Tokyo Finale

We managed to get out a bit on the early side on a gorgeously sunny and warm day. Dropped a few things off at the post office to make their slow return to the USA and then headed to the Azabu Jyuban area. Lots of shops and restaurants - Tom and Tomoko used to live in the neighborhood, so we stopped at one of their favorite Ramen shops for lunch. We all had a different flavor of ramen, and also a few dumplings - all very distinct in flavors and ingredients, and all so delicious! We stuffed ourselves silly...

Happy noodle slurping faces!

We walked over to the Roppongi Hills area - a fairly new and massive complex, full of shopping, business, housing - all very chic. We went to the top of one of the towers where there was an observation deck. Gorgeous views of the city. Above is the Tokyo Tower...

MOUNT FUJI!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely seating around the sky deck for gazing at the city, and on lucky clear days like ours the breathtaking and sacred Fuji-san.

For dinner, we found a great little shabu-shabu restaurant right in Tom and Tomoko's neighborhood. Such a fun experience, another unique cuisine to devour!

A display of most of the condiments available for our meal...

The premise of shabu-shabu is that you have a simmering pot of broth in the middle of the table, and then you are served a variety of meats and vegetables to dip and cook in the broth. Above is the Japanese beef - holy marbling!

They also served a chicken forcemeat that you slid off of these scoops into little meatball shapes. We also had a bevy of vegetables - enoki mushrooms, carrots, garlic chives, cabbages and tofu. There were an amazing number of courses. After cooking all the meats and veggies, we had noodles to cook in the broth, and then rice with egg. And then some funky pumpkin flan type dessert.

The gang on our last night together!!! Tomorrow it is off for Bangkok!!!