Tokyo Day 2
Tokyo Day 2
We got up at about 5am, we're not quite adjusted to Japan time yet, but this works for us.
But apparently the Japanese folks don't get up this early :) Jimbocho, the area we're staying in is utterly empty. We decide to go back to Sakura hostel, where we're staying at, to hang out on the 'net for a bit.
At around 7 we go out again, and there's signs of life. We stop by at 7-11 and buy an umbrella as it was constantly drizzling and our jackets while waterproof was not something we wanted to be walking around in rain.
We got breakfast at Lotteria - a Japanese equivalent of ... Burger King or something. I had a egg-sausage sandwich and a cup of lemon... Or so I thought. When I took a big glup of the lemon, oh man, it was the MOST WORST BITTER TASTING thing I've ever had drank in my life. Turns it out was grapefruit. Now those little smiley yellow logos is my Japanese Enemy Number One.
We walked over to the Imperial Palace because today was the Emperor's birthday and it would be open to the public. After wandering around in the wrong section, a friendly policeman pointed us to the right direction. The Imperial Palace's moats and outlaying bridges were truly impressive. The gigantic rockwork surrounding the moats etc.
We walked forever but then we finally got to the main entrance where there was hundreds (thousands?) of other people were entering. After two search points (first was for bags, then second was body search) we were allowed in. The Japanese do really meticulous care in keeping things clean and moving smoothly. We all walked up this huge pathway under castle fortifications.
We quickly got to the large clearing in front of a large building where I quickly figured out the Emperor would be showing up at and waited. There was no crowding, shoving, or whatever. Everybody were respectful and had their own space, it was so unlike America events.
Then everybody started shouting and waving Japanese flags, we knew it was time for the Emperor to come out and sure enough, he, his wife, his son, son's wife, and one other guy came out. Everybody went crazy, shouting his name (We couldn't quite figure it out but we'll look it up) He waved at us all, then started speaking. Everybody immediately went quiet and listened. We think it was a prayer and/or blessing. This went on for about 3 minutes, then everybody started shouting and waving flags again. Few minutes later, the Emperor and his group retreated into the building, and everybody started leaving. It was all so different. Nice, fast, efficient.
We walked around some, then went to the shops near our hostel. We looked at McDonalds and laughed at the McPork and other funny meal names. We stopped by this really fancy donut place, named andonand and had an apple cinnimion donut. The employees went out of their way to be helpful to a pair of foreigners and it was just so nice.
We headed back to the hostel so we could call and try to meet up with Soren (A friend of ours) and watched the most amazing show we've seen, about making of Mochi, it was educational, funny, and so unlike American TV shows.
After a bit of back and forth, we decided to meet at Akhirabara (Not right spelling probably, the giant Electronics City center). A quick hop on the train/subway took us there. Gotta explain something here - Soren does Tokyo/Japan every year and he does it in a santa suit. So naturally I have a santa suit too... and I wore it to meet him :) We met Soren and his two other friends there and we walked around for a while, stopping by at Sega center to play the most coolest mecha-game. We had Kebab for lunch, then went to a store where there was 3 stories of all old consoles/games, it was AWESOME.
The electronics city is just amazing, lots, lots of computer/electronics stuff around, and PACKED with people.
We went to Ginza to check out the Sony store - the biggest one in the world, it was really awesome, lots of new technology, everything new Sony had, it was demoed here first.
After this, we went to Shibuya, the most "expensive" & "affulent" city. This was essentially a city of light, lots of flashy things and stores. Walked around for a while, hung out at a cafe to have a snack. At this point, it was getting late, so Allie and I decided to head back to the Hostel, so we left Soren at Shibuya and went back.
Another thing about Japan, the metro/train system is very efficient and works great, the system is very easy to figure out, just like Paris.
We got back to Jimbocho and went to have a quick Sushi dinner. Everything was great except for one grilled salmon sushi, it was soaked in some kind of really strong fish oil so that was a bit overpowering but otherwise, it was great.
Went back to Hostel and crashed for the night.
Pictures to come.
We got up at about 5am, we're not quite adjusted to Japan time yet, but this works for us.
But apparently the Japanese folks don't get up this early :) Jimbocho, the area we're staying in is utterly empty. We decide to go back to Sakura hostel, where we're staying at, to hang out on the 'net for a bit.
At around 7 we go out again, and there's signs of life. We stop by at 7-11 and buy an umbrella as it was constantly drizzling and our jackets while waterproof was not something we wanted to be walking around in rain.
We got breakfast at Lotteria - a Japanese equivalent of ... Burger King or something. I had a egg-sausage sandwich and a cup of lemon... Or so I thought. When I took a big glup of the lemon, oh man, it was the MOST WORST BITTER TASTING thing I've ever had drank in my life. Turns it out was grapefruit. Now those little smiley yellow logos is my Japanese Enemy Number One.
We walked over to the Imperial Palace because today was the Emperor's birthday and it would be open to the public. After wandering around in the wrong section, a friendly policeman pointed us to the right direction. The Imperial Palace's moats and outlaying bridges were truly impressive. The gigantic rockwork surrounding the moats etc.
We walked forever but then we finally got to the main entrance where there was hundreds (thousands?) of other people were entering. After two search points (first was for bags, then second was body search) we were allowed in. The Japanese do really meticulous care in keeping things clean and moving smoothly. We all walked up this huge pathway under castle fortifications.
We quickly got to the large clearing in front of a large building where I quickly figured out the Emperor would be showing up at and waited. There was no crowding, shoving, or whatever. Everybody were respectful and had their own space, it was so unlike America events.
Then everybody started shouting and waving Japanese flags, we knew it was time for the Emperor to come out and sure enough, he, his wife, his son, son's wife, and one other guy came out. Everybody went crazy, shouting his name (We couldn't quite figure it out but we'll look it up) He waved at us all, then started speaking. Everybody immediately went quiet and listened. We think it was a prayer and/or blessing. This went on for about 3 minutes, then everybody started shouting and waving flags again. Few minutes later, the Emperor and his group retreated into the building, and everybody started leaving. It was all so different. Nice, fast, efficient.
We walked around some, then went to the shops near our hostel. We looked at McDonalds and laughed at the McPork and other funny meal names. We stopped by this really fancy donut place, named andonand and had an apple cinnimion donut. The employees went out of their way to be helpful to a pair of foreigners and it was just so nice.
We headed back to the hostel so we could call and try to meet up with Soren (A friend of ours) and watched the most amazing show we've seen, about making of Mochi, it was educational, funny, and so unlike American TV shows.
After a bit of back and forth, we decided to meet at Akhirabara (Not right spelling probably, the giant Electronics City center). A quick hop on the train/subway took us there. Gotta explain something here - Soren does Tokyo/Japan every year and he does it in a santa suit. So naturally I have a santa suit too... and I wore it to meet him :) We met Soren and his two other friends there and we walked around for a while, stopping by at Sega center to play the most coolest mecha-game. We had Kebab for lunch, then went to a store where there was 3 stories of all old consoles/games, it was AWESOME.
The electronics city is just amazing, lots, lots of computer/electronics stuff around, and PACKED with people.
We went to Ginza to check out the Sony store - the biggest one in the world, it was really awesome, lots of new technology, everything new Sony had, it was demoed here first.
After this, we went to Shibuya, the most "expensive" & "affulent" city. This was essentially a city of light, lots of flashy things and stores. Walked around for a while, hung out at a cafe to have a snack. At this point, it was getting late, so Allie and I decided to head back to the Hostel, so we left Soren at Shibuya and went back.
Another thing about Japan, the metro/train system is very efficient and works great, the system is very easy to figure out, just like Paris.
We got back to Jimbocho and went to have a quick Sushi dinner. Everything was great except for one grilled salmon sushi, it was soaked in some kind of really strong fish oil so that was a bit overpowering but otherwise, it was great.
Went back to Hostel and crashed for the night.
Pictures to come.