Jim Goes to Japan

There’s not much to say about the main drag of Roppongi. It’s situated in an area of Tokyo just outside the central part of the city and has been under constant heavy development for the past few years. In it you will find some of the most ostentatious buildings, hotels, and stores. Luis Vitton, Gucci, and the like line the streets. Further down in the club area it maintains all the glitz, but you will quickly discover that it’s pretty seedy. I couldn’t walk five minutes without some hustler trying to sell me his strip club. There isn’t much else.

However, it’s not all bad. There is one place on one of the small side-streets in a basement. I hope I can find it again because I happened in there randomly. It’s a young establishment but set up in a very traditional way — you will be required to take off your shoes before you enter and sit on mats on the floor around a traditional Japanese table. Food and drink are reasonably priced. The proprietor, Ken, is a very nice guy who dresses in a ninja costume sans mask.

Would I go back to Roppongi? Unless it’s to see Ken; no. It’s really not my thing. Your mileage of course, may vary.