Japan - Day 3 - Tokyo

Japan Day 3 - more Tokyo

Black Vanilla

Octopus (Tako) Cracker

Today we were on our own to navigate the subway system and started out by heading downtown to the Tsukiji Fish Market.  This used to be the place where the fish would come in and get auctioned off daily -  giant tuna and all other creatures of the sea, but now the market is split in half with that auction part happening in a new location. But here, you can sample fresh fish and other foods in locally operated stalls over a four x four block area.

We sampled Octopus cracker where they smash an octopus or shrimp under a press and make a crispy cracker as big as your head. We also had fresh oranges, black ice cream, and raw tuna. I was hoping to see more weird creatures here, but almost everything was pretty normal. Asia normal.

Shellie dressed up as a Longhorn

Tokyo Tower from the Go-Kart

We left from the fish market to drive Go-Karts. Originally I hoped to do this at night, but I missed the timeslot and had to go with a day option. Maybe it was the safer option.  We felt really confident with the vendor we selected which was Tokyo Street Kart.  We took a train and walked for about 20 minutes to get to their location on Tokyo Bay. 

At this location, we drove on the highway and normal streets all around the Tokyo Tower and over the Rainbow Bridge.  The tour lasted about 90 minutes which was plenty of time.  Only once did our group of five get separated and then we caught up quick.  Be sure to get an International Driver's Licence from AAA before leaving for Japan. You have to prove that you have a license - these aren't toy carts - you're on a real street with traffic.

We got some pretty good speed - up to 50 miles an hour coming down the Rainbow Bridge both ways.  We had a blast - I would recommend this activity highly although at 6'0" each, Bix and I felt a little cramped in the Kart - maybe at a couple more inches and it would have been uncomfortable.

Octopus at Sunshine
City Aquarium - Alive -
Not in Cracker Form - Yet

Jellyfish at the Aquarium

After go-karts we headed west to Ikebukuro and the Sunshine City complex - a giant Mall with an Aquarium and an observation deck.  We spent about 90 minutes in the Aquarium and then another 60 minutes on the observation deck looking at Shinjuku from the opposite side that we were on from Shibuya Sky.  We got a combo ticket online and it was inexpensive fun.  

Tokyo View from Sunshine City

We headed back to our hotel for a rest and then met up with a UT student Jake Stavrou, who is studying in Japan - his parents live in our neighborhood. He suggested a place where you catch your own fish, but we got there a little late for that and just ate pre-caught fish instead. Both of us had early morning travels so we said goodbye to him at our hotel and went in for the night.