TOKYO!
The bullet train is super fast! It took probably two and a half hours to get to Tokyo from Kyoto. It went so fast it was nearly nauseating looking out the window at everything whipping by. I decided to take a nap. Sleep is always enjoyable.
BOOM! TOKYO! Oh wait, we aren't leaving the train station yet. Let's hop on another train.
Hopping on the Yamanote Line, we boarded yet another train. This one was headed to Akenonobashi station, a few meters from our capsule hostel.
Finally making it to Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo (the location of Akebonobashi station), we walked over to the Ace Inn. Awesome. We were kindly greeted by a lovely Japanese woman, who took care of our payments, handed us our keys, and wished us a nice stay. With that we took the elevator to our floor and found our beds.
Sidenote: CAPSULES ARE AWESOME! I had the better sleep in that cosy space than I've had anywhere else on this entire trip, including the ship itself. I want one for at home and at school. They were so big, too! Ah. I want to go back and sleep there every single night!
From there, Alex, Keith, and I went in search of sustenance. We found a neat alleyway with shops and restaurants. We quickly chose one, sat down, and ate our hearts out. Yum, so good. I love Japanese food.
We returned to the hostel to wait for Hussain and Disha to arrive. By the time they showed up it was rather late and so we made quick plans for the following day and went to bed. I slept like a lamb.
4.08.09
TOKYO!
Waking up, somewhat reluctant to leave my new little home, we got some breakfast at a cute little cafe across the street. Hmmm... breakfast sandwiches... There we realized what different plans we had and we split up. Some decided they were going to go to a baseball game in Yokohama (a suburb of Tokyo), some wanted to go somewhere else (I don't remember where), and Keith, Disha, and I decided to slip out and go explore Tokyo on our own. Plus Disha and her friend Devin wanted to get a tattoo and we had to find the tattoo studio for them.
Instead of hopping on a train to the middle of Shinjuku, we walked. Along the way we found a Hello Kitty store, more manga stores, and Baskin Robbins. Then, walking down the stairs to the Shinjuku subway station, we found ourselves in another underground city. We followed signs, for what seemed like forever, to jump on the Yamanote Line. I later realized we had actually been originally at a different station, never made it to the city center, and had walked all the way from the one station to the Shinjuku station... all underground. I love Japan.
So we hopped on the Yamanote line again, and hopped off at Takadanobaba station.
Sidenote: Do you remember the white, twi'lek assistant to Jabba the Hutt in "Return of the Jedi"? Well, every time I say "Takadanobaba" I envision him saying it all slowly... "Jabba Ta-kad-a-no-ba-ba... Jedi". Yeah... that went on the whole time in Tokyo.
Anywho, as soon as we left the station, I asked Keith, "Which way do you think is south?" Keith proceeded to point in a direction. Assuming he was right, we proceeded that way, hoping it would take us to the tattoo parlor. Using the directions provided by Disha, we looked for different landmarks they provided. Along the way we stopped for food, of course. So we continued on our way, walking for probably close to half an hour. Finally, we decide we're not going to right way and Disha goes to use her limited knowledge of Japanese to ask where one of the landmarks, a market, is. We find out we indeed are in the wrong spot. However, we don't know really where we are. So we walk back to the station, find a map, not understand it, ask more people (who ask more people), and finally are on our way. Walking the opposite way from the train station this time, we make it to the studio in five minutes. Unfortunately no one is there and there are no hours. Disha decides she'll call later to try to make an appointment. Good idea.
Making the best of somewhat of a pointless situation, we eat more food, explore the area, and hop on another train... This time the destination is...
THE POKEMON CENTER!
Arriving in Hamamatsucho station, we depart and walk down the street, finding ourselves across the street from...
THE POKEMON CENTER!
Hurrying across the street and inside, we laughed at the simply outrageous store that it was. Pokemon stuffed animals, toys, cards, apparel, games, pancakes, and other food items lined the walls and shelves. It was awesome. We realized we're really childish. But we're okay with it.
After enjoying ourselves, we took to the streets to find more food. Yum. Food. Afterwards, we hopped on another train to our last destination... Akihabara.
Now, when we got off the train at Akihabara station, we found ourselves in what was truly "Electric Town". Lights everywhere, computer stores, electronics stores, brightly lit manga shops all lined the streets. It was definitely glowing. Here we simply explored the area, found an awesome arcade. It was five or six floors and inside the only people there were guys in suits. Seriously. Everyone looked like they had just gotten off work at some fancy business, didn't go home and change, but instead went straight to the arcade to play the friends in something involving martial art or giant robots. It was crazy. Disha correctly noted that she was the only female in the entire building.
After exploring we returned to the train station and took two trains back to the hostel.
Sidenote: The train system in Tokyo is incredibly easy to follow. I had no problem finding my way around, hopping between trains, or getting from station to station. Definitely the best public transportation system I've ever used.
At the hostel we met up the those who went to the baseball game, exchanged stories, and made plans for the rest of the day.
After freshening up, we decided to grab a bite and search Shinjuku. We simply walked around the area, stopping here and there at a shop or 7-11, and just took in the experience. We even ran into two guys, one from Florida, one from Germany, who had been living in Japan. The man from Florida had come to Japan abroad for something work related and had never returned for the last fifteen years. Absolutely crazy.
After we had had our fill of Tokyo for the night, we returned to our beds.
Day Four and Five to follow soon...
For now... PICTURES!
Food - Yum
Shinjuku
Disha, Keith, and random sleeping Japanese man on the train
Pokemon Center
Electric Town - "Akihabara"
Engrish!
For Adil
Capsule Beds!
No comments:
Post a Comment