Paul Rossman » Japan

Food in Tokyo

Paul — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:59:37 +0000

What do I eat tonight? Sushi? How about curry – Japanese or Indian? Cute, little “I could die from asphyxiation” Fugu? Maybe some French moules frites? How about American hamburgers with Champaign in a place where I’ll have stand and eat below crystal chandeliers? Yakitori from a street vendor? So many choices. So little time… and 34″ pants that don’t expand at the waist line.

I’ve enjoyed this week what I’d consider some of my most memorable meals. It’s all bitter sweet in a way; I return back home next week.

Toilet fires break out across Japan

Paul — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:10:10 +0000

Well maybe not that widespread – only 3 have caught fire with a handful of others only going up in smoke.

If you’ve been to Japan, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced the wonders of Japanese automatic wash and dry toilets. Yes, toilets with automatic seat covers, heated seating surfaces, warm water, fans, music… and probably a dozen other things I’ll never know about because I can’t read the Japanese on the Saab like array of buttons and dials attached to the toilet.

So I was a little surprised (and perhaps worried??) when I saw on local Tokyo news tonight that 180,000 warm water-spraying toilets were being recalled. Yikes! A Toto spokesperson is quoted as saying that, “fortunately, nobody was using the toilets when the fire broke out and there were no injuries.” That’s a good thing, as I’d hate to explain to friends that I suffered burns and injuries while sitting on my toilet!

My lunch at らーめんおんぱと

Paul — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:52:23 +0000

Ok… so I should have taken the picture before I started eating! This shop is right around the block from my apartment.

The shop is located here.

Best pasta in Tokyo!

Paul — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:53:59 +0000

Shinjuku Eye

Paul — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:45:06 +0000

One of the many hidden gems located throughout Tokyo.

Only in Japan

Paul — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:26:38 +0000

Safe Driving Charm

Paul — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:40:33 +0000

It’s always good to have one with you on the road! For some reason I can’t recall, I think these charms have to replaced each year. Not too sure on that.

Picked it up the other day at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.

Japanese pay phones

Paul — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 01:28:33 +0000

With more than 100 million mobile phone subscriptions in Japan, I’m always surprised by the number of pay phones throughout Tokyo. In Chicago (and probably many other parts of the US) it’s increasingly more difficult to find a pay phone.

Krispy Kreme Shinjuku [Pt. 2]

Paul — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:13:28 +0000

Apparently I’m not the only one ~~obsessed~~ taking pictures of Tokyoites waiting patiently for some glazed goodness.

Krispy Kreme Shinjuku

Paul — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:07:09 +0000

As I was exiting the JR Shinjuku station Wednesday night I spotted someone carrying what looked like a Krispy Kreme box. Since I was leaving the Narita Express platform I figured that it was just another arriving passenger bringing back to Japan a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Nope. Turns out that Shinjuku is home to the very first Krispy Kreme store here in Japan. Since Wednesday there has been a continuous line of people waiting to try a doughnut.