まめぞう
The "Gurutto Pass 2023" (2,500 yen) organized by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture allows free entry or discounts at 101 art museums and museums in Tokyo for two months from the start date. When combined with two Tokyo Metro 24-hour tickets (600 yen each), it is sold at a limited price of 3,130 yen, saving 570 yen. I got mine successfully! My nearest station is Roppongi-itchome Station, but today I'm only using the Gurutto Pass, not the 24-hour tickets. This time, I visited the "Okura Shukokan Museum." I presented my Gurutto Pass at the reception on the right after entering (the remaining balance of 1,000 yen plus - entrance fee of 1,000 yen = plus 2,000 yen). The Okura Shukokan Museum mainly houses Japanese and Oriental antiques collected over the years by Okura Kihachiro, the founder of the Okura zaibatsu, and his son, Okura Kishichiro, who made efforts to enhance the collection with modern Japanese paintings. Along with the renovation of The Okura Tokyo in the main building of Hotel Okura Tokyo, the lobby, shop, hall, etc., were established, and it reopened in September 2019. The collection consists of 2,500 items, including three national treasures, 13 important cultural properties, and 44 important artworks. The national treasures include a wooden statue of Fugen Bosatsu on an elephant, the Kokin Wakashu Joshi-bon manuscript, and a delicate color scroll painting. On this day, there was an exhibition called "Beloved and Yearned-for Indian Textiles," so there were no permanent exhibitions, just this theme throughout the museum. Unfortunately, I couldn't see the national treasures. I enjoyed viewing various beautifully patterned textiles. Photography is only allowed on the stairs and terrace inside the museum. After viewing, I thought I would like to have lunch at the famous Chinese restaurant "Toh-Ka-Lin" in The Okura, but the prices have become unaffordable for the common people since the renovation. In the old main building on the 6th floor, "Toh-Ka-Lin" used to offer noodles for 1,730 yen and a lunch course for 4,200 yen, which were manageable if I stretched a bit. The current "Toh-Ka-Lin" now offers noodles for 2,500 yen and a lunch course for 7,900 yen. As a lover of Chinese cuisine, I found that Royal, which operates Royal Host in the office building of The Okura, runs "AOI GARDEN FOOD HALL." It offers a variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. I went there, lined up at the Chinese counter, and ordered "Tokyo Ramen" (900 yen) and "Rice" (150 yen) (previously they had small rice bowls, but now only rice). I paid by credit card on the spot and waited at the table after receiving an electronic buzzer. I was called in 3 minutes. I received my meal and was provided with chopsticks, a spoon, water, and a wet towel on the island behind me. The dish included two slices of char siu, half a boiled egg, spinach, wakame seaweed, nori, menma, and naruto. The medium-thick noodles were dipped into the light soy sauce soup and tasted very refreshing. It was a nostalgic Tokyo ramen. Towards the end, I mixed the toppings with rice, poured the soup over it, and enjoyed ramen rice. I was full. I would have preferred to pay around 500 yen for this meal at a regular place, but compared to "Toh-Ka-Lin," I saved a lot of money, so it was good. I returned the tray and said thank you.