Day Eleven

From the japan Collection

One of the things that was on the todo list for this trip was to head down to the Tsukiji fish market and try some sushi from the restaurants there. Specifically from a restaurant called Sushi Dai (寿司大). Sushi Dai opened at 5am and according to the Internet if you lined up at 3am you'd probably get served within the first hour.

So we woke up at 4:30am, threw on some clothes and started walking because none of the subways opened until 5am. We arrived at Sushi Dai around 5:20am and were greeted with a line of about 70+ people. Sushi Dai only seats 12 people at a time and their omakase ('chef's choice') meal takes about 45 minutes to eat.

The murky, rainy day we decided to line up at 4am for sushi.
The murky, rainy day we decided to line up at 4am for sushi.
These big things were everywhere.
These big things were everywhere.
Some other shops around selling produce from the market next door.
Some other shops around selling produce from the market next door.
Sushi Dai 寿司大
Sushi Dai
Sushi Dai

Three and a half hours later we finally sat down at Sushi Dai for our meal. I can say, without hyperbole, that it was the most delicious sushi I have ever had. It was only 10 pieces of nigiri and some miso soup but by the end of it I was totally satiated. The care put into the seasoning of each piece was perfection.

Our chef.
Our chef.
It was super cramped in there.
It was super cramped in there.

    Our omakase consisted of:
  • Otoro
  • Red Snapper
  • Cutlass Fish
  • Sea Urchin
  • Chūtoro
  • Clam
  • Tuna rolls
  • Tamago
  • Horse Mackerel
  • File Fish
  • Sea Eel
  • Chūtoro encore

The meal cost ¥4000. For the price alone it was easily worth it.

Tsukiji Fish Market 築地市場

After our sushi breakfast, we headed in to the market itself and it was busy. We chose not to spend too long in here, as it really felt like we were in peoples way, and they were trying to work.

The Fish Market was enormous.
The Fish Market was enormous.
Fish cartons everywhere.
Fish cartons everywhere.
Tons of styrofoam too.
Tons of styrofoam too.
All sorts of produce was for sale.
All sorts of produce was for sale.
This was just one of the aisles.
This was just one of the aisles.
Big fish head.
Big fish head.
The meat in the fish cheeck is the tenderest.
The meat in the fish cheeck is the tenderest.
Very narrow walkways. We do not want to be bad tourists here.
Very narrow walkways. We do not want to be bad tourists here.
Worker hides away from all the crazy, just for a minute.
Worker hides away from all the crazy, just for a minute.
Very common to see a huge slab of fish.
Very common to see a huge slab of fish.
This is how shoppers transport their purchases.
This is how shoppers transport their purchases.
Sushi knives.
Sushi knives.

After that we headed back to the AirBnB for some rest. Once we had rested up, we went for a second round of arcading and probably spent too long in there playing all of the games we wanted to play.

CAPCOM BAR カプコンバー

As a fan of Monster Hunter, one place I really wanted to go was to the CAPCOM BAR (カプコンバー). We had made reservations beforehand, which is the only way they serve people here. The whole point of the place was to serve CAPCOM game themed drinks and food.

The menu.
The menu.
The menu.
The menu.
The menu.
The menu.

The food was as solid as you would expect in Tokyo but nothing to really write home about. The presentation was amazing. Everything looked and felt like Capcom and our food and drinks were no exceptions. We got four Monster Hunter themed drinks including some where we got to mix the alcohol ourselves. When we ordered the 'well done steak' they actually played the cooking theme from Monster Hunter when they brought it out (上手に焼けました！). It was without a doubt the most fun I had at a restaurant on this trip.

The menu.
The menu.
The menu.
The menu.
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