Monday, March 24, 2008

Day 5 - More hotelS!~

First thing in the morning: Shibuya -> Tokyo Metro Ginza Line -> Aoyama-itchome Station -> Tokyo Metro Oedo Line -> Shiodome Station
We went to the Shiodome Station where the Park Hotel and Conrad Tokyo was. We first visited Park Hotel.
It was a very small hotel located at the top of some office building like most other hotels here. The design wasn’t that nice at all so we left soon after we walked around.
Then we went across to the other side of the train station to Conrad Tokyo. We were far more impressed. The entrance was a lot nicer the lobby was thoughtfully designed.
All the details that they had on the walls, ceiling and the floor was impressive.
It was lunch time so we decided to try out the Japanese restaurant Kazahana. Even the entrance was very nicely designed. Even the place setting was simple but elegant.
We had the set lunch which included:
Tofu Appetizer topped with wasabi
Fresh Seaweed topped with horseradish and ginger
The restaurant had a very nice view.
Beef “Terryaki” Bowl
Luncheon Tray “KEI” with Chicken & Sashimi with Japanese brown rice
Assorted Sashimi Bowl
The food was excellent. For desert, the waitress made some fresh green tea to accompany:
Brown Sugar Pudding
After the great lunch, we moved on to:
Shiodome Station -> Tokyo Metro Odeo Line -> Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station -> Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line -> Mitsukoshimae Station
The Mitsukoshimae Station to check out the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. It was also a very nice hotel located on the top floors of a commercial building.
The interior design of the hotel was also very interesting with the zen garden and mini-waterfalls. Most of the people there seemed to be on some sort of business trip because many of them were sitting in the lobby with their documents and notes all spread out.
In the men’s room, you can be using the bathroom and staring out the fantastic view of Tokyo.
Then we went to the Mitsukoshi department store next door before we left. We checked out a few of those nice snack counters and bought some snacks.
Then we headed to:
Mitsukoshimae Station -> Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line -> Kudanshita Station -> Tokyo Metro Shinjuku Line -> Shinjuku
Shinjuku where the Isetan department store was.
We also bought a bunch of snacks at the snack counter and checked out the delicious grocery part of the store. They had all kinds of fruits like the strawberries pictured here all lined up and very nicely packaged.
Afterwards we walked over to the huge bookstore where we got a couple architectural books.
Then we walked to the Shinjuku JR Station where there were a couple restaurants and finally decided on this one that serves soba. We had:
Hot Soba in Soup with Chicken
Cold Soba with Tempura over rice and Tofu
Prawn Tempura with Hot Soba in Soup
We left satisfied both mentally and physically.