The sky way blue, the sun was shining, and we were off to Asakusa. Never mind that people were late to meeting, that just gave me time to head to the 100 yen shop and buy some tasty treats.
On and off the train, we found ourselves walking the shopping street towards the temple. On each side were stalls offering all sorts of souvenir goods. Last time I was in Tokyo I thought of this area as the only tourist attraction in the city. And I still believe that. Local, domestic, and international tourists all line the streets here hopping from shop to shop on their way to see the temple.
The temple itself, I'm sure, offers a great sight to those who understand the practices. As for myself, I can take enjoyment from watching people rub the healing smoke on their bodies, before paying their coins and entering the building. The great number of statues and flowers here also do well to capture my interest.
And well spent it was, until a few Japanese guys came up to me and wanted to get pictures with me. Who knows what has become of them. It's possible I look strange to them, and it's also possible they mistook me for the Canadian who looks like me that is on TV here, talking about the country. Who can say?
After people had finished their temple walks, and fortune reading, we took off to walk over to Ueno park. I seem to recall having been there not long ago, but now in the sun it would be – you know – easier to find the washroom and not become horribly lost. Also, during the day it was likely that there would not be giant talking beer bottles, but that's just supposition on my part.
I had no patience to watch this farce. Not when it was only making me angry – just give the the food, and if they wanna stay, then tell them about your all-bloody-mighty. Otherwise you're just cruel. Plus, there were lots of Cherry Blossoms to go see.
These flowers are turning out to be like ice in Antarctica. Sure, there are lots, and I'd already taken hundreds of photos – but not of this specific area, and not in this light, and not with this background. It was different. I just had to take a dozen more shots. And a dozen more shots I took.
When people went to explore the park a little more, I also decided to just hang back and read. I was quite enjoying these moments of free time. What a beautiful thing it was. My only break from reading came when I was told I just simply had to walk up to a shrine, pour oil on a statue, and then drink some Sakura tea. Sure – why not?
From the park we headed to Shinjuku. Our first stop was to go to the governmental building and take the fifty five second elevator to the forty fifth floor, offering views of the surrounding city that stretches until it merges with the clouds.
I'd seen this all before, but I hadn't collected the stamp. That alone made it worth the time. And the thirty minute line. I do not remember there being a line last time I was here. Still – once at the top, all was forgiven. And it was free, so why not?
Stew discovered a little machine I would have overlooked. You could have your picture taken, and it would be printed on a piece of rounded plastic. This picture of your face could then be put into a plastic toy body. For 500 yen you could make plastic you! What better thing could I be offered?! I love myself so!
Huh.
Well anyway, with mini Mike and Kath on key chains, I was ready to descend back to the ground level and head out to Shinjuku on the other side of the station. The real Shinjuku – the real Japan, in my mind.
Now, it's not that I quite like Shinjuku – it offers fewer things that I care about, but at night? That's what you think of when you think Tokyo. It was here that Bill Murray first entered Japan in Lost in Translation. Here are the neon lights, and the streets packed with people. Here is the night life all coming together and making the ordinary extrodinary.
And off runs a man being chased through the streets. Shinjuku nightlife!
A terrible amount of pictures may have been taken as I tried to capture every light, and every subtle illumination. I failed, I always fail at this – it's just so much. It's something that, once again, needs to be seen to be appreciated. The colours, and feeling. I was home – even though I didn't quite want to be here.
They're easy to spot – they all have hair just like Cloud Strife.
With those sights experienced it was back to our rooms. The night was stretching on, and we had to be up early the next day to activate our rail passes, and get on out of this crazy city!
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