Second day in Tokyo
This might be the last time I post before I'm back in Kishiwada on Monday- tomorrow my grandmother and I will be switching to a ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) and chances for internet are not good.
Also, this post is going to be heavy on garden pictures, so apologies for all of those who like a little more action. Let me tell you, Tokyo has enough action. It was so relaxing to spend some time in a peaceful place. Those who want to see what "sensory overload" means need to watch the following video that I took today in Shibuya, downtown Tokyo.
This morning, my grandmother and I took a trip to the American School in Japan. It was outside of Tokyo in a smaller town, where my mother and uncle used to attend high school. The trip was mostly for sentimental family reasons- I wanted to see where my mother went to school here, and to hear some of my grandmother's memories from that time. Pictures from the school and from old yearbooks may be fun in family circles but I won't subject everyone to pictures of a cafeteria in a Tokyo suburb.
Later in the day, we decided we wanted to visit a quieter, relaxing part of Tokyo. So we half-accidentally decided on the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. We got a little lost on the way there- this is the norm. I typically ask on average of 3-4 people "excuse me, where is [insert place here]?" every time that we try to find a place. But our rate of success nears 100%. This is half due to our perserverance and half due to the general kindness and patience of the people we ask.
I don't think I can overstate how happy we were that we came. My grandmother, after seeing the cherry blossoms in bloom, used the word "inspiring." I can't imagine a more beautiful and peaceful place.
Pictures of Shinjuku Gyoen:
You are maybe saying: enough pictures of gardens.
Here is my grandmother and I at the statue of Hachiko near Shibuya station. From what I have gathered: Hachiko the dog used to meet his owner faithfully at Shibuya station, maybe 75 years ago? The owner died at work one day, but Hachiko kept dutifully returning at the same time to the station. I think his devotion was not lost on the Japanese, and they put up a statue in his honor. So here we are with Hachiko:
And some more of Tokyo:
Another video billboard:
And a picture at night:
Also, this post is going to be heavy on garden pictures, so apologies for all of those who like a little more action. Let me tell you, Tokyo has enough action. It was so relaxing to spend some time in a peaceful place. Those who want to see what "sensory overload" means need to watch the following video that I took today in Shibuya, downtown Tokyo.
Click to viewThis morning, my grandmother and I took a trip to the American School in Japan. It was outside of Tokyo in a smaller town, where my mother and uncle used to attend high school. The trip was mostly for sentimental family reasons- I wanted to see where my mother went to school here, and to hear some of my grandmother's memories from that time. Pictures from the school and from old yearbooks may be fun in family circles but I won't subject everyone to pictures of a cafeteria in a Tokyo suburb.
Later in the day, we decided we wanted to visit a quieter, relaxing part of Tokyo. So we half-accidentally decided on the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. We got a little lost on the way there- this is the norm. I typically ask on average of 3-4 people "excuse me, where is [insert place here]?" every time that we try to find a place. But our rate of success nears 100%. This is half due to our perserverance and half due to the general kindness and patience of the people we ask.
I don't think I can overstate how happy we were that we came. My grandmother, after seeing the cherry blossoms in bloom, used the word "inspiring." I can't imagine a more beautiful and peaceful place.
Pictures of Shinjuku Gyoen:
You are maybe saying: enough pictures of gardens.
Here is my grandmother and I at the statue of Hachiko near Shibuya station. From what I have gathered: Hachiko the dog used to meet his owner faithfully at Shibuya station, maybe 75 years ago? The owner died at work one day, but Hachiko kept dutifully returning at the same time to the station. I think his devotion was not lost on the Japanese, and they put up a statue in his honor. So here we are with Hachiko:
And some more of Tokyo:
Another video billboard:
And a picture at night: