[Tokyo Fall 2008] tsukiji before the storm

We left Macchinesti and realized the weather was changing. We still wanted to go to Tsukiji even though it was a bit later in the day (and most of the actions are in the early mornings.)

We got on the subway and arrived at the Tsukiji Station.


We were greeted by beautiful wall art.

And as soon as we stepped into the station, we could smell the ocean and the sea(food)!


"Very Japanese-y" I say.


We passed the parking area... thousands of cars would have been here that morning!

We knew we wouldn't be able to go to the inner market, but the outer one would have to do.


"Tsukiji outer market."

I dind't take many photos here... because a lot of the shops were almost closing, and I was really hungry and was searching for a good sushi place for us. But among the open shops, there were fresh seafood stores, dried seafoods, seaweed specialty stores, spices, and such. I am totally going to Tsukiji early in the day (I mean EARLY) next time.

We walked around for a while, and decided to check out a few of the sushi shops in the area. These shops usually offer sushi sets at different prices. You can't really go wrong with the freshness of the fish and seafood... because all of the seafood is brought in to the shop by the sea THAT day.


And then I saw this HUGE maguro(?) head.

We decided to go into the shop the maguro head was going in.


We were warmly greeted by the staff, and our chef "Nakano."

On the chef's name tag it also read, "Hobby: 2 cats!" I wonder if he brings scrap fish home for his kitties.


Happy people getting sushi.


We were served miso soup, edemame, and pasta salad(!) before our sushi set arrived.


Sushi! Mmmmm. The fish: good. The chef's techniques: good. The flavors, the hospitality of the people and all: gooooood.

I was happy.