"Wow, so high! Alice, the house is so small!"
"L-Linne...! Don't move too much...!"
Linne, who is excitedly looking at the buildings visible through the glass floor beneath our feet, and Alice, who is firmly clinging to Kuon beside her due to the overwhelming height.
It seems Alice is not good with heights. Well, maybe not with heights in general, but perhaps this situation specifically.
We are on the observation deck of the Tokyo Skytree, located in Sumida-ku, Oshiage, Tokyo.
Below the glass floor, we can see the ground from a height of 340 meters.
Even I, who usually flies in the sky, feel a little uneasy. It’s a strange feeling.
Surprisingly, Elna, like Linne, was calm. Since she usually rides Linne’s Helmwiege, maybe heights don't bother her.
Yakumo, Yoshino, and Arcia, like Alice, seem to dislike heights, and they won’t even get close to the glass floor. It seems they can still enjoy the view, though.
After taking in the view of the ground, we decided to move to the higher observation corridor by elevator.
Once we got on the elevator, we arrived at the observation corridor, 445 meters above the ground, in no time.
We walked up a gentle slope surrounded by glass windows on the outer edge.
"Such a great view. The town seems to continue endlessly," said one person.
"A large mountain can be seen in the distance. It looks like Mount Fugaku from Eashen," said another.
The weather is nice today, so we can see Mount Fuji. The white snow-capped Mount Fuji can be faintly seen. It's a beautiful view.
Even though I fly at higher altitudes in places like Babylon, I’ve never really paid attention to the scenery. It’s mostly just clouds.
It might be interesting to build observation decks like this in places like the Vaal Albus. It might be fun to see the ocean even when submerged.
I used the [Gate] to get here instantly. With a distance like this, taking the bullet train or something would have eaten up the whole morning. There are so many places I want to take everyone.
Since we're in Tokyo, I thought of coming here first, and it seems the others are enjoying it.
I take photos of everyone with the great view in the background. I have to take a lot of photos of Alice too, or else her father Ende will be upset... Though they're all with Kuon, so there shouldn't be any problems.
After enjoying the panoramic view of Tokyo, we were satisfied and got back on the elevator to descend to the ground.
We didn’t forget to buy souvenirs at the shop on the ground floor.
There are so many different kinds of goods... Collaboration products with anime and TV talents are available too.
My daughters were thrilled with the plush toys and goods of characters I’ve seen in anime movies.
Apparently, these anime were shown by my future self in another world.
Well, it’s a classic, I guess... Like the forest master resembling an owl or the cat bus. Strange creatures like these are still probably around in Japan.
After buying plenty of souvenirs, we leave the Skytree.
As usual, I don’t forget to store the souvenirs in [Storage] where no one can see.
"Now, where should we go next..."
Tokyo has so many places to see, it’s hard to decide... It feels a bit much to go to Tokyo Tower right after the Skytree, and the Ueno Zoo... We’ve already been there with the wives before.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
I might as well ask everyone where they’d like to go. I’m not just throwing the decision on them.
"Yes! We want to go to Kappabashi Tool Street!"
"Kappa... what? Huh?"
The mother-daughter duo of Lu and Arcia were the first to raise their hands. Wait a minute, what’s this about kappa?
"Kappabashi Tool Street! It’s a place in Tokyo where many shops related to cooking, from kitchenware to dishes and food samples, are lined up! It’s the sacred place for chefs! They featured it on a daytime TV show!"
R-Really? Arcia excitedly explained, puffing up her chest.
Apparently, there was a feature on Kappabashi Tool Street on a midday information program.
Kappabashi... where is that?
I pull out my smartphone and search on the map. Kappabashi Tool Street... Oh, it’s not too far from here.
I thought about using teleportation magic after checking out the street view, but I could also go by train. It wouldn’t be impossible to walk there.
From the station in front of Skytree, I should go to Asakusa, then transfer to get to Tawaramachi, I guess?
I’d like to see the Kaminarimon in Asakusa too, but going there would take too much time. It seems better to head to Kappabashi Tool Street first.
Since no one disagreed, we decided to go to Kappabashi Tool Street as Rue and Asia wished.
By now, the kids seemed used to the train, and they weren’t as excited as before.
There was a bit of a delay during the transfer, but we managed to get on the subway to Tawaramachi Station.
When we exited the elevator, we came out onto a wide street. Kappabashi... this way?
We crossed a few crosswalks and walked straight, when something strange caught my eye...
On top of a building, there was a giant, bearded man wearing a chef’s hat. Was it a sign? No, an object?
It stood out so much... It would be perfect as a landmark.
"It’s just like what we saw on TV!"
"Mother, let’s go!"
"Ah, wait!"
Unable to wait any longer, Lu and Arcia ran ahead. We had no choice but to quickly follow them.
Outside the shop, various sizes of plates were displayed. There were also cups and soy sauce dispensers. 50% OFF... Are these sale items?
Tupperware, steak plates, wooden bases for pots, lacquered bowls, chopsticks, clay pots... It’s a shop for dishes.
Some items seemed to be things you wouldn’t find in a normal department store.
It’s a strange feeling to have seen these things but never seen them for sale. There’s a huge pot for sale...
I’ve never seen one for sale, but I’ve made one...
Following Lu and Arcia, who were walking ahead with sparkling eyes, we walked through the shopping street.
There were a few foreigners on the street. They might be chefs from somewhere. Well, we probably look like a group of foreigners too...
"There are even flags and noren hanging..."
Flags with "Yakitori," "Ramen," and "Dining Places" written on them, along with noren. "Takoyaki," "Oden," "Hiyashi Chuka," and "Curry Rice"...? They really have everything here..
"Ah, I kinda want this"
"Mother, let’s buy this one too."
What caught Lu’s eye was a wooden boat. Huh, what’s this? Ah, it’s the kind of boat used for serving sashimi and such. They even sell these...?
What Arcia picked up was a plate used for kids' meals. There were ones shaped like shinkansen, cars, cats, and rabbits, and more unusual ones like a space shuttle. Do kids today even know what a space shuttle is? Well, maybe they think of it as a strange airplane...
"Yaee, there are so many knives here."
"Ah, yes, Japanese knives are truly amazing."
Hilda, Yae, Frei, and Yakumo seemed interested in the rows of knives. I should point out, though, these aren't weapons... Though I’m sure their sharpness is impressive.
But seriously, there are so many kinds... Seeing so many knives lined up like this makes it look like a stylish weapons shop... Maybe it’s understandable that Hilda and the others are so interested.
This soba-cutting knife has a terrifying shape... It almost looks like an axe.
Before I knew it, it wasn’t just Hilda and the others; Lu and Arcia were also looking at the knives with serious eyes.
They say a chef’s knife is their life... If they find one they like, they might as well buy it.
I thought the other kids might be bored, but surprisingly, they were looking at all the stores with interest.
"There really are so many stores."
"The variety is overwhelming..."
Elze and Linze were amazed at the many products lined up in the stores. Even though they’re my people, their obsession with food is something else.
Oh no, no, I shouldn’t be overwhelmed. I should buy something as a souvenir too.
For the Takeda Four Heavenly Kings old men, maybe some nice lacquered chopsticks or tea bowls would be good... Or maybe this bowl instead of the tea bowl...
"Dad, this is amazing!"
"Hmm? Oh, it’s a food sample."
Steph called me over with sparkling eyes to look at the shop window, where various food samples were lined up.
There were incredibly realistic samples of paella and sukiyaki. The colors look so real... The part of the meat that’s cooked and the part that’s not yet cooked blend together in a beautiful gradient. This could be called art.
Inside the store, there were many menus... no, works displayed. From hamburger steaks to chocolate parfaits, ramen, curry rice, sushi, and even draft beer.
Even the condensation on this frosty-looking mug looks like it was intentionally made.
"That’s amazing, it really looks like the real thing..."
They even have set meals... This tonkatsu set looks delicious...
But it’s quite expensive. This omelette rice costs over 20,000 yen... More expensive than the real thing. Well, since each one is a different shape, they must be handmade.
When you think of it as a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted work of art by a craftsman, it might be cheap, but for kids, it might be a little too expensive to just buy it freely...
"M-Mother, this is cute!"
"Oh, indeed, this is quite cute."
Steph and Sue were looking at keychains made from food samples. The keychains had single strawberries or lemon slices attached to them.
There’s also sushi toppings. This one... fried chicken? Huh, is this leftover chicken? This one is a dried fish... It’s a daring piece of work...
This one is a magnet, so it can be stuck to a refrigerator. There are lamb chops, shiitake mushrooms, and tuna belly. These are also very realistic.
There are also pen holders made from lotus root, bookmarks made from bacon, and a vocabulary book made from a sandwich.
I like this kind of playful spirit; it’s important.
These would be perfect souvenirs for the kids.
That being said, I want to buy one of these authentic food samples as a souvenir for Kraft-sama, the god of crafts. I want to show him the craftsmanship of Japan.
Which one should I choose...? Should I go with the classic fork-lifted Neapolitan? No, this sirloin steak looks more realistic.
After a lot of deliberation, I decided on a Bento lunch set. I thought he’d like the variety of items in it.
It seems Steph and Sue decided to buy matching keychains too.
"Ugh, this shopping street has too many temptations. There are so many rare and interesting things, and I keep going into each shop..."
Honestly, even if it’s something I’m not sure I’ll ever use, my hand reaches for it without thinking. After all, you can’t find these anywhere else... If I miss this opportunity, I feel like I’ll never be able to get them again...
"Dad, Dad! There’s something amazing here!"
"Hold on, Frei. I’ve already seen so many things; I’m full... Wait, what is this...?"
Frei pulled me over, and instead of a shop, there was a little open space with a golden Kappa statue.
It’s not a cute, deformed Kappa. It’s a life-sized, realistic Kappa.
With its slender body, wearing only a loincloth, holding a fishing rod in its right hand and cradling a big fish in its left.
"Kappa Kawataro Statue...?"
Does it have a name...? I guess it's the origin of the name for the "Kappabashi Tool Street."
Reading the stone monument next to the statue, it says that, long ago, a Kappa helped with water management in this area.
"It’s gold!"
Looking at the golden Kappa statue, Steph, who had arrived behind me, said that. Well, both are shiny...
Everyone who came later was also looking at the Kappa with puzzled expressions.
"Is this a goblin? I didn’t think there were monsters or magical beasts here."
"No, this is a youkai, a mythical creature... or so it’s said."
I could only answer Yumina’s question like that. Whether Kappas really exist or not, I’m not sure.
However, it would feel a bit awkward to flatly say that "there are no Kappas" in a shopping street that has even built a statue of one.
I clasped my hands together and prayed for a safe journey. I’m not sure if the Kappa will give me any divine benefits...
And we continued exploring the shopping street.
Looking again, I noticed there were Kappas here and there. Kappa symbols and deformed Kappa dolls caught my eye. Of course, it makes sense; it’s the symbol of the area.
But there really are a lot of things here. Most of them are food-related, but just looking around is fun.
For a moment, I thought I saw a clothing store, but it was just an apron, chef’s uniform, napkins, and tablecloths—things used in restaurants. There were even uniforms for restaurant staff. They’re thorough here.
I bought aprons for Lu and Arcia. While the ones from another world work fine, the ones from Earth are many times more stylish.
There were even things like stand-up signs, red lanterns, and display cases that would be placed in front of stores. If someone wanted to open a restaurant, they could get everything they need here.
There are shops selling lucky cats, Seven Lucky Gods, and raccoon dog statues. Ah, these are often placed in front of shops... Maybe I’ll make an amber lucky cat—or maybe a lucky tiger?
"Ah, Mother, there’s a shop with seasonings!"
"We can't miss that!"
"Ah, again..."
Lu and Arcia, the mother-daughter duo, dashed to a shop that caught their culinary senses.
Crossing the street, they looked so lively... For them, this might be their dreamland.
Every time they went into a shop, our baggage kept increasing. Well, I’ve been secretly storing it away in [Storage] little by little, so it’s not noticed...
After finishing the shopping street exploration, Lu and Arcia had joyful, satisfied expressions.
"I had a blast!"
"I’m very satisfied!"
"That’s great..."
I was a bit tired...
We were going to head to Asakusa, but before that, we were hungry, so we decided to eat somewhere.
It was well past noon, and since no one had any specific requests, we went to a popular diner we noticed along the way. Since the lunch rush was over, there were hardly any customers, and we were lucky to get seated right away with our group of twenty.
The menu was written on wooden boards lined up on the wall. There’s so much...
Curry rice, katsukare, fried rice... Besides rice dishes, there are donburi like tendon and katsudon, and even Chinese dishes like ramen and tanmen.
They also have single items like fried mackerel and hamburgers. What should I get...
Oh, they have Napolitan! Maybe it’s because I saw it in the food sample, but now I really want it. Alright, I’ll go with Napolitan.
It feels a bit strange to eat Napolitan in a Japanese diner, but since it’s on the menu, it shouldn’t be a problem.
The wives and kids ordered what they liked as well.
While waiting for the food, I secretly dropped some of the baggage into [Storage] under the table. Not all of it, though. If I had a lot of luggage when we entered but leave empty-handed, it would be suspicious. I’ve been careful to do it slowly and little by little.
While doing that, the food started arriving at the table. As expected, Yae and Frei had large portions. The diner lady asked them with concern, "Are you really alright?" It’s fine. Those two aren’t your average food fighters.
"Here’s the Napolitan!"
"Oh, it’s here."
The Napolitan had onions, bacon, and bell peppers—simple and typical. It’s a pasta dish that originated in Japan, not Naples.
Yup, it’s delicious. It’s not incredibly amazing, but it’s a comforting taste.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah, it’s good. This is great."
When I answered Leen sitting next to me, she chuckled and wiped my mouth with the paper napkin on the table.
"Don’t eat so fast. Calm down a bit."
"Ah, right..."
Damn, I was treated like a child... It’s embarrassing as a father and as a husband... Maybe it's just an excuse, but my mouth is small...
Hiding my embarrassment, I tried to eat the Napolitan slowly and quietly. ...It’s delicious, but it might have been a bit much for the kids. Still, I finished it all. I’m full.
When I glanced over at Yae and Frei, there were many empty plates stacked up. The lady and her husband from the kitchen were looking at us with astonished faces.
It seems that seeing the food samples made Yae and the others hungrier than usual.
Now then, shall we go sightseeing in Asakusa?
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