Tokyo; Shibuya

This is a really quick update about today because it is late and we are up super early tomorrow morning.
Today we made out way over to Shibuya and Harajuku. We got to see (and cross) the busiest four way in the world, Shibuya Crossing (I am sure you have all seen video or photos of this famous crossing). It being the weekend the whole area was packed to the gills with people. We wandered around looking for a particular store that sold used manga. It took us forever but we finally found it. We then tried to go to a coffee shop, but there was a huge wait and tons of people smoking. We decided to go and try to find the Cosplay. We didn't find it and instead wandered into a huge park (Peter did eventually find the tail ends of the CosPlay and he was unimpressed). The park was fabulous. It felt like a real slice of Japanese life in Tokyo. There were people scattered all through the trees, doing all manner of things. The most fabulous was the music. People were playing instruments every where you turned. Everything from a girl playing a tradition Japanese instrument like a banjo (haven't figured out what one yet) to guitars, to drums, to saxophone, to flutes, to violins, to bagpipes (yes...I said bagpipes). There was even a five piece jazz band set up in the trees, complete with an accordion. It was amazing just wandering around encountering all the music. There were lots of dogs, and runners, and frizz bee players. There were also poi spinners, rope walkers, dancers, and families having picnics. It was lovely. I spent some time napping on the grass, and Peter and I spent a long time just wandering around and sitting and people watching. We then leisurely went back to the hostel (after just missing the large temple, ah well, there will be plenty more)
I am sad to be leaving Tokyo, as it has been such an amazing city. However, I am ready for some peace and quiet. I defiantly need some down time, and the temple and surrounding shrines and graveyards should do the trick.
Tomorrow we are off early to Kayo-san. I won't have internet access for a few days due to being at a temple and then camping. Next time I write I will be steps away from an onsen (hotspring)...aaaaahhhhhh!!!

A note to my followers; if you read this blog, please take note that I really appreciate comments on posts. It makes me feel like spending the time writing this is worth while (it also lets me get a sense of who is listening)
See you all on the other side of Buddhist immersion...

Walking, walking, and more walking

Tokyo Day #2; Akiahbara
Akihbara is the electronic district of Tokyo and we wanted to see what fun gadgets we could find. It was actually quite overwhelming and we didn't really find any interesting gadgets. Aside from cameras and computers all we saw was lots and lots of video games and manga (with the mandatory floors of manga porn of course). When you go into the stores (which are all 8 stories high) the clerks yell ALL the time at the top of their lungs. I assume they are yelling advertising or something similar. There is also music and ads blaring over top of the clerks voices. Ahhhh, after an hour you feel like you want to crawl in a nice dark quiet hole. We did find a few neat stores. One full of various little (and large) characters from all sorts of movies and video games (I got a little forest spirit from Princess Monanoke); another had lots of Japanese kitch.
We had planned to visit the Imperial Palace East Gardens, but realized they had already closed. We decided to go back to Asakusa (the area where our hostel is) and wander around from something to eat. We ended up wandering around Shenso-ji Temple (and surrounding district). This was such an amazing experience it deserves it's own post (sorry folks, I try to put it up tonight)

Tokyo Day #3; Tsukiji Fish Market and Ginza District
One of the things I really wanted to do while I was in Tokyo was to see the enormous fish market, Tsukiji. This is where all the restaurants get their fresh fish for the day. We had to get up really early to see all the action. Not early enough that we caught the actual auction though, which starts before 6am (though from fellow travelers at the hostel the auction wasn't that exciting). It was amazing!! So busy and crowded, and full of every kind of sea food you can imagine. The place was full of these tiny little vehicles that are driven standing up. The zoom in and out of the aisles to move small orders of fish to and fro around the market. The men who drive them all looked like they were having way to much fun zooming around. And they do not stop for anyone!! We wandered around in the chaos for awhile, taking pictures, before deciding to get out of the way and go find some yummy sushi breakfast. There are tons of little sushi places right next to the market, so we chose one that looked neat and had a fabulous fresh breakfast. I had some tuna that simply melted when I put it in my mouth (fabulous). When ever you go into a restaurant here all the staff yell out hello (or similar equivalent, as there seems to be many different ways to greet someone here). Makes you feel very welcome.
We then wandered around the markets to the side of the fish market, that are full of other kinds of food. We found a box of tiny tiny pineapples (smaller than my thumb)!!! We haven't tried them yet to see if they are any good. We also caught a picture of real stuffed polar bear (go figure).
We then decided to go to the Sony building that was in the nearby district of Ginza. We had heard this was where all the latest and greatest Sony products were on display for testing. It was actually a big disappointment. There were lots of cool cameras and good quality headphones, but nothing like we were expecting. We didn't stay long. We then wandered over towards the Imperial Palace ground, with a thought to again try for the East Gardens. We ended up in the fountain garden instead and just sat around for a few hours talking. My feet have been atrocious the last few days. I don't know whether it is left over from the plane flight and jet lag, or all the slow casual walking, but they are terribly swollen and after a few hours of walking are very painful. I am hoping they get better because they disincline me to walking...
We then went back to Senso-ji Temple area for some small token shopping (as we missed it that first day we were there). As we were leaving to go back to the hostel we wandered down a side alley. There was this restaurant with a big tank of fish in the window. They looked familiar, and when we went to investigate we realized they were fugu (if you don't know what fugu is, click the link). We had heard that fugu was very expensive, but we discovered that we could have fugu shashimi and sake for $15. Live dangerously right? It was quite good. It had an almost sweet and citrus flavor and a texture like squid. It was sliced very very thin and looked like glass.
We then headed back to the hostel, had dinner, and went to bed.

It's the weekend now, so we are off to Harajuku to see all the CosPlay folks on display!! Might hit another big temple too, shall see where the day takes us. Tomorrow we are off to Kayo San and the temple. From there...we still aren't sure!!

Shinjuku

Yesterday we spent the day in Shinjuku, an area of Tokyo to the north west of the city center.
While looking for a bank that had foreign exchange we wandered into this series of back streets that were full of electronic stores and tiny restaurants full of business men in suits. Peter found a fabulous tripod (much better than the silly one from Canada). We finally found a money exchange (only because it was the only bank that didn't have a sign out front saying "no foreign exchange") We wandered for a long while, getting semi lost several times. At one point we ended up in a very western mall where all the ads showed only white people. It was mildly creepy.
The food here is fabulous. We tried the crazy drinks from the vending machines and ended up stopping to get more all day. As we were coming home we found a vending machine that sold ice cream. It was amazing ice cream. Vending machine companies in North America should take a lesson from the Japanese!! We also had lunch at this little sushi place in the back streets of Shinjuku. Luckily we could just point to the picture we wanted and say arigato!! On the way home we were transferring between trains and we found one of those little hole in the wall restaurants that are in larger metro stations. Outside of them is a menu, and you press the button below the item you want, pay the machine, and get your ticket. You take your ticket and hand it to the chef behind the counter inside, he makes your meal on the spot and you go and stand over a small counter and eat it. Well, the place we went to was all in Japanese, with no pictures. We decided to just get the two things on the menu that were 410 yen. Both had soba noodles, one hot and one cold. They were amazingly good and totally filling. You'd be hard pressed to find such a yummy meal at home for around 4.50$. This morning we decided to go to a grocery store we had seen around the corner to get something for breakfast. Everything in the store was 100 yen. We got soba, soup stock, mushrooms, shrimp tempura, bok choy, and tamago (egg) for 600 yen (about 6.50$). That's a fabulous breakfast for $3 each!!!! I also got some really good strawberry milk.
Today we are off to Akihabara for a dose of crazy electronic Japan, and then perhaps off to the Imperial Gardens to chill out for the afternoon...

Tokyo

We have arrived in a semi-tropical country. It is so hot and humid here. I don't think I will ever use the sweater I brought.
We flew out on Monday and arrived Tuesday afternoon (thanks to crossing the international date line). The flight was long, but bearable, I even managed to sleep a little. Getting to the hostel was suprisingly easy (after some confusion with switching trains) . The hostel is in a very quite residential neighborhood of Asukasa, in north eastern Tokyo. After we had settled we took a walk around. Bought some fruit from a little store down the road. Then we found a 7/11. Fabulous!! My first meal in Japan turned out to be corn flakes with banana's, LOL. There are also vending machines EVERYWHERE, full of strange "POW" drinks with a sinsiter coffee theme. We are going to brave the concequences and get one.
We hear Japanese at every turn and it is a juxtapostion in the stacato that flows over you like water. I feel strangley silly that I don't know the language, and I am shy and hesitant to interact. Hopefully as time goes by this will get better.
Today we are off to Shinjuku, to wander around, eat, buy a tripod, and exhange some money. Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures tomorrow.