Graphic Tokyo

Everywhere you look in Tokyo you find something beautiful - the attention to detail, care and workmanship is unprecedented. I was fascinated just walking through the city, noticing things that you just can't find here in the states. There is no graffiti or vandalism - beautiful materials can be used without worry of being destroyed. Smoking isn't allowed just anywhere on the streets, you need to stand in a "smoking zone" - and people actually do it, not to mention I didn't see a single person jay-walk. There is no garbage on the streets (and barely any trash cans as far as I could tell), no homeless people, and virtually everywhere felt safe. It really makes you think about what is going on back here and why we can't have behave just a little bit better.

Yoyogi Park

the concrete work is beautiful

takeshita dori, so many people, such a tiny street

salmon treats, the food courts were stunning

vending machines for everything and anything

ginza church

one of the private rooms at Shunju Tsugihagi, (designed by super potato)

A new perspective on Tofu

I felt the need to document a lunch experience we had while in Tokyo. One afternoon we dined at Tofuya Ukai, a very authentic looking (but actually only a couple of years old) tea garden type of structure which sits below the iconic Tokyo Tower and specializes in Tofu dishes. While coming across as very intimate, this restaurant actually seats 550 people. We were sat in a private tatami room and began a 9 course, 3 hour lunch that was truly unforgettable. Besides being delicious, the presentation was absolutely stunning. Here is a recap of what we had the pleasure of sampling that day.

Boiled tender abalone & eggplant.

crown daisy boiled spinach

sake

deep fried tofu with scallions & sweet miso

simmered crab & fried tofu ball

sashimi sampler of maguro & mackerel

shrimp, fried chestnuts, mystery fruit

shiba braised pork berry

grilled barracuda sushi

bean soup with tofu

fried shrimp & fish meat dumpling

rice cooked with taro

peach jelly

Tokyo Architecture

Tokyo's architecture has an interesting mix of old and new, contemporary and traditional. The sheer number of retail stores alone is astonishing, and there is no shortage of flashy, high end stores throughout the city.

Mikimoto by Toyo Ito

Cartier

De Beers

Prada by Herzog & DeMeuron

Dior