Okonomiyaki Fugetsu... 鶴橋風月

Location: Universal City Walk - Osaka Store
6-2-61-507 Shimaya, Konohana-ku, Osaka City, 554-0024, JAPAN
Universal City Walk Osaka, 5th Floor
TEL: 06-6463-0030

We had our "Okonomiyaki" once we came out from Universal Studios. According to my brother-in-law, this dish is especially popular in Osaka. Okonomiyaki also known as "Japanese-style pizza".

It is made from fresh vegetables, cabages, egg, meat and shrimp blended into the batter used as a base. The mixtures will be poured onto the hot grill when it is hot enough.

Once it is hot, the waitress will flip the pancake to the other side. Once it is almost cook, the waitress adding some bonito shavings to the pancake.

Once it is cooked, it looks like the fried egg that I usually had. It doesn't look as solid as it is cooked.

Before eating it, the waitress topping it with some sauce. It really taste nice for this. One must try this dish whenever comes to Osaka.

One may get more information from http://www.ideaosaka.co.jp/web/english/information/index.html. From the information I get, besides it taste delicious, Okonomiyaki is healthy for us.

Universal Studios Japan... ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン, Yunibāsaru Sutajio Japan

Location: Osaka

This is one of the few Universal Studios theme parks in the world. We came over here during our visit to Japan. We departed from Tokyo during wee hour, which if not mistaken, our bullet train started at about 6.30 am. This means we really woke up very early during that day just to reach our destination.

Once we came here, we went to check-in to our hotel. We made a mistakes, we queue up for a long time in a wrong hotel and when it was our turn to check-in, we were told our name is not in the list. Further checking shown that we book the hotel next to it. What a embarassing moment. Without delaying more time, we quickly went to check in and proceed to USJ.

Weather is not at our side. It was raining that day. By the time we reach USJ, the rain slow down but still dizzling. We went to ET Adventure where we we shown how the movie was made and the character involved. One can see the interview with Steven Spielberg on the set.

Luckily, my brother-in-law bring us around in the park. He has pre-determine the route in the park, and that really save us a lot of time. From one place to another, it will taking the shortest time. We are allowed to take photo in some of the theme park, and some is not allowed.

We went to Spiderman, and have a ride on it. There is a story, and we were sit on a car. It bring us to a story and it is 3D. Whenever a character come out, it just like the character is in front of you. After we came out, the small kid wants to have a ride on it again. So while waiting there, we manage to take more photos around the area.

Next, we moved to Back To Future ride. This is really taxing for me. The car keep shaking and moving around, plus the screen is too near for me. I really feels dizzy and at one point, feels like throw out. Luckily the ride stop at the right time, and I manage to get back my momentum. Of course the younger kids enjoyed the ride, but not for me.

It was street party time by then. All characters from Sesame Street came out and have parade. It was about half an hour show, and really it is amazing. Firstly of course we manage to take lots of photo with the colorful character. The most important is the dancer danced so well. Kids was amazed by the show. Later, we went to Jurassic Park.

We later rushing for our last show of Water World. This is really a show that one can't miss whenever visiting USJ. The effect of the show is marvelous. You will see and hear the thunderous sound of the bombing. The stunt pull up the show. And there is a plane fly out from nowhere during the ending. The sound effect and the performer really did a great job.

At night, before we leaving, there is another parade. It is called Magical Starlight Parade where lot of characters will come out in full force. Not only that, some of the character is lit up with light. Most of the visitors will wait for the show before going back to their resort.

For the visit to USJ, it must be a least one full day to spend. There are few rides that I dare not to take. The only setback is most of the show is in Japanese. If one doesn't understand, then one will not able to laugh together with other tourist. It is also good that it will help to push one to learn Japanese.

The only regret for me in USJ is the weather. It would be nicer if it was sunny day.

One can get more information from: http://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Restaurant Sushi Choushi-maru 銚子丸

Location: It has lot of branches across Japan. Actually not sure which branch that we had our dinner here, but we suppose it should be in Tokyo.

From outside, it's look like a simple restaurant. However, once we were inside, the ambience is very nice. There were lot of Norway flags hanging around as well, with the word "Norge" there. Like a typical Japanese restaurant we found in KL, one may order from the counter or take from the conveyer belt.

Later we found out from my bro-in-law that the tuna fish was imported from Norway and that's explaining why the flag was there. Besides that, during our dinner, there was promotion around. On any normal day, there are only 2 pcs of salmon sushi on each plate, but on that night due to promotion, there are 3 pcs of salmon sushi on each plate with different tastes.

My favourite meal definitely is Ikura. Egg is fresh definitely and tasty. I really do feels that the juice in my mouth when biting it. In fact, I did ordered few plates of it and manage to end it up in my stomach.

At the same time, we did order as well other types such as Tamago, Ika, Maguro, Ebi etc. We occupied 2 tables. When I counted the plate on my table alone, we actually ordered more than 20 plates. That's excludes those plate which has multiples types of sushi. For the other table, I didn't go and count it.

The restaurant actually did selling coupon for those frequent customer. Example, one pay a certain amount of money for the coupun, rewarded with extra of 500 yen from the coupun. Also, one need to always check on their website for the promotion available.

Definitely in Japan, it is much more easier to access the information from internet just by your finger tips. For more information, one may check from the restaurant's website:

http://www.choushimaru.co.jp/index.html

Tsukiji Hongan-ji or Hongwan-ji

Location: Tsukiji in Central Tokyo, next to Tsukiji Fish Market

We came to the temple because it is very near to the Tsukiji Fish Market, near walking distance. When we reached here, there are lot of tourist as well as the local people praying. Though is not any major events or religious functions, but still there are lot of people.

We reached to Hondo (Main Worship Hall). Inside here, it's look grand with golden color. Chairs is properly arranged facing to the Amida Buddha. There was long queue to the front, but we didn't take a closer look as this is very much towards religious activity.

Outside the shrine, there are huge ginko trees. Due to the winter, the leaves turn yellow in color and it really make the place very colorful. It makes the place looks serene.

What we don't realize about this shrine is the historical value of it. Today, it is one of the major tourist attractions in Tokyo. The temple is particularly famous for its unique architecture. Its predecessor was the temple of Edo-Asakusa Gobo, built in Asakusa in 1617. In year 1657, the temple was burnt down in a huge fire.

At that time, the shogunate does not allowed to rebuild the temple on the original site. Instead, the temple was moved to a new parcel of reclaimed land by the Sumida River - today's Tsukiji. This temple was also destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The construction of the new temple designed by Itoh Chuta, a Professor at Tokyo University started in year 1931 and completed in 1934 which stood until today.

One may find more information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_Hongan-ji or http://www.tsukijihongwanji.jp/tsukiji/index_e.html.

Wasabi...

Have you ever think how the wasabi that we buy or consume in Japanese restaurant comes from?

Well, wasabi actually is a root vegetable grated into green paste. Fresh leaves of wasabi can also be eaten and have some of the hot flavor of wasabi roots.

For wasabi, the burning sensations when eaten is short-lived compared to the effects of chili paddy. Of course the effect is different and you may feels the blood pumping through your brain. Sometimes it is said that the best time to consume wasabi is when one having running nose. It can stop immediately.

Also, don't be surprised that sometime wasabi need to be imported from China, Taiwan or even New Zealand due to the large consumption in Japan alone.

Tsukiji Fish Market... Dubbed World Largest Fish Market

Location: Tsukiji in Central Tokyo

How to get there:
Since using subway is the easiest option, one has the following options:

Take the Toei Subway Oedo Line to the Tsukijishinjo Station

Take the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to the Tsukiji Station

Take the JR Yamanote Line to Shimbashi

Definitely it would be great help if one has a map to go there. Otherwise, one can ask the local people once out from the station, as it is just walking distance.

Once near to the market, there are lot of "turret trucks" transporting goods around the market. Even inside the market, the trucks busy moving around and one need to be extra careful. It was really an eye opener for me to see how the goods being efficiently distribute.

As it is dubbed as world's largest fish market, the market is handling over 2,000 tons of marine products daily. Outside the market, there are lot of small retail shops and restaurant to cater for the public. One may find food, knives, vegetables and fish for sale in smaller portions.

Besides that, there is huge Tuna auction starting early on the day, which we heard it started about 5.00am. We didn't see the auction as the information we read from another website saying that the auction is temporary closed for tourist. So it would better to check the website if one really want to see the process of tuna auction.

At the outer market, there are many stalls selling fresh seafood. We did see lot of it and it is really fresh. Lot of the local people will come over here with their cart to buy the seafood. We found the seafood is quite cheap as well. The fish egg and octopi is my eye opener. Never see this before in our local wet market.

Inside the market, once the tuna fish are sold to wholesalers, they will go back to their stall. Using the band saw, they will cut the frozen tuna fish.

For fresh tuna, it is carved with extremely long knives also known as oroshi hocho, maguro-bocho or hancho hocho.

Once the fish is properly cut, it will be sold to sushi restaurant or even to the buyer.

Besides that, the tuna head can also be sold separately. Some of it has been cut, but some is not. However, it is depends on the wholesaler.

Besides the tuna that we would like to see most, others seafood did capture our attention as well. There are small eels, prawn etc. The visit to the market really will give me an everlasting memories about the nice seafood as well as the way it is distributed to the local market. One word that can summarize our visit here... AMAZING!!!

Ramen Noodle from the Land of Rising Sun

Today is the first day that we reached Japan. My brother-in-law brought us to eat ramen. Though the restaurant located inside a shopping mall, however it is taste delicious. Not sure whether we are too hungry or the noodle really tasty, we really enjoyed the food.

We like the soup a lot which is very tasty. According to brother-in-law, one must finish the soup to indicate that the noodle is nice. If one does not finish the soup, this means the noodle does not up to the standard.

Besides that, we also impressed with the menu available. there is something looks like 'barcode', shown in the last photo. However, you need to have the phone available in Japan, scan it to the phone, and the URL of the restaurant will appear on the phone, without one need to enter the whole string of the website name. This really save a lot of hassle entering word by word for the website. Impressive + tasty !!!