Bob and Julie's recent travels: Last day in Japan

We had arranged a lunchtime cooking class for our last day, but had a couple of hours to kill before meeting our host at Meguro station. We set off for a stroll in the direction of Tokyo Tower and were quite surprised to come across a major temple, Zozogi, dating from the 14 th century (though firebombed in WWII and rebuilt).

The azaleas were in full bloom...

..and even the cemetery had a photographic backdrop..

..but the most eye catching features was 100s of "dressed" small Buddhas - lots of photos taken.

We then headed for our rendezvous with Shino. She arrived dressed in a kimono, and took us on a tour of the food department of the local department store. At one point, she asked us if we were members of Greenpeace. We were a little bemused by the question, but after we said no she proceeded to show us some packaged whale meat.

We then went to her home, where the class began. Her motto was - "no work, no eat". Our first job was grating real wasabi root..

..then making traditional sushi...

..then cutting the fish for nigiri, Bob got Ito trouble for sawing the fish - "if you saw, the fish will go ouch", you go in one cut..

..then creative time, constructing beautiful colour and flavour combinations of gunkan warships.

Miso soup was made and after this it was time to eat...

The meal was accompanied by an aperitif of plum sake, plus a famous sake we bought at the liquor store on the way. We couldn't nearly eat all the food, and then Shino announced there was dessert. Her tofu and black sesame cake with a sweet syrup, sake infused marshmallows, and baked sweet potatoes with her home made marmalade.