Ebisu (恵比寿) - Beer Museum Yebisu

Tired of looking at another Renoir, Rodin, or Monet...well how about a museum of a different sort? The Beer Museum Yebisu is indeed a full fledged museum that is not only open to the public for free but has a Tasting Lounge at the end of the tour. Mind you there are no free samples at the end , but for beer lovers this is certainly a spot worth stopping by for a visit.

The museum covers everything from the brewing processing , ancient brewing equipment, historical photos, labels, a theater with a 3d film, etc.

One of the items that was indeed of interest was a display from WWII to encourage the return of empty bottles that surely will have any bottle deposit program currently in place in the USA beat. The display message read as follows:

Beer For Use of Allied Forces Only and Free of Tax

Please return all empty bottles. The loss of bottles means that much less beer for you.

Dai Nippon Brewery Co., Ltd.

I've no doubt this was a strong motivator to get the troops to return those empty bottles back in the day.

As mentioned, at the end of the museum is a Tasting Louge, where you can get a 4 beer sample course of draft beer and enjoy the labels product. The 4 items on offer are Edel Pils, Yebisu Beer, Major Ale, Yebisu Premium Black Beer. (Photo below of tasting course offered)

The museum is open daily Tuesday - Sunday from 10AM - 6PM and you can contact the museum directly for additional questions at Tel: 03-5423-7255.

All the best...Mark

Gonpachi Restaurant Tokyo 権八

Strolling through Tokyo....hungry...tired of yet another meal that seems just like all of the others that you've had week after week?

Well foodies out there, there is a great unique and innovative culinary wonder in the heart of Tokyo, a great restaurant named Gonpachi.

"Gonpachi takes the best of traditional Japanese cuisine to the next level, serving soba noodles and "kushi"-style skewered delicacies in a traditional Japanese setting orchestrated to both relax and inspire. "

The restaurant is housed in a unique building constructed to resemble a recreated Japanese warehouse also know as a kura. I have no doubt that when the Director Quentin Tarrantino was looking for inspiration for sets for his film Kill Bill, he saw this place and said ...Ah Ha, that's it!

When you enter the entire staff screams out in unison welcoming you to the restaurant. It is wonderful and certainly different from other spots you may have eaten at previously.

The restaurant has 3 levels and an inner courtyard area where an open air kitchen is located, giving the restaurant a 'theater in the round' feel. The welcoming staff and the ability to see the staff prepare your meal all lend to the feel and ambiance of Gonpachi.

I went all out and had the JPY6,000 set course which was well worth it. Plate after plate of delicious edibles were paraded to our table by friendly and attentive staff. Isn't it great to eat something beautifully presented and have no idea what it is but thoroughly enjoy every last bite?

The restaurant has a great web site with menu offerings, additional photos and directions if you want to take a look before heading there for a meal

http://www.gonpachi.jp/en/nishi_azabu/home/location

Impressive yet restrained, Gonpachi is an oasis of calm amidst the urban chaos that is Tokyo.

I hope you enjoy this special culinary find while enjoying all of the other things that the capital has to offer.

All the best....Mark

Sengakuji (泉岳寺)

Honor, loyalty, revenge....these are all sentiments that make up the fabric of the story associated with Sengaku-ji (泉岳寺) a Buddhist temple located in Takanawa, central Tokyo.




Every Japanese student learns this tale which centers around Lord Asano and his 47 Samurai warriors - the events of which took place in 1702.

Lord Asano was forced to commit seppuku 切腹 (suicide by disembowelment) after a quarrel with Lord Kira. As a result of the fight, Lord Asano drew his sword while they were on the grounds of the Edo Castle, which was strictly forbidden. Lord Asano's punishment was to kill himself, as was the custom at the time; however, Kira went unpunished. (A statue of Lord Asano was erected on the grounds of the temple - photo below)


After this, the 47 samurai associated with Asano, then had no master and became Ronin 浪人(masterless samurai). Since they had no master and their former master was disgraced, they had no means to earn a living and no other master would take them into their group.

The 47 Ronin plotted revenge and attacked Kira, beheading him and presented the head at the grave of Asano which was located at Sengakuji temple. After they avenged their masters death, and restored honor to his name, these 47 ronin committed seppuku at the temple.

The grave for Asano as well as those of his 47 samurai are all located at Sengakuji and even to this day are still adorned with flowers by fans and admirers of their loyalty and the honor they demonstrated on behalf of Lord Asano.


So in this day and age of instant gratification and me first attitudes, I think we can all take a moment to reflect on the message of this story and learn a thing or two.

All the best....Mark

Tokyo Taikokan Drum Museum - Asakusa 浅草

Looking for something different after seeing all of those temples, shrines and samurai swords?


I recently came across a small museum in Asakusa 浅草 devoted to drums. It is not too far from the other main attraction in Asakusa - Sensoji, so this might be a nice stop after you've visited that famous temple.


The Tokyo Taikokan Drum Museum is on the fourth floor of a rather nondescript building which houses some 600 drums under one roof/exhibit.



The great thing about this museum is that it is not merely a place that houses some nice items to look at....no, no, no....this museum is interactive and you are encouraged to pick up a pair of drum sticks next to a drum and play till your hearts content. (Items marked with a red mark can be played and enjoyed). In fact when I arrived, it was pin drop quiet; however, in a matter of minutes some kids arrived and the place was loud and lively.


They have drums literally from all over the world, for example : Japan (Kotsuzumi - a sheep skull drum used in Noh), Korea (Junggo Imperial Drum from the Kan Dynasty), Myanmar (Mahoratuk - a 15th century Frog Drum which was a symbol of a rulers wealthy and authority), Spain (Pandero de pecho), Ireland (Bodhran) and India (Khol) to name but a few.


On the ground floor is a shop that specializes in drums ranging from those used in Japanese festivals, as well as Japanese flutes, masks and some souvenir items as well. You'll actually buy your ticket to the museum in this shop before taking the elevator upstairs to the museum gallery.


The museum is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10Am - 5PM and admission is JPY300. Feel free to take a look at their web site for additional details : www.tctv.ne.jp/members/taikokan


All the best....Mark