MY MOM'S 60TH BIRTHDAY TRIP TO JAPAN

For my mom's 60th birthday trip, the family did an Asia trip to Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), and Shanghai (China). Our first leg of the trip was Tokyo, Japan and we were all excited to go! My mom had been to Japan many years ago, when she was touring around Asia as a dancer. So she was excited to go back and see how much had changed since those days. For myself, Japan is one of those dream destinations I’ve always wanted to visit. So, of course, I couldn't wait to explore all that Tokyo had to offer! I wish I could have done more in the time allotted to us on this leg of the trip, but I was with my parents...and they aren't no spring chicken. So when I was planning this trip, I had to space out the sites and add in more "rest" times in the itinerary. But I'm not complaining because this was a great teaser for future trips to this amazing city. So, while I can’t write a full report on my experience in Tokyo, you’ll at least get a teaser too of the things I did and the food I ate during our 3 night stint in Tokyo:

Imperial Palace & Gardens - We only got to see the exterior of the palace because they are apparently closed between 12/25-1/7 of every year. I did not know this, and was disappointed we couldn't explore more than just the outside of the gate. The Palace looked huge from the outside and looked like it could take a few hours to explore all of the public areas (since not all of the Palace is accessible to the public). So, on my list of stuff to still see when I go back to Japan.

Senso-Ji - This temple is the most famous in Japan and it shows a glimpse of the religious cultural side of Japan. I loved coming here because there was a pathway of gift shops and food vendors to enjoy while walking towards the temple. If you haven't bought souvenirs by the time you visit this site, it's a great place to stock up. There are barely any signs in English once you get to the temple, so you’re on your own when it comes to figuring out what the religion is all about. And although it’s a religious temple, it is also very much a tourist spot. I saw more tourists taking photos than actual religious practitioners. If you’re in the mood to ride a rickshaw (like we were), there were a few stationed right outside the main temple entrance that you can ride for about $65/person (30 min). They'll take you around the neighborhood and explain the sites to you in English while making stops throughout to take photos of you. If you are into shopping instead, Asakusa (the neighborhood in which Senso-Ji is in) is known to have these Tabi shoes, which are traditional temple shoes. I loved the Persimmon-colored pair I got and regret not buying more to stock up on.

Tsukiji Fish Market - I was a bit underwhelmed coming to this famous fish market. It's actually not that incredibly big, but I may have been exploring the outer market rather than the inner wholesale market. Apparently, there is a list you can sign up for (limited to 150 people/day) to obtain access into the actual bidding market where they auction off the fish to restaurants. We went around 11 am in the morning, so all the hustle and bustle of the market must have passed. Even if you do go later in the day, it’s still a great place to walk around and explore the restaurants, fish vendors, and cutlery shops. Visually, it will keep you entertained. And it’s also a great place to get fresh sushi. It’s been at least a few years since the move, but the wholesale market now has moved to the Toyosu Market location. The outer market is still located at Tsukiji, however I’ve heard that some vendors have made the move over to the Toyosu Market. Just make sure to check online before you head over to a particular place you wanted to try.

Dinner at Maisen - So when I looked online for this restaurant, I immediately realized that it was a restaurant chain known for their pork katsu. And rightfully so. I'm used to Korean katsu which is thinner and similar to chicken fried steak, but the Japanese version is much thicker and much tastier than its counterparts. I would even go as far as claiming this the best meal I had in Japan during my trip (even beating out a $150/pp omakase meal we had that was recommended by Anthony Bourdain)!

You can choose from a range of low end pork cut to a higher quality piece, ranging from $16-$36. But keep in mind that they're limited in stock when it comes to the cheaper pork cut, because when we went it was sold out. Every katsu set you order comes with a side of unlimited "coleslaw", which is essentially shredded cabbage drizzled with ponzu sauce. The coleslaw may look pretty basic in the photo, but it was actually really good.

Now, we went to the closest Maisen to our hotel, which was inside a shopping mall. But you should do it properly and try to make it out to the original restaurant location in Omotesando. When I do head back to Tokyo, I definitely plan on making stop at the original location myself. But until then, this photo is all you get.