Market to market

Amanda and I's first adventure together in Japan was to the Tokyo fish market. Her Japanese friend, Taro, took the day off to show us around. It was chilly and a light drizzle was just starting to fall as we entered the tightly packed booths of the market. As usual, it was full of an array of all things squishy, slimy and tentacled. There were also the booths brimming with the Japanese crafts and trinkets, for the shoppers who weren't hungry.

The light rain turned into a downpour, so we ducked under an awning of one booth to buy umbrellas. Vendors scrambled to cover their treasures with plastic and divert the rivers of water flowing down the eves. Along with the shoppers, we ducked between covered tunnels, opening and closing our umbrellas in the openings between.

From there, we left rich tradition for a taste of modern lifestyle. The shops were scattered sparsely among the cathedral-high, yet stark walls and ceilings.


Taro tolerated our shopping for awhile, then we headed to a sushi restaurant. It was the best sushi I've ever head. If raw fish could melt in your mouth, this is what it would taste like. The $50 price tag on the meal was worth every penny.

Afterwards, we headed out for Amanda's first Japanese karaoke experience. Unlike America's version, where performers sing for bars full of partiers, we entered a small room for just the three of us. Having only three people vying for the mic definitely allows for some opportunity to find your true karaoke song.



Lesson learned: I still haven't found my song.