Japan Autumn 2018

[anyhowsaysay]

My milestone 10th trip to Japan.

I spent 30 full day in Japan exploring various areas like Tohoku, Kyushu, Chugoku, Kanto and Kansai.

I managed to see Sumo live in Kyushu for 2 days, watched Samurai Japan baseball team battle against American MLB all stars.

Saw stunning Koyo in Kyoto, most importantly i visited many restaurants in Autumn such as Amamoto in Tokyo, Tenzushi and Sushi Sakai in Kyushu, Ogata and Tominokoji Yamagishi in Kyoto. some of those i visited are notoriously hard to secure reservation, Tominokoji Yamagishi is already fully booked for the calendar 2019.

I also upgraded my camera before this trip.

This 10th trip was my best trip ever. I think it will be hard to beat, maybe this year Autumn i will try

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

This i Took SQ to Narita, on their business class. This was on their new dreamliner plane, with their new regional business class seat

I took the red eye flight to Tokyo as always, slept throughout and only wake up for breakfast before landing. It was comfortable ride and i managed to sleep relatively well uninterrupted.

I had their short Japanese breakfast set (Red eye they don't serve the typical full meal, satay starter etc etc)

I already booked my Autumn business flight this year

I seated on the left side, so from the distance on the way to Tokyo can see Mount Fuji

Managed to reach around 7+. Custom clearing was quick, no queue. Baggage was also quick to collect. I think morning time not much flight coming in.

By 8am, i am already waiting for Narita Express to Tokyo!

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

The baggage space with lock in the train

The Green car seating. Almost no people so fine to leave luggage in front of the next empty seat leg space

Leather seating. Not comfortable. slippery

Left my luggage at my usual Tokyo Station Hotel.

9:30am in front of Tokyo Station

Went to change my JR pass at the Marunouchi exit JR office. Then went to the Yaseu end to change ticket for the rest of my trip. Quite a lot of tickets since I will travel to many places doing long day trip compared to spring where i don't take shinkansen often.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Sorted all the tickets and JR Pass.

Went to Ginza at around 10:30. Lunch was at 12, so i got around 1hr 30mins to spend in Ginza

Sunny and warm day in Tokyo. Last year Autumn was warmer than usual in Japan. Even in start of Nov, thin jacket was sufficient

Right wing

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

The new camera seems to be able to produce slightly better quality. Focus is quicker as well

Bvlgari snake is gone???

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

First meal in Japan is lunch at Esquisse Ginza
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13142530/

Often for my first meal during Autumn, it seems to be Esquisse.
Highly rated french place in Tokyo

Champagne to start the trip

 

[invigo79]

Nice pictures. Please share more.

Thank you.

Sent from Home using GAGT

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

They have English Menu

Chopsticks for French meal?

First up, Uni, Yuzu and pumpkin. Esquisse uses Japanese ingredients like Uni and Yuzu.
They have the same seasonality concept as Kaiseki,

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Next, Foie gtas, Sake lees (Sake Kasu, lees left over from sake production) and mushroom

Next, scallop, butternut and parsnip

This one is Turnip from Kyoto, fermented cabbage and white truffle

ManagaTsuo fish, grappe teast and ginkgo biloba

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Abalone, Matsutake and laurier.
Matsutake is very premium mushroom, in season during autumn period

This one is Venison, fir tree and coffee

Dessert is by Narita-san, very famous pastry chef
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2...toshi-narita-inspires-creations/#.XGFxb88zZMA
Known as the best pastry chef in Asia. He is good friend with the next restaurant i went at night, Sugalabo!

This one is Grapefruit, Keikachinshu and mint

Chestnut, vanilla and thyme

Recently they opened Esquisse Cinq which only serve Dessert. Otherwise, the only choice last time was to have full meal in Esquisse for chance to eat the dessert by Narita-san.

Thinking of it, Sugalabo also have great dessert!

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Petit four for coffee

High quality standard for lunch, cost me around 22k with one glass of champagne.
If do pairing course will be 30k++, this time i did go for that since at night i went Sugalabo for their wine pairing course.

 

[bryando]

great stuffs!

Been to Japan over 15 times but will embark on my first solo trip to Tokyo (all previous trips with Wifey....) in upcoming July. Hope to get more ideas from your thread!

Quick question: how or which website you use to make your restaurant reservations?

 

[purpleberry]

This 10th trip was my best trip ever. I think it will be hard to beat, maybe this year Autumn i will try

Curious to know what makes it the best trip? 2018 Koyo was about average. If you have any insights on the performance of A7R3 vs A7R2 for your type of travelling, please share as well.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Curious to know what makes it the best trip? 2018 Koyo was about average. If you have any insights on the performance of A7R3 vs A7R2 for your type of travelling, please share as well.

It is the cumulative of numerous factors that make this trip the best. Personally, i always aim to plan the next trip to be better than the last (Except Spring, where i got less time).

For Koyo in Kyoto, last year was a bit warm which resulted in Koyo being slightly late. However, i managed to cover those spots that typically peak earlier and saw their peak koyo (Which i never did in other years where temperature was colder).

Also, the food during Autumn 2018 was great. I managed to secure many top restaurants

I also secured good seats for different events like MLB All Star vs Samurai Japan, Sumo in Kyushu.

As for A7rii vs A7riii. the picture quality very similar but somehow i feel my Autumn 2018 seems nicer.. The focusing much better. especially for my food photo.
Handling better, more customisation available. Menu new one
Dual card slot - I got scared watching Youtube about danger of single card slots. Now become i got so many SD cards..16x 128gb

 

[Beefsteak]

Do you usually travel solo?
Cos I noticed you didn't take any portrait photos.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Do you usually travel solo?
Cos I noticed you didn't take any portrait photos.

Yes. Solo....

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

After that, i went to Kanda Myojin. This shrine is famous for the Kanda Matsuri which likely i will be going in spring

There was a bit of renovation going on, they shifted some of the statue i remembered

Got new glass building that was not there last time i went to this shrine

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

From Kanda Shrine is a short walk away to Akihabara. Biggest Electronic goods + otaku goods area in Japan

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Gacha machine...this kind will easily overspend. Each one can range from 200-400 Yen, sometimes if don't get the one i wanted, then try again..

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Day 1 - 2nd November 2018

Back to Tokyo Station Hotel

Check in. This was actually the 10th time staying in Tokyo Station Hotel so their Manager came out specifically to welcome me.