Rajeev's World

Monday, January 30, 2017

Sumida Park - Another Perspective On Tokyo...

And here we are at the Sumida Park, which is a beautiful park in the east of Tokyo, by the banks of Sumida River...

Walking towards the park, we get unrestricted views of the Tokyo Skytree...

The 634 metre tall Tokyo Skytree was completed in 2012 making it the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa. The tower serves as a broadcasting tower, and also houses restaurants and an observation tower.

The view of Tokyo Skytree from the Sumida Park...

It surprising that the trees over here are still green in winter...

We rested in the park for a while, watching the clouds floating in the bright blue sky...

...and the breeze felt amazing!

And we didn't realise but we dozed off for a while...

And then we headed back to Ginza...

I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always! -- Part XLVI - The Perfect Tsukiji Brunch...

With our visit to Tsukiji's inner market completed, it was time for some brunch and we headed to Sushizammai, a sushi place recommended by locals in the outer market...

The menu on offer...

Japanese restaurants have a neat layout...

Waiting for our sushi platters...

And here it comes...

This was freshest sushi we ever had - some of the fish would have been auctioned in jōnai-shijō this morning...

And we were pleasantly surprised to see three sumo wrestlers dining next to us...

With the freshest sushi and my wish for a delectable 2017 coming true, we could only say "I Don't Want Nirvana! I Want Great Food, Always!"...

A Wonderland Called Tsukiji... Part II

Our journey in this wonderland called Tsukiji continues as we made our way from the jōgai-shijō to the jōnai-shijō...

The jōnai-shijō or the inner market is home to fish, fruit and vegetable wholesalers. The inner market is well known for its tuna auctions that take place early in the morning. To witness the auctions, visitors real early in the morning, going back to as early as 2 AM. At 5 AM, a group of 120 visitors are let in, on a first-come, first-serve basis. A first group of 60 visitors is admitted to the auction between 5:50 and 6:05, while a second group of 60 visitors is admitted between 6:05 and 6:20. Visitors who make it in are able to view the auction from a designated visitor area. It is not allowed to view the auction from anywhere else or to use flash photography or to interfere with the business action in any other way.

When we got in, it was past 10 AM, and the market closes by 11 - we did get a chance to roam around and check out the stuff on sale...

Puffer fish hangs from the ceiling...

Fugu, as the Japanese call the pufferfish, is notorious for the highly toxic poison—tetrodotoxin—contained in its organs. Despite its deadly potential, fugu is considered as a delicacy and has been eaten in Japan for hundreds of years. As it was initially unknown how to properly prepare the fish, there were many fatalities from fugu consumption, resulting in a ban on the fish that lasted from around 1570 to 1870. These days fugu is commonly available in restaurants and supermarkets throughout Japan, but must be prepared by a licensed chef, who have have to train for over 11 years.It is prohibited to prepare fugu in the home even today, and the Japanese royal family is forbidden from eating it. It is said that fugu has a distinct, subtle flavor and unique chewy texture, it is also low in fat and high in protein.

Tuna being carved!

Eels...

Lots more tuna...

A chain saw being used to cut up a frozen tuna...

Watermelons in various shapess...

Avocados...

A Wonderland Called Tsukiji... Part I

Our visit to Tokyo wouldn't have been completed without a visit to Tsukiji, which happens to be the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world...

Not too far from our hotel in Ginza, Tsukiji is right on the banks of Sumida River...

Tsukiji market has its origins in the Edo period, when the market was set up to provide food for Edo castle (nowadays Tokyo). Fishermen from Tsukuda, Osaka were invited to Edo to provide fish for the castle. The catch which was not bought by the castle was sold near the Nihonbashi bridge, at a market called the uogashi (literally meaning fish quay).

In August 1918, following the "rice riots" (or Kome Sōdō), which broke out all over Japan in protest against food shortages hording by wholesalers, the Japanese government was forced to create new institutions for the distribution of foodstuffs, especially in urban areas.

Following the earthquake of September 1, 1923 which devastated much of central Tokyo, including the Nihonbashi fish market. the market was relocated to the Tsukiji district. And the layout and structure of the market was well designed.

The "inner market" (jōnai-shijō) is the licensed wholesale market, where approximately 900 licensed wholesale dealers operate small stalls. This is also where the auctions and most of the processing of the fish take place.

The "outer market" (jōgai-shijō) is a mixture of wholesale and retail shops that sell Japanese kitchen tools, restaurant supplies, groceries, and seafood, and many restaurants, especially sushi restaurants. Most of the shops in the outer market close by the early afternoon, and in the inner market even earlier.

We began our visit in the jōgai-shijō before we head into the jōnai-shijō...

White strawberries selling alongside the conventional red strawberries...

Cans of whale meat on sale...

...and yes, I picked one!

Blubber...

Dried fish and squids...

Sweets...

A variety of buns...

Fish flakes...

Seaweed...

Visiting the Namiyoke Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine located within Tsukiji, Chūō. It was built on the Sumida river's edge when this part of Tokyo was created from landfill after the great fire of 1657. The name of the shrine literally means "protection from waves"...

After the Tsukiji fish market was established here, the Namiyoke Inari Shrine became an unofficial guardian shrine for the marketplace and its traders...