Tsukiji Market

Tourism

Things to Do on a Spring Trip to Tokyo: Tsukiji Market, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita-dori, Ueno

Posted on August 18, 2016

Day 3. I cannot not go back to Tsukiji Market. I know Tokyo had awesome sushi everywhere, but after last year’s market experience, I just had to have it again. So I led the way back to Tsukiji for a late second breakfast, finding Iwasa Sushi, the same restaurant where Hazel and I ate last year. I like that place because the line was forgiving unlike the more popular shops. We waited for only 20 minutes. Their sushi was heaven, even their free refillable green tea and miso soup were so good. Also the staff there are very nice. The okasan staff for one so kindly gave me a small sealed jar that was apparently a seaweed paste that you mix with steaming rice (thank you Ryn for explaining haha). Continue Reading

Tourism

Things to Do on a Summer Trip to Tokyo: Tsukiji Market, Ebisu Garden Place, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ueno

Posted on December 27, 2015

This day could best be described as a day of leisurely cramming.

Day 3 and 4 was dedicated to music-festivaling, because really that was the entire point of this trip. This day therefore, day 5, was our last full day, since the next day was the one wherein we fly back home to Manila (sadness). So tired and bruised though we were from two consecutive days of dancing under the sun, Hazel and I were still hell-bent on getting the most out of our last day in Tokyo. Continue Reading

Tourism

Things to Do on a Fall Trip to Korea: Noryangjin Fish Market, KBS Building, Yeouido Park

Posted on November 18, 2015

Day 3 was another day trip of sorts as we crossed over to the other (dark? Not really, hihi) side of the river for a day of fresh (live!) fish, trolling around the KBS building, and an hour or so to rest our tita bones with the view of autumn colors to relax us.

Noryangjin Fish Market. This was on Tin’s list and oh boy were we happy to have gone here. Noryangjin is supposed to rival Japan’s Tsukiji, but I won’t be able to tell the winner really since we only ate outside Tsukiji and didn’t venture the inside market when we were there last August. We explored Noryangjin though, and as a word of warning, this is not a place for fancy/open shoes and squeamish stomachs. A lot of moving, swimming things around, and then they are slayed on the spot, I am not even kidding. The market folk are friendly enough, and if you know how to haggle (like my Divisoria-trained sister), you should be able to get a lot from your budget. Don’t expect hole-in-the-wall level prices for your lunch though. What happens here is you pay for the seafood first on the first floor, then the stall would have a runner to lead you to one of the second floor restaurants, where you pay separately for the cooking.
Looking for the market. Look for the trucks bearing market goods, or better yet just follow the fishy smell. Noryangjin Market. Photo by Ace Tria.

Looking for Noryangjin Market. Photo by Ace Tria.

Runner from the market led us here. Noryangjin Market. Photo by Ace Tria.

Not the full spread, but here you will see the baby octopus sashimi, fresh uni, and another fish served as sashimi. Noryangjin Market. Photo by Ace Tria.

The three of us had 4 pieces of abalone (grilled), 4 pieces of scallops (grilled), one giant fish (half sashimi, half grilled), 2 uni sashimi, and 2 baby octupi for sannakji/sashimi served with unlimited lettuce and kimchi, and that entire meal set us back KRW40k each. The freshness and taste was awesome and totally worth the price and the fishy taste on our clothes after. Side story: after we agreed on the price of the fish, the guy smashed the fish’s head three times with his metal rod, right there on the market floor in front of us. Not something we will forget in a hurry.
KBS Building. After our market trip, we took the train a few more stops down and got off at the National Assembly Building station. A few meters walk and a sherbet stop later, we were in the KBS building, where we found the entrance to the free walking tour. Free, because you pay nothing, and free because you roam the place by yourselves, guided by a map. It was great that we were the only ones roaming the floor, so we got to play with being newsanchors/TV personalities/directors and such with no interruptions.
Reading the Hangul news really slowly at the KBS Building, Yeouido. Photo by Ace Tria.

Tin playing producer at the KBS Building, Yeouido. Photo by Ace Tria.

Walking the KBS tour. KBS Building, Yeouido. Photo by Ace Tria.

Chilling with the boys of 2 Days 1 Night! KBS Building, Yeouido.

Watching a short clip of Autumn in My Heart and trying NOT to cry. KBS Building, Yeouido.

“Taping” our show. KBS Building, Yeouido.
Yeouido Park. Just outside was Yeouido Park, and standing on top of the KBS stairs, it’s already a breathtaking view. We meant to go to the Hangang Park so we can see the river, but that was on the other side of the city and we were tired, okay? So we trudged to the one in front of KBS. A lot of things you can do there with the locals, such as jogging or hiking. There’s even a bike rental place. But we found empty benches and just SAT there, people watching and yes, resting our tita bones while the wind wasn’t too cold yet and with the fall colors as our company.
Fall colors. The view that welcomes you once you exit the KBS building.

To bike or not to bike? Yeouido Park.

Titas of Manila resting, Yeouido Park. Photo by Ace Tria.

We ended the day back in Myeongdong, trying to catch Lotte Town (and ultimately failing), but having a grand time anyway strolling the streets, gorging on street food.