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Let's Make It! - Chiyo Mihama |
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Okay, so that was Harajuku (Part 1 - I'll be back... -_-)
Time to fast forward a week to 12/15 and 12/16.
So on the 15th, I met up with David's Japanese friend ピーコ(Peeko), and she took me to Asakusa. Now let me say, this is by far one of the nicest places to see in Tokyo. I highly recommend it to any travelers. Now, Peeko suggested we meet up in Shibuya (which if you've been following, I have yet to visit) at one of the two famous statues outside Shibuya Station. Well... famous if you've been there... which I hadn't. So after a text messaging "argument" about which of the two statues to wait at (Moyai or Hachiko), we decided on Hachiko, since I at least knew it was a dog statue. Well, I leave the station, and what's the first thing I see?
The Moyai statue... which, btw, comes from the real name "Moai". Nice things to know in advance ^_^
After some searching (I was on the wrong side of the station) I finally found Hachiko.
And it was mobbed.
Anyways, Peeko said she was running a bit late so I decided to take some photos of the area.
Here's a nice view of Shibuya from the station. See anything familiar? Yep, Starbucks. They're everywhere here too. The more things change, the more they stay the same, ne?
Now this statue is a little less famous, but it was by Hachiko, looked cool, and thus meant photo op:
Now the really interesting thing was that there was a special visitor in Shibuya this time of the year:
Funny things of note:
Santa's still white in Japan ^_^
Santa was giving out Christmas music
Some guy who sounded like he was with Santa's ente- unte- um... Group, he was saying that he flew here from Texas to talk about (and here is where I am not sure about what I heard) either Christmas or Christ. I think it was the latter.
So Peeko arrived (and after compiling these photos, I realized I took none of her... bah! next time!)
So Asakusa... so pretty. Now I see why it was so important a place in Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (Video Game Trivia FTW!). I was able to get all of my Christmas shopping done here (Family stuff only, guys, sorry...) This is the traditional center of Tokyo. So the stores had beautiful kimonos, statues, snacks, etc. Totally awesome.
So without further ado, I give you ( Ryonzilla Attacks Asakusa! )
So we started off by going for lunch for Monjayaki (a gooey yet delicious cousin of Okanomiyaki). The restaurant was on Tanuki Street and as such is surrounded by Racoon stuff.
Including a very rare species of Racoon - the Rycoon.
^_^
After lunch we went shopping all over.
Then we went to the Asakusa Temple. Before getting to the temple we crossed this beautiful gate.
So the temple had a whole bunch of little areas including a Pagoda
A Budda Statue
There were fortunes to be had. I got good fortune. It said I would lose something, but I would then get it back and better. Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks (especially with my computer), I'm a believer.
Inside the temple was this big kabuki thingy (Can you shed some light, David?).
And the ceiling was beautifully painted. My camera doesn't do it justice:
Now next to the Temple was a Shinto Shrine. There were guardian lions, that totally remind me of my grandparent's home back in Israel. I think they will be visible in a later post.
And here's the shrine. Quaint, ne?
According to the shrine, I was gonna have bad luck, so I stuck with Buddhism for the day - no offering for the Shinto. :0p I think it was a wise decision.
So after dark, we decided to train over to Akihabara for a little fun and dinner. Now this was probably my strangest trip to Akihabara so far (and when you see the video from the next trip, you'll see it was tough to make that call).
First, there was a guy dressed in the same exact outfit as the statue I bought my little brother:
Next, I accidentally took Peeko to a sex shop. And yes, I'm serious it was an accident. There's a store in Akihabara that I saw during my first trip that had costumes in all the windows. I figured it was a cosplay shop. It's Akihabara after all, the Otaku central. Yeah... not a cosplay shop... at least not exactly... eheh.
And then to further the theme of that trip, I saw this sign.
Yeah.... who wants to guess what I was thinking?
The rest of Akihabara went a lot more innocently. We went to a really nice Yakitori place for dinner and then headed back our separate ways. I think aside from the accidental taking away Peeko's sex shop virginity, it was a successful trip. I think she agrees too. (I hope so) I'm sure we'll get together again in the not-to-distant future.
So Sunday I met up with a family friend who has been living in Japan for 20 years and has a car (yay car). He helped me take my computer into the shop and then drove me out to Shibuya since he had work (he's a musician) and I was heading to Harajuku (Part 2).
Between Shop and Shibuya, we went for lunch at the Landmark Tower in Minatomirai. It's supposed one of the taller buildings in Japan at a whopping 50 floors. As a New Yorker, I'm not as impressed. But there was a really cool statue thingy there that I had to get a picture in front of.
Like the size difference?
So we ate at Sizzler ^_^ and then had Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery ^_____^. So yeah, two Americans in Japan eating American food (well I had all you can eat tacos, so "North American" food). Though anyone who disses Cold Stone is a loser.
So as I was saying, I went back to Shibuya. I met up with the HR guy, Watanabe-san, who has been an awesome help with stuff and I suggested coming out to see the Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine) with those of us who were trying a second time to see it. In the end, the other guys bailed so it was just me and Watanabe-san.
We arrived just as they locked the gates.
Now I see what the Shinto shrine meant about bad luck. BAH!!!
So Watanabe and I walked around a bit. He helped me explain to the Kiddy Land people why I was returning the DVDs I bought from them. And then we decided to walk back to Shibuya before heading back to the mansion (he lives there too).
Now one cool thing that I missed last time in Harajuku that he pointed out this time was an Asian Bazaar that sold the exact same things as Asakusa (but more expensive, so I wasn't upset). But what was really cool were the two statues outside the store:
This guy is named "Un"
This guy is named "Ah"
Their names are based on the shape of their mouths. (I just thought of a terrible thing I could say, but I won't.... but I'll let you all wonder what it was...)
So these guys as a pair are known as Ni-oH. Sound familiar? Yep, that's the name of the game I was sent to work on. Now after seeing the statues, I understand all the project changes they've implemented.
( Secrets )
On the way back to Shibuya we passed through an area called Aoyama (Blue Mountain). There's a university there, and apparently also a UN College.
Cool, huh?
So we walked around Shibuya and Watanabe-san accidentally propositioned me. He pointed out Dogenzaka, the adult district. He mentioned that this is where the Love Hotels are. "Wanna go?"
Now obviously he meant, "Do you want to go into the district and look around." But we all know what the more obvious colloquial meaning of "This is where the Love Hotels are; wanna go?" is.
I pointed this out. He got embarassed. We laughted. Then I said yes. After all, I knew you'd all want SOME pictures. And don't worry... their all "decent". Sickos...
$20 for an hour and a half. Not bad, ne?
Joyful!
So after that we had dinner at...
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE! BAM! You have no idea how nice it was to have a real steak cooked medium-rare with all the fixin's. SO SO GOOD!
So yeah, that was fun. Then we went back to the Mansion... to SEPARATE apartments... Sickos...
So good times that weekend.
Now just a note. I took a ton of photos last weekend (23rd and 24th since Monday was a holiday and Saturday I was wrapping gifts for home). Unfortunately I wont have time to get them up by Saturday (the 28th). On Saturday, I'm going to Kansai (Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and Kyoto) with the Singaporians and the rest of the Canadians will join us in Kyoto. I'm gonna take my camera and take a ton of photos, but there won't be any more LJ updates until I get back. This means you will all have to wait for Harajuku and Akihabara Part 3. Sorry.
Have a great New Years, all.
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