
• Asked for my bottle of Yoichi.  Gave him my business card.

• 
  They could not find the bottle....again.
• The person who walked us to our room when we checked into the hotel was called up.  Koichi.
• We explained to him about how this same bottle was also lost two years ago.
• They checked some more.
• The problem was that the manager of this bar had a day off, and could not be contacted.
• They asked us to return the next night.
• So with great anticipation, walked in to the Skybar Escalier.  The bar manager was there with a smile.  They had found my bottle,

Did not do much today.  Walked only 2061 steps.

Tomorrow, our final day in Tokyo, we plan to re-discover Tokyo through the JR Yamanote line, a train system that makes a complete circle around the main part of the city.  A one day pass cost about $7.50/person.

Uniquely Madison has released numerous videos of noteworthiness.  Here is one which traces a century of music up to the present.  Another one by boogiehead, Most Recognizable Song from 1923 to 2022.  Watch it!  Might waste 14 minutes of your life.  Yet, your period will come, so hang in there.  Life is made of peak enjoyments.

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TTT2019: Day 41--Imperial Palace and Robuchon

Awoke to a view of Mount Fuji:

Breakfast at the Tokyo Westin started with a long wait in line, for Golden Week does this.  My meal was again over the top, for we won't eat again until Robuchon:

This is the day of ascension for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.  So, of course, we had to visit them at their residence, the Imperial Palace.

We never saw the royal couple, but want on to Daiso for some shopping.  I took this photo because almost everywhere you go in the world, there are signs of no photography, especially in Japan.  However, smartly, here is what Daiso says:

What is Daiso?  The store that replaced the 100 Yen store, which is still around.  Back on the JR to Ebesu Station, I just had to take this photo of everybody doing something with their smartphones, sitting or standing:

Took a bath in my Tokyo Westin room with a Johnny Walker Platinum (at least I poured it out of that bottle) on rocks, then went to the Executive Lounge of a martini with gin and cognac:

Joel Robuchon passed away last year at the age of 74.  He was named Chef of the Century.  At one time he had 32 Michelin Stars, the most ever.  I've been to his Robuchon in Las Vegas and a number of L'Ateliers throughout the Orient.

A quarter century ago, Robuchon joined the opening of the Tokyo Westin and Ebesu Garden Place.  I've been to this Michelin 3-Star restaurant half a dozen times, and each time was a memorable experience.  That the establishment happens to always be just below my room no doubt was why I keep coming back, for the cost is ridiculously high.

In most ways, this location is home for me in Japan.  I've probably stayed at the Tokyo Westin a 100 different times, four just on this trip in TTT2019.  I still have a bottle of Nikka  Yoichi 20-year old in Compass Rose here.  This was the whiskey that a decade ago was selected, in Glasgow, as the best single malt whiskey in the world, while Suntory's 30-year old Hibiki took the best blended whiskey award. 

So Mystery Lady and I spent our final dinner in Japan at Robuchon, starting with these appetizers:

All the Chateau Lafite Rothschilds were priced beyond $1000, so we selected a Japanese Meritage:

Just the butter is a show here:

Several caviar dishes:

Note the gold atop the caviar.  The foie gras with artichoke was remarkable:

She had the lamb and I the duck, so we shared a piece each:

The cheese trolley was tempting:

The desserts were  too much and kept coming:

After that amazing mousse and raspberry sherbet, the real dessert cart came:

I was so saturated, but had a sliver of chocolate pie and something else.  Then the petit fours.  Normally, you have a plate of tiny candies.  Here:

You select whatever you want, and I want to forget what I had.

Chef Michael Michaelidies came by for a chat, and a photo was taken with Maitre d' Sahbi Musy:

We were presented with a signed menu and bag of more goodies:

At the end, they both walked us to the elevator, which led to an underground walk back to the Tokyo Westin.  What service, what cuisine, what an experience.

The next day, the Tokyo Westin wished me goodbye:

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