I had one week off for O-bon, the Japanese holiday where Japanese families go to visit the graves of their loved ones and clean them. Families also offer special fruit, flowers, and food to the deceased. This ritual reminds me of All Saints' Day.
I returned from Tokyo with my co-worker/friend Heather on Friday after an exciting six days. We had the time of our lives exploring Jimbocho, Asakusa, Shinjuku, and Shibuya, some of the districts of Tokyo.
We arrived in Tokyo Sunday evening after taking a local train from Tottori to Himeji and then the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo. The entire trip took about six hours. We stayed in the Sakura Hotel/Hostel in Jimbocho for the first night, and we then stayed in the branch in Asakusa. We much preferred the Jimbocho hostel, so we returned there for our last two nights. The rates are affordable, and the facilities are clean and welcoming (about $45 per night, but each person has to pay this fee. Unlike hotels in America, Japan charges based on how many people are staying in a room instead of giving just one flat rate). I recommend Jimbocho's branch if you can land a room. It is more convenient in its location and the layout of the building for privacy. We also didn't need to use our credit cards to make a reservation; we paid in cash when we arrived. Here's where you can reserve rooms and check out the locations.
We strolled the streets of Jimbocho and checked out an arcade. We were the only girls in there, but we enjoyed seeing the different Japanese games.
*sigh* My favorite superhero!
My favorite car brand!
Need to park on a different floor? This machine turns your car for you and moves it up to your floor!
I'm lost in an arcade! (><)
Lonely? This is a virtual dating game. I didn't give it a go, so I can't offer any opinions. :P
After we walked through the arcade, we wanted to buy some items at the local drugstore. This one, Matsumoto KiYoshi, has great sales and any personal items you may need.
Next, we found a small restaurant up some stairs in downtown Jimbocho. I ordered some horse mackerel. I loved the smoky flavor, but I had to be careful to avoid the tiny bones in the fish.
This was my dessert. It was a banana and chocolate ice cream sundae. It included cake pieces and sweetened red beans. Sounds odd, but this was delicious.
The next day, we headed for Asakusa, a famous district with a massive shrine. The beauty of this area and its shrine mesmerized me. If you ever visit Tokyo, you must see this beautiful piece of Japanese history.
Downtown Asakusa. The brand new Tokyo Sky Tree is behind me in the distance.
Shop near the shrine.
Time to choose your fortune! After you pay 100 yen, you shake a tube and pull out a stick with a number on it. You find the slot with your corresponding number, and then you pull out your fortune. The fortunes are in Japanese and English. After you read it, you can tie it to the red apparatus so that nothing unfortunate happens to it. Mine was a regular fortune, but since I had nowhere to place it respectfully, I tied it to the wire.
My Japanese friend, Akiko, and I cleansing ourselves with the incense smoke.
Here is where you wash your hands and rinse out your mouth before you enter the shrine. The ritual is similar to the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross with holy water.
Ceiling inside the shrine. Absolutely stunning.
The sacred place within the shrine. No one besides monks may enter (I think special wedding or funeral arrangements allow families to come close to this altar). A sacred relic from the god lies within.
My friends and I then perused the shops along the shopping district. We found adorable souvenirs and set-ups inside the shops. We also stopped into a small restaurant for a quick bite. I loved my pasta; it was cheesy with shrimp. ^_^
Japanese celebrities have left their hand-prints here.
About two months ago, Tokyo Sky Tree graced Japan's capital city. It's an astounding sight.
Our next stop was the brand-new Biohazard Cafe, which is located in the PARCO center in Shibuya. Biohazard (Resident Evil in the States) is one of my favorite video game series. If you aren't familiar with its story, here's a synopsis: In the small mid-Western town of Raccoon City, the Umbrella Corporation, a seemingly innocuous pharmaceutical company, begins performing bizarre and clandestine biological experiments. Humans and animals often become victims to these tests. A virus known as the T-virus leaks out of the company's hidden underground laboratory at the base of a mansion in the woods outlying Raccoon City, and those who are infected turn into bio-weapons (also known as zombies).
The restaurant has amazing grilled food. You can order à la carte or pay a reasonable 3400 (3700 for the fellows) yen for an all-you-can-eat assortment of steak, pork, chicken, sausage, potatoes, curry and rice, salad, and dessert. I also ordered an alcoholic beverage that costs about 500 yen.
Tyrant 00-2 and I!
Here's a video of the cafe and the show that ensued during our meal.
Shot of downtown Shibuya at night. It's similar to New York City, but I rarely heard any vehicles' horns blaring.
The cafe was nothing like what I had expected: 90s pop boomed throughout the small eatery while girls dresses in semi-Daisy Dukes served us our food. My friends and I had a great time, though, and since the Biohazard Cafe will be open for only one year, I'm so glad I had a chance to experience it.
The next day, my co-worker and I headed to Ueno Zoo to see the famous pandas! I was ecstatic to see my favorite animal for the first time in real life!
Grave inside Ueno Park.
Perhaps an old museum or home inside Ueno Park.
Looks like people have been receiving fortunes again.
Shrine inside of Ueno Park.
Map of Ueno Zoo.
Toris lined before a shrine.
The Imperial Prince Akihito, the current Emperor of Japan. He is the son of Hirohito, the Emperor of Japan during World War II.
Beautiful gift from Thailand to Japan in honor of peace between the two countries.
Stunning lily pad garden on a lake inside Ueno Zoo.
Our trip on Wednesday is the one my family has been waiting to hear about: Tokyo Disney Sea! This Disney location is unique to Japan, so my friends and I decided to visit it instead of Disneyland.
If you ever go to Tokyo Disneyland or Disney Sea, please note that you must take the monorail from park to park. The tickets cost about 250 yen (roughly $3) a ride, so if you think you will use the monorail a few times, I highly recommend that you purchase an all-day pass for 650 yen (roughly $7).
The beautiful globe fountain right past the entrance.
Time to go into Disney Sea! ^_^
Tower of Terror. This version is different from the one in Hollywood Studios in Disney World, but the drops are still just as fun!
Kids playing in the sprinklers.
Tower of Terror up-close.
USS Columbus. It has a restaurant inside called The Captain's Table.
Donald Duck!
Apple cinnamon popcorn. I was in heaven with this delicious snack. I also tried strawberry and caramel. The park map shows you where you can purchase the different flavors. I think there are a total of nine different popcorn flavors: curry, caramel, cranberry, apple cinnamon, sea salt, black pepper, strawberry... I forgot the rest. Have fun exploring!
Disney Sea is absolutely breathtaking. I enjoyed strolling through each section and watching a few different shows that we happened to stumble upon. The gift shops are very expensive, so I didn't buy anything from them. The same souvenirs that you can find in Disney Stores and at any Disney park are available inside, anyway.
I wish Tokyo were closer to Tottori (we had to take a train to Himeji and then jump into the Shinkansen to arrive in Tokyo--that took about 6 hours). The city life is electrifying, and I found some popular American/Western brands there, like Starbucks, H&M, Forever21, Burger King, L'Occitane En Provence, M.A.C., and The Body Shop. I'd think twice before purchasing too many items from these stores; many of the prices are higher than what you'd find in the USA.
I hope you enjoyed looking through my pictures and my musings. 'Til next time... Sayonara!
