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Published: June 20th 2007
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The Imperial Palace
The palace and Niji-bashu (the bridge). Konnichiwa from Tokyo!
We are now in the capital of Japan and after the initial culture shock we have got used to it. When we were in Australia we kept moaning about the ease of travelling about and that we missed the challenges that came with travelling in Asia. I can safely say that within 5 mins off passing through immigration Australia seemed like a good option!
So far things that have confused us have been (in no particular order):
1. How to buy a subway ticket and move between lines owned by different companies.
2. How to flush the toilet in our hostel.
3. How to use the hostel cooking facilities.
4. Jill has been shown how to use a changing room (including the wearing of a very fetching face cloth to prevent ones make-up from coming into contact with the clothes).
5. Tofu?
6. Why have aliens decided to set up business transporting people along the river (see picture)
7.There are more but I can't think right now, as the keyboard has all the buttons in different places and it's confusing me!
Anyway, we left the safe haven that is Australia after spending a few
On your left.....
Surprise, surprise a tour group (or ten). days with Emmy and Janet (thanks again for letting us stay!), during which time we visited the famous Bondi and Manly beaches, which I'm sure are better in the summer than in the winter, and listened to a talk by the Dalai Lama - who is actually a very funny man.
Then it was off to Tokyo in what was the most turbulent flight I have ever made, it wasn't the most enjoyable experience of my trip so far.
As we arrived in Tokyo late due to a delayed take-off we missed the bus connection we had booked. This meant that we had to negiotate the train system, which we did although it did take some time before we managed to buy the correct ticket (see point 1 above).
Arriving at our hostel was relatively painless and after a quick change into summer clothing, yes after what feels like eternity we have found the warm, humid Asian summer; we headed out to find lunch in the Asukasa area.
This we managed with relative ease as the restaurants have pictures or plastic models of the menu that you can point to, so it makes ordering so much easier
although you don't know exactly what you are going to end up with (see point 5 above).
After lunch we wandered around the market area and the Senso-Ji temple area, where there were many Japanese throwing money into big boxes before praying - the first encounter of such behaviour we have had in many Buddhist countries.
In the evening we attempted to go shopping for some dinner in a local supermarket, again an interesting experience which involved looking at all the wierd and wonderful ingredients that went into the pictures and plastic models displayed in restuarants!
Yesterday we left the peaceful, relaxed area of Asukusa and headed into downtown Tokyo to explore the Imperial Palace East Gardens, which were a bit plain but hunger meant that we didn't see all of it (more later on that), and then went to the Ginza district so I could wander around the Sony Building playing with all of the new gadgets and toys (I don't think Jill was as excited about it all as I was though!).
Next we walked to the one viewpoint of the Imperial Palace to take a picture - the only reason for going there really- and
Shinjuku
A side street off the main drag. found that the Imperial Palace was neither all that Imperial or Palace like!
After that we took the subway to Shinjuku, where we were promised a sensory overload and after a slow start it delivered.
We walked through the redlight district which was very tame, so tame in fact that there were tours being led through the area - yes the Japanese even do tours in their own country complete with flag waving guides!
Then it was back to the neon signs, giant tv screens, noise and people. This was the atmosphere that we had imagined Tokyo to have. During this time I discovered where the Furbies went after that fad had ended - they grew slightly larger, donned ridiculously high heels and came to work in department stores in Shinjuku! As you walked into a store the whole place came alive with various shrieks, eeks and other ear piercing noises; and as soon as one started it caused a ripple effect with the noises getting louder as the furbies got further away from you. This accompanied by the thumping drum and bass/japanese pop music and bright lights made for a very terrifying experience!
Although my ultimate memory of
Shinjuku was the sight of a young lady pushing a pushchair through the shopping centre, not that unusual I hear you cry, however in the pushchair were two small dogs, wearing t-shirts! Say no more, except that I thought Jill was going to have to sit down because she was laughing so hard!
Today we went to Ueno and were accosted by a very friendly old Japanese man in the park, who for some reason was carrying two sticks over his shoulder. He talked to us about the differences between the Western and Eastern cultures and why Europeans don't travel to Japan (for half an hour until we made our excuses and ran for the hills). And then we went back to the Imperial Palace East Gardens and found the area we had missed yesterday which was what we had expected with waterfalls, ponds and pretty flowers. Aaaah!
Tomorrow we leave Tokyo and jump on a bullet train to Kyoto in search of a Geisha!
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Kathy (Mum)
non-member comment
Head and Shoulders
Not the shampoo, the height. I bet you feel like a giant Jonny amongst the natives. Photos look fascinating. Love the descriptive text too. Have fun looking for the geishas - I think you can take photos of them unlike Ken's experience in Amsterdam! Enjoy the rest of your tour, the trains sound amazing. xx