I ventured out a little late since I had a bit too much to drink last night and needed the chance to catch up with some friends. First stop was K's to ensure that my camera was still on sale for that great deal. (It was.) Then on to Aki Habara, which is the Canal street of electronics here in Japan. I ended up on the opposite side of the tracks so it took me a bit to figure it out, but I got to have some Mochi Cream as a result... aka AMAZING. Then I found the real madness that is Akiba (for short). It's CRAZY! Definitely a ridiculously overwhelming experience to wander the 8 floor stores and alley ways just crammed with anything and everything and people shouting at you in Japanese. Pretty crazy. Thank goodness my guidebook pointed out one of the stores that had sales people who spoke like 20 languages, but it turned out I could get a much better deal on my camera back at K's. So I just immersed myself in the experience, got lost in the 8 floor SEGA arcade, attempted to be brave enough to play Pachinko, but was so confused I only managed to wander in looking like a seriously confused gai-jin. I then meandered my way down to Ueno, where I found an amazingly peaceful temple and garden tucked away in the city. I know they're all over, but it was the first one I've visited and I was in awe. It clearly was not a tourist trap because there wasn't a sign in English ANYWHERE so I had NO IDEA what was going on and I freaking LOVED it. I just wandered around and experienced the silence and peace and eventually did find one plaque at the other entrance indicating it was the Yushima shrine that is famous for its plum trees, especially during the plum festivals in the Spring. I might have to make a trip back.
Now one thing I am surprised by in Japan is the fact that there are big signpost maps EVERYWHERE. And they all have English on them. So by this point, I was just wandering looking at things on the map and choosing to visit them based on my whims. I meandered down a beautifully traditional Japanese street that felt more like an alley and was just in awe that it was someone's neighborhood. I wish I had pictures of that moment. So many goosebumps today realizing what was happening in my life. And then I tried to find the entrance to the Iwasaki former home but failed and got lost and stumbled upon the University of Tokyo and eventually made my way back to my next goal, Ueno Park. Now this is basically the Central Park of Tokyo and has a big pond, a bandshell, a zoo, a kiddie park, a bunch of museums, and some temples. So I wandered and listened to the live music playing and watched the turtles and poi swim together. Best moment? Standing next to a Japanese couple and laughing with them despite the language barrier at this turtle that couldn't manage to hoist himself onto the rock to sun himself. Seriously, hilarious. The poor guy would almost make it and a fish would bump him or another turtle would kinda punch him or jump on his back. Visited the different temples even though I really had no idea what they were, and just enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. Eventually found a monument to one of our former VP (whom I hadn't heard of) and a Japanese official who were attempting to create peace between our nations aftr WWII and were killed out at sea in a squall in 1949. That was really moving. Even moreso was the eternal flame that has been set up in the big shrine (name to be inserted tomorrow) from part of the fire from Hiroshima and sparks from the debris of Nagasaki. They created this flame as an enduring sign of the hope for peace, and it touched me deeply as someone who hates war. Seeing this amazing country and what respect and love it has for the US despite what we did 60 years ago... it just blows my mind.
Then I meandered down to Ginza just because, and found the street there a la 5th avenue and wandered through Zara and Uniqlo and all the Western name stores. Fun! I even managed to find a different way home on the Yukashino line to Shin-Kiba and was so proud of myself for managing to avoid Tokyo station!
Finished the day by finally supplying myself with my new replacement camera (thank goodness -- this blog needs some pictorial evidence too!) from K's and planning the next two busy days in Kamakara and Yokohama depending on the weather. I'm so excited! And it's already midnight and I need to get to bed so I can get up early and get at it! Wish me luck!
