Tokyo VII
August 1, 2007
Today we had no plans and had free time all day.
Psych…like that would happen. We had to get up really early for our “cultural experience.” I chose to go to the Edo/Tokyo Museum, while others did such things as make tortoise shell necklaces or lacquered chopsticks. I thought there would be some Buddhist art there, which there wasn’t at all, but it was interesting nonetheless. For all you non Japan specialists, Edo is the former name of Tokyo, and it was the former capital of the country. The museum had many exhibits showing the change in housing and city planning from traditional to modern. I spent a good amount of time walking around, and I managed to get lots of funny pictures interacting with the displays.
Next we headed to the Asahi beer headquarters, which I thought would involve beer drinking. It did not, however, and was just lunch. The building was the most interesting and unique and overly modernized of any I have ever seen. No joke. I think Tokyoites call it the “golden turd.” See pictures for reference. Lunch was excellent. Have I mentioned that fruit in Japan always seems to be perfectly ripe and juicy. The best I’ve ever had…ever. I love the food here. So good.
Today really was our “free time” and I wanted to go to Akihabara, an area famous for electronics. I wanted to get away from the group of 72 we have been travelling with, but as it turned out, about 20 wanted to go to the same place. Long story short, we whittled the group down to about 6 and browsed the stores. Take wanted to see “otaku” who are really really nerdy Japanese techies, who always have their faces buried in some sort of weird gadget. He also wanted to check out a maid café, the concept of which is very strange. Young girls dress up as French maids (no detail spared) and serve customers. The place we went was called “@home café” and was like an old fashioned diner. All Take wanted was a picture with a maid, but there were signs everywhere prohibiting any sort of pictures, and the maids made sure to enforce that. After waiting for 45 minutes for a table, one maid came out and informed us of a 500 yen cover charge. For a diner???!!! We left, saddened by the experience, and headed to Odaiba, a mall complex/amusement park.
I finally went shopping!!! It was great. Won’t go into details. Ate dinner at another izakaya (like TGI Fridays or Chilis or something but 100% better, with delicious food and drinks). Had a few beers and then made the muggy and leg sore way home. My legs permanently hurt from standing all day every day.
One more day in Tokyo. Au revoir!
Today we had no plans and had free time all day.
Psych…like that would happen. We had to get up really early for our “cultural experience.” I chose to go to the Edo/Tokyo Museum, while others did such things as make tortoise shell necklaces or lacquered chopsticks. I thought there would be some Buddhist art there, which there wasn’t at all, but it was interesting nonetheless. For all you non Japan specialists, Edo is the former name of Tokyo, and it was the former capital of the country. The museum had many exhibits showing the change in housing and city planning from traditional to modern. I spent a good amount of time walking around, and I managed to get lots of funny pictures interacting with the displays.
Next we headed to the Asahi beer headquarters, which I thought would involve beer drinking. It did not, however, and was just lunch. The building was the most interesting and unique and overly modernized of any I have ever seen. No joke. I think Tokyoites call it the “golden turd.” See pictures for reference. Lunch was excellent. Have I mentioned that fruit in Japan always seems to be perfectly ripe and juicy. The best I’ve ever had…ever. I love the food here. So good.
Today really was our “free time” and I wanted to go to Akihabara, an area famous for electronics. I wanted to get away from the group of 72 we have been travelling with, but as it turned out, about 20 wanted to go to the same place. Long story short, we whittled the group down to about 6 and browsed the stores. Take wanted to see “otaku” who are really really nerdy Japanese techies, who always have their faces buried in some sort of weird gadget. He also wanted to check out a maid café, the concept of which is very strange. Young girls dress up as French maids (no detail spared) and serve customers. The place we went was called “@home café” and was like an old fashioned diner. All Take wanted was a picture with a maid, but there were signs everywhere prohibiting any sort of pictures, and the maids made sure to enforce that. After waiting for 45 minutes for a table, one maid came out and informed us of a 500 yen cover charge. For a diner???!!! We left, saddened by the experience, and headed to Odaiba, a mall complex/amusement park.
I finally went shopping!!! It was great. Won’t go into details. Ate dinner at another izakaya (like TGI Fridays or Chilis or something but 100% better, with delicious food and drinks). Had a few beers and then made the muggy and leg sore way home. My legs permanently hurt from standing all day every day.
One more day in Tokyo. Au revoir!
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