Today we conquered Tokyo just the 2 of us (Karen and I). We took the subway into downtown to the Hibiya Park. We got assistance from a kinda old lady who showed us how to get on the other side of the subway tracks.
We walked to the emperial gardens hoping to get into the east gardens to walk around, but alas is was closed on Mondays. The outside of it sure looked nice.
Next stop Tokyo International Forum where we walked around and look a look at a rice museum. The forum is mostly used as a conference centre.
We strolled though Ginza (high end area) and had lunch in british tea shop. We both had sanwiches and earl grey tea. Tokyo had every type of quisine you can imagine! The only thing not british was the squat toilet.
We strolled though Ginza (high end area) and had lunch in british tea shop. We both had sanwiches and earl grey tea. Tokyo had every type of quisine you can imagine! The only thing not british was the squat toilet.
One word for the Sony building... disapointing. I was hoping to try out the new sony gaming systems, but they did not have any on display. The high def TVs and camcorders were very impressive. There were tons gadgets and techy-toys, but the ones for sales came with a very high price tag. I'll wait a year for them to come to Canada... and down in price,
In the distiance we could see Tokyo Tower, so we set out on foot to find it.
On the way we cut through Hibiya-Koen park. It's Tokyo's 1st western style park complete with tennis court and restaurant. The gardens were beautiful, most of the flowers were in full bloom. Tokyo has a suprising amount of "green areas" for a city so large.
In the distiance we could see Tokyo Tower, so we set out on foot to find it.
On the way we cut through Hibiya-Koen park. It's Tokyo's 1st western style park complete with tennis court and restaurant. The gardens were beautiful, most of the flowers were in full bloom. Tokyo has a suprising amount of "green areas" for a city so large.
Still on our way to the tower we happened upon a small shrine at the top of a hill. We climbed the steep staris to find peace and tranquility. It's off such a place exists in a busy stressful city. We clensed our hands before we entered the shrine and did the preying ritual for good fortune of our travels... so far it's worked! We've noticed that Tokyo is full of extremes, one minute you can be in a sea of people, the next you can be in a peaceful shrine.
We finally found Tokyo Tower, did some of the typical tourist photos and decided not to pay the fee to goto the top. The government building is free and just as high. The street leading to the tower was lined with rose bushes that went for miles.
At the bottom of the hill that the tower was one we came accross Zojo-ji shrine. It was a family temple and had hundreds of stone statues of babies with knitted caps and bibs on them. They were for all the lost babies, it was very beautiful and sad all at the same time. We didn't go into the temple, it was under construction.
We walked to Daimon station and took the subway to Shinjuku.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office were our next stop. We went to the 49th floor to the obersivation lounge. From there you could see the entire city of Tokyo... all I can say is "Sugoy" (wow).
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office were our next stop. We went to the 49th floor to the obersivation lounge. From there you could see the entire city of Tokyo... all I can say is "Sugoy" (wow).
Then we wandered around Sinjuku and came across another Sega arcade. I played "house of the dead" for a bit. Cool game, but a money grab at 100 yen a turn.
It was supper time, so we hit a noodle shop. It was so cool to order from a "vending machine". Basically you picked what meal you wanted from the plastic models and pictures and payed for it at the machine. You then give your meal ticket to the chef who makes it for you (asked what kind if noodles you want... I had udon noodles, Karen had soba). Karen's meal was cold so it was almost instant, mine only took a matter of minutes. We then sat at a bar and slurped our noodles (it's polite to do that!). In the time it took us to eat there were several japanese business man whi came in, ordered and left. They were noodle slurping machines!
Now it was rush hour. We didn't want to brave the subway (as much as I wanted to experience the guys to shove people into the packed subway cars for the doors to close) so we sat at a convenience shop and people watched while we had a cold beverage.
The way home was a little challanging to read the JR train maps. There was a kind gentleman who spoke a little english who helped us figure out which ticket to buy. We gave him a halifax pin to thank him. We though he was gone, but when we went through the ticket gate he was there waiting for us. He walked us through the busy terminal right to our train. People are so nice here it is amazing!
100 yen stores are like our dollar stores and full of cool inexpensive stuff. I would recomend people who goto Japan to stock themselves here with snacks and such. Karen got a magazine at a book shop and then it was back to the hotel.
Mel and Hidemi were a bit worried about us venturing out on our own, but wwe proved capable of navigating even the busiest of cities. Hi-5 for us! We celibrated by having a drink in the hotel bar and met up with the Johnsons.
In total were were out for over 12 hrs and walked over 8 of it... were were exhausted and sore.
It was supper time, so we hit a noodle shop. It was so cool to order from a "vending machine". Basically you picked what meal you wanted from the plastic models and pictures and payed for it at the machine. You then give your meal ticket to the chef who makes it for you (asked what kind if noodles you want... I had udon noodles, Karen had soba). Karen's meal was cold so it was almost instant, mine only took a matter of minutes. We then sat at a bar and slurped our noodles (it's polite to do that!). In the time it took us to eat there were several japanese business man whi came in, ordered and left. They were noodle slurping machines!
Now it was rush hour. We didn't want to brave the subway (as much as I wanted to experience the guys to shove people into the packed subway cars for the doors to close) so we sat at a convenience shop and people watched while we had a cold beverage.
The way home was a little challanging to read the JR train maps. There was a kind gentleman who spoke a little english who helped us figure out which ticket to buy. We gave him a halifax pin to thank him. We though he was gone, but when we went through the ticket gate he was there waiting for us. He walked us through the busy terminal right to our train. People are so nice here it is amazing!
100 yen stores are like our dollar stores and full of cool inexpensive stuff. I would recomend people who goto Japan to stock themselves here with snacks and such. Karen got a magazine at a book shop and then it was back to the hotel.
Mel and Hidemi were a bit worried about us venturing out on our own, but wwe proved capable of navigating even the busiest of cities. Hi-5 for us! We celibrated by having a drink in the hotel bar and met up with the Johnsons.
In total were were out for over 12 hrs and walked over 8 of it... were were exhausted and sore.
No comments:
Post a Comment