Sony was amusing. Then I went to the Mitsukoshi department store. Mmmm. Food courts here are amazingly crazy. I walked around for at least 15 minutes, then I got some crab and shrimp gyoza for 1000Y. Well they came with a packet of sauce but no chopsticks. I thought I would go outside and swipe some from a convenience store – but yeah, there are none in Ginza. Grumble. But I found a secluded area in the shade and ate them with my hands. Delicious. Then, having eaten, I went back to check out the store proper and get a pastry. The store itself is a bit stuffy, but neat. I spent 10 more minutes in the food court before I got a chocolate cone. Oh, and this reminds me, that trash is impossible to throw out in Japan. I had the gyoza trash with me until the hotel. How goofy. I will chill for 15 minutes and then it is off to Roppongi.
Hrm, Ginza is pretty pretty amazing. Not a single convenient store on a 4 mile walk. OK, some of that includes a doubleback. But maybe I should back up… here is what happened since last i wrote: asagohan->shower->shinjuku. I checked email there, and got an update on the tempura place from Joan. I then went and found it. Huzzah! Then I came to Gina, and found out that I had 50 minutes until the Sony Building opens, so i decide to go on a walk. I’m on the lookout for a convenience store to get an onigiri, but none. Even vending machines are hidden on back streets here. I lost my kick ass Kodansha map… I put it down to take a picture and I guess I forgot to pick it up. A mile and change later I realize it’s missing, and walk back, but alas, it is not where I thought I left it. No fear, I found a bookstore and bought a new copy. Then I resumed my search for an onigiri. I found a restaurant called ONY (Original Natural Yard), where they didn’t speak english. But I got an ebi onigiri anyhow, because I’m good like that. I think I like the ones from the convience store better, but it at least the shrimp was good. It’s time for Sony to open, so I will go there now.
I woke up POO early (4:30 AM) but sat in bed for an hour. Then got up and looked at all the signts in Hatagaya. Hah. I’m about to grab some hotel breakfast and then shower. Today Ginza. Tonight? Rappongi Hills! and Tokyo tower. I should grab some postcards today.
I’m Pooped. I had Tengu (an izakaya – japanese style pub) for dinner. I tried and failed to find Joan’s tempura place, but I found an internet cafe and emailed her to try to get more information. Upon walking out of the internet cafe I saw that the next building over had a Tengu in it, which was recommended as a fairly easy to deal with and tasty enough izakaya.
I talked to a middle aged, Japanese businessman who was 2 seats down from me. He was a really nice guy. He gave me some suggestions of where to go, and we just talked about various things for about an hour as we ate. On my way back to the hotel I stopped at AMPM for some pocky and water. Now I will watch some TV on my iPod and then sleep.
I dropped my bags of here, as it was too early for check in, then I went back over to Shinjuku to get my JR pass set up. However, I didn’t take anything with me besides my voucher and passport, so I got way lost in Shinjuku. But I did manage to burn all the time I needed to before checkin, so that’s not so bad. I took a much needed shower and rested a bit. Now I will head back to Shinjuku for dinner.
Yes, I’ve done it. pulled my 1 “get out of jail free” card and went to Mcdonald’s. I had the Ebi Filet-o sandwich set… a shrimp sandwich. It’s pretty good. Before I went to Mcdonald’s I fumbled around in the Asakusa Matsuya’s food court. But abundance of choice for the loss. I had an AMPM Onigiri at 10AM – no freaking idea what wa sin it, but it was very good. I walked around Akihabra, good time. Then I went back to Kappabashi Dori and bought some sushi models. Now, I will collect my bags from the hotel and head towards Shinjuku.
At 8AM the tokyo subway is amazingly crazy, just like you’d expect. Luckily half the train got out at Akihabra station with me. I proceeded to get myself nice and lost, but after 15 minutes I found my bearings and found this mr donut.
I woke up at 4:30 AM. Since I was asleep around 9PM instead of my 10PM goal, I said “Eh” and got up, did the typical S & S & S, then walked around outside. I am locked out until 7am, but that’s ok. I took some sunrise pics of the “golden sperm” and a statue and the river. I got Boss coffee from a vending machine. Mr. Donut doesn’t open until 7:30 am. So i decided to go to 7-11. I got some really yummy cherry yogurt and a madeline.
So, I listened to/watched “Paprika” on the flight, and read through Rainbow’s End, and watched “Fantastic Four – Rise of the Silver Surfer” which was just awful. Brian Posehn was in it, and I feel so bad for him. I had tea bag tea before landing with “breakfast”.
Going through immigration and customs was quick and easy. When I got into the main non secure part of the terminal, I was randomly stopped by the Po Po. I gave them my hotel for Friday night as my address in Japan, as I didn’t yet have an address for tonight. But I soon fixed that. I went to the Welcome Inn desk and got the hotel in Asakusa. I also got advice to take the Keisei line there. I had to change trains once, but it only cost 1000Y, so not bad. I got money out of the 7Bank ATM in the terminal.
Upon arriving in Asakusa I meanered to my hotel, based on the map I was given by the Welcome Inn people. I stopped on my way and bought a Vitamin C water from a vending machine. I thought it was a decent drink. After only a little bit of extra wandering I found the ryokan, and got my room. I quickly changed out of my heavy cotton shirt, and put on a tshirt and put on sandals. The latter is a mistake – sweaty foot leads to chafing leads to sadness. I sent email to my parents from the lobby, then went out with my camera.
I walked around taking pictures for a while – the pagoda and shrine. Wander around, and found kitchenware town as it was closing down. I will go back there tomorrow. I stop at a vending machine and buy some delicious Pocari Sweat – YUM. I take some pics of the giant chef head and etc. Then I wander down Asakusa Dori and I start to get hungry. I consider getting onigiri at 7-11 but I mentally vetoed it.
After much more wandering I find a typical restaurant with some nice looking models of food out front. I got ebi (shrimp) tempura and it was mighty tasty. After dinner, walking back to the hotel, I got slightly lost and ende dup walking roughly 4 times longer than I should have if I went the right way.
Once I get back to the hotel I decide to use the upstairs bath, which was mighty relaxing. I’m watching TV while writing this journal entry. There is come cooking contest show on. There seemed to have been two themes – purple food, and food cooked with a blowtorch. Now I watch a bit more TV then sleep at 10PM.
I’m sitting here waiting to see if I’ll get on the plane. Well, I got a picture of it anyway. I got to the airport at 8:30AM, and got some food and coffee, andhave been mostly reading. I guess I’ll read more until I find out if I get on or not.
later:
23G – Business class, but with an economy meal is the verdict. What’s funny is that I appear to be the best dressed person in Business class. Hurray for the dress code policy.