kidzania

one of the more popular jobs is working at the Coca Cola bottling plant, where you bottle your own coke. I just realised, there was no Sake factory. Hmmm.

Morinaga was also extremely popular where you learn to make candies and sweets?

Our kids' first job was at Yakult, where they learnt that Yakult is a probiotic drink, which means it's full of good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. they had microscopes in the lab, and interestingly, they did learnt something useful. they also got a free Yakult drink (in a Japanese size, even smaller than the single gulp bottle (for me at least) we have in Singapore)

Kidzania Tokyo

we've heard of Kidzania but were apprehensive to send the kids there initially. Kidzania is a theme park for kids, designed in a realistic city setting with jobs for the kids, where they work to earn Kidzania dollars, and of course, spend them.

Tokyo has a Kidzania at Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, at Koto-ku Tokyo. check out the English details at http://www.kidzania.jp/tokyo/about/e_index.html

I mean, the kids working? the thought was simply unbelievable. okay, being in Japan, we'd figured that the language might be an issue, but after multiple multiple visits to Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland, SegaWorld at Joypolis and Sanrio Puraland (aka Hello Kitty Land), we were prepared to try something new just to avoid the same old places again.

There are 2 shifts (9am to 3pm, and 4pm to 9pm) and being late risers, we took the 2nd shift. entrance fees were 3200 JPY for each child, and 1900 JPY for each adult.

I went without expectations, and boy was I surprised, and extremely impressed.

Kidzania looked like a real city, complete with kid-sized buildings, vehicles, and of course, beautiful blue skies!

there are about 80 places where the kids can work, but just like the other theme parks in Japan, expect long queues at the popular rides (or in this case, jobs). there are all sorts of companies employing kids, where they dressed up in uniforms and work in pint-sized, authentic work places.
I must admit, totally kawaii!

there is a dental clinic, and a securities trading company upstairs

an electric company that maintains the electricity grid (and actually attends a blackout, and repair some electric cables!)

and if you cannot decide what jobs to take, there is a Recruitment Agency to help!

Hitsumabushi = excellent eel

Saturday, 19 dec 2009

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho ひつまぶし名古屋備長 in Ginza

東京都中央区銀座2丁目2番地14号 マロニエゲート12階

Best eel we have tasted is located inside the Marionette department complex above a huge Tokyu Hands store, this place serves eel grilled on charcoal to order. Really tasty and skin is crispy. Must try the house special (the "hitsumabushi"), eel on rice served with extra broth to mix in, ask the restaurant for the picture guide on how to eat - there are 3 steps for 3 different tastes. An English menu is available and produced automatically once they realise that you are not local. We went on 3 times in our 2008 visit and twice in 2009.

This will convert any non-unagi lovers. Ah, yes that is a sauce stain on the chopstick sleeve. :)

The Hitsumabushi set. at 2800 JPY not exactly cheap but worth every yen. c had the smaller eel don set which was 1900 JPY which she managed to finish.

Getting there:

We stayed in Shibuya, so we took the Ginza line from Shibuya station to Ginza station. Get out at Exit C8, make a left turn into the main street. Turn right at the main street, walk past Primtemps and the building is immediately after the small road crossing. restaurant is on the 12th floor.

After lunch set aside some time to browse Tokyu Hands store - the selection is just amazing. we loved the DIY section and kids went bonkers at the Stationery department.

Midori Sushi

friday, 18 december 2009

first night in Tokyo. J and I decided to try a sushi place recommended by a good friend. It was late and kids preferred to stay in the hotel room and watch iCarly on the macbook. This is now a good time for sushi as the kids have not acquired the taste for it yet.

Midori sushi 梅丘寿司の美登利総本店 渋谷店 is located in Shibuya Mark City which is above the Shibuya train station.
Be prepared to go early or wait for at least 90 mins or more for a table. We went just before closing and made it for the last order at 9.45pm. The Chef's special is good value for money at 3000 JPY (see plate above) with its generous servings. The shop is well known for its unagi sushi (check out the size!). J had the broiled melt-in-your-mouth Otoro sushi at 395JPY/pc. Quality was pretty good and its popularity speaks for itself.

Unfortunately I did not bring my camera and had to 'borrow' this picture from another blogger who's a fan of Midori.

segaworld in shibuya

not the 5 storey SegaWorld at Joypolis, but this is a scaled down version in Shibuya where the machines gladly eat up your 100 JPY coins at the UFO grabbers, or at the Mario Kart games. have to admit, j is really good at Mario Kart.

giant takoyaki

one of our favorite places is the Sega Amusement 'Park' just across from Shibuya 109. we always almost always head there after eating at MOS Burger... ya ya ya. we have MOS Burger in Singapore too but it's just not the same... Kids favorites are the crepes and the takoyaki. here is c tucking into a giant takoyaki with 10 fillings - octopus, sausage, quail's egg, cheese, corn, mushroom, ginger (they learnt from playing cooking mama), spring onion... yes she finished it.

the takoyaki close up, and yes it's as big as it looks. the box c was holding contains just ONE of these monsters

our second favorite crepe stall in Tokyo is Crepe Ojisan. their seasonal creations are quite interesting and delicious. however, the kids always go for custard crepes. it's also simple enough that the staff always understand what we want. else it's point at the picture, or samples in the display. :)

simple pleasures

the egg best eaten with a little salt (check out my teeth marks). the egg yolk is all soft and ohh so good - c had 2 on our second visit this trip to Tokyo

my ramen - start...

... and finish

Ichiran system

after buying the tickets. wait for an empty table, as indicated by the blue light on the panel. each button represents a cubicle and seat. so there are 2 rows of cubicles, seperated by a center aisle where the food's prepared and served by 'faceless' staff because you only get to see their hands and hear their voices. this outlet has 21 seats but as no one stays for long, it's a fast moving queue - just do not expect to get side by side seats. anyway, you will be in a cubicle so don't expect dinner conversation with your family or friends

the system explained. in japanese.
i have been there 5 times so here's my simplified english version:
1. buy your ticket(s)
2. get a seat
3. ask for a English menu (you get to select how you like your noodles - fully customized!)
decide the texture of your ramen, amount of garlic, special sauce, spring onions, roast pork, fattiness of the soup etc). My favorite is firm noodles and regular everything else. no spring onions of course!)
4. press the button on the table when you need attention
5. if you need to order extra ramen or egg or a 'beauty slimming green tea', you can always order direct and pay cash. check out the chopstick sleeve - it's actually for any extra orders!

each diner seats in his/her cubicle, with no distractions in order to fully enjoy the ramen (at least this is what I understand the creator's concept was - however, I think it's a very clever way to ensure that no empty seat is wasted (3 people at a table for 4? what a waste of space (25%!) in Tokyo). after your ramen is served, the staff lowers the bamboo chick curtain, and it's just you and the ramen. intimate.

ichiran ramen

it was great to have Ichiran Ramen as first meal in Tokyo. Well, we could not remember the location of the Ootoya outlet in Shibuya (finally realised it's opposite the Disney store), and 'wandered' into the basement outlet of the Shibuya Ichiran store (http://www.ichiran.co.jp/index.html). Kids are all excited - guessed they enjoyed the last visit a year ago. j was all excited to buy the meal tickets. so there are 2 queues - first to buy the tickets, and then for a seat.

A bowl of ramen is 790 JPY and a most delicious hard boiled egg (with the softest egg yolk) is 100 JPY.