Kitchen Town, Electric Town, Music Town..... followed by a night out in Ginza

Tuesday we decided to head out to Kappabashi (Kitchen Town) to have a look at the shops that sell cooking equipment to restaurants (including absolutely everything you could possibly think of, even the kitchen sink).  Michael was fascinated with the variety of items that were available to buy:  china, bento boxes, bowls, chopsticks, trays, cups, glasses, pots  pans, tables, chairs, napkins, menus, signage right through to the larger items like huge kitchen sink setups.  Linda had to be dragged away from each shop that was full to the brim with Japanese bowls, plates, cups etc.  There were a few shops selling only the plastic replica food dishes (those that are displayed in the restaurant windows) which were all really colourful.  We thought we'd like to pick up a replica box of sushi to bring home but they were very expensive.  Whilst Linda and Nick could have wandered around here all day, the kids (particularly Georgia and Maddie) were bored pretty quickly, so we jumped on the subway to Akihabara to pick up a few last minute souvenirs.

The weather was again wonderful, crisp but really blue skies and warm sun (very chilly in the shadows though) so we walked from Akihabara to Music Town (Ochanomizu) where Nick looked in nearly every guitar shop he could find and did his best to buy a guitar, but they couldn't sell it to him in a hard case so he had to walk away!  Very sad, but he is coping.  After that we continued onto Jimbocho and had a quick lunch at a soba restaurant followed by an even quicker wander through a wood block print shop.  By 1.30pm we were all ready to head back to the hotel.  Linda and the kids took off to the park to play with the frisbee for a while and Nick laid back and watched the Sumo on tv.

Nick's friend from St Mary's (David Kamei) had organised a last minute gathering of those that were available to have farewell drinks at a bar in Ginza called "Heartman's".  With instructions in hand, Nick and Linda caught the subway into Ginza around 6.30pm.   We had a little trouble finding the place but a quick call to David set us straight.   Heartman's was a great place and the 6 of us had a private bar room with a couple of waiters/barmen on tap.   Those present were David, Nick Elston, Fumitaka Torio, Hirayama Takehisa, and the two of us.  We sat and chatted and laughed while drinking excellent Japanese beer & Suntory whisky and were served a fantastic array of finger found - all courtesy of David - thank you David.    Having arrived at about 7pm we were amazed that all of a sudden it was 11:30 and time to head off.   We had a wonderful night!  

After a series of hugs and handshakes and promises of future gatherings we wandered out into the Ginza night - it was then that we realised that we had both consumed a little more than we should have - no harm done!.   Ginza was quite busy even close to midnight on a Tuesday night - and the train too was quite full.   

With bellies full and heads spinning we tumbled into our beds and snored the night away - well Nick did!