Japan Days 10 and 11 (Tokyo)

[chezmax]

Saturday

I slept in a bit, and caught a Shinkansen for Tokyo just after noon. I arrived at Tokyo Station about three hours later, and was completely flabberghasted by the immensity of the station, and my inability to find anything.

I eventually found an information booth which gave me a JR East Train Map and rail information for Tokyo, and a rather useful booklet put out by some Tokyo Tourism Board that seems to be put out by the city.

I wanted to get out of the station, so I figured the main office of the Tokyo Tourism Board place would be a good idea, so I could get more information, and help finding a place to stay. The bonus is that it was in the Tokyo Metro Government Building, which was on my list anyways, since it has observatories, and is a rather cool building in it's own right. So, I hop the JR to Shinjuku. I took the west exit, and ended up underground for a bit, coming out near the Tokyo Metro Gov't Building. It all looked like a rather boring area of Tokyo... wow, was I wrong. Also, the weather was actually slightly chilly, a first for my trip to Japan.

It was nearly 5 by then, and so I went up the South Viewing Platform of the TMG building, and got a lovely day view of Tokyo, although it was somewhat cloudy. I went back down, and found the tourism office, where I picked up some pamphlets, and they helped me find a hotel. I got a rather comfortable western hotel (Shinjuku Washington Hotel) that was nearby, which I could use as my home base.

I checked in, and then wandered back to the TMG building to go to the North Observatory (which was open at night), and got to see Tokyo by night. I tried to take pictures, but there was rather a lot of reflection off the windows, making it rather difficult to get a shot.

I then wandered back towards Shinjuku Station which I learned was the busiest and second-largest train station in the world. But it still seemed less complex than Tokyo Station, so I was ok with that. I then went to the east side of the station, and discovered Neon Hell. So many bright signs! So much neon! It was nearly overwhelming. Nearly every building from here for six or seven blocks in every direction had some sort of shop on the first 8 floors or so, and each one of them had a lit sign.

I was looking for a restaurant called Christon Cafe, which I eventually found, and had a great time at, despite feeling really lame about eating alone in this rather ubertrendy restaurant.

I headed back, with a detour through Kabukicho, which was rather eye-opening. I got solicited no less than three times by black guys (??) to come to their bars, where I can have a free drink and they have hot japanese women. So, wow. Apparently this is the infamous entertainment and red-light district. Having had my fill of neon, I headed back to the hotel, and crashed. I actually had a proper bed for the first time all trip.

Sunday

Some 11 hours later, I woke up. I took my sweet time getting ready, addressing and filling out the rest of my postcards. I then went out in search of brunch, and a post office.

I ended up a Subway sandwich, which had some rather interesting choices. I got a Cream Cheese Roasted Chicken sub, and had mango soda with it. Weird. I made my way to the post office... It was closed, even the ATM area. Just for today. There were signs for it being closed Sept. 30, but I couldn't read why.

Anyways, the weather was quite drizzly, and cold, which was seriously sapping my motivation to do anything. I hopped on the JR loop line until I could figure out what I wanted to do.

I ended up at Tokyo Station again, and I wandered aimlessly until I found a Starbucks. I think I've spent more at Starbucks here than I ever have back home... I sucked back a macchiato while I figured out what to do. I decided to go visit the Imperial Palace.

It turns out the Imperial Palace grounds are absolutely huge, and immaculately kept up, and I got a picture of the famous bridge... However, I was getting rather wet and so I headed back to the subway.

However, I came across this absolutely beautiful fountain nearby. I don't know the name of it, but there's a picture of part of it at wikipedia. That nearly made the trip worthwhile.

I found the nearest subway station (Tokyo Metro! subways++), and headed back to my hotel to regroup, stopping at some Japanese Fast Food shop for a burger on the way (the Japanese Bacon and Egg Burger... I don't know why they insist on putting egg on burgers, but it was tasty).

After a hot bath, it was now nightfall, and the rain had pretty much stopped, so I wandered out again, exploring Shinjuku. I walked along the southern terrace and Takashimaya Times Square, and followed, mostly, the walking path my pamphlet recommends.

I saw a Krispy Kreme. It was fairly small, but there was a line snaking outside, through a back-and-forth chained in area (like at an amusement park). At about 9pm. I was completely dumbfounded. So I took a picture. KK couldn't survive in Canada, but apparently they can survive in Shinjuku.

I eventually ended up back near Kabukicho, to find a net cafe, and here I am.

So, today was pretty much a bust.

Tomorrow, I'm heading back to Osaka, and hope to do a few things before then, such as the fish market, and maybe the Meiji Shrine, and Akihabara, and maybe Ginza, to go to the busiest intersection in Tokyo. So many things to do, so little time!