20 November 2024
Raining Sumo and dead pigs
Ryogoku for ramen
Just east of the Sumida river is the main Sumo stadium. I thought at first I had never been there before, but it turns out I have, because I have been to the Edo Tokyo museum that is right behind it which at the time of writing, is still closed for another year. That was a long sentence.
The problem was, it was still raining. Allegedly it will stop at 1am so hiking can probably still ensue.
Despite ongoing rain I did still manage to walk to Ryogoku and back, I did not really get wet, which means my socks did not get wet which is my measure for uncomfortable levels of wetness.
The sumo is not on, the stadium seems to be under heavy security, but there is a visitor info centre with a fake sumo octagon mat, so that is good enough.
So then since it was cold and wet, it was time for ramen, with natto. Westerners are generally terrified of natto, which is fermented soy beans. They taste like paint. Paint flavoured ramen.
Crossing the Sumida river in the rain. Not a great view from this bridge, plus I have to be careful not to let a drop of water enter my delicate camera.
Three dead pigs strung from the wall of a restaurant. This is what ends up in your ramen.
The restaurants under Ryogoku station provide some good photo opportunities.
Rainy back streets make for good reflections.
Here is a long exposure of this sumo stadium. I put my camera on the fence post and the security guard was not happy about it once he noticed me. I attempted to take a better framed photo than this but apparently, no photo, so I fled.
Here is the tourist information centre with fake sumo.. square. I do not know why but I assumed they were a circle rope inside an octagon. There are actually a few nice little restaurants to eat at in this tourist info centre.
And so here is my ramen, with natto. A bit unusual! The pork was of a good quality. It is a very big serve, I could not eat it all.
Current plan is that tomorrow will be a hiking day, the last one of this trip.