Tokyo Trip

I flew in to Tokyo Narita airport from Busan on Thursday morning, landing around 2pm and meeting Bobby at the international arrivals. We took the Narita express (still a good 90 minutes in to Shinjuku and checked in to our capsule hotel.

Capsule hotels are designed for businessmen who miss the last train home, through overwork or over drink, and while cool for a night, I got very little sleep and would probably not do it again. Plus, checking in and out is borderline work. That being said, it was a cool experience for a night.

After we checked in it was getting close to five so we decided to head out for a whisky and dinner. I had not found Japan horrendously expensive in Kyoto or Fukuoka but I certainly did in Tokyo. Mostly because food is served on small dishes that cost what a small meal would cost elsewhere (an $8 sushi roll). I can only imagine what it would have run me if the yen was what is was at in 2012. Still, how often am I going to be in Tokyo? So I paid up for what was great food and drink.

The next morning we got up and were sure that we did not want to do another night at the capsule, mostly because you had to check out and check back in again six hours later, but also because noise is an issue. We found a hostel in Korea town (seriously) that had bunk beds for $40 a night each. A steal in Tokyo. We got our own room and made our way to Tokyo Metropolitan Buildings for a view of Tokyo and then to the Meiji shrine.

Shinjuku at night

Government buildings

view from south tower

again

me at the Meiji shrine

gardens

entrance to te shrine

Because we had spent a couple of hours trying to get new accommodation and were walking through Shinjuku it was almost six by the time we finished the shrine. We were meeting Bobby's friend Emiko at Shinjuku station at six so we booked it there. We then went out for a great dinner and world class sake, before finding a whisky bar and an izakaya. We got back about one but I was tired.


The next day I woke up feeling a bit sore, but got up early as I wanted to do a bit of sightseeing. Due to relocating on Friday I had lost a morning. Not that I regret in (on the contrary, the move to Sophiearth was a good one) but it still was a lost morning.

We decided to head to the Imperial palace. Probably the biggest tourist thing in Tokyo. Like Buckingham palace in the U.K, the Imperial palace is the actual home of the monarch, and so the actual palace is closed most days. However, the Emperors east garden is free and accessible year round. It was quite spectacular actually.

our hostel

Imperial palace from outside

palace from the inside

me trying not to look hung over

After the palace we stopped off for lunch, we ended up with Chinese food that was probably our only bad meal while we were there. Enough salt for an army in a small bowl of pork. Then we walked to Ginza to see the famous shopping street. I didn't bring enough credit cards to buy anything more than a coffee, but it was still cool to look around.

Ginza

We had to be in Shibuya at seven to meet Emiko and Bobby's friend Yu, but being that it was four, we hopped the subway to Asakusa to see Senso ji, the biggest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. The area itself had seen better days, but the temple itself was up there with the ancient ones in Kyoto, though this one was reconstructed after WWII. The riverfront was cool too. We saw the Asahi headquarters (shaped like a pint of beer) and the golden turd. It is supposed to be a flame but I'll let you decide.

The Asahi building, behind the "flame"

better look

Entrance to Sensoji

temple grounds

again

some people

By this time it was six and I was tired. We decided to hop on the subway to Shibuya, which was fifty minutes, giving us time to nap. When we got out we were at the largest intersection in the world.

here it is during the day from above

my view

some people

We also saw the statue of Hachiko, the dog honoured in Shibuya for his loyalty. It is actually kind of a sad story, but also amazing.

Hachiko

From there we went out for a much lighter night in Shibuya with Yu and Emiko, both of whom were wonderful people to meet, and I hope to be able to see them again at some point in my life.

On Sunday I had to get up and get to Shinjuku station early. It is only two hours from Tokyo to Busan but with travel time to Narita airport and then Busan to Daegu, plus waiting at the airport, it is a good eight hours of travelling.

I already miss Tokyo, I will have to head back at some point in my life. Cool city in an amazing country.