Day 9: Tokyo: The Zoo and Ueno Park

Today was our last day in Tokyo. We honestly didn't really have much left on our list of places to do, so I just googled "things to do in Tokyo" and the Ueno Zoo came up.

Surrounded by a huge park with a Temple and National Gallery, the Ueno Park was something we must have walked past 20 times without ever noticing.

The temple was really pretty, and the park serene amongst the crazy shops surrounding it, but when we saw the zoo, we went instantly sold. For only 600yen (about $7 Australian) how could we go wrong?

There were lions, tigers and bears, and dozens on types of smaller marsupials and reptiles. While some of the enclosures seemed a little small, the zoo seemed to be quite well run, and the animals looked fairly content and well looked after for the most part!

Unlike the zoos I've been to back home, there is pretty much only one fence between you and the animals which means you get a really good look at them. There was a whole petting zoo section, and even some of the bigger animals were curious of us!!

We ended up spending about 3 hours just looking at all of the animals, including some Aussie favourites.

After the zoo, we headed to Akihabara, the technology district again to have another look around. Sean found some souvenirs from his time there, so I'm sure he'll sleep well tonight!

Saw some figurines of Star Wars characters reimagined as samurai warriors which was pretty cool too.

Tomorrow, Mt Fuji and Kyoto xx 

Day 8: Tokyo: ROBOT RESTAURANT

We started today off pretty quietly, with a walk around the Imperial Palace. It's about 5km around, and just beautiful! Especially on a sunny day like today.

Everything here in Tokyo is just so intricately beautiful - from their spiders (which are actually pretty big) to their man-hole covers, everything seems to be pretty!

Seeing as the morning was so sunny, we went to the Government Municipal Building again to see if the view was better. It was, but still couldn't quite see Mt Fuji.

The subway system in incredible. There is an entire world underneath the city. Today, the station we were at was over a kilometer long, and had it's own shopping center and restaurants under there!!

The main thing we wanted to do today though, was the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku. It was crazy!!! I don't know what I expected, but I guess it was something like what we saw... I don't have much to say about it other than it was nuts, and glitz, and glam, and crazy and eccentric and weird and great!

PS. Last night, we went to Karaoke with some of the other people staying at the hostel - it was hilarious and fun!! You know it's a good night, when it's midnight, and a guy called Sushi is buying the whole group a round of sake! Absolutely great bunch of people staying here :D

Tomorrow - more gardens xx

Day 7: Tokyo: A Day Off

It's been pretty non-stop this last week, so after the massive day we had yesterday, we decided to take today easy.

I had read about an all you eat place dessert place called "Sweets Paradise", so we decided to go there - it was a great decision!!

For only 1530yen (about $17 Australian) we had 70 minutes of pure sugary heaven. We got off to a strong start, but after the second heaped plate headed to the selection of savoury items they had on offer - nothing as spectacular as their cakes, pies and slices, but great none-the-less!

The hostel we are staying at is having free drinks tonight, so about to head downstairs to join in on that!

Japanese Netflix is so much better than the Aussie one too, I've discovered, from a lazy sugar-coma afternoon.

Tomorrow, the Emperor's Palace xx

Day 6: Tokyo: Disneyland

Today we went to Tokyo Disneyland, and it is seriously one of the happiest places on earth.

I had a few people suggest that DisneySea (the new extension, second park) was better, but I couldn't go past the original. It honestly blows my mind that a corporation could create something so meticulously perfect.

Because it's Christmas time, despite Japan not really celebrating it, the whole place was decked out top to toe in trees and lights - and it was beautiful and amazing and everything I could ever hope for.

The rides were all really fun, but surprisingly dark. The Snow White ride for example, that we went on first was prettty much a ghost ride! There was only one small scene where the 7 dwarves were in it, and it was a creepy mine!!

A few times a day, there was a parade, and it was amazing to see the energy of everyone as they walked and danced through the whole park.

The staff care a lot about the park, and the people in it. TWICE when we went to line up, someone came up to us to pull Sean aside to see if he would fit into the smaller Japanese-sized seats. He got taken right into the depths of Disney maintenance and taught how to fold himself into the Space Mountain and Splash Mountain seats.

If we thought the day was good, the night was even better. The lights were all up, Christmas carols were playing, and there were fireworks, and a special light show that got projected onto the whole castle.

There was also another Christmas special: a lights parade with over a dozen huge floats, covered in over a million lights.

Disney know how to do it.

Tomorrow - a day off, with all you can eat desserts! xx

 

Day 5: Tokyo: Fish Markets, Getting up High, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya

Today felt like a big day.

We started off heading to the Tsukiji fish market, only about 20 minutes subway from our accommodation. It was so intense.

Unfortunately because of the time of year, we couldn't see the tuna auction, but we saw a heap of fish. They seem to exist in 3 states: frozen solid, alive, or chopped up ready to cook.

There were a heap of little vans running around with other wooden carts. It was amazing to see something so old and traditional, with modern elements everywhere.

But seriously, so, so intense.

After the rush and hurry of the market, we decided to get above it all and head to tone of the highest vantage points in the city (and most importantly, the free one) the Tokyo Municipal Government Building.

It was an amazing view as it was, but I think we are going to try and go back on a clearer day , because apparently you can see all the way to Mt Fuji on a good day.

After seeing it from above, we headed to Meiji Jingu Shrine. It was a really peaceful place, which I really wasn't expecting, based on the popularity of the place, but we did see a lovely traditional wedding, and had a good walk around the entire garden area.

To finish the day off, we spent a casual 5 hours in Shibuya, the "cool" district of Tokyo. Home to the statue of Hachiko, and heaps of bright lights, it was awesome to see the transition between day and night in the area.

We even walked across the famed Shibuya Crossing. Like predicted, we are big in Japan.

Tomorrow, DISNEY!!! xx

 

Day 4: Tokyo: Harajuku and Sundays

Dear Japan,

Why is everything closed on Sundays??

Sincerely, Emma

Today we planned on headed to a few shines and temples over near the Shinjuku area, but they were pretty much all closed. Even the parks surrounding them were all locked up!! It didn't help that the weather was pretty terrible too.

Despite that, we still wondered around for a while and saw a huge group of kids learning to ride bikes in one of the parks near a huge museum, and got some delicious hot food from a vending machine near the basketball arena. It turned out to be octopus dumplings, and they were actually really tasty!

Also, I don't quite know why, but literally every statue here seems to have a dragon head. I was told they are meant to be lions, but I don't see it, and I certainly don't know why there would be a unicorn with a lion or dragon head!!

We then decided to head to Harijuku. We didn't really know the way, so we literally just followed a girl in cosplay just about the entire way!

Takeshita Dori (the main street) is ridiculous. The entire street is lined with super Kawaii stores selling everything cutesy and girly you could ever imagine. There was even an whole shop of Tamegotchis, selling the toys themselves, as well as plush toys, stationary and even themed doughnuts!

Everything in the whole street was really bright and girly, even on a day like today when it was a bit drizzly. Unfortunately it was the wrong weekend for full cosplay groups, but there were about a dozen girls all dressed up!

Planning on having a pretty quiet night in tonight, hopefully xx

Day 3: Tokyo: Emperor's Garden and Akihabara

Today we headed into the heart of Tokyo city, catching 2 subways to the main Tokyo Station.

I planned on exploring Tokyo City for a while before the tour, but to be honest, it was mostly high end shops. Once you realise the price tag, I wanted to leave pretty quickly I haven't quite mastered the art of turning around with an unwieldy backpack!

The station itself was pretty impressive, but was very western-looking, which seemed almost out of place amongst the ultra-modern and ultra-traditional juxtaposition around it.

A lot of the shops and buildings were really getting into the Christmas Spirit though, with a lot of displays and sales. There was even a 5 story high Christmas tree in one building!!

In the afternoon, I had found that there was a really informative free walking tour that leaves there every Saturday through the Emperor's Palace Garden.  The people running it were really lovely and helpful, and obviously really knew their stuff!! A must-do if you're interested in the history of Tokyo!

We also got the last of the cherry blossoms which was pretty cool

K's House is great. We got some noodles from the 7/11 over the road and ate them on the rooftop. It has an amazing view! (even though it's a bit grim, the graveyard is actually pretty cool to look at)

After dinner, we headed to the electronic district of Akihabara. It. Was. NUTS! There was one store that at first I mistook for a statium. It was massive! All of the flashing lights were super intense and pretty spectacular.

All of the tech stuff was pretty incredible, and there were a ton of comic stores in the area too. Some of the things they were selling were super weird though. I don't want to go into too much detail, but the "Japanese Schoolgirl" thing goes to really, really disturbing places.

Despite some of the depravity, we ended up spending a few hours there after dark, and it ended up being a really great time, just wandering around!

I've also found that public toilets are a bit of a gamble. They are literally either space age, and have buttons I have never even thought about, or are just a porcelain hole in the ground.

Off to Harajuku tomorrow, for some more schoolgirl action ;) xx

Day 2: Tokyo: Senso-ji Temple

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Accommodation: K's House, Tokyo 

Today was our first official day in Tokyo. We caught the train from the airport where we stayed last night, got slightly lost, but made our way here! (May have had some help from a lovely man at the train station when we couldn't work out which way was north for our map) 

We were able to check in early and drop off our bags, and Yoshi at reception showed us where we could go to spend a few hours while our room was being cleaned and set up.

We ended up at Senso-ji, a large Buddhist temple, only a few blocks away. Inside the gardens, there are a heap of shops and stalls, we stopped to have some lunch: some delicious noodles and gyoza.

The temple itself was pretty incredible to look at. Being a weekday, it was busy, but not crowded, with a lot of people praying and lighting candles and incense. It smelt amazing, and all of the traditional statues and paintings were amazing!

There were quite a few school children on tours, and some came up to us, asking for help with their English assignment. They were adorable and so polite!

Easily spent a couple of hours there, then wondered around the streets surrounding it for a while, just taking in the town, including Sumida River, a playground, a bunny park and a traditional Japanese wedding of a random couple with rickshaws. 

Day 1: Headed to Japan!!

Location: Narita, Japan

Accommodation: Narita Tobu Hotel (9288yen for 2 beds)

Today we flew to Japan! We flew with Jetstar which worked out fine, because I paid extra for seats with extra leg room. Totally worth it when travelling with someone who is 6'6", 2m tall!!

We had a short layover in Cairns, and our winter gear we wore in preparation for the Tokyo chill was terrible, but we had an overpriced sandwich and moved onto another plane.  

It was beautiful flying over the Great Barrier Reef.  

Japan was pretty easy to get through as far as security and customs, they gave us all the forms on the plane, took our photos, and our fingerprints, and that was all! 

Because our flight got in quite late, we stayed at the Narita Tobu Hotel near the airport. It was quite nice for the price, had free toothpaste and internet, and was very clean and the staff were very helpful, with free shuttles. 

The shower could have been slightly larger though.

Today, Tokyo xx