Two Amazing Days in Tokyo
Yesterday: A Great Day in Akiba.
So, my dad and I spent yesterday entirely in Akihabara. It started--as all days in Akihabara should--with a quick shopping trip through Yodobashi-Akiba. We wandered up to the games etc. floor, and I took a look around all of their Nintendo DS games. A while ago, Chen showed me some COMPLETELY ridiculous youtube videos of Super Robot Wars... a supposedly awesome game which will never be released in America (licensing issues). So... guess what I found at Yodobashi! Super Robot Wars! on DS! Super cool. I've only played it a little bit, but it's basically a grid-based strategy game like Advance Wars. I haven't figured out much, though.
After that, we looked around a bit at their tv screens and cameras, then headed out. Walked about and played around in Club Sega (the greatest club EVER). The Taiko game is great fun! They're even making one for DS, which I am tempted to get... though that'd be slightly ridiculous.
Anyways, it was decided long in advance that we were going to get massages from Japanese girls in maid outfits, so we went over to Mai Relax. It was -soooo- good. Foot (and lower leg) and hand (and forearm) massages, with nice lavender oil. Oh man... you have no idea. The feelings of daydreams.
Then after that, it was about time for dinner, so we walked around. There was a girl handing out mini-flyers for Cos-Cha, so I decided we should go there. Being that I have now gone to two different maid restaurant/cafes, I am forced to compare them, and sadly.. the one we went to last year, Merry Heart, was much better. Cos-Cha was just a normal cafe where the waittresses just happened to wear cosplay maid outfits. Merry Heart.. was ridiculously cute in every way. Pink and Heartness on the walls, but not in a way to make you feel uncomfortable. Waitresses acting cute, and -serving- you. not just waiting on you. I remember my dad loved it most when he had tea, and the girl held out her hand with cream and sugar for him to choose. Then, she poured it in and stirred it just so delicately. It was wonderful. (Much more sophisticated than something like Hooters, I'd say.. :P) Cos-Cha was just... normal. Nothing special.
Anyways, if you ever go to Akihabara, go to the Merry Heart Cafe and at least one other one!
Today: Harajuku with Anna.
So, today we went off to Shibuya and went on a walk that was recommended to us by James Horiuchi. We got off at the Shibuya station and walked all the way to Harajuku (as opposed to going just one more stop). It was nice, and we got to walk through a big (and I do mean monstrously big) park! It would've been really nice for biking or running, but there was nowhere that made me feel compelled to run around in circles and do capoeira randomly. It's ok, though. I remember the Imperial Palace Garden definitely had that.
Then when we were in the park, we heard music! Live music, it sounded like, so we decided to investigate! And investigate we did, and found a village artist festival! It was so cool. A ton of people with cool things for sale, like customized shoes and stuff, and 2 stages for bands. And there were two really good rock bands:Super Beaver and White Crow. I got both their CDs, but I haven't listened to them yet. It was so great, though. They poured their soul into those performances.
But anyways, we were meeting Anna at Harajuku to have lunch and talk and stuff. We were just walking in the crowd up a block to where we planned to meet, and then all of a sudden I hear behind me, "Jason?". In the middle of the crowd, Anna had realized she was right behind me, and my dad happened to be right behind her! Haha, so then we went off to this Japanese-Italian restaurant that Anna wanted to try. It was really interesting. I had chicken and steak (which were really interestingly cooked. the chicken was very vinegar-y, and the steak was just sort of delicious. I hadn't had much meat for days...), and my dad had spaghetti with little itty bitty fishies! So weird!! Whole fishies!
but after lunch, we split after a bit of a walk down the main harajuku store street. Then my dad and I went shopping! (well, I went shopping. My dad watched). I got a ton of clothes. All shirts, because Japan has no good pants for me. I seriously need to buy some more M.E.K. jeans.. they're really nice. Anyways, it was a ridiculously fulfilling day (OH! AND WE HAD SOME TAKOYAKI!), and those concerts (which were actually at the end of the day) just made it the perfect end to the first stretch of the vacation.
Tomorrow: Shinkansen to Kyoto!
So, my dad and I spent yesterday entirely in Akihabara. It started--as all days in Akihabara should--with a quick shopping trip through Yodobashi-Akiba. We wandered up to the games etc. floor, and I took a look around all of their Nintendo DS games. A while ago, Chen showed me some COMPLETELY ridiculous youtube videos of Super Robot Wars... a supposedly awesome game which will never be released in America (licensing issues). So... guess what I found at Yodobashi! Super Robot Wars! on DS! Super cool. I've only played it a little bit, but it's basically a grid-based strategy game like Advance Wars. I haven't figured out much, though.
After that, we looked around a bit at their tv screens and cameras, then headed out. Walked about and played around in Club Sega (the greatest club EVER). The Taiko game is great fun! They're even making one for DS, which I am tempted to get... though that'd be slightly ridiculous.
Anyways, it was decided long in advance that we were going to get massages from Japanese girls in maid outfits, so we went over to Mai Relax. It was -soooo- good. Foot (and lower leg) and hand (and forearm) massages, with nice lavender oil. Oh man... you have no idea. The feelings of daydreams.
Then after that, it was about time for dinner, so we walked around. There was a girl handing out mini-flyers for Cos-Cha, so I decided we should go there. Being that I have now gone to two different maid restaurant/cafes, I am forced to compare them, and sadly.. the one we went to last year, Merry Heart, was much better. Cos-Cha was just a normal cafe where the waittresses just happened to wear cosplay maid outfits. Merry Heart.. was ridiculously cute in every way. Pink and Heartness on the walls, but not in a way to make you feel uncomfortable. Waitresses acting cute, and -serving- you. not just waiting on you. I remember my dad loved it most when he had tea, and the girl held out her hand with cream and sugar for him to choose. Then, she poured it in and stirred it just so delicately. It was wonderful. (Much more sophisticated than something like Hooters, I'd say.. :P) Cos-Cha was just... normal. Nothing special.
Anyways, if you ever go to Akihabara, go to the Merry Heart Cafe and at least one other one!
Today: Harajuku with Anna.
So, today we went off to Shibuya and went on a walk that was recommended to us by James Horiuchi. We got off at the Shibuya station and walked all the way to Harajuku (as opposed to going just one more stop). It was nice, and we got to walk through a big (and I do mean monstrously big) park! It would've been really nice for biking or running, but there was nowhere that made me feel compelled to run around in circles and do capoeira randomly. It's ok, though. I remember the Imperial Palace Garden definitely had that.
Then when we were in the park, we heard music! Live music, it sounded like, so we decided to investigate! And investigate we did, and found a village artist festival! It was so cool. A ton of people with cool things for sale, like customized shoes and stuff, and 2 stages for bands. And there were two really good rock bands:Super Beaver and White Crow. I got both their CDs, but I haven't listened to them yet. It was so great, though. They poured their soul into those performances.
But anyways, we were meeting Anna at Harajuku to have lunch and talk and stuff. We were just walking in the crowd up a block to where we planned to meet, and then all of a sudden I hear behind me, "Jason?". In the middle of the crowd, Anna had realized she was right behind me, and my dad happened to be right behind her! Haha, so then we went off to this Japanese-Italian restaurant that Anna wanted to try. It was really interesting. I had chicken and steak (which were really interestingly cooked. the chicken was very vinegar-y, and the steak was just sort of delicious. I hadn't had much meat for days...), and my dad had spaghetti with little itty bitty fishies! So weird!! Whole fishies!
but after lunch, we split after a bit of a walk down the main harajuku store street. Then my dad and I went shopping! (well, I went shopping. My dad watched). I got a ton of clothes. All shirts, because Japan has no good pants for me. I seriously need to buy some more M.E.K. jeans.. they're really nice. Anyways, it was a ridiculously fulfilling day (OH! AND WE HAD SOME TAKOYAKI!), and those concerts (which were actually at the end of the day) just made it the perfect end to the first stretch of the vacation.
Tomorrow: Shinkansen to Kyoto!