Posted on 2005-9-17 by AGF

It was my final night in Tokyo and I was out for one last authentic Japanese dinner and as always I chose a random restaurant.   I was greeted by this ever polite host  ‘Good evening sir how many for dinner?’  ‘Table for one’  ‘Follow me please sir.’  The place was quite busy which is always a good sign when you’re on holiday a restaurant full of people, even better when it is a restaurant full of locals because my final dinner in Tokyo would be at Hormone Hanaken, Shinjuku Kabukicho.

As I entered the dining room everyone was sitting down on the floor on it was a grill which I found odd, but I was in a different country. ‘No sir you cook your own food.’  ‘Excuse me?’ ‘Your server will explain everything, enjoy sir.’  And before I could ask another question she was gone. 

My server approached and with the customary bow greeted me – ‘Good evening sir, how are you tonight?’  ‘I am well thanks, how are you, ‘I am well sir, thank you sir.’ The menu had meat, chicken and fish and pretty much every body part of it from the inside to the out and with a mother from the south some of them I’ve had and never will again even in beautiful Tokyo.  And while I am usually adventurous when it comes to food on this night it was strictly parts of a cow and chicken I’m used to eating.  

I ordered and my food was brought to me and I started cooking. Now this was not an ordinary grill they were heated stones that I was cooking on. It was quite clear I was not . And it was a perfect way to end my time  I had that ‘wow’ moment, I was cooking my own dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan something I never in my wildest dreams.  

And as the wine flowed I started talking with some the people around me and just had an amazing time sharing my experience in there amazing city.  And these are the unscripted moments that make travel amazing.  I could’ve picked any restaurant that night but instead I chose Hormone Hanaken, Shinjuku Kabukicho and it was the perfect way to end my six days in this absolutely amazing city.

Thank you Tokyo!!!!