Landed in Tokyo

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After some frantic last minute packing (I'm packing light enough to fit everything in one backpack!), and some issues at Airport security (about 4 different people looked through my luggage... once to examine my iodine water purification thing and another for a "random security check"), I arrived in Tokyo in one piece. I had planned out a whole Jet-lag-prevention strategy that entailed sleeping on the entire flight to Japan, but I just couldn't fall asleep... so I ended up watching a bunch of Japanese movies to get myself in the mood for Japan (I highly recommend "Heaven's Gate" and "20th Century Boys"), while downing all the free beer that I could.

Tokyo is compelling because it is at once so familiar and foreign. Small family farm plots are placed in the middle of crowded towns, and you can find X-rated material right next to books meant for middle-schoolers. It's not that one society is more developed than the other, it's just that they're different. You have the modernity of New York, with all the cultural oddities that have developed in Japan, and it's a delightfully confusing feeling. There's also something rather comforting about knowing nearly no Japanese; I feel like I can ignore what everyone is saying and move about in my own safe, protected bubble.

I am staying in a hostel in Ueno, which is a stop away from Akihabara, the anime/electronics mecca of Tokyo. Like many other places in Tokyo, Akihabara is ridiculously crowded in a Times Square kind of way, but it's nearly all locals!

I'm in a 4 bedroom room with people from Hong Kong, Greece, and Canada. I had dinner with Thierry, the Canadian, and had some great Sushi! We ordered through the tried and true point-at-the-menu method. Afterwards, we flexed our muscle at the arcades and window-shopped Akihabara. Tomorrow, I'm off to Shinjuku/Harajuku/Shibuya to check out the teen shopping malls and fashions (Gothic lolita?), and hopefully I'll have pictures of my stay in a capsule hotel!!

-Michael

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Photos

Lights of Akihabara
Tokyo's time square #4

Polar Pure Water Purifier
What got me flagged at Airport Security... damn crystalline iodide

On-flight phone/remote
This photo is for Jim. They had this crazy all-in-one phone/remote control/game controller/etc etc that even had a built in credit-card reader! Those Japanese...

Suburbs of Tokyo
From the express train from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo

Farmland
Some random patches of Farmland

Sushi Dinner in Ueno
"I don't speak any Japanese whatsoever"
"Here is a picture menu"

Total-immersion Arcades
Part of a crowded arcade in Akihabara... these arcades are expensive ($1 a go for the cheapest), but they're packed with people who are ridiculously good at these games (and not just pre-pubescent teens!)

Posing in Akihabara
Cheesing it up

All dressed up
Posing with Thierry

Pre-sleep drink
Bought from a convenience store for 2 bucks... This stuff is called blended shochu, and it's nasty. Spend your two bucks on some crisp Japanese beer instead

Comments

[Lori]

Lolita!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get me something Michael! frills and lace <3 ^_^ lolz