Japanese scran...

Tokyo, it's no cheap y'ken...first few days were a blur of handing cash over and not getting much back in return, Maccy Ds filled in and Mister Donut was a lifesaver (endless free top ups of cawfeee).

We did manage a few decent feasts, the first being recommended to us by the hostel owner. Cool little place west of Nishi Kawaguchi station. This was Chinese cuisine with a Japo spin, we got a big bowl of noodles or Ramen. Essentially a thin soy-flavoured broth, the standard has a mass of soft glutinous noodles lurking in the bottom and shoots, sprouts and greens on the top...this is bog standard food, peasants food but fooking amazing....exactly what you need to cut through jet lag and a belly that doesnt know which planet it's on, never mind time zone. That and the stick of meat (no idea what beast this came off, it was fatty and V tasty)coated in a seriously hot chilli marinade was IMMENSE....

Chopsticks...early attempts laughable usually ending up which whichever proprieter throwing us forks out of pity, however am getting along preety peachy now!! although my hand will time to time revert to wanting a fork..damn u hand!
The culture in Tokyo is very much eat and go, the locals don't stick around to munch.
It was here we found the vending machine ristorante. We only tried one (they're cheap and well....) you order and pay from a vending machine inside the lobby, 5 minutes later foods up, it's not the best but inexpensive and will keep you from starving or living out of KFC....

Breakfast was included at the JGH:))this is Japanese brekkie proper. Veggie omelette, pickled fruits and veg(they eat loads of this!!)rice and miso soup. I've never eaten rice for brek before but it's dead good marra..The cook at JGH, Koiory speaks great English having gone to uni in Hawaii and explains the expense of Tokyo and Japan is in part down to overpopulation, 20 million alone in the centre of Tokyo! She's an original from actual Tokyo but left with the lightening quick changes taking place there, 'too much change, too fast, too many people'.

Kyoto: We found a hidden treasure at the far end of the Ponto Cho, IR IR, a small canteen with rainbow lanterns wavering outside. This place on first impressions is a little down at heel compared with the upmarket eateries on the actual Ponto, but make no mistake, it's the dogs...
We ate twice here, the first on Drew's birthday..we'd supped a few cans by the riverside(slice of budget romance there for ya...;))and headed up for some bevy blotters. Laid out like a american diner, there's 3 tables by the window(great view of the river) and a long bar set directly in front of the stoves. We recommend the bar! This is seriously fast food... from ordering to the dish sat steaming up your spectacles, minutes...plus you get the best view in the house, watching the chefs cook it...we had on the first occasion
Dumplings, Tempura prawn, Baked prawn in batter with chilli...
and on the second..
Fried noodles with veg, egg and prawn, BBQ'd mutton and rice....AW'SOME..
They have an English menu but no English themselves, the best and perfectly acceptable way to order is to check out your neighbours dish and point out that that's the one you'd like....

The only sushi we had in Japan was from the supermarket(for shame..) but not an all bad compromise, it's still pretty good and CHEAP!!

The best rice we tried was wrapped in bamboo with meat and steamed over a volcanic hot spring, this was also the place of the steamed/smoked egg(!!)a bit strange yes, but if you can deal with hot hard boiled egg it's good and real healthy...