[Tokyo: Tsukiji] the BEST sushi in Tsukiji: Shutoku 秀徳

I’ve always thought to myself, the best sushi in Tsukiji must be Sushi Dai since I queued 3-4hours for it. but to my surprise, there is actually something even better. though a different style, I definitely preferred this sushi bar over Sushi Dai. there is something about the way they prepared it which makes every piece pretty much perfect. PLUS there was completely no wait. well unless if you have a big group. I think this place is pretty local since up till now I have not found any blogs about this place in English and it is not infested with them English speaking foreigners (yet.) but since my blog ain’t that popular, I hope this place wouldn’t be crowded with foreigners the next time I go there. if you’re a famous blogger, please do not blog about this place HAHAHAH. PLEASE. also, because there’s 3 shops, there SHOULDN’T be a queue =X. and what is this unknown (to English speaking foreigners) sushi bar called?

しゅうとくにごうてん or Shutokunigouten or Shutoku.

the specific shop I went to was 秀徳 1号店 Shutoku Shop no.1.
(update 2017: went back and dined at shop no.2, it’s very similar but I still prefer shop no.1!)

don’t ask me why are there so many names. there are just so many names when I searched for it in Japanese :S. but I generally call it Shutoku.

I was actually recommended by a friend living in Japan whom had been to Jiro’s and since he strongly recommended this place, I decided to give it a shot when my sister comes (because I wanted to go to exclusive places with people whom are important to me ^_^.)

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the downside of this place is that it does not have an English sign so finding it will be tad more difficult but don’t worry. I got you. hence here are some pictures to help you. hahaha. Continue reading “[Tokyo: Tsukiji] the BEST sushi in Tsukiji: Shutoku 秀徳”

[Tokyo: Shinjuku] Menya Musashi, best Tsukemen in Shinjuku

Tokyo is known for its variety of different ramens which embarrassingly, I’ve yet to try many. among the ones that I would love to try are the ice cream ramen, the Michelin one star ramen and the blue soup ramen. but other than ramen, I have a love for something else which is difficult to find outside of Japan. and that’s something called the Tsukemen. Tsukemen are noodles that are normally thick like udon but with a ramen texture, and is served separately with the soup so every bite will seem like the first bite. no more soggy ramen! (I guess because I eat pretty slowly too hahahaha. you’re really supposed to finish your ramen under 10 minutes until the taste changes.)

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so I was touring a friend around and he wanted to eat ramen. so I searched a little and stumbled across this place called Menya Musashi, which is apparently the best ramen shop in Shinjuku. Continue reading “[Tokyo: Shinjuku] Menya Musashi, best Tsukemen in Shinjuku”

[Tokyo: Kichijoji] Autumn in Japan

so apparently, Kichijoji is one of the best places to live in Tokyo. according to many of my Japanese friends at least! and I also heard that many celebrities live here! hence, although this is not down-town Tokyo, the rent here’s crazy I heard. well, I can kind of see how this place is so popular since.. it has a lot of good food, a lot of hipster cafe’s/shops, and a huge, beautiful park; Inokashira park.

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where you’d see many people jogging or strolling around. and the best of all? it looks absolutely beautiful during Autumn. hence there are loads of (old) people taking pictures of birds, autumn leaves and even animals since there’s a zoo there! I heard the zoo’s just meh. =X. and I think there’s a shrine at the back of the lake too! Continue reading “[Tokyo: Kichijoji] Autumn in Japan”

[Shingawa: Fuji] Fuji Q Highlands

I don’t know if it’s me but I’ve never heard of Fuji Q until friends here told me about it. at first I thought it’s just another small theme park found in every state but.. to my surprise it is a super famous theme park near Fuji Mountain (which means it’s near Tokyo) which is built literally mainly for adults and a fun fact? this theme park holds a few world records for having the fastest, tallest and even a roller coaster with the most spins!

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the weather plays a big role so be sure to pick a less windy day with absolutely no rain. because even when I went, some games were closed for a few hours due to strong wind despite the day being so clear! Continue reading “[Shingawa: Fuji] Fuji Q Highlands”

[Yokohama] Yoyoyoyoyokohama!

it was actually my second time to Yokohama, the place where all imports and exports in Japan started, a very historical place especially for the development and growth of Japan. the first time I merely explored the place as I only “dropped by” after visiting Kamakura which was amazingly beautiful. so for this Tokyo trip, I spent one whole day at Yokohama.

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meet my tour guide for the day, probably the funniest man in Yonsei University’s language school — BOB!!!

Continue reading “[Yokohama] Yoyoyoyoyokohama!”

[Tokyo: Tsukiji] Sushi Dai vs. Sushi Daiwa

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo.

if you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, Tsukiji Fish Market shouldn’t be unfamiliar to you. especially half of this world renowned market is going to be relocated in 2016 so this year is the only last chance you have to enjoy Tsukiji as it is. and if you’re planning on a trip there already.. you might probably have heard of the most famous sushi restaurant bar in Tsukiji, Sushi Dai. BUT, you might’ve also heard of the sushi bar a few shops away, called Sushi Daiwa. and as a sushi enthusiast as myself, I went to both.

okay, actually because of my budget, I could barely afford such luxury but I skimped throughout my whole Tokyo trip for it. so it better be worth it. so at first, I was dying to look for someone to be kind enough to go with me to Tsukiji as NOBODY wanted to wake up early and queue for hours just for good sushi.

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I started queuing for Sushi Dai from 6:15AM as soon as I’ve reached (my friends told me how it was complicating to find bla bla but I found it ridiculously easy to find. just google for the directions from Tsukijishijo Station to Sushi Dai and screen cap it. then use it as your guide there. =). that’s what I did for EVERYTHINGGG hahaha.) Continue reading “[Tokyo: Tsukiji] Sushi Dai vs. Sushi Daiwa”

[Tokyo: Ueno] Ueno Park for Sakura

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this place can be easily seen through google. just one click and millions of photographs of the beautiful fully bloom sakura view will be viewable. but it was pretty sad that when I was there, there wasn’t any. =(. I am not sure about this but I felt that sakura’s bloom at a different time sometimes. like the ones at DisneySea, they were fully bloom! even at such a cold weather. and even some in Kamakura. so I guess it really depends on the location? but as for Ueno, it comes early April. to be safe, travel a little before mid April since the sakura flowers will 0nly last for 2 weeks. Continue reading “[Tokyo: Ueno] Ueno Park for Sakura”

[Tokyo: Ueno] Ameyoko Flea Market

every country has its own “Petaling Street” and eventhough it’s not the most glamourous looking street in a city, it’s always a very popular tourist spot. but instead of thinking that you’d have to travel all the way to Ueno just for one thing, you’re wrong.

it’s completely hitting 2 birds with 1 stone. for the first attraction in Ueno, I’ll be telling you about Ameyokocho. so wait up for the other post. it will probably surprise you much =D.

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the huge Ueno station. one of the huge stations in Tokyo. but this one, filled with PANDAS! Continue reading “[Tokyo: Ueno] Ameyoko Flea Market”

[Tokyo: Akihabara] my first step to the adult amusement park.

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the most famous LABI Akihabara location! Labi have floors of electronic goods. you can find almost every electronic thing there. basically as long as you get out of the Akihabara station, you should be landing here. this post lack of pictures because all the pictures we secretly took on our compact camera got stolen. as in, the camera got stolen T_T. WUWUWUWUUWUWUWU. damn saddening. so many interesting things. =S. this is what you get for taking pictures of things you shouldn’t : KARMA. Continue reading “[Tokyo: Akihabara] my first step to the adult amusement park.”