Post by Saucer on Dec 31, 2004 1:39:09 GMT -5
Japan wasn't nearly as crowded and hard to travel in as I'd heard, even though we were there during a holiday season. There were a few times during rush hour when the trains were packed, but we didn't see any of the infamous "pushers." ^^; One thing that amazed me the most about Japan was it's cleanliness. The entire week, I didn't spot a single piece of litter on the ground. Which is even more amazing, considering there were hardly any garbage cans anywhere! They had some by like maybe one out of every five vending machines. And in front of convenience stores. They were few and far between, but when they did have them they had seperate containers for cans, bottles, paper, etc...... Not too great a variety of vending machines as I expected, but they certainly are everywhere. Mostly drinks (soda, coffee, tea, water, cocoa, etc) and cigarrettes. But we did see a beer machine and a sake machine.
The restaraunts at the hotel were pretty expensive. Food can be cheap, if you go to a place to those salaryman noodle places but we didn't really speak enough english to order so we basically ended up eating out of convenience stores most of the time. A cheap yet satisfying alternative for budgeted gaijin! One time though we were eating at a little restaraunt by Asakusa Kannon Temple that offered english menus. We were waiting for a table and joking that "Yeah watch, they're all 'Let's stick the gaijin in the corner'." And sure enough, the host is all to the cashier "(something in Japan) gaijin (something else in Japanese)?" gesturing to the corner! They stuck us under the stairs, it was awesome. There was another time when we were in the subway looking at a schedule and a little kid is all "Gaijin!!!!!" And the Mom is all "SSSHHHHH!!!!" It was totally sweet.
Traveling wasn't too hard. The Tokyo Metropolitan Subway is a cinch. Everything is labelled in english and very well layed out. The JR is another story.... -_-; Even though things are also in english, it just somehow seemed more confusing. Though station agents will usually stop and try to help you if you look like a lost gaijin. Getting through security at Nartia wasn't too bad either, except the customs guy kept asking me if I was trying to bring in drugs, guns, kotex (don't ask), etc...... ^^;
Monday we saw Asakusa Kannon Temple. It was the last day of the Battledore Festival so there were alot of vendors and activities going on. The Koi pond was amazing, too.
Then we trucked over to Ueno Park (well first we got waylayed at the exit to the station by this uber toystore, but more on that later). It was getting dark by the time we got there (and when night falls in Japan it really falls fast!), so most things were closed. I managed to talk Sarah into a cycleboat trip around the pond. Here's a picture of Ueno at night.
Tuesday we took in a one-act Kabuki matinee.
We renting these earpieces where they tell you in english what's going on but we were still lost after like 15 minutes. ^^; After wandering around Ginza for an hour we didn't find the Godzilla statue. Later on we paid a nighttime visit to Tokyo Tower...
...and then on to Shibuya. Lot's of swanky joints in that neighborhood and the most friggin' busiest intersection in the world! Also, the infamous Colonel Sanders statues!
Tuesday we took the bullet train to Osaka. The bullet train was very nice and spacious, even in second class. And we saw Mt Fuji on the way.
As soon as we reached Osaka we hopped a local train up to Takazaruka to see the Tezuka Osamu Manga Museum. A very fitting tribute to Manga no Kami! Lots of memorobilia dating back to childhood, plus covers of eveyr manga he ever published. The theater was showing a nice, brief documentary on his life. There was also an exhibit upstairs commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Black Jack and the new TV series. There was also a manga library with tons of Tezuka graphic novels (most in Japanese, but some in english, spanish and other languages as well). In addition there were also computer stations where you could explore various things........ though we got distracted by the fact that these computers also had ever anime ever produced by Tezuka-sensei or from a manga of his. I got to see alot of cool stuff. Here's the awesome Phoenix statue that was out front.
Wednesday we went to the Ghibli museum. Lots of trinkets from Studio Ghibli and memoribilia from the production of their various anime films. Cool displays. The coolest part was the giant robot on the roof from Laputa.
We also hit Akihabara later on that eveing. Unfriggin' believable. I was numb after about 30 minutes. Though I did manage to just randomly find this one Dreamcast game I'd been looking for for the last 3 years. I could not believe it.
Thursday was out last day. We visited the Meiji Shrine and Museum.
And since we had some time, we took a trip back to Ueno to check out the Zoo. And let me say one last thing, if this picture of this Pagoda at sunset with crows flying by doesn't make you want to flip samurai style then nothing will.....
There's lots more pictures on my FTP, so please check them out when you have time!
Saucer's Japan p1x0rZ
;D 
.