Started this morning we started our day with the usual continential breakfast provided my the hotel, free. That a new service, was not provided in all the previous years staying here.

Chris took off on the train to sightsee. I stayed at the hotel and worked on my blog. We met at noon with plans to have Sukiyaki.

Sukiyaki is a dish our whole family grew fond of in the years going to Japan. Its paper thin sliced beef cooked with vegetables in a soy sauce type liquid. Now its difficult to find it unless its very expensive ($100. pp) with some rare special high fatty beef where the cattle live in a spa to give the meat lots of marbeling.
On our last visit to Japan we found thing ‘all you can eat Sukiyaki” place called Moo Moo Paradise. Its reasonable price and there is a big disclaimer sign out front that they apologize but they are using American beef. Heck we don’t care.

In years past, when we had lots of Japanese guests to our company, we would tell them that when they come to SA, we will have a Sukiyaki party at out house, with them bring the main chef. We would buy the meat, boneless rib eye, get it sliced as thin as we could get it. Take the Japanese guest to HEB Central Market to buy some of the ingredients. Then we would all cook at my house. I learned that each has their own family recipe with some variations. Fun times, my kids loved it.

So today we took the train to Shinjuku station, and walked to Moo Moo Paradise, only to find it closed. We were hungry and popped into a chinese chain restaurant. It was tasty and cheap, 1300 Y for 2 ( about $13.00)
Boy, the dollar is really weak on this visit.

Walked around and back to the hotel.
That evening we are going to Isakaia restaurant for dinner with Saako and Masumi. Isakaia is like tapas, you drink and have many little dishes. Typically it is really good. We went to this very local place, where everyone turns their head and looks when a gaijeen ( foreigner) walks in. Had our “Kanpai” toast with a beer. the atmosphere is interesting, but the food left something to be desired.