Spontaneity and Sumo

A spontaneous, unplanned morning ahead. Ryland and I have a Sumo Tournament to attend in the afternoon, Monday is (sorta) planned, but we have a gap this morning. Axel wanted the 'Ham Cheese Toastie' the hotel offered so OK lets do that and.. 'searching for different ideas' the.. uh.. Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple about half hour away in Chuo City.
This worked out well enough, a short walk, a couple trains, and we were thereabouts exploring a new neighbourhood and interesting, different style 17th century Buddhist Temple. The complex was a little strange around, felt like a hospital, but once we got inside the temple proper, Ryland and Axel were engaged with the prayers, announcements, and music underway. Photos forbidden inside, we chatted a while with the staff, then the boys and I sat for a while and watched silently the service and prayers within.
We made a random path through a garden and park towards another station to get us back a little haphazardly to our hotel vicinity in Ryogoku, also the location of the sumo arena.
It was great to sit in a park awhile among trees, taking a breather, letting the boys play. Man our pace has been high, just trying to ride it the way home with momentum.
Back on the train, we picked up a takeaway lunch, before Ryland and I set off as a duo towards Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena by 2pm. After a short lesson about sumo history, tradition, the rules and tournament, we were headed inside to our seats to watch. Fascinating, we probably sat through 30-40 bouts, with lower divisons/ranks in the afternoon, followed by the top ranked from 5-6ish. Ryland and I also took some time to explore the arena and museum and he picked up a little sumo fortune figure. Better luck this time for the little man with a great fortune!
The afternoon got a little slow atimes, but it was quite the experience. By 615pm wed walked back to our hotel to rejoin with Nat Axel and Zander for dinner.
Geez, finding dinner for 5 with kids and a pram in Tokyo ain't easy. I felt wed not had enough exposure to the wagyu and Teppanyaki field, so after trawling through restaurants, again, we found a place called Base.
Its reviews are great, but its a narrow stair entry that won't fit the pram. What to do? Im in first to scout, check for an English menu and see if our cumbersome needs can be met.
Its a classy establishment, quiet, tasteful with 4 staff in the kitchen to great me. Family of 5..?... ah.. over there at your only 4 seater? Yes ok Ill get them. Up.we go, kids first with a grand entry, Nat carrying a baby, me dropping full drink bottles everywhere on the stairs fron a folded pram.
We got in though, got going, got cooking and tried to restore some state of elegance and decorum to the establishment, slowly getting close, the boys loud from excitement as make shift chefs cooking their own meat. There were a few sets of dropped cutlery, and some chef pointers on cooking techniques but we got through it all.
It may have ended up being our most expensive meal but it was almost certainly the best of the trip. Excellent service too.
Just 10 minutes or so walk back in drizzling rain, via a Lawsons supermarket for dessert, and we were back by 9pm.
Just two sleeps remain, but weve still got a couple big days ahead and plenty to do.Weiterlesen