japanesegeek

Second draft of my itinerary. All feedback appreciated. Day 1 (for discussion sake assuming this is a Thursday just so I can separate activities that are better done on weekends or week days). Land at Narita airport Take Airport Limosuine (actually a bus) to Park Hyatt Tokyo. Hato Bus tour of Tokyo Dinner at Gonpachi Day 2 (Friday) Tokyo DisneySea Dinner at Sailing Day Buffet Day 3 (Saturday). Tour Ginza. Buy yukatas for later in the trip. Eat at lunch Chikuyōtei (竹葉亭), Ginza 8-14-7 (Higashi-Ginza stn), ☎ +8103-3542-0789, an eel restaurant. Dinner at Kozue at the Park Hyatt Go to Ice Cream Village for dessert Day 4 (Sunday) Brunch at Beacon Go to the Meiji Jingū (明治神宮) shrine. Combine with a walking tour from Harajuku station up Omotesando to Aoyama-dori, then down to Shibuya. Dinner at Serina Honten - http://www.seryna.co.jp/en/restaurants/honten/index.html Day 5 (Monday) Head to Kyoto via the Nomino shinkansen. Go to a geisha run teahouse. Stay at Tamayara Ryokan. Day 6 (Tuesday) Visit Nijojo/Nijo Castle. Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Back to Tokyo. Have dinner at Roku Roku (六禄) at the Grand Hyatt. Day 7 (Wednesday) Either go to a sumo match (if there is one to go to during the trip or attend a practice match at the Isenoumi Stable Eat lunch at Chanko Tomoegata (巴潟), 2-17-6 Ryogoku (3 min south from JR Ryogoku West exit), ☎ 03-3632-5600, [6]. Take a boat ride on the Sumida River from Asakusa. Top of the World Trade Center Building at dusk for great view. Day 8 (Thursday) Tour Studio Giblhi Museum Lunch at soba place across the street from museum Tour Kappabashi-dori (aka "Kitchen Town") Dinner at Ten-Ichi (天一) for Tempura Day 9 (Friday) Tour Edo-Tokyo Museum Tour Akihabara, the gadget/anime district. Sushi dinner at Fukuzushi, 5-7-8, Roppongi (behind Hard Rock Cafe), ☎+8103-3402-4116. Day 10 (Saturday) Sumida River Festival Dinner at Jap Cho Ok for Korean food Day 11 (Sunday) Brunch at New York Grill at Park Hyatt Dinner at Gindako (takoyaki) in Ginza Day 12 (Monday) Take train to Kamakura Tour Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine and other sites Eat lunch at Kamakura Oboro, a tofu restaurant Back to Tokyo

Thanks everyone for their advice so far, it really helps. Will definitely go to Meijijingu on a Sunday, and replace Himeji castle with Nijojo/Nijo Castle, among other things. Current thinking is we'll go to Japan the latter portion of August in order to catch the Sumida River Fireworks Festival on August 27th (to fulfill my nephew's request for a festival to which he can wear a yukata, I'm assuming (and hoping) it would be appropriate for everyone in the group to wear one for this festival). As far as time goes, I've think we've pretty much settled on three weeks for the trip (with six days penciled in so far for Singapore) so trying to add a week's worth of activities in Japan to my above itinerary so any suggestions would definitely be appreciated. Any great, kid friendly okonomiyaki restaurants, would be great as well. And any good brunch spots near Meijijingu? And any good places for ice cream and coffee (either separately or together).

How does this look for a first draft of an itinerary to Japan (going with a couple and their two boys ages 8 & 11). Nothing set in stone, will likely also do a week in Singapore afterwards (and doing 2-3 weeks in Asia for the trip overall just trying to figure out how to split it), so any suggestions to make this a once in a lifetime vacation (none of us have every been to Asia). For what it's worth none of us speak Japanese, and we are US citizens. Aside from what to see (any advice appreciated there), struggling with where to go (my friends and I love good food of both the fine and street variety, but their boys are much less adventurous and while not bad kids they are rowdier then one would like to see when having a contemplative meal -- wouldn't want to disturb anyone). Day 1 (for discussion sake assuming this is a Thursday just so I can seperate activities that are better done on weekends or week days). Land at Narita airport Take Airport Limosuine (actually a bus) to Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Go to the Meiji Jingū (明治神宮) shrine. Go to Inakaya - a robatayaki restaurant. Day 2 (Friday) Tokyo DisneySea plus Pooh Hunt at Tokyo Disneyland (said to be the best ride ever). Dinner at Sailing Day Buffet Day 3 (Saturday). Tour Ginza. The shopping heart of the city, great for looking at crafts and the basements of department stores are known for good fast food. Eat at lunch Chikuyōtei (竹葉亭), Ginza 8-14-7 (Higashi-Ginza stn), ☎ +81 03-3542-0789, an eel restaurant. Dinner at Kozue at the Park Hyatt Day 4 (Sunday) New York Grill at the Park Hyatt Head to Kyoto via the Nomino shinkansen. Go to a geisha run teahouse. Stay at Tamayara Ryokan. Day 5 (Monday) Visit Himeji Castle. $40. Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Back to Tokyo. Have dinner at Roku Roku (六禄) at the Grand Hyatt. Day 6 (Tuesday) Either go to a sumo match (if there is one to go to during the trip) or attend a practice match at the Isenoumi Stable Eat lunch at Chanko Tomoegata (巴潟), 2-17-6 Ryogoku (3 min south from JR Ryogoku West exit), ☎ 03-3632-5600, [6]. Hopefully attend and participate in a festival with yukata (would be willing to arrange our schedule so that a festival coincides as this is the top request of one of my nephews). Any suggested festivals would be appreciated. Take a boat ride on the Sumida River from Asakusa. Top of the World Trade Center Building at dusk for great view. Day 7 (Wednesday) Start off our day bright and early with a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market (6am). Eat a sushi breakfast at Daiwa Sushi. Hopefully find some event where we can see yabusame, or mounted archery. Tour Kappabashi-dori (aka "Kitchen Town") Dinner at Ten-Ichi (天一) for Tempura Day 8 (Thursday) Tour Akihabara, the gadget/anime district. Maid cafe. Is this appropriate for kids? Sushi dinner at Fukuzushi, 5-7-8, Roppongi (behind Hard Rock Cafe), ☎ +8103-3402-4116.

Grilled bread topped with avocado and canned sardines. Yum! http://www.leitesculinaria.com/recipes/coo...o_sardines.html

A few questions from the curious. What effort do you make to do everything from scratch? I can picture, perhaps wrongly, you making your own cheese. Do you make batches of the basics (such as stock) up and then use it for a few dishes or would you make it up fresh for each individual meal. You say that the family is not gourmands, but do you utilize the latest techniques and gadgets (such as sous vide with hotter then normal water to overcook chicken or using a pacojet to make basic vanilla ice cream)?

We had a good time. A different experience then dining just with adults, but went off without a hitch, the boys were well-behaved (bribed with promises of dessert). I'll post a review of the food later, but let me just say that the service was excellent and the whole staff at least appeared happy to entertain the boys.

Thanks everyone for their advice. Reservations are for tomorrow night. I have some apprehension, the boys are generally good but not angels, but their father and I used to dine out all the time before he had children so now need to get him and his new family back in the swing of things. Rough edges are not unlikely, although I'll do what I can ahead of time to make sure they are in a good mood when the night begins. No worries though for any fellow customers at Clio tomorrow, if the boys can't behave, I won't hesitate to have Clio pack us a big doggie bag and go home.

I'm taking a friend out for a celebratory dinner. He's bringing his two sons (ages two and four). I'm hoping that Clio will work out well, I've been a few times and always loved it but didn't notice any kids -- not that I was looking. Any thoughts?

I like ochazuke, rice with tea, usually with diced nori and either small dried fish or small salty pieces of salmon. Quick to make, and very tasty.

I'm looking to get a new rice cooker. What is the best one current available? I'm currently aware of two induction rice cookers, and after reading that induction is very good at small temperature changes which I presume is an important aspect of rice cooking in a machine, I'm focusing on them at present, although certainly willing to look at any machine. One is from Zojirushi and the other from National Their stats look pretty similiar (to me), so am curious what (if anything) makes the National worth the extra $100. And if there are any other rice cookers I should be looking at, please let me know. Thanks.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I just purchased the Z5. I'll let you know if my friend's wife approves.

A friend's wife asked for an expresso maker for her birthday. After asking her a few questions, I determined she wants a no work model, will be making herself mostly mocha lattes, and vanilla lattes for her husband. Models that I've heard are good for super autos are the Jura-Capresso Impressa Z5 and Saeco Incanto Sirius. Anyone know if they are any good, or if there is another super auto I should look at? Thanks.

Uni is a superb non-traditional sushi place (the best in New England). I have eaten there several times with excellent results. Go for omakase, and you won't be disappointed. Clio as a whole is nearly as good, and a better choice if some of your party aren't sushi enthusiasts. East Coast Grill is excellent as well (I've been probably fifty times), but lacks the over the top experiences of either Clio or Uni. I recommend going to Uni or Clio for your seafood dinner, and the East Coast Grill for brunch the next day.

Japan for sure. Aside from that, planning on basing where to go on where the best restaurants are located.

A couple of friends and I are planning on taking a three week culinary tour of Asia (after completing a three week culinary tour of North America). We pretty much eat strictly seafood so I'm looking for recommendations for 10-20 of the best seafood restaurants in Asia (hopefully located in 3-5 area spaced closely together. We like seafood raw, rare, grilled, cooked in a wok, marinated in lime juice, and basically every other preparation. The places we're looking for don't need to spend a fortune on decor but "dives" or "best food for the price" isn't what we're looking for. Thanks much for any advice you can give me.