It’s our last full day in Tokyo today. We are a bit sad about this. I mean, we knew going in to this trip that it was going to be a quick visit to Tokyo…but I think we had forgotten how much we love this place. The best part of this trip has been the reassurance that it hasn’t been ruined by over tourism. Yes, there are loads more tourists than when we first visited back in 2005, but they are mostly all in the same 5 places and are very easy to avoid. It is still super easy to find quiet, chilled parts of Tokyo that are still interesting and cool. Wandering around the little streets is the best.

We started our day with breakfast at Andon – we had our classic meals that we used to get before they made the menu more fancy. “regular set” for Steve and a bacon and egg toasted sandwich for me. Toshiko the owner of Andon was in today – and she was excited to see us again and we had a nice chat about all the things.

After breakfast we headed North on the Hibiya Subway line to Kita Senju. 20 years of catching the subway the other way towards Ueno – we just HAD to see what was at the other end.

And the answer ? Lots of shops and cafes. We had a wander, the shops were just opening for the day and we stopped in at a cafe called SD Coffee for “Matcha Shakes” Steve had the Mecha Matcha, I had the standard. The cafe had lots of cool retro toys and things decorating it.

Matcha successfully consumed we continued to wander around the Kita Senju shopping area. Quite a busy little spot. We saw some great food options but weren’t hungry yet. There was a ramen place we really wanted to go to but again…it was a bit early for ramen.

After Kita Senju – it was kitchen shopping time in Kappabashidori!!! Yay! A loooong street full of kitchenware.

We had to go through Asakusa to get to Kappabashi so decided to stop for lunch at Misojyu – the place we wanted to go to on the first night but it was closed.

Onigiri and pork tonjiri soup and more – the tofu was the real highlight! I wish there hadve been more. Staff were a little surly though, always disappointing in Japan.

Then on to kitchen town!

Shopping for kitchenware is trying work so we soon stopped for coffee.

More wandering and shopping. I was good I didn’t buy too many things. Some plates and a few other little things.

Purchases successfully made we decided to head to Tokyo Tower and the nearby Zo Jo temple.

We got these matcha Monaka wafer and icecream things on the way. All the matcha all the time.

Zo Jo temple looks cool with Tokyo Tower behind it. We had a look wander and even saw the 5pm service in the temple. It rained quite a bit after that but after it cleared we walked over the Tokyo Tower.

It also got dark and Tokyo Tower began to light up. It looked cool against the dark sky.

We hung about inside the shops at Tokyo Tower for a bit but didn’t go up the tower.

Then after much wondering what we should do – we headed back to Ueno. It was Friday night busy there tonight and after a while we decided to go back to Minowa for dinner at a local yakitori place that had an otter for its logo. That’s how we choose place to go to – based on the cuteness factor.

Then for old times sake, a visit to our favourite supermarket Olympic before going to a local sento. We went to a different sento tonight but it wasn’t as nice. It was ok. I tried to go back to my favourite one after (bath hopping) but it was closed on Friday.