A Sunday in Tokyo...

... filled with taking cheesy but funny pics in one of the many vending machines around town (loved it!), watching all kinds of youth subcultures (Gothic Lolitas, 50's Rockabilly, Cosplay) around Harajuku and Takeshita Dori Street, enjoying some lunch with Megumi and Sorami in a small cafe close to Shibuya, followed by some Karaoke session afterwards and finishing the day with some shopping in one of the many shopping malls. Well, a perfect Sunday more or less!

Cheesy Sticker Pics

Harajuku and its people


Sorami, Megumi and I - The Durham Reunion
Karaoke Fun

Tokyo DisneySea Packed With People

Imagine way too many people in one place, most of them wearing silly hats, costumes bags and other fan items, queueing for 120 minutes and more for some attraction or roller coaster ride and you can imagine how it was like in DisneySea - my first encounter with one of the Disney Resorts located here in Tokyo next to Disneyland.
Since there was not much sense in standing in line, Megumi and I decided to go for the various Artistic, Big Band and Costume Shows, which set you back in your childhood. However, it seemed that most people identified way stronger with the scenery, waving at Mickey Mouse entering the stage enthusiastically, such I was not quite sure, whether they were aware of the fact that Mickey was actually an employee of the Resort being payed for wearing a costume. Freaky Japanese people!

Kitsch and Culture

Asakusa is the heart of old Tokyo and the site of the city's largest temple, Senso-ji.
Met some sweet Japanese girls that made me figure out my fortune at the temple. Turned out, I was the luckiest in our group with Good Fortune saying:

Everything you worry about is almost over. If you do your best, you will be successfull in this society and become well-known. The wealth and treasures will be in your hand as you wish. You may meet a good senior who helps you to become a splendid man. Your hopes and desires come true. Being free from sickness. Find the things you lost. The person you are waiting for will show around soon. There is no problem with building a new house or removal. Making a trip will be good. There are no worry about marriage and emplozment.

Well, I guess this should save my day, although I do not get all its parts. I will figure this out.
Ueno has has of Japan's most famous museums, which made me pick the Tokyo National Museum.
Picachu (or one of his many friends) is still alive
White Carrots in front of a Shrine
Entrance Gate Senso-ji
People...
... and Kitsch
My Japanese Fortune Cookie
Japanese Fortune Cookie
Frontdoor Art

National Museum

Early Wake-up Call

Although not getting that much of sleep, my alarm kicks me out of my bed by 5 am. I am about to visit the famous Tsukiji Seafood Market - luckily not too far away from my hostel. The tuna auction halls are filled with the frozen as well as fresh bodies of the colossuses, later on being sawed and cut into "small" pieces on the outer fish market. Each day Tsukiji handles more than 2000 tons of seafood. Since my stomach does not feel ready for the probably best Sushi breakfast here in town around the fish market, I head down the Ginza boulevard (the highend and luxery part of Tokyo where you can only afford window shopping) to central Tokyo and the Imperial Palace Gardens. Next stop is the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Electronic City in the afternoon. The evening I spend with Megumi dining in some japanese restaurant around Shinjuku.

The Loyalty of the 47 Samurai - Chūshingura Temple

The story of the 47 Ronin (fallen Samurai) - true story or myth - deals with the historical revenge of Samurai for their master's death forced by a man called Kira in 1701. Almost two years after their master's Asano's death the 47 samurai in the service of Asano break into Kira's mansion in Edo (old Tokyo), execute Kira and lay his head at the grave of Asano at the Chūshingura Temple in southern Edo. The fallen samurai are sentenced to commit suicide the same day at their master's grave. However, still being honored for their loyalty for their master at the 47 graves.

Lost in Translation - Tokyo Arrival

It feels good leaving Southeastasia again for my next destination, Tokyo. At a first glimpse, the city feels comfortably western although the subway map looks way more difficult than any comparable map of European cities I have visited before.
In order to get an overview of the city, I headed to Shinjuku filled with commerce, department stores and fancy hotels... in short: downtown Tokyo.


Observation Tower of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Kabukicho - red-light district in Shinjuku
Plastic Food Restaurant Display
Observation Tower of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building