Thanksgiving day, Kristen and I traveled to Tokyo for the long weekend. We spent 3 nights there and crammed a lot in! It was a fun trip and I saw just enough to know what else I want to see if I ever go back there. We navigated the Tokyo subway line and managed to get around pretty well. Tokyo is all city and reminds me a lot of New York. It is a very fast paced place, but the people are helpful and considerate.
P.S. - I included a lot of photos in this blog post so it is pretty long... However, I tried to break it down so that it is easy to follow along with what we did in Tokyo. These pictures are the best of the many I took so enjoy!
Day 1 - we flew to Tokyo, managed to figure out the subway lines enough to make it to our hotel, and checked in to our hotel. We didn't want to waste any time, so as soon as we were able to check in, we went exploring and tried to make it to a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. We got lost and ended up on Ginza shopping street and then decided instead of going to the tea ceremony we'd just head to the Tokyo Tower. We successfully made it there after asking a lot of people for directions and walking quite a while. It was beautiful and from the top of the tower you could see all of Tokyo... it was well worth it.
we got to take the Pokemon plane to Tokyo. stereotypical but so awesome!
tokyo business men in their black suits in the airport... we definitely stood out.
we found our hotel! it was so huge I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing.
exploring the area around our hotel... there was a shopping center and it had a Sony store. again, stereotyping but awesome.
our accidental stop at the Ginza shopping district
Ginza street
walking to Tokyo Tower
It is basically like the Eiffel tower only Orange and a little bit bigger.
Tokyo Tower
The entry way was all decorated with pretty lights for Christmas... it was our first encounter with Christmas decorations since getting to Japan... we got excited!
Tokyo from the Tokyo Tower
The view from the other side of the Tower
Kristen and I all bundled up in our coats and scarves
bundled up above the city
when we arrived back at our hotel the first night, there was a live big band playing in the courtyard, they were pretty young and really good... it was a special treat for me
In japan, the tables are pretty close together, they have a different standard of personal space than in the US... the kid sitting at the next table at dinner kept looking at us... I finally said hi in the little Japanese I know and he got all shy but I got him to take a picture with me.
we found these robes in our hotel room... we couldn't resist having a little photo shoot. lol
:) we were having too much fun
Day 2 - DISNEYLAND DAY! Kind of self explanatory... we got back on the subway system and headed to the Tokyo Disneyland Resort. It was a fun day filled with Disney magic. Tokyo Disneyland is pretty big and has two parks, but we only had time for the main Disneyland park.
cute... :)
I was sooooooo excited!
Tokyo Disneyland! Typical flower Mickey in the entrance.
The "World Bazaar" - their version of Main Street but it is under a giant glass cover, probably because the weather in Tokyo is a lot colder and wetter than in California.
Main Street... or whatever they call it.
Saxophone quartet... they were really good.
Now in the park, looking back on Main Street
Tokyo Disney - Cinderella's Castle
some things are universal.
River Boat Adventure
The ride was in Japanese so we couldn't really understand it... but it was fun listening to the Japanese people laugh at the jokes in the same places that they tell jokes in the ride in California
They haven't turned it into Tarzan's Treehouse... it is still Swiss Family Treehouse! I was excited!
Pirates dance outside of Pirates of the Caribbean ride
we ate at the Blue Bayou for lunch
The day started out pretty warm, we were surprised that we weren't cold with just our t-shirts on... but in the afternoon it got colder. Then I got all bundled up.
Rivers of America in Tokyo. Ironic.
It's A Small World... seemed a fitting ride for our international adventures.
Main Street/World Bazaar all lit up at night
Space Mountain - just as fun in Tokyo.
Autopia - just as boring in Tokyo
We could see the light parade as we waited in the Pooh ride line.
Pooh ride - so much better in Tokyo than in California
Beautiful Christmas tree - typical Disney
Day 3 - The third day of our Tokyo trip, Kristen took a tour to Mt. Fuji and I stayed behind and explored a few different parts of Tokyo on my own. It was actually really nice just being able to walk around and figure stuff out on my own. I ended up doing quite a lot that day and also met up with some friends who also in Tokyo that weekend.
I began my day attempting to find the Kabuki Theater. Kabuki is basically a very exaggerated and bizarre dance/drama that usually consists of a very flamboyant performance with exaggerated make up and costumes. If you what to know more about what Kabuki is, click here. I wanted to watch a performance to experience the culture of it but sadly, the theater was closed for the day. However, I was just excited that I was able to find the theater all by myself.
Sad.
cool lanterns outside the Kabuki Theater
The outside of the Kabuki theater was very beautiful with art work and architecture. Not sure what this sign says, but I think Japanese writing is so beautiful and aesthetic.
A sign in the Subway entrance... apparently you're not supposed to do your makeup on the train.
my attempt at an artsy subway picture... I like how it turned out. on my way to my next destination.
Ginza shopping area - this is where we accidentally ended up the first night, but I wanted to go explore it some more.
toy shop
entire Hello Kitty section of the toy store
giant race track in the toy store. this was a 4 or 5 story toy store... it was pretty cool.
in front of some shops... I like the way they hang signs in Tokyo, it is very neat and orderly
Now actually on Ginza street
famous building in the main square at Ginza
I was just standing there waiting to cross the street and this whole row of classic cars drove up. Pretty sweet.
lots of people
they closed the main Ginza street down around lunch time and put tables and chairs up for people to sit and eat lunch. It was weird for such a major street.
Ginza street at lunch time. No cars, only people.
5 story Apple Store. I hadn't checked my email since I got to Tokyo... so I was excited.
I met up with Jeff and Kathi Buss (people I know from Okinawa) and their kids... this is Connor laying with my cell phone.
Apple store. American computer company store in Japan - oh the irony.
Jenna and Payton, Jeff and Kathi's girls. We all went out to lunch at a nice sushi restaurant in the Ginza area.
Tatami room, sort of. You can't tell here but there is a hole under the table to put your feet... much more comfortable than a typical tatami room where you sit Indian style.
Kathi, Jeff, Jenna, Payton, Conner, and me
best sushi I've had so far in Japan. I tried Octopus, Sea Urchin, cuttlefish, Salmon eggs, and Eel all in one day... I felt very brave.
Outside the Sushi restaurant
Ginza street from a different angle
people people everywhere. In Tokyo, the crosswalk light turns green and people just flood the street... it is crazy.
After Ginza street I headed to Ueno Park. There are many shrines/temples there. It was a beautiful park with some really wonderful architecture.
Temple or shrine of some kind.
prayers in all different languages
hand washing station - "holy" water of some kind before you go in the temple
beautiful fall day
older shrine
interesting statues
another shrine... they were burning incense out front
beautiful building.
japanese architecture
duck shaped paddle boats. I didn't ride one but it was fun watching other people do it.
pretty
entrance to another shrine or temple... I didn't go in but I thought the pillars were cool
Pagoda (English term for a tower-like structure in certain parts of Asia with multiple eaves) - beautiful setting
a shrine after dark... there were so many shrines and temples in this park... I got all turned around but I'm pretty sure I never saw the same one twice.
back on the subway.
7 or 8 story famous Electronics store. It was amazing. This was only one store in the Akihabara district... an entire district of electronics and computer stores. They had everything... and more. I wanted more time to see the rest of the district but it was dark and I was tired so this is the only store I went in. After conquering this store, I headed back to the hotel.
Day 4 - final day! Kristen and I spent the last day in Tokyo exploring some more and shopping in some of the famous shopping areas. We went to Imperial Palace and Harajuku street before heading to the airport.
Imperial Park. Beautiful setting.
Japanese bridge
leaves!
you can see one of the buildings on the Imperial Palace grounds in the background.
City meets Imperial Palace.
gate to the Imperial Palace grounds. tourists are not allowed in.
beautiful. you can see the imperial palace off to the right side. It is hidden behind the trees but we could see a little bit of it.
Imperial Palace
Picture with Tokyo behind us
leaving Imperial Park, heading back into the city
Japanese construction workers (we think) on a break... they were all wearing the super baggy pants. I have seen these type of pants in Okinawa, but this was the perfect picture opportunity.
Harajuku Street - the "young crowd" shopping area
You can see the sea of people all the way until the tree gets in the way. I'm not going to lie, it was kind of intimidating.
so many people!
main square - one of the 4 corners has a condom shop right up front. hmmmm.
Tokyo Olympic Stadium - held the 1964 Summer Olympics
Harajuku street - a less intimidating view
Back at the hotel to get our stuff and head to the airport. We had to take pictures with the comedian cut outs. Oh Japan.
Last Tokyo subway ride - on the way to the airport.
It was a great weekend and I saw just enough to know what I want to go back and see again. I'm finding that traveling is like that, the first time you go somewhere you realize everything there is to see in that place, see what you can while you are there and start gathering ideas for your next trip. Maybe I'll get to go back next year and see a little bit more of Tokyo and other major cities in mainland Japan. Then again, there are so many other places to go and explore that I haven't been yet.
