Re: Going to Tokyo - where should I visit?


"DogMa" <DogMa_I@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Fopck.199976$SV4.134168@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thitherflit wrote:
TokyoB suggested department stores. In particular, I would suggest
Takashimaya *in* *Shinjuku*. During daytime hours, they have multi-
lingual interns at the service desk who can help out.

I haven't bought tea in the big department stores, since it's so much fun
to browse the tea-only shops. Never found one where they spoke English,
but their unfailing courtesy still made it productive. In the ones I
explored, teas seemed to be arranged around the shop by price, which
helped a bit.

I did buy a fair number of kyusu and other pots at Takashimaya and some
other big stores. Very reasonable quality and prices. If you have time,
though, dedicated teapot shops are stunning in quality and variety.
Stopping into one by happenstance near Ueno, I picked up a large, finely
finished nut and bolt that were sitting on the counter. They were almost
weightless. With my 300 or so words of Japanese (mostly for food) and the
proprietor's complete lack of English, it took a while for him to explain
that they had been made from the same fine-grain clay as the pots -
possibly a production engineer having a little fun, or a promo gift for
dealers? I immediately tried to buy them; not for sale at any price. I did
select and purchase two fine kyusu (still my favorites), after which he
kindly presented the nut and bolt to me gratis. Japanese courtesy is
unexcelled in my experience.

Not to be missed by foodies: Kappabashi, the half-dozen blocks of
restaurant supply shops. I learned about this area years ago when I asked
a local Japanese restaurant owner where she got her sushi knives. She told
me that the really good ones couldn't be bought in the US, and said that
she traveled to Kappabashi-dori once a year to stock up. In three trips to
the zone over a couple of decades, I picked up a multitude of culinary
tools and toys, and was even recognized by some of the shop owners. Alas,
with the yen no longer at 160 to the dollar, it might be a while before my
next visit.

Enjoy!

-DM

Thanks for the advice. I'll go shopping with my son, who's Japanese is
certainly better than mine.

Regards,
Dean


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