HRC & Tony Romas

I wonder why i never talked about the Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas In Roppongi - Tokyo - afterall, I used to be fascinated with HRC and collected teddy bears from all the HRC that i go to - i have like 28 bears from different countries from HRC.   But it was the buddy in tokyo who bought some Kwikset locks in Roppongi that got me thinking of Tony Romas as well - because they looked exactly like the door locks i saw at Tony Romas.  How do i know?  well, silly me one day went to get something to eat on my own but the restaurant wasn’t really opened for dinner yet - and i yanked and yanked on the locks and it just wouldn’t budged - and i thought it was stuck.  Hhaaha!  until a waiter came out and unlocked the door and told me that they weren’t opened yet.  How embarrassing right?  That was how i recognized it when the buddy from Japan showed me a picture of it.   And i had exclaimed !!! oh!! from Tony Romas!!!!  next to Hard Rock Cafe right?

Anyhow - there is a Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas in Tokyo - if you are missing Western food a lot - and if you are anything like me - you would wanna get your western food there only - because other “western” restaurant in Japan - just cannot be compared to good ole Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas for the baby ribs. But Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi wasn’t called that when i was in HRC Japan in the 1991 - it was the only Hard Rock Cafe there - and unlike the above picture given by the buddy in Tokyo - it had a gorilla hanging on the window and not the huge guitar.

Like any Hard Rock Cafe - it will be another Hard Rock Cafe - so you will pretty much get the same menu all over the world but try their vegie burger that is new i heard - but don’t quote me the next time you are there - and yes they still have the metal rock music there.   There are also more than one Hard Rock Cafes in Japan now - in fact there are 8 I heard.  So if you are in Japan - don’t worry about missing out on Western food - just head to the nearest HRC.  Good luck !

StarBucks Japan With LCD TV

One would think with Japan being so high tech and having one of the largest electronic stores there - an LCD TV inside Starbucks Japan wouldn’t be a bad idea right?  I had written a comment on one of their comment card many years ago - but i see they didn’t take me seriously at all.  But look out for their flavor of the month for this summer - dark mocha & orange Frappie.  Yums!  And if you are wondering about prices for some starbucks caffeine - check below.

One Short Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥290

One Tall Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥340

One Grande Ice/Hot Coffee of Starbucks Coffee in Tokyo is ¥390

Coffee Jelly Frappuccino  (Tall ¥480, Grande ¥530)

One thing about Starbucks anywhere in the world - the employees are all so chic and hip.  Don’t you agree with me?

LaQua

it is free to enter the La Qua at Tokyo Dome city - but you have to pay for the rides and the attractions. Opens from 11am - 9pm daily- the LaQua has many good food places to eat and the largest natural hot spring spa in Tokyo.   You have to check out their specialty stores and many games and rides to go on.  Move aside Disney Land - move aside Sanrio Land - this place is great for both adults and kids.

Tokyo Dome

Never heard of? don’t blame you - neither did i till i lived in Japan for 6 months for work.  Tokyo Dome seats 55,000 people max and home of the Yomiuri Giants.  The NBA, NFL games and other pro wrestling games are held here.  But what one should be interested in is the amusement park LaQua - that will be for another post.  But to get to Tokyo Dome - take the JR line and get off at Suidobashi station.

People’s Bar aka Izakaya

My girlfriends in Tokyo calls it a People’s bar but this well known Izakaya is featured on tv - the internet and all sorts of tourist books and books too find good food in Japan.  I haven’t been in Japan for too long - yet I know this place.  But like all non- Japanese i would have preferred some contemporary coffee tables and don’t let my co-workers hear it because they loved the authentic Izakaya so much - nothing could deter them from coming here every evening.

The one that we so often go to is the one near the Shinjuku line at the Morishita Station - it`s very near to our office and anyone taking the subway - is only 2 mins away.  3 storey high as you can see in this picture - there isn`t very much seating in the entire house.

One of the very famous food we like to order are these skewers - chicken -  Yaki -ton - it goes so well with beer - or any cold drinks - we just can`t stop eating.  But it`s not only the Yaki ton that is good - Yamariki has a huge menu but like any izakaya - you could expect the freshest here.  I heard that because the owner had worked in some good french restaurants before - therefore - one can find some pretty good eats that are not Japanese here.

You see why I say i prefer the contemporary coffee tables?  Yes ! not as cozy eh as one would expect - when these Japanese spends hours after work here.  They also have a loud intercom - that they use to communicate between floors - it gets annoying after an hour.

This dish is called Nikomi - i heard it was cooked with some special sauce aged for 40 yrs - and they also have bbq pick intestines - i didn’t try it but a co - worker who did loved it.   Overall, if you are looking for a authentic japanese dining experience - a Izakaya - or a People’s Bar is the place to be and the Yamariki is well known - try that out yourself.

Yokohama Cosmo World Night Ride

If you are in Yokohoma which is 45mins by train from Tokyo - one have to try out their Super Ride at Yokohama Cosmo World.  We went there in the night because we figured the lights are  a lot cooler and it’s not as hot in the night as well.   If you are also wondering how Japanese get their thrills - I’m guessing it is these rides that keeps them happy.  But if you want a quick trim, lose some calories or get that heart pumping - try the Cosmo ride - if the ride doesn’t do it - the screaming would at least give your lungs a good workout.  When we were queuing for our turn - everywhere we turned were Japanese and  not as much Westerners as I had predicted.

Cosmo World is located near the harbor and the ferris wheel is once upon a time the largest in the world.  You are gonna be blinded by the thousand lights in different patterns - pretty overwhelming if you asked me.   The diving roller-coaster is not as scarey as it sounds - it passes thru’ an underground thru’ a pond and then back to the surface - it’s just an illusion that there is water coming straight at you.  There are several other rides you can choose to go on - like the new addition of a family ride i heard.  There is no entry fee to Cosmo World but you pay from 100 yen - 700 yen depending on what you care to do when you are there.   I know you will have fun - check out the cool arcade there too and have some popcorn cooked in a arcade machine right in front of you.

Doll Festival

I was checking out on blac label clothing when i was reminded of a doll show in Tokyo a year ago in Tokyo Trade Center.  Unfortunately for me - i wasn’t able to go - but my best friend in Tokyo was there and i saw the pictures on her Facebook.  I know my daughter would have loved these life-size doll if she was there and maybe - scream to buy one.

The show was a pretty interesting and an extensive one covering all 4 floors of the trade center and since my other friends were heading to Japan this year - i went to check if there was anything similar - so that they can go for the exhibition.  Anyhow - we did miss one that was held in March - the Hina Matsuri Dance Show - not the same - but should be pretty interesting as well.  It is  the Doll & Peach Blossom festival -   an occasion to pray for young girls’ growth & happiness.

Enoshima Aquarium

If you wanna see some really cool stuff in Japan that your tour guide wouldn’t include in your tour while you are in Japan - it’s the Enoshima Aquarium that you shouldn’t missed. I recommend it everytime - someone come to visit me when i was in Japan.  Enoshima Aquarium is located at the Enoshima island of course and it’s got some of the most wonderful and colorful marine creatures there.

Actually the aquarium is not on the island but just before the bridge into the island.  The entrance fee is like 2000 yen for an adult - so about $20 USD - pretty ex eh..?? but for kids - they are like only 600 yen.  They have some dolphin shows there but they are all in Japanese and it’s always crowded but if you have been to the one in Hong Kong - then you didn’t miss anything.

You can also get to touch some small sharks and some really huge turtles - and it’s really an amazing sight.  Love the huge tank !

The funny thing is - i always go to the aquarium whenever i go to the island - i never seems to get enough of the exhibits.

Harujuku Fancy

Check out this ninja looking fella in Harujuku and lots of summer festivities coming up.

Famous Theater In Ginza

The girlfriend wrote to me after a trip to Japan that the Kabukiza Theatre in Ginza Japan is no longer there - apparently it was torn down in April this year. I went on a search for some pictures that I had taken of the famous theater that I had visited several times when i lived in Japan and even bought some  personalized gifts for family and friends from the theater to bring home.

The Kabukiza was located in Higashi and it’s a traditional kind of theater for art shows for many, many years.  The girlfriend said that they had planned this move since 2008 and staged their last performance for about a year now entitled Kabukiza Sayonara Koen.   But one can watch their matinees at about 11am and also in the evenings at 4.30pm.  The performances usually last for about 5hrs - tickets are sold between 600 - 1200 yen and are usually sold out a day before the acts. If you have been for any performance at the Kabuki, you will know that it is an unique experience.  The reason for the demolition is a new place is needed to within earthquakes - structural safety.