Tokyo layover: bath and unagi on a Sunday
Jun 5th, 2008, 07:17 PM
#42
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Ok we are now sitting at breakfast in Saigon and trying to clarify our plans for Tokyo. So let's start over to be safe!
10:30 a.m. - meet BMT under the big red lantern in Sensoji.
10:40 a.m. - Leave for sento. Mari808 will be soaking in the bath for sure; however, lcuy and I (plus our friend Stacey) cannot stay to soak. We'll just shower and do our thing and rendezvous with you for lunch. (see question below)
Noon - lunch
1:30 p.m. - Aloha to BMT, the rest of us go shopping.
3:30 p.m. - back to airport
QUESTION: Do you know if there is a place that does hair wash + scalp massage? Maybe the bath place offers it? If so we may do that while you soak.
p.s. can you check on the locations of unagi restaurants in Karamatsu or Koyanagi? Then we won't be fussing at noon on where we are headed! thank you...
10:30 a.m. - meet BMT under the big red lantern in Sensoji.
10:40 a.m. - Leave for sento. Mari808 will be soaking in the bath for sure; however, lcuy and I (plus our friend Stacey) cannot stay to soak. We'll just shower and do our thing and rendezvous with you for lunch. (see question below)
Noon - lunch
1:30 p.m. - Aloha to BMT, the rest of us go shopping.
3:30 p.m. - back to airport
QUESTION: Do you know if there is a place that does hair wash + scalp massage? Maybe the bath place offers it? If so we may do that while you soak.
p.s. can you check on the locations of unagi restaurants in Karamatsu or Koyanagi? Then we won't be fussing at noon on where we are headed! thank you...
Jun 5th, 2008, 08:55 PM
#43
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KT just called the Kannon Onsen & learned that there is no in house massage services offered there. I saw a photo in Flicker & it is one of the very old style high ceiling hot spring baths." Very traditional" - much like the old onsen I saw at the Koganei Kaido Open Air Museum. There will be much to see & preoccupy yourselves with in & around the Sensoji Temple area while I accompany Mari chan in the sento. You might even find one of those nice massage places in the neighborhood- THey run around $1 per min service.
I am doing research on Unagi places. I found one close to the Temple - an old favorite called HATSUOGAWA
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0050715rs.html
.......... also found another one by the Sumida River
Unagi_Komagata_Maekawa
<http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...-BR-1.html>
There's a few more in the area- I'll try to scout out the place when I get there before our 1030 meeting time.
Gotta pick up Victoria- last day of school family celebration. She loves to go to the sento so that's why she'll join KT for his weekly Day Off sento visit at Ofuro no Osama.
.<http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...007a5.html>
Keep in touch. I'll get back to you later.
I am doing research on Unagi places. I found one close to the Temple - an old favorite called HATSUOGAWA
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0050715rs.html
.......... also found another one by the Sumida River
Unagi_Komagata_Maekawa
<http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...-BR-1.html>
There's a few more in the area- I'll try to scout out the place when I get there before our 1030 meeting time.
Gotta pick up Victoria- last day of school family celebration. She loves to go to the sento so that's why she'll join KT for his weekly Day Off sento visit at Ofuro no Osama.
.<http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...007a5.html>
Keep in touch. I'll get back to you later.
Jun 5th, 2008, 11:35 PM
#44
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Hi BMT!
Turns out we will have one more person joining us all for lunch. So for lunch, there will be 8 people total. Not sure if Hatsuogawa will accomodate with the 7 seats and the 2 in the corner, LOL.
The hopeful plan is to have unagi in Asakusa or in Ueno (where we will shop). I think given the time crunch, as little travel as possible has to be a large consideration. Thank you so much for the recommendations!! Please keep in touch, we're guaranteed to have internet access for the next 18 hours. (It is now 2 p.m. Vietnam time.)
Turns out we will have one more person joining us all for lunch. So for lunch, there will be 8 people total. Not sure if Hatsuogawa will accomodate with the 7 seats and the 2 in the corner, LOL.
The hopeful plan is to have unagi in Asakusa or in Ueno (where we will shop). I think given the time crunch, as little travel as possible has to be a large consideration. Thank you so much for the recommendations!! Please keep in touch, we're guaranteed to have internet access for the next 18 hours. (It is now 2 p.m. Vietnam time.)
Jun 6th, 2008, 06:18 AM
#46
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Shall I attempt to look for another sento in the Asakusa, Harajuku, or Shinjuku areas or is Asakusa the only option you want. Let me know so I can find something if that is what you would prefer.
The second unagi option is only around the corner as the River is walking distance from the temple. I am sure there are other unagi places in Ueno but I have not found it in the net as of yet.
Let me know what you want & I will roll with it.
The second unagi option is only around the corner as the River is walking distance from the temple. I am sure there are other unagi places in Ueno but I have not found it in the net as of yet.
Let me know what you want & I will roll with it.
Jun 6th, 2008, 07:30 AM
#47
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<i>Ack! OK I brought Mari808 and lcuy to the computer to post. Mari is now going to post under my name.</i>
Hi BMT! Since we have only 5 1/2 hours in Tokyo, we've planned a straight line from Keisei Ueno via the Asakusa-sen to Sensoji, bath, unagi, shopping at Ameyokocho, then back to Ueno/Okachimachi for depachika shopping, then back onto Keisei Ueno for train to Narita.
I found two unagi restaurants near Sensoji, Karamatsu and Koyanagi. We'd be happy with any good unagi place that could accommodate us in Asakusa, and v happy to follow ur suggestion.
Originally we wanted to do more, but time and distance proved too constraining. That's why we're stuck on the Asakusa area. Also my friend in Tokyo will meet us for unagi either at the restaurant or under the big lantern at Sensoji at 12 on Sunday.
Do you know where the nearest depachika convenient to Keisei Ueno is? Is it Matsuya at Okachimachi or Ueno? Thanks for any help. We'll ck email again before leaving tomorrow.
Finally, for lcuy's daughter, do you know if there's a Tokyu Hands in the vicinity?
Hi BMT! Since we have only 5 1/2 hours in Tokyo, we've planned a straight line from Keisei Ueno via the Asakusa-sen to Sensoji, bath, unagi, shopping at Ameyokocho, then back to Ueno/Okachimachi for depachika shopping, then back onto Keisei Ueno for train to Narita.
I found two unagi restaurants near Sensoji, Karamatsu and Koyanagi. We'd be happy with any good unagi place that could accommodate us in Asakusa, and v happy to follow ur suggestion.
Originally we wanted to do more, but time and distance proved too constraining. That's why we're stuck on the Asakusa area. Also my friend in Tokyo will meet us for unagi either at the restaurant or under the big lantern at Sensoji at 12 on Sunday.
Do you know where the nearest depachika convenient to Keisei Ueno is? Is it Matsuya at Okachimachi or Ueno? Thanks for any help. We'll ck email again before leaving tomorrow.
Finally, for lcuy's daughter, do you know if there's a Tokyu Hands in the vicinity?
Jun 6th, 2008, 08:01 AM
#48
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Totally understand your time constraint issues. Let's go with the Unagi shops that you found, If it does not work, we have a couple more choices.
There's 3 Tokyu Hands- Shinjuku , Shibuya & Higashi Ikebukuro all roughly 30 minutes away from Asakusa.
Looks like there's a Matsuya in Asakusa & a Matsuzukaya in Ueno for your depachika search.
Found this for Unagi Eating options-
http://www.tokyo-ryokan.com/eating_asakusa.htm
Like I said- just helping out to find the restos as requested. Will do whatever you guys want.
There's 3 Tokyu Hands- Shinjuku , Shibuya & Higashi Ikebukuro all roughly 30 minutes away from Asakusa.
Looks like there's a Matsuya in Asakusa & a Matsuzukaya in Ueno for your depachika search.
Found this for Unagi Eating options-
http://www.tokyo-ryokan.com/eating_asakusa.htm
Like I said- just helping out to find the restos as requested. Will do whatever you guys want.
Jun 7th, 2008, 04:37 AM
#49
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Ｈｉ ＢＭＴ！ＯＫ ｌｅｔｓ ｐｌａｙ ｉｔ ｂｙ ｅａｒ ｗｈｅｎ ｗｅ ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅｒｅ． Ｗ ｅ ｗｉｌｌ ｍｅｅｔ ｙｏｕ ａｔ Ｓｅｎｓｏｊｉ ｆｏｒ ｓｕｒｅ， ａｎｄ ｆｒｏｍ ther e you and Mari can discuss the unagi choices for sure. Looks like there will be 2 more people joining us for lunch, making a total of 10 to eat. Looking forward to meeting you!! (sorry we have had a long day and some of us are under the weather)
Jun 7th, 2008, 05:35 AM
#50
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I'm making a print out of the Unagi shops so Mari can chose where she wants to go. I'll see you tomorrow at 10:30 then.
Hope the rest are doing OK with the side trips you are planning. Let me know what else I can help you with.
Hope the rest are doing OK with the side trips you are planning. Let me know what else I can help you with.
Jun 8th, 2008, 11:22 AM
#52
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BMT, it was so great to meet you! I can't believe we were the first Fodorites you've ever met! I will update my blog with meeting you as the final installment of the trip. We had a great time in Tokyo, and I sincerely hope to do it again.
In the meantime, I do hope that you get to come to Hawaii to visit US!
http://urbanmixplate.honadvblogs.com
In the meantime, I do hope that you get to come to Hawaii to visit US!
http://urbanmixplate.honadvblogs.com
Jun 8th, 2008, 08:02 PM
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It was a delight to finally meet you both. I am so sorry that Lucy was feeling under the weather. Elyse, you already have a wonderful travelling career under you belt. All the best as you pursue your studies. I hope you all got the rest of your Tokyo check list taken cared of . These macs are dangerous !!! Yum !
Photos:
http://bmttokyo.multiply.com/photos/...Sensoji_Temple
Photos:
http://bmttokyo.multiply.com/photos/...Sensoji_Temple
Jun 9th, 2008, 08:09 PM
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k-san,
If u guys want a trip filled w/ food, shopping and massage, call me!
Must mention this was a trip for the hardy. As Melissa proved, even the high-maintenance can be accommodated if they are hardy.
Methods of transport used:
--plane
--sleeper train
--long-distance bus
--subway
--bicycle
--motorbike taxi
--rickshaw
--ferries
Range of eateries:
BEST: Singapore (Straits Kitchen), Malaysia (that Nonya place w/ Ronnie in Penang), Vietnam (Quan An Ngon)
CRUDE BUT NOT BAD: almost everywhere in the Mekong Delta, but esp the place w/ the icy coconut palm drinks where the bathroom was a square hole cut in the floor planks
How we fared physically:
Me: felled by violent gastrointestinal distress last 5 days
lcuy: under weather pretty badly in India, under weather fairly badly 1 day in Mekong Delta, under weather mildly at Narita
MelissaHI: mild gastric symptoms much of trip, unnoticed by others
Stacey: fine
Susan: fine til Narita, just barely under weather there
Elyse: under weather 1 day in Penang
Sumie: fine
SUPER SHOPPERS: MelissaHI and Stacey
SUPER BIKER: Elyse
SUPER EATER: me
Will try to post some version of a trip report at some point. MelissaHI's blog is exceptionally entertaining, but it is skewed!
If u guys want a trip filled w/ food, shopping and massage, call me!
Must mention this was a trip for the hardy. As Melissa proved, even the high-maintenance can be accommodated if they are hardy.
Methods of transport used:
--plane
--sleeper train
--long-distance bus
--subway
--bicycle
--motorbike taxi
--rickshaw
--ferries
Range of eateries:
BEST: Singapore (Straits Kitchen), Malaysia (that Nonya place w/ Ronnie in Penang), Vietnam (Quan An Ngon)
CRUDE BUT NOT BAD: almost everywhere in the Mekong Delta, but esp the place w/ the icy coconut palm drinks where the bathroom was a square hole cut in the floor planks
How we fared physically:
Me: felled by violent gastrointestinal distress last 5 days
lcuy: under weather pretty badly in India, under weather fairly badly 1 day in Mekong Delta, under weather mildly at Narita
MelissaHI: mild gastric symptoms much of trip, unnoticed by others
Stacey: fine
Susan: fine til Narita, just barely under weather there
Elyse: under weather 1 day in Penang
Sumie: fine
SUPER SHOPPERS: MelissaHI and Stacey
SUPER BIKER: Elyse
SUPER EATER: me
Will try to post some version of a trip report at some point. MelissaHI's blog is exceptionally entertaining, but it is skewed!
Jun 9th, 2008, 08:24 PM
#59
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NOT SKEWED....that Vietnamese dude really wanted you, Mari! "Can I have yo numba? Can I have it? Where's yo boyfriend?"
hee hee heeeeeeee
BTW I was only kidding about being so gassy. It was the foot reflexologist in Singapore that "outed" me on being "gassy. very gassy."
Y'all know what I'm talking about? Read my blog, dammit!
hee hee heeeeeeee
BTW I was only kidding about being so gassy. It was the foot reflexologist in Singapore that "outed" me on being "gassy. very gassy."
Y'all know what I'm talking about? Read my blog, dammit!
Jun 10th, 2008, 09:31 AM
#60
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Thanks for the report - it is always fun to read about GTGs. I have also been looking at your blog.
Do you guys know why so many of you became ill? Hope your trips weren't too messed up by that....
Do you guys know why so many of you became ill? Hope your trips weren't too messed up by that....
