Upon entering the shop, you can find a row of bar counter seating plus those proper sit down seating with tables. I was lucky to get the table for a more comfortable dining experience. As I waited for my order to arrive, I noted these flaming hot mini ceramic plates on the table. I'd ordered fried beef, so why would I need a BBQ plate? That's for queuing without knowing what the shop was selling.
When the dish arrived, it looked tantalizing. I'd ordered the medium sized plate that came with 2 rows of beef that were fried to the crisp on the outside, plus a huge stack of shredded cabbage and a scope of mashed potato. A bowl of miso soup (a standard in all Japanese meal) plus a couple of small plates with sauces. Okay, now that the beef was cooked, what was I supposed to do with the hot plate? Apparently the beef was only fried crisp on the outside and was still raw in the inside! And customers were encouraged to grill their meat to their satisfaction! What a novel way to eat your steak, and it was tasty and great fun at the same time! This shop is located in Shinjuku, around 3 minutes walk from Forever 21 towards the Shinjuku Station's direction. Shop opens daily from 11am, but to avoid long waiting times, it's advisable to start queuing from 10am.
After a full and satisfying brunch (which eventually became lunch), it was off to Tokyo station to purchase some Tokyo Banana. This is a super soft chiffon with creamy banana filling. No ideal why this is so popular as the locals certainly do not buy them (plus Tokyo doesn't grow bananas). But these cakes tasted great and in nice packages, hence very popular with tourists. Along the way, saw a store selling strawberry mochi for JPY 240 per piece. Rather pricy, but since I was on holiday, I had to get one. And boy was the service good! The small mochi was inserted into a pretty pink paper bag and they included a small ice pack for extra measures! Not that I needed one as I gobble the mochi down almost immediately!
After Tokyo station, it was back to the apartment to drop the purchases and off to Niwa No Yu onsen for yet another hotspring dip. From Shinjuku, I took the Oedo line towards Toshimaen station, and another 8 minutes stroll to arrive at the onsen. This was a pricy onsen, definitely more up market at over JPY 2000 per pax. The moment I entered, I immediately regretted not having researched enough and brought my swim trunks. There at the main lobby was a mixed gender pool and jacuzzis everywhere. There was even an outdoor area and garden to take in the manicured landscape! Well, I was only confined within the male onsen section. The male section had both indoor and outdoor pools. The indoor area consisted of a soda (carbon dioxide) hot pool, a brown spring water pool that was split into 3 sections (strong jacuzzi, darker brown at higher temperature, and the normal pool), a sauna and steam area, plus the standard cold plunge pool. The outdoor area had the same brown pool within a rock garden setting, and 3 huge ceramic pot for individual soaking. There were at least 3-5 Sakura trees there, and I was sure the outdoor onsen area must be popular during the blooming season.
I must have soaked for at least an hour before venturing to the other parts. This was not like the typical Japanese onsen, but more like trying to be a Korean Jimjilbang, with full facilities such as massages, sleeping areas, a restaurant and a shop. From level 2, I could have a bird's eye view of the mixed gender area clearly. Well, at least I could look at it since I couldn't enter in the buff!
After onsen (and a bottle of Japanese milk), it was a walk back to Toshimaen station. Along the way, I chanced upon a Yakitori shop Two Way Communication Yakitori. Probably a direct translation that made not much sense in English, but the aroma certainly was tantalizing enough. I got a few sticks including chicken wings, soft chicken bones and chicken meat etc, sat by the roadside and savour the snack. Yum!
And back to Shinjuku station via the Oedo line again. Walked past this shop called Mr Waffle so many times over the past days and the fragrance of the freshly made waffles always tempted me. So finally I got myself an Earl Grey flavoured waffle. The waffle was crisped on the outside and soft on the inside, and the hint of tea was undeniable and went well with the honey glazed exterior. So good to have something hot on a cold night!
Next up was a night walk around Shinjuku, and eventually reached this old ramen shop Hakata Tengin. One bowl was selling as low as JPY 500! Being greedy, I had the JPY 1000 version with all the extra toppings. The broth was rich and thick and the pork slices very tasty (although served cold). All in all great value from this old shop that didn't look anything much from the outside.
Hence it was another end of day in Japan, and back to sleep for the night.
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