The Post Tokyo Post
Ok, so here is the recap of my Tokyo adventure. Click on the LJ-cuts to read about each day ^___^
So, Wednesday night around 7:45 we headed out to Kyoto Station to meet up with the Night Bus. We got lost and couldn't find the bus due to the fact that there were buses everywhere and it was night time and yeah...we were overwelmed. BUT! A very nice gentleman came and he spoke very wonderful English and he helped us locate our bus and was very kind about it ^__^ THANK YOU MISTER! I said thank you and then he just poofed! We couldn't find him again...he was sooo nice! SO, we got on the night bus and prepared for the journey. Basically the night bus is a large bus with thick curtains. It takes you straight to Tokyo, with rest stops every hour and a half to two hours. The lights are out and you can sleep on the bus during the trip...if you can sleep on a bus that is. I dozed off and on, but everytime we stopped for a rest stop, I woke up >.> Oh well...
So, we got into Shinjuku Tokyo at about 5:10 am. We walked down into the station and were greeted with the sight of about a hundred homeless people sleeping throughout the station...not the best first image, but it was a cultural experience. We quickly made our way in the direction of the Oedo line and hopped on the first subway train to Iidabashi (where our Hotel was). We found our hotel relatively quickly...it is right around the corner from the A2 exit in Iidabashi station, so it was very nice knowing we wouldn't have to walk long distances every night back to the hotel. We got to the lobby and checked in, but we couldn't go to our room until 2pm, so we dropped off our luggage...dragged ourselves to the bathroom and cleaned up a bit and ate breakfast and whatnot. Then we headed out to see Tokyo Tower.
Tokyo Tower was awesome! When we got to Shiba Koen (where the Tower is located) I was looking all over for it...it was hiding behind this tree lol XD Anyway, we went to Zojoji Temple first, since it was 7 am and the tower didn't open til 9...the temple was very neat...tons of statues and interesting cultural aspects...we even got to see people praying inside the temple. After this we headed toward the Tower and went into the park and looked around at different little shrines and waterfalls and stuff. We were sooo tired so around 8ish we went and just plopped down in front of the tower and watched the workers run in and out in preparation for the opening. At 9 we entered the Tower (after paying the 800 yen to get to the main 150 m marker section)...we wanted to go to the tip top, but it was 1400 yen!!! Which is crazy...and you dont even get to go to the VERY top...just another 100 m up. So we just went the mid way point. I took tons of pics...even the "looking down" pics...which was very disorienting >.> We went to the little shop there and I bought a few souvenirs for peoples ^__^;;
After Tokyo Tower we walked all the way to the Diet Building and took pics from a distance...we wanted to go in, but there was some sort of official govt function going on and there were police and covered vehicles and men and women in suits everywhere so we couldn't get in...T_T Big sad. After this we headed toward the Imperial Palace (on foot).
The Imperial Palace is only open on two days: New Years and the Emperor's Birthday...and seeing as how Thursday was not one of those days, we couldn't go IN the palace...but we got pics of the grounds and the moat and the swans in the moat and the palace from afar. It was very beautiful and there were a bazillion tourists there. It was weird hearing so much English in one day...
After the Imperial Palace we started to walk back to Iidabashi, and if you guys look at a map...it is very very far far far away. (x10!) I called my Mom from right outside the palace at a pay phone and talked to her for a few mins which was fun ^__^ But I ended up missing her ten times more than I have in the past two months (my homesickness got even worse later in the week).
So, we threw out the idea of walking back to Iidabashi and hopped onto a subway train...got to the hotel...ran into our rooms and collapsed. The room was small. It was nice, but very small...but it had a deep ofuro bath so I was very very very happy. I took a shower, and then a nap and then around 4-ish we headed out to Nakano. We went to the shopping arcade right outside of Nakano station and hit the Mandarake...where I picked up Sam's Seigaku shirt (gomen...they only had M size...but it's not as large as you would think...trust me.) I tried my damndest to find the Hyotei shirts, but the lady said they only had Seigaku and Rikkaidai. Damn Hyotei for being so popular. I shall keep trying though!
After Nakano we headed back to the hotel and crashed. We made reservations to catch the 630am bus to Disney Sea and then went to bed.
This was by far, my favoritestestest day! We went to Disney Sea Resort in Tokyo near Chiba. This resort was amazing!!! Basically it is a bunch of "water-themed" areas. Here are the areas: Port Discovery, Meditteranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Mysterious Island, Arabian Coast, and Mermaid Lagoon. Each area was a THEME area. Therefore: Arabian Coast = Agrabah from Aladdin!! and Mermaid Lagoon = Triton's UnderWater Castle in the Little Mermaid!! It was amazing! Everything was so detailed and beautiful and just DISNEY! I liked it ten time more than Disney World...it was just a happier more fantasical atmosphere <3 We took pics with Pinocchio and Aladdin (who was American and very talkative XD) and saw every single Disney character from Mickey and Minnie to Jasmine and Ariel...it was wonderful! We did just about every ride...cept for one, which was on the water and it was cold so we weren't too disappointed. We saw all the big shows we could see and rode on Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 times...once at night and once in the day...and it rocked both times! Pics are loading now...so I'll link them once I can...
I can't really explain the park very well in LJ...cos I think the animated talking and bouncing and hand movements and whatnot would be more effective...so yeah...I'll tell ya'll bout it once I get home! PROMISE!
So Saturday started around noon-ish...we needed sleep man. We went to Ueno Park and hit the Zoo there (after taking pics of the wonderful cherry blossoms that were in bloom!). The Zoo was awesome. We saw the pandas and a bazillion other animals...unfortunately, there were small rowdy children everywhere. I have come to realize that in Japan, children have more control over the parents than the other way around. These kids have NO discipline at all...I have to wonder when they actually DO get discipline...I am guessing in junior high. Cos...so far, I am not impressed with how parents handle their kids...they let them run around and scream and hit and throw things and just act like total brats...I saw quite a few kids I would have already tossed into a corner and yelled at in this zoo. But after this we went to the National Western Art Museum (the front...lol) and took pics of the Rodin pieces. Like the Gates of Hell (awesome to see it in 3d scale and large instead of on some crappy slide). After Ueno Park we headed to Akihabara
Akihabara was not as impressive as everyone kept saying it was gonna be...I mean, yes they have a BAZILLION computers and electronics and whatnot, but price wise...Osaka's Den Den Town is cheaper. ^__^;; So yeah...we went into a few souvenir shops and I bought something for Gam, but other than that Akihabara was just a large city area and fun to navigate through lol.
After this we headed home and took a nice long break and were just plain lazy! Tokyo at night...is not something we wanted to try due to the fact that the area we were in was a business area and therefore that meant there would be tons and tons of drunk old men running the streets, so we opted for inside fun ^__^ lol
Ok, so the day started out relatively early (around 10-ish I think). We headed to Shibuya first. Where I FINALLY took a pic with Hachiko (the puppy statue). I was sooo excited to get a pic with him cos months ago I promised Mom I was gonna get a pic with him and I did!! wee! Ok, so then we wandered for a bit and did some shopping and whatnot...we went to the Disney Store that opened there and it was soo cool! The stair well was like Alice in Wonderland style and the second floor was the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast! Then the 3rd floor had scenes from Pinocchio and Peter Pan and it was adorable! Anywho >.> We left Shibuya (after hitting a rather boring Electricity museum...it was free...and we were trying to kill time...we beat it to death.)
So....we headed to Harujuku (on foot again...) and I was like: Ne...that bridge looks like a convention area! *contain self contain self*...I tried soo damn hard not to squee repeatedly. Anywho, I got some pics of the peeps...but in all honesty, most of the cosplays being done on the bridge...were of Diru...and I have seen a bazillion cosplays (most were not as good as these mind you) of these outfits before...but I took pics nonetheless. Annoyingly, there were like a ton of tourists there and they would like DIVE into the pics whenever anyone asked if a picture was alright or not...I tried my damndest to NOT get pics of the AMERICANS >.< Somehow a few snuck in. *was miffed* We hit up Tower Records and whatnot too (GOMEN Matt! I tried SOOO hard to find the cd...but not ONE store had them in their system...I will look here cos there are a ton of local music shops too!! And I couldn't locate a Soul Calibur ANYTHING. I found Guilty Gear stuff out the arse, but no Soul Calibur! *will still look for that too*)
Anyways, after Harujuku we headed to West Shinjuku for shots of the gov't/business buildings and whatnot...which was cool and funny since I was having all the horrible anime/manga flashbacks...XD So bad....Anyways...after this we headed to Ginza and took shots of fun buildings and stuff...passed a condomania store...which....was weird since there were animated cartoon condoms like floating on the windows. I was very disturbed.
Hm...we were beat by this point so we headed back to the hotel and got our things and checked our e-mail online and then waited till we had to catch the bus back home. We located the bus without too much pain and then we were back home. Arrived in Kyoto at 6am and got back to the Seminar House (after a nice long walk in rainy weather meh) at about 7:30am. All in all....it was not too bad.
So in conclusion, Tokyo was awesome. However, if you want to see JAPAN, I suggest NOT going to Tokyo. There are too many people. It is loud and modernized and just not "traditional Japan". Come to the Kansai area for the real Japanese experience...if you want a city experience go to Tokyo. BUT DO GO TO DISNEY SEA! If you ever go to JAPAN go THERE! You must! It was sooo much fun and I am gonna go to Disney Land too (sometime before I die). I am determined! LOL
So yeah...that was a long post and I am dead tired...I have gotten a total of 3 hours sleep and had to go to class and finish a midterm today...I can't wait til 7pm tho...the Music Video Awards are coming on and I bought tapes just for it! *wee*
I miss you guys tons! You have no idea how bad my homesickness was in Tokyo...I had the worst "TRAPPED" feeling ever!! I am having a blast here, but it would be sooo much better if you guys were here too!! <3 to you all!!