I Snuck out early today to go to the Ghibli museum with some folks for work. Very cool place, even even if you are not a huge Miyazaki fan. Afterwards we wandered around Shibuya for a bit and then ended up having one of those Japanese dining experiences you can only really have if you go with a native speaker. We went to a ramen place where, in order that you might focus properly on your food, you sit by your self in a little booth, not with your friends in a booth, by your self in a booth. smoking, cell phones and talking to others is not allowed and rather than interact with your server you pre-buy tickets for the items you want, from a vendingmachinesque ticket dispenser in the lobby. This seemed like a weird place to go with other people (it would certainly be the worlds worst date place, or at least the worst way to try and get to know someone) but the folks were determined to do something quintessentially japanese weird.
I need to learn the word for weird, if they even have one. I am not sure what would qualify.