Odaiba

We went to Odaiba, Tokyo today.

The train to Odaiba is fun because it’s driverless and it goes over “Rainbow Bridge”, but we went there by car today.

It had been awhile since our last visit to Odaiba. Kinda surprising how many more foreign tourists were there this time! I guess Tokyo tourist guidebooks feature Odaiba more prominently now.

Anyways, here are photo I took:

We ate たこ焼き (grilled octopus) for lunch.

The “lifesize” Gundam robot.

France gave Japan a 自由の女神 (Statue of Liberty) too.

Sunset over Tokyo Bay, Rainbow Bridge and 自由の女神 (Statue of Liberty)

I like 「台場一丁目商店街」 (Odaiba Retro Shopping Street), designed like post-WW2 Japan.

The “Odaiba Takoyaki (Griled Octopus) Museum”

In the evening, the lifesize Gundam robot is lit-up and moves a bit.

Welcome to the world of cats in kimonos

Rest in peace, Tama – Japan’s stationmaster cat passes away at 16, company funeral to be held

Giant 25cm-long ‘miracle goldfish’ found after hiding in Japanese aquarium for seven years

I saw this story on the TV news just yesterday evening.

More unusual burgers…

A few years ago, Burger King Japan offered a black burger…even the bread cheese were black!
(Click here to see my post about it).

And then, last year, McDonalds Japan decided to get in the game.
They offered a pink Sakura Teriyaki & Egg Burger in April, and their own black burger in October.

McDonalds Japan’s pink 「さくらてりたま」 (Sakura Teriyaki & Egg) burger.

And now, Burger King Japan has decided to offer new, unusually-colored burgers this summer (2015).

From July 3rd (until sometime in August), they will offer two new spicy red sandwiches…even the cheese and buns are red!

The “Aka (Red) Samurai Beef”

The “Aka (Red) Samurai Chicken”

And then, for a limited-time from August 21st, Burger King Japan will offer two new black sandwiches with black cheese and buns…but different from the ones they offered a few years back.

The “Kuro (Black) Shogun” burger with black cheese and eggplants.

The “Kuro (Black) Taiso” burger with black cheese and hash-potato.

Star Wars Exhibit

From last April 29th until Sunday, June 28th, 2015, there is a Star Wars exhibit at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.

Tickets cost ¥1800 for adult admission, if you buy them at the event…but only ¥1500 if you buy them at a 7-eleven convenience store.

Poster advertising the Star Wars exhibit in Tokyo.

My wife and I went to this exhibit yesterday.

Photography wasn’t permitted in most of the exhibition areas, so I couldn’t take pictures of most of the items…but they had Star Wars-inspired artwork by some really talented artists, as well as actual props and costumes used in the Star Wars movies!

In the gift shop, they had some memorabilia made exclusively for this Tokyo exhibit…some of which was Japan-inspired, such as Star Wars 手ぬぐい (Japanese towels).

A few of the items sold at the gift shop.

The exhibit is on the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills building, so we could get a nice view of Tokyo.

The famous “spider” statue outside Roppongi Hills.

Here are some of the photos we took:

There was a lot more to see at this exhibit, so if you’re interested in Star Wars, you should go to this exhibit by June 28th!

Common Japanese symbol

Here is a のれん (Japanese doorway curtain) with a symbol that is commonly seen and easily understood in Japan. But, how about outside of Japan? What would you assume that symbol means? What do you think this curtain is the entrance to?

***edit 2015 June 13th***

As of June 13, 2015, most people (by a wide margin) chose “Hot Spring” as the meaning of the ♨ symbol…and that’s correct!

I guess this poll was too easy. I’ll try to make the next one a bit more difficult.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll.

Customized Kit-Kat

You can design your own original Kit-Kat package with any photograph you like of your family, friends, pet, or whatever, and have that picture on a pack of regular, dark, or green tea Japanese Kit-Kats.

Kit-Kat Japan’s 「チョコラボキットカット」 (“Kit-Kat Chocolate collaboration”) website

Click here to go the Kit-Kat Japan website where you can design and order original Kit-Kat packages (site is in Japanese only).