By: Taryn Akiyoshi
The biggest Starbucks Reserve in the World!!
Today marks the second free day we have in Tokyo! I still haven’t adjusted to the time change so I wake up at 7:00 in the morning. On any regular day, waking up that early in the morning would have been met with fatigue; however, it works in my favor as I now have more time to explore the city. Having some work to do for class, three of the other Global East Asia Scholars and I went to the largest Starbucks Reserve in the world located a few stations away in Naka-Meguro. As I walked down the street I encountered a beautiful, four-story, wooden building, dressed with hanging plants and guarded by security. To my surprise, this is a Starbucks. Walking into the doors opened by the guards, I was in awe as giant coffee roasters embellished with copper cherry blossoms fill the air with the scent of coffee. Each floor of this Starbucks had a different theme. The first floor was for coffee, the second for tea, the third for cocktails, and the fourth for lounging. The pastries were gourmet, providing spectacular savory and sweet treats that were incomparable to those I received on my way to class each morning. Every area of the cafe was filled with the natural lighting provided by the large glass windows, making it a fantastic place to study. I ordered a Hazelnut Latte and a prosciutto croissant and was ready to finish my presentation.
After finishing some work, I went to Meguro station to meet my friend from USC who was studying abroad at Tokyo International University. I have not seen her in months, so we caught up as we walked along the Meguro River. The river was pristine and lined with vibrant trees. In addition to being a beautiful place to take an afternoon stroll, it was also accompanied by cute boutique stores and cafe shops. My friend and I biked down the riverfront, explored the city and bought several souvenirs to take home to LA.
Tonkatsu Tonki in Meguro
Working up an appetite from the day, we went to eat tonkatsu at Tonkatsu Tonki. I was amazed by the layout the moment I walked through the door. A carefully crafted wooden bar faced an open kitchen that allowed diners to experience the efficiency with which the restaurant was run. Each person had their own task. One chef would only take orders, another would only cut the tonkatsu. It amazed me to see how many of the restaurants in Japan do not serve many dishes but rather specialize in one. The tonkatsu was perfectly golden served with pickles, rice, miso soup, and cabbage salad. It was easily one of the best meals I had ever had. Despite having a full and satisfying meal, I made a stop at Family Mart before heading to my home away from home. Here I bought water and a waffle ice cream. The waffle was crunchy, lined with dark chocolate and filled with rich vanilla ice cream inside. Satisfied after dessert and tired after a long day, I went home to rest and plan my activities for the next day.