After a challenging and enjoyable three years in Japan it is
time to say sayonara. While I’m sad to be leaving I am very happy to be going
home.
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The Tsukiji fish markets are a great place to visit early in the morning as long as you remember that the markets are a working wholesale fish market. Most of the vendors have these amazing little electric powered carts that zip around and in the dark these silent machines come hurtling down alleys ways at amazing speeds.
The markets are broken up into two main areas, the tuna auctions and the wholesale fish markets. Access to the tuna actions is regulated and it can prove difficult to get in. They also start first thing in the morning and we visited around 5 am. The tuna come from all around the world and are auctioned at an amazing rate with buyers and sellers using a complex series of hand movements to communicate during the speedy auctions. Following the auction there is also the option of having the tuna cut up before you leave the markets.
The other part of the market is the general wholesale fish markets which are generally more open to the public and here you can see all variety of seafood for sale and open at a more reasonable time.
The area around the Tsukiji wholesale fish markets are also worth a visit as there a number of restaurants and kitchen suppliers.
Over the last three years I have sampled almost anything that could be purchased from a vending machine and in my last couple of weeks I've found the ultimate machine. Hot food, sensational including hotdogs, yakisoba (fried noodles), Yakitako (squid balls) and chips.
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Escaping some wet weather over Tokyo I decided to head to Jogashima Island and see if there was any sun.
Jogashima Island is about 2 hours drive from Tokyo, about 1 square kilometre in size and located on the southern tip of the Kanagawa peninsula. The island is reach by crossing a toll bridge and is exposed to the ocean on the southern side. On this day there were a lot of people fishing and taking advantage of the great weather and the spectacular natural scenery of the island.
The main industry on the island is fishing and the fish markets with a fish market being recorded on the island from almost 2000 years ago.
Jogashima Island is about 2 hours drive from Tokyo, about 1 square kilometre in size and located on the southern tip of the Kanagawa peninsula. The island is reach by crossing a toll bridge and is exposed to the ocean on the southern side. On this day there were a lot of people fishing and taking advantage of the great weather and the spectacular natural scenery of the island.
After consulting one of the English language guides to Tokyo I came across a reference to an area called Sendagi. What always amazes me is how well small open spaces are utilised in Tokyo providing an escape from the relentlessness of this city. This small park was only a short walk from the subway entrance. To get there you had to pass a restaurant which appeared to be “seasoning” their woks under the grease exhaust fan (I didn’t go in for lunch).
As I was there a little early in the morning many of the shops had not started to open but the florist had just finished arranging his stock for display.
Up on the hill behind Sendagi there are a number of temples and, at the top of one otherwise ordinary street, another view of Mount Fuji. Winter time is definitely the best time to take in these views as the summer haze all but obscures views of Mount Fuji at other times of the year.
As I was there a little early in the morning many of the shops had not started to open but the florist had just finished arranging his stock for display.
Up on the hill behind Sendagi there are a number of temples and, at the top of one otherwise ordinary street, another view of Mount Fuji. Winter time is definitely the best time to take in these views as the summer haze all but obscures views of Mount Fuji at other times of the year.
