Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Bridge)
Then came Friday, Amy and Jess's final day. This time, in my shameless attempt to step for step relive my first two weeks for them, we went to Odaiba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odaiba). This is the little islandy district across the Rainbow bridge, comprising part of the Wangan region (D and Johnny will know what I'm on about), where buildings are absolutely nuts (Big Sight, Big Sky, Telecom Building) and there is (gasp!) open space. It was great, Amy wanted to see the Fuji TV building, weather was cooperating. So off to Shimbashi station - apparently punk is big with Japan Railroad - I find this sign awesome:
Anyway - Boat time:
Off to the cool beach/shopping area. Just to make totally sure that your sanity doesn't leave intact, they made sure to have a bizarrely disorienting Statute of Liberty (yet the tablet still has OUR, the USA's, date of Independence):
So first to Fuji TV - brought to you by Meiji Chocolate (which is actually terrible - its the one and only BAD chocolate I've ever had):
Its a nutty nutty place. Domo-kun is from NHK next store to my apartment, but you have Fuji to thank for those Green and Red big costumed guys, and much more importantly - Iron Chef. Thats right - Kitchen stadium was a soundstage in THAT building. The orb up top also doesn't have a half bad view:
A prior post detailed some of the potent weird therein - heres a token sample:
- Yes.... yes they are.
Anyway, we still had some daylight when it was all over.
So recoup by enjoying this pretty flower (its not THAT random - Amy had pictures of them in her album too):
Anyway, now to fresh uncharted territory for all of us - the crazy Odaiba mall - complete with enormous ferris wheel:
But we were distracted by what ended up being a Huge Toyota propaganda center / dealership. Usually this would be up MY alley - but once it was revealed that there was a Robot section you couldn't drag Jess away. For starters, wtf. Seriously, WTF. This is the biggest room I've been inside in Tokyo by a wide margin, and it dwarfs that much more advertised thing in Ikebukuro:
Note that track looking thing. Turns out you can drive a car around to showcase a bit of new technology:
Now it doesn't look like much, but this car drives .....ITSELF (cue dramatic music - everyone gasps!). No - seriously. Its not some new hybrid that runs on hemp - this is a modified automacar. They let you get in and take a lap around the track (where you can't touch steering or pedals). There are no groves, there is no track. It uses GPS - and totally guides itself. In a very "Christine" way the steering wheel turns itself and takes you where IT wants you to go. Oh the terror! Notice the BLISTERING 10 Kph speed!!
Anyway, this is only part of the Japan chapter of I, Robot. Apparently there is a Robot showroom / school in Odiaba (sorry Jess - I just found out about this today), in a addition to a Robot store in Akihabara which we forgot to find (we found a shitty map for nothing!), and a Honda dealership in Aoyama with an Asimo as a greeter, although I have yet to see him turned on. Anyway - lets see what Toyota has to offer - Other than insanely clever seating:
Well for starters - there is THIS:
A robotic baby seal. It crys, and begs, and looks at you with eyes begging you not to club it, as you actually contemplate it as you wonder why the hell someone built an expensive, highly sophisticated robot that does nothing but cry and look around. Moving on - they also had a Robot cat!
Still not that refined. It was a pussy that didn't like petting, and was unresponsive to bits of string. Again, mainly it just meowed and looked around. Of course the main attraction was the Toyota Robot Band! But they were switched off. Although they had a dvd of, no joke, Toyota band Robots on ice, complete with abstract dancing, decor and lighting - Cirque de Soleil style - Beck would be proud.
Finally to Palette down proper. Actually come to think of it - was this 3 weeks ago? Anyway - it was predictably nuts. Thats the expectation here - it amazingly ridiculous. Astonishing is the expectation. This was one of about 400 million malls here, including one in each major station. The ones in Shibuya are huge and renowned, the ones in Roppongi in Mori and Midtown are epic. So this one - no big - its JUST a 3 story indoor pretending to be outdoor European market. Its just like the ones at Caesar's Palace and the Venetian in Vegas. No big:
Finally - time to head back to crazy downtown via monorail:
And randomly, nestled in the side of an ultramodern office building (they ALL are in this part of town) this:
Why? Why does Tokyo do this to my sanity? Whats worse, I have a picture, I was hoping I would go home and find out it was just a hallucination, but turns out - Yes - there is a crazy Tim Burton fun world in the side of a huge downtown Tokyo office tower.
Anyway, finally back to Shibuya.
They needed to head out THAT night, but first we needed some food. I had Shabu-Shabu in mind, but I never ceased to be amazed at what you can get in this city:
Anyway - Boat time:
Off to the cool beach/shopping area. Just to make totally sure that your sanity doesn't leave intact, they made sure to have a bizarrely disorienting Statute of Liberty (yet the tablet still has OUR, the USA's, date of Independence):
So first to Fuji TV - brought to you by Meiji Chocolate (which is actually terrible - its the one and only BAD chocolate I've ever had):
Its a nutty nutty place. Domo-kun is from NHK next store to my apartment, but you have Fuji to thank for those Green and Red big costumed guys, and much more importantly - Iron Chef. Thats right - Kitchen stadium was a soundstage in THAT building. The orb up top also doesn't have a half bad view:
A prior post detailed some of the potent weird therein - heres a token sample:
- Yes.... yes they are.
Anyway, we still had some daylight when it was all over.
So recoup by enjoying this pretty flower (its not THAT random - Amy had pictures of them in her album too):
Anyway, now to fresh uncharted territory for all of us - the crazy Odaiba mall - complete with enormous ferris wheel:
But we were distracted by what ended up being a Huge Toyota propaganda center / dealership. Usually this would be up MY alley - but once it was revealed that there was a Robot section you couldn't drag Jess away. For starters, wtf. Seriously, WTF. This is the biggest room I've been inside in Tokyo by a wide margin, and it dwarfs that much more advertised thing in Ikebukuro:
Note that track looking thing. Turns out you can drive a car around to showcase a bit of new technology:
Now it doesn't look like much, but this car drives .....ITSELF (cue dramatic music - everyone gasps!). No - seriously. Its not some new hybrid that runs on hemp - this is a modified automacar. They let you get in and take a lap around the track (where you can't touch steering or pedals). There are no groves, there is no track. It uses GPS - and totally guides itself. In a very "Christine" way the steering wheel turns itself and takes you where IT wants you to go. Oh the terror! Notice the BLISTERING 10 Kph speed!!
Anyway, this is only part of the Japan chapter of I, Robot. Apparently there is a Robot showroom / school in Odiaba (sorry Jess - I just found out about this today), in a addition to a Robot store in Akihabara which we forgot to find (we found a shitty map for nothing!), and a Honda dealership in Aoyama with an Asimo as a greeter, although I have yet to see him turned on. Anyway - lets see what Toyota has to offer - Other than insanely clever seating:
Well for starters - there is THIS:
A robotic baby seal. It crys, and begs, and looks at you with eyes begging you not to club it, as you actually contemplate it as you wonder why the hell someone built an expensive, highly sophisticated robot that does nothing but cry and look around. Moving on - they also had a Robot cat!
Still not that refined. It was a pussy that didn't like petting, and was unresponsive to bits of string. Again, mainly it just meowed and looked around. Of course the main attraction was the Toyota Robot Band! But they were switched off. Although they had a dvd of, no joke, Toyota band Robots on ice, complete with abstract dancing, decor and lighting - Cirque de Soleil style - Beck would be proud.
Finally to Palette down proper. Actually come to think of it - was this 3 weeks ago? Anyway - it was predictably nuts. Thats the expectation here - it amazingly ridiculous. Astonishing is the expectation. This was one of about 400 million malls here, including one in each major station. The ones in Shibuya are huge and renowned, the ones in Roppongi in Mori and Midtown are epic. So this one - no big - its JUST a 3 story indoor pretending to be outdoor European market. Its just like the ones at Caesar's Palace and the Venetian in Vegas. No big:
Finally - time to head back to crazy downtown via monorail:
And randomly, nestled in the side of an ultramodern office building (they ALL are in this part of town) this:
Why? Why does Tokyo do this to my sanity? Whats worse, I have a picture, I was hoping I would go home and find out it was just a hallucination, but turns out - Yes - there is a crazy Tim Burton fun world in the side of a huge downtown Tokyo office tower.
Anyway, finally back to Shibuya.
They needed to head out THAT night, but first we needed some food. I had Shabu-Shabu in mind, but I never ceased to be amazed at what you can get in this city: